scrapbox-in-the-attic

Latest Posts by scrapbox-in-the-attic

some people think writers are so eloquent and good with words, but the reality is that we can sit there with our fingers on the keyboard going, “what’s the word for non-sunlight lighting? Like, fake lighting?” and for ten minutes, all our brain will supply is “unofficial”, and we know that’s not the right word, but it’s the only word we can come up with…until finally it’s like our face got smashed into a brick wall and we remember the word we want is “artificial”.

hbo max blocks screenshots even when I use the snipping tool AND firefox AND ublock which is a fucking first. i will never understand streaming services blocking the ability to take screenshots thats literally free advertising for your show right there. HOW THE HELL IS SOMEBODY GONNA PIRATE YOUR SHOW THROUGH SCREENSHOTS. JACKASS

Have a great big ol’ sheet of kissing references!

Support me by reblogging and checking out my commission info here!

I love the way you draw male characters. I have always had trouble drawing male and male-presenting characters. Do you have any advice for or could you explain your process of drawing male characters?

Thanks so much! Oh man, this is a difficult question… I tried to illustrate my process below but I’m going to TLDR it as well: use reference for the type of masculinity you want to go for. I totally get what you’re asking for, so I tried to focus on that for this “tutorial”, but really I would just focus on portrait studies so you don’t get pigeon-holed into drawing male characters under “rules” of male character design. Male character design shouldn’t exist - good character design should. Focus on the latter! :3c

@elodieunderglass is this a #horrible_things_with_legs ?

I want to try so many little hobbies. Candle making, soap making, basket weaving, wood carving, book binding, baking, weaving, I want to try them all.

Hello and welcome back to another Show and Tell Saturday! Show off a finished craft, a work in progress, or a completed trade - what's new in your world this week?

Writing Tips

Punctuating Dialogue

✧

➸ “This is a sentence.”

➸ “This is a sentence with a dialogue tag at the end,” she said.

➸ “This,” he said, “is a sentence split by a dialogue tag.”

➸ “This is a sentence,” she said. “This is a new sentence. New sentences are capitalized.”

➸ “This is a sentence followed by an action.” He stood. “They are separate sentences because he did not speak by standing.”

➸ She said, “Use a comma to introduce dialogue. The quote is capitalized when the dialogue tag is at the beginning.”

➸ “Use a comma when a dialogue tag follows a quote,” he said.

“Unless there is a question mark?” she asked.

“Or an exclamation point!” he answered. “The dialogue tag still remains uncapitalized because it’s not truly the end of the sentence.”

➸ “Periods and commas should be inside closing quotations.”

➸ “Hey!” she shouted, “Sometimes exclamation points are inside quotations.”

However, if it’s not dialogue exclamation points can also be “outside”!

➸ “Does this apply to question marks too?” he asked.

If it’s not dialogue, can question marks be “outside”? (Yes, they can.)

➸ “This applies to dashes too. Inside quotations dashes typically express—“

“Interruption” — but there are situations dashes may be outside.

➸ “You’ll notice that exclamation marks, question marks, and dashes do not have a comma after them. Ellipses don’t have a comma after them either…” she said.

➸ “My teacher said, ‘Use single quotation marks when quoting within dialogue.’”

➸ “Use paragraph breaks to indicate a new speaker,” he said.

“The readers will know it’s someone else speaking.”

➸ “If it’s the same speaker but different paragraph, keep the closing quotation off.

“This shows it’s the same character continuing to speak.”

been scrolling on your art tag for a good 38 mins

(can you tell there's something desperately wrong with me)

and HOW DO YOU HANDDSSSSS ghhhhh theyre so perfect how like EURGHH chomp chomp delicious but HOW??? 😭 youre magic dude

OMG. OMGGG. THANK YOUUU WHAT THE HELL I JUST BLUSHED. and im glad u like how i draw hands hehe thats so nce... theyre pretty fun(most of the time) to draw for me(when i actually do draw them) so i hope it shows. idk if this is you asking for hand tips BUT EVEN IF ITS NOT. IM DOING IT ANYWAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HANDS are all about SHAPES!!!!! theyre just a bunch of wobbley squares and wonky cubes and sometimes triangles too depending on the angle.

and if the pose/angle is more complicated? break the shapes down into even MORE squares and cubes. They are your best friend. we love cubes. (sorry. these arent great outlines bc im using my mouse. but you get the deal)

and im still not great at drawing softer hands tbh, but if you want them to not be so pointy and tough looking, just round out the corners and throw in more slopes and squishes.

