#most of my techniques come from a lot of practice and frustrations

[luveline]

hope my boyfriend's okay request.

hi!!! can I request hurt comfort or angst with spencer reid? maybe reader is just an ordinary girl, not that smart, not that pretty, or even a college drop out (like reader from honeybody) so she is kinda insecure when spencer being kind to her or even ask her on a date?

tysm♡

"Do you want to play?" Spencer asks. 

You're flushed before you open your mouth, startled by his sudden appearance and the new haircut he sports, curls locked back behind his neck. "Sorry, I just wanted to sit down." 

"No, I'm just asking if you want to play," he says, shaking the little briefcase he holds between his fingers to emphasise the rattle of the chess pieces inside. 

You've stolen his chess table again at the park. It's how you met, how you continue to meet —you want somewhere to put your book as you read and Spencer hardly ever makes you move, he just sort of sits with you until someone is in need of an opponent. 

"I don't know how. I don't have the smarts." 

Spencer sits down opposite you, placing the briefcase against the white and black chequered tiles. "Playing chess isn't about being smart. Being good at chess takes learned skill, though. It's like learning a language. Most people can say hello and goodbye if they try, but fluency comes with practice." He smiles at you like you're lovely and pretty and someone worth explaining this too, when you're worrying It's filtering out of your head like water through a sieve. Draining, draining, gone. 

"I don't even think I could remember hello and goodbye," you say. Your attempt to smile back at him is pitiful. 

His smile ebbs. "You're sure you don't want to play? I'd go easy for you." 

You curl the cover of your paperback in your hands, deliberating. Chess is one of those games that seems never-ending. It's full of manoeuvres and techniques, openings, closings, all these learned combinations, strategy like nothing you've ever been able to comprehend. You've never wanted to learn because you know you won't be good, even if you try. 

"Okay," you say quietly. "I really won't be any good." 

Spencer shrugs and begins to retrieve the small wooden chess pieces. "I usually win anyways."

"Have you ever, um, competed? Like the grandmaster things?" 

"No, but I had a friend I competed against for a long time. We played a lot of games. He was better at winning, despite my advantage." Spencer arranges your pieces with care. "Do you need me to teach you the opening moves?" 

He explains slowly. When you need help, he gives it, and he doesn't lord it over your head. It's a little shameful seeing the difference in your intellectual capabilities displayed so clearly, and the longer the game goes on the worse you feel, even though Spencer lets you win. 

"You'll get better every game," he says, returning taken pieces to the board.  

"You want to play again?" you ask. "Come on, Spencer, that can't have been fun for you." 

"Why wouldn't it be?" 

"Because I'm a useless opponent? And I don't really have anything else going for me, either, so it must be boring." It's an awkward thing to say, self-deprecating and stilted considering you and Spencer aren't more than acquaintances. You regret it as soon as you've said it but the frustration of the situation sticks around. "I don't understand why you waste your time with me." 

"It's not wasted if it's with you." Spencer looks genuinely confused, shapely eyebrows pinching. "Is that what you really think? I like spending time with you, I don't need you to be a chess expert to find you interesting." 

"But there's nothing interesting,," you insist. 

"Of course there is…" He straightens a chess piece, gaze split between you and the board. "You don't have to say something from a journal for it to be worth saying. You know, I've had a thousand conversations this year, some of them with professors or academic experts, but," —he puts his hand, now finished with the chess pieces, over his elbow, meeting your eyes shamelessly— "the one I replay the most is from a few weeks ago, when you told me why you like to read in the park." 

"That was just small talk," you say weakly, though it hadn't felt small to you, and now you know it wasn't small for him either. 

"Then I guess I love small talk," Spencer says. "Do you want to play again? I'll teach you some good opening moves if you tell me more about you. Deal?" 

You nod hurriedly, and fail to hide a beaming smile. "Teach me the best one." 

"That's what I meant," he says. 

[emeritus-fuckers]

HI I LOVE Y'ALL'S BLOG SO MUCH!!! AAAA

Okay, I'll calm down now. I was wondering if you'd be interested by the idea of a newly summoned ghoul reader struggling to get to grips with their instrument and panicking about not being good enough for tour yet and being comforted by one of the ghouls?

I'm currently struggling to learn bass to get good enough for a band I have a chance to be in and it's really wreaking havoc on my mental health being so confused and getting it wrong over and over and y'all's writing in comfort scenarios always makes me feel better... So I thought I'd shoot my shot!

I hope you're having an amazing day, this blog brightens up my day every time! <3

Water ghouls helping a newly summoned ghoul learn their instrument

Chain (it/ghoul)

Chain is a fucking goofball.

Don't let its big, intimidating form fool you, Chain is a goofy dumbass who can barely keep up a "mysterious" act.

So when you come to ghoul and ask to learn how to play bass, it's delighted to help, all giggly and shit.

Ghoul's not the best teacher, he gets too excited and ahead of ghoulself, teaching you the "cool" riffs becore the easy ones.

It does get bonus points for being patient and hyping you up, though.

And the reward kisses. The reward kisses are nice.

Lake (he/him)

He comes accross very serious and when you ask him and you are pretty nervous.

He nods and gestures for you to follow him. He finds a cozy practice room well out of the way.

Despite his scary front he takes teaching you very seriously and is very supportive.

He's actually a really good teacher and takes time to show you good technique and teach you the songs you need to learn.

He rarely gives out compliments but when he does you know he completely means it.

Also when you get him to smile, either by a joke or playing well or just by being yourself.

You end up getting very close.

River (they/them)

They are a slut about it. A complete whore.

Every single dirty joke they can make while teaching you is made. Everything from fingering it correctly to thrusting with their own bass.

Shockingly, they are still a very good teacher. Only making the dirty jokes as you get closer to mastering each skill.

River definitely sits behind you to guide your hands on new notes and skills, hands on teacher when it’s needed. Only with consent of course.

Will absolutely bring you out for food after practice. They’re a slut but a classy slut. They buy you dinner before trying to get in your pants.

Cowbell (they/it)

It's a bit surprised to be your choice for bass lessons. After all, their only real performance was what landed them a name. And it was just trying to prank Papa.

But, the name stuck and it just couldn't go out of its way to change it, especially when you started to use "Cowie" as a cute little nickname that they just needed to hear every single day of its life.

But, fortunately for you, they just so happen to play bass as well, just like most water ghouls. They were just beginner level, but still.

You two practice together, figuring the instrument out.

