Alex Insta Live 10/11/24- Short Recap Cause The Live Was Not That Long

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🙏💖

First ever recorded snowball fight (1897)

Happy Holidays And Merry Christmas To All!

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. ”

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.

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