“i procrastinate writing because i’m afraid of failure”
interesting thought process. you do realize that not starting has a 100% success rate in failure?
dirt enthusiast

pixel skylines
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
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One Nice Bug Per Day

Kiana Khansmith

@theartofmadeline
AnasAbdin
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
i don't do bad sauce passes

oozey mess
Today's Document
DEAR READER
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occasionally subtle
Jules of Nature

shark vs the universe
wallacepolsom
almost home
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@electricalhazard
“i procrastinate writing because i’m afraid of failure”
interesting thought process. you do realize that not starting has a 100% success rate in failure?
cancam × seventeen [ click for hq ]
self-esteem with adhd feels like having both god complex and an extremely severe case of an inner critic
#181: Venturing Into the Unknown
To write, you have to face yourself. That can be incredibly difficult sometimes. Harder than many other things are. But before we get into that, imagine that you’re a firefighter.
You’re pretty new — just been through training. You’ve read all the books, done all the drills. Today is your first shift. The sirens go off at the station. It’s a massive fire — an entire residential building engulfed in flames. You arrive with the rest of the crew. There’s absolute mayhem outside. You can hear screams coming from within.
On paper, you’re qualified to get in and get those people out. In reality, however, nobody knows how this could end. The fire doesn’t care what the textbook says. It makes its own rules. Even an experienced firefighter can end up in a difficult situation.
Writing is sometimes like this. No matter how much you study the craft or outline the story before you start writing, at some point, you’ll be venturing into the unknown. You’ll have very little idea whether the thing will work. The voices inside the burning building are your stories, and you’ll have to get them out of there.
Where this metaphor couldn’t be more different are the stakes. Firefighters put everything on the line. Maybe the conspiracy nut that lives on the third floor illegally stacked his flat full of ammo to protect himself when the Illuminati come knocking. You open the door to his place. A massive explosion blasts through the building. There’s nothing you could’ve done.
As a writer, it’s not even close. The worst thing that can happen? You will have to throw the story away. But you can write another one. And you’re free to keep what you’ve learned and use it to make the next one better.
While that’s not easy at all to part ways with hundreds of thousands of words that you might have worked on for months and years, you still get another shot. And another one after that. As long as you want to keep going, you can keep going.
So when you’re stuck or unsure where to go next, just pick one thing and run with it. You may be entering a burning building, but no matter what happens you will come out alive.
Don’t be afraid to take risks. As a writer, that’s one thing that you can afford.
Only one thing can be fatal to a writer: doing nothing at all.
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Past Editions
#180: Will It Work?, January 2021
#179: Throwaway Stories, January 2021
#178: Progress Over Perfection, January 2021
#177: Change Is Good, January 2021
#176: Start Before You’re Ready, January 2021
How To Fight Writers Block
hello, hello. hope everyone is doing well. as you can all tell, this post will be about how to fight writers block.
it’s really annoying to me when I hear people say “oh you don’t have writers block, you’re just lazy.”
first of all, yes, I am naturally lazy. second of all, how dare you. writing isn’t as easy as many think. granted, all you have to do is write down words on paper, but it’s not always easy to find the right words to express what you are feeling, or what you wish to say.
I have had terrible writer’s block for the last few days and it’s horrible! as a business owner or a small writing store, I have to be ready to write and fulfill my clients’ ideas and orders.
it’s not easy. It takes a heavy toll on my imagination, and digs me a deep pit of blockage, drowning in the lack of originality because of the constant writing and repetition or certain phrases and sentences in different projects.
i am making this post in the hopes to remind myself about over coming the dreaded and sometimes skeptically believed writer’s block.
What is writer’s block?
Yeah, I know. We all know what that is, but let me define it.
is the state of being unable to proceed with writing, and/or the inability to start writing something new
some people believe it to be a real problem, others believe it's “all in your head”
What Causes Writer’s Block?
in the 1970s, clinical psychologists Jerome Singer and Michael Barrios decided to find out
they concluded that there are four broad causes of writer's block:
Excessively harsh self-criticism
Fear of comparison to other writers
Lack of external motivation, like attention and praise
Lack of internal motivation, like the desire to tell one's story
How to overcome writer's block: 20 tips
1. Develop a writing routine:
Author and artist Twyla Tharp once wrote: “Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is a result of good work habits.”
it might seem counterintuitive
if you only write when you “feel creative,” you're bound to get stuck in a tar pit of writer's block
The only way to push through is by disciplining yourself to write on a regular schedule. It might be every day, every other day, or just on weekends — but whatever it is, stick to it!
2. Use "imperfect" words:
A writer can spend hours looking for the perfect word or phrase to illustrate a concept
You can avoid this fruitless endeavor by putting, “In other words…” and simply writing what you’re thinking, whether it’s eloquent or not
You can then come back and refine it later by doing a CTRL+F search for “in other words.”
