I Looked At This Little Guy (who I Copied From Somewhere And I No Longer Know Where) And Thought About

I looked at this little guy (who I copied from somewhere and I no longer know where) and thought about mistletoe stories but how would a toad get the mistletoe? And thought… it should be Sam, wandering out on the bayou, and there’s a toad, and maybe Sam is a little drunk and talks to the toad about his life, and at some point he goes to brush off his shoulder and realizes that there’s a piece of mistletoe on it (maybe he was helping his sister make mistletoe sprigs for the party he wandered away from?), so he laughs, and says what the heck, and kisses the toad, and it turns into Bucky! Who obviously is a prince who has been put under a spell that Sam has now broken.

That’s not really a mistle-toad, that’s a toad under the mistletoe, but it amused me. And it is Christmas, so best wishes on a lovely holiday.

Want to learn something new in 2022??

Absolute beginner adult ballet series (fabulous beginning teacher)

40 piano lessons for beginners (some of the best explanations for piano I’ve ever seen)

Excellent basic crochet video series

Basic knitting (probably the best how to knit video out there)

Pre-Free Figure Skate Levels A-D guides and practice activities (each video builds up with exercises to the actual moves!)

How to draw character faces video (very funny, surprisingly instructive?)

Another drawing character faces video

Literally my favorite art pose hack

Tutorial of how to make a whole ass Stardew Valley esque farming game in Gamemaker Studios 2??

Introduction to flying small aircrafts

French/Dutch/Fishtail braiding

Playing the guitar for beginners (well paced and excellent instructor)

Playing the violin for beginners (really good practical tips mixed in)

Color theory in digital art (not of the children’s hospital variety)

Retake classes you hated but now there’s zero stakes:

Calculus 1 (full semester class)

Learn basic statistics (free textbook)

Introduction to college physics (free textbook)

Introduction to accounting (free textbook)

Learn a language:

Ancient Greek

Latin

Spanish

German

Japanese (grammar guide) (for dummies)

French

Russian (pretty good cyrillic guide!)

Google Docs

AO3 Demographics Survey

This is a survey to research the demographics and behaviours of people who use the fanfiction website Archive of Our Own (AO3).

The AO3 Demographics Survey 2024 has arrived!

This project is an independent survey (not affiliated with AO3) which seeks to research the demographics and behaviours of AO3 users. The survey will take about 10-15 minutes to complete, will be open until 1 February, and can be found at https://forms.gle/2kt5J17ipzcAbnFY9

We are hoping to survey as large a group of users as possible, so we really appreciate anyone who shares the survey, whether by reblogging this post or sharing posts on other social media.

If you have any questions for us, we have FAQs on Tumblr or on AO3 which will be updated as the project progresses. And of course, you can follow us on Tumblr or AO3 if you want to see the survey results!

managing creative envy

Just like in other areas of our lives, it's easy to be jealous of others when we create in fandom spaces and post online - the online aspect of fandom just offers more opportunities for it. Hits, kudos, comments, reblogs. Whatever unit of measurement you look at, there's always some number out there ready to tell you who's "better" and who's "worse" at whatever creative endeavor you engage in.

Except that none of those numbers actually gauge skill or quality.

When we're jealous of those numbers, what we actually wish we had isn't bigger numbers, it's attention. Reassurance. Excitement. Community. Whether the number is 5 or 5000, that's what it represents. We want those things and that other person has more of them, and so we end up jealous.

To manage that jealousy, we need to understand what we need and then find ways to get it. It might not come from posting on AO3, but maybe it comes from a local writer's group. Maybe there's someone in your life that you wish cared a little more about your "silly stories" and took you more seriously when you spoke about writing. Maybe what's missing isn't related to writing at all and it's more about having someone who cares about you and thinks you're important.

But numbers are just one thing to be jealous of. Perhaps the envy is instead because of another person's abilities. They come up with such interest plots! They have such fun ideas! They always have the perfect words, the singing phrases. For them it's easy, and for me it's just impossible!

Whether it's easy for them or not isn't what's making us envious, though. It's not about them and their abilities at all. It's about feeling like our own skills are lacking. The envy comes in because that person has what we want and don't yet have.

If we want to get past this type of envy, we need to refocus our energy away from being sad or angry or hopeless because another person is able to do something. Focus instead on celebrating the things we already do well. Take the time to notice improvements. Identify specific things we want to do better, and figure out how to learn. Remember, asking for help is always an option - and it might even lead to that feeling of community that might be lacking too.

Emotions are information that we need to take the time to interpret. Take the time to reflect on what's causing it. Find the thing that's missing from your experience and then figure out how to fill the gap.

TOMORROW (January 14th): Panel Suggestion Party!

Escapade has extended the panel suggestion deadline to January 14th. Not sure what to suggest? Come and join the Panel Suggestion Party!

WHAT: Join nev and the gang and we'll help you brainstorm and submit the panel(s) of your dreams.

WHEN: Sunday, January 14th at 5pm Pacific (What time is that for me?)

WHERE: The year-round Escapade Discord in the Escapade Discord voice chat (the Atrium).

WHY: Because creating panels—and the convention—is more fun if it's a party! If you have panel ideas you haven't submitted, bring them. If you want to submit panel suggestions but don't feel like your ideas are convention-ready, bring them. We can work together to add some truly special panels that wouldn't be there without you at the party!

Goodnight, boys - (2024)

Hurt Sam and Dean after a hunt.