Just Me @randomafterthought - Tumblr Blog

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sternfleck

Thoughts and prayers to my European mutuals suffering under their omega heat

ralfmaximus

do NOT google "omega heat"

chocomiking

prayers for the people googling "omega heat" for the first time

tlbodine

For the last goddamn time...

"Kill your darlings" means "if something is holding you back, get rid of it, even if it sounds pretty."

That's it! That's all it means! It means if you're stuck and stalled out on your story and you could fix the whole block by removing something but you're avoiding removing that thing because it's good, you remove that thing. That's the darling.

It does NOT mean

That you have to get rid of your self-indulgent writing

That you should delete something just because you like it (?wtf?)

That you need to kill off characters (??? what)

That you have to pare your story down to the absolute bare bones

That you have to delete anything whatsoever if you don't want to

The POINT is that you STOP FEELING GUILTY for throwing out good writing that isn't SERVING THE STORY.

The POINT is that you don't get so HUNG UP on the details that you lose sight of the BIG PICTURE.

Good grief....

prof-grace-aspen

Also, you don't have to like, delete it from existence. Keep a second document full of the Darlings. You never know when you'll need it later.

earhartsease

yes, your killed darlings are ripe for rebirth

eldritchsandwich

compost your darlings

recycle your darlings

Darlings who don't fit this narrative go into the use later folder

primarybufferpanel

Personally I do feel that if you are particularly fond of a specific unusual word (completely random example, 'onyx') you should give yourself a tight wordbudget for using that word in a figurative manner

mediasideblog

robotslenderman

via @lethalwizard

I have it on good authority from multiple Brits that they find Australian winters, which rarely dip below freezing, worse than winters in the UK.

I have also spoken to Australians who regularly face 40+ summers at home that British summers are worse. Outdoors it's fine, they say, but sooner or later you have to go inside to sleep and the problem is, their insulation won't let the heat back out...

randomafterthought

This is a very strong point and I'd like to apologize for my own eye-rolling behavior at the dramatics about heat. I never even paused to consider that other places wouldn't have the infrastructure to handle it... same thing in the reverse, for all the places that shut down for an inch of snow, which isn't much up here in the American midwest, but would understandably be nerve wracking in the south where snow wouldn't normally be a concern, so you'd be left unprepared.

quasi-normalcy

I've reached the point where cynicism is a major turn-off for me. You're not smarter than idealists, and you're not helping.

quasi-normalcy

Funny that the stereotypical cynic is an idealist who aged out of it. In my experience, the reverse is true. I was an extreme cynic as a teenager and then I noticed how profoundly limiting it was, and also that "cynics are cool and smart" was a message that was being constantly reinforced by corporate media for some reason.

quasi-normalcy

#yes! cynicism reads as very juvenile to me#and yes prev often stemming from teen pain

Yeah, like I see black-pilled people on here and my default reaction isn't "oh, these must be world-weary old warriors who've lost their faith in humanity", it's "these people are in their 20s and need a hobby"

quasi-normalcy

I also think that the present era has proven that authoritarian leaders don't actually want a population of wide-eyed idealists, they want a population of jaded assholes who are convinced that everyone is lying, any resistance is either a scam or doomed to failure, and nothing can ever get better.

And that they're somehow better than everyone else for being aware of the scam.

livelaughwriteit

Advice on Endings

I hate ending my stories. I will drag a story on long after it should have ended even though I know it should be done with. If anyone else struggles as well, here is a list of the different types of endings that are common.

