#abby things

I was tagged by many lovelies so thank you to @optimisticgrey @rdekarios and @dr4gonwriter -- I loved reading all of your responses !

Questions:

1. What's your blog title from?

Ah yes, the lore. So as a kid I would do this thing which involved flailing my arms and making this strange "rawer" sound which my friends decided sounded like a baby dinosaur. The nickname stuck. At camp it was my sworn duty to do the thing any time someone shouted "baby dinosaur! baby dinosaur!" When making my tumblr at the ripe age of 13 or so I didn't know what to pick for a name and naturally my friend suggested babydinosaur.

2. Latest movie? What did you think?

The last movie I watched was the first Toy Story with my little nephew. Apparently I combined the plots of the first and second in my brain since it had been forever since I'd seen it. Oh and then we watched A New Hope so I guess that's the latest.

3. What are you looking forward to right now?

Still working on my dissertation but I have regained a sense of personhood and feel excited about my work again. So I'm excited to finish but not in the "i just need this done" way but the "i'm excited to finish refining this into what I want it to be" kind of way.

4. If you could do anything at all today, what would it be?

I would probably aspirate into my friends house and several of my other friends would also appear and then we would just hang out and lay around together because we all need the rest. And then there would be craft time and game time.

5. Drink of choice?

I am both a tea and coffee fan but my standard drink of choice since childhood has always been cranberry juice. I have a weird obsession with it and I drink it all the time. When stressed I have been known to just carry around the jug of cranberry juice around the house with me instead of pouring it into a cup or something. My old roomate got me a very long straw that I can use. 😂

6. Hair routine?

Depends on the day. I have very curly hair so on wash day it's shampoo, conditioner, product and plop. Then I'll let it dry a little while plopped up and if I'm feeling really fancy that day I will use some duck clips at the top of my head to help the curls at the top get some volume and then diffuse. On lazy days I just let it air dry and what will be will be. Between wash days I usually just spritz it with a little water and refine some curls or throw it into a big clip. I've become a big fan of hair sticks lately too.

7. Favourite way to travel? Is there another you want to try?

I don't know that I have a favorite way, I just travel however necessary. I don't mind long car rides but I struggle to be the one actually driving because I will get sleepy. I do fly a good bit especially when I lived away from home but planes do admittedly freak me out a bit.

I think a train would be fun. I like the idea of being able to move around a bit more and also have a view.

8. Favourite month and why?

Hmm. I've always liked June because it is my birthday month and it's in the summer which usually means lots of time with friends. But in terms of vibes I usually prefer the fall, I enjoy the rain and cooler weather where I can wear all my big sweaters. So maybe October. Plus that's renn fair season.

9. Favourite time of day and why?

Sunset. I love watching the sky but it also marks a point in the day where my brain calms down. I'm much more at peace in the evening. I like feeling like the rest of the world is shutting down and going to bed and getting quiet and that's usually when I like to have me time to play or be creative.

I do also enjoy sunrise and mornings but once it hits noon I get anxious. I think i prefer sunset because that period of time lasts longer for me.

10. Do you play or follow any sports?

I have never really followed sports though my family keeps trying to get me to do fantasy football with them. My mom told me it would be "just like DnD!!" the one time they got me to do it and my friends--it is not.

I did grow up doing all kinds of sports. I did ballet, gymnastics, and swimming up through middle school. In highschool I ran cross country and track because I lacked the coordination for much else. 😂

11. What kind of music has been stuck in your head lately?

"spidey and his amazing ! spidey and his amazing ! spidey and his amazing friends !!" (Can you tell i've been with my nephew recently?)

Okay but other than the anthems of my nephews current obsessions lately I have had "this mountain" by Faouzia stuck in my head.

12. Dishes or laundry?

Probably dishes. I have a much easier time getting them out of the way but I will let my laundry basket get allll the way full before I deal with it. I think dishes just feel more immediately achievable whereas there is a lot of waiting with laundry. I also do not like clutter so even if I really hate it I will do the dishes just to get them out of the way because it makes my brain feel better after.

13. Something you learned recently?

Dalmatians became fire house dogs because they were initially popular coach dogs. They are known for making particularly close bonds with horses and could also keep up with a horse and carriage. So they were often guard dogs for the horses and in the days where fire stations used a horse drawn carriage they would have dalmatians to help clear the path for the coach ahead and then guard the horses and equipment while they dealt with the fire.

14. What would you talk about if you could give a TED talk on anything?

I mean I'm a phd student and scholar of religion so 🤷🏼‍♀️. I'd probably start with a talk on early christianity because I think popular belief tends to assume christianity was a monolith when it was always incredibly messy and diverse. If I had to pick something other than my field of research---probably mermaids. I'd just go of about mermaids. Or perhaps shiny rocks.

