Success is Dependent on Secret Information

A lot of career success depends on you and the work you put into it, as well as luck beyond your control, but sadly, it also depends on secret information, magic words, and stupid little tricks.

That's not fair. I don't like it, but we can help by sharing that secret information--which is the antidote to gate-keeping. That's why I recently wrote this in my Authors of Nonfiction Books in Progress substack:

It can be really disheartening to realize that, when you thought you failed at something because you didn't do well enough, other people had the magic words. For instance, some injustices I've witnessed (that may or may not always be the case, or maybe not anymore!) include:

Let me know what magic words/secret knowledge you've learned, that you wish you knew sooner. Or: the widespread understanding of what information would make a field more fair?

And please share ANBIP with anyone writing, publishing, or seriously about to start writing, a nonfiction non-memoir book, especially if they're interested in the more practical side (I share more about resources and strategy than craft.)

Niche, but: in an interview question about project management, the interviewer is often looking for you to name drop specific project management techniques (gantt chart, kanban, agile, prince2) and describe the planning process and your use of those techniques. You can borrow language from these to apply to planning methods you used like lists and calendars

'not dishwasher safe' don't care i'm crazy. i'd put the holy grail in that thing

no i don’t think that was based on my likes actually

Rook Participates in Banter at the Lighthouse - Mod

You know how there are banters where Rook can talk, but for some reason Rook can only react to those banters in the field, and not at the Lighthouse despite standing in the companions' near proximity?

Well, with this mod, your Rook will always say their piece regardless of where they are!

Here is a small showcase:

Grab it from download link above (◕ᴗ◕✿)

when she does anything to it at all

“Horse. Everyone knows what a horse is” isn’t even the best part

I realize it is easier to find reference images of models and celebrities but christ alive. I take one billion points poison damage every time I scroll past some skilled artist using their pro-level rendering and composition skills to churn out identical bland-ass chiseled prettyface characters. how do people get to such heights of technical skill without ever learning how to draw a person who looks regular? like am I taking fuckin crazy pills?? are we not bored of Devastating McJawline and Princess CoolSculpting. if ur an artist who does portraiture I feel u have a basic obligation to learn how to handle variation in facial features. or, god forbid, even try drawing someone who is "ugly" to u once in a while. perhaps discover through the tender act of creation that what was once ugly is now fascinating and beloved to ur eye. put a wrinkle on that beast. Ok I got the seethe out of my system, farewell (walks straight into a spike trap)

my "suicidal hermit" lifestyle has been largely detrimental to my emotional wellbeing

okay okay i can close some tabs i don't need this google image search of "pear trees"....well you never know actually

wherever pjackk is now I assume hes in unbearable pain

A lot of people don’t know the benefits of owning a little moo cow (small black and white cat). But when you take your Saturday afternoon nap she gets under the covers with you

we didn’t know the flash was on

In light of Anita Bryant's death I think we should also remember Thom Higgins, a true badass whose name is always tied to hers.

Yes, he's the fella who put a pie in her face on national TV.

But this wasn't a one time thing for him -- being a badass, I mean. He also once pie'd an Archbishop (John Roach - who was one of the Catholics who fucked up one of the sexual abuse scandals the church had).

He's largely credited for inventing the term 'gay pride': "The term “gay pride” was invented here. Thom Higgins had been raised in the Catholic Church and decided to come up with a means of countering the negative energy coming out of the church. So he paired two of the deadly sins: gay and pride."

He was deeply midwestern -- "He was the kind of person who would breeze into a friend’s kitchen the morning after a party, put on a pot of coffee and start making everyone eggs"

He was an anti-war protestor, and the first person in Minnesota to be registered as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War.

He wasn't perfect, but he did a lot of good in his life, and he was silly and puckish and loved pranks as much as he loved his activism.

He died 20 years ago of complications related to AIDS.

While you're crab raving that the Orange Juice witch is dead, spare a thought and raise a slice of pie to Mr. Higgins. More people should know about him.

In case you want to be, check out this website

holy fuck that was an experience

!!!!!!!!!! You had better not be tumblrfakestorying me rn anon I need this to be true

"Snow is real pretty if you don't have to go out in it."

--Female Dark Elves contemplating snow