It's a lot of fun, both you and Cowbell enjoy it a lot, even if it's a bit frustrating sometimes. At least you get frustrated together, right?

You end up better than it. Somehow, you end up tutoring them, instead of the other way around.

Mist (he/she)

He's thrilled to help out with that. Mist really likes alone time together, especially if you two just chill, enjoying a common hobby.

So she's happy to teach you guitar. Might offer playing Guitar Hero first so you can train your fingers a bit.

The first song you learn how to play is Gorillaz's Feel Good Inc., which is her favorite non-Ghost song. And the bass is very pleasant in the song.

He casually rests against your back, just listening to you play and giving small comments on what you can do better whenever you mess up.

There's this weird feeling of comfort during your practice sessions.

She starts a tickle fight the moment you put the guitar down.

Never let them know your next move type of shit.

Rain (he/she/ve)

He's a bit surprised when you ask, but doesn't see a reason to refuse.

But hey, ve's a good teacher! Really good, actually.

Rain sometimes even organizes classes for ghouls and Siblings who want to play bass.

She first gets you your own bass and lets you customize it with stickers. Not many people know this, but Sodo got the "YouSuck" sticker from her.

He's very patient with you, starting with basic notes and riffs before slowly moving to more complicated stuff.

Somehow, no matter who ve's teaching, her work is always excellent when it comes to teaching.

And he's very sweet with his rewards, if you catch my drift.

Storm (they/he)

They're chill with the idea. I mean, if you wanna learn, then who is he to deny you the fun that is playing bass?

Also, he doesn't say bass like the instrument, he says it like the fish, which is sorta funny during the lessons.

No, they will not be corrected on how to say it.

He's gonna sit you in his lap and show you everything, step by step.

They also let you experiment and play around, offering tips whenever you ask.

A decent teacher, not too great but not too bad, either.

~

Chain, Cowbell, Mist, Rain and Storm written by Nosferatu.

Lake written by Nyx.

River written by Death.

[loren91]

Would you have any advice on how to find your own style, or just nurturing a habit of drawing things well if that makes sense ?

Oh hello anon! This is a topic I have many opinions about so I might go on a lil rant 😅

I don’t believe it’s good for you to chase after an “art style” in your personal practice. The only time a set art style is necessary, is when you’re working on a project (film, book illustration, game etc) that needs a coherent design.

Because when you get stuck in the mindset that you need a specific style to be an artist, you’ll only restrict your own creativity. It’s much more rewarding to explore different styles and techniques. Have some fun and experiment with your art!

I’ve been practicing art for about 15 years, and personally don’t really think I have a set “art style”, nor do I want it because I know I’ll just end up bored 😅 But then I’m probably biased because I’m an animator, and a part of my job is to adapt to new designs. Maybe you can identify my drawings as mine, similar to how you can recognise someone’s handwriting, it’s just how I draw and it’s not always a specific choice I’ve made.

Now I don’t know how many years of practice you’ve had so far, but it’s worth keeping in mind that your art will change over time as you learn and improve. You’ll find what you’re comfortable with in your own practice. In a way, your “art style” will naturally come to you!

I’m gonna offer some advice that I’ve picked up over the years!

Drawing is a skill, and just like any other skill you need to be persistent and have a lot of patience. Any art teacher will tell you that you need to draw 100 bad drawings until you can make a good one. Sounds daunting I know, but it really is the truth. And when you get to that good drawing it’s so damn satisfying! 🩷

There’s no such thing as talent. There’s only willpower, determination, time and patience. Anyone can learn to draw! You just gotta have the interest to keep at it, even when it’s hard.

Feeling frustrated is perfectly normal and valid, drawing is really hard! I end up rage quitting drawings all the time lol. Then it’s good to go cool down. Take a walk, read a book, have some tea or whatever you enjoy. Come back to the drawing or start a new one when you’re comfortable again. Don’t force it! Anxiety isn’t good for your creativity.

Feedback is the most valuable resource you can find to help you improve! Find someone you trust to be honest and encouraging. Maybe a friend, family member, teacher, or colleague? Or maybe find a good art community, online or irl.

Use reference!! All well respected artists do I promise you! I really like Pinterest for collecting references and inspiration.

If you can, go to life drawing classes where you live. It’s some very good practice!

Be wary of some art tutorials you find online. I keep seeing some awful ones from TikTok and YouTube, and they make me so angry 🙃 If the person can’t even explain how anatomy works or why they draw the way they do, chances are they don’t even know what they’re doing. You want the full context to properly learn! I can make an extensive list of YouTube videos I’ve found helpful if anyone’s interested lol

And again, have fun with it! Draw because you want to, because you enjoy it. Then you’re gonna have the best time 🩷

Best of luck to you! ✨

[megalo224]

How would you suggest to learn art? I currently am only able to draw heads not very well but I try and I'm very inspired by your art, do you have any suggestions or tips?

look at ur favs and try to draw like them! when i wanted to start taking art more seriously i was copying frames off cuphead and the sonic mania intro by eye and eventually i made some art friends who i wanted to draw JUST like. and i basically tried to adopt the artstyles that inspired me during whatever era of my life at the time but naturally my own swag shined through and after many years and inspo from so many different things, i draw the way i do now, and am still striving to get better! so what im saying is legit to just look at ur favorite artists and try to do what theyre doing, study ppls styles copy art by eye for practice, try to push yourself to try new stuff. pushing yourself sucks a lot because it can be quite a demotivator when you try to do something cool but you dont see what you quite hoped but thats experience!

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wear ur inspirations on ur sleeve! some of my fav artists that have inspired me a lot in the past 2 years are bobobazarra, marcoggers on twitter, vintdoo, dakidavekat, evilsk8r, deppa, mettaflix. and those are only just a few! i could literally go on naming people for hours. dont be afraid to proudly shout abt what or who who inspires ur stuff!

when it comes to hard practice and studies, if youre willing to get into certain techniques u can try looking into ways to break down the body, like boxing out stuff like the torso and pelvis and stuff like that to use as construction. to me when the mood would strike me when i was starting out, doing figure studies and copying poses i found on google was smth id do for like 30 mins to an hour, even if they were terrible it was just fun to draw them and move on to the next. and it was experience! even if it didnt feel like it at the time. like, doing something like copying a buncha hands for fun creates a mental library for ur brain to pick from to help make whatever unique hand youre trying to make for your art. its all experience! so do it when you feel up to it!

