guess im fitzloved brained now

it is true that fantasy is not historical fiction, and that it will always say as much about the time it was created in, the viewpoints of its creators, as much as it says about its own created world. this is true for historical fiction as well, of course. it’s always operating in those two simultaneous registers. but if you create a world - a secondary fantasy world, a historical epoch - i value the attempt to get outside the self, to treat the world you have created or are attempting to render as its own reality not reducible to or merely the mirror for the present, to take the specific beliefs that flow from a specific social structure (and the operative fantasy constructs that are shaping that structure) seriously more than what it can “say” about “our present.” i value fantasy for being able to say things about its own premises, or about the past (through running the past through fantasy elements). the moment when a work of fantasy notably fails in that attempt, falls back on a shorthand of the transcendently universal that doesn’t honestly grapple with its own internal specifics, i find it precious, unrigorous, and deeply grating. there’s a cowardice in it, a self-satisfaction, a lack of curiosity, that i often find very offputting.

i think abt anne rice’s answer to “what are your work habits for a novel?” probably every single day

This is an anti-despair checkpoint! You must share something you're looking forward to before scrolling on.

Having a "stupider people have done this" attitude about the things you want to do can open so many doors

for sale: Baby Shoes Stylish Infant Boy Girl Unisex First Walker Shoes Toddler Walking Crib Shoes Lightweight Non-Slip Sneakers For 6 9 12 18 24 Months Baby Shoes New With Tags New In Box Excellent Condition Never Worn

I don't need the chatgpt random algorithm to write emails for me because I already have a custom and 100% flawless algorithm called "writing the exact same three emails with the names changed"

"but op I work in an office I have to write way more emails than you" well that's your fault for working in an office i got nothing to do with that

to everyone who wants help with emails: go through the notes of this post. there are ideas I've never thought of and plenty of scripts for all kinds of situations/jobs

"Push around a little cart or something? Sounds bad." Is a car not a really big cart? Skill issue.

Schism? Schism today?

Wow, I didn't have "catholic schism" on my 2026 bingo card

I... Didn't realize that when there is a schism they actually issue a legal document that says "hey guys, there's a schism." Absolutely incredible

I hate when king arthur has all these fussy little steps in the instructions and you're like "no way do these fussy little steps matter" but you try it and they do. they matter so much.

I thought you meant Camelot quests and I was like "that's fair, 'never pick a four leaf clover on the last Wednesday of the month' IS a fussy little step that shouldn't matter" but then I was like "wait isn't that also a flour company"

nooo I am not a beleaguered knight of the round table I am making elaborate focaccia 😭

In case anyone wondered, the original name actually has a clear and easy to understand meaning in Hebrew. Admittedly, it means "new city". But that's a meaning.

Yeah, tthat makes more sense. I don't know much about Phoenician specifically, so I was going off my very limited knowledge of Talmudic Aramaic. I knew there should be something at the end of חדש, but I didn't know what. Also, I'm not at all surprised to hear that קרתא and קרייה are related.

This is gorgeous and I need a pack of them so we could run through the woods together hunting.

I forget what mine were but I imagined this too! I like the name Runalongs.

Please, I’m nearly 30 and I still have Runalongs join me on long, boring car journeys. They must be able to sense people who are in need of their presence, for company, for entertainment, or are just so used to them being there.

when you put your hand palm down out the window and it jumps and sways in the speed, the pressure you feel, not quite solid but not quite air is the ghostly backs of the runalongs arching up for a pat.

@airlocksandaviaries

that's a cat ✅️