15. Piece of advice you find yourself giving a lot?

I feel like I often end up telling people to talk it out. I'm a big fan of communication. But I also try to recognize when communication is no longer beneficial and at that point its time to set a boundary.

16. Piece of advice you would give yourself five years ago?

Oh gosh. Five years ago me was in my first or second year of my graduate program. My friend more or less made me start therapy again and seriously bless her for that. So I think my advice to myself would be to ask for help. Things would have been a lot easier if I'd done that sooner.

17. Do you believe in luck and superstition? Do you carry any lucky items or follow any?

A little, mostly because I think it gives the world a little whimsy and I enjoy that. I do have lots of lucky objects. Not so much because I think they truly change anything other than bring me comfort which is helpful. I have a fidget ring that doubles as a worry stone which I'm always wearing and I have several other worry stones that I will often bring with me on anxious study days and had with me through all of my comprehensive exams. I'll pick different ones depending on the scenario. I will often wear certain pieces of jewelry for strength or luck or to keep a particular person close. Ever since my grandmother passed down her old watch to me I wear it whenever I give presentations. She never completed highschool but has always been super intelligent. She's well into her 80s and sharp as ever. But she's always been super proud and supportive of my academic career and I like to honor her in all the ways that I can.

18. Are you musical (play any instruments, sing)? Would you ever perform for an audience?

I grew up playing the violin and singing in the church choir. I also took voice lessons for a few years. I did play and sing in front of people, usually for church. I no longer attend a church regularly but if persuaded I will still occasionally perform at my moms church for special things. I do still get a bit of stage fright though. My voice will shake a little but since I'm a soprano I try to pass it off as vibrato and I'm told it works. Someone once described my voice as "hauntingly beautiful" after a solo at church and I think that is still the greatest compliment I've ever received. 😂

19. Write, type or speak?

It honestly depends. I think i mostly type these days but I do still love writing on paper and in journals. I will often default to that if I'm trying to think through something or do more stream of consciousness for both creative and academic writing.

I only ever use dictation or record thoughts if i'm in the car. I do have some very fond memories of my friend in college telling me to just talk at her when I was struggling with a writing assignment. She sat with my laptop and I rambled while braiding her hair and when I finished she showed me the paragraph and had organized all of my thoughts in a way that made sense.

20. What do you wish someone would ask you?

Hmm. I'm not sure. I think I just like when people ask me anything at all. I'm usually that person that needs a sense of permission to participate or engage with others. So I'm always super grateful when someone reaches out or asks a question because that feels like letting me in the circle so to speak. I suppose more sincerely, I appreciate when people ask "how are you doing" or "are you okay" as a genuine question rather than a passing greeting.

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That's all folks ! Gentle tags for @perpetualmaladaptivedaydream @maagisterpavus @litsenn @sucksinlosers @spillingteanotpermitted @softeasun @bladesingerlily @necromanticsoul @scoldingdarjeeling @brennacedria and anyone else who would like to play!

(Blank questions under the cut)

I was tagged by the lovely @redheadsramblings ! Thank you, friend !

A fun little questionnaire about how you were inspired for Rook! Feel free to upload your own photo or make yourself with this picrew alongside an image of your Rook!

How did you pick your Rook’s name?

I'm usually pretty intentional with the names I pick. I chose Neith because I like the association with the goddess of war and creation but I also picked it for one of it's more interpretive meanings, "terrifying one." It points to a core part of her character as one who is ruthlessly determined but the name was also intentionally chosen by her mother. She wished for her daughter to be fierce and unafraid.

Is your Rook older or younger than you, or a similar age?

I've never quite settled on Neith's age but she is older than I am. I am 29 and she is around her mid thirties.

Any physical traits you share with Rook?

Neith is dark skinned with straight black hair and I am a pale ghost lady with brown curly hair so...not really. I guess we are both small? She's certainly more fit than I am though. Brown eyes ! We both have brown eyes.

(also that picrew was surprisingly accurate for me right down to the flannel and mushroom earrings)

Any personality traits you share with Rook?

Fiercely loyal to loved ones. Will throw down about it.

Any personal abilities/mannerisms/habits/hobbies you passed onto Rook?

We are both collectors of random objects, rocks, trinkets, and other strange shiny things. Little trinket trolls 🤗🤗

Where do you and Rook differ the most?

Neith is angry and loud. She's also very self-assured and unafraid to take charge. I am much quieter and soft spoken and way more insecure. I'm also an academic and spend most of my day surrounded by books. Neith would much rather be outside doing things and working with her hands.

