Bundle of Holding: Sleepy Hollow
Jan. 19th, 2026 02:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
james_davis_nicoll
The tabletop fantasy roleplaying game of early 19th-Century folk horror.
Bundle of Holding: Sleepy Hollow
james_davis_nicollThe tabletop fantasy roleplaying game of early 19th-Century folk horror.
Bundle of Holding: Sleepy Hollow
Chat corner 2026-03, socially awkward edition
Jan. 19th, 2026 08:03 pmannathecrow posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
dreamwarsHi,
welcome to the weekly chat corner. Have anything SW-related to talk about? Come and tell us.
~ ~ ~
Do you ever interact with Star Wars fans who aren't shipping-fandom fans? What has it been like?
I have a coworker who's a SW fan, and it's weird. He knows a lot of the lore, especially the older EU stuff, so I've had some really good talks with him, but the amount of times I did a tire-screech stop in the middle of saying something because oh SHIT, nope, that's shipping fandom, I will not openly admit to the guy I've read erotica about his favorite character...! XD
A giant version of Trump's birthday card to Epstein just appeared on the National Mall
Jan. 19th, 2026 06:17 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
boingboing_feed
I just received an email from my friends at The Secret Handshake, letting us all know that a 10-foot version of Trump's birthday card to "terrific guy" and good pal Jeffrey Epstein has been placed in the National Mall.
"The card appeared overnight on Sunday, just one day before Jeffrey Epstein's birthday, and is permitted until Friday January 23rd. — Read the rest
The post A giant version of Trump's birthday card to Epstein just appeared on the National Mall appeared first on Boing Boing.
The greatest sword fight ever filmed was done by two actors who couldn't fence
Jan. 19th, 2026 06:06 pmboingboing_feed
This video is a joy to watch. Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin discuss how that incredible sword fight, where neither was actually left-handed, came to be.
The swordfight between Inigo Montoya and the Dread Pirate Roberts in The Princess Bride remains, somehow, the best sword fight ever filmed. — Read the rest
The post The greatest sword fight ever filmed was done by two actors who couldn't fence appeared first on Boing Boing.
The internet lied to you about fast charging
Jan. 19th, 2026 05:47 pmboingboing_feed
This fantastic study by HTX Studio tests the claims that fast charging kills your battery and that you should never charge past 80%. The results are surprising and very useful to know.
I have been using the iPhone feature to limit charging my phone's battery to less than 100%, under the assumption that it does something useful. — Read the rest
The post The internet lied to you about fast charging appeared first on Boing Boing.
Why some traffic lights hate you and what to do about it
Jan. 19th, 2026 05:31 pmboingboing_feed
The urban myth about flashing your headlights at a traffic light to get it to change isn't true, but there are things you can do to escape that forever red.
The Traffic Light Doctor once again explains the science and inner-workings of our traffic light systems. — Read the rest
The post Why some traffic lights hate you and what to do about it appeared first on Boing Boing.
Practical tips on filming immigration and law enforcement
Jan. 19th, 2026 05:27 pmboingboing_feed
It's legal to film police, including the feds, at work in public. But it's also true that the feds don't care what's legal and will threaten, abuse and brutalize even peaceful and professional observers. Homeland security officials make clear that they will do whatever they can to stymie investigation and prosecution of even the most blatant misconduct. — Read the rest
The post Practical tips on filming immigration and law enforcement appeared first on Boing Boing.
15,000 crabs escape overturned truck near Irish village
Jan. 19th, 2026 04:10 pmboingboing_feed
The Donegal Daily reports that 15,000 brown crabs escaped an overturned truck near Radcastle in Ireland, swarming around the R238 road by Lough Foyle. Donegal County Council "immediately closed the road to allow for a massive recovery operation," writes Stephen Maguire, which saw 95% of the crabs rounded up in 18 hours. — Read the rest
The post 15,000 crabs escape overturned truck near Irish village appeared first on Boing Boing.
the_mary_sue_feed
New Jersey woman Katie (@llewynthecat) has gone viral after feeling short-changed over a Sephora freebie. But is her upset justified?
