Faith Lehane — Buffy: The Vampire Slayer & Angel.

JENNIFER 'JJ' JAREAU in CRIMINAL MINDS 2x21 | 'Open Season'

My contribution this year to the Polar Lights zine, tried something more painterly because it's fun ^u^

Go get yourself a copy and support Antarctic conservation research~

“Your absence has gone through me like thread through a needle. Everything I do is stitched with its color.”

— W.S. Merwin, from "Separation, The Moving Target (Macmillan Pub Co, 1963)

Now that that whole drama is settled,

GO VOTE BLUE IN NOVEMBER OR WE GET PROJECT 2025.

I don't give a single rancid shit if you like Harris even less than Biden. If you skip voting you are effectively giving the win to nazi fascist Gilead freaks who will, not may, will, strip all of our rights and be the driving force behind getting us killed by their zealot hyperchristofascist followers in the coming years.

And if you think you won't be directly affected, I encourage you to deep-dive on Project 2025 and what these assholes plan to do starting at 12pm on January 20th if they win.

VOTE. OUR LIVES ARE AT STAKE.

How I learned to write smarter, not harder

(aka, how to write when you're hella ADHD lol)

A reader commented on my current long fic asking how I write so well. I replied with an essay of my honestly pretty non-standard writing advice (that they probably didn't actually want lol) Now I'm gonna share it with you guys and hopefully there's a few of you out there who will benefit from my past mistakes and find some useful advice in here. XD Since I started doing this stuff, which are all pretty easy changes to absorb into your process if you want to try them, I now almost never get writer's block.

The text of the original reply is indented, and I've added some additional commentary to expand upon and clarify some of the concepts.

As for writing well, I usually attribute it to the fact that I spent roughly four years in my late teens/early 20s writing text roleplay with a friend for hours every single day. Aside from the constant practice that provided, having a live audience immediately reacting to everything I wrote made me think a lot about how to make as many sentences as possible have maximum impact so that I could get that kind of fun reaction. (Which is another reason why comments like yours are so valuable to fanfic writers! <3) The other factors that have improved my writing are thus: 1. Writing nonlinearly. I used to write a whole story in order, from the first sentence onward. If there was a part I was excited to write, I slogged through everything to get there, thinking that it would be my reward once I finished everything that led up to that. It never worked. XD It was miserable. By the time I got to the part I wanted to write, I had beaten the scene to death in my head imagining all the ways I could write it, and it a) no longer interested me and b) could not live up to my expectations because I couldn't remember all my ideas I'd had for writing it. The scene came out mediocre and so did everything leading up to it. Since then, I learned through working on VN writing (I co-own a game studio and we have some visual novels that I write for) that I don't have to write linearly. If I'm inspired to write a scene, I just write it immediately. It usually comes out pretty good even in a first draft! But then I also have it for if I get more ideas for that scene later, and I can just edit them in. The scenes come out MUCH stronger because of this. And you know what else I discovered? Those scenes I slogged through before weren't scenes I had no inspiration for, I just didn't have any inspiration for them in that moment! I can't tell you how many times there was a scene I had no interest in writing, and then a week later I'd get struck by the perfect inspiration for it! Those are scenes I would have done a very mediocre job on, and now they can be some of the most powerful scenes because I gave them time to marinate. Inspiration isn't always linear, so writing doesn't have to be either!

Some people are the type that joyfully write linearly. I have a friend like this--she picks up the characters and just continues playing out the next scene. Her story progresses through the entire day-by-day lives of the characters; it never timeskips more than a few hours. She started writing and posting just eight months ago, she's about an eighth of the way through her planned fic timeline, and the content she has so far posted to AO3 for it is already 450,000 words long. But most of us are normal humans. We're not, for the most part, wired to create linearly. We consume linearly, we experience linearly, so we assume we must also create linearly. But actually, a lot of us really suffer from trying to force ourselves to create this way, and we might not even realize it. If you're the kind of person who thinks you need to carrot-on-a-stick yourself into writing by saving the fun part for when you finally write everything that happens before it: Stop. You're probably not a linear writer. You're making yourself suffer for no reason and your writing is probably suffering for it. At least give nonlinear writing a try before you assume you can't write if you're not baiting or forcing yourself into it!! Remember: Writing is fun. You do this because it's fun, because it's your hobby. If you're miserable 80% of the time you're doing it, you're probably doing it wrong!

