Thequasarwinds - TheQuasarWinds - Tumblr Blog

OKAY NOW YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO DRAW TELEMACHUS WITH HIS BESTFRIEND

OR BROTHER

OR BOTH

(Sorry Anna I’m tagging you again since I just can’t help but show off my siblings art but ALSO I can’t help but annoy you with my dumb crossovers @bleedinghearthypocrit)

platonic cuddling

GSJDHDHDHDJHDHDD IVE BEEN WANTING TO SHARE MY STUPID ASS CROSSOVER AUS FOR SOOO LONG HRJFHRHR I JUST DONT HAVE THE COURAGE DHDJDJ SO IMA POST THIS AND JUST TELL THE EPIC THE MUSICAL FANS THAT THE ONE ON THE LEFT IS POLITES AND THEN NOT TELL WHO THE OTHER CHARACTER IS FOR THE OTHER FANS SINCE IM A COWARD

The symbolism of flowers

Flowers have a long history of symbolism that you can incorporate into your writing to give subtext.

Symbolism varies between cultures and customs, and these particular examples come from Victorian Era Britain. You'll find examples of this symbolism in many well-known novels of the era!

Amaryllis: Pride

Black-eyed Susan: Justice

Bluebell: Humility

Calla Lily: Beauty

Pink Camellia: Longing

Carnations: Female love

Yellow Carnation: Rejection

Clematis: Mental beauty

Columbine: Foolishness

Cyclamen: Resignation

Daffodil: Unrivalled love

Daisy: Innocence, loyalty

Forget-me-not: True love

Gardenia: Secret love

Geranium: Folly, stupidity

Gladiolus: Integrity, strength

Hibiscus: Delicate beauty

Honeysuckle: Bonds of love

Blue Hyacinth: Constancy

Hydrangea: Frigid, heartless

Iris: Faith, trust, wisdom

White Jasmine: Amiability

Lavender: Distrust

Lilac: Joy of youth

White Lily: Purity

Orange Lily: Hatred

Tiger Lily: Wealth, pride

Lily-of-the-valley: Sweetness, humility

Lotus: Enlightenment, rebirth

Magnolia: Nobility

Marigold: Grief, jealousy

Morning Glory: Affection

Nasturtium: Patriotism, conquest

Pansy: Thoughtfulness

Peony: Bashfulness, shame

Poppy: Consolation

Red Rose: Love

Yellow Rose: Jealously, infidelity

Snapdragon: Deception, grace

Sunflower: Adoration

Sweet Willian: Gallantry

Red Tulip: Passion

Violet: Watchfulness, modesty

Yarrow: Everlasting love

Zinnia: Absent, affection

Things That May Be Causing Your Writer's Block- and How to Beat Them

I don't like the term 'Writer's Block' - not because it isn't real, but because the term is so vague that it's useless. Hundreds of issues all get lumped together under this one umbrella, making writer's block seem like this all-powerful boogeyman that's impossible to beat. Worse yet, it leaves people giving and receiving advice that is completely ineffective because people often don't realize they're talking about entirely different issues.

In my experience, the key to beating writer's block is figuring out what the block even is, so I put together a list of Actual Reasons why you may be struggling to write:

(note that any case of writer's block is usually a mix of two or more)

Perfectionism (most common)

What it looks like:

You write one sentence and spend the next hour googling "synonyms for ___"

Write. Erase. Write. Rewrite. Erase.

Should I even start writing this scene when I haven't figured out this one specific detail yet?

I hate everything I write

Cringing while writing

My first draft must be perfect, or else I'm a terrible writer

Things that can help:

Give yourself permission to suck

Keep in mind that nothing you write is going to be perfect, especially your first draft

Think of writing your first/early drafts not as writing, but sketching out a loose foundation to build upon later

People write multiple drafts for a reason: write now, edit later

Stop googling synonyms and save that for editing

Write with a pen to reduce temptation to erase

Embrace leaving blank spaces in your writing when you can't think of the right word, name, or detail

It's okay if your writing sucks. We all suck at some point. Embrace the growth mindset, and focus on getting words on a page

Lack of inspiration (easiest to fix)

What it looks like:

Head empty, no ideas

What do I even write about???