In the clip, which has amassed 118,100 views, she held up a bottle of Gisou hair oil to the camera—the bottle was less than half full.
this is a post about sports that is not brought to you by dayquil
Jan. 19th, 2026 11:20 amlannamichaelsOf all the sports I do not follow, american football is certainly up there as a sport I do not follow.
However, of all the sports I do not follow, american football is one where I think they are doing their post season completely correctly: as single elimination.
Can you win a game? No? Okay, season is over, bye bye.
Yes, yes, the season goes on way too long into weather not appropriate for the sport; american football makes sense as a summer or autumn sport, not so much when it's snowing.
But they pick the location of the super bowl years in advance, they hype the fuck out of it, they make it an event, and they know three years in advance what day it will be.
They have achieved marketing perfection and among the reasons they can do that is: SINGLE ELIMINATION PLAYOFFS.
Your Daily Laser Loon Art from the Resistance
Jan. 19th, 2026 10:28 amlydamorehouse
Image: Laser-eyed loon flying away with the "Don't Tread on Me Snake" in her beak. The words "Don't Tread on US" appear in laser light trails around her head (by Cas Fern, local tattoo artist.)
I took a break on Sunday. The weather here in Minnesota has finally stepped up to join the resistance. Today we are expecting -20 F/ -29 C windchills and yesterday the windchills were around -11 F /-23 C. I won't lie. I let Mother Nature take my shift. There were things happening, including my singing group, but I spent the day baking hot cross buns and snuggling under blankets.
Rest is resistance, too.
If you are not from around here and/or would like to watch
naomikritzer talk about her experiences "commuting," and talk generally, along with Diana McCleery, about what things are like on the ground here in Minneapolis and St. Paul. My friend Cliff interviewed her on an SFF videocast:It's a good watch? I will say that the guy who opens and closes the video, Bob, is a bit of a character, but if you can get past that and some of the echo in Naomi's microphone, it's very informative. Naomi recently did a ride-along with the folks who are self-organizing to follow and harrass ICE vehicles and so it's fascinating to hear how it's being done.
I always feel that people don't quite talk enough about the mutual aid that folks are up to--but the truth is the quiet revolution just isn't splashy enough for the front page.
Skip the Office subscription stress for $35
Jan. 19th, 2026 04:00 pmboingboing_feed
TL;DR: Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows is available for $34.97 (reg. $219.99), giving you the full, offline Office suite for less than the cost of a fancy notebook.
The tools you already know, without the subscription side-eye
This isn't a watered-down version or a "starter" bundle. — Read the rest
The post Skip the Office subscription stress for $35 appeared first on Boing Boing.
EPA: Elon's methane-powered xAI datacenter illegally generating electricity
Jan. 19th, 2026 03:09 pmboingboing_feed
The Environmental Protection Agency found that the xAI datacenter in Tennessee is illegally using its methane gas turbines to generate electricity. The generators are not exempt from rules on air quality because they are "portable" or "temporary", it declared Thursday, and federal law applies over the local loophole exploited by Elon Musk's AI company. — Read the rest
The post EPA: Elon's methane-powered xAI datacenter illegally generating electricity appeared first on Boing Boing.
bookends
Jan. 19th, 2026 11:10 amadrian_turtleI know this seems like a petty thing, in these parlous times, but I am having a hard time finding bookends. We are finally, finally getting all the books out of storage and sorted and on shelves and they might almost fit if we have enough bookends. (If you're going to do part of a shelf as 2 rows of paperbacks, that needs at least 1 bookend to keep the last ones from falling into the larger books that are going as single rows.)
Where can I find plain metal bookends, like the kind they use in libraries? I do NOT want to get them from Amazon, for political reasons. Neither do I want to get them from Target. Once, I might have tried Home Depot, but it turns out that they are cooperating with ICE in deeply distressing ways so I don't want to do business with them either. Etsy is generally recommended as an alternative to Amazon, but they just have decorative standalone bookends. Some of them are really pretty but they are too bulky for this purpose.