2. Rereading my own work. I used to hate reading my own work. I wouldn't even edit it usually. I would write it and slap it online and try not to look at it again. XD Writing nonlinearly forced me to start rereading because I needed to make sure scenes connected together naturally and it also made it easier to get into the headspace of the story to keep writing and fill in the blanks and get new inspiration. Doing this built the editing process into my writing process--I would read a scene to get back in the headspace, dislike what I had written, and just clean it up on the fly. I still never ever sit down to 'edit' my work. I just reread it to prep for writing and it ends up editing itself. Many many scenes in this fic I have read probably a dozen times or more! (And now, I can actually reread my own work for enjoyment!) Another thing I found from doing this that it became easy to see patterns and themes in my work and strengthen them. Foreshadowing became easy. Setting up for jokes or plot points became easy. I didn't have to plan out my story in advance or write an outline, because the scenes themselves because a sort of living outline on their own. (Yes, despite all the foreshadowing and recurring thematic elements and secret hidden meanings sprinkled throughout this story, it actually never had an outline or a plan for any of that. It's all a natural byproduct of writing nonlinearly and rereading.)

Unpopular writing opinion time: You don't need to make a detailed outline.

Some people thrive on having an outline and planning out every detail before they sit down to write. But I know for a lot of us, we don't know how to write an outline or how to use it once we've written it. The idea of making one is daunting, and the advice that it's the only way to write or beat writer's block is demoralizing. So let me explain how I approach "outlining" which isn't really outlining at all.

I write in a Notion table, where every scene is a separate table entry and the scene is written in the page inside that entry. I do this because it makes writing nonlinearly VASTLY more intuitive and straightforward than writing in a single document. (If you're familiar with Notion, this probably makes perfect sense to you. If you're not, imagine something a little like a more contained Google Sheets, but every row has a title cell that opens into a unique Google Doc when you click on it. And it's not as slow and clunky as the Google suite lol) (Edit from the future: I answered an ask with more explanation on how I use Notion for non-linear writing here.) When I sit down to begin a new fic idea, I make a quick entry in the table for every scene I already know I'll want or need, with the entries titled with a couple words or a sentence that describes what will be in that scene so I'll remember it later. Basically, it's the most absolute bare-bones skeleton of what I vaguely know will probably happen in the story.

Then I start writing, wherever I want in the list. As I write, ideas for new scenes and new connections and themes will emerge over time, and I'll just slot them in between the original entries wherever they naturally fit, rearranging as necessary, so that I won't forget about them later when I'm ready to write them. As an example, my current long fic started with a list of roughly 35 scenes that I knew I wanted or needed, for a fic that will probably be around 100k words (which I didn't know at the time haha). As of this writing, it has expanded to 129 scenes. And since I write them directly in the page entries for the table, the fic is actually its own outline, without any additional effort on my part. As I said in the comment reply--a living outline!

This also made it easier to let go of the notion that I had to write something exactly right the first time. (People always say you should do this, but how many of us do? It's harder than it sounds! I didn't want to commit to editing later! I didn't want to reread my work! XD) I know I'm going to edit it naturally anyway, so I can feel okay giving myself permission to just write it approximately right and I can fix it later. And what I found from that was that sometimes what I believed was kind of meh when I wrote it was actually totally fine when I read it later! Sometimes the internal critic is actually wrong. 3. Marinating in the headspace of the story. For the first two months I worked on [fic], I did not consume any media other than [fandom the fic is in]. I didn't watch, read, or play anything else. Not even mobile games. (And there wasn't really much fan content for [fandom] to consume either. Still isn't, really. XD) This basically forced me to treat writing my story as my only source of entertainment, and kept me from getting distracted or inspired to write other ideas and abandon this one.

As an aside, I don't think this is a necessary step for writing, but if you really want to be productive in a short burst, I do highly recommend going on a media consumption hiatus. Not forever, obviously! Consuming media is a valuable tool for new inspiration, and reading other's work (both good and bad, as long as you think critically to identify the differences!) is an invaluable resource for improving your writing.