Full Circle – Mirror the beginning of the story, show how the tone has shifted from start to end

Bittersweet – Character wins at the cost of something else, creates emotional depth

Emotional resolution – Focuses more on the growth of the characters than the events of the story

Twist – reveal something that changes the readers perspective or understanding

Open – doesn’t answer all the questions or solve all the conflicts of the story, leaving room for interpretation

Quiet – Subtle, reflective ending rather than a dramatic event

Sacrifice – The character has to give something up to achieve a greater goal

Hopeful – Despite the events of the story, there is a distinct sense that everything will be okay

Consequence – Shows how the characters choices throughout the story impact the world or their relationship

Character choice – centers on a decision that defines who the character has become through the story

wordfather

i love it when im rereading a story and i find these little breadcrumbs of foreshadowing the author left. everytime im like “ohoho!!!! i wouldve gotten that before if i had the big picture!!! and now i do!!! delightful!!!” and idk i just love being able to read the same story twice but have two different experiences. i like when a story has so many layers that it can keep you entertained for a long time as you unravel all its secret nooks and crannies. thats a good story.

wordfather

@blueforthevirus

you just summed up my post in one meme and im in love with you for it

rudavoidish

Y'all if you're American please email your politicians and senators against the parents decide act. I'm fucking begging because we're reaching a tipping point.

hetrosjistin

Quick and easy link to both find your congressmen/women and giving you a quick and easy way to copy / paste the message into it. You want to oppose. It's an act that will demand that all major OS makers integrate a direct forced age verification control into all OS.

rudavoidish

I received a comment on this that I figured would be very helpful- it's a template for communicating with your representatives. Be sure to use it for reference

Dear Representative [Name],

I am writing to express my strong opposition to H.R. 8250 (The "Parents Decide Act"). As your constituent and a concerned citizen, I believe this bill introduces unprecedented risks to digital privacy and security.

Specifically, I am alarmed by:

SEC. 2(a)(1)(B): Requiring age verification to even use an operating system creates a mandatory "hardware lockout" that ends anonymous computing and forces users to hand over sensitive identification data to major corporations just to power on their devices.

SEC. 2(a)(3): Mandating that OS providers create a system for all app developers to access verification data is a massive security vulnerability. This effectively creates a centralized API of user identities accessible to thousands of third-party developers, many of whom may lack adequate data protection.

This bill does not protect children; it creates a centralized surveillance infrastructure at the OS level. I urge you to protect the privacy of your constituents and vote NO on H.R. 8250.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Zip Code]

willowtree1527

This is a hell that us down under in Australia are already living in, and it’s not even effective at what it claims to do in protecting children.

Given that, in the wake of this mandatory identification policy, my country seems to be moving to hand over its citizens biometric data, like fingerprints, Face ID files, and identification documents, over to the USA and to ICE to maintain the visa free travel (ESTA) we have, I strongly urge any US resident to send these emails, or make calls.

But if you can’t do that, the most powerful thing you can do is spread the word. Tell your friends, family, coworkers, anyone who can help.

My reach will likely be small, and so I don’t know if this will mean very much in the grand scheme of things, but I cannot stand to see this tracking happen to another population as it did to mine.

And if you think it won’t affect you, it will. All anonymity goes out the window when your accounts can be linked via your personal ID

I wish you all luck in preventing this act from going through.

mossdftba

I called my representative and left a voice message!

humming-fly

Here’s the 5calls script to make it easy! https://5calls.org/issue/age-verification-internet-privacy/

teaboot

How people get nicknames:

Recipient of a third-degree burn in front of witnesses. IE, "I won't take that shit from a man dressed like a ghostbuster"= "Gostbuster" or "Buster"

A distinctive personal feature or quirk. IE, "Have you noticed how that new guy is always eating bell peppers?" = "Peppers", or "That chick has a massive forehead" = "Forehead".

An embarrassing thing you said or did. IE, "Did you seriously call Dale "Dad"?" = "Junior", "Baby boy", "Sport"

A game of name-mutation telephone. IE, "Donny Clyde" = "Bonnie 'n' Clyde" = "Bonnie" = "Bon-bon".

Irony. IE, calling a tall person "short stack" or a particularly dour person "sunshine".

