#without asking me or the artist i believe
Note
I just received a copy of a book I've been very much looking forward to by a favorite author, but the quality of the book itself is... not great. Cheap paper, weak binding, even a weird illustration of the main character on the cover that I'm having trouble believing the author approved.
Obviously, I don't want to leave a bad review on Amazon or GoodReads or anywhere, as I'm 100% certain the content is as excellent as her other work. But how can I best let the publisher (Baen) know I'm disappointed without threatening to never buy her books again? Because, well, if this is the only option, I'm gonna keep buying them even in my disappointment.
Well, the first thing I thought when I read this was "Wow, I'm really glad I don't have anything in print from Baen at the moment except a couple of anthologized short stories." :)
As for the rest of it, let's take it point by point.
Adding a cut here, because this will run a bit long. Caution: contains auctorial bitching and moaning, painful illustrations of cases in point, and brief advice on how to complain most effectively. (Also links to paintings of cats.)
Cheap paper: This has been an accurate complaint since well before COVID—and it's often been worse since, with supply chain issues also being involved. That said: one way publishers routinely save money on printing books, especially the bigger ones, is by going for thinner/cheaper paper. I remember one of our UK editors going on at great length and with huge annoyance—during one of those late-night convention-bar bitch sessions—over how the only way they could get some really good books published (because Upstairs insisted on reducing the per-copy production costs) was by reducing the paper quality to the point where you could nearly read through it. Sacrificing decent text size(s) also became part of this. Nobody in editorial was happy about the result: but there wasn't much they could do.
Bad bindings: Similar problem. Sewn bindings used to be a thing in paperbacks... but not any more: not for a good while, now. These days, it's all glue. Even hardcovers are showing up glued rather than sewn. Don't get me started. :/ (This is why I so treasure some of the oldest paperbacks I've acquired, which are actually sewn.)
Crap covers: I've had my share of these—though my share of some really good ones, too. And one of the endless frustrations of traditional publishing is that the writer routinely has little or even no influence over what the cover will look like... let alone how much will be spent on it, or (an often-related issue) how good the execution will be.
There are of course exceptions. If you're working at the, well, @neil-gaiman -esque level or similar in publishing, a lot more attention is going to be paid to your thoughts. You may even be able to get "cover veto" written into your contracts, so that if you disapprove, changes will get made. But without actual contractual stipulations, the writer has zero legal recourse or way to withhold approval. (And I bet even Neil has some horror stories.)
The normal workflow looks like this. After a book's purchased, its editor and the art director discuss what it's about and what the cover should look like. The art director then hires an artist and tells them what to do. After that, the artist executes their vision and gets paid. It is incredibly rare for a writer to have any significant input into this process. And as to whether or not they approve of the final result, well... the publisher mostly just shrugs and goes back to eyeing the bottom line, muttering "Who told them they get a vote?"
Now, I've been seriously lucky to occasionally be an exception in this regard. In particular, my editors at Harcourt (when Jane Yolen and Michael Stearns were editing Harcourt's Magic Carpet YA imprint) would ask me what I thought would be a good idea for the next Young Wizards cover, and I'd think about it a bit and send them back a paragraph or so about some core scene. They'd then talk to their art director, and after that send their notes and mine to Cliff Nielsen (who started doing the covers for the hardcover and mass-market paperback editions of the series in the mid-90s) or to Greg Swearingen (who was the artist on the digest-format editions). And the results, by and large, were pretty good. ...I also think affectionately of the UK artist Mick Posen, who insisted on seeing pictures of our cats before painting the covers for the Hodder editions of The Book of Night with Moon and On Her Majesty's Wizardly Service (the UK title for To Visit The Queen).
But this kind of treatment is a courtesy—not even vaguely suggested in the books' contracts, and very much the exception to the rule. And for every writer who's midlist, there are times when the luck runs out. For example: one time I wrote a book that was an AU-Earth-near-future fantasy police procedural, thematically pretty dark—dealing with issues of abuse of megacorporate power, institutionalized bigotry, and (explicitly) attempted genocide. And the cover, done by an artist who's a good friend and some of whose fabulous art hangs in our house, came out looking like this. It was... let's just say "not ideally representative."
So I was glad, when my local workflow allowed it, to recover the current, revised version of the book with something at least a little more apropos. But the original cover's not the artist's fault. He did what the art director told him... as a cover artist must do to get paid, and (ideally) to get hired again. At present, that's how the system works.
...So. You've got a badly-built and -presented book on your hands. How best to make your feelings known in some way that might make a difference down the line? (As you make it plain that you'll keep buying this author's books this way if you must.)
First of all: when (as part of my psych nursing training) we were taught how to complain most effectively, we were told that the first and most basic rule of the art is this:
Only Complain To Someone Who Can Actually Do Something About Your Problem
So I salute your desire not to waste your time taking the issue to the reviews on Amazon, or the pages of Goodreads... because they can't do anything. The odds that anyone from production at Baen is reading the comments there strike me as... well, not infinitesimally small, not being hit-by-a-meteorite-while-in-the-shopping-center-parking-lot small... but really low.
So: write to corporate.
In your place I would go online and rummage around a bit to find out who's on record as the publisher at Baen. I would then write them a letter on paper. And I would lay out the problem pretty much as you laid it out up at the top.
The tone I think I'd choose would be the more-in-sorrow-than-in-anger approach. I'd say, "I write to comment about your recently published book by [X Writer], whose work I love. I have to say, though, that I don't think the cover on [X Book] is terribly representative of the quality of the prose inside. And also, the construction and production quality of the book itself was a disappointment to me because [here spell out why].