Where can I find plain metal bookends, like the kind they use in libraries? I do NOT want to get them from Amazon, for political reasons. Neither do I want to get them from Target. Once, I might have tried Home Depot, but it turns out that they are cooperating with ICE in deeply distressing ways so I don't want to do business with them either. Etsy is generally recommended as an alternative to Amazon, but they just have decorative standalone bookends. Some of them are really pretty but they are too bulky for this purpose.
Recent walks
Jan. 19th, 2026 04:19 pmheleninwalesWe managed two walks last week, both just 4 miles. I had a lot to do in the week, so on Thursday we just walked to Penmaenpool and back. The weather was dull, so I didn't take any photos worth sharing. Saturday, however, turned out quite nice. Again I didn't feel like doing too long a walk so I drove us to Penmaenpool, left the car there and walked along the Mawddach Trail to Abergwynant, headed inland and walked back the short way through the woods.
Looking across to the sunny side of the valley.
( More here... )
Heading back to Penmaenpool. I always used to call this the Long Boring Bit when walking alone, but if walking and talking with a companion in sunny weather, it doesn't seem so long.
In further news of spring, there was a song thrush singing loudly somewhere in the trees beyond our back garden this afternoon. That's the first time this year that I've heard it. I know the song of the thrush, blackbird and robin, and also wood pigeon, seagull and buzzard, but I want to learn more bird calls and have just downloaded the Merlin app which many friends have recommended.
Looking across to the sunny side of the valley.
( More here... )
Heading back to Penmaenpool. I always used to call this the Long Boring Bit when walking alone, but if walking and talking with a companion in sunny weather, it doesn't seem so long.
In further news of spring, there was a song thrush singing loudly somewhere in the trees beyond our back garden this afternoon. That's the first time this year that I've heard it. I know the song of the thrush, blackbird and robin, and also wood pigeon, seagull and buzzard, but I want to learn more bird calls and have just downloaded the Merlin app which many friends have recommended.
Idioms
Jan. 19th, 2026 03:58 pmheleninwalesIt's starting to be a little lighter in the mornings when I wake up. Not actually light, but no longer pitch dark. Someone mentioned this last week in the weekly Welsh chat and our tame native speaker said that day length increases each day now "fesul cam ceiliog" (by a cockerel's stride). We all thought this was a lovely idiom. I don't know whether all Welsh classes are the same, but we always like to collect idioms.
And speaking of idioms, I'm reading Still Waters by E. C. R. Lorac and one character used the idiom, "A Parthian shot". I vaguely recall seeing it before but these days it's normally, "a parting shot". Having looked it up. the original saying came from the habit of the Parthian light cavalry of, when they were retreating (or feigning retreat), they would suddenly turn in the saddle and shoot an arrow straight back at the soldiers chasing them. It seems that some people still have the riding and archery skills to be able to do it, though this chap has a modern saddle with stirrups. The original Parthians didn't have that help.
And speaking of idioms, I'm reading Still Waters by E. C. R. Lorac and one character used the idiom, "A Parthian shot". I vaguely recall seeing it before but these days it's normally, "a parting shot". Having looked it up. the original saying came from the habit of the Parthian light cavalry of, when they were retreating (or feigning retreat), they would suddenly turn in the saddle and shoot an arrow straight back at the soldiers chasing them. It seems that some people still have the riding and archery skills to be able to do it, though this chap has a modern saddle with stirrups. The original Parthians didn't have that help.
the_mary_sue_feed
Buying a pet toy is always a coin toss. On one hand, you never know whether your temperamental cat is going to prefer a state-of-the-art $85 toy over a dilapidated cardboard box. On the other hand, it’s difficult to judge whether a shiny new trinket would be safe for animals—or even humans—to handle at all.
According to the American Pet Products Association, there are “virtually no federal or state laws, which expressly apply solely to the manufacture and sale of pet toys.” This lack of regulation could pose serious dangers to your precious pets. However, in the era of online fearmongering, it’s vital we keep our wits about us.
Trump sends weird angry letter to Norway's Prime Minister
Jan. 19th, 2026 02:07 pmboingboing_feed
U.S. President Donald Trump addressed a letter to Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway, boasting about the wars he thinks he's stopped and one he plans to begin. Still aggrieved at the Nobel Committee's failure to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, he declared that he is no longer interested in peace as a result and ranted about Greenland, the Danish territory he wants the conquer or purchase. — Read the rest
The post Trump sends weird angry letter to Norway's Prime Minister appeared first on Boing Boing.
