misc scrawlings

AI companies are acquiring content across the internet for a variety of purposes in all sorts of ways. There are currently very few regulations giving individuals control over how their content is used by AI platforms. Proposed regulations around the world, like the European Union’s AI Act, would give individuals more control over whether and how their content is utilized by this emerging technology. We support this right regardless of geographic location, so we’re releasing a toggle to opt out of sharing content from your public blogs with third parties, including AI platforms that use this content for model training. We’re also working with partners to ensure you have as much control as possible regarding what content is used.

Here are the important details:

We already discourage AI crawlers from gathering content from Tumblr and will continue to do so, save for those with which we partner. 

We want to represent all of you on Tumblr and ensure that protections are in place for how your content is used. We are committed to making sure our partners respect those decisions.

To opt out of sharing your public blogs’ content with third parties, visit each of your public blogs’ blog settings via the web interface and toggle on the “Prevent third-party sharing” option. 

For instructions on how to opt out using the latest version of the app, please visit this Help Center doc. 

Please note: If you’ve already chosen to discourage search crawling of your blog in your settings, we’ve automatically enabled the “Prevent third-party sharing” option.

https://www.404media.co/tumblr-and-wordpress-to-sell-users-data-to-train-ai-tools/

[Image text: confunderewrites is moving to: @ariadnewordweaver​. End Image Text]

As you can see from the image, I am moving blogs! Truthfully this has been something that’s been in progress for a very, very long time and I figured it was time to stop tinkering and just bite the bullet.

I’m moving due to wanting a fresh slate and to be able to send asks and reply straight from my writing blog. I’d be able to interact with writeblr better that way.

The new blog is still a little under construction but my goal is to spend more time there than here. I’ll be reblogging this post ever so often so that people know but eventually this blog will just become an archive.

[Image text: confunderewrites is moving to: @ariadnewordweaver​. End Image Text]

As you can see from the image, I am moving blogs! Truthfully this has been something that’s been in progress for a very, very long time and I figured it was time to stop tinkering and just bite the bullet.

I’m moving due to wanting a fresh slate and to be able to send asks and reply straight from my writing blog. I’d be able to interact with writeblr better that way.

The new blog is still a little under construction but my goal is to spend more time there than here. I’ll be reblogging this post ever so often so that people know but eventually this blog will just become an archive.

Fashion is one of my favourite worldbuilding components and choosing which way I want characters to look, is one part of research that is more fun than work. The use of different styles give each culture a defined feel and could act as a symbol of all kinds of lands in your WIP. Since it is your WIP, you can play with different elements of the gowns and pay fast and loose with the styles.

Well, I decided to expand one of the most popular posts I have done on here. Here I have explored more Gowns of history, some interesting styles to consider for your WIP. You can find part 1 here

Sari

The Sari is the traditional dress of the women of India. The sari is an unstitched drape of cloth wrapped around the waist and over one shoulder. The sari as an entire collection consisted of:

Choli: This the blouse part of the sari. It was usually cut to fit the body close, baring the middrift with a low neck and shortened sleeves.

Lehnga or langa, or Ghagra or gagra, Chaniya, Pavadai and Lacha: The Lehnga is a form of full ankle-length skirt worn by women in India. The skirt is usually long and thickly embroidered and decorated. Though it has become outdated today, it remains one of the most recognisable garments in the world. It was worn, secured at the waist to leave the lower back and midriff bare. Lehenga are usually embroidered with certain patterns which dictated locality in some regions of India.

Dupatta: The dupatta is a long scarf-like drape of fabric, worn like a shawl.

Stola

The stola was the traditional garment of Roman women. The stola, usually made of wool but sometimes of linen, was worn as a symbol of matronly behaviour and as a symbol of a good Roman woman. (women had worn togas before but it had become associated with prostitution so they stopped). The stola was usually made of linen or wool or even silk depending on the wearer. The stola was worn over a shorter tunic and was often sleeveless though by the Byzantine era, the women began adopting longer sleeves.

Tunic

The tunic is perhaps the most recoccurring women’s garment in history. The tunic was rather like a long t-shirt, worn either sleeveless, with long sleeves or short sleeved. Tunics could reach the ground or fell to the knee. Tunics were worn in ancient times straight up to modern times.