"I'd really like to see [X. Writer's] books succeed with you, and I'd like to buy more of them without wondering whether I was going to be disappointed again. But if this is typical of how they're being produced, I'd also be concerned that the state of these books is setting up a situation in which the author's sales will be damaged, and you would stop publishing them... which would really be a shame. Whereas on the other hand, better production quality could keep previous purchasers coming back and buying, not only more books by this author, but books by others whom you publish."
This phrasing, as you'll have seen, walks a bit wide around the issue of your further purchases, while directing attention toward the bottom line... which will routinely be what the publisher's looking at from day to day. And—being, one has to hope, in possession of the wider picture as regards what's going on with their production costs—maybe they can actually do something about it.
Anyway, nothing ventured, nothing gained, yeah? It's worth a try. All you can do is hope for the best.
And finally: please know that I admire your commitment to the author: whoever she is, she's lucky to have you. It's a terrific thing to have readers who'll willing to spend the time to hunt you down, and who're willing not to judge a book by its cover. :)
2K notes
·
View notes
Text
11:55 : reincarnation.
genre : angst, suggested suicide, hallucinations, Scaramouche x reader, GN reader
notes : I got bored, consider this my apology for not updating on the magical girl AU I did :3
You’d never really resorted to anything in life, your grades were average at best, the only talent you ever had was drawing yet you couldn’t improve, your envy and self esteem dragged you to the ground, and you were always alone. No matter how much you hated it you were alone.
You were blessed to be having the friend you do have, Scaramouche. Yet you were scared to talk to him in the public because you knew he was too good to be true. Beautiful, smart, cold yet soft to you, your exact type. And that’s how you always knew he was just an hallucination, because he was fictional, Scaramouche from Genshin Impact.. as your real life friend? How stupid you would sound if you said that.
Holding his hand, comforting silence, intimate situations. All that you’ve experienced is just a wall blocking the loneliness that ate you alive. Just a reflection of what you want.
—————
11:34 PM, you were at the playground, sitting on the swings with Scaramouche to your right.
The cold breeze embraced you as you shivered in response, your coat and red scarf helping you through it.. turning to Scaramouche, you saw that he was looking through your sketch book.
“..Is this me?” He pointed towards the unfinished sketch as he tilted the page towards you so you could see it. “Yes, that’s you.” You answered in a quiet tone, you were a bit nervous to talk to him. Even when it was night, everyone was sleeping other than the few teenagers that smoked in the nearby alleyway.
Scaramouche smiled softly, a smile only you could see in a literal way. “It’s nice.” He mumbled, a soft blush on his face as he looked at it. You nodded in response. “Why don’t you finish any of your drawing anymore? You’re only sketching nowadays without finishing it like you used to.” You gently swing, while he was unmoving.
“Because it’s just wasting time.” Right, just wasting time… coloring and shading, completing your drawings either traditionally or digitally it was rare for you to do. Honestly you didn’t see a point in it anymore, you’ll just disappoint yourself again. And it won’t change, you couldn’t improve no matter how hard you tried.
“You should try at least, it’s nice to have a finished piece.” He wouldn’t know what it would be like, he’s not an artist, he’s not human either, he’s not even real. “..hey Scara?” You called out his name.
“What?”
“Do you believe in reincarnation.. like, to another world once you die?” He wouldn’t die, but it would be nice to ask. What does Scaramouche think about reincarnation?
“Maybe.”
“Do you think I could meet the real you if I get reincarnated?”
“I am real.”
“No, you’re not.”
#genshin impact#genshin x reader#genshin wanderer#genshin angst#scaramouche angst#scaramouche x you#scaramouche x reader#scaramouche genshin impact#genshin imagines#scaramouche#angst no comfort#wanderer angst#wanderer genshin#wanderer x reader
67 notes
·
View notes
Text
hello nobody asked but here are more unsolicited Newsies Uno ReVerse thoughts that I can NOT get out of my head
Crutchie is Jack’s brother, but he never expects him to go out selling with his disability
When Les and Davey meet Crutchie for the first time, Les tells Jack something borderline offensive like “Why didn’t you tell me youse had a little brother with a bum leg? Between my face and his leg, we coulda been making MILLIONS this whole time!”
Davey is appropriately embarrassed and apologizes profusely on his brother’s behalf
Davey is obsessed with Portland, Oregon (it’s his Santa Fe) somewhere he can get away from the heated claustrophobia of the city, lock himself away in a cabin and finally put down on paper the little stories he tells himself to get through the day
Jack volunteers to go to Brooklyn with Davey
Les is the one hauled away to the refuge after Seize The Day
David and Katherine are the ones who hit it off, and Jack is The Pining One (TM)
Post-Rally, the Something To Believe In scene starts off with Kath confronting Davey and i don’t have details but I do have this piece of dialogue:
“If you weren’t a girl, you’d find out exactly why they call me Mouth.” “I think your inability to shut up might have something to do with it.” “No, it’s because when I hear someone talking about something they have no idea about, I aim for the mouth. And I don’t miss.”
And then Kath kisses him and Davey’s like omg??? Do I…..??? Like girls??? (Bc living in a house full of boys there’s no WAY he doesn’t already know he’s gay (umbrella term))
This Affects Post Canon bc I said so. Fun Post Canon Stuff (it’s fun for ME. Probably not for yall. You’ll call it angst or something):
Jack catches a Davey and Katherine kiss when they win the strike and it kind of makes him Unwell
Davey gets a job writing for The World
Jack has a hard time adjusting going back to school, can’t focus, realizes he’s happiest when he’s with the newsies (and Davey)
He brings up to Medda the idea of dropping out to get a job. She agrees because she sees how unhappy he is and school really just isn’t I for him
Kath gets him a job as an artist at The World
This means he has to see Davey and Kath Together Every Day and it makes him even more Unwell (although he loves the art part of it!)
