#i purposefully keep all my own thoughts on the subject far away from this blog

[koshercosplay]

Neil gaiman is a Zionist :(

this is so funny because if you google "neil gaiman zionist" nearly all of the links are to unsourced tumblr posts or responses to a single tweet from 2015 that just acknowledges Israel's existence

I see gaiman has once again committed the heinous crime of Being Jewish When Israel Is In The News

[imma-lil-teapot]

TMNT 2003/2k3 Headcanon: Crying - (Leonardo)

Feel free to scroll past this first part if you’re not interested in my silly rambling and nonsense. I won’t mind. Promise. ;)

Okey-dokey then, with the global epidemic that is the Coronavirus well in action and most of the world stuck in lockdown (starting this Friday for us too), felt like getting the ‘ol creative juices flowing with a little headcanon-y thingy in preparation for -possibly- more fandom writings to keep myself busy during the house arrest (well... it kinda is!) and hopefully my mind off all the bad news. :( 

Also, this is totally my first one on the blog! WOOT! Please bear in mind that I’m SUPER rusty! Haven’t written in ages so there are bound to be typos and all matter of general errors scattered throughout the post. Don’t pet them! They bite!  

Anyhoo~ Despite attempting to create and share with the goal in mind to uplift spirits, I decided to start on a rather upsetting subject (PLEASE DON’T LEAVE! They end on happy notes ;) ) because, Imma just come and say it, I enjoy seeing my favourite characters shed tears (not for just any old reason -their personality plays a huge role in this- and CERTAINLY not for sadistic reasons, land sakes no! But... well, you’ll see~ ;) ) It makes me all gooey and fuzzy inside to see them display such raw emotion and I just wanna leap into the TV screen to hug and console them. I dunno why. Maybe I’m nuts like that. (Remembers Raph crying at the farm when Leo was badly injured and wishes she could just hug them all and take away the pain) Oh well, if you enjoy visualizing the same, then *High Fives*. :)

So yeah, if you read the title, you’ll know this is based on the 2003/2k3 series (my favs). Hope you all enjoy~ :D Grab tissues cause sad turts ahead! :’(

Jibber jabber stops here~

TURTLES~

LEONARDO - You are here

RAPHAEL

DONATELLO - Coming soon

MICHELANGELO - Coming soon

WARNING(S): Because of the subject, Angst and Hurt/Comfort will be present.

RATING: G (General)

WORD COUNT: Don’t have the foggiest.

ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD:

And apparently gifs too, so without further ado: (Completely unintentional but in actuality, totally intentional rhyming)...

TO THE HEADCANONS~~~~

~LEONARDO~

-- It’s no easy feat to make the leader in blue turn on the waterworks. Leo won’t cry for any old reason. It’s not because he has no emotions, far from it, but being the leader of a small ninja clan -who happen to be family as well- is no easy task in itself: he has a lot on his young shoulders and deals with many issues on a daily basis few his age ever have to.

-- It’s because of these reasons that Leo doesn’t cry often. One of the lesser likely to out of the four brothers. But when he does, it’s an emotionally distressing sight to behold. 

-- Leo tends to cry whenever those closest to him -namely his brothers, his father/master and truest friends- are severely injured or are in a dire situation. Remember his angry/moody arc? The thought of losing any of them causes him great pain and distress, especially if he were the cause of any of it, and when that happens, he can’t stop the dampness that forms around his eyes and soaks into his mask. 

-- He’s not fond of crying, especially in front of others, even though he fully comprehends its normalcy. He feels he needs to be everyone’s rock, their fortress of physical and emotional stability to turn to for strength when things get rough... So when the tears start to fall, he feels he can’t show them, can’t allow them to watch him crumble under the gripling weight of helplessness and anguish.

-- He frantically wipes at his eyes and desperately attempts not to sniffle, but it’s a hopeless battle, for his tears are already a steady stream. 

-- He’ll try to hide when possible, usually retreating to his room to allow the worst of the emotions to spill over before returning to the others... Though he may be in there a while: when Leo lets his emotions go, it can be just as powerful as his red-banded brother’s rage. 

-- He spares no time in making sure the coast is clear for the tears are already streaming by the time he reaches his futon, and there’s no stopping them now as he lets himself drop to his knees, only halfway onto the mattress. He purposefully leaves the room unlit, cloaking his form in the darkness. 

-- He sniffs a few times as he shuffles up against the wall, sitting upright against it, bringing his legs up and hugging them loosely and droops his head against a single knee pad. 

-- His voice desperately wishes to escape. To express its misery. But he won’t allow it to, often placing one hand over his face in a bid to quell the sadness and remain silent in the battle against his own inner turmoil. He refuses to let anyone see him in that state of utter sorrow and vulnerability.

-- He whimpers ever so slightly and coughs a few times as breathing becomes difficult. He knows this episode won’t be over any time soon. Fortunately, he keeps some tissues next to his bed for such rare occasions and tries not to blow too loudly. He thinks back to the last time he cried so hard... It’s been a while. It felt like a build up. 

-- Time has been forgotten as he’s lost in deep thought. By the time he slips a hand across his eyes, only the material of his mask is still slightly damp. He clears his nostrils a couple of times before considering whether he was ready to return to his family. He’d of course straighten up his bedding beforehand, and would also require a trip to the bathroom to wash his face. A true ninja leaves no evidence. 

-- Leo tries to put the horrifying images out of head before leaving his quarters. He doesn’t wish to be weighed down again and thus maybe cause his emotions to come out a second time. He knew someone would catch on that time. Instead, he holds his head up high, focusing on the there and now to carry him forward.  

BONUS EXTRA~

-- Failure is also one of his greatest foes. Leo despises it, but not in the irrational sense; he fully comprehends that in order to grow, one has to lose in order to learn and thus, succeed in turn, and while it can frustrate him when he’s unsuccessful at mastering a martial arts technique for example, he understanders it’s part of the process and that no one’s perfect. 

-- It’s when his slipups could spell casualties or death to his family and/or friends is when it weighs down on him like a boulder strapped to his shell. 

-- A really big one. 

-- And it hurts. So much so that it causes him to become despondent and often teary-eyed when no one’s looking.

-- Boi Bloo might also cry from especially sad movie scenes. He gets seriously into the story, and when the scene is just right -perfect music, perfect timing etc.- you may just catch Fearless with watery eyes. 

-- He can’t help it. After all, he’s a leader, and very caring and kind-hearted individual, so movies showing children or anyone/anything defenceless getting hurt has him not only visibly upset, but also angry at the cause. He’s a softie like that. 

-- He won’t have a meltdown, of course, but the tears are definitely there. Just don’t tease him too much; he’s easily embarrassed by it. ;) 

BONUS EXTRA EXTRA FEMALE READER OR S/O EDITION~ (Can also use an OC/FC insert if you wish, up to you)

You had figured something was up by the time you’d finished greeting everyone in the Splinterson household except for the Turtle you’d long to see most and he hadn’t made his presence yet known. 