Kimono

The kimono is the traditional dress of Japan. The kimono is typically a T-shaped, with long squarish sleeves, at the front of the wearer (the left side wrapped over the right side unless the wearer is dead) The kimono is a layered garment worn with a slew of accessories such as the obi (the decorative belt worn to keep the kimono closed). The kimono is a complicated garment with each piece having its own special term: Dōura ( the upper lining of a kimono), Hakkake ( the lower lining of a kimono), Eri (the collar), fuki (the hem), Furi (the hang of the sleeve) Maemigoro ( the front panels), Miyatsukuchi (the opening of the sleeve), Okumi (the overlapping front panel), Sode (sleeve), Sodeguchi (opening of the sleeve), Susomawashi (lower lining) Tamoto (pouch in the sleeve), Tomoeri (over-collar), Uraeri (the inner collar), Ushiromigoro (the back panels).

Dashiki

The dashiki or Java is a popular garment in Africa and some parts of Indonesia. The dashiki is rather like a large t-shirt, loose-fitted and pulled over the head. The dashiki could be as plain or as decorated as the wearer pleases, meaning it was worn casually and formally.

Kaftan

The kaftan was and remains a popular garment worn by many cultures spanning Eastern Europe to the Middle East and Asia. The kaftan was often long-sleeved, made of linen, silk or cotton and worn with sashes. The kaftan were often status symbols sometimes associated with the upper class and royalty.

Deel

The deel is the traditional dress of the nomadic Mongolian and Asian tribes. The deel is like long coat, fastened at the front with clasps or pavings to pull each side over the wearer’s body. The fastenings are commonly placed at the shoulder, armpit and neckline. The deel would be fastened with a sash.

Hanfu

The Hanfu was the traditional style of the Han dynasty of China. The main style of the Hanfu style of dressing consisted of a long robe or shirt as well as a traditionally pleated skirt. The Hanfu consisted of many pieces l again each with their own terminology. Yi (the open collar garment), Ru (Open collar shirt), Shan (open collar shirt or jacket worn over the yi), Qun/chang (the skirt), Ku (loose trousers).

Peplos

A friend asked me recently for advice on moving from thinking about writing a book to actually getting it done. I told her what I tell everyone: set small goals. Really, really small goals. Goals so easy that anyone could do them. Write half a page a day. Write 200 words. Write two sentences a day. Write one sentence a day.

When you make a goal so easy that you can’t not do it, something magical happens. You stop having excuses for not getting it done. Your life isn’t so busy you can’t get that one sentence is (at least almost always). And when you start doing it, most people find that they’ll keep at it for a little while longer than they expected.

So what if you just stare at the computer screen for a while? That happens. You can make different kinds of goals. You can make a goal to produce a certain number of words or to spend a certain length of time working on a project. Different goals work better for different people. I’ve actually moved to a time goal rather than a word count goal to keep myself honest. YMMV.

I’ve found this simple rule has worked in a lot of areas of my life. I fired my cleaners recently and decided that I could actually clean my house myself. I do it with 15 minutes a day. I have a list of simple jobs, from vacuuming stairs to cleaning toilets listed on my fridge. There are days I skip, I admit. There are also days when I end up doing a lot more than 15 minutes. But telling myself I only have to do it for 15 minutes has meant that I almost always have the energy to do a little bit.

When I first started running, I did it very, very slowly. The first day, I ran .1 mile on the treadmill. The second day, I ran .2 miles, and so forth, only adding .1 mile per day until I could run 6 miles all together.

- Taking off and folding their glasses expertly before they go to sleep

- On the rare occasion that they sleep with their glasses on, waking up and absent-mindedly reaching for the area next to them where they would put their glasses, having a moment of panic when they’re not there

- Either having sparkling clean lenses or filthy ones, covered in scratches and fingerprints that they never notice

- Indents at the sides of their nose or above their ears

- Getting small spots in the areas where their glasses frames sit on their cheeks, against their skin

- Squinting

- Looking around confusedly, shaking their head or squinting when trying to look at something with glasses that they know are the wrong prescription for them now but glasses can be expensive and they haven’t had these ones for long (very changeable eyesight)

- Poking the bridge of their nose when they aren’t wearing their glasses because they forgot to take them off

- “Can you zoom in please?” (When prescription changes)

- Facial twitches that they use to push their glasses up their nose, sometimes this happens even when their glasses are off

- Complaining when their glasses get too lose and start sliding down their nose or falling off when they tilt their head

- Complaining about eye tests and the bright light of the camera that photographs the back of the eye and leaves everything pink

- Getting mask straps, jewellery and hairbands twisted or stuck near the handles of their frames

- Wanting glasses that don’t match their face

- “Here, try mine on lol”

- Competing to see who has the worst eyesight

- Lenses falling out of their glasses and having to pop them back in again

- Glasses wipes or spray cleaner?