K-9: Volume 2 extras, with translation
Jan. 19th, 2026 02:55 pmvriddyLots of bonus sketches in this volume! In order of appearance:
( Bonus sketch - Mother and child )
( Bonus sketch - Oboro and Kagari )
( Bonus sketch - Teasing Fujimaru )
( Bonus sketch - Eden heights )
( Bonus sketch - Kagari in boyhood )
( Kagari's profile )
( Sasakura and Domon short profiles )
( Oboro's clothing )
Snowflake Challenge #6
Jan. 19th, 2026 07:51 amused_songsChallenge #6
Top 10 Challenge. The category(ies) you choose are up to you. You can give top 10 Fics you read last year, the top 10 songs to create to, the to 10 guest stars on your favorite show, top 10 characters in your favorite book series, top 10... well, you get the idea.
10 happy times
1. Quiet mornings before my wife gets up when I can read, write and update my DW with Ella nearby.
2. Hammock time with Ella.
3. Browsing in a bookstore.
4. Cooking for my parents and/or wife.
5. When I'm in the midst of a solid piece of writing that is flowing.
6. Puttering around outside looking at trees and rocks.
7. Listening to music, discovering new-to-me music, talking to people about music.
8. Sending and receiving snail mail, whether it's Postcrossing or mail to/from people I know.
9. Figuring things out, making something new, having to work out how to put something together.
10. When you see something or hear something and it sparks an idea.
Top 10 Challenge. The category(ies) you choose are up to you. You can give top 10 Fics you read last year, the top 10 songs to create to, the to 10 guest stars on your favorite show, top 10 characters in your favorite book series, top 10... well, you get the idea.
10 happy times
1. Quiet mornings before my wife gets up when I can read, write and update my DW with Ella nearby.
2. Hammock time with Ella.
3. Browsing in a bookstore.
4. Cooking for my parents and/or wife.
5. When I'm in the midst of a solid piece of writing that is flowing.
6. Puttering around outside looking at trees and rocks.
7. Listening to music, discovering new-to-me music, talking to people about music.
8. Sending and receiving snail mail, whether it's Postcrossing or mail to/from people I know.
9. Figuring things out, making something new, having to work out how to put something together.
10. When you see something or hear something and it sparks an idea.
White crud
Jan. 19th, 2026 08:51 ammissdianeWe don't have a massive ton that needs shoveled but we are legally obligated to shovel the sidewalk in front of the house and obviously need to shovel the sidewalk that gets TO the house and well, have to shovel the bits of driveway near the cars.
Between Emily's wonky back and knees and my...well everything, we're tired and sore from shoveling weighty snow yesterday and then trying to shave at the thin layer of refrozen stuff and new snow on top that fell late in the afternoon/early evening.
We're waiting on clearing off the cars, though, since it is supposed to get a few degrees warmer and we're hoping that makes things easier for doing that. Not sure whether we'll go to the grocery. It would be nice to pick up a few fresh items but we'll live if we can't do that since the freezer is plenty full.
I didn't sleep hardly at all last night. My shoulder and arm were bugging me (gee, wonder why?) and I was hot and cold and for some reason, I wasn't sleepy so I didn't finally drift off until 4am so I got about 3 or 3 1/2 hours and even that was broken sleep. If I get super tired today, I'll set an alarm and nap for no more than 20-30 minutes and if I get any indication that tonight is going to repeat, I'll take half a xanax to reset the system.
Between Emily's wonky back and knees and my...well everything, we're tired and sore from shoveling weighty snow yesterday and then trying to shave at the thin layer of refrozen stuff and new snow on top that fell late in the afternoon/early evening.
We're waiting on clearing off the cars, though, since it is supposed to get a few degrees warmer and we're hoping that makes things easier for doing that. Not sure whether we'll go to the grocery. It would be nice to pick up a few fresh items but we'll live if we can't do that since the freezer is plenty full.
