#especially any with text for some reason

[nevergavein]

@365-days-of-taylor-swift's Back to December Challenge: Ten/hundred/thousand

#now i'm covered in queue #taylor swift #tswiftedit #the archer #tswiftgif #taylorswiftedit #btd challenge #my gifs #this is so bad quality omg sorry about that #I always feel so out of practice whenever I go to make gifs #especially any with text for some reason #my edit

[redysetdare]

Lovelessness and lack of any attraction making me realize that i don't understand any relationships in terms of love.

How do you know you're romantically interested in someone? how is that different than loving them in literally any other way? Hell, how do you know you love your friends? When do you even apply the label of friend? How do you decide you want to be someones friend even? What about family? we're just expected to love them from birth but why? How do you know you view someone as family? why are we expected to love people we just happen to be related to?

I dunno, I'm writing some friendships, found family, and just adopted family and biological family relationships and I'm realizing that I'm struggling with actually like...showing why characters "love" each other in these ways. What makes this character want to be a parental figure to another character? what makes this characters friends any more important than other people in their lives? I'm writing what society tells me but I don't actually think i understand any of it.

I can understand connection and characters enjoying each others company and caring about each other but when it gets to the love part? the part society demands there be for the relationship to be full and real and complete? I find myself lost every single time. shouldn't them caring for each other be enough? why do they need this confusing emotion for them to truely be friends or truely be family?

Why is the label of a "strong bond between people" locked behind the paywall that is the undefined idea of love? Why is love a requirement and not an option for these sorts of bonds? a bond without love doesn't mean you hate the person or dislike them even. it doesn't mean you're apathetic. it just means you don't love them. I don't get why this word is so important. I don't get why it's expected.

#text #loveless #loveless aro #idk maybe it's because i look at these sorts of things in terms of logic #which emotions don't always follow #people always use love as an answer but i always question it #“they did it because they love them” why do they love them though #why is their love for them seen as so important #why should other characters care about that love #why did love make them do that #what is so special about the bond between these two characters compared to the bond they have with other characters #why is it different #and i guess most people don't have answers. why would they? it's just how they feel #that's usually enough for others but for some reason not for my brain #and i think it's just because i cannot grasp the idea of love as an emotion #especially not as a pure and good emotion #idk it's confusing #and probably my own fault #im not really looking for answers here because i dont think there is any #not any that would satisfy me at least #just wanted to express this feeling ig

[lottalove01]

rant <3

#so i told my friend im thinking abt engaging more in my christian community again starting w going to church more and visiti g exchanges etc #she kniws abt basically all my other friends being more than less religious and active in their respective communities #+ my family being religious even during soviet times and she even kniws abt the orthodox side of my family #so this shouldnt surprise her this much #why is she trying to talk me out of it saying christianity is evil and she cant agree to creationism like ok bitch me too #she acting as if im gonna become some republican american blonde woman or an primitive medieval peasant wthhh #and like i get it she and her family have always been agnostic and she doesnt have any personal experience with believe and faith #but that is even more reason to shut the hell up?? especially bc i just told her as like a life update i didnt want to start a discussion #w an agnostic no less #ppl like that make me so uncomfortable and then she kept saying things like this person is godless as a joke like stfu??? #and kept bringing up she csnt believe in god at random times it made me so umcomfortable #especially bc now i feel hesitant to invite her to hangouts w my more 'strict' friends like idk what she thinks abt them and i dont want to #expose my friends who have to listen to enough shit to someone like that like i want my home to be a safe space for my friends #anyways thats the same girl who keeps telling me she doesnt think im white and when i tell her her saying this makes me uncomfortable #shes argues its ok bc she is not white herself ok wth im literally german/slavic how is that not white im crying #cant really articulate what exactly makes me uncomfy abt this but feels like she wants to enable me its really weird #also with tge christian stuff like ive always been religious she kniws abt me reading religious texts its so weird to me #why are you my friend if you disagree with a foundamental part of my life #maybe she thoight i was an ok one bc me and my familys approach to believe and faith is very relaxed but wth man

