#lessons for life and storytelling

[freebooter4ever]

[hybriddhthepoet]

Feral Facade

By HybridDH, Art by ghosty_entity https://x.com/ghosty_entity?s=21

For them, I am merely a sheep in wolf’s clothing,

Projecting a toughness, this facade I’m loathing.

Behind the fierce mask, where my vulnerabilities hide,

My essence ebbs when watched, in shadows I confide.

Unseen, I am meek; the disguise dissolves with the light,

Just another timid creature lost in fright.

But let your gaze fall upon me, witness the transformation stark,

I morph into the guise of the wolf, fierce and dark.

Vicious, they whisper, oh, how vicious I seem,

Yet inside, my spirit is not keen on this theme.

I yearn to be gentle, to soothe rather than scare,

A soul that craves kindness, fragile and bare.

Trapped in this role, the wolf’s snarl I unwillingly wear,

A costume fashioned from despair, a burdensome affair.

I roar and I rage, not out of genuine ferocity,

But from fear, a response to imposed animosity.

Beneath this rugged exterior, where my true emotions dwell,

I am not the creature of nightmares they compel.

Hidden too long behind a facade of bravado and roar,

I’ve become estranged from myself, down to the core.

The mask that began as a shield to protect my gentle heart,

Has fused to my being, tearing my identity apart.

No longer can I tell where my true self ends,

Trapped in a performance that my survival depends.

Here I stand, draped in the wolf’s dark hide,

Each snarl a plea for help I must confide.

Dreaming of the day when I can cast aside this guise,

To reveal the gentle truth, free from these lies.

Caught in this relentless dance of pretense and fear,

Year after year, the mask adhered.

A sheep clad in wolf’s attire, a prisoner of my own façade,

Aching for escape, for a life unflawed.

Summoning the quiet valor that true bravery requires,

To transcend the howls, the undesired fires.

For now, I don the mask that they all see,

Hoping for a day when I am finally free.

In this haunted masquerade, where fear plays its part,

I seek the courage to unmask my heart.

A sheep in wolf’s clothing, worn and weary from the show,

Yearning for release, for a place where I can truly grow.

Through the crowd, my guise remains intact,

A shield against the world, a binding pact.

But inside, the struggle rages, a silent war,

A battle between who I am and what I abhor.

Each day, the mask feels heavier, harder to bear,

A constant reminder of the double life I wear.

Yet, I maintain the facade, keep up the charade,

In hopes that someday, my fears will fade.

As I navigate through life, a chameleon changing hue,

Adapting to surroundings, obscuring the true view.

But deep down, I long for a moment so pure,

Where I can live unmasked, secure and sure.

The road is long, the journey taxing and vast,

Each step forward shadowed by the echoes of the past.

Yet, I forge onward, through the veil of night,

Guided by a faint, yet enduring light.

For in the depths of despair, a spark still glows,

A stubborn resilience that steadily grows.

And though cloaked in the skin of a creature so wild,

Beneath lies the heart of a meek, unspoiled child.

So I carry on, through the masquerade grand,

A solitary figure on a stage so bland.

In hopes that one day, the curtains will part,

Revealing the truth of my hidden heart.

[thepersonalwords]

Only your children’s grandchildren may remember our stories, but the stories are not what makes a life. It’s living with a smile and a free spirit that will ripple throughout the stars.

T.S. Wieland

[wildsaltair]

Ranting in the tags isn’t enough so I’m going to say one more time that just because Maximus isn’t morally gray doesn’t mean he isn’t complex

[clarisse-doodles]

Cass + ballet 🩰 (ft. supportive siblings and good dad Bruce)

I love the idea of Cass enjoying dance. It's an outlet that allows her to express herself without words, and I think she would enjoy the highly technical aspect of ballet combined with its storytelling and emotional side. and as a former dancer I always have fun imagining my fav characters do ballet :)

[slowdrippingnoise]

i like rose actually hes full of Concepts. i like how leon could easily remind him of peony and of himself (personality, talented champion / older brother, beloved golden child) and i like how bede could also remind him of them/what his remark about seeing himself in bede could mean if taken as truth (ignored child, desperate to prove his worth / uncompromising confidence, needs to feel in control, perfectionistic) so he gives them both important roles to keep them around. very normal very well adjusted good job man.

swsh should have had 500 more lines of major npc dialogue. also leon and marnie should have talked about the whole being a symbolic king/princess thing. or she could talk to hop about it and he could talk about how he thinks leon feels about it which could be interesting also. even more economic fuckery talk i know its a sports thing but leon's Sponsor Cape drives me a little nuts. catch him between his own hopes/the needs of the league/rose's ideas specifically. he's been champion since he was like 10 right. something like that. im going back in time sneaking into the swsh writers room and taping up a big poster of N Harmonia. how soon we forget Boy King Prime. also pokespe was right rose should just be Objectively Correct about the impending energy crisis, his problem is that he tries to solve everything by himself by manipulating everyone around him, and is cool with putting the whole region in danger if he thinks it will Solve The Problem. his problem isnt being pro-nuclear power his problem is he thinks like a king. ideal swsh is anti-monarchy as well as anti-monopoly it would make more sense.

[pattytacuri]

tired

I’m tired of this version of myself who has to continually save herself who has to perk herself up and get over her own bullshit who wonders if all of this sacrifice and suffering will one day be worth it

10/20/22

[brittanyearnestauthor]

Reclaiming the Narrative: Writing with Intention and Impact

When you craft your stories, aim to weave in life lessons. Doing so not only makes your work relatable but also transforms it into a meaningful source of insight and entertainment. As a writer, you have a unique opportunity to explore significant topics and present them with your own distinctive twist. By doing this, you can share valuable lessons and perspectives, making your message truly impactful.