I didn't sleep hardly at all last night. My shoulder and arm were bugging me (gee, wonder why?) and I was hot and cold and for some reason, I wasn't sleepy so I didn't finally drift off until 4am so I got about 3 or 3 1/2 hours and even that was broken sleep. If I get super tired today, I'll set an alarm and nap for no more than 20-30 minutes and if I get any indication that tonight is going to repeat, I'll take half a xanax to reset the system.
Snowflake Challenge #7
Jan. 19th, 2026 07:44 amused_songsChallenge #7
LIST THREE (or more) THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF. They don’t have to be your favorite things, just things that you think are good. Feel free to expand as much or as little as you want.
I like my ability to be all in and focused in a conversation with a student, especially when it comes to their writing.
I like how I can chain together random things and make something beautiful.
I like my purple glasses.
LIST THREE (or more) THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF. They don’t have to be your favorite things, just things that you think are good. Feel free to expand as much or as little as you want.
I like my ability to be all in and focused in a conversation with a student, especially when it comes to their writing.
I like how I can chain together random things and make something beautiful.
I like my purple glasses.
the_mary_sue_feed
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who has been the mouthpiece of President Donald Trump throughout last year in his second term, is now facing flak for getting involved in something she wouldn’t really like her name being associated with. People on the internet are dragging her down and calling her a hypocrite, and some are even calling for her boycott, but what is it for? Continue reading to find out.
On January 17, 2026, images of Karoline Leavitt emerged online, which showed her sitting at a restaurant staring into the abyss while someone (possibly her husband) sat across her on the same table. The pictures soon spread all over social media, with many people claiming that they were taken in Fairfax County, Virginia, and the eatery she was sitting in was a Mexican one.
the_mary_sue_feed
During Donald Trump’s second term as President of the United States, one of the individuals who has emerged as one of his strongest critics is comedian, writer, producer, and talk show host Stephen Colbert. It’s not that he wasn’t a Trump basher earlier, but his demeanour was considerably toned down, compared to now, when he is much bolder and more vocal. I believe that is what happens when someone repeatedly tries to get you out of your job and tarnish your reputation.
If you already didn’t know, Trump and his army of MAGA goons almost got The Late Show with Stephen Colbert cancelled indefinitely on CBS last year. Not only that, to this day, almost every time Colbert makes a joke about Trump or says anything, for that matter, which is very much rooted in reality, he takes offence and goes on a rant on Truth Social, asking for his show’s cancellation. Trump also often claims that Colbert is unpopular and unfunny. Considering all of this, I believe Colbert’s hatred for Trump comes from a place of frustration, and it is justified.
the_mary_sue_feed
It appears the members of the Trump administration are playing Doofus Olympics amongst themselves because one week one of them is saying something completely obnoxious, and in the next someone else is saying something even more despicable. While I am sure no one can win over the leader of the doofus herd, Trump himself, this individual and her objectionable claims come very, very close.
Trump’s agricultural secretary, Brooke Rollins, is making some bold claims about affording a healthy meal. In a video that is currently circulating on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), where it has gained significant momentum, Rollins, in a conversation with News Nation, is seen claiming that based on 1,000 simulations run by her and her department, they had concluded that it takes about 3 dollars to be able to afford a meal of “a piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli, corn tortilla, and one other thing.” What other thing? And 3 dollars? Really? How out of touch does one have to be to come to that conclusion? And apparently, she is the Agriculture Security.
Trump is dreaming of becoming the Venezuela’s dictator, and his Truth Social post is proof
Jan. 19th, 2026 01:20 pmthe_mary_sue_feed
On January 3, 2026, the United States forces under the leadership of Donald Trump conducted an operation in Venezuela and abducted its president, Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Trump’s reasoning for the act was that Maduro was a narco terrorist who was poisoning the lives of Americans by supplying drugs, and that he was a “dictator” who was operating an authoritarian regime in Venezuela and oppressing its people.