The idea that he must’ve been practicing or meditating swiftly vanished when Mikey told you he’d been in his room in the dark for the past few hours. “The guy hardly ever naps, and even so, never this long.” He’d told you. “I dunno, (Y/N), we were about to check on ‘im when you arrived, but maybe you should be the one to. Think he’d really appreciate it.” And there was absolutely no argument from your side as you were already making your way up to the room.

You didn’t know what to expect as you neared the doorway. Could he possibly still just be sleeping? Meditating in the dark instead of his usual spot by the training area? Or... was he sick? The latter now had you concerned and you picked up your pace... Only to pause mid step when an unmistakable sound reached your ears: a sniffle.

Had it come from within his room? It was the only logical explanation as everyone else was downstairs. You were truly perturbed now as you stood outside the doorway and called out the ‘eldest’ Turtle’s name.

There was some shuffling to be heard but you were unable to tell for sure what he was doing -probably trying to neaten up his bed- “(Y/N)? Just a second, okay?” he responded in a rather awkward verging on frantic tone, and you were certain you heard another sniffle escape him. 

That, along with the way he’d replied really didn’t help to put your mind at ease. “Leo, are you alright?” Nor was the pitch blackness in which he remained concealed in.

“Yeah, just... l-looking for something.” There was some more shuffling as if to prove his point, but you were having none of it.

“Then maybe this,” you began, turning around to flick the light switch, “will help?”

“No! Wait!” But it was a split second too late for as soon the brightness illuminated the entire room, you had caught the telltale signs of an emotional meltdown in progress plastered on his face before he quickly turned away and briskly wiped an arm across his face, attempting to hide the shame... or perhaps embarrassment? 

“Leo...?” your heart and voice softened, “Hey, what’s wrong?” You automatically walked to him, closing the gap he was now trying to form. 

“Nothing,” he lied, and acknowledged it was a fruitless attempt but still couldn’t stop himself. Autopilot panic mode was enabled now. “It’s nothing.” 

Unfortunately for him, autopilot mother hen mode was activated for you as you reached with both hands to his carapace and shoulder, gently turning him to face you. “I can see that it’s something.” Your words were gentle, and you wanted nothing more than to take away his pain. “Look at me, Honey.” His body was turned but his head remained to the side. It was clear he didn’t want his obvious distress on display, even to you. “Please, Leo?” You tried again, and slowly but surely, his eyes met yours, and you felt your heart sink further.

The fabric of his mask was wet and eyes were still red with fresh tears that threatened to fall. He appeared so broken and helpless as he stared at you, and even though he uttered no words, you could practically hear him despairingly ask “Is this what you wanted? To see me at my lowest?” from his expression alone. 

Never had you witnessed the leader of this band of mutant brothers cry. At times you had wondered if he ever did, and yet here he was; the incredible pillar of strength and dignity you had come to know and adore, in tears and so dejected that you couldn’t stop your own eyes from becoming damp the more you gazed at him. “Oh, Sweety...” You whispered as you felt your soul shatter. It was too much to bear. You slowly wrapped your arms around him, one around the midsection and the other over his shoulder, and buried your face into his leathery neck, offering every ounce of comfort you could muster.

It didn’t take him long at all to sink into the embrace and return the action. Beyond the point of concerning himself with showing the pain he felt -or the wetness now soaking into your shoulder when he placed his forehead against it- he sniffed and finally allowed the tears to fall once again as fresh waves of emotion surged throughout his body.

And this time, he couldn’t keep the whimpering to himself.

“Shh~ It’s okay, it’s okay,” you soothed, lightly patting and rubbing along the scutes of his shell as he weakly sobbed, finally letting go of all the sadness that gripped him. 

You weren’t even aware of what was wrong, and you most likely wouldn’t find out til later once he calmed down, but right now, he just needed you to hold him. Hold him until the hurt was gone... And so you would. 

AND THAT’S ALL SHE WROTE!

ALL THE FEELS!! I EMBARRASS!!

OMGosh, this turned into a monster! The mother of all HCs!! :O No seriously, this wasn’t meant to be this long! I was suppose to squish all four into one itty bitty little post, but then it just grew... and grew... and GREW! Personally, I blame the Reader Bonus but I’d be damned if I didn’t enjoy writing it! ;P You guys here on Tumblr got me slightly addicted to them and have wanted to attempt some myself so... Anyhoo~ I can’t really say if I’m entirely content with the whole thing, I dunno. I feel some parts are better than others (writing style-wise) but yeah, I really need to get back into the swing of things...

Speaking of which, I DO plan on adding my two cents on the other bois as well, but judging by how this one turned out, they’ll most likely all be this length, more or less, so each Turt will get his own post so I can really jot down those details with all the freedom in the world! That being said, I can’t say when they’ll be added but hopefully soon-ish. :) Raph's next on the list!

Thank you all so much for the read and hope you enjoyed~ :D

~Drag0n Mistr3ss’ Random Fandoms*

[cutesuki--bakugou]

I change up the reasoning behind it just a tad, but hopefully it’s still okay :D Thank you so much for suggesting Koge as an option, I really appreciate it!! 

BTW, please blacklist the tag cutesuki-lemons if you do not want to see this content from my blog. I will no longer be tagging with specific keywords for this type of content.Thank you~

Due to the nature of this post, the characters are 18+

Under the cut~

Koge gave a quiet huff, glaring at her lover that was sitting across the room from her. At the moment, he was completely focused on the television, gaming headset on and controller in his hands. Obviously annoyed himself, he didn’t even chance a glance at her, completely zoned in on killing whatever zombies or monsters on his game. Dumb boy, Koge thought to herself, wrapping the fleece blue blanket around her shoulders tighter. He’s so stubborn. Even though I’m right.

It was truly a petty argument that had brought up this tense silence between them, something that was absolutely ridiculous. Koge had approached him with the horribly intense subject of cutting her hair. Yes. Cutting her hair. That is what had him ignoring her, all because she wanted to cut her long white locks off above her shoulders. In all their time together as a couple she had never cut her hair, and change was something that Bakugou wasn’t exactly comfortable with. At least, not change that he himself didn’t approve of. He absolutely adored her long hair, for more than one reason, and the thought of it being gone was something he hated. He despised it so much, in fact, that he had refused to even discuss it with her, shutting himself down into his own little world of violent zombie killing.

Koge had tried to reason with him, that it was just hair and it would grow back eventually. Where she had made him the most angry was snapping at him that it was her body and she could do whatever the hell she wanted. Bakugou hadn’t gotten mad that he wanted control over her, not at all. What he had gotten mad about was the fact that she was completely correct. He had no right to tell her not to cut it, nor did he had any grounds to stand on for why he didn’t want her to. At least, none that actually made a difference. So, in his frustration, he decided that ignoring her would be better than admitting that he was wrong.