I don't have a plot, I just have an image

Want to write but no story to write

Things that can help:

Google writing prompts

If writing prompts aren't your thing, instead try thinking about what kind of tropes/genres/story elements you would like to try out

Instead of thinking about the story you would like to write, think about the story you would like to read, and write that

It's okay if you don't have a fully fleshed out story idea. Even if it's just an image or a line of dialogue, it's okay to write that. A story may or may not come out of it, but at least you got the creative juices flowing

Stop writing. Step away from your desk and let yourself naturally get inspired. Go for a walk, read a book, travel, play video games, research history, etc. Don't force ideas, but do open up your mind to them

If you're like me, world-building may come more naturally than plotting. Design the world first and let the story come later

Boredom/Understimulation (lost the flow)

What it looks like:

I know I should be writing but uugggghhhh I just can'tttttt

Writing words feels like pulling teeth

I started writing, but then I got bored/distracted

I enjoy the idea of writing, but the actual process makes me want to throw my laptop out the window

Things that can help:

Introduce stimulation: snacks, beverages, gum, music such as lo-fi, blankets, decorate your writing space, get a clickity-clackity keyboard, etc.

Add variety: write in a new location, try a new idea/different story for a day or so, switch up how you write (pen and paper vs. computer) or try voice recording or speech-to-text

Gamify writing: create an arbitrary challenge, such as trying to see how many words you can write in a set time and try to beat your high score

Find a writing buddy or join a writer's group

Give yourself a reward for every writing milestone, even if it's just writing a paragraph

Ask yourself whether this project you're working on is something you really want to be doing, and be honest with your answer

Intimidation/Procrastination (often related to perfectionism, but not always)

What it looks like:

I was feeling really motivated to write, but then I opened my laptop

I don't even know where to start

I love writing, but I can never seem to get started

I'll write tomorrow. I mean next week. Next month? Next month, I swear (doesn't write next month)

Can't find the time or energy

Unreasonable expectations (I should be able to write 10,000 words a day, right????)

Feeling discouraged and wondering why I'm even trying

Things that can help:

Follow the 2 min rule (or the 1 paragraph rule, which works better for me): whenever you sit down to write, tell yourself that you are only going to write for 2 minutes. If you feel like continuing once the 2 mins are up, go for it! Otherwise, stop. Force yourself to start but DO NOT force yourself to continue unless you feel like it. The more often you do this, the easier it will be to get started

Make getting started as easy as possible (i.e. minimize barriers: if getting up to get a notebook is stopping you from getting started, then write in the notes app of your phone)

Commit to a routine that will work for you. Baby steps are important here. Go with something that feels reasonable: every day, every other day, once a week, twice a week, and use cues to help you remember to start. If you chose a set time to write, just make sure that it's a time that feels natural to you- i.e. don't force yourself to writing at 9am every morning if you're not a morning person

Find a friend or a writing buddy you can trust and talk it out or share a piece of work you're proud of. Sometimes we just get a bit bogged down by criticism- either internal or external- and need a few words of encouragement

The Problem's Not You, It's Your Story (or Outline (or Process))

What it looks like:

I have no problems writing other scenes, it's just this scene

I started writing, but now I have no idea where I'm going

I don't think I'm doing this right

What's an outline?

