#like. the themes develop organically throughout the text

[utilitycaster]

also sort of in conversation with my last text post but I'd say the vast majority of the time someone argues a specific character doesn't fit into the theme of an actual play campaign, they do, and the person making that claim is refusing to engage with the themes. Even when I've really disliked a character I've usually felt that they fit thematically into the party and just were super annoying.

[intogenshin]

The Roles of Atheist and Priest: Balance of Faith between Alhaitham and Cyno

The profoundest eternal questions are met only with a boundless and eternal silence

This line in Alhaitham’s teaser is a reference to a poem by Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore in the collection titled Stray Birds.

Tagore’s work is deeply religious in nature (heh) as it is largely influenced by the creation myths of the Rig Veda.

The recurring theme of nature, present throughout the entirety of Stray Birds, expresses and explores the relationship between man and spirituality in the tradition of Indian literature:

(...) when Tagore writes of nature —of birds, trees, a singular blade of grass, a sunset, sunrise, a boat ride, a fading view of water— while all of these external objects belonging to the natural world may make Tagore appear much like western Romantic poets, such as Wordsworth or Yeats, Tagore’s mission is actually quite different. In Tagore, what is expressed is a thoughtful relationship of poet to sacred text, of poet to the mythical or cosmological origins of the world. In Tagore, love of nature equates at one level to love of God; for, in recognizing the worth of the natural world, one is giving assent to the fact that there is a God who created it. (...) in Stray Birds Tagore writes: “To-night there is a stir among the palm leaves, as well as in the sea Full Moon, like the heart throb of the world From what unknown sky hast thou carried in thy silence the aching secret of love?” The lines echo the concept from the creation hymns wherein the sacred text posits that no one knows how creation came to be because no one witnessed it except for the creator God itself, and who can truly know this God but to seek him? As if this were not enough, also in Stray Birds, we read Tagore’s development of this concept as he writes: ”God comes to me in the dusk of my evening with the flowers from my past kept fresh in his basket” This is the mind of a religious poet at work, not a Romantic poet.

—Love of Creation and Mysticism in Tagore’s Gitanjali and Stray Birds, by Paula Hayes

Silence is another major element of Tagore’s exploration of nature as the connection with god, which represents divine wisdom through introspection:

This power of silence is attributed to its heavenly origins. Silence is the voice of God, as well as the place where everyone finds and worships his god: ”God’s silence ripens man’s thoughts into speech” In another poem, this eternal silence of Heaven is juxtaposed with the eternal quest of earthly creatures, a process that affirms the superiority of the former as the ultimate province of trust, beyond the doctrines and divisions created by the mind with their ensuing doubt and uncertainty: ”What language is thine, O sea?” ��The language of eternal question” ”What language is thy answer, O sky?” ”The language of eternal silence” (...) Silence, therefore, is not merely a recurrent theme in the poems of Tagore, nor is it a distinct element that can be extracted from the rest of the poem. It is organically interwoven with other elements, establishing the unity of the poem, its coherence and its uniqueness as well.

—Language of eternal silence, by Muhhammad Hesham

In the poem referenced in Alhaitham’s teaser, the “eternal question” represents man’s quest to find meaning through spirituality, while the “eternal silence” represents introspection and a connection with the wisdom of God.

The role of eternal question fits a character like Alhaitham perfectly: one who seeks wisdom for personal fulfillment, but it is also one that questions this eternal silence —the word of god. One who raises questions against belief, not for the sake of negation, but understanding. An ethical atheist, if you will.

Alhaitham’s ideological worldview of individualism is inspired by the work of Max Stirner, originator of egoist anarchy. Stirner is highly critical of religion, but he also looks down on atheists of his time for replacing the god of western religion with morality and humanism. For him, true freedom can only be achieved through individualism.

Whether then the one God or the three in one. whether the Lutheran God or the être suprême or not God at all, but “Man,” may represent the highest essence, that makes no difference at all for him who denies the highest essence itself, for in his eyes those servants of a highest essence are one and all — pious people, the most raging atheist not less than the most faith-filled Christian.

—The Ego and Its Own, by Max Stirner

Stirner doesn’t seem concerned with denying the existence of god, but rather with the origin and care of his own desires, centering himself instead of “man” as a collective or an idea. He does not act for the good of anyone but himself (or that’s his ideal, at least).

Here’s where Haitham deviates from Stirner’s egoism. He’s not concerned with archons and he does favor individual comfort over Kaveh’s altruism, and he’s not afraid nor ashamed of trespassing conventional rules or institutional laws to get what he wants, but he does recognize the importance of order in society.

Sumeru is the nation ruled by the god of wisdom, so wisdom and knowledge can be understood as the fruit of worship for the archon. Akademiya rules are, much like in religion, a moral code that shapes the ideal believer and punishes those who break the order upheld under these rules. Funny enough, the Akademiya’s original Chinese name is (according to the wiki) Sumeru Institute of Religious Decree —the religious context is lost on the English translation.

Understanding the Akademiya as an allegorical religious institution, Cyno serves as a guardian of the principles and moral code of this church. His historical predecessor is none other than priest Kasala, after all, who was a faithful follower of the Scarlet King (that he calls his “eternal lord”) and later aided Rukkhadevata.

Cyno’s priest-like figure is a fair counterpart to Alhaitham’s atheist: when the ethical atheist raises questions, it is the duty of the priest to answer on behalf of the divine.

The eternal question, an introspective search for answers and meaning; the eternal silence, the wisdom of divine scripture.

Alhaitham and Cyno are the only characters in Sumeru having an association with the theme of silence, especially Cyno. Alhaitham through Tagore’s poem and the description in his default outfit in which a member of the Temple of Silence warns the listener not to bother him if he’s wearing his headphones; and Cyno through direct references in his lore as well as his official affiliation to the Temple.

Much like in Tagore’s poem, the exchange of question and silence is not a hostile one, but rather a conversation, a means for growth for both sides. In dialectics, an argument is held for the same reasons: when offering a thesis, it must be reasonably defended against an equally reasonable contradiction.

Putting these two characters who fulfill these specific roles with religious undertones in a storyline where they work together to overthrow a government, then I simply am reminded of Enjolras and Grantaire from Les Miserables.

YOU SEE they’re part of the revolutionary group that fights in the barricades.

Enjolras is completely driven by ideology, every aspect of his life revolves around his ideals of revolution and freedom to the point that he just isn’t approachable by his colleagues. He’s more a walking ideal than human. While Grantaire is a skeptic who refuses to believe in anything (that is, except Enjolras) (they’re canonically super gay, the author went out of his way to compare them to a bunch of gay Greek historical and mythical couples so go figure).

Grantaire is rather a self indulgent nihilist, but Stirner’s vibes of cynical egoism are there (just described through the eyes of someone who does favor altruism instead lmao):

All those words: rights of the people, rights of man, the social contract, the French Revolution, the Republic, democracy, humanity, civilization, religion, progress, came very near to signifying nothing whatsoever to Grantaire. He smiled at them. Scepticisn, that caries of the intelligence, had not left him a whole single idea. He lived with irony. This was his axiom: “There is but one certainty, my full glass.” He sneered at all devotion in all parties, the father as well as the brother.

Grantaire believes in nothing, which is why he’s in love with the personification of ideal and belief.

A skeptic who adheres to a believer is as simple as the law of complementary colors. That which we lack attracts us. No one loves the light like the blind man. (...) Grantaire, in whom writhed doubt, loved to watch faith soar in Enjolras. He had need of Enjolras. That chaste, healthy, firm, upright, hard candid nature charmed him, without his being clearly aware of it, and without the idea of explaining it to himself having occurred to him. He admired his opposite by instinct.

Their contrast is mainly ideological, with Grantaire barely participating in the revolutionary acts of the group, but (although lesmis seems to be heavily shaped by religious narratives, especially Valjean’s main storyline) the way Enjolras is described very much fits Cyno’s own commitment to his duty as the General Mahamatra:

Enjolras was a charming young man, who was capable of being terrible. He was angelically handsome. He was a savage Antinous. One would have said, to see the pensive thoughtfulness of his glance, that he had already, in some previous state of existence, traversed the revolutionary apocalypse. He possessed the tradition of it as though he had been a witness. He was acquainted with all the minute details of the great affair. A pontifical and warlike nature, a singular thing in a youth. He was an officiating priest and a man of war; from the immediate point of view, a soldier of the democracy; above the contemporary movement, the priest of the ideal

Enjolras role as a revolutionary is heavily colored by religious and military undertones.

For most of the story Grantaire is rejected by Enjolras, often scorned by his lack of commitment and his lifestyle. It is at the last moment when Enjolras is cornered by a fire squad after the barricade fails that Grantaire declares himself a Republican and volunteers to die with him. Enjolras ideals have not succeeded in his quest for liberation, but Grantaire offers him a last hope in leaving his skepticism to believe in those ideals. If a skeptic was capable of believing, then surely it was not in vain and many others would carry Enjolras beliefs beyond his tragical death. And in taking his hand Enjolras basically accepts his feelings because les mis is of course a yaoi

Grantaire had risen. The immense gleam of the whole combat which he had missed, and in which he had had no part, appeared in the brilliant glance of the transfigured drunken man. He repeated: "Long live the Republic!" crossed the room with a firm stride and placed himself in front of the guns beside Enjolras. "Finish both of us at one blow," said he. And turning gently to Enjolras, he said to him: "Do you permit it?" Enjolras pressed his hand with a smile. This smile was not ended when the report resounded. Enjolras, pierced by eight bullets, remained leaning against the wall, as though the balls had nailed him there. Only, his head was bowed. Grantaire fell at his feet, as though struck by a thunderbolt.

Either way, haino in sumeru aq did succeed in overthrowing Azar and lived to tell the tale. But, well, they didn’t need this exchange. Alhaitham understands the value of rules, of Cyno’s duty, as they cooperate with each other.

so anyway yea enjoltaire haino, atheist and priest, gay ideological opposites of faith working together to overthrow the government u get it

further readings:

On the Couple of Silence by hibarifish

Alhaitham and Egoist Anarchism by lotusparadisaea

Love of Creation and Mysticism in Tagore’s Gitanjali and Stray Birds by Paula Hayes

Language of eternal silence by Muhhammad Hesham

[scarlet--wiccan]

Aside from the whitewashing, What esle does the MCU get wrong about Wanda? (Ofc if you haven't answered already)

I want to reiterate that the whitewashing of Wanda, Pietro, and their family in the M C U goes far beyond simple miscasting. I wrote about that at greater length here. I also believe very firmly that the racism surrounding this character supersedes any other adaptational choices.