It was something that Koge had found annoying about him. Even with her, his pride and ego were so strong that he struggled to admit when he was wrong or when he was being literally stupid. Yes, he had gotten better in his adult age, but there were still times where he acted like a full on brat. Now was one of them, pouting on the couch with the volume in his headphones so loud Koge could hear it across the room. She had tried to reconcile with him, to get him to understand that it wasn’t all that big of a deal and that she wasn’t necessarily mad at him. But still, he wouldn’t budge, and Koge was growing frustrated with it. 

She wouldn’t be so upset if it had just been a few minutes. But now, it had been hours. He had refused to even look at her, talk to her or answer a single thing that she said. At this point, Koge knew that it was more embarrassment at the way he had acted that was keeping him silent rather than anger or frustration. How can I get him out of this… Food didn’t work, talking didn’t work… Hm.

The idea that came to her mind was admittedly a bit cruel, but it was all she could think of in the moment. She knew that it would work, one way or another, and there really wasn’t any negative consequences that came to mind right away. So, shrugging off the blanket, Koge stood. Dressed in just a tanktop and shorts, she grew cold right away, but if her plan worked than she knew she wouldn’t have to worry about that for long. Walking behind the couch Bakugou sat on, Koge leaned over it, moving one of his headphones off of his ear before wrapping her arms around his neck. “Katsuki~” She sung softly in his ear, playfully nibbling at his earlobe. There was no physical response except for the tips of his ears growing red, which only confirmed that her plan may just work.

“Love, why won’t you talk to me?” She spoke quietly, tenderly running a finger along the sharp form of his jawline. “Are you really that upset with me?” Her fingers continued down his neck, barely scraping along his skin with her nails. She could see and feel how hard he swallowed, unable to resist a small smirk from crossing her lips. He was so cute when he got flustered that she just couldn’t resist her teasing, her hand slowly traveling further down his torso. “So stubborn… You won’t even look at me. Well, you don’t have to.” She kissed and nibbled at the skin of his neck softly, eyes locked on the growing bulge beneath his sweatpants. Against her own plans, she had begun to turn herself on, which was something she hadn’t exactly thought about happening.

Still, she had come this far, and she refused to stop now. “I guess I have to prove that I’m not upset, hm?” Sliding a single finger along the form of his member, she felt her body tingle at his sharp intake of breath. “What do you think, Katsuki? How about a little make up sex? You can take out all your frustrations on me.” The more she teased, the more pressure she put on his member, now stroking his length through his sweatpants. “You can spank me and tell me how much of a bitch I am. Tease and edge me. Choke me. Make me beg for your cock. What do you think?”

When he still didn’t respond, Koge knew that she had him, quite literally, in the palm of her hand. With an exaggerated, purposefully airy sigh, Koge pulled away and leaned up off the couch. “Ah well, fine then. I guess you’d rather play with your zombies.” Before he could react, she snapped his headset back into place over his ear, leaving him stunned and confused.

Koge??? Leaving him hanging??? With a raging boner and all these enticing thoughts???

“What the fuck?!” Bakugou’s thoughts spilled from his lips before he could even control it, turning to watch her walk away towards the kitchen. “Utsuro, what the fuck was all that?”

“Hm, what’s that?” Koge didn’t bother to look back at him, currently looking through the fridge for a drink. “Sorry, I can’t quite hear you.” She was purposely bending over a bit further than what was necessary, displaying her backside to him. Picking up a bottle of water, she had to hold back a giggle at the rate of which he ripped off his gaming gear, standing and marching his way over to her. “You think that’s funny, Utsuro? To just tease me and then fuck off like that?”

Koge leaned back against the fridge as she closed it, sipping from the bottle as she stared up at him. “Is that what I did? I don’t think so, Katsuki. I asked you if that’s what you wanted--” She glanced at his arms as he placed his palms against the fridge on either side of her, trapping her in place. “-- but you didn’t answer me. So, you obviously didn’t want anything.” As he tried to lean in to kiss her, Koge ducked under his arm, fleeing him once again. “Nope! I took your silence as a ‘no’, love. You must still be upset with me.”

“I’m not upset with you!” Bakugou followed her, obviously grasping at strings to try and change her mind. “I just felt stupid, so I didn’t say anything!” Koge gave a playful sigh as she leaned on the island countertop, resisting a gasp as he was quick to get behind her. She could feel his member pressing between her ass cheeks, his strong presence against her back and hot breath down her neck instantly driving her wild. Damn, she wanted him, but she just could not allow him victory that easy. “You felt stupid for… what?”

Bakugou buried his face into the curve of her neck, kissing her skin softly as his hand caressed her lower abdomen. “For arguing with you. Even though I still hate it.” His hand slipped between her legs, eagerly rubbing her clit beneath his rough fingers. Koge had to bite down on her bottom lip to keep herself quiet, only allowing him to pleasure her for a moment before she shifted herself to face him, hopping up onto the countertop. “What do you hate? How I’m right?” Leaving the water bottle beside them, Koge cupped his cheeks, feeling more heat rush to her body as he tugged her hips to the edge of the counter. Fuck, his cock feels so good already… But I can’t, he has to admit it.

“I hate the thought of your cutting your hair.” Bakugou hissed, his hands sliding up her sides and taking her shirt with them. “I don’t want you to.” Koge couldn’t help but smirk, giving his lips a teasing nibble. “Ah… wrong answer.” With a quick push, Koge slid herself across the island until she was on the other side, hopping down and leaving him once again frozen in shock. Smirk still on her lips, Koge tugged her shirt back down into place, walking backwards towards the bedroom. “You’re still mad at me, I guess. We can’t make up if you’re mad.”

“I’m not mad! Yet!” Bakugou leapt over the island, startling Koge so much that she squealed, nearly tripping over her own feet as she dashed for the bedroom. She barely made it inside before Bakugou was behind her, slamming the door shut behind him. Koge was quick to hop up onto the bed, ready to defend herself against her ravenous boyfriend. Bakugou stood by the closed door, malicious smirk crossing his lips as he locked the door. “Now you’ve just gotten yourself trapped, Utsuro.”

Koge sighed, dramatically falling onto her back. “Oh gee, what ever will I do! I’ve just gone and made my boyfriend so horny that he can’t stand it! But you still haven’t admitted it, Katsuki.” Her legs opened and displayed for him, Koge began to teasingly stroke her own sex, only fueling his frustration. Smirk still present, Bakugou began to make his way over, snatching her by the ankles and yanking her body to the edge of the bed.

“Utsuro, I may have acted like a fuckhead, but when I’m don’t with you, you won’t even remember that you wanted to cut that beautiful hair of yours. In fact,” Bakugou wrapped his hand around Koges throat, making her gasp and wiggle in excitement.