and now im gonna say something and youre probably gonna groan really loud but just hold on for a second. hold my hand. okay. i feel like my mind awakened when i learned how to make hands in blender. NOW im not saying you have to learn blender just to figure out how to draw hands. because i still dont know blender either. and hands still stump me from time to time. but just the act of building a shitty hand out of cubes put me on this mindset for the rest of my life. i dont even know if this is anything, but heres a good video of someone building a very simple hand in blender and maybe itll lock into your brain like it did mine.

genuinely wild to me when I go to someone's house and we watch TV or listen to music or something and there are ads. I haven't seen an ad in my home since 2005. what do you mean you haven't set up multiple layers of digital infrastructure to banish corporate messaging to oblivion before it manifests? listen, this is important. this is the 21st century version of carving sigils on the wall to deny entry to demons or wearing bells to ward off the Unseelie. come on give me your router admin password and I'll show you how to cast a protective spell of Get Thee Tae Fuck, Capital

anyone remember what these things are called like little cartoony expressive doohickies i think they have a real name but i can’t remember

The first time I made crispy roasted chickpeas (for the stew), I said to my husband, “Now that I know how easy these are, I’m unstoppable.”

The second time I made them (for a salad topping), I said, “Do you want any more of these to snack on? I might have some more, but I don’t know… Actually, these are so easy I can’t afford not to eat them.”

Honestly? Life-changing snack. Go fuck myself. Wonderful chickpea revolution. Here’s what you do: dry these beans as much as you can (strainer, then paper towels), toss with olive oil and salt, bake on tray at 200c for like 30 minutes, stirring 2~3 times. Sprinkle with delicious spices, or pop directly in mouth.

(Also, the salad dressing is yogurt, tahini, roasted garlic, lemon, and olive oil, blended roughly with a fork and left in the fridge a few hours. It is also delicious.) 

You think “oh it would be useful to learn how to identify my thrifted yarn and clothing” and before you know it you’ve been recruited by fiber witches giving out their spells willy nilly, again

Types Of Divination

Divination is the practice of seeking knowledge of the unknown or future through supernatural or symbolic means. There are hundreds of divination methods used across cultures and time periods, each utilizing different tools, elements, or techniques. Below is a categorized and comprehensive list of various divination practices.

Classical & Symbolic Divination

These methods use symbols, numbers, and abstract concepts to gain insight.

A. Alphabet & Writing-Based Divination

• Abecedarian Divination – Using letters of the alphabet in random patterns for messages.

• Onomancy – Divination through names.

• Graphomancy – Analyzing handwriting for hidden meanings.

• Lexomancy – Opening a book randomly and interpreting the first word or passage seen.

• Spirit Boards(Ouija) - Spirit divination using an alaphet board and planchette to spell out messages.

B. Number-Based Divination

• Numerology – The study of numbers and their mystical meanings.

• Arithmancy – Using numbers associated with names or events to predict outcomes.

• Geomancy – Casting marks on the ground or sand to form patterns for interpretation.

C. Sound & Speech-Based Divination

• Echomancy – Interpreting random or accidental sounds.

• Oinomancy – Using the sounds and bubbles of poured wine for divination.

• Geloscopy - Divination using the sound of someone's laugh.

• Cantiumancy - Drawing messages and predictions through music.

• Phonomancy - Divination through people's voices and speech.

Elemental & Nature-Based Divination

This category includes divination methods that rely on natural elements like fire, water, earth, and air.

A. Fire Divination

• Pyromancy – Divination using flames.

• Capnomancy – Studying smoke patterns.

• Causimomancy – Burning objects and interpreting how they react.

• Spodomancy - Divination using ashes.

• Ceromancy - Interpreting the patterns/shapes in melted candle wax.

B. Water Divination

• Hydromancy – Scrying or divining using water.

• Pegomancy – Studying the movement of sacred wells or springs.

• Aspidomancy – Scrying with whirlpools or moving water.

C. Air & Wind Divination

• Aeromancy – Divination through atmospheric conditions.

• Anemoscopy – Studying wind direction and patterns.

• Chaomancy – Observing air currents and swirling dust or leaves.

D. Earth Divination

• Lithomancy – Casting and reading stones or crystals.

• Geomancy – Reading marks or patterns in soil, sand, or earth.

• Spatalamancy – Divination through cave formations.

• Halomancy - Divination using salts.

• Abocomancy - Divination based on interpretation of the patterns in dirt, silt, sand, or dust.

Animal & Plant-Based Divination

These methods rely on interactions with living things and biological matter.

A. Animal-Based Divination

• Ornithomancy(Augury) – Observing bird flight patterns.