Drowning in documents

This. Doesn't. Make. Sense. How do I get from this plot point to this one?!?!?! (this ColeyDoesThings quote lives in my head rent free cause BOY have I been there)

Things That Can Help:

Go back to the drawing board. Really try to get at the root of why a scene or story isn't working

A part of growing as a writer is learning when to kill your darlings. Sometimes you're trying to force an idea or scene that just doesn't work and you need to let it go

If you don't have an outline, write one

If you have an outline and it isn't working, rewrite it, or look up different ways to structure it

You may be trying to write as a pantser when you're really a plotter or vice versa. Experiment with different writing processes and see what feels most natural

Study story structures, starting with the three act structure. Even if you don't use them, you should know them

Check out Ellen Brock on YouTube. She's a professional novel editor who has a lot of advice on writing strategies for different types of writers

Also check out Savage Books on YouTube (another professional story editor) for advice on story structure and dialogue. Seriously, I cannot recommend this guy enough

Executive Dysfunction, Usually From ADHD/Autism

What it looks like:

Everything in boredom/understimulation

Everything in intimidation/procrastination

You have been diagnosed with and/or have symptoms of ADHD/Autism

Things that can help:

If you haven't already, seek a diagnosis or professional treatment

Hire an ADHD coach or other specialist that can help you work with your brain (I use Shimmer; feel free to DM me for a referral)

Seek out neurodiverse communities for advice and support

Try body doubling! There's lot's of free online body doubling websites out there for you to try. If social anxiety is a barrier, start out with writing streams such as katecavanaughwrites on Twitch

Be aware of any sensory barriers that may be getting in the way of you writing (such as an uncomfortable desk chair, harsh lighting, bad sounds)

And Lastly, Burnout, Depression, or Other Mental Illness

What it looks like:

You have symptoms of burnout or depression

Struggling with all things, not just writing

It's more than a lack of inspiration- the spark is just dead

Things that can help:

Forget writing for now. Focus on healing first.

Seek professional help

If you feel like it, use writing as a way to explore your feelings. It can take the form of journaling, poetry, an abstract reflection of your thoughts, narrative essays, or exploring what you're feeling through your fictional characters. The last two helped me rediscover my love of writing after I thought years of depression had killed it for good. Just don't force yourself to do so, and stop if it takes you to a darker place instead of feeling cathartic

CHARLIE WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS??? /POs WHAT HUH?? THERES NO WAY YOU JUST CASUALLY DROPPED THE MOST GORGEOUS PEICE OF ART TO US??? WHY IS THE LIGHTING SO DAMN GOOD?? LIKE THE DETAIL ON THE WATER, THE CLOUDS?? THE AMBIENT SHADING IN ODY?? THE DETAILS ON THE SAND??

GODS THIS IS SO ATMOSPHERIC?? LIKE I CAN JUST FUCKIN FEEL IT YOU KNOW?? I JUST CANT GET OVER THE LIGHTING IT REALLY MAKES ODY FEEL LIKE A SOLID THING BUT ALSO A SOLID THING IN A REALL ENVIRONMENT

ALSO CAN WE TALK ABOU ODY’S EXPRESSION??? HOW HIS TEARS ARE DRAWN??? THE DESPAIR HOPELESSNESS IN HIS EYES??

YOU DREW MY DESIGN SO WELLLL GRRRR SHJSSJS I ADORE HOW YOU DREW HIS FUR AND LEGSSSS

GRRRHDJDHDJDUD WORDS CAN NOT EXPRESS HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS

@bleedinghearthypocrit (sorry tagging you bc your an EPIC fan and also bc I really really want to show you my lovely brother’s art!)

Odysseus - Gift Art for @seasonalmoss @thequasarwinds !!

Design is theirs ! I love Ody

Reblog this if you would not only accept, but welcome fan art, moodboards, etc. of your fics

All of these used to be so common for people to show their appreciation of different fics and authors, and I think it’s a shame people don’t do it anymore. I love seeing fan work for my fics!!

Resources for Writing Sensitive Topics

As always, when writing about sensitive topics/injuries/illnesses, we encourage everyone to research and tag works appropriately. This is to ensure that the whump community can remain a safe space for everyone, as well as assist writers in creating well-informed works that avoid offending people and stereotyping, romanticising, or sensationalising hard topics.

We have also added some additional links that may be useful when creating characters.

Below are some links to resources we and others found useful - we'd like to thank the wonderful members of our community for helping us with finding great resources.

Blogs/Tumblr Posts:

@cripplecharacters - A whole blog dedicated to helping people write disabled characters.