“I’m going to fuck you so hard all you’ll remember is how to scream my name.”

[the-far-bright-center]

Update :)

Hey everyone, it’s been a while. You may have noticed that lately there’s been a bit of a decrease in daily posts here, and that I haven’t been as consistent with tagging, etc. For the past three months, I’ve been in the middle of an unexpected and extremely stressful house move. During this time, I’ve had very unreliable and inconsistent internet access, so I decided to run this blog on a queue, and add to it with intermittent reblogs whenever I could get the chance. To say it’s been frustrating is an understatement, and I sincerely apologize to those of you who have messaged me or sent me asks during this time – I’ve been so exhausted, it’s been impossible to keep up with everything.

Thankfully, the house move is now winding down (we’re now finally in the new house, but still unpacking, settling in, etc.), so I should at least be able to resume curating this blog with more of my usual attentiveness. I’d like to say that everything will now go back to normal, but….I’m honestly not quite sure what ‘normal’ is anymore. Over the last few months, I have been thinking long and hard about my continued involvement in SW fandom, and have come to some difficult, but, imo, necessary, conclusions.

Don’t worry, I am not leaving tumblr, nor am I going to stop posting on this blog. It means too much to me to do that. However, I feel I must make it clear that, from here on out, I can no longer have anything to do with any current or forthcoming ‘New Canon’ material, whether it be films, tv series (animated or otherwise), novels, comics….just…none of it. 

Most of you know me well enough by now that I don’t think I even need to explain why, but I will do so, just in case.... 

I had always intended to completely divorce myself from the Disney stuff once Star Wars: Rebels had finished airing, but since, for a variety of reasons, it turned out that I was never able to finish watching that show through to its conclusion, this ended up happening far sooner than I’d expected. (I won’t even get into my thoughts on the renewed Clone Wars season – the less I say about it, or even acknowledge its existence, the better…for the state of my mental and emotional health, at the very least.)

My reasons for wanting—no, needing— to stay as far away as possible from Disney’s version of Star Wars from now on are many and varied [see here, here, here, and here], but ultimately it comes down to several inter-related issues, the most key being that ever since TFA, I have not been able to trust Disney with Star Wars, and will never be able to fully trust them with it ever again. It does not matter how much ‘good’ material they put out to balance out the bad, it’s too late…the damage is done. And since the version of SW as put forth in the sequels is probably the worst, most out-of-character, inaccurate, and disrespectful interpretation of my beloved story that I could possibly imagine, I therefore cannot help but view the rest of Disney’s output (however innocuous, and regardless of who writes/directs/creates it) with extreme skepticism, and an anxiety bordering on panic.

As I’ve gone over many times before, the entire premise of the so-called ‘sequels’ is anathema to pretty much all of my long-held beliefs and understanding of the saga as a whole…and to what I had, for decades, assumed that other fans implicitly understood and valued as well. And so, the fact that so many fans have so readily embraced those movies and swallowed down Disney’s bizarro version of the SW saga without hesitation or question, has continued to leave me feeling more and more heart-broken and ostracized. Not only from an entire fandom, but also from popular culture in general. It’s made me realize that, for far too many people, ‘Star Wars’ is indeed just a blockbuster series of movies, and is not the mythical two-part saga that it is to me. For far too many people, it is now, at worst, an endless, profit-churning franchise…at best, another version of an expanded universe, albeit one that has been corporately ‘canonized’. 

The fact that I can no longer relate to most other SW fans is beyond depressing for me. Something I used to take for granted – the universal appeal and relatability of Star Wars as a modern myth—no longer exists. I can’t even talk about my beloved Star Wars with people in RL anymore, lest someone let slip a spoiler that will break my heart all over again.  It is no wonder that the lead-up to every subsequent release since then (even the ones I have been actively ignoring, which is most of them) has left me a shaking, nervous wreck….and given the often fragile state of my mental health in general, this has been downright dangerous for me at times. Even just stumbling across or hearing about SW related news and announcement can leave me distressed and despondent for days on end. It takes a herculean effort for me to then reclaim a positive headspace and find my ‘happy place’ again after something like this. So I blacklist as much as I can, but it doesn’t always work, because… in order to keep this blog even remotely active, I have to peruse other SW blogs for content. And, given my need to AVOID spoilers like the plague, I struggle to do this at the best of times. Disney has so oversaturated the market with their output that sometimes it seems like every damn day there is yet another announcement of some new release. It’s just too much, and the fact that there is no end in sight is demoralizing as hell. (I dream of creating a time machine and going back to before all of this shit, just to make it stAHP.) Ultimately, all of this combines together to leave me feeling completely alienated, stressed out, and just plain unhappy.

But no more, I say. This is FANDOM….it’s supposed to be FUN. It’s supposed to make me happy. Life is already horrifically depressing and stressful as it is. And what is more… this blog in particular is supposed to be my safe space. That’s what I created it to be, in the first place.

In short, the conclusion I’ve reached is this: in order to continue enjoying the REAL my preferred version of SW in the way that I need to engage with it, I MUST completely remove myself from new Disney content. If I do not, I will lose the ability to enjoy any of it at all. 

So, my friends, while I’m not going anywhere (not just yet anyway), I do need to ask you all to please continue being patient and understanding with me about these above-mentioned issues. If you want to engage in meta discussions with me, for instance, please be aware that I will only talk about interpretations of ‘Star Wars’ as Lucas’ saga (and anything that is supplementary or supportive of that), and will not engage with anything that tries to insinuate that the sequels nonsense is even remotely part of the same story. Likewise, I beg you all to please refrain from commenting on my posts or messaging me about anything to do with upcoming releases, news, or any Disney Star Wars stuff from this point on. Again, I’m happy to discuss past content…to an extent (if you’re not sure what, please feel free to message me for clarification). But any new Disney content I just….don’t want to hear about. At all. Even if you THINK I will like it or be ok with it. The fact is… I won’t. Because Star Wars is finished. It’s a completed story. ‘IT IS ALREADY OVER. NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO CHANGE IT.’  I neither want nor need any more from it – whether as a story OR a ‘franchise’ – than what already exists.  And I become stressed and anxious the moment anyone (purposefully or inadvertently) suggests that I ought to be watching/reading/seeing/hearing about what I personally feel is just a fake version of the REAL THING that I hold dear.