Davey notices this because he is Davey
Because he is Davey and is the smartest man in the room but also the biggest idiot on the planet, he completely misconstrues the reason Jack is Being Weird
So Davey invites Jack to hang out one on one, without Katherine and Jack accepts at first but it gets harder and harder and Davey is more engrained in his life than ever and he just can’t do it
So Jack stops interacting with Davey at work, blows him off outside of it, and generally starts distancing himself and Davey is totally clueless
Finally, he goes to Katherine and complains about it and the conversation goes something like this:
“I thought spending time alone with him, away from you—no offense—would make him feel better. You know, remind him that no matter what’s going on with you and me that he’s still my friend.”
“I think that’s part of the problem, Davey.”
“I mean yeah. Truth be told if he and I weren’t friends I doubt you and I would even be an issue. I think he’d just go for it.”
“…… What?”
“I think he’d ask you on a date outright, instead of feeling guilty about his feelings for you.”
“….. oh my god you fucking idiot.”
Don’t ask me how this is resolved because i have absolutely no idea :)
#david jacobs#jack kelly#katherine plumber#newsies#livesies#uksies#tutsies#truthfully I’m nit usually a bi!david girlie but it just FITS it FEELS CORRECT for this au and I’m ibsessed okay#honestly it’s bc tutsies Davey and Kath had so much chemistry it made me ship them
39 notes
·
View notes
Text
Attempting to get the beast used to a dental hygiene routine is… well, it’s going.
(She stayed that way for a solid 8 seconds despite hating being held belly up so I think it’s safe to say that Mim is not beating the ‘tiny speaker playing elevator music instead of a brain’ allegations any time soon.)
#cecil blogs her life#my art#digital art#artists on tumblr#Mim the cat#cats on tumblr#cat art#comics#black cats#she’s actually pretty good about it normally - like she doesn’t enjoy it but she lets me do it without too many complaints#ofc I make sure to do it as quickly as possible and give her lots of dental friendly rewards lmao#she’s currently sleeping on top of me so I think I’m forgiven#I don’t believe she has any current dental issues so it’s mostly preventative#esp bc we don’t know exactly how old she is or what her life was like before I adopted her#this is probably seven different kinds of heretical but anyway#shout out to Tom my childhood priest who once told me not to take the bible literally after I asked him where the dinos were supposed to#fit into genesis. incredible. anyway I’m a non believing heathen now so meh#who cares#these tags are a RIDE wtf cecil
352 notes
·
View notes
Text
No actually the band assuming chive and glam are fucking and never outright stating it (beyond the drummer's fucking bizarre convo with glam about condoms) is hilarious because it implies the band lives on with this misconception. To this day the rest of the band believes they lost their lead guitarist because he refused to move on after they fired his boyfriend & lead singer
#random thoughts#metal family#radio host interviewing who are those freaks on stage: keeping in mind mercury's status as a queer icon#have you ever performed with any lgbtq artists?#lordy: oh have i got a story for you#glam in the midst of cooking another wonderful family dinner suddenly feels a chill running up his back#and this leads to this controversy where some people are like 'he outed chive and glam without their permission'#and some are like 'lordy's gay it's fine' (he's not)#and there's a divide between watfos hardcore fans who prefer the classic music with chive on vocals and glam on guitar#and new-age fans who like leo on vocals#some are like 'can't believe my favorite band is based in faggotry can nothing be politically free nowadays'#and some are like 'were chive and glam fired because they were gay???' and some are like 'obviously not look at leo' (also not gay)#meanwhile glam is blissfully oblivious for awhile until chive busts into their house like '???? DID YOU KNOW WE WERE FUCKING???'#and glam's like ' . . . excuse me? 😃'#and then when fans become aware of victoria opinion is split between 'glam and chive broke up' and 'victoria is glam's beard'#which like glam didn't really care about any of this until they started implying he was using victoria as a cover for his gayness#which like. gets him REAL pissed#he ends up having an interview with a radio host about it and they ask such fucking infuriating questions he leaves a glitter bomb#idk i just think people assuming two dudes are gay is funny but only if they're unaware of the assumption#and chive and glam have matured as people. they can probably handle the idea of people thinking they fucked with grace#they would NOT handle this well when they were first starting out. probably divorce over it just a little#glam's unconscious bias against being seen as gay stemming from his desire to conform instilled by his father (he is very autistic btw)#chive calls people faggot and says things are gay i know it in my heart#they make this vacuum of assumed homophobia#i also think glam just does not like being touched like at all. it freaks him out#he does it casually unless pointed out and then he just goes STIFF.
25 notes
·
View notes
Text
Okay just so we’re fucking clear. (Btw thanks for @prinrestcess for the clarification)
Kaeya and Diluc are brothers (adopted) in Chinese too don’t argue about it and DON’T try to twist a narrative because uninformed people especially kids will believe it.
Either just say you don’t view adopted siblings as real siblings or say you openly support inc3st. Either way you’re getting blocked because no one wants to be around you. Just be a bitch but don’t lie about it.
Additional little side not that’s not really important: I don’t ship Shenyu anymore. Tbh I had no context when I played the event and just thought they were cute. As far as I know they’re not technically siblings or ever referred to as siblings BUT they both are sort of taken care of by Cloud Retainer. I think Gaming calls her auntie too at one point so yeah I don’t ship ANY of them, but I won’t like hate you for it as long as they’re never referred to as siblings. Same with Itto and Shinobu like they seem to have a more familial relationship than anything else but that’s just my opinion.