When I write, I usually lay down, close my eyes, and play the scene I'm interested in writing in my head. I even take a ten-minute nap now and then during this process. (I find being in a state of partial drowsiness, but not outright sleepiness, makes writing easier and better. Sleep helps the brain process and make connections!) Then I roll over to the laptop next to me and type up whatever I felt like worked for the scene. This may mean I write half a sentence at a time between intervals of closed-eye-time XD

People always say if you're stuck, you need to outline.

What they actually mean by that (whether they realize it or not) is that if you're stuck, you need to brainstorm. You need to marinate. You don't need to plan what you're doing, you just need to give yourself time to think about it!

What's another framing for brainstorming for your fic? Fantasizing about it! Planning is work, but fantasizing isn't.

You're already fantasizing about it, right? That's why you're writing it. Just direct that effort toward the scenes you're trying to write next! Close your eyes, lay back, and fantasize what the characters do and how they react.

And then quickly note down your inspirations so you don't forget, haha.

And if a scene is so boring to you that even fantasizing about it sucks--it's probably a bad scene.

If it's boring to write, it's going to be boring to read. Ask yourself why you wanted that scene. Is it even necessary? Can you cut it? Can you replace it with a different scene that serves the same purpose but approaches the problem from a different angle? If you can't remove the troublesome scene, what can you change about it that would make it interesting or exciting for you to write?

And I can't write sitting up to save my damn life. It's like my brain just stops working if I have to sit in a chair and stare at a computer screen. I need to be able to lie down, even if I don't use it! Talking walks and swinging in a hammock are also fantastic places to get scene ideas worked out, because the rhythmic motion also helps our brain process. It's just a little harder to work on a laptop in those scenarios. XD

In conclusion: Writing nonlinearly is an amazing tool for kicking writer's block to the curb. There's almost always some scene you'll want to write. If there isn't, you need to re-read or marinate.

Or you need to use the bathroom, eat something, or sleep. XD Seriously, if you're that stuck, assess your current physical condition. You might just be unable to focus because you're uncomfortable and you haven't realized it yet.

Anyway! I hope that was helpful, or at least interesting! XD Sorry again for the text wall. (I think this is the longest comment reply I've ever written!)

And same to you guys on tumblr--I hope this was helpful or at least interesting. XD Reblogs appreciated if so! (Maybe it'll help someone else!)

We have 30 days until the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) laws are rescinded. This is the 50-year bedrock of American conservation. Normally, these actions take years but the administration has provided 30 days for public comment gutting clean water and clean air. Drop what you’re doing, before you make any more calls or read any more social media posts, please populate the Federal Register with dissent.

A. Go to https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/25/2025-03014/removal-of-national-environmental-policy-act-implementing-regulations

B. Click on the green rectangle in the upper right corner ("SUBMIT A PUBLIC COMMENT") .

C. Fill in your comment, and info at the bottom, and SUBMIT COMMENT.

Your Decent Into Hell

I wanted to do this for a long time. a fic rec of our decent into hell for all our sins. so enjoy your decent miraculours :D

SAFE HEAVEN

Anything for a friend by babycougar Adrien would love it if fangirls left him alone for once in his life, but he knows that this will likely be a problem for as long as he’s single. Nino comes up with a potentially genius plan: just pretend to date a kindhearted classmate, and the problem will go away! Aka Adrien is oblivious and Marinette is too nice for her own good.

Mon dieu by Mooncactus “Kiss me, quick!"Not the words Marinette expects to hear from Adrien Agreste, especially especially prefaced with "I’ll make it up to you and explain it all later."But a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do.

It’s complicated by konekat Chat Noir wants to confess to Ladybug. Marinette wants to confess to Adrien. Somehow, things just keep spiraling out of control instead.

Five steps by eLJay It doesn’t take much for Chat Noir to fall for Marinette.

the person that you’d take a bullet for is behind the trigger by asterbells He used Cataclysm, and the furthest his memory reaches is when he was sitting on top of Ladybug, likely to have been pinning her down.The pieces push together into a picture he doesn’t want to see.His pencil falls with a clatter against the table.

Someone to hold on to by Chebitz Chat Noir finds himself looking for comfort in places more likely than he’d think.

Honesty by panda013 (Amiria_Raven) “Well, if I’m wonderful,” he started, a teasing lilt in his voice causing her to look up and give him the ‘kitty don’t you dare’ look he so adored. His grin grew wider and he finished, “then you must be purrty Miraculous, don’t you think?”His honesty had given them this chance, and she would forever love that earnest part of him.