Finally, I just want to clarify that, because of all of this, it’s unlikely that I will be able to keep this blog up-to-date with all the ‘latest’ content (not that I ever have done so, lol). I will, however, continue to keep it to the standards I have set so far. As always, the subject matter will be mostly be Prequels Trilogy, along with the (original!!) Clone Wars animated series (aka, seasons 1-5), Rebels (but only up through season 4a), Rogue One, and, of course, the Original Trilogy. Some supplementary material from those eras may creep in, along with occasional EU content. I just I thought I’d better make it clear that there won’t be any further ‘new canon’ on this blog…. at least, not unless some kind of unforeseen miracle happens and Disney decides to de-canonize their shitty sequel trilogy and magically make me trust them again! (ha ha I can dream)

Because it’s so difficult for me to find new content on tumblr without running into stuff I do not want to see, I have for a while now had the goal of creating my own content for those times when I can’t find anything new. Frustratingly, due to the house move, I’ve been way too busy to even contemplate that in recent times, but I do have some still-unfinished and in-progress projects that I’d like to eventually share here. In addition to this blog, I also ‘curate’ my own RL Star Wars collection, so once I get a new safe place to set it up, expect regular photoshoots of my action figures and other collectibles as well. :)

Most of all, I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who has stuck with this blog for so long. Thank you for respecting my various quirks, neuroses, and eccentricities, and for helping to keep this blog a safe space.

And to any new followers out there…. a belated, but very warm, welcome! :)  

[evocatrice]

Survey

1. What made you pick up the last book you started reading? I’m reading two books right now! The first one, Empire of Storms, I picked up because it’s the next book in the series I’m loving and I was already halfway done, but then I moved and had to return it. The second book, Blood of Olympus, I picked back up because I realized I never finished the series once college started. 

2. Have you received any bad or troubling news lately? I’ve had to go to the BMV three times without being able to get my car titled, so that’s been fun. 

3. When was the last time you were relieved about something? Yesterday when we made it to the fireworks show on time! 2017 was not as organized. 

4. What about your life concerns you the most? Um... I guess where I’ll be living in October. 

5. Is there a common thing most people seem to do without trouble, but it scares you (talking on the phone, driving, interviews, etc)? When was the last time you had to do one of these kinds of things? Driving. Especially on the interstate. I’m terrified of it. I’ve never been pulled over, never gotten myself in an accident, never gotten a ticket, I even use my turn signal in parking lots haha. Still, after the accident I was in in high school, it’s terrifying to think that no matter how skilled of a driver I am, I can still die in an instant because of someone else’s mistake. 

6. Is a pen pal something you would enjoy? If so, what kinds of little things would you send your pen friends? I always wanted one growing up, but then my old friends would write me letters and I am the actual worst at responding to people. I don’t think it would last very long. 

7. Describe a time when you were there for a friend? I usually like to take the distraction approach. I’ll get them to talk about what’s bothering them, help them come up with a plan if it’s something solvable, and then do something fun to cheer them up or keep their minds off of it, like taking them out for lunch or ice cream or disc golfing. 

8. When was the last time you went somewhere for the first time? Yesterday, I went to a fireworks display at a Fort I’d never been to. 

9. What is a situation that makes you feel especially confident? Whenever I’m doing something secretarial, aka editing someone’s paper, showing off my typing speed, writing a marketing blurb, updating someone’s resume, or being anywhere relating to books. 

10. What was the subject of your most recent conversation? Michael and Noah telling me the hot dogs were done grilling and telling me to come watch a movie with them. 

11. Hypothetically and generally speaking, how would you go about breaking up with someone? Is there anything you would make sure to say, or perhaps not say? W o w. I hate hurting people’s feelings, so I’m incredibly bad at it. I try never to place blame on the other person and just speak of things in a broad and futuristic manner like “ It’s just not feasible when I’m leaving for school” “We’re just not in the same place in our lives” “ I just feel like we’re going down different paths”. I always like to try to add something about how I wish them happiness and point out some of their good relationship traits or say how I enjoyed my time with them. I honestly probably sound like a talk show host. I also almost always add the “I hope we can still be friends” line (except once) but I surprisingly am only friends with the only ex who ever broke up with me. 

12. Are you more of a night person or a day person? What is it about the night/day that you favor? I like the night because I am more creative and fireflies, but I also like the day because I love soaking up the sun and swimming. 

13. What do you find particularly offensive? Would you say you’re easy or difficult to offend? People making any sort of comment that is degrading of my intelligence or purposefully hurtful toward another person. Thankfully, it hasn’t happened in a long time. I would say I’m on the sensitive end of being offended when it comes to rude remarks. 

14. Is there a belief you have that most others around you don’t have? Do you share this belief with others, or do you tend to keep it to yourself? Have you ever offended anyone with this belief? Yeah. I’m a Christian and have been involved in various Republican and pro-life campaigns and events over the years, which seems an uncommon alignment to have on Tumblr. I'm rather opinionated about politics since it’s related to my career goals, but I don’t usually bring it up outside of those events unless asked. If people are offended by my blog, they don’t have to follow. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

15. Do you consider internet friendships as important as offline friendships, or do you view them differently?

I think offline friendships take priority when I schedule my week, but that both are extremely important. Moving so much has me communicating with most of my friends via the Internet anyway. 

16. When was the last time you visited relatives or friends of the family? Is visiting family something you enjoy? I visited with plenty of them at my wedding, and will be going to visit with them next weekend for the annual hog roast. I really enjoy it, but it always makes me so tired. 

17. What did you do for the last holiday or event you celebrated? Fourth of July! We went to a fireworks display last night, are watching classic “Fourth of July” movies, grilling out and baking, and hopefully launching off some of our own fireworks with our sparklers. 

18. If you’ve moved out from home, what was the scariest thing about it? What was/is your favorite thing about it? The scariest thing about moving out originally was really just moving somewhere where I didn’t know anyone. My favorite thing was having freedom to become my own person.

19. Are there any fictional characters you like even though they’re “bad” or “evil?” What qualities draw you to a character? Bellamy Blake s1. Lorcan from TOG. The antagonist in my own story. Eugene Fitzherbert. I’m a sucker for the reluctant hero trope. 

20. What are your thoughts on “forgiving” murderers, rapists, attackers, etc? Do you think it’s even possible to forgive these people? If they are truly sorry and actively trying to spend the rest of their life showing they have changed, then yes. However, forgiveness absolutely does not mean they should not be brought to justice and pay for their actions. 

21. What was the last series you finished watching? Do you have any plans to begin another? Everwood. I just started watching Freaks and Geeks, Harlots, and Handmaid’s Tale, but I’m only liking Freaks and Geeks so far. 

22. What is one way in which you are different from a year ago? What is one way in which you are still the same? I feel like I’ve learned to be more comfortable in my own skin, and the importance of fitness and eating right and being organized and showing initiative. I’m still the same in that I still get just as excited about fireflies and I still fall a little bit in love with everyone I meet. 

23. When was the last time you had to walk somewhere in the rain? How about the snow? Last week at a Pokemon Go event in the rain and.... wow, maybe to my car on my way to work in the snow back in February?

24. Are there any types of survey questions you dread or don’t like answering for whatever reason? What kinds of questions do you like best? I don’t like the same questions over and over, usually like “ Who was the last person you kissed? Do you miss them? Do you wish you could be with them?”. I love the ones that are unique and make you stop and think. 