I'll start off with the obvious, which is that the movie version of Wanda has different powers, a different origin story, and does not wear any version of a Scarlet Witch costume nor call herself "Scarlet Witch" for the vast majority of her time in the M C U. She's not recognizable as the Scarlet Witch until the final episode of Wanda//Vision and the subsequent movie, in which she dies. Even then, the films would rather fabricate an entirely new, and mostly very shallow, mythology around her powers, the Darkhold, and witchcraft-- supported by an equally unrecognizable version of Agatha-- then make any attempt to adapt the source material.

Superhero movies never set out to be a one-to-one translation of comic books, and that's fine, but if they can't preserve the most essential elements of a character or their story, then that is just a bad adaptation. Even without mutants or Magneto, Wanda has a lot of rich lore and history to pull from. None of that is present here. Even if I could set the race issues aside, I do not think I would like this adaptation because to me as a Scarlet Witch fan, this is not a Scarlet Witch story.

And the thing is, the people writing these movies clearly do understand Wanda's history, but they choose to repeatedly spit in its face and betray all of the most important narrative themes. As I mentioned in the linked post, there are allusions to racial tropes and stereotypes that betray a clear awareness of the marginalized people they are erasing. But I find many of the narrative beats troubling as well--

In Age of Ultron, the Avengers first encounter Wanda and Pietro as antagonists, which makes sense, as the characters were originally introduced as villains. In the comics, however, the twins are part of a vulnerable minority group, and they align themselves with a villain-- whose praxis they explicitly disagree with-- for the sake of survival. In the movie, though they are personally disadvantaged, Wanda and Pietro are part of the white European non-mutant majority, and they willingly align themselves with a fascist organization in order to gain power and enact violence. Neither character properly acknowledges or denounces HYDRA's politics.

In Wanda//Vision, Wanda struggles to maintain the facade of an idyllic suburban life. In the comics, she and Vision are equal partners, and the challenges they face as a couple mostly arise from the prejudice of their friends and neighbors. It's a nuanced text that has a lot to do with assimilation and identity, led by two characters who struggle to find acceptance as both literal and metaphorical minorities. Here, it's a story about one white woman taking out her grief on a town of innocent people by violating the mental and bodily autonomy of everyone around her, including her own husband.

Throughout Wanda//Vision and Multiverse of Madness, Wanda's magical powers rapidly develop in response to her grief, ultimately leading her down a path of destruction. In the comics, Wanda is a frequent victim of exploitation and possession, and her powers stem from being violated as an infant. These stories are often problematic, but Wanda typically emerges victorious by reclaiming her autonomy, asserting her morals, and working to make reparations for any harm her powers have caused. In the M C U, Wanda is nobody's victim-- she comes into these powers on her own and willingly gives into their corruptive influence. She is never possessed-- she enacts harm entirely of her own volition, even seeking to prey upon and exploit others. She's agential, but she's also morally bankrupt, and the movies offers her no chance of redemption save for their own loose moral scale and blindingly white feminism.

[seenoversundown]

The Caravel Tavern Series : Prologue

Warnings: mentions of drinking/alcohol, sibling banter, fluff/wholesome/good vibes.

Word Count: 4.2k

Summary: The opening of Caravel Tavern was a dream come true for Jake. With the help of his best friends and brothers, naturally. In a small city in New England, it's rare to come across new faces. (or even run into some from the past)

A 4 Book interconnected series where they find love in the most unexpected ways. The bar was Jake's dream, but somehow is helping everybody else's dreams come true as well.

Rom-Com • Enemies To Lovers • Love At First Sight • Rekindled High School Sweethearts • Workplace Romance • AU - Boys x OCs

Night Moves - Bob Seger  “When you just don't seem to have as much to lose Strange how the night moves With autumn closin' in”                                               

Two Days until Open 

Flipping the heavy lock and hearing the door chime has become my favorite way to start my day. After six long months of fixing up this place, it’s only days from officially opening. I’ve spent countless hours cleaning it up, with the help of my brothers, obviously. But it has come together and finally feels like mine.

 “Goodmoooooorning!” Josh sings from across the room. 

“Good Morrow!” I can’t help the slight accent that comes along with it. 

Josh has been helping me decorate, thrift, and create things to match the aesthetic here. Deciding to develop a piratical vibe with a touch of retro themes felt right. We’ve spent hours finding the perfect pieces to hang, and thankfully, Josh has a good eye for all that. Red neon signs adorned the walls, with my favorite “Sinners Welcome” sign hanging behind the bar. 

“I think we are getting close to finishing with the decor,” Josh says, turning to make eye contact with me. 

“If you’re happy with it, then I’m happy with it,” I said, smiling back at him. “Just let me know what I can do to help. Otherwise, I’ll be organizing until the cows come home.” 

The door chimes ringing as Sam, our younger brother, walks through the door, Daniel quickly following behind. 

Daniel has practically been part of our family since we were kids, so he is treated like a brother. He and Sam went to school together and instantly attached at the hip, so he was at our house often throughout the years. When the time came, he chose not to go away for college, and I helped him get a job with me at the Shipyard. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a glamorous job, but it’s one of the better-paying options— at least it wasn’t a factory. 

“Okay, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, we come bearing gifts, and by that, I mean, I hope you like these coffees,” Sam announces as he makes his way to the bar, “black– because I texted both of you and neither replied, so it’s your fault.” 

“Some of us have jobs, Sam,” I said back.

Josh pulls out his phone, and I can see him click around for a second, “Oh yeah, there it is.”

Sam abruptly set the coffee on the bar in front of us with a shit-eating grin.

“Mental note, keep coffee creamer,” Josh mumbles and Sam holds a bag out to him before taking a sip.

“I didn’t forget your caramel cold foam whipped cream bullshit that you put in your coffee.”

Josh’s face lights up at the sight, “Wow, you do care about me,” putting on the dramatics per usual, “Also– I better not be Tweedle Dum.”

Sam let out a sinister laugh with an exaggerated shrug, “Guess we’ll never know!”

Since Sam got home from college, he’s been helping Josh and myself get everything done for the bar. Often, he’s reluctant or tries to make it seem that way. I can tell that he likes to be a part of everything. He’s been offering to take pictures of the bar. We have all the beer available, so we can post them on our Instagram, which I’m glad he understands is part of the business because I do not. 

“Thank you, Samuel,” I say. “Lucky for you, I always take my coffee black.” 

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“I think if I have to look at another beer can today,” Sam starts, “I’ll lose my mind completely.” 

I giggle as I continue to track what we have in stock, “The worst is almost over, bud.” 

I’m sure opening the week of Thanksgiving seems like a terrible concept, and, to be frank- it’s overwhelming. I hope the six months of bickering with everybody will prove it was worth it.

“Hey, boss,” Daniel starts, “is there anything else you’d like me to do?”

I’m not exactly proud of how much he startled me. I should be more used to how quiet he is by now, but I don’t think I’ll ever be. 

“Jesus Christ,” I stop to process the question. “No, buddy, you can go home. It’s getting late, and we all probably could stand to get some rest before actually opening.” 

With no hesitation, I hear Sam ask from the other room, “Does that include me also?” 

“Yes, go home!” I shout over to him.

The door chime rings suddenly, causing Josh and me to laugh, walking over to find whatever he is working on. Carefully tapping the frame to ensure it’s centered on the nail, he looks incredibly focused. 

“We can also be done for the night,” I tell him, putting my arm around his shoulders. 

“Well, even better news, that was the last thing I needed to hang.” He says.

“You’ve outdone yourself, really.” I compliment him. 

Patting my hand a few times, he tells me, “Did it up just right, and it’s all for you, brother.”

We stare at each other silently for a second. 

“I’m just elated to see you finally going for your dreams.” 

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Opening Night

The room glows in red from the neon signs we’ve hung, making everything feel real suddenly as I look at the locked door. We decided to open a little later in the day so the ambiance would be there. Also, who opens a bar on their first day at noon? 

“How are you feelin’?” Daniel asked, squeezing my shoulder to wake me up from my nervous state. 

“I’m not well.” 

He laughs at my response. “It’s going to be great, Jake.” 

I spent a moment trying to crack my knuckles before letting out the breath I had been holding. Listening to the quiet, jazzy riff that Sam is playing on the piano, tucked into the corner. 

“You think so?” turning to him for a bit of reassurance.

“Absolutely. I think you’re onto something great, buddy,” he tells me.

My hands shake as I turn the jukebox on for the first official time, hearing the music start playing throughout the bar; we all look at each other for a second with smiles plastered across all our faces. 

“Okay, it’s time,” I say as I turn the deadbolt. Seeing Josh pull the little chain on the ‘Open’ sign in the window makes my heart thump even louder. 

The moment feels like slow motion as the door opens, and it isn’t one of the four of us who have been working here. I had hardly taken two steps back when the chime went off. 

“Oh, sweetheart,” my mom gasps, stepping over the threshold, “This is wonderful.” 

She immediately pulls me into a hug; all my nerves disappeared in a simple gesture. 

“You did the damn thing, now didn’t ya bub?” Dad finally speaks up, giving me his signature side hug. 

Before I knew it, Josh was already toting our parents around the bar, showing them all the decor he was proud of finding. A few customers who weren’t family had started to trickle in and sit at the bar. 

“I actually made Jake meet me after work so he could help me pull this out of the dumpster,” Josh explains, louder than I wished he would. A collective “oooh” followed his statement, realizing that a handful of customers sitting close to the tour were also listening to him now. 

“I painted this for him,” he continues, pointing at his framed artwork. He’s always been artistic; his imagination was incredible.

 A miniature painting of Queen Anne’s Revenge sat in a gold frame. He’s always known that I love everything about pirates and their history. That was one of the first things he made for the bar when I told him I would officially buy it. 

“That’s beautiful,” our mom gasped, leaning in to look at the little details even closer. “You really did that, Sunshine?!” Her voice raises excitedly, causing even more customers to glance over. Covering my mouth with my hand, I try to contain the laugh. Josh really did turn into Mom over the years, huh? 

“You obviously know that Jake loves his pirates,”

“Oh, I sure do,” Mom says, “Remember when he would cry because his favorite pirate ship jammies needed to be washed?” 

“Alright, alright. Mum, we don’t need to bring it up,” I chime in, “ again,” shaking my head at the trip down memory lane.

My dad finally snuck away from the Grand Tour, found a seat at the bar, and started to make conversation with a few people. 