In the early days since capturing Nicolás Maduro, Donald Trump had mostly maintained a Venezuela-first stance, emphasising during various press conferences that his focus would be on ensuring the safety and well-being of the Venezuelan people. However, Trump, who is often unable to hide his true self in front of people, let it slip a few times, giving people an idea about exactly what he is thinking and feeling. For instance, in one of his press conferences held just after Maduro’s capture, Trump expressed his wish to “run” Venezuela until there could be a proper transition of power. During the same conference, while trying to make it look like he was concerned about the betterment of Venezuelans, Trump also expressed his wish to explore the country’s oil reserves. If these hints weren’t enough for people to understand what Trump was really thinking, his Truth Social post from 2 days ago does.
the_mary_sue_feed
Elon Musk has spent years branding himself as a free speech absolutist. On Thursday, he demonstrated exactly how conditional that belief really is. The tech guy is bored, so he wants his president boss to invoke the Insurrection Act for fun. Great America, here we are.
On Jan. 15, an X account named “Insurrection Barbie” laid out a cherry-picked explanation of the Insurrection Act. It was complete with a list of historical invocations and a conveniently elastic definition of “rebellion.” Musk soon picked up on the post and replied with four words: “Time to invoke the Insurrection Act.” He had no concern for constitutional limits. He’s just a billionaire urging the president to deploy extraordinary federal power against a U.S. state.
the_mary_sue_feed
Donald Trump stood in front of the press and talked for minutes about the Nobel Peace Prize he just received. But he never once managed to name Maria Corina Machado. The president is never beating the dementia/Alzheimer’s allegations.
On Friday, reporters asked Trump what he planned to do with the Nobel medal he had received from Machado. In his rehearsed speech, Trump described her simply as “a person” or a “woman.” He repeatedly avoided naming her directly, even as he acknowledged her “very nice gesture” of giving him her award.
After USDA’s Milk Mustache Trump, the White House posts an even weirder whole milk promotion
Jan. 19th, 2026 01:17 pmthe_mary_sue_feed
Just when it seemed like the government had exhausted every possible way to make milk strange, the White House escalated. We now have Donald Trump as a milkman and a new GOP slogan: “Make Whole Milk Great Again.” Sorry, what was wrong with that earlier?
After the USDA’s baffling “milk mustache” edit of Trump, the White House followed up with something even more surreal. On Jan. 14, they posted an image of Trump striding confidently, suit pressed, posture heroic, carrying multiple crates of milk. And then there was the slogan “Make Whole Milk Great Again.”
the_mary_sue_feed
Timing is everything. And on January 17, Katie Miller managed to pick the worst possible moment to post a joke about “extra ICE.” Miller logged onto X, snapped a Starbucks photo, and decided irony was appropriate. It wasn’t.
Katie Miller, a vocal defender of hardline immigration enforcement, clearly thought she was being cute on January 17. The former White House press official posted a photo of a Starbucks cup on her X with the scrawled words “EXTRA ICE” and the caption:
the_mary_sue_feed
The world thought trade wars between the United States and its allies were relics of the past. However, Trump then threw another tantrum about Denmark not selling him Greenland and announced tariffs on European countries. Macron’s response? Anti-coercion Instrument.
On Jan. 17, Trump announced a 10% tariff on imports from eight European countries. This includes Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland. He also threatened to raise it to 25% by June, unless Denmark agrees to sell the U.S. “Complete and Total” control of Greenland. But European leaders swiftly rejected the gambit.
the_mary_sue_feed
On Greenland’s protest lines, the famous MAGA slogan has been flipped into something intentionally spiteful and unmistakably clear. The bright red Trump hats now read “Make America Go Away.” It started as a cheeky political parody, but has morphed into a massive public statement.
If you scroll through the streets of Nuuk or Copenhagen right now, you might see something that looks very familiar. Bright red baseball caps with bold white lettering. At first glance, they appear to be Trump’s MAGA hats that popularized his slogan “Make America Great Again.” But look closer, and they’re way better than those meaningless props.
Snowflake Challenge #8
Jan. 19th, 2026 07:22 amused_songsChallenge #8
Talk about your creative process.