25. If you could learn about anything without the stress of grades or cost, what kind of classes would you take? Italian in a classroom setting would be great. Also painting. 

26. What was the last item of clothing you purchased? Do you wear it often? A blue lingerie set. I wore it once and it feels like wearing a cloud.

27. Has anything made you feel nostalgic lately? Reading the posts I made on Tumblr today all the way back to 2014. 

28. What was the last chore you completed? Putting the dishes away. 

29. Name a song you’ve listened to today? The Rocky theme song. 

30. Is there anything you’ve promised yourself you’ll never do again? Drinking alcohol or eating processed meat on a regular basis. 

[capturingmaya]

Research Report

Thursday 7th January 2021

For my major project I wanted to keep the title short and simple. I explored a range of different titles, which I felt are all appropriate to some extent as they have developed from the context of the project. Various titles I have created are Inside West London – this had a documentary feel, that gives the impression that the spectator is seeing the location more in depth. Very West – I felt like this almost sounded bias, but yet a bold statement that may draw spectators. West Is West – this title came about as a common movie reference. Seven boroughs, then lead to Seven/One – 7/1. “West London is a vibrant and thriving area home to more than 1.5 million people across its seven boroughs.” This statement (fact) that I found whilst research my project, sparked the title 7/1 as West London is formed of seven different boroughs. I felt like this title would express the wide range of the subjects within the project. Using a simple or ‘un-obvious’ name I intend for the viewer to focus or engage with the photographs more on first interaction. On the back cover of the book, I have a sentence that reads “ 7/1. A photographic documentary capturing the essence of seven boroughs that form one. West London.” my intention is that this then guides the viewer understand of the project and title. I also considered the fact that most of my other working titles all used the word ‘West’, I believed a title that didn’t initially state the content of the documentary felt more purposeful - As it wouldn’t give away the whole context of the project prior to them seeing the photographs.  However, I feel like I would need to see how an audience responds to the pilot project.

Initially I started the project gathering images to create a mood board of the general ideas for the project prior to any test shoots. I used online sources to my benefit early in the project to help me gain an idea and influence for the content I had in mind.  Gathering photographs from various online sources I created a digital visualisation of the project, and throughout my journey I updated the mood board to help me structure and plan for my shoots. At the beginning I had a fashion context in mind, so I used magazine websites/ covers, photojournalists/ fashion stylist blogs and work I’ve photographed in the past to create mood boards that would inform my first shoot. After refining my first shoots and discussing my ideas during work reviews I found an approach to broaden my project and achieve more in my shoots. When specifying my subject, I looked at many references that helped me approach my technique and perspective of photographing differently. The blackboard site and my blog helped me locate useful artists that I have engaged with over the past two years in lectures.

There are many documentary photographers that have a style I find effective; Zoe Leonard’s , Meat ‘n’ Moreand Graham Electronics from the series Analogue, 1998-2007,  are just two examples of my earlier influences alongside many others that can be found in my blog (#research). I then followed up with further research to find street photographers that approach their subject in a documentary style such as, James Maher series photographing a 1991 British social housing estate. Maher put together an interesting and objective documentary photobook called Greene Street that influenced my projects presentation majorly. All three photographers have a very simplistic and objectively style of documentation, yet the series they have put together works very well to create an ambience tailored perfectly to each location. The aesthetic each artist creates has influenced my project to some extent.

The research throughout this phase of the project has proved helpful to remind and push me to refine my project. It continuously helps me to strive for a certain aesthetic and quality in my work as I reflect on the work that influences me, I can see how I need to improve technically and logistically to achieve my desired outcome.

Museum Bhavan is a collection of nine individual books by Dayanita Singh. The book is referred to as a “museum in book form”, and this is the aspect of the book that inspired me the most. When physically going through the book I realised there was no text until the end of the book. You read the title and then open the zine like book and when you proceed to close the book you see text. This draws the spectator to each individual image trying to find a story or read into the image.  Similar to the feeling of being in a gallery, the photographs seemed greater than its size, contextually. Each page adds to the character of the whole book as well as the format of the book.  At the end of the book there is a sense of enjoyment, care and participation that the spectator feels. “The exhibition thus becomes a book, and the book becomes an exhibition.” Singh’s idea somewhat influenced the layout and design of my pilot project as it influenced my decision to have no text on the pages with photographs. This takes away from the traditional book context and makes the project more artistic and somewhat gallery ‘like’. At a later stage for my final project, I have proposed to add a glossary with information on the images, if purposeful and effective.

I got the influence for the idea of adding a glossary type page from photographer James Maher documentary book in NYC, 100 Green Street. The first page of the book is solely text contextualising the images and no further text with the images – developing this idea into my own, I wanted the viewer to view the images before any information is given to them.

The different sources I have found have all influenced the development of my project over the past weeks. I have been able to try various techniques whilst in post-production and in camera to find an aesthetic that suits me. I have informed visual references, so I am able to see how other people have executed projects similar to the one I have in mind. Meaning I can see how my project will turn out if I venture to different mediums and formats for presentation. I have been able to consider my project in different mediums and forms of presentation as I proposed to print a physical book, but I have also considered the possibility of creating a digital interactive book. The purposeful research and refinement throughout the project is helping me craft the final project I have envisioned.

Throughout the development of my pilot project, I have managed to gather a good range of interesting and thought- provoking images that document the specified area. I have captured a series of images that all compliment and contrast each other whilst creating an ambience of West London. Concepts of urbanisation,  gentrification, isolation and culture drive the project. There have been many learning points for me throughout the project, visually and conceptually. Initially I found that I had narrowed my subject matter too much, before I even went on my first photoshoot. This meant that when I was reviewing my shoots I ended up with either similar images or overly objective or forced images. At the beginning I didn’t like the aesthetic of work I created as I felt I was experimenting with perspective and technical control rather than refining my process. But since then, I have been able to show peers my work and receive useful feedback to indicate when the project needs refining and improvement, artistically and technically. After two shoots, I decided to keep my medium the same every shoot to ensure the quality of my images can retain a certain high resolution. Since then, I have focused on keeping technical approaches the same on photoshoots and using my time in post-production to purposefully create a seamless series and frame for each image. Once I had settled on a technical approach, I focused on refining the context of my images. To ensure I can have a good range of photographs and subjects in my book, I know that research and a lot of shoots are going to drive my project to its final form. So far through my process I have managed to develop from my original idea, refine my shoots and gain a strong understanding of the context of my documentary that I will plan and execute for my final major project submission. All of these aspects so far have allowed me to create an interesting series of images that begin to tell a story about Living in West London.