[frostedpuffs]

im having a hard time wanting to create content these days

#i mean the WANT is there. i just dont have the MOTIVATION to get started i guess #i cant believe i used to write one chapter a week #idk it takes so much effort for me to even be able to get ideas and want to write stuff #and i can lose the motivation so easily #text post #like im not gonna abandon any more fics and I especially wont abandon ppu #but for some reason writing and drawing have both become a chore and I just Dont wanna do it anymore #like i WILL #i'll never stop creating bc i still love it #but why does it feel so bad??? #it takes SOOO MUCH just for me to want to write something. or to come up with an idea for a thing. and then takes even longer to make it #and by that point its like well...does anyone even want it anymore #or has someone already done it better than i could #idk. fic writing is hard. drawing is hard. ah well

[takofukkatsumi]

Probably the biggest (though a bit dubious) advantage of reading Discworld books for the first time at 26 is that you understand every single double entendre

If I were British I would've probably also understood every single sociopolitical reference cause now I feel I've missed a few

#discworld #well. every single that isn't lost in the translation I'm reading #like e.g calling Cutwell Keli's chamberlain which is. veeeeeeeeeeeeery vague especially since there isn't any “chamber” in the Russian word #the translations I'm reading tend to lose A LOT actually. there isn't a day when I'm not complaining to Shio that some joke was lost #desperately waiting for the editions with Graf's covers #I compared the printed version of Hogfather to my ebook of Hogfather and the former is SO much better it's insane #with a C1 I probably could've just read the originals but for an unknown and very sad reason #I find it incredibly hard to focus on Pratchett's original text #but then again the only book I checked this on was Good Omens so it might have been Gaiman's influence #tags 10x the length of post

[oscill4te]

if i absolutely must go get a new phone number i am honestly so reluctant to even update my family. partially for petty reasons, the other half bc i always feel my heart lurch whenever i have to contact them.

#rationally i should ask my father why he canceled my line maybe it was a mistake? but im scared of him even to this day #my brain just blocks out memories. my roommate was reading old texts from 2021 out loud for fun and #smthn with my father came up and i flatout didnt remember any of the stuff my roommate was reading out to me.. #my brain just cuts away memories of my family especially my dad. i like to pretend he doesn't exist. ik its not healthy though #but. the brain does what it must do to survive i guess #anyway.... i dont wanna give him my new number (if for some reason i can't get my old one back today) #txt #i feel frozen today and want to doomscroll and nap all day lmao.. not deal w reality (unhealthy i know) #i will eventually force myself out of this state. sometimes my bed feels like this sticky trap i cant get out of ykwim

[cold-neon-ocean]

..🐳

#[ ngl that Halloween poll got me thinking about how it's actually become one of my lesser favorite holidays #for no other reason other than I'm always especially lonely on that day~ #everyone either has Halloween parties with friends #or get together in groups to play spooky games over discord #but I can't do any of those things so it's become a day I always spend alone lol #being reminded all evening of other people doing fun things #idk why I'm feeling some type of way about it right now #maybe because it's almost October #but hmm yeah I just got a bit lost in thinking about it lolol ] #;and that was the trivia for tonight #[ testing out a new text post tag to replace the old one and I like it :) ]

[adamwarlock]

Remember when Marvel made Thanos trans

#funniest retcon of all time they could've picked ANY name but they went with Dione. DIONE????? #Thanos & Eros have greek inspired names too obviously so theming wise it makes sense but like. Am I rly not supposed to think about #his ''true name'' meaning DIVINE QUEEN because uh. lmao #ESPECIALLY since he puts such emphasis on his actual name ''Thanos means Death'' etc. the meaning behind his name is important!!! #congrats on the transition king 👑 #text #thanos #real reason he killed his mom is bc she kept deadnaming him #(Sui-San baby I'm so sorry for saying that I know in my heart you would never do this) #wait but actually. Thanos dissecting his mom to find out why he was born ''wrong'' sure has some implications too #I do prefer Starlin's backstory where she dies when Thanos nukes Titan to hell rather than him murdering her more personally but HMM. #also hate the implication that Thanos shaves he's a 100% natural naked molerat to me.

[emometalhead]

Ashley!! Curious to know what you think of Electric Touch and also what the wider FOB fandom thinks of it :)

I am entirely obsessed!! I've been trying to equally listen to the entire album, and I've failed spectacularly lol. Electric Touch is easily my most listened to on the whole album.

