[mortalityplays]

the whole point of a zine is that it's cheap to produce, amateur and homemade. if you're being asked to apply to participate in a print project, it is not a zine. if the final product is being printed and bound professionally, it is not a zine. if you are being asked to enter into any kind of licensing agreement more complex than "my work can be reproduced as part of this publication" it is not a zine. nine times put of ten if the final product costs more than $5 you have left zine country. im so serious about this.

[mortalityplays]

this isn't snobby gatekeeping or imaginary semantic problems or whatever, this is an issue that has come up irl at cons and zine fairs local to me and which keeps coming up online. people who show up to trade fairs selling professionally printed $15 anthologies as 'zines' have a direct impact on the people trying to sell their $3 chapbooks at the next table over. submission based kickstarter projects that bill themselves as 'zines' exploit the connotations of amateur, punk production values to induce creators to work for less and eschew formal guarantees and protections they are entitled to.

[leog4u]

my favorite zines have all been $1 or free and printed on highlighter paper. i used to pick em up from a book store in chelsea that sold predominantly self published work, and had sections for zines. Some were about how to eat cheap in the city when most of your paycheck went to rent, others were talking about the best drag performances in town, and plenty of DIY stuff. all of them had the same unique quality: nobody but the author and their collaborators could've made this, and they wanted to make it easily accessible to the community

i kinda hate that the word that was used for extremely personal and cheap works is applied to essentially art books of your favorite anime OTP

[mortalityplays]

hi! sorry, real quick:

grab a piece of paper and fold it in half like a book

write "im indifferent to zines" on the cover

write "i've never been able to buy one" on the first page

write "and i'll never be in one" on the second page

write "just want to be a hater today" on the back

congrats you're in a zine! if you like you can photocopy it and sell it to art students, fellow haters, or anyone with a sense of humour. I'll buy one.

[theliltchirurgeon]

ive been saying this since 2015! all my illustrator friends kept submitting to them (and gettin in which i was proud of) but they... werent zines. they were like massive books with grandiose color schemes and gilded bossing. i couldnt afford them even. zines are oft free or traded and they arent about how pretty a picture you can make.

the first zine idea i found was in a book i checked out from the library (id never remember what it was. it was about cartooning i think and had a section about chibi style lol) that had a little section on taking one sheet of paper, marking it into eighths, cutting a line in the center of the page and folding it over for a quick eight pages. like this

this makes printing soooo easy too. id love to see these floating around places

[iwanttodance]

So I scrolled past this post and was thinking the same thought I always do when I see people talking about zines, which is basically ‘zines are so cool, I’ve never made one because I don’t think I have anything interesting to say in one, but I should make a zine someday if I ever have creative energy again’ and then it gets added to my ever growing mental list of things I want to do but don’t end up doing (I have spent the last several years struggling so hard with my depression that I can’t seam to create anything at all)

And then I thought, hey I have a piece of paper by my desk I should at least follow that diagram and fold it, that way I’m halfway there even if it’s blank and sits on my desk for months, and then 5 minutes later I had this:

Now I’m just holding this little thing I’ve made in my hands and I love it so much

So thank you to this post for inspiring me to make something today! Even if it’s just a simple silly little thing I’m going to treasure it

[relevant-wikipedia-articles]

Zine - Wikipedia

[conservethis]

Now I am wondering what the standards are for MARC cataloging of zines - ie what is and is not a zine, in library terms.

I also think the term should really only apply when there are multiples - ie your zine that you made only one copy of, is probably better described as an artist’s book, or maybe even a manuscript, if handwritten but otherwise without artistic intent in the design of it.

Also, as a person who has made a zine or two in her day, I totally agree with the OP here about the price point being a factor as well. Zines be not fancy and they should probably not cost more than a cup of coffee in general.

[metadata-uber-alles]

I went looking and of course people have already written articles and even a whole book about cataloging zines, bless them. Zine Libraries has a roundup of other resources. I'm bookmarking all of this in case zines every come across my desk! "Zines" is also in the Library of Congress Genre and Form Terms, so I guess that counts as a definition.

[wordsnstuff]

Hi, I was just wondering what inspired you to start your blog? Also, thanks for all of your resource lists, they've been really helpful!

What Inspired You To Start Your Blog?

I realized as a younger teenager that I didn’t like writing classes. I was one of those kids who went to writing camps and workshops and took creative writing classes because I thought it was a good excuse to write, and as I got older I recognized that I wasn’t really writing during these events. I was hearing a lot of common sense that I’d learned before. I was looking for more technical than abstract resources when it came to writing. 