• Ailuromancy – Watching the behavior of cats.

• Myomancy – Interpreting mouse or rodent behavior.

• Ophiomancy – Observing snakes.

• Ichthyomancy - Divination using fish.

• Zoomancy - Divination through the actions of wildlife.

• Alectromancy - Using roosters or hens to make predictions.

• Apantomancy - Interpreting chance meetings with animals, such as the familiar black cat crossing your path.

• Myrmonancy - Discerning the future through observing ants eating food.

B. Plant-Based Divination

• Dendromancy – Divination using tree bark or branches.

• Botanomancy – Burning plants and interpreting the smoke.

• Xylomancy – Interpreting patterns in fallen branches or wood.

• Tasseomancy - Gaining wisdom by reading tea leaves

Object-Based Divination

Using objects, artifacts, and physical tools to gain insight.

• Bibliomancy – Interpreting messages from the open page of a fallen book.

• Rhabdomancy – Divining with rods, wands, or sticks.

• Belomancy – Throwing arrows and interpreting where they land.

• Oomancy - Divination using eggs.

• Crystallomancy – Scrying into crystals (e.g., crystal ball gazing).

• Curiomancy - Divination by casting random or obscure objects.

• Catoptromancy - The art of scrying with a mirror.

• Psychometry - Scrying of a held or touched object.

• Astagyromancy - Divination performed by tossing dice.

• Dactylomancy - Using a ring suspended on a cord/chain or a pendulum to divinate.

• Papyromancy - Folding paper into shapes, then interpreting the forms and shadows created.

Death & Spirit-Based Divination

Methods focused on communicating with spirits, ancestors, or the dead.

• Necromancy – Summoning or consulting spirits of the dead.

• Oneiromancy – Interpreting dreams.

• Psychomancy – Communicating with spirits and being able to hear their voices.

• Osteomancy – Reading bones or skeletal remains.

Energy & Psychic Divination

These methods rely on intuitive abilities or the reader's energy field.

• Morphic Resonance - Using the concept of collective memory and patterns from the past to predict future patterns.

• Aurascopy – Reading auras and energy fields.

• Cryptomancy - Supernatural insights through secret signs and omens.

• Intuitive Counseling - Offering guidance based on intuitive feelings.

• Remote Viewing - Psychically perceiving a distant or unseen target.

• Energy Scrying - Divining information about a person’s physical or emotional state through their energy.

• Channeling - Mediums communicate with spirits to convey messages or predict future events.

Popular & Modern Divination Systems

These systems have structured methods and are widely practiced.

• Cartomancy/Tarot – Using cards to interpret the past, present, and future or speak to spirits.

• Runecasting (Runology) – Reading ancient runes for insight (Futhark, Ogham, Witch Runes, etc).

• I Ching (Yi Jing) – Using hexagrams derived from coin or stick throws.

• Astrology – Studying celestial bodies and their influence on human affairs.

• Palmistry - Reading the lines on a person's hand.

Okay, so Google Removed Pride Month and Other Diversity Holidays From Its Calendar App. There are many ways to respond to this, including leaving Google Calendar. If you can't do that for any reason, this project has something that might help.

Every year we make a calendar of dates that have particular significance to queer history. It has always been a pleasure project and hasn't made us much money, so when we made a Google Calendar plug-in, we made it pay-what-you-can. I'm grateful we did because it means anyone can access this now.

To be clear, this is more than Pride Month; this has near-daily reminders of queer history. Birthdates of people you may not recognize (though we encourage you to learn more about them on our website). This doesn't address everything. Google also removed Black History Month, Indigenous People Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and Hispanic Heritage Month. We have many of them on our calendar, but we can't promise we have everything Google got rid of, as this was made with no clue that Google would do this.

Regardless, we wanted to put this resource out there in response to the news. Preserving queer history is a community responsibility, and we are grateful to share any tools that we have.

Dudes healthcare is so fake. My ADHD meds are $940 without insurance. But they gave me a website of "coupons" which straight up looks like a scam website, and I got it today for $60! Just a coupon from a random website and it was $900 cheaper. America, I am confusion!! America explain!!

Hiding government and public services to reduce how much they're used and "prove" that they're unneeded is a tried and true Republican technique. It's not a conspiracy, these things are deliberately made difficult to access to discourage people from using them because "more use = more funding" and "less use = less funding" is how public service funding is generally decided.

Musk outright lying about "deleting" a whole IRS program for low income tax filing is just a progression of common Republican tactics. Don't fall for it.

You will patch up all the holes in 2025.