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and overall just try to have fun, if you find yourself frustrated enough to feel hopeless about art then just try to take a step back and come back later or draw whatever makes you happy. but when youre able to take on challenge and pushing yourself always try to, and try to have fun and keep in mind that what youre doing is gonna shoot your stuff to the stars and that u just gotta keep going. and get pinterest! that shit helps out a fuckton both with creative inspiration and art studies and practicing and tips.

------------------------------------------ also keep in mind everything ive said here is just my personal experience and whats worked for me. everybody works differently with art. something that changed my perspective a lot was meeting one of my favorite artists last year, and asking for advice because i was going through horrible art block and self worth issues. i was going crazy copying peoples art in my sketchbooks trying to figure out what others understood that it felt i couldnt, trying to figure out what was missing. i was super desperate for improvement and it felt like i was improving so slowly compared to others with the same amount of years spent drawing as

i. so when i asked this artist what they did to study stuff, they told me they barely even did studies on anatomy and whatever. which was crazy to me because it felt like they had such a grasp on that kinda thing and stylized it so well. that didnt make me stop studying though but it made me worry about everything way less, because it made me realize you just gotta do what you feel is right and what you feel is truly pushing you, but most importantly have fun doing it. it made me realize art wasnt this rigid ass process where i was breaking rules or not eating enough art veggies. so with that, i accepted myself and i moved forward continuing to push myself but not worrying as much about improvement right away, just have fun and do studies and shit as i went when i wanted to, and give myself a little push to strive for stuff just a bit crazier than what i felt i was capable of.

everyone is different, theres some artists that start from the feet up or start drawing a body from the shoulder its crazy. but its not because its objectively better to do that, its just how they draw. some artists do full sketch constructions for bodies, some artists do everything from eye. im sure theres some that switched from doing everything from eye to wanting to do construction for bodies and stuff, and vice versa. they did what worked for them, but what makes ppl rly improve is simply that they have fun in the process and strive to push themselves, thats the most important thing, or at least thats my perspective on it at this current point in my life.

so do what you feel is right, have fun, try different techniques out, try different stuff that you feel will help you, keep being inspired.

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best of luck to u, sorry for yapping kinda a lot and thank u a ton for the kind words!

[royalbilliards]

i would LOVE to hear your opinion on maruki's therapy bc i see a lot of ppl saying he sucked as a therapist and i've never seen one so i can't really say anything with certainty...... but idk, i want joker to have at least an okay therapist just because it's a nice touch. also i think it's more satisfying narratively when maruki is someone joker can lean on for support and get attached to, but then has to oppose because shitty actualization. idk. pathetic wet man makes me go brrrrrr

Welcome to the autism zone.

So a lot of my thoughts on maruki’s therapy comes from my own experiences with a therapist in the past (I’m trying to get a new one right now) but. A lot of what Maruki’s ‘confidant perks’ and what they’re called suggest he’s giving Joker treatment for anxiety and depression, which makes a lot of sense given the way he acts in public outside of the joker persona, and the situation he’s in at Shujin (being bullied, for lack of a better term because it’s 5 am and I just woke up, and ostracised due to Kamoshida spilling his criminal record).

Practices like mindfulness and wakefulness sound like bullshit when you first have to start them, mostly because of the names, but the practices themselves are grounding techniques, being able to be present in your body, aware of your surroundings, and not letting yourself spiral via panic or depression and stuff. Detox is a term for drug addiction and alcoholism rehab, they’re not exactly practices we know Joker needs help with, but they’re most likely preventative measures, so that he doesn’t go Down those paths BECAUSE of his situation, which honestly makes sense, depression, anxiety, bullying from peers and the rest of it, including his criminal record and the way Japan treats students with criminal records, it makes sense that Joker could have easily gone down those routes if he didn’t have his friends and the metaverse to blow off steam and have an outlet for his emotions that he isn’t allowed to have in his day to day life. Flow is also a form of therapy treatment for handling depression, and mostly focus’ on capturing moments of positive mental states and allowing yourself to be completely focused and involved in Enjoyable activities that make you happy.

Because all of these therapy treatments that we get named from his confidant perks are Real therapy treatments that both Work and are widely used to treat specific mental health problems (Depression, Anxiety and Self-worth) we get both an insight into how Joker is actually feeling about things outside of what he shows and how useful these techniques are in his actual day to day life, because he’s using them to handle stressful situations in the metaverse.

There’s also the fact that Before everything, and AFTER everything, Joker doesn’t seem to hold much animosity towards Maruki, yes Akechi does and he’s Totally allowed to hate him, but neither Yoshizawa or Joker do, when Yoshizawa is more than justified in being angry and frustrated with him. And it might just be due to the abysmal lack of characterisation Yoshizawa gets, but mostly she seems like she too, like Joker, WANTS to help him, because we know that Maruki himself struggles with Self-worth problems, delusions of grandeur, a messiah complex (in both definitions of the term) anxiety and depression (along with a few other spicier things I don’t feel like mentioning because I’d need to bring up the psa’s on how demonised disorders need to be treated with respect since no one can do that on the internet). But there doesn’t seem to Be animosity between the three of them. Mostly just worry about someone they both cared about, and trusted.

There’s also the fact that, Jokers interactions with Maruki do not End After you help him with his research, we’re just cut off from the interaction at that point, because Joker in canon is explaining to Sae other more important things, he probably doesn’t feel the need to tell her the confidential therapy treatment he’s receiving at school. Their interaction continues, we get a fade to black, so it’s obvious he is getting actual therapy treatment, but Maruki has probably picked up on Jokers earth shattering savior complex and is easing him into the idea of therapeutic treatment by having him assist in his research, so Joker is more inclined to accept the help, since it’s a Transaction to Joker. If Maruki had more time to be Jokers therapist, and I assume he would have at some point Offered to continue his work as Jokers therapist after his tenure at Shujin ending, he would have eventually been able to work on that with Joker, and weaned him off Needing to help people all the time, and viewing social interactions as a transactional thing.