I think Taylor and Patrick's voices really suit each other! The bridge drives me crazy!! They complement each other so well!! Plus even beyond the vocals I like the lyrics!! "All I know is this could either break my heart or bring me back to life" is a feeling I can totally understand despite never being in a relationship.

Obviously I'm biased toward both parties, but I can safely say this song did not disappoint me! It's making me want a full collaboration between Fall Out Boy (the whole band) and Taylor even more than I already did. In the meantime, I'm happy to enjoy Electric Touch!!

I've lowkey been avoiding seeking out opinions from the wider FOB fandom. The Swemos (Swiftie emos) seem really excited about it! Like some people want it to play at Emo Nite events even. I've seen a couple older FOB fans say they like it. Some FOB fans are upset that Electric Touch is FOB's top song on Spotify rn, but I think they should have anticipated this. Also I know some people complained that the song is too pop, but again I don't know why they would expect otherwise. So long story short, I'm not sure what the consensus is or if there is a consensus! It would hurt my heart a little bit too much to see FOB fans trashing Taylor or vice versa.

Thank you so much for asking, and I'm sorry in advance about the lengthy tags!!!!! Taylor and Fall Out Boy are not subjects I'm capable of being concise about!!!!!

#also I just love that Patrick got to do the ohohohoh thing. he always nails it. that man's vocals will never cease to impress me #on the fan reaction thing I haven't seen any new negative takes on Taylor from FOB fans but I've seen some pretty rude stuff about Patrick #needless to say I blocked those people #honestly I feel like I've seen harsher reactions about Taylor from Paramore/Hayley fans which is a whole other thing #I really love the song with all of my heart. it won't leave my head. it's truly everything I wanted it to be. #I can let you know if I see more FOB fan opinions but like I said I'm pretty much avoiding them beyond Swemos #oh also with the pop thing I think some FOB fans want to forget that FOB is a POP punk band and Patrick is a pop music fan #most of the outrage I saw from FOB fans was about the whole band being named when only Patrick was involved #my take on that is it's a lot of exposure for FOB and I think Patrick would rather give them all that exposure rather than himself #especially given inital reactions to his own solo music #the rest of the band has been super supportive of the song though so I think some people are just trying to find a reason to be mad #sorry these tags are so long LOL #I thought I was done talking in the post but I was VERY wrong #idk this might be where you're fine ending the conversation but if you want my pettier thoughts about the fandoms text me lol #long long long story short! I love the song! I'm mostly avoiding fan reactions but I've seen some interesting (bad) takes on both ends #asks #fiona

[kingmaximusboltagon]

This is a loaded question, and I've asked it on another Inhumans fan blog, but what's your take on the possibility that Black Bolt is autistic-coded? Or that Black Bolt and Maximus are both autistic, but express it differently because Maximus has comorbidities such as brain injury?

Obviously, there is no one-on-one real life analogue for Black Bolt's destructive voice, or his isolation while trying to control his powers. However, I see it as symbolic of how people without mental mouth filters can destroy conversations and relationships by saying the wrong thing. While Black Bolt's voice causes actual destruction, he's also done plenty to wreck his relationship with his loved ones (Ahura, for example). His isolation and training to keep silent would then be symbolic of people who clam up because they believe they can never say the right thing.

While it's more likely that artists are choosing to be lazy, there's also scenes where Black Bolt does not try to communicate, even in sign language. Or scenes where, though he is signing, he never communicates more than the basics. It could be that, in a face-to-face conversation, he has no way to describe what he is actually feeling at a given time. Certainly he and Maximus have had several errors in communication where Maximus believes Black Bolt hates him and wants revenge, but Black Bolt loves him and only wants to help, but he struggles to find a way to actually convey that to his brother.

There's also stories where Black Bolt, like his friend and fellow autistic-coded Reed Richards, has run off and done something unorthodox by both human and Inhuman standards, not bothering to explain himself before hand because it actually made sense to his personal logic. It's led to a lot of misconceptions over his motives and character, even among his closest friends. By the time things are over , Black Bolt, like Reed, always forgives them for doubting him, likely because he's used to this treatment. On the other hand, Maximus holds grudges a mile long over even misconstrued doubts and slights.

