⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ rien n’est oublié ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Hyphens ( - ) are the shortest and are used to: ‣ link elements in a compound word: dog-owner ‣ separate some affixes from the rest of the word: pre-election ‣ (sometimes) take the place of the en dash indicating range: pages 24-66 ‣ indicate stuttering or abrupt interruption: M-m-micheal? ‣ spell out a word letter for letter: I said we are c-l-o-s-e-d.

En Dashes ( – ) are shorter than em dashes. They indicate a range and could usually be replaced with "from" and "to": ✓ I lived in New York 2015–2020. ⭤ I lived in New York from 2015 to 2020. But: ✗ I lived in New York from 2015–2020.

Em Dashes ( — ) are longest. They are used: ‣ to call attention to the content they separate from the rest of the sentence and emphasize it ‣ in place of commas and parentheses: When he finally apologized—after four weeks of silence—she was no longer interested in hearing him out. ‣ in place of a colon, especially to summarize, explain, or expand upon the preceding clause in a dramatic manner: After months of deliberation, the jurors reached a unanimous verdict—guilty. ‣ to summarize or note the common link in a list: Sweet, sour, salty, bitter—all tastes the cook loved to experiment with. ‣ to set off or introduce defining phrases and lists: The shop's selection of three flavors—strawberry, mint, and chocolate—was never enough variety. ‣ to indicate a new direction: I agree with you, but James—he felt otherwise. ‣ to indicate hesitation: Well, I think—Yeah, I guess it is concerning.

to be clear, I believe younger artists and minors can write good fics (not to say “fanfic must always be good” either because it is a hobby and I still believe that as long as it’s done with love and the artist’s joy, it is good) and I believe it’s good when younger artists and minors start making art at young ages.

that said, a lot of fanfics out there that you read and love are done by adults with kids, jobs and responsibilities. adults who have years, decades of practice under their belts. adults who don’t let life and responsibilities take away their joy in creating.

me: sweet hit me with the good stuff

media: so there's this marginalized underclass of people, right?

me: okay

media: and they're like, stigmatized for something that's mostly an aspect of how they are born, or where they're from, or they're badly misunderstood, right?

me: yup, got it, I'm with ya

media: so these people are rebelling against the current social order, because it's the instrument of their suffering

me: oh good great sure

media: but also they're violent and deranged and need to be stopped

me: ...what

media: yeah they're going too far, they're trying to overthrow the system and assassinate the nice cop trying to help them and also they burned down an orphanage

me: ...why? would they burn down an orphanage??

media: extremism is bad

me: still not seeing what this has to do with their fight though???

media: also now they've shot a dog. oops they shot another dog

me: what?! why? I though their motive was to overthrow oppression??

media: yes but their suffering has also made them evil

me: ...???

media: don't worry though, the good guys will defeat them and restore the status quo

me: the status quo that's been killing people?

media: well it turns out it was only killing the kinds of awful people who burn down orphanages and shoot dogs :)

me: oh. this is actually a pro-authoritarian story, isn't it?