GOD WILL LET THIS ONE PASS

heartstrings by taylortot one of marinette’s rare unlucky days turns into something treacherous. thanks to a certain cat, the real danger passes, but there are other things to be more afraid of. her heart, for example, might be one of them.

Gently Into The Night by Lady_Lombax Even heroes need a pick me up sometimes. For Chat Noir, a certain Princess is just the remedy.

In Sickness and In Health by kali_asleep It’s not everyday you see a girl passed out on a roof in the middle of the night. But when that girl is a certain Marinette Dupain-Cheng, well, there’s not much else Chat Noir can do but help her, right?

YOU CAN STILL REPENT

Obsession by KryallaOrchid was meant to be only once but Marinette and her magic hands keep drawing him back. He can’t get enough.

Sunlight, Firelight, Starlight by AdJiT Adrien knows he shouldn’t do it. Adrien knows that there will be consequences to this action and Adrien knows this is probably a bad idea but Adrien is not here on this rooftop, Chat is, and Chat is tired of staring up at the girl who hung the moon and wishing, and every fiber of his being is telling him to leave that behind and take the chance to do something with someone who is with him, on his level. So he does.

Months Later by Inkkerfuffle somehow, this whole secret dating thing was working out just fine. It had been a couple of months, and they’d been working on getting to know each other and figuring out just how they worked together. There were some dates, but as far as school was concerned, the game was ‘how many kisses can one sneak upon the other’. And so far, the answer was plenty.In which there is secret dating, formal events and creepy classmates.Series

FORGIVE ME FATHER FOR I HAVE SINNED

That thing you do by mercy_angel_09 There were two possibilities for how this could end:1) Their friendship would be stronger than everor2) She’d never be able to look him in the eye again.He was willing to bet on the latter. (Or, the one where an akuma shoves Ladybug and Chat Noir into a tiny utility closet while it goes on its roaring rampage of revenge, and things get a little hard between them.)

It Had To Be You by mercy_angel_09 Sometimes the person you’re looking for has been right in front of you the whole time.Like. Literally. Five years you two idiots wasted. (putting it here cuz it’s sin yet sweet sooo)

The Ladybugs and The Bees by BullySquadess The Miraculous Ladybug and Chat Noir have survived many things together. Monsters, curses, hoards of pigeons…they’ve seen it all. But how will they handle one of life’s biggest challenges? ((What started as an awkward little puberty fic has slowly morphed into LadyNoir SIN))

Sin by BroadwayyyBabyy Just. Sin. (PURE SIN OMG)

I’M IN HELL…(WHY AM I NOT SURPRISED)

Dance in the dark by MisterDoctorProfessorPatrick Chat Noir decides to pay his princess a visit, but since black cats are hard to see in the dark, he overhears a little more than he might have expected.

Puppeteer by clairelutra (exosolarmoon) i don’t bite, but i heard you might so let me feed your appetiteChat Noir pays his princess a visit. (you sin more every chapter you read)

There is SOOO MUCH MORE but i couldn’t possibly put everything here cuz i also haven’t read everything…yet

ENJOY

Steven Moffat coming back to Doctor Who after years away just to go after capitalism, organized religion as a cover for violence, the military industrial complex, AI, and “thoughts and prayers” in 46 minutes.

I saw this while scrolling

And I know a lot of social media’s response to this will be to call women stupid bitch Karens for being married to Trump voters in the first place, because the internet hates women, but think about how misogynistic Republican men are, and how violent/threatening they are. Think of the Republican men who went to 1/6, and the ones who show up to rallies with rifles. Think of how many Republicans are cops, and the amount of cops who are domestic abusers. Do you really think Republican men are not dangerous to the women and children in their lives?

It should go without saying, but if you’re afraid of your partner finding out who you voted for, you need to get out of that relationship. That’s easier said than done, though, so in the meantime, know that who you actually vote for is not public information. Your voter registration information is public, meaning the fact that you’re registered, what party you’re affiliated with, and that you voted. But no one knows who you voted for in a given election, and you do not need to vote for the party you’re affiliated with in a general election. It’s possible to be a registered Republican and vote for Democrats.

More information here:

archive.is

Can people see who I voted for? What information is public or private…

fuffy text posts because these two dumbasses make my brain go brrr <3