Glancing over to the door as it opens, Old Man Chuck strolls in, immediately making eye contact. He makes his way over to the corner stool at the bar. 

Without asking, I slide a beer over to him.

“Ya did a hell of a job, kid. Place looks wicked good,” he mumbles. 

“Thank you, Sir,” I matched his volume, “that one’s on me.” He gave me a subtle nod. 

Old Man Chuck wasn’t a man of many words, and I respected that. He took a chance to sell me the bar; I’ll always be grateful. It probably helps that I have spent plenty of nights here when he still owned it, but where else am I supposed to go when my apartment is only two floors above?

As the night goes on, people start trickling in. Living in Portland for so long, you realize everyone knows everyone. Considering we were rapidly approaching Thanksgiving, many people were home for the holidays and in need of a break from their families. 

I scan the bar to see if anybody hasn’t been tended to when I see Sam trying his hardest to converse with Chuck, and it’s not working. I walk over, touching his shoulder to get his attention.

“Sammy boy, can you just do a quick round and make sure everyone in the booths is good?” I quickly ask him.

“Aye, aye, Captain.” 

I watch as he makes his way to each table, collecting empty glasses and making occasional small talk with some of the groups.

“Everyone good over here?” I could hear him asking from behind the bar. 

Even though he would complain daily about helping out, I could tell he didn’t mind doing this part as much. I could never say to him because it would go straight to his head, and I’d never hear the end, but I’m incredibly proud of him. Poor kid hasn’t worked a day in his life, and I’ve been putting him through it for the last few months. 

“Oh, you sell things at the farmer’s market too?” he asks. “What’s your Instagram? I’ll follow you real quick!” 

He’s always been comfortable talking to people; he usually seems carefree. I’ve always admired how sure of himself he is. I don’t know if it’s the amount of time he spends outside or that he got a few years away from us, but he’s gotten much more comfortable with himself.

“So.. do you have a boy-“ 

All of that to say, he has absolutely no game with the ladies. 

“Hey bud, I told you to check on everyone,” I glance over at the girl and back at Sam, “not harass them.” 

“Jake, what are you doing?” he spits out, “I’m so sorry- uhh” 

I give him a quick double pat on the back and nod towards the bar. 

“Are you kidding? I was trying to–” Sam continues as I stroll behind the bar. “Do you actually hate me?” 

“You were not about to win her over, Sam,” I laugh. “She’s been making eyes at Daniel all night.” 

I watch him deflate, putting the dirty glasses he brought back in the bin beside me. 

“She doesn’t seem like your type anyway.” 

“And you know what my type is?” He questions with a smug look on his face. 

“She clearly wasn’t feisty enough to put up with your stubborn ass,” I quip back with a smile. 

Unimpressed with my response, he goes back to mingling with customers. I find myself watching him as he makes small talk. 

I probably shouldn’t step in on his attempts at flirting, but I could see that one imploding a little too quickly. 

I don’t have the best of luck with women myself. I haven’t been on a date in God knows how long. The bar has kept me so busy I don’t even consider it. There are too many things I need to think about constantly, and it wouldn’t be fair for me to do that to someone. 

Scanning the room, I notice a couple sitting together in one of the booths, his arm draped over her shoulders. The way she looks at him, gazing at him like he created the moon. Cradling his face with her tiny hand and pressing her lips to his cheek, a smile erupted across his face. Maybe one day.

“Come back to earth, honey,” followed by a few snaps, pull me out of my own world. 

“I’m sorry, Linda,” I laugh, “I’m happy to see you here.” 

Linda Graves, a sweet older lady, will quickly become one of our regulars. She runs a stand at our local farmer’s market and quickly became buddies with Sam. Her husband had recently passed when he first met her, but she was slowly making her way back out into the world. She’s an eccentric girl and, honestly, reminds me of Josh often. 

“Where’s the big guy?” she asks, making her bright red glasses bounce up and down suggestively. 

“You know he has a name–”

“I’m trying to play hard to get Jake. You’re supposed to be my wingman,” she whispers, gently smacking my arm,  “Did I use that right?”

Throwing my head back with a laugh, I said, “Oh god, you’re right!” 

Gesturing to Linda to give me one second, I find the man of her dreams, who is conveniently walking out of the bathroom as I turn into the hall. 

“I have a lovely little lady who would like to see you,” choking back the laugh. 

“Is it who I think it is?” Daniel asks, following me towards the bar, “Ahhh�� there she is.”

He’s a good sport about most things, which is a refreshing outlook to have around, considering who my family is. 

“Hi there, beautiful,” he starts, and I watch her melt into a puddle over him. 

“Now, Lin, you know I’m gonna have to check your ID if you want to drink tonight.” He tells her with a little wink. 

“Oh, Danny. You make me feel so young,” Linda tells him. 

“What do you mean, sweetheart? You ARE young,”

“You cut it out now,” She giggles like a schoolgirl, “I look like a bag of bones. I think we both know I’m old.”

“You don’t look a day over 21.” He leans forward, holding himself on the bar. He knows exactly what he’s doing, making his arm muscles flex a little while he listens to her talk. I watch Linda taking little glances at his biceps while he talks. 

I see the towel he has sitting over his shoulder starting to slip, and I lean forward to catch it as it falls. Tossing it back over his shoulder, he gives me a slight nod since he is mid-sentence. 

“Good save,” Linda quips. 

“Thank you, thank you,” I send her a warm smile. 

I turn around immediately, bumping into Josh, his teeth on full display, giggling to himself. I haven’t seen him this happy in a while. 

“Having fun?” I ask. 

“Of course! I’m drunk!”

“I- uh- you’re what?” The panic lacing my voice is intense. 

“Jake,” he says while grabbing my shoulders, “I’m kidding.” 

Dropping my head back in relief that it was a joke, I’m disappointed I fell for it. 

“What a little shit you are,” I can’t help the laugh that escapes me.

“Who are you calling little? I’m five minutes older than you, bub.” He calls back over the music. 

I roll my eyes and walk off. He’ll never let that die. 

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“Excuse me.” 

I turn around to find a petite older lady sitting at the bar.

“Oh, I’m sorry, how are you this evening?” I ask. 

“Well, it’s much better now,” she batted her eyelashes at me. 

“I’m so happy to hear,” I hold in a laugh, “What can I get you to drink?”

“Do you have any Moscato or Rieslings? 

I smile as she asks, “Of course I do. Hang on” 

Turning around to the fridge where we store our white wine, I giggle quietly. 

Looks like I’ve gained my own Linda.  

I grab a glass and turn back to her, setting the glass in front of her. 

“I don’t know if you know this..” I pause, “I’m sorry, I never got your name?” 

“Eleanor”

“Well, Eleanor, I save this specific bottle of Moscato for only the sweetest of girls,” I tell her as I pour the chilled wine into her glass. 

“Oh, you stop,” She bashfully waves her hand toward me. 

I glance at her with a smirk cemented across my face.

“Here you go, darling,” I slide the glass across the bar to her.

I give her a second to take a sip, and I can hear the quiet hum telling me that the wine is what she was hoping for. 

“Actually,” I start, “I’d like to introduce you to someone. I think you would get along a little too well.” 

I look over to Linda, who has taken a break from flirting with Daniel for a moment so he can get some work done. Waving her over, she grabs her bag and downs the rest of her drink before walking around to Miss Eleanor and me. 

“Linda, this is Eleanor.” I introduce them and watch as they start to make small talk. 

I found out that they both are into crafting and that Eleanor has been known to make the vases for the Flower Truck that goes to the Farmer’s Market.  ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

“Where are my boys?” Mom asks loudly. 

Somehow, we all heard her over the chatter of the bar. Sam was already closest to her, so he wrapped her up in a hug first. 

“I’m getting too old to be out this late, Buttercup,” she tells him.

“Ma, it’s only 10 PM,”

“I know, I know,” she says, patting his chest gently. 

Reaching out for Josh, who’s coming in hot for a hug. Wrapping her tightly and rocking her back and forth. 

“I love you,” Josh spoke with an inside voice. Something about our mom brought him down to earth. 

“Oh, I love you so much, Sunshine,” Mom leans back, holding him at arm’s length, “You did a fantastic job decorating.” 

“Thank you, Mama,” he mumbles, pulling her back for another hug. 

“Alright, where’s my extra son?” She looks around for a moment before making eye contact with Daniel. She waves him down, watching the smile creep onto his face as he approaches her. 

“Oh, my sweet little dumpling,” She has always had a soft spot for him, “I would never leave without a big hug from you.” She pulls him into a bear hug, rubbing his back a few times. 

“Missed you so much,” He can’t help the giggle that comes from him at the pet name he gained as a child. 

I stand there watching my brothers both say goodbye to our Dad, giving him quick hugs per usual. Dad was never one for the emotional situations, but he’s loosened up over the years. Looking over at me, he gestures for me to go to him. 

“I know we’ll see you guys in the morning,” he starts, looking down at the floor with his hands tucked in his pockets, “But I just want you to know. I really am proud of you, kid.” 

He looks back up at me, and his eyes look like they’re struggling to fight the emotion. 

“Thank you,” Without a second thought, I wrap my arms around him. 

He pats my back a few times before pulling away from the hug, “I can tell how much this place means to you, and I’m just so happy for you.” 

He points behind me, letting out a small laugh. 

I can hardly turn around before being bombarded by my mother. 

“I’m glad you made it for the opening night,” I whisper. 

“Sweetheart, I wouldn’t miss this,” She whispers back, pressing a few kisses to my cheek, “Can’t tell you enough how proud I am,” 

I place a kiss on the side of her head, “I love you, Mum.”

I let Sam walk our parents out, returning to my place behind the bar. Happily watching Josh mingle with customers, it’s nice to see him existing in an environment that suits him. He just beams when he gets to be social and himself; Josh is much too loud and animated for his current job, and he needs something like this. 

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

“We’ll be back for sure!” rings through the bar as the last patrons walk out. 

Pulling the doors shut and locking us in, I spin on my heels to face Josh, Sam, and Daniel. We all just stare at each other for a few seconds, even though it feels longer, and we cannot contain the laughter of disbelief. We did it… I did it. 

Josh quickly closes the distance between us, pulling me into a hug. Being twins has created a very different bond; he’s my best friend. I don’t think I would have had the courage to purchase the bar if it hadn’t been for him in my ear reminding me that I could do it. 

“I just want you to know that,” Josh starts, “I’m so proud of you, and I will always be here to help you, even if you don’t want to ask for it,” his voice shakes slightly. 

“Thanks, bub. I love you,” squeezing Josh one more time. I hope he knows I’m always ready to do the same for him. 

