#tools tuesday

[finishwhatyoustarted-event]

Tools Tuesday - Tagging - March 18

This Tools Tuesday is all about tagging, for when you’re ready to post your finished work on Archive of Our Own or any other site that uses tags! AO3, as the most popular fic posting site, will be the focus.

To begin: what are tags? And why do we use them?

Tags are keywords used to describe a fic or post. They can serve a variety of functions, but at their core they tell a viewer what to expect when they click in. On some sites (like Tumblr), they are at the bottom of the post or in the body of the post (like bsky). On AO3, they are the third thing seen, after title and author.

As seen in this handy infographic from SummerofSpock on tumblr, tags on A03 fall into 5 rough categories: Canon, Format, Tone, Relationship, Theme.

[full image ID in ALT text. Infographic titled “Tags are Tricky…a quick and dirty guide” with tag example lists in the categories of Canon, Format, Tone, Relationship, Theme. Each box is a different pink, in a gradient. End ID.]

source: https://summerofspock.tumblr.com/post/698388759652319232/mostlyinthemorning-i-kind-of-suck-at-tagging-so

Not every fic might use every category, and there are certainly tags that overlap categories. There’s also what I consider a 6th category, which is Author Commentary (no beta we die like xx, character needs a hug, why did i do that much research for a single paragraph, etc).

All of that aside, why should you use tags?

They help readers find and enjoy your fic! The two main uses of tags when searching is Seeking and Avoidance.

Seeking is when a reader really wants to read a particular thing, like they want fix-its only or just Modern AUs. Once they narrow it down to fandom, these are the tags they’ll type into the search bar. If your work isn’t properly tagged, it won’t show up, even if it’s the epitome of a Coffee Shop AU and that’s the term they search. Generously tag so readers can find you!

Avoidance is excluding a fic from consideration due to a particular theme or topic. Maybe their pet just died, so any mention of Animal Death is out. Maybe they are really tired of a particular ship, or are narrowing down for a rarepair. On AO3, there’s a section in the filter bar for excluding tags (see below, boxed in blue). Readers can eliminate what they don’t want to see, which is wonderful! They can select exactly what they want; not every fic is for every reader. Generously tag, so readers can be selective!

[ID: the Archive of Our Own filter bar Exclude section. End ID.]

Still unsure how to tag your work? Or stuck on other aspects, like ratings and warnings? The Fanfic Author’s Guide to Metatext (As Used on Ao3) by Eiiri is an incredible, in-depth explanation of everything contained within the metatext (tags+warnings) block on an AO3 fic. I — this event’s mod — use this text as part of my determining for rating guidelines, and I have found it extremely helpful for tagging my own works. View in full on tumblr and AO3 at these links

full text in post:

AO3 version, from which you can download as a pdf, epub, or other format:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/30986561/chapters/76535018

Additionally, this event requires certain tags be honored and present as needed, primarily common content warnings or hot topics. See the rules post for more information. These tags at least need to be present in any promo post that are applicable, though tagging the fic itself is always good practice. After all, tags are like the ingredient label of a fic.

Still not sure what to tag and want more inspiration? This post from @/insanitysilver has great links to further help, as well as an example of a tagged fake fic!

~

Have a question not answered above? Is there something important I missed? Want to see a post about tagging for Tumblr, Twitter, or another site specifically? Start a discussion in the replies and reblogs! Thanks for participating, and good luck with your wip!

-

Tools Tuesday is a weekly part of the Finish What You Started event where I share various resources I have found to help everyone complete their WIP. Have a resource you want to share? Send it in a message and I’ll take a look!

[idreamofticklehugs]

As per your choice… five minutes of me getting tickled on my stomach, including almost every tool in our collection 🫠

How’s that for tummy Tuesday?

[if-you-dont-ask-me-to-stay]

Guys I’m making a compilation can anyone help

[malwa1216]

Dellamorte Amore

[grimfolks]

Household 3/6 of Crystal Cove

Many Sims have an urge to relocate to the peaceful mountains but not many follow that dream. The young Addams couple, seemingly comfortable with their city lifestyle, decided to pack their bags and travel to the distant Crystal Cove in the hopes to firmly plant their roots there and start a family of their own. While Basil plans to start his very own research station, his world-curious wife Tuesday stays connected to the nature in her own ways. Will these two bring to Crystal Cove the boost it needs or fail and leave the town heartbroken?

[candycryptids]

Finally re-vamped Tuesday for Dawntrail TTATT ! He looks so good- this is uh, sort of a project preview too :> This is his "going out" cyberpunk fit-

[wwkq]

Some digital crooner rkgk. I'm not sure when? (Might be 2023.)

[pebblestompmyway]

The pharaohs, the goddess and Moses

After feeling disappointed by DA, I forgot to post this here. No words, at least not for now.

[myimaginaryradio]

Sober - Tool

[finishwhatyoustarted-event]

Tools Tuesday - Fiber and Fabric Craft Support + What To Do During Breaks - April 15

Happy Tools Tuesday, everyone! Today’s topic is especially for all the yarn and fabric crafters participating and sharing their progress in the discord!

Just like with any other medium, it can be easy to get into the flow when working on a physical craft project, and totally lose track of time - only to reap the consequences of cramped muscles and aches. That’s why setting a timer can be a great strategy. There are many guides online about different work-break timer strategies; my personal favorite are these Pomodoro timers from How To ADHD, which have break timers built into the video (and no annoying clock sounds except when the timer is about to end)

(though I admit, I also have a habit of “timing” myself by watching episodes of a show, then forgetting to stretch in between!)