^ A Guide to Writing Disabled Characters

@writingwithcolor - A whole blog dedicated to writing and resources centered on racial, ethnic and religious diversity.

^ Stereotypes and Tropes Navigation

@creatingblackcharacters - Creating Black Characters *with intent!

Resources for Writing Injuries (Tumblr Masterpost)

Resources for Writing Sketchy Topics (Tumblr Masterpost - please note that a couple of links are broken due to the post being 7 years old, but many are still working!)

A guide to designing, drawing or writing characters who use mobility aids (Tumblr post)

Writing A Blind or Visually Impaired Character (Tumblr Post)

Independent Websites

Avoiding Stereotypes in Fiction: Characters with Mental Health Issues (WritersHelpingWriters)

How Do I Depict a Disabled Character Respectfully? (Fay Onyx, Mythcreants blog)

Respectfully Depicting a Character Adapting to a Disability (Fay Onyx, Mythcreants blog)

Writing Deaf Characters (T. Frohock, author.)

How to Write Deaf or Hard of Hearing Characters (Melanie Ashford, Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association)

How to Write a Blind or Vision Impaired Character (AllWriteAlright)

If anyone has any additional sources, feel free to share them in the reblogs/replies!

POST CONTRIBUTERS - Thank you!

@psychologeek - Thank you for sharing some of the primary resources with us, it helped us a great deal :)

@tabletop-whump

My very first impressions on Far Cry 6.

First ever recorded snowball fight (1897)

Happy Holidays And Merry Christmas To All!

Even if you don’t like kids, don’t want kids, and will never have them, you as an adult member of a semi-functioning society should want kids to be safe from harm in general. that was you once

Alex insta live 10/11/24- short recap cause the live was not that long

Next tmc side video will be set in 1989

Volume 6 will be set in 2009- 2011 around that

Alex used snap chat to make one of the early Mandela catalogue scenes

Alex is not coming back to twitter or making a discord server again (which is good cause both of those sites can be stinky toxic cest pools of bull shit and can overall be mentally exhausting)

We will find out why mark had a gun in the first place soon. Most likely going to be only a mention of the character so I wouldn’t get ur hopes up on mark coming back.

(This will be a silly little tmc update bootleg walten files news post series unless she stops going live on instagram.) also thanks for getting my first Alex Kister insta live recap post to the top of the hash tag so now u will see Kister in a bull head when ever u scroll up, I appreciate it🙏💖

friends

PREACH OML SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK

however though, I don’t quite agree with your statement that “both of them are morally grey”

Primarily because a lot of what Mono does that could be considered morally darker was out of self defense (this applies to Six as well! But you already talked enough about Six!) Killing the doctor, killing the porcelain children, killing the hunter, those were all things that had to be done or the two kids would’ve died. It’s also important to remember that those entities aren’t really people, not anymore at least. They’re basically creatures- monsters, designed to attack and be hostile towards any kid they come in contact with. I don’t really think their deaths should be put on the same moral high ground as the death of a kid. And I don’t think it’d be fair to say those two are morally grey just for trying to defend themselves. Mono has consistently been portrayed as helpful and kind. He went out of his way to free Six from the hunter, he went through the school to save Six from the porcelain children, and greeted her rather gently when she woke up. And ofc he freed Six from her corrupted form in the signal tower. I agree with your point on the double standards between the two. People forget the way Six pulled Mono out of the TVs consistently, the way she pulled Mono out of the ruble when that building fell upon them, or overall the way she continually chose to help Mono through out the game, the fact she even stuck around.

I can pull more examples for the two, but I want to try to remain within just LN2 for clarity’s sake.

maybe its a bit of my own personal bias, but I don’t exactly like referring to any young kid as morally grey.