3. Do non-writing activities:
one of the best ways to climb out of a writing funk is to take yourself out of your own work and into someone else’s
Go to an exhibition, to the cinema, to a play, a gig, eat a delicious meal
immerse yourself in great STUFF and get your synapses crackling in a different way
Snippets of conversations, sounds, colors, sensations will creep into the space that once felt empty
4. Freewrite through it:
free-writing involves writing for a pre-set amount of time without pause — and without regard for grammar, spelling, or topic. You just write.
The goal of freewriting is to write without second-guessing yourself — free from doubt, apathy, or self-consciousness, all of which contribute to writer's block. Here’s how:
Find the right surroundings. Go somewhere you won't be disturbed.
Pick your writing utensils. Will you type at your computer, or write with pen and paper? (Tip: if you're prone to hitting the backspace button, you should freewrite the old-fashioned way!)
Settle on a time-limit. Your first time around, set your timer for just 10 minutes to get the feel for it. You can gradually increase this interval as you grow more comfortable with freewriting.
5. Relax on your first draft:
Many writers suffer form perfectionism, which is especially debilitating during a first draft
“Blocks often occur because writers put a lot of pressure on themselves to sound ‘right’ the first time. A good way to loosen up and have fun again in a draft is to give yourself permission to write imperfectly.” — editor Lauren Hughes
perfect is the enemy of good,” so don't agonize about getting it exactly right! You can always go back and edit, maybe even get a second pair of eyes on the manuscript
6. Don’t start at the beginning:
the most intimidating part of writing is the start, when you have a whole empty book to fill with coherent words
instead of starting with the chronological beginning of whatever it is you’re trying to write, dive into middle, or wherever you feel confident
7. Take a shower:
Have you ever noticed that the best ideas tend to arrive while in the shower, or while doing other “mindless” tasks?
research shows that when you’re doing something monotonous (such as showering, walking, or cleaning), your brain goes on autopilot, leaving your unconscious free to wander without logic-driven restrictions
showering is my favourite thing to do if I may add
8. Balance your inner critic:
successful writers have in common is the ability to hear their inner critic, respectfully acknowledge its points, and move forward
You don't need to completely ignore that critical voice, nor should you cower before it
you must establish a respectful, balanced relationship, so you can address what's necessary and skip over what's insecure and irrelevant
9. Switch up your tool:
a change of scenery can really help with writer's block. However, that scenery doesn't have to be your physical location — changing up your writing tool can be just as big a help!
if you’ve been typing on your word processor of choice, try switching to pen and paper. Or if you're just sick of Google Docs, consider using specialized novel writing software.
10. Change your POV:
great advice from editor Lauren Hughes: “When blocked, try to see your story from another perspective ‘in the room’ to help yourself move beyond the block. How might a minor character narrate the scene if they were witnessing it? A ‘fly on the wall’ or another inanimate object?
11. Exercise your creative muscles:
Any skill requires practice if you want to improve, and writing is no different! So if you’re feeling stuck, perhaps it’s time for a strengthening scribble-session to bolster your abilities
12. Map out your story:
If your story has stopped chugging along, help it pick up steam by taking a more structured approach — specifically, by writing an outline
13. Write something else:
Though it's important to try and push through writer's block with what you're actually working on, sometimes it's simply impossible
feel free to push your current piece to the side for now and write something new
14. Work on your characters:
It follows that if your characters are not clearly defined, you’re more likely to run into writer’s block
15. Stop writing for readers:
write for yourself, not your potential readers
this will help you reclaim the joy of being creative and get you back in touch with what matters: the story.
this is something I really need to do. because of my etsy business i don't write for fun anymore, but instead as a business and a deadline. i'm going to have to pull out my old crappy wattled fanfics or write some new ones.
16. Try a more visual process:
when words fail you, forget them and get visual. Create mind maps, drawings, Lego structures — ideally related to your story, but whatever unblocks your mind!
17. Look for the root of it:
writer’s block often comes from a problem deeper than simple “lack of inspiration.” So let's dig deep: why are you really blocked? Ask yourself the following questions:
Do I feel pressure to succeed and/or competition with other writers?
Have I lost sight of what my story is about, or interest in where it's going?
Do I lack confidence in my own abilities, even if I've written plenty before?
Have I not written for so long that I feel intimidated by the mere act?
Am I simply feeling tired and run-down?
once you identify what's wrong, it'll be so much easier to fix.
18. Quit the Internet:
If willpower isn’t your strong suit and your biggest challenge is staying focused, try a site blocker like Freedom or an app like Cold Turkey
19. Let the words find you:
meditate, go for a walk, take that shower
Word Palette is a great app that features a keyboard of random words, allowing you to simply click your way to your next masterpiece.
