“You Don’t Know Anyone At The Party, So You Don’t Want To Go. You Don’t Like Cottage Cheese,

i love codependent relationships in fiction i love watching two messy people unforgivably in love with each other shatter the world around them i love seeing interpretations of love as a cosmic disastrous redemptive force i love watching love consume people whole i love looking at romantic relationships and going "oh that is so fucked up! good for them"

despite all my saddened rage i am still just a girl in her room watching her silly little films, reading her silly little books, listening to her silly little playlists

sun

tea, coffee

The Two Types of Pacing

Pacing is a tricky, tricky thing. Hopefully, by breaking it down into two schools of thought, we can better our understanding of maintaining effective pacing. 

as requested by @whisperinghallwaysofmirrors

First, Some Definitions

According to Writer’s Digest, narrative pacing is “a tool that controls the speed and rhythm at which a story is told… [H]ow fast or slow events in a piece unfold and how much time elapses in a scene or story.“

Pacing can be a lot of things. Slow, fast, suspenseful, meandering, boring, exciting, et cetera et cetera. While we don’t want meandering or boring, getting it to be the other things can be a feat. 

As I go through all of this, I would like to say that the number one thing you should be keeping in mind with the pacing of your story is the purpose.

What is the purpose of this story, scene, dialogue, action, arc, plot point, chapter, et al? This and only this will keep you on track the whole way through. 

Without further ado, here are the two types of pacing…

Micro Pacing

This, to me, is the harder of the two. Macro pacing usually comes naturally with our understanding of overall story structure that we see in books and movies. Micro is much more subjective and labor-intensive.

The first step of every scene you write is to identify what kind of pacing it needs to be effective. Is a slower pace going to nail in the emotional tone? Is a faster pace going to convey how urgent the scene is? Is choppy going to show how chaotic it is? How much attention to detail is needed? Et cetera. And even with the scene’s tone, there are also tones within with action, dialogue, and narrator perception.

There is no one-size-fits-all trick to mastering pacing. All you can do is try to keep it in mind as you draft. Don’t let it consume you, though. Just get it down. After drafting, look at the pacing with a critical eye. Do important scenes go too fast? Are unnecessary things being dragged out? Is this scene too detailed to be suspenseful?

A lot of errors in pacing are quick fixes. The adding or removal of details, shortening or lengthening of sentences, changing descriptions. However, these quick fixes do take a while when you have to look at every single scene in a story.

Macro Pacing

Rather than the contents of a scene, this deals with everything larger. Scenes, chapters, plot points, storylines, subplots, and arcs. This is taking a look at how they all work for each other when pieced together.

One of the biggest resources when it comes to analyzing macro pacing is story structure philosophy. The common examples are Freytag’s Pyramid, the 3-Act Structure, Hero’s Journey, and Blake Snyder’s 15 Beats. They follow the traditional story structure. Exposition, catalyst, rising action, climax, and resolution (albeit each in different terms and specificity). Though some see it as “cookie-cutter”, 99% of effective stories follow these formats at a considerable capacity. It’s not always about how the story is told, but rather who tells it. But I digress.

Looking at these structures, we can begin to see how the tried-and-true set-up is centered around effective pacing.

The beginning, where everything is set up, is slower but short and sweet. The catalyst happens early and our MC is sent out on a journey or quest whether they like it or not. The trek to a climax is a tricky stage for maintaining effective pacing. Good stories fluctuate between fast and slow. There is enough to keep it exciting, but we’re given breaks to stop and examine the finer details like theme, characterization, and arcs.

The edge before the climax is typically when the action keeps coming and we’re no longer given breaks. The suspense grabs us and doesn’t let go. This is the suspense that effectively amounts to the crescendo and leads to the emotional payoff and release that follows in the resolution. The resolution is nothing BUT a break, or a breather if you will. Though it is slower like the exposition, it is longer than that because this is where we wrap everything up for total closure. This is what the reader needs, rather than what they want. So you can take your time.

Not every story has to follow this recipe step-by-step. Critically acclaimed movies such as Pulp Fiction, Frances Ha, and Inside Llewyn Davis* break the traditional structure. However, they still keep certain ingredients in it. Whether it be the concept of a climax, the idea of a journey, or the overall balance of tension and release.

If you’re struggling with the macro side of your story’s pacing, I would try to identify what the weakest areas are and see if applying these story structure concepts and methodology strengthens it at all. If not, it may be that your story idea doesn’t fit the “substance” requirement of an 80k+ word novel. It may need more or fewer subplots or an increase of conflict or more things getting in the MC’s way. You could also see if adapting it to a shorter medium (novella, et al) or a longer medium (series, episodics, et al) would alleviate the pacing issues.