Finally, there's the fact that in scenarios where Black Bolt can talk, whether it's an AU, or he has some sort of power nullifier, there's moments where he's gone on tangents and needs to be steered back to the actual topic at hand. This is, again, something I have experience with.

Overall, it would be interesting to see how neither Black Bolt nor Maximus are neurotypical, but they express it differently. And it would be one more vulnerability to add to Black Bolt, who usually seems so stoic and regal.

hmmm.. this is definitely interesting to think about. imo one of the most interesting things about the inhumans is how terrible their society is (was) despite so many of the royal family going directly against those societal expectations. triton needing accommodations to be on land, gorgon using a wheelchair/having chronic pain, maximus having prosthetics and being neurodivergent (i really wish they would go into more specifics with that! it all feels so vague… especially since sometimes they explain it as something other than a disorder).

and as some other people have mentioned, there’s definitely some subtext for triton, though he hasn’t appeared in too many of the comics i’ve read so far, so i can’t comment much on him. i do think an argument could be made for karnak, as well, though! though maybe that's just me. i find some of his personality very relatable.

but back to the boltagons. considering the comics have commented more than once that ahura could “inherent maximus’ madness”, and there’s that one comic (more than one?) where bb’s tuning fork is damaged and he begins hallucinating (just like maximus!), i think there’s definitely something that runs in the family that agon could very well have also had. whether it’s autism specifically, i’m not sure i could really say, as i haven’t been diagnosed with it, so i really can’t speak from any type of experience on that. but i do think you make very good points, and i certainly don’t think he’s neurotypical, based off what the comics have stated and his upbringing! (i like to think he also has social anxiety)

plus, as you mentioned the comics where he does talk - in those that i’ve read, it seems even then he keeps the tuning fork. i very strongly believe it has some type of control over his mental state, something that agon would have created for him while he was very young, and something he wouldn’t know how to exist without… that tied with the communication issues, his general personality of appeasing, his tangents in zombies (man, did i love him in zombies, even if it was such a short role), i can definitely see it. it would 100% add to his character, and i think would also give further reasoning into some of his decisions, especially maximus or ahura related. i would love a comic focused on the three and their mental health.

#i do think hes very relatable as someone with adhd though #which has a lot of overlap with autism! #so i do feel that theres something there and can definitely be seen in the subtext #and if i wish it hard enough maybe just... the text? 😳 #but yes!! i think i kinda tangented myself in this ask but tldr is yeah very big hc #and i love to include ahura in those hcs. especially after reading ff (iirc) bc medusa and sue talk about their kids in it #and i LOVE LOVE LOVE ahura in it and his relationship with medusa and how medusa (and crystal!) think of him #how they mention that he has good and bad mental days and always try to accommodate him #it means a real big lot to me and i WISH some of that writing was included for bb and maximus more often #i have a LOT of thoughts on bb and neurodivergence and i think max's is one of the reasons ive latched onto him so hard #but im not gonna get into any of that in the tags rn and tbh i dont even know how to write half of those thoughts and feelings #which if anything shows how strongly i relate to the two. the rep i feel from bb is... very comforting. i love these boys so so much #blackagar boltagon #maximus boltagon #ahura boltagon #triton mander azur #gorgon petragon #karnak mander azur #king agon #agon #? i forgot my tag for him oops #inhumans #ask

[rocaillefox]

if you are writing fanfic about a story that has Themes and you say something in the exposition thats Directly Against These Themes, well. depending on what youre saying i may keep reading BUT the point is you are on some Thin Ice. (about if i will keep reading)

#ramblings #mar does reading fanfic #spoilers for orv in tags past this #the theme in question is: in orv the universe is a kid's subconscious #it isnt inherently cruel despite the text outright stating that at times; there isnt some secret orchestrator making it bad #and the acceptance of that allows for kindness to be extended even to the being keeping the universe going #kim dokja is an unreliable narrator #and the way the universe is created in terms of the things that are harsh #is at least partially informed by the kid's previous experiences #the whole thing is both a narrative about finding out that bad things happen for no reason (and cruelty is a reason) #and that fiction can help people regardless of the number of readers #plus so many other things but anyways #simplifying it down to 'the universe is cruel' may work if youre still writing from kim dokja's pov #but not necessarily so when writing from Everyone's pov #the term cruel implies intention. which the universe does not have #and in fact in orv specifically if the universe has any intention Especially towards kim dokja it is kindness #if you keep in mind his position as an overpowered mc who chooses his own story repeatedly #which isnt to say he hasnt gone through his own hardships! he Absolutely has and a lot of his choice was taken asay from him #but regardless of choice there are those who tried just as hard as he did and didnt end up with the same result #this kinda derailed . and is also about not Too big of an issue