#if you ship Kaeluc I’ll fucking block you#you’re fucking weird#get off my page#didn’t think I’d have to say this but#stop lying#y’all twisting narratives is so stupid#Kaeluc dni#incest is incest#you’re also being disrespectful to adoptees#I’m not saying this to try to protect y’all#I’m just making it clear that I don’t wanna see that shit on my page#shenyu is just a stupid rarepare I asked about without context#idek what they are to each other but I’m not gonna push that#you can block me irdc about follow count#don’t put Kaeluc in ragbros tags but I already muted it anyway#I can’t believe y’all are such talented artists and waste it on fucking Kaeluc lmao#just so we’re fucking clear
8 notes
·
View notes
Note
Hardware Store is a Weird Al song. During the bridge, he lists off a bunch of different tools and appliances very quickly, which I suppose could be considered "rap" if you've never listened to an actual rap song.
ANOTHER?? ANOTHER WEIRD AL SONG? IN THE POST ABOUT HOW WHITE PEOPLE CANT BE NORMAL ABOUT RAP MUSIC ?
#:v#listen as someone with a very very entry level knowledge of rap#there is absolutely rap music you (general you not you anon) can find that you'll enjoy#for pop rap doja's early music like cyber sex and all of planet her is a great place to start#Someone with more knowledge could absolutely give real directions for where to start#it's just crazy to me because there are so many genuinely great artists out there that people will never even try because it's rap#ik for a lot of people this is there first big exposure to rap because of the beef going on but like#kendrick has great music beyond his shit hating drake like go listen to some of his albums#the problem is white people generally are so unused to not being centered#so when there's art that isn't centering whiteness they often write it off#and those internal biases we hold as people raised in a white supremacist culture compounds with the propaganda and conditioning#it's something we as white people have to consistently and constantly work on#we have to focus on decentering and deprogramming ourselves#and i think a good easy simple base level start is engaging with media that isn't made by white people#whether that be music movies books tv shows#and like sure it's ''just not liking music''#but have you even ever tried?#have you ever actually listened to a rap song without writing it off immediately as a ''rap song''?#There is music out there that I'm sure you'd enjoy if you let yourself enjoy it#also like. you can be normal about a genre of music not really doing it for you#I'm sure#I can't relate because there isn't a genre of music I don't like out of hand#but for the people that do I'm sure you can be normal about not liking it#I believe in you#anon#ask
2 notes
·
View notes
Note
Or the reason you’re overthinking it is because you’re just trying to find a reason to be mad at the game when you could use that energy at something else to make you happy instead of nitpicking at it.
I suggest you block my account and go have fun with the game unfettered by my takes, you have my Blanket Permission! I'm just a rando with a tumblr blog. Worry about your own happiness first.
#asks#don't be mean in the asks please :((#people have been mostly good with that up until now where I started to get a couple#you can voice disagreement without attacking people's character (especially anonymously)#or just block/scroll past/rant to your friends or on your own blog even!#it's legal + free + less rude#and everyone has a better time on the internet which is ultimately the objective I think#also... exercizing critical thought can be very fulfilling? you think videoessayists on youtube survive off rage and bitterness alone?#media analysis can be very stimulating to some people! critique and love are hardly mutually exclusive!#I wouldn't care nearly as much if I didn't love the series or believe in its potential#(I don't even hate totk there's tons I respect about it technically and artistically)#(but... Problems)#(and this kind of attitude that is just... pretty hostile to these conversations doesn't help me look past the flaws at all I must admit)#btw this is my blanket reply to asks of that vein I will delete the others
11 notes
·
View notes
Text
NOT THE CON VOLUNTEERS ASKING ME FOR PARENTS' PERMISSION 😭😭
#do i really look this young? ;-;#after i turned 20 people started asking me for id everywhere but before that it literally never happened#but at least i spent nice time with friend on her first con and i feel like i really enjoyed convention the first time in a while#not to mention that i don't have feeling of wasted money because ticket was quite cheap for this economy lol#but ofc there was no persona merch outside of one artist i like so i bought another sticker from her xD#and met yukiko cosplayer!! she said i was the first one to recognize who was she cosplaying i cant#plus there was a video game room where we wanted to play blazblue (i believe) because of p4 cast but it was always so crowded#and unfortunately we weren't able to do fan dubs (which was our main destination) because today they were only doing bsd#and neither of us watch/read it so#anyway it was nice experience in general because i don't remember the last time i was able to enjoy con to the fullest#(if it ever happened b4 lol)#and i love that there was almost no hurry so if you really wanted you had a chance to talk with every artist without being a bother to them#or other people attending con#pau.txt
1 note
·
View note
Text
What they don’t tell you when you’re trying to order prints to sell at an artist alley is that suddenly every picture you’ve ever drawn is bad 🫠
#I’m just staring at my computer thinking about how I’m not actually an artist what in the world do I think I’m doing lol#if I hadn’t signed up with my coworker I would probably chicken out honestly#as far as professional work goes I’ve literally only ever made a logo for someone one time#and that was just making the exact image in illustrator that I was asked to make so it barely counts lol#so the idea anyone in this town is gonna buy any of my art from me is just too hard to believe without it actually happening you know??
0 notes
Text
everyone should attempt an artisan craft at some point in their life because it would cut down the number of comments questioning why handmade goods like ceramics or textile craft or woodworking are so expensive
and this is an unrealistic expectation, but I think the attempt should include seeing through to the end at least one "finished" item, no matter how clumsy or lumpy your first attempts might be. like to me, there's a huge difference in perspective between attempting to learn how to crochet or throw a pot for a few days, acknowledging that it's harder than it looks and giving up, versus committing to finishing that scarf or clay pot you started and working on it for weeks while you painstakingly learn from your mistakes and grow attached to your project while also simultaneously hating it.