Anyways, yeah, I don’t think Maruki is a bad therapist outside of the horrors, I think people just don’t think about it because it isn’t spoon fed to them in a social link interaction, which is where the assumption that he’s Only using Joker as a sounding board comes from. But what would I know I just did media studies and have a special interest in analysing media, SHRUG

[melimpostor]

Hello! first off I just want to say that I love love love your art!!! its so amazing! 💖 So, I’ve been asking this question around online, so I hope you don’t mind! (Please feel free to ignore this ask if you don’t feel like answering!) Anyway, I’ve been drawing for a good while now. It’s always been something that interests me, but, in all the time that I’ve done it, I’ve never once found a style that is unique to me and that I’m good at. So, I was just wondering if you have any tips or advice on how to find your own style? I’ve tried so many though I can’t ever seem to like any of them or actually stick to it. One thing I really have trouble with is proportion. I want my style to be more chibi-esqe, but not completely if you knows what I mean lol. If you have any advice for a fellow artist I’d really like to hear it!! Please share your wisdom :D

Hello and thank you !! I don’t mind at all ! Let’s see…

For finding your art style:

► Define what you want to tell with your art. Not mandatory, but i think it helps. What do you want people to feel when they see your art? Do you want them to feel the emotions of the characters you draw? Or be impressed by the technique? the colors? All of the above?- I think your answer will lean you to something more specific in terms of style. For example, I tend to focus on characters expressions and feelings. So i have a relatively simple artstyle that allows me to focus on facial traits a bit more. (Also... i'm lazy- So i like to tell more with less)

► Observe drawings from artists you love ! Try to analyze what you like so much about it. Is it the lineart? the specific way they draw eyes or any specific part of the body? Is it the colors or the rendering style? And try to reproduce it yourself. Not in a plagiarism kind of way, but more as a study !

► Try, fail and retry again. Once you have analyzed the things you like, try to incorporate it into your own art. It might come off badly sometimes, but you also might create happy accidents ! Both outcomes are good learning. And while I don't think it’s possible to have a style 100% original, it doesn’t mean you can’t create an artstyle that you own and feels as uniquely yours !

► Be patient (trust the process and don’t be too hard on yourself). Defining your artstyle might take years to refine itself. Decades even… With practice and dedication it will come naturally to you !  But as with any discipline you have to be patient, there will be ups and downs and very frustrating moments but you never cease to learn.

For proportions:

► Don’t be shy about using references. There is no such thing as cheating in art (if used properly). It builds your visual library, so help yourself as much as you can ! Professionals use them all the time too.

► I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but…. We can’t really cut anatomy practice- I avoided it for so long myself and I regret it bitterly. So don’t be like me and practice your anatomy ! Even if you aim for a simple or semi-chibi style. The trap is it seems easy to draw , when in reality a lot of chibi artists already master anatomy to a certain degree. It’s much easier to simplify shapes when you know a little more about the structure behind them.

There are a lot of websites to help you, here’s a few ! http://reference.sketchdaily.net/ https://line-of-action.com/  https://www.posemaniacs.com/

My advice is to start slow. Most of those websites have a timer by default, but don’t set a time limit for now and take your time on each pose. Try to breakdown body parts into simple geometrical shapes. It helps grow your visual library and it’ll get easier to draw with better proportions ! 

___

Here you go ! I realize it's very generic sorry - TLDR: don't give up ! If you want anything more specific don't hesitate to ask again, I'll do my best ! Good luck on your art journey ! ♥

[angryducktimemachine]

Hi Ed!

I really really love your drawings, specially the ones with holmes and your penciled ones. I hope it’s not to bold/rude of me to say but I’d love to draw like you, do you have any tips on where to start? I have some basics from forever ago but I very rusty on my abilities. Should I draw using references? A particular tutorial on YouTube? Something entirely different?

With love, from a fan of yours

Well first step you want to be a 11 year old that gets absolutely obsessed with Warrior Cats-

Ok jokes aside (and thank you very much first!!) I'll see what actual advice I can give you! My approach to art is not really actively focused on improving (as I do not want to do this as my job and so just take the motivation to practice something specific as it comes.) but I'll try and recall what has helped me over the years.

Using references is definitely a very useful thing, I'm currently trying to use them more when it comes to drawing fabric but they're useful for all sorts of things. what I did and do personally as well is just. Watching people. Trying to figure out how the movement of a body works, the way arms can bend or legs are stretched. This works both with your own body (sometimes I just stand in front of a mirror trying to see how my arm bends over my head to get a feeling for it's movement.) and just observing people in day to day life! I find this technique easier than "static" photo references cause I get a better feeling of the body but they can both be useful.

I never really watched YouTube tutorials however what I did watch is hours and hours and hours of speedpaints - i think they're really fun if you are looking for different tricks and techniques to try, the way this artist does linework vs how this one colours- i have a few up myself.

Third, if you're anything like me and thrive on compliments; get yourself a buddy who's as hyped about your own art as you are. I feel like this helps with both inspiration and motivation, most of the time when I had art, be it when i was still drawing cats or Star Wars OCs to now drawing Sherlock Holmes - I also had a friend who was currently into the same things I was - or even better, was actively creating characters and stories with me which gave me lots of ideas to draw.

Oh also a little side note if you ever find yourself frustrated with your art or struggle to find inspiration, it often helps me to switch things up a bit, do something different. Get out actual paint. Try (and fail, in my case) to carve something. Paint a wall. Learn origami. Do something with model clay. Convince yourself that you can sew anything if you just tried hard enough.

I hope at least a few of those things are useful - explaining how I got here art wise is a bit difficult cause I mainly just picked up a pen and then just never stopped. But art starts somewhere for us all and I hope you can find joy in creating!!

[foxoftheninetails]

So, I have to brag just a bit. As previously mentioned, I haven't ever been great at fighting games. Moreover, I was a notorious button masher.

But with the release of my beloved Elphelt on Strive, I am here to stay. I've been playing since about mid-December, and I am a slow learner as it is.

In the beginning, with my friends patented school, I learned a lot in a short amount of time. Then I practiced on my own, ran the arcade mode, and worked on tower. I of course grabbed fights with friends when I could. But about 5 weeks ago, I hit what felt like a plateau. Admittedly, getting my ass handed to me constantly was very disheartening as well. And I still wasn't very good.

I stepped away from it for a couple of weeks, proceeded to lose whatever edge I had developed, and lost interest. I bought Bridget in an attempt to reawaken the fighting spirit, and spent a very lovely afternoon fighting her computer on very hard. Then I stopped and didn't pick it up.

When they dropped A.B.A on Tuesday, I was very excited. I thought a new character to try out would help, and everyone else would be trying her as well, so I might have a chance to win a little bit while they learn the new controls.

With the new patch, suddenly I couldn't boot the game. I spent over a day trying to figure it out. I tried everything from verifying files to reinstalling to getting third party software. Nothing worked, I just couldn't get on the network. I missed out on pre practice, I missed out on hours of playing with friends. Finally, working with everyone, we figured out the problem. One stupid, simple fix (disabling my antivirus software, yes I know I'm an idiot) and it booted first try.