Even if you aren't focused on writing stories, you can still create content that's both relatable and supportive, offering practical advice to help others through challenging times. Personally, I love discovering life lessons in books that resonate with me and make me reflect on my own experiences. Offering your readers something thought-provoking makes them more invested in your stories or content, regardless of the medium.

For too long, Hollywood has prioritized superficial thrills over substance. It's time for us to reclaim the narrative and produce content that truly matters. Let's create stories that leave a lasting impression and encourage meaningful reflection.

Writing shouldn't be just about thrills; it should be about what truly matters. While I enjoy the excitement in media, it's time to make a change. What sets self-published authors and content creators apart from big-name publishers is the ability to control what they publish. It doesn't have to stick to the same boring formula. You can experiment and make your stories genuinely unique.

However, this also means you are responsible for your content. Be mindful of what you write and how you write it to avoid giving your readers the wrong impression or message. Writing is complex, but it's worth it if you put your mind to it and do it for the right reasons.

[queenielacy]

Both Drew and Roman got caught up with their obsessions and it cost them

[weaselishmcdiesel]

.

[indiestar]

He watches her from a distance as she plays, her laughter bubbling up like music he almost recognizes but can’t quite sing along to. She’s growing so fast, her world expanding in directions he can’t always follow.

Sometimes, he feels like a stranger peeking in—someone with the same eyes but not the same rhythm. But then, in the quiet moments, when she looks up and smiles at him with a grin that’s all hers and somehow all his, he knows.

He’s not a stranger. Not really. He’s just learning to keep up with the miracle of her becoming.

[obsidianquill]

A man lived a life full of trials, always striving to do good despite the hardships he faced. He gave to the poor, helped the weak, and spoke kindly to all. Yet, misfortune followed him relentlessly, illness, loss, and betrayal became his companions. Despite this, he held fast to his virtue.

One day, after a particularly cruel turn of fate, the man died. Upon his passing, he found himself standing before a radiant figure seated beneath a grand tree...the Buddha.

The man, overwhelmed by curiosity and frustration, fell to his knees and asked, "Why do the good suffer, while those who are cruel thrive? I devoted my life to goodness and yet was met with nothing but sorrow. Why is this world so unfair?"

The Buddha gazed at him with a serene smile and replied, "Tell me, why do you believe the world owes fairness to the good?"

The man hesitated. "Is it not the purpose of goodness to be rewarded? To bring harmony and joy?"

The Buddha nodded gently. "That is the hope of many. But consider this: the world operates on a vast web of causes and conditions. Suffering and joy arise not as a reward or punishment, but as the ripples of actions stretching across lifetimes. Do you plant a seed today and expect the fruit to ripen immediately?"

The man shook his head. "No, but then what is the purpose of doing good if it brings no relief from suffering?"

The Buddha pointed to a river flowing nearby. "Look at this river. It carries everything: clear waters, debris, even filth. Yet it flows onward, undeterred. Goodness is like the river. It is not bound by the rewards it seeks or the trials it endures. It flows because it must."

The man remained silent, pondering the words. Finally, he asked, "But what of those who harm others and thrive? Should they not face justice?"

The Buddha's eyes twinkled with compassion. "Justice is not bound by the clock of this life. Actions have consequences, but those consequences may unfold in ways beyond your understanding. Your task was never to control the world or demand fairness, but to live with integrity. The good you sow may not bloom for you but will nurture the world."

The man sighed, his heart heavy yet lighter than before. "So, there is no answer to suffering?"

"There is," the Buddha said, "but it is not one that seeks fairness or blame. It is the understanding that suffering is part of life, and by accepting this truth, you rise above it. The question is not why you suffered, but how you transformed through it."

With these words, the man felt a profound peace washing over him. The Buddha smiled once more and said, "Now, return. Live again, and do so with this understanding."

[postscript-mc]

Either I have it all, or nothing at all.

No more psychological warfare over half-hearted love bombs.

I’ve fought too hard, for too long. On the frontlines, it hit me—"You’re no longer a battle I choose."

I couldn’t care less missing out on winning glories. Red flags aren’t challenges to conquer, nor dreams to chase.

In the middle where it's safest, risks still at play. So I'm waving the white flag ㅡ taking the loss.

To combat or to surrender, my heart will always be brave and strong. For pain and vulnerability are inevitable but lead to something truly valuable.

[owl-bear-in-flight]

Terry Pratchett and I used to joke that we talk about "going to meet our maker," and if we kill characters in our fiction, then maybe one day there'd be a knock at the door and we'd open the door, and there would be some of our characters looking up at us sadly saying, "Why did I have to suffer and die?" And you'd want to say, "For the entertainment and enlightenment of other people." And they'd look up at us and they'd go, "Is that enough?" You know it has to be enough.

-Neil Gaiman (in his MasterClass on The Art of Storytelling)

[filmcourage]

3 Things That Helped Me Become A Hollywood Screenwriter - Sammy Horowitz

Watch the video interview on YouTube here.

[pattytacuri]

me perdí

Mi perdi en tu bosque lleno de buenas intenciones pero que en realidad estaba lleno de intenciones temporáneos Pensaba que tu bosque estaba lleno de amor y magia pero que en realidad estaba lleno de soberbia y amargura

Me perdí en el mar de tu amor pero era un amor con condiciones estrictas me amabas cuando era tu princesa Sumisa y gentil pero no cuando era una reina Chaotica y fuerte

Me perdí en las montañas que eran tus caricias y tus besos pero eran mentiras bonitas vestido con falsos sentimientos

Me Perdí en ti,ti,ti Y cuando te perdí me perdí a mi, mi, mi

2/11/2022