once you finish the latter, your perspective changes from "why does this crocheted blanket cost $200" to "holy shit I can't believe they're charging $200 for this crocheted blanket instead of $2000" because you may have known crocheting is hard, you may have easily agreed with the idea that "handmade goods take time and effort" even before attempting a craft, but now you know firsthand the absolute time sink it takes to make things. like yeah dude, that one item took you 2 months to make and probably wasn't even an ultra complex item if it was the first thing you made, now imagine attaching an hourly wage to that time to calculate the cost (and this is ignoring every nuance of the artistic element and master crafters being able to work faster/charge higher because of their years and years of experience)
anyway this rant has been motivated by a comment I saw on someone else's ceramic post asking why a mug was $60 and they understand it's handmade but $60 just seems overpriced, and bro do you know how long ceramics take to make. that mug probably took at minimum 3 weeks between how long it takes to throw the mug, dry partially, trim the mug, dry fully, bisque fire, wait a day for the kiln to cool, sand and paint and glaze, glaze fire, wait a day for the kiln to cool, take product photography of the mug, write description and list the mug online for sale, im not even including the skill needed to complete all these steps without the mug literally exploding or collapsing while also making it an appealing piece of art, aaaaaaaaaaaaa
#$60 is overpriced my ass#if I priced my ceramics by the exact number of hours they took literally no one would buy anything#holding up a plate like oh yeah I started this in uhhhhhhhhhhh august and it finished in december#wrote this intending it to be a rant and delete post but im sending it out into the world
14K notes
·
View notes
Text
During the 2008 recession, my aunt lost her job. Her, her partner, and my three cousins moved across the country to stay with us while they got back on their feet. My house turned from a family of four to a family of nine overnight, complete with three dogs and five cats between us.
It took a few years for them to get a place of their own, but after a few rentals and apartments, they now own a split level ranch in a town nearby. I’ve lost track of how many coworkers and friends have stayed with them when they were in a tight spot. A mother and son getting out of an abusive relationship, a divorcee trying to stay local for his kids while they work out a custody agreement, you name it. My aunt and uncle knew first hand what that kindness meant, and always find space for someone who needed it, the way my parents had for them.
That same aunt and uncle visited me in [redacted] city last year. They are prolific drinkers, so we spent most of the day bar hopping. As we wandered the city, any time we passed a homeless person, my uncle would pull out a fresh cigarette and ask them if they had a light. Regardless of if they had a lighter on hand or not, he offered them a few bucks in exchange, which he explained to me after was because he felt it would be easier for them to accept in exchange for a service, no matter how small.
I work for a company that produces a lot of fabric waste. Every few weeks, I bring two big black trash bags full of discarded material over to a woman who works down the hall. She distributes them to local churches, quilting clubs, and teachers who can use them for crafts. She’s currently in the process of working with our building to set up a recycling program for the smaller pieces of fabric that are harder to find use for.
One of my best friends gives monthly donations to four or five local organizations. She’s fortunate enough to have a tech job that gives her a good salary, and she knows that a recurring donation is more valuable to a non-profit because they can rely on that money month after month, and can plan ways to stretch that dollar for maximum impact. One of those organizations is a native plant trust, and once she’s out of her apartment complex and in a home with a yard, she has plans to convert it into a haven of local flora.
My partner works for a company that is working to help regulate crypto and hold the current bad actors in the space accountable for their actions. We unfortunately live in a time where technology develops far too fast for bureaucracy to keep up with, but just because people use a technology for ill gain doesn’t mean the technology itself is bad. The blockchain is something that she finds fascinating and powerful, and she is using her degree and her expertise to turn it into a tool for good.
I knew someone who always had a bag of treats in their purse, on the odd chance they came across a stray cat or dog, they had something to offer them.
I follow artists who post about every local election they know of, because they know their platform gives them more reach than the average person, and that they can leverage that platform to encourage people to vote in elections that get less attention, but in many ways have more impact on the direction our country is going to go.
All of this to say, there’s more than one way to do good in the world. Social media leads us to believe that the loudest, the most vocal, the most prolific poster is the most virtuous, but they are only a piece of the puzzle. (And if virtue for virtues sake is your end goal, you’ve already lost, but that’s a different post). Community is built of people leveraging their privileges to help those without them. We need people doing all of those things and more, because no individual can or should do all of it. You would be stretched too thin, your efforts valiant, but less effective in your ambition.
None of this is to encourage inaction. Identify your unique strengths, skills, and privileges, and put them to use. Determine what causes are important to you, and commit to doing what you can to help them. Collective action is how change is made, but don’t forget that we need diversity in actions taken.
20K notes
·
View notes
Text
THE TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION HAVE ISSUED AN APOLOGY AND A RE-INVITATION. HERE IS MY STATEMENT
hello buckaroos. the TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION have issued a formal statement and apology which you can read at the attached link.
while i find the language used to discuss what was done a little unsatisfying, i would like to start by saying i appreciate anyone taking steps to prove love is real and make things right. the genuine feeling of ‘realizing you have made a mistake and hurt someone else’ is a terrible one, and i have so much empathy for this group as they reckon with their choices causing harm. i appreciate their apology.
i also think more good than bad has come from this situation. i am so thankful this happened to me (someone with a large social media presence) and not a smaller buckaroo author without the means to stand up for themselves. i think the next time someone comes to the TXLA with an accommodation need, they will hopefully be taken more seriously
lets trot down to business about specifics now. the TXLA has re-invited chuck to the original panel and even offered to take a moment at the top of the panel to talk about what happened. this is very kind of them and i will say THANK YOU.
unfortunately i will also have to decline.
the fact that it took this much effort, social media backlash, and discussion to let me simply EXIST PHYSICALLY in a way that is authentic to myself is not a good sign. if this organization immediately questions an authors chosen presentation in this manner, i cannot imagine what my other accommodations would be met with.
sometimes i am at an event and i very quickly need extra space to breathe. sometimes i am at an event and i need special guides to help me along from place to place. these are not ‘big asks’ and every other conference has gladly provided them, but if the TXLA had this kind of initial reaction to my physical appearance, i cannot imagine them readily helping with my other needs without ‘proof’.