You can also try AI auto-completers like Talk to Transformer, where you can enter a phrase and let the app “guess what comes next.”
even though they often produce nonsense, it's a great way to help that writer's block.
20. Write like Hemingway:
And if your biggest block is your own self-doubt about your prose, Hemingway offers suggestions to improve your writing as you go
it's a pretty cool app if you ask me.
it highlights your sentences (if need be) and makes suggestions on how to improve them!
well, there you have it! a lengthy post on how to fight writer's block. now i just hope i can combat my own soon.
like, comment and reblog if you find this useful! feel free to reblog in instagram and tag me perpetualstories
Follow me on instagram and tumblr for more writing and grammar tips and more!
Floating houses and random thoughts #pascalcampion
What qualities would your OC look for in a potential S/O? What things would be a dealbreaker for someone they’re otherwise interested in?
(BESIDES all the normal “respectful”, “not a bigot”, just “decent human being” things)
once again, my precious Mingyu, this time considering all three of his AU incarnations (band!au, college!au, witch!au)
it's not like they were looking for a S/O or seeing romantic relationships as a priority in their lives. while band!au Mingyu is totally clueless about such matters (since he wasn't actually raised in a human environment), both college!au and witch!au Mingyus just don't consider themselves suitable to be someone else's partner and they feel kind of sorry for people who might take special interest in them. according to them, they're neither proper 'relationship material' nor in any way worthy of affection (though the second point might be more about college!au incarnation). which says more about their personal dramas and insecurities than about their actual personalities.
but all three of them find it hard to resist a person who is sensitive, but even more than that - emotionally fragile. this is one trait they find extremely and especially appealing, since they kind of see it as a sign of... well, purity, and while their (potential) partner might view it as their weakness or flaw, all three incarnation would insist on it being proof that this beautiful person's soul somehow managed to resist the dehumanizing and suppressing force of society. no matter how hard their potential S/O tries to hide their feelings, it is obvious for Mingyu that they still haven't been coarsened by pressure or trauma, and that makes their emotions extremely precious and worth being treasured.
and once Mingyu gets to see this part of the other person's soul, he really starts to show his protective side. and it's extremely important for him that his potential S/O accepts such protection and care, both physical and emotional, which might trench on slight obsessiveness while not being in any way limiting for the partner themselves. this basically might be the only way for Mingyu (especially in college!au and witch!au) to feel his true worth and allow himself to get involved into an intimate relationship. he would totally use his partner's trust to shield them from any harm possible even at the cost of his own well-being. otherwise he would never forgive himself for letting the world crush someone as fragile and delicate as the love of his life.
so yeah, he's basically a tol HE PROTECC kind of person with his t.i.n.y sweet shy S/O (who is also a guy ~185cm tall with a perfect resting bitch face he puts on when needed, but who cares, he's Mingyu's precious baby kitten, and Mingyu would totally bite heads off if someone looked at his cupcake in a wrong way).
Adhd moods:
No thoughts head empty
MANY THOUGHTS HEAD FULL
I want to do EVERYTHING
I want to do NOTHING
I want to do SOMETHING but can't pinpoint what
Hunnngggggrrrrryyyyyyy
No eat...only hyperfocus
No pee...only hyperfocus
Bounce Off Wall
Cannot Stop Talking (Where Is Their Off Button)
No talk. Only space out.
No focus...only distraction
No distraction...only focus
I am going to clean my entire house in one go
I am never going to pick up my clothes
I am never going to put away the 2663683 random objects that are right next to me
Space out again
Ramble for paragraphs and paragraphs and expect everyone to follow what is being said
See paragraphs and paragraphs and not process a single word despite reading it overrr and overrr
Doodle or no focus. No in between
LEG BOUNCE LEG BOUNCE!!!
Typo city
Snzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
NO SLEEP ONLY INTERNET
NO SLEEP ONLY HYPERFOCUS
I am so obsessed w this I don't think I'll ever get tired of it
*gets tired of it and has the same feeling about new thing*
trying to explain adhd to an adhd parent:
me, attempt #17: mom, i think you have adhd. you know, like me?
mom: and that is?..
me: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
mom: yeah, i think so too! i really lacked attention from my father as a child- *retelling her childhood story for the n×10³th time*
me: wait, that's... not the point...
mom: *zones out and returns to scrolling social media*
me: so... that went well. she even looked at me for a moment
I'm hilarious I promise
Every Tuesday, we take time to delve into the depths of our character’s personalities, pasts, and preferences. Each prompt will feature a different theme. Feel free to participate in our current prompt, catch up on old prompts, or anticipate the prompts to come!
___
Today’s Prompt: How does this character deal with rejection?
What significant rejections has this character faced throughout their life? Examples could include: being shunned by an unrequited lover, being passed over for a position they really wanted, being abandoned by their parents, etc. How did the character respond to these rejections soon after they occurred, and how are they responding to them now (if they still are)?