Mono and Six are only about nine years old, that’s incredibly young. I’m no expert in child development, but from my previous research, proper decision making skills, and emotional/social skills are only beginning to mature at that age. Mono and Six aren’t clueless of course, they understand what is happening but they wouldn’t understand the why of it all. They of course wouldn’t be able to process it emotionally either.

and that’s completely disregarding the effects long lasting trauma has on children and they’re development.

it doesn’t feel fair to expect these nine year olds to make morally sound decisions. Especially highly traumatized ones.

and I’m not saying your saying or trying to imply a lot of this! But I wanted to add these in as a response to the “they’re both morally grey” statement. I see a lot of misconceptions and misunderstandings that come from that perspective as well. So I wanted to clear the air a little

I got really frustrated in a debate about Little Nightmares with someone so I’m drawing a whole comic for getting my feelings out.

FOR REAL- I just also admire how despite everything, she still chooses to remain by Adam’s side and care for him? It feels like no matter how many times she has to argue with him, she’s staying because she wants to genuinely see him be better and grow as a person

Someone like Adam, a very messy and confused character, who appears to have very little agency in how he acts (and handles the result of those forced actions very poorly- you fucked up emo rat <3) would benefit with someone as aggressively/fiercely caring as Sarah is I feel.

But of course Adam doesn’t seem to return much of that care. So on Sarah’s side of things it’s frustrating and kind of sad to watch It’s clear that Adam doesn’t really hate Sarah- but we don’t exactly know how he feels towards her beyond that. And honestly I don’t think there’s one exact answer to that. There’s a chance where he very much does care for Sarah on some days- but on others he doesn’t really care for her at all. He’s just a very complicated character.

Regardless, Sarah continually chooses to stick by Adam despite seeing how he’s acting. And I think that says a lot about her personality.

I don’t know, their dynamic is just very interesting to me. I could write an entire essay on them tbh. Especially if you were to regard Thatcher into the mix. Like the theoretical dynamic between those three

but this isn’t about that

Hey curious little question: despite not interacting with her much what do you think of Sarah? Especially regarding her relationship with Adam (those two fight like half-siblings who hate each others dads)

— “ She was sweet every time I talked to her...I don't think she deserves any of the crap Adam gives her. She's a nice lady. ”

THATS SO ACCURATE OML

Sarah’s aggressively caring and Adam’s just aloof and cold.

That women has to spear-fish Adam just to give him a little bandaid bc god knows that man does NOT take care of himself 💀

(Ty to my brother @thepowerofyes for giving me the sentence “[Sarah] spear-fishing Adam just to give him a bandaid”)

She was definitely worried for Jonah a little when he first became Adam’s work partner. Not exactly wanting him to get caught in Adam’s reckless and rash pursuit of information on the alternates.

Hey curious little question: despite not interacting with her much what do you think of Sarah? Especially regarding her relationship with Adam (those two fight like half-siblings who hate each others dads)

— “ She was sweet every time I talked to her...I don't think she deserves any of the crap Adam gives her. She's a nice lady. ”

far cry 7 should just be a far cry arcade ultimate where you get to see characters talk to each other

Saw a post just now about characters who can change tires and

Jacob 100% can change a tire, he would've been taught for sure in the military at least, there is no doubt about this. Will he change yours? No, because he wants you to know how to do it, so he will take you through it until you get it right. He's not a bad teacher, to be honest, but he will definitely make you change it multiple times to make sure it's stuck.

Joseph I'm less sure about. I don't think he would've personally owned a car before, and the Book of Joseph doesn't really give any indication that he would've been in a position to learn before creating the cult. That being said, I think he may have at least observed someone else changing a tire - perhaps on the buses to Hope County - and so I can see him being able to figure it out if need be. He wouldn't change yours though, he would get someone more experienced to do so.

With John my kneejerk reaction was no, but then I thought about it a bit more; he owns a car, but I personally don't see him working on it too much himself. But it's a different story with his plane; I definitely think he's the plane equivalent of a horse girl, so he would've learned to take care of it himself. Nobody else is working on his plane. So even if he hasn't changed a car tire before, he could probably work it out with minimal guidance - Jacob would have experience with both, so he could tell him the differences. Would John change your tire? I think yes because he wants the validation of your gratitude.