this is clearly not a safe place to trot for those who require additional accommodations. regardless of any apology, their ACTIONS have shown that people who appear unusual or unique are not welcome at this event on a subconscious level. i believe the TXLA have some serious inner work to do beyond this apology, and i believe this inner work will involve actions more than words.
but even more importantly i would like to make this very important point: IT DOES NOT MATTER IF MY MASK IS A DISABILITY AID OR NOT. i appreciate the way this discussion has allowed us to trot out some deep talks on autism and proved love in this way, but i think there is a much more important point at hand.
regardless of WHAT someone looks like, it is not the job of an event or conference to pick apart WHY. physical presentation can be a part of someones neurodivergence, or gender, or sexuality, but i can also just exist as a nebulous undefined part of their inner self. it can be a piece they are not ready to openly discuss yet. the guests at TXLA are authors (aka ARTISTS) and the idea that a conference dedicated to an ART is going to deny people with unique and unusual presentations for ANY reason is absurd. since when are we applying a ‘dress code’ to our artists?
without knowing it, i personally believe there is an element of the ‘good queer, bad queer’ phenomenon going on here. there is a push to say ‘LOOK we accept these marginalized groups and cultures’ but behind the scenes that means ‘we accept these marginalized groups and cultures who are quiet and speak in turn and wear the metaphorical suit and tie’. it is easy to show diversity when you only take on the voices that arent too ‘strange’.
to prove my point i ask you this: do you think orville peck would have FOR ONE SECOND been asked to perform at the texas library association event without his mask?
so with that i say ‘very sincerely, thank you, but i will have to decline the re-invitation. maybe next year’
6K notes
·
View notes
Text
Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse comes out later today so I wanted to write a post reflecting on my journey and experience working on this movie. So many people have supported me through this and I am so thankful to each and every one of you!
Text version of this post under the cut:
Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse comes out tonight. It feels really weird to be typing that out right now. I worked on the movie as a visdev artist for the last 2.5 years, from 2020 to 2023. Long post incoming.
There are a lot of reasons why I'd consider this film to be one of the most ambitious animated films to ever be made. As artists, we were asked to push ourselves far beyond our comfort zones and do things that had never been done before in animation.
Every time we reached a point where most people would say "this must possibly be as creative and weird as it gets," our entire team of artists and animators would smash right through the ceiling. The driving direction for the visuals of the film was to push the limits of every single frame; to challenge audience expectations and make something truly original.
The best thing about this film was that there wasn't a single boring day working on this movie. The hardest thing about this film was also that there wasn't a single boring day working on this movie.
There were times while working on this where the imposter syndrome hit me hard. This was my first big movie, and what a hell of a first movie to get thrust into.
I came in only a few years out of school with absolutely no idea what the hell I was doing. I constantly feared that someone had made a mistake in bringing me onto this film, and I was going to let everyone down. There was a solid chunk of those 2.5 years where I wasn't sure if animation was the right path for me.
If there's anything I could tell my past self it would be this: there are so many people who love you and believe in you. There will be a time when you get to stand on the other side of it, look back on everything and see how far you came.
I'm still working on self-acceptance every day (it will be a lifelong struggle, I'm sure), but I'm glad I didn't give up on myself. I'm proud of myself and my contributions to this film, and I'm certain that this movie will continue to change and shape the animation landscape just as the first one did. That's truly a special feeling to have been a part of. I am so incredibly grateful to every single person who helped me along this journey.
Here come the thanks:
To the ENTIRE visdev & art crew- it's been an honor getting to work alongside each and every one of you. My jaw is literally still on the floor from seeing your incredible talent day after day.
I want to thank Tiffany and Felicia especially for being there for me through tough times- I admire and respect you both so much as artists, and even better than that, my life is greatly enriched for being able to call you my friends.
Thank you Patrick and Dean for taking chances on me, teaching me so much about art and what I'm capable of, and encouraging me along the way. To Aymeric, your art is one of the reasons I initially became interested in animation and you have been one of the kindest & most empathetic mentors I could ever have asked for.
I want to thank my wonderful parents for believing in me always and raising me into the person I am today: everything I do in life is to make you proud. To my brother Andrew who is perpetually awake at 3 AM when I need someone to talk to- thank you for always picking up the phone and making me laugh.
And finally to my partner Luke for making me grilled cheeses on all of the difficult days, for never getting sick of me even when all I would ever talk about was work, and for patiently and steadfastly loving me throughout this entire thing. I don't think I could've done it without you.
Starting tomorrow I will begin posting and sharing some of the art I made for this movie; I'm looking forward to sharing some of my personal favorites with you. I hope each and every one of you enjoys Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse when it hits theaters later today!
4K notes
·
View notes
Text
⭐️🦋Rising Signs🎧🩵☁️
✨Aries rising-they always have a mad look and strong eyebrows or a more angry posture especially in men, a small mouth - thinner and smaller. Athletic build and many times have more muscular legs. Very spontaneous people and they will often look about themselves first. Very independent. Many times they do things by themselves and know how to stand up for themselves without needing the support of others. They do a lot of things alone and feel good about it.
💕Pisces rising-always look like thay are high and more dreamy. But their look is always sweet and kind. Many times they have the appearance of a certain character. They can attract many children. Many times they look tired, confused or sleepy. They have very artistic mind and also give me a very unique vibe in some way. They are people who will always help you.
💜Cancer rising-a rounder head and facial features are more noticeable. And their mood is always visible on the outside. In men, I often notice that they have a more frightening look or look like serial killers- idk why haha. Very private people and don't like meeting new people that much. They can give the impression that they don't like you. Family people. They can also be very dependent on other people.