A 'wrong place wrong time' one-off incident. IE, "He spilled oil on his pants and had to borrow a pair that were way too big and Jim saw him with the waistband pulled up to his nipples and called him 'Parachute'"

A batman-style origin story but not in a cool way: "One time she hit a deer with the company car and when she called the boss to tell her she was crying so hard we thought she was dying" = "Bambi"

The incredibly rare 'admiration' nickname, bourne only once a millennia under the light of the blood moon: "We saw him lift a truck once so now we call him 'iron man'"

+ How Nicknames Stick:

Your fate is determined by The Counsel

You hate it

It's accurate

notsomeoneyouknow

This reminds me of an article about how callsigns in movies are inaccurate because they're too cool. Generally your callsign in the military is like "Bepis" because you once pronounced "Pepsi" wrong.

teaboot

^^^

randomafterthought

Keeping for... writing purposes 👀 Totally not to menace my housemates! 😇

promptcalender

Romance with a Class Difference

“Does your mother know you hang around these parts of town?” “Oh, after I told her I was on my way to see her future in-law, she stopped asking questions and began making flower arrangements.”

“You can't just buy me everything I mention in conversation!” “Why not? I have the money.” “Great for you. Doesn't mean I want you to waste it on stuff I don't need.”

“Why don't you just buy a new one?” “Do you know how ridiculous you sound? I don't have that kind of cash laying about.”

“How do you know I'm not just using you for your money?” “Oh, that's alright. After all, I'm just using you for your looks.” “Idiot.” “You started it, my dear.”

“Why did you storm out?” “I felt like an idiot with all your friends looking down on me!”

“You don't get it. People like you don't end up with people like me.” “The ring in my pocket begs to differ.”

“If anyone sees me here-” “Nothing will happen, because you are with me.”

[Prompt Calender: May 20th, National Be A Millionaire Day]

writersisland

Fluffy Humor

“Am I your favorite?” “Is the sun warm?”

“Yeah, I need my alone time, but I hope you know you don’t count as a person to me.” “That’s… sweet?”

“Don’t be a stranger.” “You’re not that lucky.”

“I hope I get to annoy you in every universe.” “And I hope I’m annoyed by you in every universe.”

“Me or my cat?” “Don’t do this to me.”

“You’re my favorite person ever.” “That’s not a very high bar. You barely tolerate most people.”

“You’re such an odd creature.” “I… thank you?”

personsonable-deactivated201908

me holding a gun to a mushroom: tell me the name of god you fungal piece of shit

mushroom: can you feel your heart burning? can you feel the struggle within? the fear within me is beyond anything your soul can make. you cannot kill me in a way that matters

me cocking the gun, tears streaming down my face: I’M NOT FUCKING SCARED OF YOU

miaislying

Hey OP? What the FUCK does this mean?

personsonable-deactivated201908

decay exists as an extant form of life

miaislying

That’s a terrifying answer, have a nice day

haystarlight

THE ORIGINAL?!?!!!!!!!!;!!!!!!!!???

shower-thoughts-last-responder

On my dash!??!

Please hold

helenvaughans

itsmistybitch-deactivated202605

These posts are sisters

dustsculptures

“no one’s ever mad at me unless they tell me so” is the best assumption i’ve ever made

dustsculptures

sorry for tagwatching but you still have to act like they aren’t mad at you imo! bc it’s the mad person’s duty to make it known if they want anything changed. it is never anyone’s duty to be a mind reader.

nooblord9001

If I am mad at someone and am remaining Quiet about it, it is because I Do Not Want them to know that I’m mad.

Please respect my boundaries and assume that I am Not mad.

If you’re worried that I am mad, consider the possibility that I am mad for reasons I know are stupid and do not want to make it your problem.

blazing-butterfly-inactive

Ohhh that last addition opens my eyes in a big way, thank you.

reveriewings

Reblog with a description of your favorite story trope/tropes and why they are your favorite :)

I'll start. One of my favorite tropes is found family, specifically father and daughter types. I also love a good, scary male character who is gruff and growly on the outside and a big old softie on the inside.

Your turn!

randomafterthought

One of my favorites I'm not actually sure if there's a name for it, or if it's even considered a trope, but basically it's when someone with the reputation of being the cute and/or sweet one reveals themselves to be a complete badass. Specifically, they reveal that they are multi-talented geniuses with a spiteful/mischievous streak.