I wanted to learn writing theory and craft, and I found it very sparsely in these writing programs, aside from general grammar assignments and such. Maybe they felt it was too advanced or inconsequential for a 15 year old writer. I didn’t necessarily want to grow up to be a writer, either, I just had an interest in it and I assumed a lot of other people did as well. So as I did my research, I compiled what I found and learned in order to share it with others who didn’t have the excessive free time I did. 

I used the blog as a way to hone my ability to explain complicated topics in a digestible fashion, and eventually the blog became a portfolio of my non-fiction writing. I was never motivated by the possibility that one day I’d have a lot of followers or financial gain or success in the field. Writing is not what I want to do professionally, though I do enjoy writing, so this blog was the result of my personal research and learning process being valuable to others. I’m glad I shared that knowledge and I can continue to do so. I know firsthand what it’s like to feel that certain skills or information is outside your reach because of something like money. 

I hate that there are paid courses that “teach you how to write”. If someone has a talent and they seek the knowledge to make their work the best it can be, especially when it comes to something like writing, the idea that someone can charge hundreds or thousands of dollars for that infuriates me. It costs nothing to give someone the tools they need to make the most of their writing talent. 

I have put countless hours into creating this resource, and I did it for free. Not because I wanted to feel charitable in some way, but because I would have felt unimaginably guilty if I’d charged for it. Could I justify it somehow if I really tried? Sure. But personally, I had no interest in putting a paywall in front of these resources and this advice, because it cost me nothing to make and costs me nothing to share. I do this in my own time because I enjoy it and it’s worth seeing how helpful it is to others like me. 

I have things like patreon and ko-fi because I put my time and effort into creating this and I am happy to accept any contributions from others to make that easier for me. However, that’s not why I do this and it never has been. As long as I run this blog, not a single piece of information I share will be exclusively shared with those who can pay for it. The whole reason I started this blog is because I didn’t know of another place where this extent of information existed for free, and I wanted to change that. That’s what inspired me to start wordsnstuff, and it’s what has inspired me to regularly add to it for over 4 years.

–

Masterlist | WIP Blog

If you enjoy my blog and wish for it to continue being updated frequently and for me to continue putting my energy toward answering your questions, please consider Buying Me A Coffee, or pledging your support on Patreon, where I offer early access and exclusive benefits for only $5/month.

[beesmygod]

ed zitron, a tech beat reporter, wrote an article about a recent paper that came out from goldman-sachs calling AI, in nicer terms, a grift. it is a really interesting article; hearing criticism from people who are not ignorant of the tech and have no reason to mince words is refreshing. it also brings up points and asks the right questions:

if AI is going to be a trillion dollar investment, what trillion dollar problem is it solving?

what does it mean when people say that AI will "get better"? what does that look like and how would it even be achieved? the article makes a point to debunk talking points about how all tech is misunderstood at first by pointing out that the tech it gets compared to the most, the internet and smartphones, were both created over the course of decades with roadmaps and clear goals. AI does not have this.

the american power grid straight up cannot handle the load required to run AI because it has not been meaningfully developed in decades. how are they going to overcome this hurdle (they aren't)?

people who are losing their jobs to this tech aren't being "replaced". they're just getting a taste of how little their managers care about their craft and how little they think of their consumer base. ai is not capable of replacing humans and there's no indication they ever will because...

all of these models use the same training data so now they're all giving the same wrong answers in the same voice. without massive and i mean EXPONENTIALLY MASSIVE troves of data to work with, they are pretty much as a standstill for any innovation they're imagining in their heads

[angstbotfic]

[lihikainanea]

hi lei! just dropping a line because i'm heading over to Stockholm and Berlin in August, and i'd kill for your recs around what to do, where to go, and what's overrated/can be avoided! i hope you and your pup are doing well <3

Babe that's SO great! I was just in Stockholm in June, I haven't been to Berlin since before COVID though I think so my recs won't be all that valid--but I got some good ones for Sweden!

I like to stay at the Scandic Malmen when I go, it's in Södermalm on Götgatan so super centrally located, and the breakfasts are bomb ass.