🦋Sagittarius rising-they are usually tall, not so talkative depending on the planets in the first house. Their head is longer. They look youthful, full of life. They really come forward very optimistic and carefree. They will always say some joke and talk about their stories also very blod and fearless people. They enjoy doing fun things and things they are scared of. Very strong-minded. They are very loyal to themselves( in the sense that they will not stop believing in what they believe). It's very hard to change their minds unless you give them a good argument.
🏙️Leo rising-they often show a smile (huge smile). They look friendly, enthusiastic and fun. They come forward with pride and confidence. They know how to integrate into society and you can get the feeling that they are more leaders. But they don't like to be in the spotlight as much as leo sun. People remember them because they have a heightened presence.
🪷Gemini rising-talkative, communicative and will always ask something, they come forward very openly. Their face is many times smaller (small nose, ears, mouth, eyes), usually drier. They say a lot about themselves before they even get to know you. They can start a conversation anywhere and with anyone. They dare to ask a lot and often take risks, especially if they want to know something. And they are good at making things up. Open book u can ask them anything.
☂️Aquarius rising-looks like an alien or something more different, strange, they usually have a more exposed nose (it can be bigger), many times bulging eyes. They often come out different, unique & rebellious. They can also be quite quiet and shy. They can also be larger in size or have longer legs. Can come off very smart. Either have one good friend or group of friends or they can be loner or an outsider.
💎Libra rising- fashion people, they follow trends, will always look pretty. They look friendly and smiling. Many times they have smaller eyes and a more rounded, symmetrical face. They usually look like celebrities. They almost always have some sort of cosmetic surgery or correction. I often notice that they want to look perfect and put a lot of effort into how they look. They have a great sense of justice and order. These natives are the natural peacemakers in their social circles. Their charming personality is much admired.
☕️Taurus rising-more muscular, they have noses like bulls or wider, fuller lips, more accentuated cheeks. They tend to have broad shoulders and many times have muscular arms. They wear a lot of jewelry and are obsessed with always having it. They mostly spend more on accessories than on clothes. They like to wear hoodies and big headphones. They like their space and don't like people interfering with it.
🎆Scorpio rising-intimidating, sexual, emo or all black, scary, many times they have black eyeliner. Dark eyes and dark hair many times. A ot of times they can come off intense or intimidating ,secretive & mysterious. They may be more quiet or reserved. They don't like to hide their true face & are always real. Scorpios are associated with power, and you can see this reflected in their physical appearance. They give their all and expect the same in return.
🌠Capricorn rising- powerful, intimidating, strong, their face is often serious or poker face (you can't read them). It is difficult to know what they are thinking and feeling. Many times their emotions are not noticed. They can look quite cold. They have more noticeable cheekbones and bones in general. Many times they have the figure of a model. They give a lot to the respect and responsibilities. And does not have to be like responsibility to do something or whatever but they want people to take responsibility for the things they do or say. They hate when people do things without meaning. Also when you lose their respect I don't think you will ever get the respect back. There’s no gaining their trust overnight— they are careful about who they let into their space, because they’ve learned that not everyone needs to be a part of their life.
🎨Virgo rising-critical approach, often annoyed(because they can be easily afect by environment )often their eyes are more exposed - sometimes they look a bit like a pisces. Also well shaped eyebrows, can come forward angry. In men, I notice that they often darken their eyes or rim them. I often notice that men have longer hair .They can also have their own vibe & can be very different from the others. I also think that when they ask you for opinion or are critical of you is actually because they love you. Kurt Cobain was virgo rising and was very poetic and self-reliance. They care a lot actually even if it doesn't seems like.
✨ig-bekylibra
-Rebekah⭐️☁️
2K notes
·
View notes
Note
so...a thought struck me, what if mingyu decided to teach reader how to pleasure herself since he’d be gone for quite a while due to touring and something just doesn’t feel right? Reader starts whining and admits that “it feels so much better when you do it” 😭
Mingyu watching you masturbating / fingering you!
warnings: smut, fingering, squirting, voyeurism, masturbation (all f. receiving)
having an artist boyfriend was something you got used to over the years. you always cheered for him because you knew the love and passion he had for his career, his fans, and his members.
you were with Mingyu before he debuted, and there was something you needed to be well aware of from the beginning—the tours.
your boyfriend spent weeks, if not months, away from home. of course, sometimes you would join him, but you never spent a lot of time together because of his busy schedule.
during this time, you would pass like in celibacy. you would not please yourself, just as he asked you not to.
he had his needs too, but he always got worried because you would rather stay without masturbating, just feeling needy by yourself when he wasn't home.
so when he came home, you always had the best sex of your life, every time.
Mingyu stood at the foot of the bed, his eyes dark with desire as he watched you spread out before him. you lay back, fingers delicately circling your clit, your other hand squeezing your breast, moaning softly at your own touch. his gaze was intense, filled with both longing and lust.
"touch yourself for me, baby," he instructed, his voice a deep, commanding whisper.
your breath hitched, a shiver running through you at his words. "like this?" you asked, fingers moving faster over your sensitive bud.
"yes, just like that," he growled, his eyes never leaving your body. "I want to see you come undone before I leave. let me watch you, every second of it."
you moaned louder, your body arching slightly as you followed his instructions. "Mingyu... I can't believe you're making me do this."
he smirked, stepping closer to the bed. " keep going, don't stop."
your fingers moved with more urgency now, your breathing becoming ragged. "I wish you were touching me," you panted, eyes locked on his.
he bit his lip, his own arousal evident. "soon, baby. but for now, I want you to show me how badly you need me. how badly you miss my touch."
your hips bucked involuntarily, your body craving release. "Mingyu, please…"
"faster," he commanded, his voice dripping with authority. "I want to see you cum for me. make yourself cum for me."
you obeyed, your fingers working furiously, your moans growing louder, filling the room. "I'm so close," you whimpered, your body trembling on the edge.