“I think this calls for celebration, don’t you?” Daniel asks, walking over to us holding beers. 

“Cheers!” I holler, raising my beer for everyone to join. We all share a well-deserved celebratory moment after the last six months. 

I grab a towel from behind the bar, walking back to one of the tables where Sam collects cans and glasses.

“Isn’t this what Dad used to play all the time in the car?” Sam asks while I’m wiping down the table. I listen a little more closely, realizing it’s absolutely one of our dad’s favorite songs. 

“I was a little too tall, could’ve used a few pounds,” 

We sing along as it plays, laughing hard as I whip Sam with the towel. He flips me off before walking away with a few glasses in his other hand. 

We all slowly cleaned and serenaded each other, which made us giggle like a bunch of little kids. 

“Workin’ on our night moves,” 

Josh sings dramatically, holding his half-drunk beer like a microphone. 

“Mmmm, in the sweet summertime”

This time, he leaned over to me so we could sing together, just like we used to as kids in the back seat. 

“We were just young, restless, and bored,” Daniel sings as he walks from the back room. 

Suddenly, the piano starts ringing through the bar, and we all find Sam playing along with the jukebox. I’ll let it slide since he was incredibly helpful today.

“And we'd steal away every chance we could

To the backroom, to the alley or the trusty woods.”

I finish gathering all the trash and tossing the bags near the back door. Josh still plugging away, cleaning all the glasses while serenading us all. 

“And I waited on the thunder,”  I sing, turning to point at Josh, knowing that he will absolutely know what to do next. 

As expected, Josh belts out the line, “Waited on the thunder.” he always had a way of making the entire room laugh. 

“When you just don't seem to have as much to lose.”

I prop open the back door to bring the trash out. A robust and crisp breeze envelopes me. It smells like it could snow.

“Strange how the night moves

With autumn closin' in” 

I take a deep breath. The cold air is refreshing after a long night. After tossing the trash, I walk back inside to the sound of hysterical laughter. The three of them bent over in a fit of giggles as they all yelled the backing vocals. 

“(Night moves) I remember, I remember, I remember, I remember.” 

In the moment, I think to myself, If you can’t beat em, join em. I drape my arm over Josh’s shoulders as I shout with them. Giving him a double pat on his chest as we all laugh together. 

“Alright, boys, let’s go home,” I tell them in my finest English accent. 

I make my way over to the door, holding it open for them to file through. I took one last glance over to make sure we took care of everything.

“I remember, I remember,” I sing under my breath, flipping the lights off.

Caravel Tavern Master Post | Masterlist | Taglist

Sparrow Of The Dawn Chapter One

Book 1 of the series; Sam x Willa (Fem OC)

Taglist:

@gvfsstardust, @peaceloveunitygvf, @myleftsock,@imleavingyoufornewyork,@threadofstars,@mindastreamofcolours,@dont-go-home-without-me,@literal-dead-leaf,@lizzys-sunflower,@ourlovesdesire,@mackalah,@klarxtr, @edgingthedarkness, @i-love-gvf

[pen-and-umbra]

do u think sephiroths redemption arc is possible?

(Spoilers & wall of text alert)

Sure, why not, anything is possible. Currently, only two things are certain. One, despite fan backlash, Square Enix continues to take creative liberties. Second, regardless of what SE does, some fans will be upset.

For better or worse, SE's handling of the Remake in this regard leaves plenty of room for a 180-degree turn on Sephiroth's case. The character's portrayal has steadily shifted since the original, which appears to have served the purpose of painting him in a sympathetic light. It begs a question: to what end? Crisis Core, Ever Crisis, and FFVII Rebirth all depict Sephiroth as a decent person, with Rebirth showing him influenced by Jenova during the Nibelheim massacre (as discussed here). Here hardcore fans like to bring up old Ultimania publications, citing that Sephiroth's will overpowers that of Jenova after falling into the Lifestream and learning everything there is to know about the Meteor/Cetra/Jenova. While how SE handles that episode in the Remake remains to be seen, it's worth noting that official lore is neither immutable nor free of contradictions on a variety of details, including seemingly important plot beats like romantic lines. Additionally, certain details diverge over the course of compilation. As a result, we've already seen SE absolve AVALANCHE as an eco-terrorist organization by shifting the blame to ShinRA in the remake. They've made changes to Rufus and President ShinRA's plotlines. We've seen them make extremely bold decisions regarding Gold Saucer that were unthinkable in the OG. Furthermore, the inclusion of the Whispers and the theme of "Changing the Fate" demonstrate SE's willingness to take drastic and controversial steps, sometimes diverging significantly from the original material. The point is, developers' previous statements aren't set in stone and are subject to change as FFVII project grows.

As previously stated, SE left some space for a turn, most likely on purpose, if they decide to take a risk. The Rebirth already explores the idea of Sephiroth as little more than a passenger after leaving the mansion. In addition, the entries on Jenova monsters we fight in parts one and two sufficiently expand on the scope of Jenova's mind-interfering abilities, which may allude to Jenova's larger role in the Remake. When combined with the Temple of Ancients hologram and snippets from Gast's journal Sephiroth quotes, it could indicate that Jenova has been "awake" and out of slumber since its discovery at the dig site, potentially manipulating Gast and the team behind the Jenova Project.

Therefore, the groundwork for introducing a villain more significant than Sephiroth may already be in place. Shifting the focus away from him and toward an eldritch cosmic terror should suffice, as the ambiguity about who is in control has already existed since the original script. The Nibelheim sequence from Rebirth played a role in this, as did the infamous ore/watashi pronoun switch. And despite appearing to be totally distinct, the outcomes of Sephiroth's goals (consume Lifestream and travel to a new Planet to be god) eerily mirror those of Jenova (consume Lifestream and travel to a new Planet, presumably to once again consume it's Lifestream, rinse/repeat). Incidentally, in the Temple of Ancients, there is a hologram suggesting a connection between Jenova and The Goddess from LOVELESS, so one has to wonder just who Sephiroth is taking after with that "to become god" complex of his.

Another thing to consider is that throughout the compilation, traditional methods of defeating Jenovaroth simply did not work. Sephiroth/Jenova returned after their defeat in OG, and if you consider the Remake to be a sort of sequel (that is, if you subscribe to the Remake!Sephiroth=AC! Sephiroth theory), Jenovaroth returns after Advent Children as well. Battling him does not appear to yield results or break the "rebirth" cycle, so perhaps a different approach is required. (This ties in thematically with the tagline "defying destiny").

Redemption arcs are often perceived as leading to a "happily ever after," but they can take various forms beyond this common expectation. A character's redemption can involve self-sacrifice to overcome evil, collaborating with the protagonist to bring about change, and more. Combined with the previous remark about the futility of conventional fighting methods, perhaps the way to defeat Sephiroth/Jenova for good is somehow linked to his redemption of sorts. To break the parasitic bond between the two, or to quench and release the spirit's anger. In some ways, this is what Aerith does to Kadaj in Advent Children, and the latter's "essence", cleansed by Aerith's Great Gospel trick, rejoins the Lifestream. Equally, the Gi subplot somewhat parallels the Jenova/Sephiroth situation, so SE is likely to implement a comparable strategy for a secondary plotline.

Speaking about the latest material in the compilation, Ever Crisis quite poignantly brings up the topic of breaking the cycle of hatred.

The latter pertains both Cloud & party (hatred toward Sephiroth, ShinRA), and Sephiroth himself in as much as OG painted him (hatred towards humanity for eradicating the Cetra and more). So perhaps the key to saving the world of FFVII is about showing compassion and acting out of mercy, not out of revenge.

Anyway, it is entirely speculative at this point.

Overall, a different role for Sephiroth should not be dismissed as a possibility as certain elements in the game suggest a potential twist related to Jenova. SE have proven that they care about their creative vision far more than about criticisms, so…no promises at the journey's end. Naturally, some groups of fans may strongly oppose SE if Sephiroth is sidelined or if significant alterations are made. On the other hand, there has been growing dissatisfaction since the first part of the Remake with Sephiroth being shoehorned as a boss fight so frequently that he becomes redundant as a "final big bad". While both perspectives are reasonable and offer valid insights into the situation, someone will still be outraged no matter what SE does.

From a personal standpoint, I maintain an open-minded approach. If Sephiroth remains a villain, that's fine. If he is revealed to have been Jenova's puppet all along, my world will not collapse. On the plus side, I'm excited to see Jenova play a bigger role. The entity is as fascinating as The Thing from the film, and the original failed to capitalize on all of its creepy potential. At the end of the day, it may be the case of familiarity breeding ambivalence: the game has gotten so old that I won't mind a new twist, even if all characters end up dancing to a hip-hop tune in the end. On that note, in a recent interview, one of the developers stated that they are planning the ending with characters being happy in mind, which is what I'd like to see after 20+ years. For the characters to discover happiness and peace. This includes Sephiroth. Finding a peaceful way to break free from Jenova and his anger once and for all.

👋 @pen-and-umbra

[jiangwanyinscatmom]

do u have any advice for getting better at analyzing and deconstructing text? i look up to you in the ways that you are able to break things down so sharply

Hi there!

So at least with this, I am falling back on to what I had been taught regarding literature analysis and which I learned to first and foremost rely on for a technical level and execution of these techniques for a work over the personal enjoyment I derived and interpretation which can be later, or the fandom fun part. (This is just how I have learned and how I implement analysis it can work for others it might not)

1 Ask Questions.

What's the plot, what plot arcs take place through the work, what happened in the chapter, what was said, what was the consequences of inaction or actions performed by the character(s)?

2 Collect Evidence.

What evidence from text (passages, narrative point of view, dialogue) supports the answers to my questions.

3 Construct a Thesis. What do the actions of the characters mean and how does the text reflect this in order for me to be able to support what happened and why the character reacted as they had in retaliation. How does this support the themes you are presenting in your thesis and what you are trying to confirm

4 Develop and Organize evidence to support your thesis cohesively.

And of course you want to make sure you have your usual literary devices understood and how these are implemented throughout novels. It all also comes down to what sort of analysis theory you like.

Mimetic Theories (interested in the relationship between the Work and the Universe). Pragmatic Theories (interested in the relationship between the Work and the Audience). Expressive Theories (interested in the relationship between the Work and the Artist). Objective Theories (interested in close reading of the Work). I tend to veer to Objective Theory mostly and keep analytical approaches contained to the works only.

Do feel free to ask anything for this! I love discussing general analysis regarding any sort of fictional mediums, and have fun yourself with implementing this sort of thing!