By the time I joined the lobby, I was shaking from being hungry and angry and frustrated. Everyone else was warmed up, and I was cold for three weeks. I sorta kinda held my own, got my ass kicked again and again, but it didnt feel oppressive. Instead, it was invigorating. Some of the techniques and combos I had practiced worked, and I even got complimented.

Then tonight, we had another Strive lobby night. And something clicked. I was playing. I didn't win every match, but I didn't lose every match either. I stood my ground against players far better than me. I won multiple rounds in a row, and most importantly learned a few new techniques and ideas. I implemented on the fly. Tonight felt good.

We had a random come into the lobby, who is high level with all characters, and coaches. They run tourneys, and was top 100 with a couple of their mains. I warned them before our match that I wouldn't stand a chance, but like everyone in this community, they were more interested in playing and helping than beating me down. I managed to take them down below half health in a couple matches.

After stream, I went back and watched some older videos of my gameplay, then some from last night and tonight and the level of improvement I've made is astounding.

I react faster, my combos are cleaner, there's less wasted space/time/movement, and I'm starting to feel which move is the right defense, allowing me to be proactive in defense and getting out of neutral. And I can see when to be aggreasive and when to wait more easily.

I was at a precipice, and I honestly felt stuck. The combination of time away, solo practice, and a more relaxed and patient attitude the last couple of nights has broken through. I feel positive about future sessions, and I'm looking forward to playing rather than dreading it.

I'm very pleased with myself, and I feel positive. Playing games with such skilled people is kind of dampening for both my confidence and my pride, so this was pretty great. Okay, no more bragging. K thx byeeeeeeee

[organised-kitty]

Tag 20-28 | 18/100 hours | 28/08/23

So basically this week I barely studied German, I only did like 2 hours in the entire week and I felt like a total failure to be honest. After careful analysis I realised I needed to re organize my goals, my plan, my study techniques and my mindset so I can make this work out the best possible. At this moment I’m in a stage where I feel like nothing works to help me get back on track but I need to see this as a period of experimentation to help me push forward. So this is my take on how to deal with failure and slumps in progress. (Inspired by selfcare-journey)

⭐️ Identify what’s not working

Personally, what’s keeping me from doing my tasks is the fact that I’m always feeling tired and I have frequent migraines; I have been sleeping less than 6 hours a day because of university and yet I haven’t done as much progress because I’m so tired, I can’t focus and therefore I worked very slowly which left me feeling lazier, very frustrated and unmotivated.

⭐️ Prioritizing health and self care

I think we have all been consumed at some point by the idea of toxic productivity where the one who works the most and sleeps the least is the best one, but ultimately enjoying learning and having quality study time will only be possible if we’re physically and mentally sane.

I feel hesitant to redefine my work hours because I feel guilty when I think of studying less, I’m scared of not meeting deadlines, but I already know that this toxic cycle isn’t working for me so I have to accept that it’s okay if I can’t study 8 hours straight, if I need more breaks than other people and it’s okay if I work slow, if I don’t grasp things quickly, it’s okay to fall behind..because I’m in the process of rewiring how I study and taking my time is better than not doing anything and giving up.

⭐️ Managing energy levels

Along with my horrid sleeping schedule this energy slump is also the result of me not eating throughout the day and then having a huge unhealthy meals later in the day, and it’s really affecting my energy levels. So I need to start keeping hydrated, doing light exercise, eating healthier and more regular meals along with having better sleep hygiene because honestly I feel half dead. I also need to go to a medical check up to figure out what’s the cause of my migraines.

⭐️ Dealing with procrastination

I think lately I really struggle with a sense of discomfort when I study because lately I associate studying with failure and frustration. So I think breaking my task into smaller bits might make it less overwhelming. When I was in therapy I learnt a lot about how to deal with intrusive thoughts and emotions so I will put some of those techniques into practice. I also want to work on self compassion and embracing the idea that even a little progress is a step closer to my goal, I think celebrating those small wins can create a positive cycle of motivation.

⭐️ Improving focus

For this aspect I will go back to the ultra short Pomodoro method. (10-15 min with 2 min break) Force myself to work for a small period of time and give myself a tiny break. It’s a pretty basic technique but the idea of this is to experiment and see how well it works for me, identify for how long I can work until things start to become difficult. I think the best breaks are those that keep you away from your phone, because 5 minutes of social media is a recipe for disaster. So I will try to do things like grab some water, stretch a bit, breathing exercises, clean my bag, walk around the room a bit, doodling, have a snack, so that I keep active but refreshed. I think being in a productive environment like a library or a cafeteria could also help to keep focused.

⭐️ Enjoying learning

Now that I’m coming across more difficult content I tend to get unmotivated, so I think the best strategy is try seeing it like a game, where I don’t focus on the learning outcome but rather focus on the process of understanding, problem solving and overcoming new challenges, perhaps that will make the journey more rewarding.

Reminding one self of why I started and connecting the connecting the content to my interests and real world applications could be really useful in boosting my curiosity and motivation as well.

⭐️ Active learning

My study sessions have turned into something very passive, just doing exercises and checking flashcards has become very boring. I think I need to re-incorporate more active learning techniques like writing in a journal in my target language and talking to native friends more.

Additionally I think I need to readjust my schedule and re organize myself so I can include these changes, track them and check for feedback, but this post is already long enough so I will make a separate one.

[moralesmilesanhour]

how did u teach ur self to draw ? i’ve been tryin for years and for some reason i just can’t get the hang of it

any pointers?

Hm. Okay, before I get into any advice imma provide some background:

- I've been drawing (with the intention to improve) since I was about 6, so since elementary school. Yes my memory goes back that far don't say nun 😭

- My mom studied fashion design and was always drawing around me so I had access to all her books and supplies and stuff! Fun times

- this means that I had A LOT of time on my hands to practice and get better at drawing

Alright! So! If I could pinpoint some of the things that helped me improve the most, it would be YouTube tutorials. I started off w those "how to draw manga" videos? Like I used to watch Mark Crilley DOWN I wanted to draw like that so bad.

Then eventually I started watching more tuts about actual technique (anatomy, perspective, shading) and I think that's where the improvement REALLY got started imo. I'd suggest covering the fundamentals instead of "how to draw" videos because you'd just be learning to imitate someone else's art style without understanding the reasoning behind what's being done, and I assume you want to do more than that.