- Being careless with their glasses

- Feeling that their glasses are almost a part of them and being awkward with contacts

- People saying that their face looks different without their glasses because they’re rarely off

- Being sick of being asked how many fingers someone is holding up

- “No I CAN’T just ‘take them off’ because then I can’t SEE!”

- Trying to play sports without breaking their glasses

- Kids assuming they’re smart because they have glasses and they might be or they’ll be an absolute disaster

“What do you mean not everyone sees X?”

“What do you mean everyone DOESNT see X???” I’m looking at you eye floaties

Forgetting that glasses can and SHOULD be cleaned, and that little “oh” of noticing the difference.

So. You’ve got a story. You’ve been hard at work writing it/planning it, when suddenly, you hit a block. You don’t know what to add next in your story. 

Now what?

Don’t worry - I am here to help give you some ways to come up with that juicy new content.

1) Think through your story when you’re relaxed.

There’s a reason we get all of our best ideas when we’re driving home from work/school, or just about to fall asleep, or in a shower. It’s because, usually, we’re pretty relaxed. When that happens, your brain decides it’s got permission to explore, since it’s not actively trying to keep you from getting eaten by tigers or whatever analogy people use to talk about modern-day stress responses.

Pretty much, find a way to relax. Then think through aspects of your story surrounding the content gap. What might need to happen in order to bridge that gap? The best part about this method is that it’s surprisingly effective - so long as you’re actively thinking about your story - and you also get to practice some self care at the same time. So for all you folks who feel guilty about taking care of yourself (please, please take care of yourself), here’s your workaround.

(This is a sort of medium-long post, so i’ve put the rest of the tips below the cut)

If your dialog feels flat, rewrite the scene pretending the characters cannot at any cost say exactly what they mean. No one says “I’m mad” but they can say it in 100 other ways.

Wrote a chapter but you dislike it? Rewrite it again from memory. That way you’re only remembering the main parts and can fill in extra details. My teacher who was a playwright literally writes every single script twice because of this.

Don’t overuse metaphors, or they lose their potency. Limit yourself.

The Everybody Knows Everybody

Usually false. If you lived in a town of 300 people, you might know of everybody, but it’s unlikely you would know each and every person’s individual bask story, job, and family life. As the number goes up, the less likely it is that everybody knows everybody. 

Everyone is racist

In my state the more rural you go the more conservative it gets, but it certainly doesn’t mean that everyone who lives in a small town is racist. When a small town has a higher population than the surrounding area, including tourists/seasonal activity, those towns tend to be more ‘accepting.’ Towns along coasts (sea towns, port towns, whatever you want to call them) also tend to be less conservative, as they usually get a larger number of tourists.

Everyone loves/hates living in a small town

In books and movies small town characters often either love living in a small town or hate it. In real life it’s more complicated. Give you characters complicated relationships with their small town life. 

Schools

I’m so sick and tired of seeing small towns in movies with huge high schools. Most small towns don’t even have their own high school or even middle school, usually it’s combined with nearby towns. (That also depends on how far apart the residents are spread out.) If it’s a combined-town school then yes, there will be a good number of students.

Economy?

Before I answer this question I’ll split small towns into two groups:

Tourist/seasonal towns, business towns, commuter towns, and low population towns. 

Tourist/seasonal towns

Have a low number of full time residents

Are by the ocean, mountains, national park or something else that would draw visitors

Have an ‘off’ season where tourists don’t visit as much 

Are considered vacation places

There’s a wide range, but if you take in the seasonals to count middle-upper class

Business Towns

Towns that people live in because of their career 

Such as college towns, mill towns, and factory towns

When businesses fail these towns will plummet into poverty

Are mostly lower middle class

Commuter Towns

Commuter towns are towns located by highways or larger towns (such as port towns and other business towns) 

These towns are different than suburbs because they are not close enough to a large city

Are mostly middle class, there will be residents who commute to larger towns for jobs such as lawyers and doctors

Low population towns

The stereotypical small town

Often located in “the middle of nowhere”

Can either be spread out or very close together

Are found in rural parts of states

Are mostly lower middle class

First things first and what made me switch over from gr to begin with - it’s founded by a black woman and not Amazon-owned.