Food wise, I love Symbios, Cafe Nizza, Pelikan, and Prinsen. Symbios changes their menu weekly and I tend to prefer their lunch offerings, but they have a great outdoor space and inside is super cozy. Cafe Nizza is fantastic for dinner, it's so cute and quaint and they have this table d'hote thing with an appetizer, main dish, and dessert for not that expensive compared to others. Pelikan is classic swedish food--meatballs and herring, gravlax, akvavit. The inside space is beautiful but the acoustics can get quite loud so if you're bothered by that kind of thing, just be warned--but honestly, a lot of people go to Meatballs for the People because it's all ~viral~, but you'lwait like two hours to get in and the space is super cramped. Pelikan is better. All of these are in Södermalm.

Over in Stockholm Central there's Prinsen, which is just the epitome of perfection. Every time I go I'm waited on by the same waitress and she's been there for like, 40 years. They have gravlax and toast skagen and meatballs and WALLENBERGARE WHICH IS MY FAVOURITE. It's such a classic institution.

There's also Sturehof, if you're into seafood. It's a bit more upscale but also a Stockholm institution and so so delicious.

For quick bites, I like Grand Cafe which yes, is super touristy but honestly in the summer it's just perfect with a glass of rose and some almonds and olives on the patio while you people watch. There's also Babylon back in Södermalm and right beside the Scandic Malmen--they've changed a lot over the years, and for the better. The vibe used to be SUPER hipster and the wait staff was, quite frankly, mean AF. I never knew what to do. Sometimes I would just go and sit at a table and they'd get all huffy and tell me I should have waited. Sometimes I waited at the counter and they got all huffy and told me to just go sit down. But they're better now, and a little nicer :-P There's also Vau de Ville in the square which is so great for light munchies and people watching.

For a fika, I love Cafe Pascal--their coffee is excellent, and so are their pastries. ANd don't forget to ask for you påtar! Your second cup. Every cafe in Sweden, when you pay for a coffee, you automatically get a free refill. Åso Bageri is also great, but not as nice of an ambiance or vibe--but excellent sweets as well.

Cocktail wise, I'm like, a big people watcher. I love the little bowls of marcona almonds and olives and a cold drink and I could just sit on a busy street for hours. There's this resto called The Hills (right beside my MOST FAVOURITE home design store ever--Granit) that's great for that, and it's steps away from the Scandic Malmen. Pharmarium in Gamla Stan, the old town, is wicked as well. At night, head up to Mosebacketerrassen for the best view in all of Stockholm and the most mediocre nachos you've ever had that are also just so damn good for some reason.

Most of all, just have fun and soak it all in--it's by far my most favourite city and I want to hear ALL about your trip when you're back!

[leviathan-supersystem]

[princessgabsy]

insane timing for this post

[leviathan-supersystem]

why's that.

[appalachiananarchist]

I have an end-of-life patient to whom I spoke today. She burst out laughing and said, "It was all such fun. I just had so much fun." I wish this for everyone. I wish that we each would meet death laughing, with little regret and even less fear.

[appalachiananarchist]

It makes me smile every time I see someone reblog this post with commentary about how it made them happy or changed how they look at life and death. This little old lady had no idea how much warmth and comfort she brought to thousands.

[crushbskn]

I don't believe in a fictional couple if they didn't share, before getting together, those moments:

sexual tension (unless they're ace) + bonus point if they realize it and it surprises them

vulnerability from both of them, they gotta have witnessed the other comforting them, and being at their lowest and letting the other see it, be a part of it

rage/intense negative emotion, not necessarily to eo, actually it's better if it's not, just seeing the other being feral, whether it is part of their character or uncharacteristic of them, it's important either way

caring, it feels like it would go without saying but bc it seems so obvious so many ppl skip it! NO! It's the most important one, the only one you cannot have too many of. Show me they care, constantly. They should be biased to eo all the time, whether they know it or not, and always include the well-being of the other as part of their equation when they make decisions (not saying they have to follow it, every story have reasons not to, but it has to be on their mind at the very least).

I probably have many more but those are the top of my list right now.

[netscapenavigator-official]

You should be starting a recipe book. I don't give a shit if you're only 20-years-old. The modern web is rotting away bit by bit before our very eyes. You have no idea when that indie mom blog is going down or when Pinterest will remove that recipe. Copy it down in a notebook, physically or digitally. Save it somewhere only you can remove it. Trust me, looking for a recipe only to find out it's been wiped off the internet is so fucking sad. I've learned my lesson one too many times.

