writeblrs+!! please rb and say what your favorite school subject was + your feelings about english class !

Full disclosure: I was homeschooled, and the curriculum back in those days was limited. I did not have the opportunity to explore subjects that might have been otherwise available to me in the public school system.

So I didn't have a favourite subject, mostly due to my mother's teaching style and my learning style were incompatible. English class was more or less nonexistent to me, I could read and did read but anything beyond that I had to teach myself after... I'd say, 15 years old. The bulk of English I learned was when I started taking Spanish classes in college, as far as structure and function goes. It's a bit of a shame, because I find languages fascinating and etymology is something I really would have loved to study more.

My characters @ me, the writer, when I put them in an unexpected angst scene:

writing style game!

put ur answers in the tags!

google docs or microsoft word? character moodboards or character playlists? writing with music or writing in silence? lots of half finished wips or one project at a time? plotter or pantser? more dialogue or more description? character-driven books or plot-driven books? enemies to lovers or friends to lovers?

You can do all kinds of slightly-weird shit and explain it all away with: “I’m a writer.”

Run outside when it starts raining, because it’s the perfect chance to figure out how slippery the grass might be during the reunion kiss scene, and whether the characters really could just skid down a slight slope. 

“I’m a writer,” you can say, when your friend asks why you’re soaked to the bone.

Stop mid-stride and sniff the air, letting your nose lead you to that one flowerpot that smells just right for the arrangements in the background of Chapter 6, and go find out the plant’s name from the old man weeding the garden beds.

“I’m a writer,” you can say, when he asks why you’re so curious.

Stare at the sky until you know exactly which shade of blue best describes it, then scribble it on the back of your hand with a leaking pen.

“I’m a writer,” you can say, when your boss notices the fading stain the next day.

I bet they’ll all go, “Ah, that explains it.”

For the record: these are all pretty low-intensity “I’m a writer” things. I challenge anyone to write a character with a new disability and then spend the day trying to function with that disability. 

For the record: sippers and buttons are bullshit when you have only one hand/arm. Same with laces. Most clothing stuff is not happening, actually. Bra hooks can fuck themselves off of a cliff, too.

I am a writer.

@illthdar Did you try to live a day as Lerki after is accident?

An excellent question. Yes I did, though it would have been the second time I’ve actually spent a few hours with an arm tied behind my back in the name of character development - the first character I did this with was for an RP character of mine called Dede. It was instrumental to figuring out what kinds of clothing she wore and how.

With regards to Lerki, because he had [spoiler], which is also limiting his ability to move and do things. I had to take it a step further by tying up one arm and having the other forcefully stuck at different degree angles because he [spoiler].

🍵Don’t forget about that tea you made and left on the counter🍵

Save a life!!!! 

Literary and actual babies

Most wouldn’t have noticed my hiatus, but I’ve done remarkably little the past couple of months due to giving birth. Now that things are settling down some, I thought I would take a moment to discuss the fine balancing act required to nurture both muse and children.

1. Accept that there will be days and weeks where you can only dream of working on you wip. This is true even without kids, life happens and authors are not excused from dealing. What’s more, when we try to do too much, we often succeed in getting less accomplished - and if we’re lucky, the only unspeakable things will happen to the computer/notepad/phone in the process and not to the detriment of the kid(s).

2. One-handed is the new normal. If you were a two-finger typist before, you might actually have an advantage on this one, because your other arm is now the sole property of a kiddo-bug and they may not understand the concept of sharing or personal space. Embrace any and all dictation software you have and learn to edit early and often.

3. What was I doing, again? Did I mention distractions? Get used to them - you have no quiet time, treasure every minute of it you can find when you aren’t too tired to keep your eyes open. You will find that you’re suddenly super efficient when you know the newborn can and will wake up at any moment.

4. Respect that these darlings you raise are priority one. It shouldn’t need to be said, but there will be times where the frustration at not being able to do anything except hold the one-month old and cry makes it really hard to remember. You’re a parent and being with them is absolutely the right thing - and the time will pass eventually and you may just find yourself yearning for it again, Find the joy in it, use it to feed the muse when you can. The emotions parents have with their children are awesome inspiration.

5. That said, don’t throw yourself onto the pyre of parenthood - brush your hair, your teeth, take a bath, go to the toilet, have that chocolate and/or coffee in any combination and as many times as you can manage. There will be days when the shower doesn’t happen - and that’s okay; brush your teeth and try for it again tomorrow, Real talk: as a writer, you’re probably used to neglecting basics (I know I’m guilty), just not forced - or I’d hope not. Cold dry toast is still better than nothing.

6. Outsource where you can. Both kids and writing, if possible. It’s hard asking or accepting help, but you’re not failing if you take it. What’s more, it’s a healthier coping mechanism to reach out instead of trying to take it all yourself. And, for those of us who don’t have those resources: go easy on yourself - it’s going to take longer to do anything beyond just caring for the kiddos, this is a fact - you’ll get it done eventually. 

Really, it’s a super-long pep-talk on repeat for several months when you’re raising kids and writing at the same time. Children grow fast; don’t kill yourself by trying to make permanent solutions to temporary problems - it will be a new problem every week and it all comes out in the wash in the end.