I keep copious notes on my phone and in commonplace books of raw material for writing. I collect stories from people, interesting words, bits of poetry, images, etc. When I have an idea for something, I page randomly through all of that and see what if anything sticks. Then I do an enormous amount of research (my favorite part of the process) and start a google doc with research notes and chunks of writing. Sometimes I do a sketch to help visualize the motion of the plot. When I wrote a crossover that involved House of Leaves, I sketched the house I was using as my setting so I could keep the physical space in front of me.
Then I write from both ends and the middle in pieces that are gradually stitched together. I'm not great at plots; I let the imagery and characters do the heavy lifting.
Once I have a draft, I rewrite it obsessively until I'm happy with it.
( pics )
I also generally carry sticky notes and have a lot of things jotted on those. I've been keeping commonplace books since middle school (they were spirals back then), so I have a lot of material. Honestly, I never have used most of it directly in my writing, but I feel like the ideas I have tried out in those pages are like training for when I do write a completed pieces. And sometimes I just enjoy writing short pieces that no one else will ever see, just for me.
Talk about your creative process.
I keep copious notes on my phone and in commonplace books of raw material for writing. I collect stories from people, interesting words, bits of poetry, images, etc. When I have an idea for something, I page randomly through all of that and see what if anything sticks. Then I do an enormous amount of research (my favorite part of the process) and start a google doc with research notes and chunks of writing. Sometimes I do a sketch to help visualize the motion of the plot. When I wrote a crossover that involved House of Leaves, I sketched the house I was using as my setting so I could keep the physical space in front of me.
Then I write from both ends and the middle in pieces that are gradually stitched together. I'm not great at plots; I let the imagery and characters do the heavy lifting.
Once I have a draft, I rewrite it obsessively until I'm happy with it.
( pics )
I also generally carry sticky notes and have a lot of things jotted on those. I've been keeping commonplace books since middle school (they were spirals back then), so I have a lot of material. Honestly, I never have used most of it directly in my writing, but I feel like the ideas I have tried out in those pages are like training for when I do write a completed pieces. And sometimes I just enjoy writing short pieces that no one else will ever see, just for me.
the_mary_sue_feed
A Crumbl Cookies shopper in Miami noticed a potential health hazard that’s making him reconsider the company’s soft, tear-apart treats.
Zlatadubois, @zlatadubois, a TikTok content creator with over 15,000 followers, posted a video on Jan. 11 that has managed to garner 33.9 million views within the span of five days. In it, he simply takes a video of something treacherous that has many people rethinking their weekly Crumbl Cookies orders.
January Meme: Adventure in Time and Space to Accept or Decline
Jan. 19th, 2026 01:39 pmselenak Given all space and time, and all history and fiction, which offer of adventure would you be most likely to accept - and which one would you definitely decline? ffutures asked.
Well, I'm tempted to say "none, because I'm chicken and would rather read about those adventures than experience them". But that would be a boring answer, and there are some which don't carry the risk of dying of smallpox or being turned into a Cyberman, one presumes. So, let's see....
Fictional: To get the obvious out of the way first: assuming that I'd live in a universe with the Doctor in it for real (the only universe worth thinking about, according to the Master, who ought to know), and that I would not live in one of those eras where one can google at least asome appearances of his which ought to give me an inkling about the risk travelling with him involves... I think I'd say yes if 'Thirteen offered me a trip with the TARDIS. She's not my favourite Doctor, but she conveys trustworthiness if she wants to, and even if I did manage to look up her companions, thehir rate of not just survival but lack of heartbreak (Yaz always excepted) at the end of their travels with her is promising. Most of the other Doctors would in real life make me think "nah, you seem to be interesting and/or crazy, but I wouldn't trust you to bring me home again".
I would definitely say no to Gandalf. Especially if I were in Bilbo's position. Firstly, stagemanaging an intrusion by loads of uninvited guests is just rude, and secondly, no way you're getting me anywhere near a real life dragon to be torched. No thank you. And that's before we're talking about the travel conditions. I can't ride, and while I do like long hikes, taking these in eras where I could get eaten by trolls... no, really not. I'm just not Burglar material.
Real: If I was dared as Nellie Bly was to travel around the world in 80 Days a la Jules Verne, with a newspaper paying for it, absolutely, I would have tried my best.
