I don’t draw well, but I can paint relatively well, and I throw the HELL out of some pottery.

But I’m also a writer...and I constantly crave validation for my work. It’s what keeps me going. It’s what pushes me to write more. Validation in the form of comments and kudos on one of my fics makes me want to write everything.

Today, some friends and I were chatting about our fics, and how validating comments compels is to write more, and one of them said, “I need them to put Compliment Couins in the Validation Machine...Then I can give them more!”

And I couldn’t get the image out of my head. So I spent 2 hours creating this goofy little piece of art. Because it’s true.

If you’re reading a fic someone has written, leave them a comment, even if it’s just one word, or you just say, “I enjoyed this.”

It’s so important to us. Especially since we spend great quantities of time writing our hearts out.

Drop a Compliment Coin in our Validation Machine and select a phrase! We’ll love it. I promise!

Elle was one of those people who made me happier and more confident. She reblogged a fic of mine - a fic that I cannot stand to read now and thank God, because it shows how far I’ve come from there. She reblogged the post with a message and a tag saying Fic Rec. She told me that she loved it and I can’t even tell you how fucking happy I was and how proud?

Elle was basically this writing Queen. Everyone knew her. Everyone loved her. She had this cool vibe to her and she honestly rocked at writing. I admired her fics so much, her writing made me go asjdhajsdhajs. For someone like her to reblog a fic of mine and to like it? It did me wonders. 

That validation made me so confident, I kept writing, I improved. I can’t imagine my life without writing now. I remember followers from her blog liking my posts-telling me that they too had liked it and you guys, it made me so so happy. I read a post where someone thanked Elle for sharing people’s fics. And, ELLE, thank you for rec-ing MY FIC. 

You’re a huge part of this fandom. You’ve changed people’s life, honestly. Thank you for being so kind and loving. For being so loyal to everyone. For being patient even when some rude anons popped up. Thank you for writing fic - for giving us things that made us happy, and made our lame lives a little better. 

I love you so much and I’m so grateful that you’re a part of my lifeeeee. 

daily reminder that letting your kids negotiate and calmly use arguments is not "giving in to their every whim", especially when they offer do do extra chores, cut down on other expenses, etc. just thought i'd put that out there 

My sons only two but for some reason I don’t *feel* like a mother anymore. Just a person whose entire day revolves around a tiny person.

And I think i figured out why.

When my son was born everyone was all “how is mama and baby today”, “congrats mama”, and “motherhood totally suits you”.

Even the Facebook groups I was on. Mother and baby, young mama, everyone I talked to, hourly discussions with other mothers who didn’t know your name and only referred to you as mama.

I left those groups a year ago. I was able to deal with everyday parenting without them.

And that’s when I stopped *feeling* like a mother.

So I guess, what I’m trying to say is

Also I am so asexual, it's not even funny, and it gets Really Fuckin Annoying when my parents sort of act like it's not a thing. Like guys, do I have to drown myself in glitter make up, dye my hair rainbow, and wave a thousand flags announcing that I'm about as straight as a circle for them to figure it out? Let me prance gayly about for five minutes, and notice and acknowledge that I am what I am. It's not... hard.

And if I ever have to hear another joke about Asexual Pat (an old SNL skit about androgynous people, I guess) I will murder a bitch. Asexuality has precisely jackshit to do with gender presentation, thank you very much.