Speaking of style...follow artists with a variety of styles that work in a variety of mediums! I love my pencil sketching, but I also do digital and used to paint with watercolor a lot. Sometimes knowledge from one will bleed into how you approach another medium, which is great for getting fresh new perspectives!

Art channels/artists that I watch a lot:

-Proko

-Chris Hong Art

-Victoria Gedvillas

-Marco Brucci

-Likelihood Art

Another thing: be nice to yourself! Drawing while frustrated with yourself is not fun it sucks ass do not do that! If something isn't coming out right, step back and reassess your approach, or ask for feedback from others if you have access to other artists.

Understand what your goal is for a particular drawing session. (sometimes you might be doing studies or anatomy, other days might be character art, or maybe you just wanna doodle whatever!) The older I get, the more I realize that multitasking for any art form usually makes things more frustrating. So I don't do that anymore.

And lastly...you might wanna determine what kind of artist you wanna be. I have chosen to be more of a hobby artist, so I'm not gonna be learning things as in-depth as someone who plans on working at Pixar Animation Studios. You will be more focused in your learning this way.

Anyways, that's it! Everything in between that I didn't cover you will probably figure out yourself sjfjdk but if you have any more specific questions feel free to shoot me an ask! Good luck fren 🫶🏾

[semiramis-audron]

[Image ID: a screenshot from a different tumblr user: The thing these 'I could draw/make that' types never ever understand is that they didn't make that, and they wouldn't think to either. Most people only view art in terms of literal technical skill, and not as a medium to produce an emotional or intellectual response" end description]

Okay, but this "oh they only think about it as technical skill rather than invoking something in the viewer" might be wrong?

Because it might be a mix of both, I would say the opposite is true actually?

This might be an assumption based on my mum who disliles modern art, but I'm almost entirely sure that people who do this, do it because they are not artists themselves and don't know the story behind the painting and just have the visuals to go by. So they don't actually know about the technical skills.

"old fashioned" art usually depicts things people can still parse. Vistas or objects or people. That's what you mostly get to look at if you get any kind of basic art education in school (without specialising)

I know we looked at art history and interpreted old paintings and composition but that was all on non-abstract paintings. We barely touched those.

Abstract art requires the viewer to come up with what it might be. I can only get an emotional or intellectual response from something if I have a vague grasp of what I'm looking at. And human brains are wired to find patterns and connections so they will try to somehow interprète an abstract painting in a way they would an old one. "It has to depict something clearly. I just can't figure what... "

From a small age on, when I was asking about abstract art it was always "well the artists thought of something and wanted to express himself in how he did that. It's supposed to evoke an emotion / intellectual response."

It was always about "You are supposed to interprète what you see" and not "the technique and work that went into the painting might be part of the interpretation" because the artist had to think about which colors to chose, which medium, how to apply them and in which way.

It's just "the artist picked a color he felt like and went wild with it, because he had emotions. You are supposed to get these emotions from looking at it"

And I bet a lot of people who don't like modern/abstract art only go by their emotional/intellectual response which is "nothing" because. They can't figure what it is they are looking at visually like with old art so they only see what they can see. Color and maybe shapes and they don't know how much work and délibération went into this, so they assume not much.

If someone took me to a gallery and I had no idea about the art. And I would see a big canvas of just flat blue paint. Maybe my interpretation would be according to what I had been told about modern art: "I guess it's a darker blue so it might be a piece about depression and it's the whole canvas so I guess the artist wanted to express how it covers his whole life. It's just fucking blue on a canvas tho, so I could probably do that. Why is that worth so much money?"

And the first interpretation part is just because I actually tried to come up with a response to a painting I have only the visuals of and actually made an effort to engage with it, without having any context.

And yes people do think "I don't know what it's supposed to be and I don't know what the artist is trying to say, but this LOOKS like my toddler splashed paint on the wall, why does the artist make money with this and I have to do a day job??" they aren't trained to have an intellectual response so THAT IS their emotional RESPONSE "frustration" about presumed artistical skill. which is why you get petty "I could do this" stuff

Because they don't know the stuff that went into this.

YOU know this is an entirely new pigment which requires knowledge of color theory, chemistry, physical properties of paint ingredients and the brush strokes are so precise/fine/ thin that they are practically invisible, which requires years of training and technique to master...

I didn't know that.

This person very likely didnt know that and just went to "a gallery" because it was hip or someone invited them but didn't actually care enough about art to explain to them what this artist is known for.

Or why modern art isn't just "pic color and a feeling and go do whatever"

"I could do that types" just express what intellectual and emotional repsonse the painting cause in them when looking at it BECAUSE they don't know the artistic skill is part of the process.

abstract and modern art haters are sooo snobby like klein literally Created an entirely new pigment and then painted a canvas in a way where the brush strokes wouldn't be visible. the insinuation that people with no skill could reproduce that is so annoying because unless you are skilled at color mixing and painting you definitely couldn’t lmao

[unabashedly-faulty]

Last night I had to contact the donor to speak to my son. Lately they’ve been removing my time to talk to him. Doing things during our scheduled times without notifying that they will. The goal was for him to have a phone so I did not have to deal with them. He came on the phone with hw. It was well past school drop off and the time he usually does hw. I was a bit frustrated because it’s like you sent him with hw during the time we bond instead of communicating he’s not finished with his hw after I asked if he was done so I may call him. Either way it hurt my brain to understand what the hw was but I asked him questions for clarity and we figured it out. I’m proud of us for being patient with ourselves while trying to understand. He had spelling words and sentences to write. We did most of them. I also got to teach him how to make a little melody to spell his big words. For me when I would do spelling bees I’d make a melody to remember the words. Kinda singing the spelling and then repeating the word after. It seemed to work with him.

Quota-tion

Sensa-tion

I was so happy that I could help him. I am also glad our brain continues to push past the pain of learning something new when it is outside of the goal we previously had. The routine. Anything for him. Now I have some stuff to refer to in parenting class as examples.