And thank you as well for liking my bits and pieces I put out, I'm just too invested with literature and how they come to life in so many ways.

[wordpressblogsblog]

WordPress SEO Best Practices for 2024 - Improve Your Site’s Ranking

Introduction

WordPress remains one of the top platforms for building websites, and optimizing your site for SEO is essential in 2024. Whether you're managing a blog, business website, or online store, SEO can make or break your online presence. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the most effective WordPress SEO best practices for the year, especially for those working with WordPress development agencies or managing their own WordPress websites.

1. Install the Best SEO Plugins

A quick way to improve your WordPress website’s SEO is by using the right plugins. Tools like Yoast SEO and RankMath simplify the process of optimizing your pages and posts.

Yoast SEO - This plugin helps you manage SEO basics like meta tags and readability.

RankMath - A powerful tool with features like rich snippets and SEO performance tracking.

These plugins make it easier to optimize your site, even if you’re not an SEO expert.

2. Ensure Your Site is Mobile-Friendly

With mobile-first indexing in play, ensuring your WordPress website is optimized for mobile is non-negotiable. Google rewards mobile-friendly sites with better rankings.

Responsive Themes - Choose themes that automatically adjust to different screen sizes.

Fast Load Times - A quick-loading site enhances both user experience and your SEO score.

Google prioritizes sites that offer a seamless mobile experience, so this step is crucial.

3. Optimize Your Content with Relevant Keywords

Keyword optimization is essential to ranking well on search engines. But today’s SEO isn’t about cramming in as many keywords as possible, it's about using them thoughtfully. For example, instead of repeating “WordPress development company” endlessly, mix it up with related phrases like “WordPress development services” or “custom WordPress development.”

The key is to make your content natural and easy to read while ensuring you still include relevant keywords in titles, headings, and throughout the text.

4. Boost Your Site’s Speed

A slow website can hurt your rankings. Google tends to favor fast-loading sites, so improving your page speed is important for both user experience and SEO.

Caching Plugins - Plugins like W3 Total Cache can significantly speed up your site.

Image Optimization - Compress images without sacrificing quality to improve load times.

The faster your site, the better your ranking will be.

5. Structure Your Content Properly

Search engines and users alike prefer organized content. Break up your posts with headings (H1, H2, H3) and include internal links to other pages on your site. This not only helps with SEO but also makes it easier for visitors to navigate your content.

For example, linking from your blog to your WordPress development services page can help improve your rankings.

6. Add Schema Markup

Schema markup helps search engines understand your content better, which can lead to rich snippets in search results. If you’re offering WordPress website services, adding schema markup for your services can make your listing more eye-catching in search results.

Schema markup helps your website stand out and gives search engines more context about your pages.

7. Create High-Quality Content and Earn Backlinks

Content still drives SEO. Focus on creating valuable, engaging content that resonates with your audience. If you offer WordPress website services, writing in-depth guides or case studies can help you build credibility and authority.

Building backlinks from reputable sites is another way to boost your SEO. Consider guest posting or collaborating with other sites in the WordPress space to earn quality backlinks.

Conclusion

By applying these WordPress development services and SEO best practices, you can significantly improve your site’s ranking in 2024. Whether you work with a WordPress development company or manage your own site’s SEO, these simple strategies will help you stay ahead of the competition and ensure your website performs well in search engines.

[adhaiwell]

How to Optimize Outdoor Rental Transparent LED Displays for Events

I. Introduction

- Briefly introduce the importance of outdoor rental transparent LED displays in events.

- Mention the challenges and opportunities in optimizing their performance.

II. Technical Optimization

A. Display Settings

- Adjusting brightness according to different lighting conditions (daytime sunlight, evening ambient light).

- Calibrating color temperature and contrast for vivid and accurate visuals.

- Setting the appropriate refresh rate to avoid flickering during dynamic content playback.

B. Connectivity and Signal Management

- Ensuring stable wired (Ethernet, fiber optic) or wireless (WiFi, 5G) connections.

- Using signal repeaters or boosters if necessary to cover large event areas.

- Managing signal interference issues in crowded event environments.

C. Software Updates and Compatibility

- Regularly updating the display's control software for improved functionality.

- Ensuring compatibility with different media players and content management systems.

- Testing new software features before events to avoid glitches.

III. Physical Setup Optimization

A. Location and Placement

- Selecting the optimal viewing angles based on the event layout and audience seating.

- Considering wind direction and protection when placing displays outdoors.

- Avoiding obstructions that could block the view of the display.

B. Mounting and Support Structures

- Choosing the right type of mounts (fixed, mobile, hanging) based on the event type.

- Ensuring the stability of support structures to withstand wind, vibration, and accidental impacts.

- Checking and maintaining the integrity of mounting hardware regularly.

C. Power Supply Management

- Calculating the power requirements accurately based on the display size and usage duration.

- Using backup power sources (generators, UPS systems) for uninterrupted operation during power outages.

- Implementing power distribution systems to prevent overloading.

IV. Content Optimization

A. Tailoring Content to the Event

- Designing content that matches the theme and atmosphere of the event (e.g., a concert-themed display for a music festival).

- Incorporating event - specific information such as schedules, performer names, and sponsor logos.

B. Visual Design Principles

- Using high - resolution images, videos, and graphics for better clarity.

- Applying appropriate text sizes and fonts for readability from a distance.

- Maintaining a consistent visual style throughout the content.

C. Interactive and Dynamic Content

- Incorporating interactive elements like touch - enabled features if possible.

- Creating dynamic content with animations, transitions, and real - time data feeds (e.g., live event statistics).

V. Maintenance and Troubleshooting Optimization

A. Regular Maintenance Checks

- Inspecting the display panels for physical damage, dead pixels, or loose connections.

- Cleaning the display surface to maintain optimal clarity.

- Checking the functionality of cooling systems to prevent overheating.

B. Spare Parts and Emergency Kits

- Stocking essential spare parts such as LED modules, power supplies, and cables.

- Preparing emergency repair kits with tools and quick - fix solutions.

- Training staff on basic repair and replacement procedures.

C. Troubleshooting Guides

- Developing comprehensive troubleshooting guides for common issues (e.g., signal loss, display artifacts).

- Having remote monitoring systems in place to detect problems early.

- Establishing communication channels with technical support teams during events.

VI. Conclusion

- Summarize the key points of optimizing outdoor rental transparent LED displays for events.

- Emphasize the benefits of proper optimization in enhancing the event experience.

- Encourage event organizers to implement these optimization strategies for successful events.

[kaberriveraltar]

Timeless Wisdom: The Inspiring Power of the Bible in Personal and Social Transformation

Throughout history, the Bible has stood as a profound source of inspiration, guidance, and wisdom. Its influence stretches far beyond religious spheres, impacting literature, law, philosophy, and individual lives around the world. For millions, the Bible is more than just a book; it is a beacon of hope, a foundation of values, and a guide for moral and spiritual development. In this essay, we will delve into the significance of biblical inspiration, examining why this ancient text continues to be a wellspring of insight and strength.

The Timeless Nature of Biblical Wisdom

One reason the Bible remains inspirational is its timeless wisdom. Regardless of the era, its teachings address universal human experiences—love, suffering, joy, and justice—that resonate across ages and cultures. For instance, the parables of Jesus provide moral lessons that are still applicable today, teaching humility, compassion, and forgiveness. These timeless values continue to serve as a moral compass, inspiring individuals and societies to strive for justice, peace, and kindness.

Consider the impact of the Bible on social reformers throughout history. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. drew heavily from biblical teachings, particularly the message of love and equality, to promote civil rights and social justice. His famous "I Have a Dream" speech echoes themes found in prophetic books like Isaiah, where visions of harmony and equity provide a rallying cry for change. Through such figures, the Bible's influence is evident in real-world transformations that align with its vision of a just society.

A Guide for Personal Growth and Inner Peace

Biblical inspiration is also profound on a personal level. Many turn to the Bible as a source of solace during difficult times, finding strength in its promises of peace and hope. The book of Psalms, for instance, offers comfort and assurance to those in pain, reminding readers that they are not alone and that God is a refuge. Psalm 23, which begins, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want," has been a balm for countless individuals seeking peace amid turmoil.

In addition to comfort, the Bible encourages personal growth and self-reflection. Through its narratives and teachings, individuals are challenged to examine their lives, consider their purpose, and grow spiritually. For example, the wisdom found in the book of Proverbs addresses practical aspects of life, like how to manage anger, build healthy relationships, and cultivate integrity. By guiding readers toward a life of moral integrity and inner strength, the Bible becomes a transformative tool for personal growth.

Inspiration for Collective and Community Values

Beyond the individual, the Bible provides a foundation for shared values within communities and societies. The ethical teachings found in the Ten Commandments, for example, have shaped legal systems and moral standards worldwide. Principles such as honoring one’s parents, refraining from theft, and respecting life and property form a basis for community ethics and laws. This foundation promotes social order and a sense of mutual respect among individuals.

In the early Christian communities, the principles of sharing, compassion, and love for one’s neighbor fostered a unique community identity that emphasized collective well-being over individual gain. These early believers lived out the teachings of Christ by supporting each other, laying the groundwork for what we now understand as the charitable and humanitarian spirit of Christian communities. This legacy continues in the countless charitable organizations, food banks, hospitals, and schools founded on biblical principles of service and compassion.

Real-World Examples of Biblical Impact

Real-world examples illustrate the Bible's lasting impact on modern society. For instance, during the abolitionist movement in the 18th and 19th centuries, reformers like William Wilberforce invoked the biblical principle that all people are created in the image of God to argue for the equality and freedom of enslaved people. This application of biblical principles contributed to the eventual end of slavery in many parts of the world, showcasing the Bible’s power to inspire moral change on a large scale.

Similarly, the Bible’s impact on literature and art is immense. Writers like Leo Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Shakespeare frequently drew on biblical themes to explore human nature, morality, and redemption. These works highlight how the Bible has inspired some of the world’s greatest literary minds, who in turn have inspired generations of readers to reflect on deep, spiritual truths.

Encouraging Exploration of the Bible’s Inspirational Power

Given the Bible’s rich legacy of inspiration and guidance, exploring it with an open heart can be a deeply rewarding experience. For those who seek purpose, the Bible’s pages provide a map for self-discovery and a source of encouragement. Reading it through the lens of personal growth, ethics, or community can reveal insights applicable to modern life. By approaching the Bible not merely as a religious text, but as a treasure of timeless wisdom, one can uncover powerful lessons that resonate beyond the constraints of time and place.