Thinking about the audience that will view my project has defiantly affected the way I think about my project. First and for most the audience is my peers and the people who will mark my project. To begin I cannot assume people are familiar with West London. So, considering this aspect I have to consider the way that I present my work for an audience that is not yet aware of the characteristics of West London. This project will act as a way to bring insight to people who are unfamiliar with the area and create an interesting sense of culture within the unique urban environment. This is an aspect of the project I hadn’t considered heavily when shooting, but during post- production I realised that audience is important to the deliverance of the project. It pushed me to focus and think about the different ways people will perceive the project and the different ways that my layout, format and presentation may influence a spectator’s idea of the context. The layout of the book will be intentionally designed not to answer but, create questions as the spectator views the images of the series before any information on the context. The series is supposed to tell a story about the urban scene and document the truth to the viewer. I want the photographs to tell a story that each viewer creates based on their bias viewers of the project.

Considering that my work could potentially be for a larger scale of people, I have started to consider the opportunities this project could bring for myself. Various businesses may want to document their environment in the same way, and this could be a great start to open up for future projects. The project is personal to me, but when I consider it, there are many people and places within these boroughs that could possibly use these images and/ or the project as a whole. I feel as if I have considered different contexts throughout the process of refinement of the project and I am able to continuously respond to them effectively and purposefully. I experiment a lot within a realistic range and make informed changes to the project based on the proposed final outcome, artistic qualities, context, presentation, audience and format. When I change one aspect multiple other aspects also have to change to make sure that everything is purposeful, professional and presentable.  

The project started off theoretically fashion based, but the developed into a much more informed and contextual project over the first few weeks.  The first shoot I did I realised I needed to seriously refine my project concept and production method. I initially had a street style of documenting fashion in mind, so I kept the idea of documentation and considered various ways to document the same urban environment I wanted to photograph. Developing my project into something more than just a fashion documentation, I started to think more about the context of the project and the image I can portray of West London. Rather than focus on one aesthetic I was able to broaden the project conceptually to explore and document ideas of community, culture, urbanisation and gentrification as well as current social . Not only did this make the project more effective, but it also made the project one that can be more engaging to a spectator (in an exhibition).  I am continuously seeing the effects that development and refinement can have on how the context of the subject is communicated to the audience.

The images that received good feedback after work reviews were the images that I initially came across naturally on my daily walks – these were images that had subtly interesting subjects such as a littered mask on the floor or radiant lights from a shop. Rather than forcing a narrative with any one image, I proceeded to photograph a wide range of subjects I felt could be more visually interesting to others. I found it best to work with my environment and document the various subjects around me at a large scale, and then filter through them to find an interesting series. I began to see the project from different perspectives, for example someone foreign. The way this person would respond to my project may be different to a local’s response and this in turn made more subjects relevant for me to document/capture. Moving forward more exploration of my specific area is needed as well as brief research on interesting and historically appropriate subjects to photograph for my final major project plan. I found as I reviewed my images and considered the history of West London, there are more places and subjects I can photograph to make the book more visually and contextually engaging, for example train stations and specific tower buildings that I haven’t yet documented but, are unique to the location.  The subjects that I photograph are important to the whole of the project as the images are going to inform the viewers about the context of the documentary.

To present my project I have created a PDF file as a series of all the pages that I propose for my pilot project. I intend to create/submit a hardback book for my final, however for now I am compelled to work digitally and wanted the format of my pilot project to replicate my intended book form. For these reasons I have left blank pages within the PDF pilot project, to show the layout of how the spectator will view the images in book form.  I have explored various presentation formats for the book. Book making takes time and whilst editing images the workflow is continuously refined, but new experimental ways to layout work is also explored which can sometimes be effective. I found that for the conceptual purpose that also correlates to specific decisions made throughout the project, that leaving the left page blank will be effective and purposeful as there will be two images per (one) page.  If the required submission of the project is no longer physical, I will design the series into an interactive book, that can be uploaded and engaged with via my website – The style of James Maher’s 100 Green Street, is what I have in mind for the final presentation. A simple photo book with the layout I have for my pilot, interactive page turning features and a clear concise documentation of the project.

I have mentioned prior, many critical references that have influenced me throughout my process, but looking at some in further depth these photographers in particular were very useful to the visual influence of my project for the following reasons:

https://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/100-greene-street/

The layout and presentation of this interactive book influenced decisions I made when creating my digital file for submission and throughout post-production. Also, the variation of subjects that Maher photographs intrigued me. At times I felt detached from the images and then I would get drawn in again. This felt realistic to me as not always will an image draw you in, but as a whole the project was very effective, and I genuinely felt the ambience of being on a New York street.

https://flashbak.com/superb-photos-of-life-on-a-1991-british-social-housing-estate-44489/

The approach that Clayton has to his subjects, inspired me to approach documenting my area in a more free way. The project may be photographed in 1991, but it showed me the interest others have to document middle class living. Also, it sparked a visual idea of change, as I viewed the images I automatically started to compare the subjects that have now changed. As time changes what we think are ‘everyday’ normal objects, do change overtime and it is great to have these reference photographs as memory.  

Other sources are Dayanita Singh, Museum Bhavan. Walker Evans, The poetry of Plain Seeing. Tod Papageorge, Dr. Blankman’s New York – Kodachromes 1966–1967. Florian Mueller, Nightshift.

https://dayanitasingh.net/museum-bhavan/

https://americansuburbx.com/2012/06/theory-poetry-of-plain-seeing.html

https://davidcampany.com/tod-papageorge-seeing-things/

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2018/11/nightshift-by-florian-mueller/?mc_cid=2face95dbe&mc_eid=c68294ae9c&mc_cid=d8ef83ff0a&mc_eid=c68294ae9c

[tweetadvise]

Is There Still Value in Guest Posting?

I lately obtained an email from a viewers with some great concerns. Among the inquiries he asked remained in respect to the worth of guest blog writing. I thought it was so relevant to today's marketer-- specifically as we are all continuously changing to the changing landscape that is SEO-- that I thought an article on the subject would certainly be of value to my visitors. So, initially, thank you, Josh, for your questions!

Now, let's explore the value visitor blogging has in today's material advertising environment. Later, we will talk about some of the actions you can require to enhance the worth of the visitor posters that add to your long-form material as well as any type of guest posting opportunities that might come your way.

Guest posting produces integrity by subjecting your network.

When you supply quality expertise from a guest poster on your website, you place yourself as an idea leader not just in the content you offer, however also in the connections you are able to draw in through your own trustworthiness. This is due to the fact that thought leaders know that offering their knowledge can in fact injure their very own reputations if they provide it to the incorrect source. A low-grade source that does not conscientiously inspect its realities as well as supplies iffy information will certainly harm a thought leader by organization. When a thought leader shows up on your blog, it is somewhat of a stamp of approval, showing that you are respected in your industry.

As a case-in-point, when Michael Stelzner began his blog site, "Social Media Supervisor," in 2009, he expanded his audience and also positioned himself as a market leader by association when he talked to a myriad of social media industry leaders including Mari Smith, Denise Wakeman, as well as Jason Falls. When these leaders got the word out about their participation with him to their own readers, Stelzner took pleasure in a standing increase as a result of his organization with such sector believed leaders. Within just weeks, the blog was placed by Technorati as one of the top in the world for small-business lovers and also strategists.