*sorry all my references are movies and not books, but I’ve seen more movies than I’ve read books

In Short–

Pacing, both macro and micro, are incredibly subjective concepts. The only way to really find out how effective your story’s pacing is, is to look at it through the lens of traditional structures and ask for feedback from beta readers. How a reader,who doesn’t know the whole story like you do feels about pacing is the best resource you could have.

Domestic wolfstar part two because. Yeah

highlighting some verified fundraisers that have not received any donations in over a week. I worry about our siblings in Gaza who aren't able to access the internet or navigate social media to ask for our help. any amount you can donate will bring hope and help save lives

from Ottawa4Palestine: Enas' family Fadi Hamad Nada's family the Shahwan family Ameer Khaled Samah's family Heba's family Mahmoud and Nada Leen's family Khaled and Hisham's family

from Gaza Funds: Malik, Yazan, and Ibrahim the Saeed family Bahaa Kahlout's family Mohammad's family Osama's family Hamdi's family Fatima's husband the Abu Shaaban family Dr. Isam's family Ahmed Timraz's family

wolfstar ‘eternal sunshine of the spotless mind’ au

By likeafunerall, and reposted with permission.

Consejos para Selectividad/PAU

For my non-Spanish speakers: This post is about the exam Spanish students have to sit if they want to go to uni, that’s why it’s in Spanish only. But you can read and practice your Spanish if you’re studying it!

Primero de todo: calma. El estrés es lo peor. Si has llegado hasta aquí la PAU es solo un paseo (a no ser que quieras entrar en Medicina)

DESCANSA. A ver, hay mucha gente que se tira desde las 8 de la mañana hasta las 2 de la madrugada estudiando, parando solo para comer. Y no es plan. Yo me despertaba a las 8.30 y me ponía a las 9. De 2.30 a 4 o así hacía siesta y a las 8 me duchaba. Y luego de cenar no estudiaba, leía un libro y me iba a dormir. Si a ti te sirve estudiar por la noche, adelante, pero no te fuerces: HAY TIEMPO.

ORGANÍZATE. Yo el día que terminé las clases me dediqué a sacar todo el material y contar las unidades que tenía, para dividir todo por días. HAZTE UN HORARIO A ORDENADOR E IMPRÍMELO. Pon lo que quieras hacer cada día y cuando lo hayas hecho lo tachas. Si no puedes más tal día, pasa parte del temario al día siguiente. Yo normalmente intercalaba días más intensos con días más “light”. Estudia primero una asignatura que te guste, luego una que no, y luego otra que sí.

HAZ PARONES. Yo paraba cuando ya me había estudiado una de las cosas que debía estudiarme cada día. Por ejemplo, me estudiaba un tema de historia y paraba. Puedes hacer lo que quieras. Yo hacía siestas de 15 minutos en cada parón.

DISEÑA UN PLAN. Tienes 1h y 30 min, así que planea antes de empezar los días de selectividad cómo vas a contestar. El orden da igual, así que empieza primero por las que valen más puntos y son más cortas, dejando las que valen menos para el final. Ya la harás luego si tienes tiempo. (En castellano, por ejemplo, empieza por la literatura y te la quitas de encima. Luego sigue con las que son más cortas. Déjate la pregunta que valga un punto para el final).

EL SORTEO. Si ves que no te da tiempo a estudiarte tantas cosas de una asignatura, se puede hacer sorteo y jugártela. Yo lo hice con castellano. No me daba tiempo a estudiarme tantos temas de literatura, así que busqué en internet qué preguntas salen más y no me estudié los otros temas. Con Literatura Universal, como son 6 libros, me estudié 5, quitándome encima el que más teoría tenía. Como tenía dos opciones, sabía que si me dejaba 1 siempre habría una opción en la que saldría uno de los 5 libros.

COME Y BEBE AGUA. Desayuna, almuerza, come, merienda y cena. Acuérdate de beber agua mientras estudias.

MUÉVETE. Vas a estar muchas horas en la silla. Cuando lleves unas horas te va a doler el culo y la espalda (yo llegué a perder peso de estar sentado). Te recomiendo que te levantes y muevas un poco el cuerpo. Yo bajaba a la panadería a comprarme el almuerzo, y así me obligaba a vestirme y a que me diera un poco el aire.

VÍSTETE. No estés todo el día en pijama, ponte ropa limpia.

DÚCHATE. Lo puedes hacer tanto por la mañana o al terminar de estudiar. Yo prefería hacerlo luego porque me despejaba.