Ultimately, the Bible’s inspiration endures because it speaks to the deepest parts of the human experience. It does not shy away from the complexity of human emotions or the difficult questions of life; instead, it offers pathways to understanding and healing. From figures who sacrificed for justice to individuals finding comfort in Psalms, the Bible stands as a testament to humanity's highest aspirations and to the power of faith to inspire, transform, and unite. In a world searching for meaning, the Bible remains a source of hope and a call to live a life guided by love, justice, and compassion.

In exploring the Bible, one is not only reading ancient words but engaging with a living inspiration that has shaped individuals and societies for centuries—and that continues to hold the power to inspire today.

[devoqdesign]

From Mockup to Live Site: Translating Complex UI/UX Designs into Elementor Reality

Bringing a complex UI/UX design to life on a website can be a challenging task. While tools like Adobe XD, Figma, or Sketch are fantastic for creating high-fidelity mockups that showcase visual elements and user flows, converting these designs into a fully functional website involves a different set of skills. One tool that has simplified this process for designers and developers alike is Elementor, a popular drag-and-drop website builder for WordPress. Elementor’s user-friendly interface, combined with its powerful features, makes it easier than ever to translate intricate UI/UX designs into a live website.

This blog will guide you through the steps of converting complex mockups into a fully functional website using Elementor, from initial design considerations to live deployment.

1. Preparing Your Mockup for Elementor

The first step in translating a mockup into a live site is to ensure that the design is organized and well-prepared. A good UI/UX mockup not only looks great but also considers the technical aspects of development, such as responsiveness, interactivity, and ease of navigation.

a. Organizing Design Layers and Components

When creating a mockup, ensure that all design elements are organized in layers or groups, which makes it easier to replicate the structure in Elementor. Clearly label sections, rows, and widgets like buttons, images, or text fields. This will act as a guide for how each element should be placed in Elementor.

Also, if you’re working with components like navigation menus, footers, or repeating elements like card designs, consider creating reusable design components in your mockup. In Elementor, these can be implemented as global widgets, saving time and ensuring design consistency across pages.

b. Mobile and Tablet Considerations

UI/UX designers often create desktop versions of websites first, but it’s essential to also create mockups for tablet and mobile views. Elementor provides responsive design capabilities that allow you to customize each layout for different screen sizes. Before diving into the Elementor build, ensure that your mockup includes considerations for mobile responsiveness. This way, when it’s time to translate the design into Elementor, you’ll have clear guidelines for adjusting font sizes, image placements, and padding for smaller screens.

2. Setting Up the Elementor Environment

Now that your design is ready, it’s time to prepare the development environment within WordPress. Elementor works within WordPress, so the first step is to set up a fresh installation of WordPress (or use an existing one if you already have it set up).

a. Installing Elementor

To get started, install the Elementor plugin from the WordPress plugin repository. For more advanced features like global widgets, animations, or custom forms, you may want to upgrade to Elementor Pro. The Pro version also unlocks theme-building options, allowing you to customize headers, footers, and more dynamic elements directly within Elementor.

b. Choosing a Theme

Elementor is compatible with most WordPress themes, but for greater flexibility, it’s recommended to choose a theme optimized for page builders. Hello Elementor is a minimalistic theme designed specifically for Elementor, offering a lightweight framework that allows you to design your pages entirely with Elementor, without interference from the theme’s styling.

c. Global Settings in Elementor

Once Elementor is installed, go to the Site Settings to set up global colors, typography, and layout options. This is a good opportunity to define your brand colors and fonts, based on your mockup. By setting global colors and fonts, you can ensure design consistency throughout the site and easily update styles across the board if needed.

3. Translating the Mockup into Elementor

With the design prepared and the environment set up, it’s time to begin translating your mockup into Elementor reality. This process involves replicating the structure and design components from the mockup and using Elementor widgets to bring each section to life.

a. Section Structure and Layout

Start by defining the overall structure of the page in Elementor. In most designs, this involves creating sections for major page areas (e.g., header, hero section, body content, and footer). Within these sections, create columns to align elements horizontally, and use widgets (such as images, buttons, text, etc.) to fill in the content.

For instance, if your mockup features a hero section with an image on the left and text on the right, create a two-column structure in Elementor and place the image widget in the left column and the heading and text widgets in the right column. Use margin and padding options to ensure that the spacing between elements matches your mockup.

b. Typography and Color Matching

Elementor’s intuitive style tab allows you to customize typography, colors, and spacing for each widget. Match the font styles, weights, and sizes from your mockup by adjusting the settings in Elementor. If you’ve set up global typography and color settings earlier, applying them to each element is quick and easy. This ensures that your headers, subheaders, and body text maintain consistent styles throughout the site.

c. Image and Media Placement

High-fidelity mockups often contain visual assets like images, icons, and videos. Upload these assets to the WordPress media library and place them using Elementor’s image, video, or icon widgets. When placing images, make sure to optimize them for web use by compressing their size without losing quality. Elementor also allows you to add hover effects or animations to these elements, enhancing the visual experience for the user.

d. Interactive Elements and Animations

Many UI/UX designs feature interactive elements such as buttons, hover effects, scroll animations, and modal popups. Elementor Pro makes it easy to incorporate these into your live site. For example, you can use the button widget to create call-to-action buttons with hover animations. Additionally, the motion effects feature allows you to add entrance animations or parallax scrolling to sections and images, bringing static designs to life.

If your mockup includes modals or popups, you can use Elementor’s Popup Builder to create custom popups that match the design and behavior outlined in your mockup. Whether it’s a newsletter signup or a promotional modal, Elementor provides full control over the design and triggers for these elements.

4. Responsive Design Adjustments

One of Elementor’s strengths is its ability to adjust the design for different devices. While you’ve likely already created mobile and tablet mockups, it’s important to fine-tune the design for each device within Elementor.

a. Tablet and Mobile Viewports

Elementor allows you to switch between desktop, tablet, and mobile views while editing. In each view, you can modify the layout to ensure that it looks great on all screen sizes. For example, you might want to stack columns vertically on mobile devices or adjust font sizes to improve readability. Use Elementor’s custom breakpoints to control when and how your design changes at different screen widths.

b. Hiding and Displaying Elements

If certain design elements aren’t necessary for mobile users, you can hide them on specific devices using Elementor’s responsive settings. Conversely, you might want to show specific elements or callouts on mobile that are not as prominent on the desktop version. Tailoring the user experience based on device usage is crucial for ensuring a seamless UI/UX across all platforms.

5. Testing and Final Touches

After translating the mockup into Elementor, it’s time for testing. A thorough test across different devices and browsers is essential to ensure that the design functions as intended. Pay close attention to load times, interactivity, and responsiveness.

a. Cross-browser Compatibility

Ensure that your site looks and performs well across all major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Some elements might behave differently depending on the browser, so fix any issues before going live.

b. Performance Optimization

Large images, excessive animations, or unnecessary plugins can slow down your site. Use Elementor’s built-in features like lazy loading for images or defer loading scripts to ensure fast load times. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can help identify areas of improvement for optimizing performance.

Conclusion

Converting a high-fidelity mockup into a live website is an exciting process, and Elementor simplifies it by offering a drag-and-drop interface that allows both designers and non-developers to build responsive, interactive, and visually appealing websites. With the right planning, attention to detail, and use of Elementor’s powerful tools, you can bring even the most complex UI/UX designs to life and create a seamless web experience for users across devices.

Visit my Upwork project catalog :  Elementor Developer

[software2013]

How to Make a Website: 5 Key Steps

Define Your Purpose and Goals:

Description: Before diving into the technical aspects, clearly define the purpose of your website. Are you creating a blog, an online store, a portfolio, or a business site? Establishing your goals will guide the design and functionality decisions you'll make throughout the process.

Choose a Domain Name and Hosting:

Description: Select a memorable and relevant domain name that represents your brand or business. Purchase the domain through a registrar like GoDaddy or Namecheap. Next, choose a reliable hosting provider, such as Bluehost, SiteGround, or HostGator, to store your website files and make them accessible online.

Design Your Website:

Description: Plan your website's layout and design. You can use website builders like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress with customizable themes to create an attractive and functional site. Focus on a clean, user-friendly design with easy navigation, and ensure it's responsive for mobile devices.

Develop and Customize Your Content:

Description: Populate your website with high-quality, relevant content. This includes writing engaging text, uploading images, and adding multimedia elements. Customize the design and layout to match your brand's aesthetics and ensure the content is well-organized and easy to read.

Test and Launch Your Website:

Description: Before launching, thoroughly test your website to identify and fix any issues. Check for broken links, test the site's performance on different browsers and devices, and ensure all interactive elements function correctly. Once you're satisfied with the site's performance, publish it and make it live for your audience to access.

By following these steps, you can create a well-designed and functional website that meets your objectives and provides a great user experience. for more details visit best web development company in Calicut

[expertacademicassignmenthelp]

What Are The Steps to Writing a Book Summary?

Writing a book summary is a valuable skill that enables you to convey the essence of a book concisely and effectively. Whether for academic purposes, book reviews, or personal use, a well-crafted summary captures the main ideas and key details without unnecessary elaboration. This comprehensive guide indulges into the detailed steps and provides examples for writing a book summary. It also integrates keywords to demonstrate how these resources can enhance the summary-writing process.

Step 1: Read the Book Carefully

Reading the book carefully is the foundation of writing a good summary. This step involves:

Active Reading: Engage with the text by asking questions and making connections to other readings or real-life situations.

Note-Taking: Highlight important passages and take notes on key events, character developments, and significant quotes.

Understanding the Context: Research the historical, cultural, and biographical context of the book to gain a deeper understanding of its themes and messages.

Step 2: Identify the Main Themes and Ideas

Identifying the main themes and ideas requires:

Theme Analysis: Look for recurring subjects or concepts throughout the book. Themes are often explored through the actions and experiences of the characters.

Character Analysis: Understand the motivations, growth, and conflicts of the main characters. How do they contribute to the overall themes?

Plot Analysis: Break down the plot into its essential components (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution) and see how each part contributes to the overall message.

Step 3: Create an Outline

Creating an outline helps organize your thoughts and ensures a logical flow in your summary. The outline should include:

Introduction: Briefly introduce the book’s setting, main characters, and initial situation.

Body: Divide the body into sections corresponding to the book’s major plot points. Include the rising action, climax, and falling action.

Conclusion: Summarize the resolution of the story and restate the main themes.

Step 4: Write the Summary

Writing the summary involves:

Conciseness: Avoid unnecessary details and focus on the main points. Each sentence should add value to the summary.