What permanent effect have these rejections had on your character? Think of physical, mental, emotional, financial, relational, and spiritual possibilities. What would it take to reverse, overcome, or heal from these effects, if possible?
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Want to participate in Character Tuesday? Reblog this post with your response to the above prompt so I can feature it on my blog and we can engage in conversation about your character!
Want to suggest a future question? Feel free to DM me (@homesteadchronicles) with any comments, questions or feedback about this project! My inbox is always open.
Want to meet other authors in a welcoming community? Join our Discord server, “The Homestead”, to find a casual collection of likeminded artists of every kind. Message me for an invite code!
this prompt actually inspired me to try putting my character analysis into words in a public space for the first time ever (normally i only share those kinds of things with my friends). but since i'm not really ready to talk about OCs from my stories, i'd rather pick my current RP character instead.
so, Mingyu (it's not too wrong to use the names of my fav k-pop idols, is it? xD).
so, how would he deal with rejection?
being a half-succubus, he isn't actually used to being rejected. apart from having this unnatural demonic sex appeal and a pretty face, he's also quite a charismatic, energetic and knowledgeable person, not an evil one too considering the fact that he belongs to a witch coven which worships Lucifer. so, being desired is kind of a reality of his existence, something he doesn't really doubt and is quite okay with using for his benefit.
but if someone did have enough power to reject him... well, this lusty demonic sparkle in his soul would be all about sports, challenge and desire, and he would get quite obsessed with winning this person over without relying on his mystical appeal. look at me. is there anyone else here to notice? don't you want to watch me and me only? don't you wish to bless me with the most intimate of your sweet smiles? don't you love the way i move and breathe and meet your eye as if you were already mine? he would totally get frustrated, but not in a harmful way; if he got interested enough, he would do everything in his power to become irreplaceable while keeping his seductive image. he doesn't really take 'no' for an answer, but also he never forces himself on anyone. and he totally respects it when the person who rejected him is simply drawn to someone else, so in this case he makes sure that they both are protected from his influence (this is exactly what happened with two of his best friends who became a couple).
but there's this other part of his nature, his human/warlock part craving for a true feeling, and that's completely different. if he found himself somehow emotionally invested in someone's life and personality (which is quite a rare case since the people around him hardly ever have what it takes to impress him)... well, if a person like that rejected him, his human part would feel... relieved. because that basically leaves a chance for him to be liked (even if not sexually) not for his uncontrollable appeal, but for everything he can actually offer as a living being with a conscience and his own feelings and opinions. and even while his demonic self would be completely dissatisfied with the fact that the desired person is untouchable, he would endure this burning pain and try really hard to build a deep and meaningful relationship.
but if he got rejected again despite all of his best efforts... well, that would be totally devastating to the point of losing interest in basically anything around him. he would definitely conclude that as a human being he's just not good enough, and his chances of being loved were zero from the very start, so why would he even try to fool himself? he's just not made to be truly treasured. he's probably not even worth it. and gaining a chance just to lose it feels so much worse that not having it at all, as he used to believe.
but fortunately, this is not what happens in his story, and he ends up blissfully happy with his partner even after all the hardships they had to face. still, it was an interesting question to reflect on! thank you!
as a tutor, i normally work with adults since from my experience kids and teens are too hard to handle for someone with my personal energy level. but there's this one 13-year-old girl who's been studying with me for 2,5 years now, and even though she's a spoiled babbling disaster, i just love our communication sometimes.
Sonya, 13-year-old disaster: wanna hear some random facts?
me, exhausted after the fifth attempt to make her read a single paragraph: okay, go on
Sonya: the police won't have the right to dig out a dead body, if you plant a flower from the Red Data Book in the soil above it. no proof - no crime
me: ...
Sonya: also, if you pierce the lungs of a dead person and throw the body into a river, it won't float to the surface
me: ...
Sonya: in case you're curious - no, i haven't checked these options... yet. so, shall we continue? *actually reads on*
should i really feel so proud of teaching a future wannabe serial killer?
Different Stories Resonate with Different People
I will always reblog this.
I once spent three hours scouring the internet to find this comic again, I will not let that be repeated.
Find your own resonance :)
This is superb!!
My favourite part is the Bright Cheery guy essentially going “That was beautiful! Right over the edge! You’re fucking crazy, dude. Carry on.”
my 28-year-old adhd ass: i'm freezing cold and bored and demotivated and have 149 things to do and my cat doesn't want to play my life is a mess what's the point of my existence
mom: hey i bought you socks, here, try them on
me: thanks, later- WAIT IS THAT PIKACHU ON THEM
mom: um, maybe?..
me, immediately overexcited: PIKAPIKAAAA~
mom: ...
mom: will you ever grow up
once again, Pikachu saves the day