Figuring out what balance of time will depend on you, your mood, and your project. But sometimes, “taking a break” is too nebulous a concept. What could a break entail?

The annoyingly simple answer is: it varies! The long answer is figuring out what works for you.

I try to remember to check in with my body during a break and address basic needs I neglected while focused. Ask yourself:

Are you hungry?

Are you thirsty?

Do you need to use the bathroom?

Are there any physical aches?

Are you curled up oddly?

Do your eyes feel strained?

Addressing 1, 2, and 3 are simple but easily forgotten. For 4, I have shared a sheet on some common stretches previously, but there are a wealth of stretches, yoga poses, and exercises recommended for knitters, crocheters, and sewists.

As with any exercise, be aware of your body and mindful to not hurt yourself!

This video has some hand stretches not covered in previous posts here.

And here’s a full playlist of yoga moves put out by the yarn brand Lion Brand, aimed at knitters and crocheters. Many of the moves are designed to be done from a chair, so you don’t even have to get up if all you need to do during your break is stretch!

Many back stretches covered in that playlist also help with 5, posture. If you find you’re curling uncomfortably over your work, or that your hands regularly ache after crafting, perhaps it is your tools that need to step up their game. A little support can go a long way.

I often crochet with a pillow on my lap, to keep my hands up in a comfortable, relaxed position, and to keep me from leaning too far forward. A rolled up blanket or long plushie can do the same job. Ergonomic shaped needles and hooks can help if your hands cramp when working or you find you have to tightly grip the tools. Likewise, supportive gloves or wrist braces can aid when repetitive motions make your wrist ache. Better lighting or magnifiers make seeing stitches easier.

There should be no shame in using assistive devices! Do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself while you create!

For 6, eye strain, we can forget this can be an issue even when not working at a computer. The 20-20-20 idea (look at something 20ft away for 20 seconds after 20 minutes of close-up focus) goes for reading a book or doing crafts as well. Anything where you’re staring at something right in front of you for a long time can make your eyes ache. I really liked this video that goes over ways to mitigate eyestrain from a computer, as well as some exercises that I regularly do myself when I feel my eyes get sore.

Adding additional lighting can also help prevent eyestrain. If you find the light gives you a headache, try swapping the bulbs for something of a different color (warmer/cooler), or changing where the source sits. Sometimes I wear a visor when working with bright overhead shop lights.

As always, these tips are just my personal recommendations that you can use as starting off points for finding what works for you. Your breaks don’t need to be structured to be beneficial. Moving your body in a change of scenery to get a snack might be all you need. Or you could start a load of laundry and work while it’s going, which gives you a timer and a different physical task to do during your break when it’s ready to be hung/changed to the other machine.

Do whatever works for you, just please take care of yourself! We artists might suffer for our art, but creating art shouldn’t make you suffer.

Got any tips or resources? Or a tool that helped you craft more comfortably that you think others should know about? Share it in the comments or reblogs!

-

Tools Tuesday is a weekly part of the Finish What You Started event where I share various resources I have found to help everyone complete their WIP. Have a resource you want to share? Send it in a message and I’ll take a look!

[beinggayisreallyexpensive]

:( my partner is kinda going thru it lately and I don't know how to help him in the way he needs quite yet

[capriciouslyvexed]

Cow tools

[doeblossom]

TMI Tuesday: What do you think of AI Art and Music?

okay this one's the exception to the "all of them get drawings" because i wanna talk about this a bit

AI could be a powerful tool. tool. much of ai takes from sources that do not consent to being used, and that is not good! and a product made with a majority ai influence is not creatively valid in my eyes.

that said, ai being used as a prompt, brainstormer, or for cleaning up small, tedious things is fine. it's already been a part of a lot of things for a long time, just not called ai!

but again, like i said, the end product should not be mostly AI generated. AI written books, made songs, and images lack the heart that art is made with. i would advise heavily against using it as the main tool of creative projects!

nanowrimo released a statement that condones the use of AI in writing, which i will link to and put my thoughts on below:

i was reading it and was like: "they cant hire help" okay..? u dont really need to? u can brainstorm with other people, ask someone else to read your story, or just straight up do it yourself if u really want to? (thats what a community is for!)

a lot of it came off as being used for professional works, but i was under the impression nanowrimo was a casual event!

also i totally understand the whole difficulty publishing thing, bc many of our systems do still discriminate whether it's blatantly or not but how is ai gonna change that

part of me feels like it was only published so we'll nod along at the buzzwords and accept them using AI without blinking. it makes me think, though... does someone on staff use AI to completely write their books for them? are they trying to remain "neutral" to get more participants while keeping their older ones? why publish this stance?

the statement itself comes off as trying to guilt anyone who disagrees with AI, claiming such criticisms as being ableist/racist/classist/bigoted in some other fashion. but art has been created, time and time again, by less fortunate and systematically oppressed people. there are countless resources out there, for free, for people to create.

[cobra-creampuff]

i can see your back is turning, if i could i'd stick a knife in (this is love)

[stellerssong]

agent kiran estevez astral dive suit. post tweet

[pebblestompmyway]

Girl quality time

FINALLY DONE :3

KittyXLydia, my new guilty pleasure 🥰

P. S. Lousday's still alive in my heart, don't worry. Maybe I'll draw them someday.