[lttleghost]

me: I do think it's especially not great that transmasc Jesse overshadows egg Jesse since transmasc Jesse is not as canon compatible-

some dumbasses: OH DO YOU THINK TRANS MEN CAN'T HAVE COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIPS WITH MASCULINITY? DO YOU NOT THINK TOXIC MASCULINITY HARMS TRANSMASCS? DO YOU JUST HATE TRANSMASC PPL?

me: not what I fucking said

#i care about the issue that underlies this outside of Jesse he is the obly thing i feel qualified to talk abt tho #like saying a headcanon isnt as compatible with canon shouldn't be a threat #the automatic assumption kills me #especially cause its often from people who are like... they just dont want anyone to see their tboy swag icon as anything but transmasc #as if ur like... hurting them for this instead of pointing out shitty trends in fandom #oh the reasons are that any headcanon that requires Jesse to already be transitioned #brings up questions abt some characters who woulve known him before and would DEFINITELY be transphobic #also without scene alterations or added things like where does Jesse reclaim manhood/masculinity in any significant way? #this might be me personally but like #i only see him seperating from it and it hurting him #WHERES THE TRANS JOY? #and also therfore how would it be an active part of his character instead of like... something you added on #AGAIN only for a direct reading of the text #cause while i propsed added scenes in my egg Jesse reading theyre not needed really #cause it parallels his existing struggles #but I cant see where without something added that has Jesse actually like.... reclaim masculinity #transmasc Jesse isnt just an accessory #again i do not think the headcanon should be erased b/c while the fandom has made me hate it it still has value #espec if you like change canon to adress the conflicts brought up #but like... its not gonna hurt you to admit egg Jesse is a more accurate reading #you dont have to even like it more but like... dont bend over backward to deny it #meat.txt #this is my girlfriend dont touch him

[cooltapes]

I miss Sailor Moon!! I wish I could go back to just posting about it like I used to before lol. Maybe I'll do a rewatch of the new dub or something and just pick up where I left off

#especially if more people come back to Tumblr #my dash on my SM account is so so so dead #idk any of the current sailor moon accounts to follow there either #but screw it. perhaps we ball #part of the reason I stopped is that the fandom's general suckitude after crystal killed my desire to make just like #goofy off-the-cuff posts like I used to. where my brain could always be tuned into SM at least a little bit #like it currently is to one piece. because I have a place where I can throw those ideas and usually get people nodding along #even just like. one or two people. my brain gets the feedback response it wants to maintain thinking about it #so without that sailor moon just went back onto a back burner in my mind - something I always had but didn't actively Reflect On #I don't have the energy to make goofy comics for it or anything since like 9 people might see it #so for the amount of effort it would be better as a text post or just staying in my head bc it's not that funny or important #and actual high-effort sailor moon fanart feels like a scary commitment at the moment for some reason #narrowing my scope to just PGSM has done a lot to help actually. but it's not like I don't love the other canons & characters too #anyway. idk. I almost forgot Pluto's birthday bc I'm stressed and busy atm and looking at one of the posts I was reblogging #I got that old Spark I used to get. About how excited the series and its characters would make me. How they felt like old friends #how fun it was to contrast all their characters and personalities and preferences and tailor my fan content to those aspects #I miss my girls!!!!!!!!!!!!! ue ue ue!!!!!! #i've had ENOUGH stinky shonen boys

[trans-xianxian]

by far the hardest part of trying to hide all evidence of bunnies from my landlord for the inspection tomorrow is cleaning up all of their Goddamn hair