Clarity: Use clear and straightforward language. Ensure that your summary is easy to read and understand.

Accuracy: Make sure your summary accurately reflects the book’s content and the author’s intentions.

Step 5: Review and Revise

Reviewing and revising your summary ensures its quality. This process includes:

Checking for Errors: Correct any grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.

Improving Coherence: Ensure that your summary flows logically from one point to the next.

Enhancing Clarity: Rewrite any ambiguous or confusing sentences. Make sure that each point is clearly explained.

Conclusion

Writing a book summary is a multi-step process that involves careful reading, theme identification, outlining, writing, and revising. Utilizing tools and services like “summary maker Assignment Help,” “write my essay online,” “Write My Essay service,” “my assignment help,” and “online assignment help” can greatly enhance your ability to produce high-quality summaries. By following these steps and leveraging available resources, you can effectively convey the essence of any book. This skill not only contributes to academic success but also enhances your ability to critically engage with and communicate about various texts, making it an invaluable asset in both educational and professional contexts.

Expert Academic Assignment Help offers top-tier support for university students. Our services include expert assistance with essays, dissertations, assignments, research projects, and writing book summaries. Enhance your academic performance with our professional guidance and support.

For help and guidance, email us at: expertassignment46@gmail.com

[somiyasinghnexzono]

Exploring the Top Content Writing Services for Maximum Impact

Are you looking for a high-quality content development service that will engage your target audience and promote business growth? Would you like to find a team of skilled writers who can combine strategy and creativity in every piece they create? You have arrived at the correct location! In this blog, we'll look at the different content writing services accessible in the business today, each with the experience you require. Continue reading to see how this content writing company and services may help your brand stand out in the digital market.

WritoMeter is one of India's leading content writing company, and we take pleasure in providing high-quality, bespoke solutions that not only meet, but exceed, your expectations. From website content and SEO articles to social media posts and marketing copy, we provide a comprehensive array of services to meet all of your content demands.

What is Content Writing?

Content writing is fundamentally about producing written stuff to bring value to readers. This could happen via websites, articles, blogs, or social media posts. The primary purpose is to inform or entertain an audience while effectively conveying a brand's message. Engaging and well-written content is increasingly important in today's highly competitive world, whether for marketing or simply sharing knowledge about a topic.

Types of Content Writing Services

There are several different types of article writing services available. Some common categories are:

Copywriting

Copywriting is the process of crafting persuasive marketing text. Its purpose is to convince audiences to act or buy. Examples include sales sites, landing pages, brochures, and advertising campaigns.

Technical Writing

Technical writing seeks to simplify and clearly express complicated concepts through papers such as product manuals, FAQs, user guides, and technical support materials.

Website Writing

Website writing involves developing compelling language for webpages that attracts users' attention quickly while remaining relevant and readable throughout the site.

SEO Writing

Search engine optimization writing smoothly blends certain keywords into web-based material to boost visibility on search engines such as Google and Bing. This helps businesses rank better in search results, which leads to more organic visitors.

Ghostwriting

Ghostwriting is the act of authoring information on behalf of another person or organization without giving credit. For example, an author may hire a ghost-writer to get prominence through books or articles published under their name.

Article Writing

Article writing entails creating well-researched and informative pieces that add value and insights to specific themes, usually for online platforms like blogs or news websites.

Press Writing

Press release writing promotes notable events, products, or services related to a company. These concise pieces help firms get media coverage and enlighten stakeholders.

Partner with WritoMeter to see the power of excellent content in driving your business ahead. Discover the difference that carefully produced words can make in attracting customers, increasing conversions, and eventually improving your bottom line. With WritoMeter; content writing company on your side, the possibilities are limitless.

Benefits of Professional Content Writing Services

Cost Savings

One of the key reasons companies outsource their content needs is the opportunity to save money. When you hire an in-house writer or team, you must pay for their training, payroll taxes, health insurance, and other expenses. In contrast, outsourcing these tasks eliminates such costs.

Outsourcing ensures high-quality material suited to your target audience. The best article writing companies hire competent writers that specialize in different areas.

Time Efficiency

Outsourcing not only saves money but also frees up valuable time for your team. Professionals from high-quality article writing services rapidly understand project objectives and efficiently complete them within the specified deadlines while maintaining remarkable standards.

Expertise

The most major advantage is the service providers' access to specialized knowledge. Professional writers may have experience in domains such as marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), or technical subjects, in addition to excellent writing skills.

Conclusion

WritoMeter, the best content writing company is a leading site for high-quality content writing services. With a seasoned staff of professional writers based in India and over a decade of combined expertise in writing and publishing, we are a beacon of quality in the business. At WritoMeter, we understand the power of words and how they influence impressions, engagement, and connections.

[digi-tips]

8 Steps to Real Estate Content Marketing

In the fast-paced world of real estate, Content Marketing has emerged as a powerful tool for building brand awareness, establishing authority, and ultimately, driving sales. With the digital landscape constantly evolving, it's essential for real estate professionals to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to content marketing strategies. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the eight essential steps to real estate content marketing success, equipping you with the knowledge and tactics needed to dominate your market.

1. Define Your Audience

The first step in any successful content marketing strategy is knowing your audience. Real estate is a diverse field with varied demographics and interests, so it's crucial to identify and understand your target audience. Are you targeting first-time homebuyers, empty nesters, or investors? By segmenting your audience and tailoring your content to their specific needs and preferences, you can create more engaging and relevant marketing materials.

2. Conduct Keyword Research

Keyword research lies at the heart of SEO, and it's no different when it comes to real estate content marketing. By identifying and targeting relevant keywords, you can increase your visibility in search engine results and drive organic traffic to your website. Tools like Google Keyword Planner and SEMrush can help you discover high-value keywords with low competition, allowing you to optimize your content for maximum impact.

3. Develop a Content Strategy

A well-defined content strategy is essential for consistency and effectiveness in real estate content marketing. Map out your content calendar and outline the topics and themes you'll cover to ensure cohesion and relevance across all your marketing channels. Whether it's blog posts, videos, or social media updates, each piece of content should serve a strategic purpose in guiding prospects through the buyer's journey.

4. Create Compelling Content

Once you've outlined your strategy, it's time to create compelling content that resonates with your audience. Leverage visual storytelling through high-quality images and videos to showcase properties and highlight their unique features. Incorporate personal anecdotes and case studies to establish trust and credibility with potential clients. Remember, quality is key when it comes to standing out in a crowded market.

5. Optimize for SEO

While creating compelling content is essential, it's equally important to optimize it for search engines. Incorporate targeted keywords naturally throughout your content, paying attention to title tags, meta descriptions, and alt text. Structure your content with clear headings and subheadings to improve readability and enhance SEO. Additionally, optimize your website for mobile to ensure accessibility and improve user experience.

6. Promote Across Channels

Once your content is published, it's time to promote it across multiple channels to maximize its reach and impact. Share your content on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and engage with your audience through comments and messages. Collaborate with influencers and industry partners to amplify your message and expand your audience.

7. Measure and Analyze Performance

To optimize your content marketing efforts, it's crucial to continuously measure and analyze performance. Track metrics like website traffic, engagement, and conversion rates to gauge the effectiveness of your content. Identify patterns and trends to inform future strategies and adjust your approach accordingly. Experiment with different content formats and distribution channels to identify what resonates most with your audience.

8. Iterate and Improve

Finally, real estate content marketing is an ongoing process of iteration and improvement. Gather feedback from your audience and clients to identify areas for growth and refinement. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices to remain relevant and competitive. Continuously refine your content strategy and experiment with new approaches to stay ahead of the curve.

Conclusion

In conclusion, real estate content marketing presents a unique opportunity for professionals to build brand awareness, establish authority, and drive sales. By following these eight essential steps, you can create compelling content that resonates with your audience and positions you as a leader in your market. Stay consistent, measure performance, and continuously iterate to achieve success in the ever-evolving world of real estate content marketing.

Find more related articles on- https://linktr.ee/digitallineup

[idiosys1]

How Material Design Enhances User Engagement in Android Apps

Engaging users with your app is essential in the current mobile market. Your app’s success depends on user engagement, which affects various factors such as downloads, reviews, in-app purchases, and brand loyalty. As an app developer or a mobile app development company, you need to know how to create a captivating user experience (UX). Fortunately, Material Design provides an effective way to do so.

What is Material Design?

Developed by Google, Material Design is a comprehensive design language specifically built for Android apps. It provides a set of guidelines that promote consistency, intuitiveness, and visual appeal, ultimately leading to a more engaging user experience.

Benefits of Material Design for User Engagement:

Intuitive and Familiar: Material Design adheres to established user interaction patterns familiar to Android users. This intuitive experience minimizes the learning curve, allowing users to navigate the app with ease, leading to increased satisfaction and reduced frustration.

Visually Appealing: Material Design emphasizes clean layouts, bold colors, and subtle animations. This creates a visually engaging experience that captures user attention and motivates them to explore further. Imagine a well-designed app with clear hierarchy, vibrant colors, and smooth transitions. This not only makes the app aesthetically pleasing but also subconsciously influences users to spend more time interacting with it.

Accessibility and Inclusivity: Material Design prioritizes accessibility by ensuring the app interface is usable for people with disabilities. This includes features like high contrast themes, clear text hierarchy, and touch target sizing, making your app more inclusive and reaching a wider audience. In today’s diverse world, fostering inclusivity is not just an ethical responsibility but also a smart business decision.

Increased Efficiency: Material Design components, like navigation drawers, floating action buttons, and bottom app bars, are designed to optimize user interactions. These intuitive elements allow users to find what they need quickly and efficiently, minimizing the time and effort required to complete tasks. This streamlines the user experience, keeping them engaged and focused on achieving their goals within the app.

Brand Consistency: Material Design allows for a high degree of customization while maintaining core design principles. This empowers app developers in London and worldwide to integrate their brand identity within the framework. Through the use of specific color palettes, typography, and iconography, developers can create a unique and recognizable app experience that aligns with their brand image, fostering brand recognition and loyalty.

Enhancing User Engagement with Material Design:

Leverage the Power of Motion: Material Design encourages the use of subtle animations to highlight actions, guide user attention, and communicate changes within the app. These animations can add a layer of polish and interactivity, making the experience more engaging and enjoyable.

Embrace Dynamic Theming: Allow users to personalize their app experience by offering light and dark themes or even the ability to choose accent colors. This level of customization empowers users and creates a sense of ownership, fostering deeper engagement.