People believe this character to be completely unassuming, until they cross a line they can't uncross and before they know it, the unassuming sweetie-pie has had them fired from their job, blacklisted from their social groups, and disowned by their family. All with a manila envelope sent to the relevant parties and maybe the police for good measure. They may be cute and cuddly, but get on their bad side and you'll quickly discover that you are only alive because they will it so and if they had the desire, they'd take over the world with ease, so thank [insert higher being here] that they are on your side / side of goodness and light or whatever.

justalitlecreacher

The trope where a character overhears something out of context and assumes the worst is usually annoying and bad but I really think it works well in Shrek

We, the audience, know that Fiona is talking about herself but, regardless, she’s calling herself these terrible things because she is an ogre. If Fiona is these things because she is is an ogre what does that make Shrek?

If Fiona says no one could love her because she is an ogre, she is saying that Shrek is also unloveable whether she wants to or not.

Imo the scene is a really good portrayal of how when you talk poorly of yourself or others for having a trait, you’re also talking about every other person who shares that trait; even if you love them or think what you’re saying doesn’t apply to them.

informationsorter

Not going to lie, I saw the word “Shrek” and never expected this to be a deep post.

mosswall

On the being deep about Shrek website?

michaelblume

It's got layers.

seeingteacupsindragons

Shrek is many things, but I don't think I've ever heard a single person say it's poorly written or poorly executed. It is very, very, very skillfully made to be what it is, which is a strange thing, but why are we acting like its techniques are not effective?

and-fishing-equipment

in 2026 DO NOT ask yourself whether your art is GOOD

instead ask:

is it SINCERE

was it CATHARTIC

was it FUN TO MAKE

is it MADE BY ME

and don't forget to stay silly

dcxdpdabbles

Danny: Give- give me all your valuables!

Jason: What?

Danny: Give me all your valuables! Everything in your pocket!

Jason: Are you...mugging me?

Danny: Yes and if you don't I'll be force to shoot you!

Jason: Kid, is that a homemade gun? Did you superglue it together from trash?

Danny: So what if it is and if I did use the trash?! This is one of the most powerful ray guns to ever grace your pathetic world!

Jason: How old are you?

Danny: Fifteen!

Jason: You're not even at waist high.

Danny: I was de-aged when sent through a portal at the Time God's tower! I may look seven but I'm one year away from being legally allowed to sign up for driver's ed!

Jason: *Laughs* yeah? And you made a ray gun from a broken flashlight?

Danny: You think this is funny? Ill shoot you! I will!

Jason: *Holding out his arms* Go ahead, I love to see what your inventions does.

Danny: *Pulls trigger*

Jason: *Being slammed into the wall by pure light and temporarily blinded* WHAT THE HELL !

Danny: I AM A FENTON! FEAR US! *loots his body fallen body* WE'RE UNSTOPPABLE!

Jason: Kid, Wait! Don't go! How did you make light solid enough to feel like i got hit with firefighter hose!? KID!?

Danny: *Running down the alley way cackling*

Danny: You'll never catch me ALIVE!

megasweetbones

Jason went from not believing this kid to 100% believing him. Also Jason is realizing he's just like his own father. Once the kid attacked him, Jason knew he was adopting that feral child. Is he going to tell Bruce that? No.

He is definitely going to need to find a safe house that is good for kids though.

pyroeater

(I have an idea)

Danny after spending all his hard earned(stolen) money at a Batburger.

D:that was good, but nasty burger is still better. Going to have to get more money though.

Joker: I can give you money, you just have to play a game with me.

D: NOPE! (shoots the joker with his light cannon, causing him to fly down the street, over the docks, skips across the harbor, and gets wrapped around a tree.)

D: What the... I thought I had it a 5%. (Looks at a poorly drawn dial gauge) where did that 200% come from?

Lady Gotham: (holding a marker, looking at the gun that shouldn't have been able to do that, even ask a well deserved revenge prank against the joker. Looks at the kid holding the gun.) Oh, your from the realms. Whoops.