#especially off of my velvet fucking couch #the living room doesn't look perfect but I think that I've at least created reasonable doubt #like unless they're Looking for signs that I have Secret Hidden Pets it doesn't look like there are any #and they have no reason to assume I do and look #plus they can't evict me because theres some hair on my couch you know #anyway I am Deeply uncomfortable with someone being in my apartment while I'm not here Esp my landlord but such is life I guess #maybe it won't even be him and its just some inspector dude #I'm far more comfortable w that somehow #ghost posts #text

[fuzzyunicorn]

Bitch don’t even, I know about ur plan 2 pull up on me w ur concealed gun as well as ur plan u concocted w ur (not-so) side piece boytoy to— let me directly quote him: “to teach this little bitch (me) a lesson by raping her,” while you do what? You wanna tell every1 what u were going 2 do or shall I? Touch yourself 2 watching ur boytoy rape me. Yeah ur demons (that r attached 2 u n ur friends n fam) told me ur & his plan. Go ahead and try let’s see what u think u can do :)

#always remember shit rolls downhill not up so open that mouth wide 2 receive #u’re the real life human centipede & know it’s ur place 2 eat shit and ask 4 more #in life the worst combo of traits any1 could possibly have is being stupid and malicious & understand right here right now u r beyond stupi #and you are beyond malicious c where it gets u in life :) #yeah I’m astral projecting watching u hyperventilate n freak the fuck out lolcats pls keep crying 4 me it makes my dick hard #do u not c urself 4 what u truly r? cause every1 else is starting 2 c ur true colors & btw u look beyond insane so yeah keep telling ppl im #the crazy 1 and don’t forget there’s literal proof of what ur doing u were 2 stupid to double back n cover ur tracks & every1 is onto u now #don’t forget ​u & ur friends used their nursing jobs 2 access my medical records 2 falsify them & there’s electronic proof u girls did #& who did it & who all was involved. I told u girls ur all standing on a gallows door & ur dumbasses keep jumping n stomping not realizing #only reason God has allowed u girls 2 do what u’ve done is the literal meaning of the saying give them rope and watch them hang themselves #we’re the police behind ur dumabasses tailgating u into speeding up which u did every time and now we’re just watching u girls upping the #ante so now we’re gonna pop u 4 a whole laundry list when u girls could’ve been just caught 4 some speeding but u girls won’t stop so keep #digging ur holes deeper we’re loving it #I love when u girls won’t stop racking up your karmic subtotals bc u honestly think you’ll be able 2 hand off ur debts 2 another of ur #victims— u still think the plates u girls slopped high w shit aren’t 4 u & like I said u girls r 2 stupid 2 c that ur own names are on ur #plates so slop slop u dumb cunts bc u girls r going 2 be the only ones feasting on shit & we’re here 2 force every bite down ur throats— #no whining or crying just ​remember what I said about the lubrication 4 ur throats when u can’t take anymore of ur own bs :) #no one else is eating u girl’s shit other than yourselves and each other which btw 2 this girl’s friends: she’s literally done spell work #of her own as well as paying other witches 2 hand off HER karma 2 u girls… & there’s ample proof of it all if u don’t wanna believe #just like there’s proof u girls made fake accounts of me pretending I said xtreme shit and the doctored texts— girls I have never received a #single text from any of u so how did I say those things when the phone company records can & will prove my innocence #this is very much heading into suing territory u girls have impersonated me 2 say xtreme things 2 get me locked up in the psych ward n made #fake screenshots of our supposed text exchange again when mine and ur phone records show in the logs I’ve never spoken 2 any of u girls… oh #oh wait… I wouldn’t put it past u girls 2 get a job @ a phone company 2 falsify records… didn’t u girls already do that… with ur healthcare #jobs…? where do u think that alone is going 2 get u girls? slow clap 4 u dumb cunts u wasted ur parents money on degrees for professions #u girls r now blackballed from like oof what a waste lol #all I gotta say now is u girls best be lawyering up & the more shit u girls delete the more guilty u look & food 4 thought u can’t #actually delete the posts u girls made on your fake accounts impersonating me & ur texts from your group chat the phone companies will be #recovering those logs. so let me ask u girls: was this worth it? was harassing me worth the loss of your careers and getting blackballed #from jobs/careers u wasted ur parents money 4 ur degree 2 get. was bullying me worth going 2 prisons and psych wards? especially when my

[burntoutdaydreamer]

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

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