ESCONDE TODOS LOS APARATOS ELECTRÓNICOS. Tienta mucho usar el móvil, la tablet o el ordenador. Guárdalos todos en otra habitación. Yo solo miraba WhatsApp dos o tres veces al día, para ver si algún amigo tenía alguna duda o por si el grupo de clásico estaban todos histéricos.

LLEGA A TIEMPO A LOS EXÁMENES. Recuerda salir de casa con tiempo de sobra, y estar en la facultad a la que tienes que ir también con tiempo.

MIRA LAS DOS OPCIONES. En PAU cada examen tiene dos opciones. Lee ambas atentamente antes de empezar y elige bien. Tal vez no te sepas la literatura de la opción que has escogido en castellano, pero tal vez sí sabes hacer sintaxis bien. Puedes cambiar de opción a mitad del examen, no pasa nada.

NO REPASES DURANTE LOS 5 MINUTOS PREVIOS AL EXAMEN. Tal vez tengas 1 hora o 2 horas de descanso para comer cada día. Puedes repasar, pero hacerlo mientras estás haciendo cola para entrar al examen no es bueno. Os podéis preguntar entre tus amigos y tú, pero no te agobies si sabes menos que tu amigo.

NO COMPARES CUANDO SALGAS DE LOS EXÁMENES. Esto tienta mucho, pero en las asignaturas de ciencias (las de letras pueden ser más subjetivas) no es bueno comparar los resultados con los demás, pues si no tienes lo mismo puede desanimarte.

SI UN EXAMEN TE HA SALIDO MAL, OLVÍDATE. El primer examen siempre suele salir peor (de hecho, yo en ese saqué la nota más baja de todos mis exámenes), pero tú olvídate de eso: lo hecho hecho está. Cada asignatura es distinta, y pensar que te va a salir mal no va a ayudar. HAY QUE SER POSITIVO.

LLEVA TODA LA DOCUMENTACIÓN OFICIAL. Sin DNI y todo el papeleo que se pide, olvídate de hacer los exámenes.

YOUTUBE. En YouTube hay miles de vídeos de gente dando consejos, contando su experiencia, diciendo qué hacer y qué no hay que hacer.

¡Suerte!

— Silas Denver Melvin, from GRIT: a poetry collection

This is a big, giant list of Youtube tutorials that will teach you all the basic life skills you need to know in order to be a functional adult. There are a lot of important skills that aren’t included in this list, but this should be enough of a basic guide to get you started and prevent you from making a total mess of yourself. Happy adulting! Household Skills:

How to unclog a toilet without a plunger

How to fix a blown fuse

How to fix a leaky faucet 

How to clean soap scum from your tub and shower

How to escape from a house fire

How to make a budget and stick to it

How to sharpen a knife

How to clean a self-cleaning oven

How to clean red wine stains from carpet

How to clean blood stains from fabric

How to clean grease stains from fabric

How to do a load of laundry

How to iron your clothes

How to test your smoke detectors

Cooking Skills:

How to tell if produce is ripe

How to know if food is expired 

How to properly sanitize a kitchen

How to cook an egg

How to make rice

How to make pasta

How to put out a kitchen grease fire safely

How to use a gas stove

How to use a convection oven

How to cook meat safely

How to use a stand mixer

How to use kitchen knives properly

How to make mashed potatoes

How to make grilled cheese sandwiches 

Health Skills:

How to stop bleeding

How to treat a burn 

How to do CPR (on an adult)

How to do CPR (on a child)

How to do CPR (on a baby)

How to help someone who is choking

How to save yourself if you are choking alone

How to read a nutrition label

How to treat frostbite

How to recognize when someone is having a stroke

How to maintain a healthy sleep schedule

Mental Health Skills:

How to calm down during a panic attack

How to help someone who is suicidal 

How to meditate 

How to stop self-harming

How to recognize problem drinking

How to choose a therapist

How to deal with disappointment

How to cope with grief

How to raise your self-esteem

Relationship and Social Skills:

How to apologize

How to cope with a breakup 

How to accept criticism 

How to deal with bullying 

How to argue in a healthy way

How to ask someone out

How to break up with someone

How to recognize an abusive relationship

How to rekindle a damaged friendship

How to speak in public

Job Hunting Skills:

How to tie a tie

How to write a resume

How to write a cover letter

How to dress for a job interview (for women/femmes)

How to dress for a job interview (for men/masculines)

How to properly shake hands

How to nail a job interview

Other Skills:

How to sew on a button 

How to hammer a nail

How to change your oil

How to put gas in your car

How to jump-start a car

How to pick a good password

How to back up your files

How to write a cheque