Guest posting allows you to include know-how to your content.

In enhancement, by supplying externally know-how, you create all-around and detailed knowledge within your material. Though you might not constantly understand the solution to all of your target market's questions, you could provide them all the answers since you realise professionals who agree to do you the favor of providing their tips to your target market. When this ability to obtain the details your reader requires is constantly demonstrated over time, you make sure to maintain your audiences returning to you as the professional source when it has an inquiry, also if you cannot answer it based on your own expertise or experience.

In enhancement, though you could have the solutions your readers look for, you might not discover enough time to be as mindful as you would such as in addressing them. Visitor posters can help bridge this gap. To make sure that time restraints did not limit his capability to meet his target market member's needs, for instance, Darren Rowse of Problogger utilized visitor posters to take care of the volume of concerns being postured, despite his minimal offered time to resolve them. With them, he might bypass his time constraints as well as offer his audiences reputable worth when they needed it by entrusting this activity to specialists who were perhaps even much better equipped to address target market concerns than he was. Once again, time or understanding restraints could not stand in your method of a real thought leader. Regardless of constraints, by tactically utilizing high-quality visitor posters, you can still place on your own as the constantly dependable "go-to" resource of expertise.

Guest uploading subjects your expertise to an ever-larger reader.

Though this advantage could seem obvious, it is nonetheless essential: guest publishing expands your reach, permitting you to demonstrate your competence in your area amongst audience participants that possibly have never ever listened to of you before. And also, though they could have stumbled after your blog site before, they might not have taken notification since you were not appropriately presented and also, therefore, initiated into the elite team of industry leaders by a currently distinguished legitimate source. When this intro has actually happened with an invite or an acceptance of a visitor blog post, you can take advantage of the extensive count on a currently accepted idea leader has actually publically encompassed you. This trust fund shows a mark of authorization. Therefore, if you supply the worth you are capable of, you will definitely be much better approved as a reputable resource among a new audience, even when providing your expertise in your own right.

Tips on Discovering the Finest Guest Publishing Fit for your Needs

Make certain your guest uploading opportunities, whether it be inviting a visitor poster to your website or benefiting from an invite for your proficiency to an additional blog site, have to be thought about meticulously as well as purposefully to guarantee you finish up with positive and also not negative results. Right here are some best-practice pointers to follow to ensure one of the most productive results.

Network to Discover a Relevant Professional for your Blog

If you have actually placed yourself as a trustworthy resource of experience within your specific niche, discovering credible guest posters need to come far more naturally. There are numerous factors why this is the instance. First, if you are a reliable resource within your particular niche, you have encounter which encounter can hardly ever be acquired alone. Definitely, throughout your trip to becoming the idea leader you are, you have found out from others and discovered who is reliable in your field. Those from which you have found out are excellent sources of competence for your blog site. Likewise, you have actually most likely discovered by investigating sources supplied by sector leaders.

You may, for instance, have attended a conference where you connected with the industry greats. Learn to leverage these connections by furthering an equally valuable connection. To start, you might develop your network of market leaders by immediately connecting with a link demand and also customized LinkedIn message after you have actually participated in a seminar where you had the ability to talk with a fellow market professional. Follow up your request by engaging with as well as advertising recently released material your brand-new connection could publish. As you help satisfy the requirements of your brand-new link, a mutually-beneficial connection is sure to create. Just make sure to connect first to develop purposeful partnerships as well as except self-involved purposes. Be honest. After that, if various other chances arise to far better serve your viewers, terrific! Otherwise, delight in serving your new links as the idea leader you are.

Likewise, you might have read a freshly released market book replete with functional tips and also distinct expert ideas. Connect to the writer using Twitter and even an antique email. Start advertising the book as a valuable resource amongst your reader. As you start developing a mutually-beneficial partnership with the writer, they will be much more likely to follow-through with your possibly financially rewarding target reader with a visitor post.

3 Tips on Making use of Making the many of Visitor Posting Opportunities

To make sure that you are going regarding the search procedure properly, there are a few points you should keep in mind.

Guest posting ought to be about branding.

Make sure that the possibilities you select when assessing where to supply your know-how in a guest post will position you as an idea leader by association. Have you ever before heard the saying "you are who you connect with"? If you post on a low-quality website, you will definitely be considered. So, before you also begin believing of guest posting, start by developing high quality, equally helpful partnerships with sector leaders who already supply wonderful value to their target markets. You can do so, as an example, by connecting with them on your social media sites platforms and commenting and also advertising their content. In doing so, you are a lot more likely to gain their focus when you link to your own content and, in doing so, show your know-how in the industry. After that, as they start to choose up your content to add worth to their curated material, thank them for sharing your content as well as take into consideration offering to visitor article. Clearly, they value your expertise enough to discuss it so they will certainly more probable value your content on their website as well.

Ensure your competence relates to your momentary target market.

Just remember just to offer a guest post if you think your material will really profit those that will review it. You will just reap and give value if the info you need to supply in your guest message pertains to your reader. Be strategic in your consideration of guest-posting opportunities. Discover ones with readers that you could truly help with your offering to them. If you do not, your material will certainly go nowhere as well as your chance will certainly have been thrown away. In enhancement, you will wind up placing on your own as pointless as well as out of touch with the market requires. Step meticulously and also strategically. In light of this, kissmetrics.com recommends the complying with suggestions:

Make certain the content on the blog site on which you are taking into consideration guest publishing is appropriate to your industry.

Likewise, ensure that the blog's target market will certainly be interested in what you have to offer by assessing currently published article and their comments to make sure an appropriate fit.

Don't focus on SEO. Instead, concentrate on your reader's requirements.

It made use of to be that the benefits of guest publishing was all in the abundant support message as well as link padding. This method not just will not function currently yet it could injure your trustworthiness as a thought leader when you lose your ranking with Google, disrespect the thought leader who supplied you the opportunity, and demonstrate a self-indulgent schedule to your new audience.

So, as opposed to concentrating on the SEO advantages of guest posting, concentrate on the advantages of providing your useful understanding to an ever-larger reader. Your message ought to have to do with revealing a new audience that you could as well as are aiming to meet their demands when they have an industry question. Think about it a little like an interview. And also, like any wonderful interviewee, focus on how you can help your recruiter (target market) rather than promoting yourself and also you will certainly be much a lot more most likely to obtain a 2nd require your companies. Just if describing your own blog, products, or companies is directly appropriate as well as supremely valuable to the reader that will review your post must you consider including your very own linkback. Yet, if in uncertainty of its value, it's finest to leave it out.

Thanks, again, Josh!

I 'd like to learn through you: what pointers could you give for locating the right visitor posting suitable for your content?