And it’s such fun. You can review books super quickly by checking off a list of qualities (funny, lighthearted, tense, informative, reflective, mysterious...), some questions regarding the book and cast (slow-paced, diverse cast, flawed characters...) and leave a star-based rating. You can also write an “actual” review, but those lists are a super handy way to express your feelings if you can’t put them into words.

Filling out these little lists is a delight to me, it’s just such fun! It’s much quicker than a “hand-written” review, so you’re more tempted to do it, but it brings the same sense of satisfaction leaving a long review would.

And - the greatest part - you fill out your own profile with those same lists to determine what books you like to read. So the website suggests books based on your own preferences.

And (yes there’s more) if you don’t know what you like, it tells you based on your own books and how they’ve been ranked. So when you go on your read books, it’ll tell you your average reading behaviour, so to say. Mine for example as of now reads “You mainly read fiction books that are reflective, mysterious, and informative. You tend to choose slow-paced books that are <300 pages long.” - that’s super helpful!!! (Yes I read short books...I won’t be shamed for it...)

And - one last thing I promise - you can import your goodreads books, so you don’t have to start over!

It’s still in beta mode and not all books are available (as of sept 2020 they don’t have many non-English books), but you can help grow the database!

The average 7yo will talk nonstop about their favorite thing if given a chance, loves sugar, knows how to use cutlery and a microwave. They probably know how to use some form of transport other than walking (bike, skateboard, rollerblades, swimming, bus). They have a favorite color and they will change it 12 times this year while passionately insisting they have only ever loved this one color.

They need 8-10 hours of sleep a night and become monsters of eldritch horror if you do not give them the required amount of sleep or food. 

They know basic science and can discuss concepts such as global warming, why cars are bad, how icecaps are melting, why we need prison reform, and the basics of religion. They should know basic subtraction and edition along with the concepts of time, number lines, greater than or less than, along with rudimentary algebra (2 + x = 6). 

Most kids at age 7 can accurately identify over 100 species of animal. Depending on their local habitat they may be able to distinguish between individual species of birds, fish, and small rodents. Unless they are particularly interested in cats they will not tell the breeds of cats apart. 

Some children by age 7 are functionally bilingual, often speaking one language at home and another (or several others) at school or in their city. About half will have had some religious training of one form or another and can explain their basic beliefs. 

The average 7yo has poor impulse control and will not always remember their are consequences to actions, especially when tired, hurt, or hungry. They sometimes make poor choices. The remedy is love, hugs, food, and another 8 hours of sleep to reset the small human. 

@inksoakedquill on ig

Ok so first of all, what is PTSD? Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was first discovered during WW1 and was called "she'll shock", "war neurosis", etc. It basically is a failure to recover after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.

What Do Writers Get Wrong?

Let's see what we get wrong first, eh? See, writing a character with PTSD is great for a character arc, if you can pull it off. Otherwise, it can come off sounding melodramatic.

First thing to do is to research more. There are more symptoms to PTSD than flashbacks. Flashbacks are the most appealing symptoms of all and, of course, add a lot of drama to the story. But flashbacks are a symptom of very severe PTSD. Some other common symptoms are anxiety, agitation, irritability, hostility, self-destructive behaviour or social isolation. All of these other symptoms are equally devastating. So throw in a lil bit of these along with the flashbacks to add a touch of realism.

Show Their Internal Turmoil

People with PTSD try to hide their pain from the others. People stare. They avoid you. They whisper. The person suffering can act up any time in a situation he/she has been a thousand times before. But before this happens, they try to soldier up for as long as possible.

Show the internal war going on inside your characters everytime they experience these symptoms, trying to regain control, trying to defeat the thing making them weak. Internal dialogues help tremendously to show this.

The Coping Mechanisms

People (and your character) try to always have a strategy to manage symptoms. These coping mechanisms help them survive these bouts of attacks. This mechanism could be anything, depending upon your character's preferences. They could have a mantra, a safe person, someone they trust to help them in these situations. One way to show your character's growth is to show the removal of their dependence on these techniques.

Blindside Your Character

With PTSD, you can never be sure. A situation that's been fine a thousand times can trigger you one day cuz someone new is there, or you didn't get your regular seat, or something else of the same accord. This is a great device for pivotal conflict.