He was losing focus and didn’t want to do a lot of his hw. I did the HALT. Checked for his hunger, anger, and tiredness. He was able to detect he was hungry which I reminded him I was proud of. Reminded him about his ability to know what’s happening inside of him. He was afraid to go ask for a snack as he did not get one that day. I told him to take me with him. He got an apple. We did some more hw and it was good. I was a little frustrated at his lack of focus and the thought came to my mind about ADHD. He was jumping all over. I’ve got to ask Nessley how to manage that. Some techniques to refocus. I did explain about his prize chart. How all of his no’s and I don’t wanna’s sound like no prize on his chart. No toys. He quickly was like huh??? Why? I explained listening and doing your hw are what gets prizes. I’m not sure how good of a motivator that is. I’m still learning what works for him. The more I am around him the better I’ll be able to learn him. This is the first time I’m not so stressed out from the dangers I’ve been in. The life I’ve had. The stress of medical care inadequacy. The lack of benefits to pay my bills. The pain of having a partner who was abhsing me. Now I’m less stressed I can pay attention to my son. I can bond more with him more consistently. I can practice the skills I’ve been learning in parenting class. This feels good.

He wants to come home now. Soon he will be home. We will build our new life together.

[cochineal-leviat]

Yo, you once said you "Learned to be satisfied whit your work" and I just wantes to know ¿Any lessons about that you cam provide to a small artist/writer? Over all when works as good as yours or other i've seen can make you feel you're bad and intimidate you (I didn't finish Castalia cone yet because of that)

(Sorry for my maybe bad english, I speak portuguese and I'm learning)

Hmm, quite a few questions you have there. I will try my best to answer!

Being satisfied with your art is no easy feat. It certainly sounds easy coming from me after more than a decade of practice, but then I do not tell you or my other dear readers how long it took me to accept the art I produce. It is a lesson in loving yourself.

As you read this, I may sound sappy or loopy, but I am not kidding. You are an extension of your art, as art is how you express yourself. You put a little piece in yourself in what you make; as such, we judge it the same way we judge ourselves. So, when your self-esteem is low, your opinion of your art will also be low.

The first step to acceptance is knowing this and trying to be kinder to yourself. There is no right or wrong in art. If it does not feel right, take a break and try again later. Art is a skill you build over time over a very long while. And that is the beauty of it. We are ever-evolving creatures with many stages in our lives. We truly unfinished clay sculptures, just like our art. You, as the artist, decide when you are done with an art piece because there is no such thing as finality when it comes to your art.

If you struggle with something, realise art is a process. We love making art because of the joys creation brings us. Perhaps the finished product, like a painting or a chapter, pushes us forward, but truly, if it were not for the middle, why would we keep doing this? We struggle and get back up again, all for the love of the game. And it is going to be very frustrating. I will not lie and say I have not cried before because I thought my art was ugly and worthless.

But I have learned as I grow older that it was not necessarily my art that I hated. So instead of thinking, "I will never get this right" or "My art is not good enough because it does not resemble this artist`s skills." I changed my course of thought to, "I will get it right one day because tomorrow is another day." Everyone has their own journey with art, making us all wonderfully unique.

Of course, this is easier said than done. So, allow me to give a few tips! I am unsure if you want tips on the visual or written arts, so let me divulge shortly in both forms:

Study and practise: I know this sounds boring as hell, but a big part of making art is referencing what already exists. But you can make it fun! Draw what you find interesting and want to see more of. Study what makes an art piece tic, or practise your observation techniques. The same thing applies to writing. Reading a lot helps broaden your horizons and your vocabulary. Over time, you integrate tools and quirks into your own art that you have seen somewhere else before. Everyone's skills are built over a long period, and studying great artists who used to be just like them. Before this, I filled out a sketchbook every month or so. Dedication is key. (You do not literally have to do this. Start small, please. Doodling is a good first step)

Watch art tutorials. I hated doing this as a teen, but seriously, it helps. YouTube has a lot of well-made tutorials you can watch and learn from. The most essential skill for any artist is learning how to build up an art piece from a rough sketch to its final stages, regardless of whether it is a digital or traditional piece. Learning your shapes is an absolute must! Mastering these will open many doors to you.

Not immediately understanding the material and taking a break is not giving up. Knowledge is one thing, but your brain still needs the time to catch up to what you've learned. I have agonised over stuff like this for ages, and then poof! The next day, suddenly, it clicked. We are only humans, and our bodies need the time to adapt. So, give yourself the time to learn and adjust to changes. Everyone learns differently, so you cannot compare yourself to others. It is a losing game and will only give way to frustration. You know you are on the right track once it feels seamless to draw or write.

Specifically for writing: draw from your own experiences. Writing is closer to the heart than the visual arts and can hit your readers deeper than any blade can. The pen is mightier than the sword, after all. When I write, I immerse myself in the world and characters I create. At that moment, I was really there, feeling what they felt and experiencing what happened to them. So if the moment is serious, you have to treat it as such, and when it is hilarious, you have to write it jaunty. You do not literally have to have experienced the things your characters do. Heck, I have written a lot of characters I disagree with or about experiences that are too wild for me to have ever been in. But that is what reference material is for. It does not have to be realistic. As long as your audience believes it, it is good. We do not read fantasy stories or sigh after fairytales because they are realistic. We read because, at that moment, we are in that world, so explore this world and make it a place we want to experience, even if it is a ruthless world. For example, with Kieran in Pokemon, I draw from my own grievances and self-hatred when I was a teenager, which is why his pain and grief feel so potent. Sure, I am aromantic, so the love bit stuff does not apply to me, but I read a lot of romance, so I still have a well of knowledge to draw from. A good writer and artist fills their gaps of knowledge and adds to their skill repertoire (still, not haste to fill that gap. This fills up with research and time)

Bonus tips for writing: take notes and outline what you want for your story. What are your goals? What lessons do your characters learn from their experiences, or what do you want to tell your readers? You do not need to know the end, nor must it be serious. Just like visual art, you are entirely free in what you make. Notes and your outline can really help later down the line when you are stuck. Btw, these are guidelines, you do not have stick to them if you want to take your story in another direction. There are art rules, but once you learn them, you can break them to climb to new heights.

Lastly, have fun. I am serious. Once art feels like a chore, you will not want to do it, and it will feel more draining to perform. This is your outlet, not your work. Love the journey, and treasure the skills you pick up. Every time, you will see it gets a little easier, and you will look back on your old art and perhaps feel embarrassed. But that is normal. Lords know I used to be embarrassed about my old works. (And I still am sometimes) But being embarrassed is okay! It means you have approved. Forgiving yourself and moving on is the most important part.

I hope my advice is useful! I simply wrote what I would have wanted to know when I started with art. Do not be afraid to try things and ask for help occasionally. Have fun creating, and remember to be kind to yourself!