[sunsbleeding]

I want to wake up, I want to sit in the light by the open window, I want toast and eggs, I want to talk to my friends about nothing for at least a few hours, I want to walk until me feet are sore and my eyes are heavy, I want to eat dinner in good company, I want to say good evening and goodnight to the moon on my way home, and I want this life to continue

[tinyreviews]

“Complaining about writing being hard is the same as complaining about the weights at the gym being heavy. The reason that the weights make you stronger is because they weigh something. And the reason the writing improves your ideas and the quality of your thoughts is because it requires you to think hard.”

A great counterpoint to only writing when inspiration strikes. And a case for showing up and doing the bare minimum. Just like gym I guess.

The quality of writing will never improve if one only writes when one feels like it.

[prophetic-writer]

"How do you write such realistic dialogue-" I TALK TO MYSELF. I TALK TO MYSELF AND I PRETEND I AM THE ONE SAYING THE LINE. LIKE SANITY IS SLOWLY SLIPPING FROM BETWEEN MY FINGERS WITH EVERY MEASLY WORD THEY TYPE OUT. THAT IS HOW.

[breakaway71]

Real talk though. Once a fic is drafted, I read the dialogue back to myself twice, once out loud to check for stiltedness or awkward dialogue in general, and once imagining the actual characters saying the words to check for characterization. If the words don’t sound right in their voices, I rewrite the dialogue until it does. It is the ONLY part of the writing process I generally bother with rewrites for, and it’s not always perfect, but realistic dialogue is pretty much the most important part of a fic in my opinion.

It’s also a good check on myself to make sure a character hasn’t gotten away from me and slipped into someone else entirely. Especially important as a multifandom writer.

[scyllaya]

Exactly. Sometimes, you just cannot tell whether a sentence flows like real speech until you say it out loud. Especially, if it is not a calm talking scene.

These people are shouting at each other while in a car chase? They won't be monologing with big words, the dialogue will get choppier. One is tired or injured, how does the sentence sound while you take deep panting breaths and you pause a lot? Which words are hard to say if you mumble, where will you trail off?

This person is angry, they will not be saying perfect sentences and even if they are the type of person who does, you need to feel the anger dripping from those words. How does the sentence sound when you try to force them through your lips because you want to clench your teeth so bad.

Anyway, don't be afraid to be your own reference. An artist might use a mirror to paint a certain emotion or expression in a picture, a writer can do the same by doing a bit of acting in front of their keyboard.

[anexperimentallife]

See also, "We're in a drought; conserve water!" Meanwhile, bottled water companies and golf courses for rich folk empty the aquifers.

[punkitt-is-here]

"It took me TWO years to finish this sketch book!" Well that's cuz you're not fuckin sketching. Those are fully painted pieces dawg that's a renderedbook. I've gone through four sketchbooks in my off time this year alone I just draw stupid faces and shit for fun. pussy up like the rest of us and start drawing stick figures with guns

[justasillynerd]

I can't express how damaging this has been to young artists.

Of the many things I struggled to explain to my students "Your sketch book is mainly for practicing techniques, practicing new things, NOTES, and dumb doodles that come to your mind that can inspire you later or help lead you to a good idea. It is NOT where you draw you final pieces. Please kill that darling," is pretty high on the list.

I legit started calling it a "first draft" book to activate prior knowledge from English because influences have destroyed the concept of sketchbooks.

[ayeforscotland]

The onion absolutely skewering AI tech bros.

[anexperimentallife]

[homunculus-argument]

The thing about ADHD is that the "lack of reward chemicals in your brain" doesn't just mean that you don't want to do any tasks that don't feel particularly yummy :(, it means that your brain will look at chores and tasks that need to be done like "doing this would be painful and tedious for absolutely nothing to gain from it, Do Not Do That." The same thing that your brain tells you about everything else that would feel really bad and hurt the entire time that you're dying. The part of your brain that stops you from doing the thing is the same part that keeps you from shoving your arm into a wood chipper.

With unmedicated, unmanaged ADHD, "I have to do this assignment or I fail and my life will be ruined and I die" feels like a SAW trap, every single time.

[incandescent-creativity]

I don’t post writing tips myself very much anymore, but a very easy manuscript polishing tip is to do a search for the -ness suffix, and then replace the word with a more appropriate noun.

Quickness? Switch it to “speed.”

Tenseness? Try “tension.”

Easiness? I think you mean “ease.”

Even words like sadness can sometimes be traded for something more precise. Like what kind of sadness? Would disappointment be better? Melancholy? Even just “emotion,” and then add in another detail that helps the reader understand they’re sad?