Writing/Drawing Is My Happy Place!

I spent six months in college obsessed with catholic nuns. I found an Australian television show based in the 50s about nuns and binged the whole thing during finals. I watched a British reality show about women who lived with nuns for a few months and spent literal years tracking down the nigh impossible to find final episode. I bought nun memoirs. I watched every nun documentary I could get my hands on. I rewatched them each multiple times while studying for final exams. I found an American reality tv show about girls considering being nuns and binged that as well. I still own a picture book of saints.

I got so deep into nun territory that I accidentally got on a mailing list for prospective nuns and had nunneries around the country sending me letters inviting me to visit and see if I was interested in joining.

Casual racism that is brushed off as “an innocent mistake” or “they didn’t mean it” and then everyone pretending like it didn’t happen and moving on with their day (repeat)

Speaking over fans of color about issues that pertain to them specifically

When fans of color speak out about something that makes them uncomfortable or why that don’t interact with it (usually because of the racial/ethnic bias) they are accused of being anti’s or pro-censorship

Characters of color being used as scapegoats/bashed/plot devices 

Characters of color never getting happy endings/real development

Backlash against characters of color if they do anything other than be a white character’s side kick/best friend

Actors of characters of color being harassed for something their character did or didn’t do

White characters/actors getting all the attention/credit despite the fact that they are a side character to a POC or on the same level as the POC

Fanfic authors patting themselves on the back for writing a “realistic” character of color and it’s just a bunch of stereotypes

Being told that they should be happy they were even included when they call out the above people

White fans crying about persecution/exclusion because their fav character/trope/kink/ship isn’t loved by all 

Fan artists re-imaging characters of color as white/lightening skin tone

Everyone rushing to a white fans defense after a well deserved call out while the fan of color receives hate

Never having a safe fandom space and always having to be on guard with new people/fandoms/chats etc because they’ve been burned before

- (re)writing characters of color as abusive and/or violent to infantilize white characters

"no! not ai! I did it myself!"

"oh wow man that's rly good ..I mean it still kinda .....I mean it looks like u used a.i. I didn't know u could draw?"

"oh I didn't draw I just put in a prompt to chat gpt but I did it!"

So I, despite wanting to make his phone eat gravel, decided to ask what he was wanting to use AI for. We got to talking and he actually wanted to use it as an assisting tool to streamline work stuff, not gen AI, and actually knew about the negative impacts it had on the environment. He was more concerned about understanding it and staying ahead of the tech curve than actually using it, so I gave him a link to the 1700 free online college courses I had where he could look up this stuff without relying on AI and he got EXCITED.

This ability allows the user to control blood—both their own and others’—by manipulating its flow and movement. They can slow or stop circulation, force movement, or shape blood into weapons and restraints. With precision, it can be used for healing… or complete control.

What it looks like: Blood moves unnaturally—lifting from wounds, curling through the air, or tightening beneath the skin like invisible strings are pulling it. When used on others, veins may darken or shift as control takes hold.

Character Idea: A controlled, emotionally guarded character who believes power should only be used when necessary. They carry a strong moral code—but deep down, they know how dangerous they could become if they ever lost control.

Story Hook: They swore they would never use their ability on another person… until the moment they’re forced to—and realize how easy it is.

Hidden Downside: Using the ability drains their own body, often forcing them to rely on their own blood to maintain control. Overuse can cause weakness, dizziness, or internal damage. Worse, the more they use it, the more desensitized they become to crossing moral lines.

If you’re into history and want accurate, non-misleading sources, here’s where to look — and how to use them properly.

1. Wikipedia (start here, don’t end here) Use it for timelines and overviews. Always scroll to the references and check the sources.

2. Primary Sources Read original writers like Tacitus or Herodotus. Ask: Who wrote this? Why? What’s their bias?

3. University Websites (.edu) Search: topic + .edu Great for structured explanations and lecture-style breakdowns.

4. Academic Databases Use JSTOR or Google Scholar for deeper research and modern scholarship.

5. Museum Websites Places like The British Museum give context for artifacts and cultural history. 6. Short Form Video Content Yes! I'm not saying to become addicted but scroll for a purpose!!!! 7. Look On Pinterest!! I can't urge this enough, looking on Pinterest for history facts is really the best way. Its not that hard anyways and is considered (by me) the simplest way.

How to Make Facts Stick

You have to rest in your own desire to create.

But, because I see statements like this turn into a sort of general notion of “it’s bad to want validation or attention or engagement”, and to me, that’s not what this means.

It’s perfectly valid to want people to like and engage with what you create. In a general sense, when you create anything, you do it to share with other human beings. Art, craft, food, anything you create is a way to connect with others through our shared humanity.

And wanting someone to like you fanart or read your fanfic is part of that.

To close out the ads online

And yet they keep on haunting me

They fill my up my scrolling feed

Interrupt all my listening

And make want to pull my hair and

Scream

I'd like to scroll on endlessly

With out the ads on my feed

It's hard to say what my life was like

Before all these endless ads