PS: Please finish Castalia Cone Creamery at your leisure. There is no rush. I post my works to be enjoyed, so please don't push yourself to finish them.

[berettaentertainment]

"The ABCs of Puppy Obedience: Commands Every Pup Should Know"

Picture this: You're strolling through the park, the gentle spring breeze rustling the leaves as you bask in the golden afternoon sun. Your fluffy companion trots happily beside you, a picture of perfect canine contentment. Suddenly, a flash of brown streaks across the path – a squirrel! Chaos erupts as your excited pup lunges forward, leash taut, completely ignoring your frantic calls to "come back!" Leashes tangle, frustration mounts, and the idyllic park walk takes a nosedive into the territory of uncontrolled mayhem.

Now, you might be thinking, "My puppy will never listen like those well-trained dogs I see!" But fret not, fellow dog lover! Even the most rambunctious, tail-wagging ball of fur can blossom into a model of obedience with the right guidance and a whole lot of patience.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll crack the code on teaching your furry friend the essential commands that every well-mannered pup should know. But before we delve into the nitty-gritty of command training, let's address the common hurdles that often leave pet parents feeling overwhelmed and uncertain.

Many puppy owners face an uphill battle when it comes to instilling obedience. From ignoring recall commands to pulling on the leash during walks, these early days can be a whirlwind of chewed shoes and potty accidents. Without proper training, these unwanted behaviors can become deeply ingrained, leading to frustration for both you and your four-legged friend. Imagine walks that are actually enjoyable, a living room free from chewed furniture, and a pup who responds readily to your commands – sounds pretty idyllic, doesn't it?

Get ready to embark on a transformative journey to puppy obedience mastery! Throughout this article, we'll delve into the fundamental commands that will transform your pup into a polite and attentive companion. Whether you're teaching "sit," "stay," or "heel," we've got you covered with expert tips and tricks to make training a breeze. Say goodbye to disobedience and hello to harmony in your household!

Here's what we'll cover:

The Golden Rules of Puppy Training: We'll establish the foundational principles of positive reinforcement training, setting you and your pup up for success.

Command HQ: Essential Commands Every Pup Should Know: We'll explore the core commands that are the building blocks of a well-behaved canine citizen.

Beyond Commands: Addressing Common Puppy Misbehaviors: We'll tackle some of the most common puppy woes, like potty training, chewing, and leash pulling, equipping you with practical strategies to curb these unwanted behaviors.

Training Essentials: Tools & Techniques for Success:

 We'll explore the must-have tools and techniques that will make your training sessions efficient and enjoyable.

The Power of Play: Making Training Fun & Engaging: We'll show you how to incorporate play and positive reinforcement into your training regimen, keeping your pup motivated and excited to learn.

So, grab your dog's favorite treats, find a quiet, distraction-free space, and let's begin the journey to a happy, well-behaved pup! Learn more how to train your puppy.

[lavenderandlaurel]

like I mentioned at the beginning of the year, one of my overarching goals for 2024 is becoming less perfectionist. I've not had great results on this issue from either talk or cognitive-behavioral therapy in the past, so I knew this would be a forge-your-own-path kind of goal, but I wasn't sure what that might look like. especially since all the books I skimmed on authenticity / overcoming perfectionism / self-acceptance triggered aggression responses.* (excuse me. where is the historical-social-cultural context!!)

so instead, I have decided on some basic principles for the year:

share in-progress work earlier and more often

seek out failure (or, realize that criticism of The Thing is not criticism of me)

give mindfulness + meditation techniques another shot, despite my overwhelming skepticism of the self-help genre

try to be curious (or at least pragmatic) rather than judgmental when I'm procrastinating

turn in something on the dates I promised.** see also principle 1; it is better to turn in incomplete work early than polished work late

practice being flexible - including with these principles

secret seventh thing***

*one of the fundamental disconnects between me and most of these books is that I don't really have issues with self-worth. my perfectionism comes from anxiety (will I be fired or ridiculed or lose some ability to make decisions for myself) and I find it frustrating that a lot of mental health professionals don't take my concerns seriously (it's not like those concerns haven't happened to me before!)

**I set most of my own deadlines at my current job, so I have some leeway here that I haven't always had

***not really secret I've just been thinking about this topic from a jewish perspective, which perhaps warrants its own post

[askaniritual]

can you explain a bit more about your thoughts on litfic vs fanfic? there are also thousands of literary fiction novels published each year, some of which are genuinely not good. i hope this doesn’t come as an attack but interested in why you call out literary fiction specifically. wouldnt it be true to say every genre has high and low points?

i think a real answer to this question would involve me giving a history of how the concept of literary fiction came to be and then fully defining literary fiction as a genre so that i can expand on how the technique and goals of literary fiction (generally) differ from fanfiction (generally) and honestly me trying to do all that would embarrass us all. but! this is something i’m interested in and like talking abt so i’ll offer some additional pondering on the topic:

i absolutely agree that every genre has high and low points which is why i specifically didn’t say that fic is inferior to literary fiction just that it is different. talking about this is always a little frustrating because there’s no absolutes here. litfic is not one thing. fanfiction is not one thing. there’s not anything you could say most fic does or most litfic does and i’m sure anything i could say that i consider to be a specific technique or aspect of litfic you could easily point to a fic that does something similar.

i think fic is interesting and can be beautiful and compelling and should just be allowed to be it’s own thing without drawing comparison to published fiction which operates under its own set of pressures and determinants. the reason i bother to bring litfic into it at all is that unfortunately when discussing the legitimacy of fic as an art form, pretty much all discussion has to first contend with the commonly-held assertion in fandom circles that a lot of fanfiction is “better than published books” for vague reasons usually attributed to queer rep and writing style. there’s a lot of issues with this, not the least of which being that “published books” encompasses practically the entirety of literary canon, and i think the argument here is generally understood to be placing fanfiction in opposition to what most people consider to be literary fiction because that, rather than genre fiction, is the kind of fiction that people consider to be highbrow or elevated or a truer expression of literary craft or whatever. and i think the counter argument to that school of thought mostly revolves around asserting that fic is not equal to literary fiction, could never be equal to literary fiction, and is in fact fundamentally inferior to even the worst published book.

so basically that’s what i was getting at in my post is i think the comparison is silly to begin with because they’re fundamentally different art forms that occasionally use overlapping techniques. i don’t think it’s fic vs litfic because like. apples to oranges. but i also don’t think they need to be compared in order to acknowledge fic as an art form.