Prioritize Content Hierarchy: Employ Material Design’s layout principles to organize and present information clearly. Utilize cards, grids, and proper spacing to create a visual hierarchy that guides users towards the most important information and functionalities. This enhances clarity and simplifies user flow, making navigation and interaction intuitive and engaging.

Maintain Consistency: Ensure consistency throughout the app by adhering to Material Design guidelines. This includes consistent use of colors, fonts, icons, and layout patterns. Consistency creates a sense of familiarity and reduces cognitive load, making users feel comfortable and confident using the app.

Consider Material Design 3: The latest iteration, Material Design 3, introduces new features such as dynamic color, adaptable UI components, and a focus on storytelling. By incorporating these elements, app developers can create a more modern, expressive, and engaging user experience.

Why Choose Project-Wise Hiring or Dedicated Development Teams?

At Idiosys UK, we understand the importance of aligning your app’s design with user expectations. Whether you are an IT company looking for collaborative partners or a tech individual seeking an app developer in London or elsewhere, we offer both project-wise hiring and dedicated development teams to cater to your specific needs.

Our team of experienced mobile app developers possesses in-depth knowledge of Material Design principles and can help you create an app that not only meets your business goals but also fosters exceptional user engagement. We are committed to providing customized solutions that seamlessly integrate Material Design into your app, propelling it towards success.

[tullipstudio-blog]

DON'T MISS OUT THE TRICKS OF HIRING A CHILDREN'S BOOK EDITOR

Finding the right editor for your children's book is an important step in the publishing process. Here are some steps to help you find an editor for your children's book:

1. Determine Your Editing Needs:

Before you start searching for an editor, be clear about the type of editing you need. There are different stages of editing, including developmental editing (for plot and structure), line editing (for language and style), and copyediting (for grammar and punctuation). Knowing your specific needs will help you find the right editor.

Editing a children's book requires a careful and thorough approach to ensure that the content is engaging, age-appropriate, and free from errors. The specific editing needs for a children's book can vary based on the target age group, genre, and the author's writing style. Here are some common editing needs for children's books:

A. Developmental Editing:

a) Assess the overall structure and flow of the story.

b) Evaluate character development and consistency.

c) Ensure that the plot is engaging and appropriate for the target age group.

d) Check for age-appropriate language and themes.

B. Copy Editing:

a) Correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.

b) Ensure consistency in writing style and tone.

c) Review sentence structure and readability.

d) Verify that the text adheres to the rules of the English language.

C. Proofreading:

a) Carefully examine the manuscript for any typographical errors or formatting issues.

b) Check for consistency in formatting, such as headings, fonts, and paragraph indents.

c) Ensure that illustrations and text are properly integrated.

D. Age-Appropriateness:

a) Verify that the language and content are suitable for the intended age group.

b) Check for any potentially confusing or frightening elements in the story.

c) Assess whether the vocabulary and sentence complexity align with the reading level of the audience.

E. Illustration Review:

a) Ensure that illustrations align with the text and enhance the storytelling.

b) Confirm that the illustrations are of high quality and resolution.

c) Check that the placement of illustrations within the text is appropriate.

F. Cultural Sensitivity:

a) Review the children's book for cultural and social sensitivity, avoiding stereotypes or offensive content.

b) Ensure that characters and settings are diverse and representative.

G. Consistency:

a) Ensure consistency in character names, locations, and plot elements.

b) Verify that any themes or lessons presented in the story are clear and consistent throughout the children's book.

2. Join Writing Communities: Join online and local writing communities, forums, and social media groups focused on children's literature. Writers in these communities often share their experiences with editors and can recommend professionals.

a. Online Writing Communities:

a) Goodreads: Goodreads has various groups and forums dedicated to children's literature. You can search for a group that aligns with your interests.

b) Facebook Groups: There are many writing groups on Facebook that focus on children's literature and picture books. Look for groups like "Children's Book Writers and Illustrators" or "Kidlit Writers."

B. Local Writing Groups: Check if there are local writing groups or organizations in your area that have a focus on children's literature. They may hold regular meetings or events.

C. Children's Book Writing Courses: Enroll in online or in-person writing courses focused on children's literature. These often provide opportunities to connect with both instructors and fellow students who share your passion for children's books.

D. Online Writing Platforms: Websites like Wattpad or Medium allow you to share your work and connect with other writers. While not specific to children's books, you can still find like-minded individuals.

E. When joining a writing community: be sure to participate actively, offer constructive feedback to others, and take advantage of the resources and opportunities available. Writing communities can be a valuable source of support and inspiration as you work on your children's books.

3. Attend Writing Conferences and Workshops:

Participating in writing conferences and workshops, especially those focused on children's literature, can be a great way to network and connect with editors, literary agents, and other professionals in the field. Many conferences offer pitch sessions where you can meet editors. Children's Writing Conferences and Workshops: Attend writing conferences and workshops, such as the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) conferences. These events often feature opportunities to network and connect with other children's book authors.

4. Check Writer's Organizations:

Look into writer's organizations, such as the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), which often have directories of industry professionals, including editors. The Children's Book Council (CBC): The CBC is a non-profit trade association that supports and promotes children's book publishing. They provide resources for both writers and illustrators and aim to connect authors with the industry. The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY): IBBY is an international organization that promotes children's literature worldwide. They host events, conferences, and offer resources for writers interested in creating literature for children.

5. Search Literary Agent Websites:

Literary agents often work closely with editors and can provide recommendations. Visit the websites of literary agencies, read agent bios, and see if they mention editors they collaborate with.

6. Use Freelance Websites:

Websites like Reedsy, Upwork, and Freelance Editors & Proofreaders have directories of freelance editors. You can search for editors who specialize in children's literature and review their profiles and client reviews.

7. Request Recommendations:

Ask fellow writers, especially those who have published children's books, for recommendations. Personal recommendations from trusted sources can be valuable.

8. Review Editor Portfolios:

Once you've identified potential editors, review their portfolios and sample work. Ensure that their editing style aligns with your vision for your children's book.

9. Communicate and Request Quotes:

Contact potential editors to discuss your project, timeline, and budget. Ask for a sample edit or query letter to gauge their compatibility with your work. Request quotes for their services.

10. Consider Testimonials and References:

Ask potential editors for references or look for testimonials from their previous clients to get a sense of their professionalism and expertise.

11. Understand the Contract:

Before finalizing your choice, make sure you have a clear contract in place that outlines the scope of work, timeline, payment terms, and any other relevant details.

12. Trust Your Instincts:

Ultimately, choose an editor with whom you feel comfortable and who shares your passion for children's literature. Building a strong author-editor relationship is crucial for a successful collaboration.

Remember that finding the right editor may take some time and research, but it's an essential step in ensuring the quality of your children's book. Don't rush the process, and make sure you're confident in your choice before proceeding with the editing phase.

Choosing an editor for a children's book is an important step in the publishing process. Here are some advantages to consider when choosing an editor for children's books:

1. Understanding of Children's Audience: Good children's book editors understand children's audiences, including various age groups and developmental levels. They will help ensure that the language, style and content match children's understanding and interests.

2. Knowledge of Educational Standards: Editors experienced in children's books should have knowledge of educational standards and child development. They can help ensure that the children's book supports children's learning in accordance with the applicable curriculum and educational standards.

3. Smooth Editing Ability: Children's book editors must be able to edit gently, so as not to diminish the message or creativity of the children's author. They must know when to suggest improvements without destroying the writer's creative spirit.

4. Sensitivity to Children's Issues: Another advantage is that editors have sensitivity to issues relevant to children, such as personality, emotional and social development. They must be able to look at these issues carefully and provide appropriate guidance.

5. Creativity in Illustration: If your children's book includes illustrations, an editor who is able to provide creative guidance to the illustrator is a valuable asset. They can help ensure that the illustrations fit the text and add value to the story.

6. Understand Children's Book Genres and Styles: Each genre and style of children's books has certain rules and conventions. An editor who understands the genre and style of children's books, such as picture children's books, fantasy stories, or science books, can help ensure that the children's book meets readers' expectations.

7. Good Communication Skills: Children's book editors must have good communication skills with authors and publishers. They should be able to explain their suggestions clearly and build a good working relationship with the author.

8. Ability to Identify Market Potential: A skilled editor can help identify children's books that have potential in the marketplace. They can provide guidance on current trends and needs of children's readers.

9. Understanding of Values ​​and Messages: Editors must be able to understand the values ​​and messages that children's books want to convey and ensure that these messages are conveyed clearly and effectively.

10. Language Editing Ability: Last, but not least, editors must have strong skills in editing language, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Undetected language errors can disrupt children's reading experiences.

Children's book editors and artificial intelligence (AI) have different roles in the children's book production process. Below is a comparison of several aspects between children's book editors and AI in this context:

1. Creativity and Intuition:

a. Children's book editor: Editors have the ability to explore and develop creative ideas, formulate interesting narratives, and ensure that book content is appropriate to children's level of understanding and interests. They can also provide suggestions regarding characters, plots, and moral messages that are suitable for a child audience.

b. AI: AI may be able to generate text or depict images based on algorithms and data provided, but AI's ability to generate creative ideas and understand nuances in stories is often limited.

2. Language and Grammar Correction:

a. Children's book editor: The editor has the ability to detect and correct errors in grammar, spelling and writing style. They can also ensure that the language used is appropriate to the child's level of language development.

b. AI: AI can be used to check grammar and spelling, but often lacks a deep understanding of context and the balance between grammatical correctness and beauty in writing.

3. Plot Evaluation and Correction:

a. Children's book editor: Editors have the ability to evaluate the plot, identify problems or discrepancies in the story, and provide helpful feedback to improve the storyline.

b. AI: While AI can provide data analysis, decisions about plot and narrative often require human judgment involving intuition and deeper understanding.

4. Presence of Empathy:

a. Children's book editor: The editor can assess the extent to which the book can help children connect emotionally with the story and characters. They can provide views based on their experience and empathy as humans.

b. AI: AI does not have the ability to feel or express empathy. This is an important aspect of creating children's books that often cannot be replaced by technology.

5. Personalization:

a. Children's book editors: Editors can customize books for different children's audiences by considering individual ages, interests and needs.

b. AI: AI can be used for personalization to the extent that data is available, but a lack of understanding of children's emotions and development can make personalization less in-depth.

In many cases, children's book editors and AI can work together to speed up the production process and provide assistance with technical tasks such as word processing, grammar, or market data analysis. However, creative aspects, emotions, and a deep understanding of children often remain the primary domain of children's book editors.