Faith probably not, but given how intelligent and adaptable she is, I can definitely see her figuring it out pretty quickly, possibly even just through observation. Would she change yours? No, I don't think so; she'd either get someone else to do that work, or she'd try to convince you that actually walking is much more enlightening and helps you see the world clearly so who cares about tires.

ALTERNATE SHADOWYNESS IS FROM BEING UNDERDEVELOPED (INCOMPLETE ASSIMILATION), LOOKING PERFECTLY LIKE A HUMAN IS THE GOAL (COMPLETE ASSIMILATION), AND BEING MISSHAPEN AND FUCKED UP IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY GO TOO FAR PAST THE IDEAL (OVERDRIVEN ASSIMILATION)

WITH ADAM IN MANDELA CATALYST WE SEE HIM BECOMING OVERDRIVEN POSSIBLY AS A DIFFERENT PRESENTATION OF METAPHYSICAL AWARENESS DISORDER THATS SPECIFIC TO THE REPLACED CHILDREN IT IS SHOWN TO BE EXTREMELY PAINFUL

ALTERNATE GABRIEL CAN POSSIBLY SHIFT BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT STATES AT WILL CONSIDERING THE TIMES WHERE HIS FACE IS SHADOWED OR GONE, WHEN HES NORMALISH, AND WHEN HES SMILING ALL CRAZY

THERE ARE NOT DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALTERNATES (excluding Gabriel and possibly also the Intruder) THEY ARE SIMPLY AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN A PROGRESSION OF ASSIMILATION THAT CAN POTENTIALLY EVEN BE REVERSED.

A bonus silly drawing just to place the exceptions

I have a lot more to say about how Intruder may tie in to this progression but only if there’s listening ears

Epic the musical: Catfied Penelope Concepts

Did this in school, mostly because I was bored, sorry for my awful handwriting.

anyways I love Penelope 🗣️🗣️🗣️

WE ARE NOT NUMBERS‼️🆘

WE ARE HUMANS🆘🍉🇵🇸

I am a Palestinian from the Gaza Strip, where we live every day on the edge of death. For more than 10 months, we have been enduring daily massacres, trying to survive in conditions no human should have to bear.

We have been displaced from our homes and now live in tents, struggling with extremely difficult living conditions. We have no stable shelter, and we don’t know when this suffering will end.

🇵🇸🍉

The situation has become unbearable, which is why I am asking for your support for my family and me. We need help to endure these challenging times. Any support can make a significant difference in our lives and help us keep going.

gofundme.com

Donate to Help me evacuate from the genocide to continue my education, organized by Eman Abushaban

My name is Eman, and I am writing to you today with a heart f… Eman Abushaban needs your support for Help me evacuate from the genocide to c

YES EPICCC

Hi 👋, My name is Mohammad, and I’m reaching out in a moment of desperate need. I’m a father of three young children living in Gaza, and we are caught in the midst of a catastrophic war. Our home is no longer a safe haven, and the future here seems increasingly uncertain. 💔

I’ve launched a fundraising campaign with the goal of raising $40,000 to relocate my family to a safer place where my children can grow up in peace and have a chance at a brighter future. 🕊️🇵🇸

Unfortunately, my previous fundraising efforts were abruptly halted when my account was terminated without explanation. However, I remain determined to keep fighting for my family’s safety and well-being. 🫶

If you could take a moment to read our story, consider donating, or simply share our campaign with others, it would make an incredible difference. Every act of kindness, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to safety and a new beginning. 🙏

Thank you for your time, compassion, and support. ❤

https://gofund.me/fd1faea2 🔗

I don’t have any money to donate, But I will answer to share!

AYO WTF?? /pos I REALLY HOPE ITS A LOT MORE CHARACTER DRIVEN THAN THE ORIGINAL

EXCUSE ME????? WE MIGHT BE GETTING A NEW MANDELA CATALOGUE MOVIE??? THIS AND THE NEW BACKROOMS MOVIE OMG WERE EATING SO HARD NEXT YEAR!!!