Would not have joined: any expedition involving the Artic. I like snow in winter, and I also like to ski, but I like it with the perspective of afterwards returning my heated apartment and being able to take a luxurious long hot bath. Not from the perspective of someone looking for the North West Passage on a sailing boat in the 18th century or someone racing to the Pole in the 20th century. I like my limbs unfrozen and uneaten, thanks.
The other days
ffutures asked. Well, I'm tempted to say "none, because I'm chicken and would rather read about those adventures than experience them". But that would be a boring answer, and there are some which don't carry the risk of dying of smallpox or being turned into a Cyberman, one presumes. So, let's see....
Fictional: To get the obvious out of the way first: assuming that I'd live in a universe with the Doctor in it for real (the only universe worth thinking about, according to the Master, who ought to know), and that I would not live in one of those eras where one can google at least asome appearances of his which ought to give me an inkling about the risk travelling with him involves... I think I'd say yes if 'Thirteen offered me a trip with the TARDIS. She's not my favourite Doctor, but she conveys trustworthiness if she wants to, and even if I did manage to look up her companions, thehir rate of not just survival but lack of heartbreak (Yaz always excepted) at the end of their travels with her is promising. Most of the other Doctors would in real life make me think "nah, you seem to be interesting and/or crazy, but I wouldn't trust you to bring me home again".
I would definitely say no to Gandalf. Especially if I were in Bilbo's position. Firstly, stagemanaging an intrusion by loads of uninvited guests is just rude, and secondly, no way you're getting me anywhere near a real life dragon to be torched. No thank you. And that's before we're talking about the travel conditions. I can't ride, and while I do like long hikes, taking these in eras where I could get eaten by trolls... no, really not. I'm just not Burglar material.
Real: If I was dared as Nellie Bly was to travel around the world in 80 Days a la Jules Verne, with a newspaper paying for it, absolutely, I would have tried my best.
Would not have joined: any expedition involving the Artic. I like snow in winter, and I also like to ski, but I like it with the perspective of afterwards returning my heated apartment and being able to take a luxurious long hot bath. Not from the perspective of someone looking for the North West Passage on a sailing boat in the 18th century or someone racing to the Pole in the 20th century. I like my limbs unfrozen and uneaten, thanks.
The other days
The Day in Spikedluv (Sunday, Jan 18)
Jan. 19th, 2026 07:24 amspikedluvI did two loads of laundry, hand-washed dishes, went for a walk with Pip and the dogs, baked chicken for the dogs’ meals, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, changed kitty litter (you know it’s Sunday!), and showered.
I went with another one of my own teas today, The Republic of Tea’s Blackberry Sage (Fruity black tea blended with herbs, which tells you nothing, really. Which is funny, because the ingredients just list black tea, natural blackberry and sage. o_O)
I took a nap, and watched two eps of Wild Cards and some Zoo Tampa. My one dismay is that I didn't get any more writing done.
Temps started out at 25.5(F) and reached 31.1. We had the overnight snow plus more snow today. Pip was busy shoveling and snow blowing.
Mom Update:
Mom sounded good on the phone. She said she’d eaten and it had settled fine. My brother visited earlier and Sister A was there when I called.
I went with another one of my own teas today, The Republic of Tea’s Blackberry Sage (Fruity black tea blended with herbs, which tells you nothing, really. Which is funny, because the ingredients just list black tea, natural blackberry and sage. o_O)
I took a nap, and watched two eps of Wild Cards and some Zoo Tampa. My one dismay is that I didn't get any more writing done.
Temps started out at 25.5(F) and reached 31.1. We had the overnight snow plus more snow today. Pip was busy shoveling and snow blowing.
Mom Update:
Mom sounded good on the phone. She said she’d eaten and it had settled fine. My brother visited earlier and Sister A was there when I called.
Isn't It Punny.....
Jan. 19th, 2026 05:54 amdisneydream06Jan. 19th...
I Couldn't Believe That
The Highway Department
Called My Dad A Thief
But When I Got Home,
All The Signs Were There.
I Couldn't Believe That
The Highway Department
Called My Dad A Thief
But When I Got Home,
All The Signs Were There.