What trait/ability does Rook have that you wish you did?

I mean I would love to be able to wield magic and jump from any height and land perfectly without shattering my legs?

But more seriously, while Neith's rage is not necessarily a virtue it is based in my own struggle to feel and express anger. I have long struggled with disassociation and emotional detachment. Neith is way more in touch with her emotions. She disassociates at times but it's a more intentional choice. She has big feelings and doesn't always cope with them the best ways but I admire the fierceness with which she feels things.

In a situation where you existed in Thedas, would your Rook be friends with you? Or alternatively, if your Rook was your roommate, could you live with them?

I think we'd be friends. I'm pretty sure Neith would look at me with the attitude of, "that's my smol bean" and I'd be like 🤗🤗🤗

If you could give one piece of advice to your Rook, what would you say?

You're more than a tool and you don't have to carry everything. You're not alone.

I got tagged in this multiple times and it's been sitting in my drafts for a hot hecking minute. Whoops. Anywho, thank you to @aetherflowers @in-the-drowning-deep @jenn2d2 @optimisticgrey and @judasiskariot -- I appreciate all of you 🥰

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on your computer | on your phone

Mostly on my computer but I do a lot of quick writing on my phone or jotting down ideas and more extensive writing on my computer. But I'm prone to writing whole scenes on my phone while on walk or something.

oneshots | multichapter

Since taking up writing again I've started mostly with oneshots because those are more manageable for me. But I do try to organize them around a series of sorts so they all connect.

<5k | 5k-10k | >10k

So far I think I've pretty much been under 5k. In part because I'm just doing smaller scenes though they can start to look a lot bigger in my drafts because I am a chaotic writer.

chronologically | jump back and forth

It is literally not possible for me to write in a linear fashion. I will often start based on a small inspiration of something and where exactly that is located chronologically can vary. Then I just end up shifting around based on wherever the ideas are flowing.

planning things out | winging it

Kind of both. I usually start with winging it and get some kind of bones on the page which is usually half bullet points and half actual writing. Then I sit with that for a bit and I'll ruminate on it for a while and start to plan a bit more specifically and I almost always end up doing some kind of research in the process.

drabbles | plot | character study

Mostly drabbles. I have ideas for more plot based things but lack the time and confidence to give them a go. Hence all of the drabbles. I've never tried a formal character study but I do take a lot of notes on characters and have an info/analysis doc for them that I have as a reference while I'm writing.

dialogue | action

I try to do both. I tend to integrate a lot of action or movement within dialogue. As a reader I'm always interested in what the body is doing so that is something I pay attention to when I write. Although I sometimes think I overdo it so that's a balance i'm tying to figure out.😂

romance | comedy

Romance. I'm just sailing all my ships via ficlets. I like to think I'm able to integrate humor in there but it's not my strong suite.

mystery |horror

I'm definitely not a horror person. Horror movies and anything related is just fuel for my night terrors. I much prefer mystery, and I love a good puzzle.

alternate universe | close to canon

I'm honestly not usually big into AUs but I have gotten more into reading some of them lately. I still don't really write AUs myself though'.

writing new content | editing your work

I probably spend the most time editing. I am a chronic over thinker so I edit a lot before I post anything and then even after I post something I keep editing. That being said, while editing I often have like at least 3 other ideas pop in my head and I'll start writing those too. I have lots of little things I've jotted down or started but I'm real slow.

how long on average do you spend writing a chapter?

Ha! There is zero consistency here. It can be anywhere from a few days to several months. It really depends on how I'm feeling. I get discouraged very easily so it tends to be a lot of intermittent writing.

how long do you spend editing?

See above: To stop myself from endlessly over editing, I let the draft simmer for a while, give it one thorough edit, then send it to my beta-reader(s) before it goes live.

favorite thing to write?

I take weird joy in making characters cry. Or just making them feel their feelings in some capacity. In part I think I just like to dig more into characters. A lot of my early writing was a deep dive into cannon moments and exploring them further and that usually results in my developing other one-shots that are related. So I guess I have a tendency to write arcs that deal with emotion and growth.

hardest thing to write?

smut. can't do it. I can enjoy reading it but--asexual lesbian that I am --I have zero idea how to produce it.

fic/story you are most proud of and why?

Hm. I'm quite fond of what I recently posted for Cozy December: She Might Look Like Me.

But overall I think I always go back to my first Gale x Ashni fic, Properly. Not necessarily because I think it's the best but because it's the first thing I posted in years and I'm just proud I did it at all. And doing so got me more involved in writing again and in fandom space here which has been lovely.

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