"that's it, baby," he encouraged, his voice softening slightly. "let go for me. cum for me."
with a final, desperate cry, you cum, your body convulsing with pleasure. your arousal dripped from your hole, and Mingyu bit his lips to keep himself from diving between your legs to taste you.
"put one finger inside," he instructed, his voice husky and thick with desire.
your breath was still uneven as you complied, your fingers slick with your own juices. you slowly slid a finger inside, feeling your walls clench around the intrusion. "like this?" you asked, your voice trembling.
Mingyu's eyes darkened, his gaze locked on the sight of your finger disappearing inside you. "yes, baby. just like that," he growled. "now, add another one. I want to see you stretch yourself for me."
you whimpered, adding another finger, your back arching at the sensation. "Mingyu…"
he groaned, barely holding back his own arousal.
your two fingers squelched with the song of your wet pussy, the sound embarrassingly loud in the quiet room. you felt so exposed, your boyfriend watching you intently, doing nothing but observing. the weight of his gaze made your skin tingle, the embarrassment mixing with arousal.
Mingyu's mind was a whirlwind, picturing you touching yourself while he was overseas, already making him feel dizzy with need. the thought of you so needy, so desperate without him, had his blood boiling. he had to steady himself, his knees faltering at the image.
"Is it good?" he asked, his voice low and thick with desire.
"It feels so much better when you do it," you confessed, your voice barely a whisper.
those words made Mingyu's knees nearly give out. he clenched his fists, trying to maintain control. "fuck, baby," he groaned, his eyes darkening with intensity. "you have no idea what you do to me."
he watched as your fingers moved faster, your hips bucking in response. "I need you, Mingyu," you whimpered, your eyes locking with his. "please."
Mingyu couldn't hold back any longer. with a swift movement, he was on the bed, his hands replacing yours. "let me take over," he murmured, his fingers sliding inside you, finding that perfect rhythm that made you cry out.
your body arched against him, your hands clutching at his arms. "yes, Mingyu. just like that!" you moaned, feeling the pleasure build rapidly.
he leaned down, his lips brushing against your ear. "you better remember this when I'm gone," he growled softly. "and know that I'll be thinking of this every night."
you nodded, too lost in the sensation to respond. his fingers worked you expertly, his thumb circling your clit, pushing you closer to the edge.
It was embarrassing how quickly Mingyu could wash an orgasm over you with just his fingers. your abdomen trembled with sensitivity, and the knot in your stomach tightened almost unbearably.
you arched your back, feeling the heat pooling in your core as Mingyu’s fingers expertly massaged your g'spot, curving upwards with a precision that left you breathless.
a choked moan escaped your lips, followed by a desperate cry. Mingyu continued his relentless assault on your spongy spot, his fingers working you over with an almost possessive intensity. the pleasure was overwhelming, and you felt yourself teetering on the edge.
“oh, Mingyu,” you whimpered, your voice breaking. “I can’t… I’m going to…”
“yes, you can,” Mingyu growled, his voice rough and commanding. “I want you to cum for me. Let go.”
with his words, the knot inside you unraveled. your body tensed completely, every muscle going rigid as the orgasm crashed over you in powerful waves. your cries filled the room, raw and uncontrollable, as Mingyu’s fingers never let up, drawing out every last bit of pleasure.
you felt your walls pulse around his fingers, the wet sounds of your release mixing with your heavy breathing. Mingyu’s other hand came up to steady you, his eyes dark and full of desire as he watched you come undone.
“fuck, you’re beautiful,” he murmured, his fingers slowing their movement but never leaving you, keeping you grounded in the aftermath of your climax.
"can I do something before I leave?" Mingyu asked, his voice low and teasing. you looked at him, confused, trying to catch your breath.
before you could respond, one of his hands pressed down on your belly, his fingers curling fast and hard against your g'spot again. you screamed, your body jerking as you tried to squirm away, but he held you firmly in place. the hand on your belly and the relentless assault on your most sensitive spot made your mind go blank.
"Mingyu, please!" you pleaded, your voice a desperate mix of arousal and overstimulation.
he just smiled, his expression one of satisfied determination. "just one more, baby. I know you can do it," he murmured.
“Mingyu, wait, I—” you try to protest, but the words turn into a moan as his fingers move with relentless speed.
The hand on your belly and the fingers on that spot—he knows exactly what he’s doing.
you let out a strangled moan, feeling yourself teeter on the edge of something even more intense than before. the pressure builds until you can’t hold back, and with a final cry, you squirt all over his hands, arms, and the bed.
Mingyu’s face lights up with a satisfied smile as he watches you, his eyes filled with pride and desire. your legs tremble pathetically, your body completely spent. you sulk at him, embarrassed.
he leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead. “I just wanted to give you something to remember me by...” he whispers.
#seventeen headcanons#seventeen imagines#seventeen scenarios#seventeen x reader#seventeen#seventeen reactions#seventeen fluff#seventeen smut#svt smut#svt imagines#mingyu smut#mingyu x reader#kim mingyu#svt#seventeen fanfic#mingyu fluff#mingyu imagines#mingyu scenarios#mingyu drabbles#mingyu sub#kim mingyu x reader#kim mingyu smut#kim mingyu fluff#kim mingyu imagines#kim mingyu x you#mingyu x you#mingyu x y/n#kim mingyu x y/n#mingyu angst#mingyu dom
685 notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
thelovabletigress
sic parvis magna
moonpeachmoth
Quantumplated
blackkrozay
Stand On That📣✨
kill-me-kylo-ren
I Had More Fun Watching Episode 3 Than Episode 8
captedits
Edits!