(this isn’t a post about knitting)

Writing a Blind or Visually Impaired Character

A Multi-Step Guide Written by a Visually Impaired Writer and Blogger

I’m hoping this blog will over time develop its own following, and when it does people will inevitably see my bio and notice what I included: I’m visually impaired.

Yes, a visually impaired writer, and I’ve written with two blind characters before so I have some practice in the field.

So, inevitably, someone is going to ask how to write a blind character.

Or, at least, I hope you’ll ask someone who’s actually blind or visually impaired about writing a blind character before you get too involved with your new WIP.

All parts will be tagged #blindcharacter in my blog, and I will add links to every post as I finish each part. Follow my blog for more writing advice.

Note, this post updates fairly often and old versions are still floating around out there. The most current version of this post is pinned to my blog with any new guides or links you might of missed.

As of 29 June 2022, this is the most extensive and screen reader friendly version of this post.

Part One: Crafting the Blind Character

In which I tell you how to begin making a blind character who is more than a cardboard cutout

Part Two: Narrative Choice, Visual Description, Verbal Description, Social Interaction

In which I give you a basic rundown on how to write from the perspective of a character who can’t see and still make the narration descriptive

Part Three: Tropes and Clichés to Avoid

Your blind readers will thank you for not being the 5000th person to do this and manage to actually finish your story. (Do you have any idea how many stories I’ve noped out of within two chapters because of these clichés? A Lot.)

Part Four: Canes, Guide Dogs, and O&M

Everything I can tell you about 1) how to learn how to use a cane 2) how a cane works 3) how to describe what your character experiences with their cane 4) everything I know on guide dogs

-New- Additional Advice for Writing Sighted Guides–another legitimate form of O&M

Part Five: Small Aspects of being Blind You Never Thought Of

5 January 2021 Edit: This link has been fixed to correspond with the correct post

Or, really, very normal everyday things for blind people, the inclusion of which will make your characters more real and authentic. It’s the tiny details.

Part Six: Should You Cure Your Character’s Blindness? (Short Answer: No)

There’s no way to write a cure for your blind character that doesn’t make blind readers hate you. Sorry. We came here to finally experience a relatable character who experiences the world like us, but none of us are getting cured so seeing this character we learned to love become something alien from us in the end feels like a slap in the face

-New- What about a Temporary Cure to Show the Character is Happy being Blind?

Why I’m Blind and What I See -NEW-

I thought I’d finally make a post explaining the complicated situation about my vision. Includes an explanation of visual snow and exotropia, two of the three causes for my vision issues.

Writing Blind Characters Falling in Love, an Advice Post:

Someone asked what being blind and falling in love have to do with each other. Honestly, blindness changes your perspective on everything and it makes an impact on every relationship you have. This includes some things that you definitely do not want your character’s love interest to be/do.

Writing Blind Jokes (Should You Do It?)

You know those flow charts of “should you do x?” going around? It’s like that, but screen reader friendly. Should you write blind jokes. It’s pretty complicated and there are a lot of possible scenarios and details to consider.

Advice for Writing Toph Beifong -NEW-

In this I discuss what I would like to see done in fanfiction with Toph’s character after ten years of reading Avatar the Last Airbender fanfiction

-New- Some Informal Thoughts About Toph and ATLA World Building based on a Throw-Away Line

A small essay addressing the frequently asked question on giving your blind character a superpower to help them “see.”

It’s became a popular question, so to make the answer easier/faster for everyone to access, I wrote what will usually be my initial answer. Below there are a few links to some notable past questions on this subject.

Mourning My Vision, it’s More than Depression. 

A small personal essay addressing the nuances of the mourning period you experience with a new disability. The mourning period is mentioned in other guides, but this is more detailed.

Dealing with Heightened Senses, a video by Molly Burke with additional commentary by me

While Molly talks about the myths and truths about heightened senses, I talk about the correlation with blindness and neuro-divergency and how co-morbid disorders/disabilities might affect sensory processing.

Satirical Commentary on the phrase “that blank look in their eyes” used too often in fiction to identify a blind character

a:tla, I’m looking at you (and my eyes aren’t blank)

I Found a Lost Piece of Blindness History

My grandmother told me about her blind aunt and how she sent letters. It led me to speculate about all the O&M things people develop on their own but never get a chance to pass onto other blind people. Technology and techniques are lost in history and reinvented, including the white cane ad guide dogs.

Includes a little history on the introduction of guide dogs into the 20th century

The Following are Answered Anon Questions

Making Your Blog More Accessible

Making Links Accessible to Screen Readers

Reblogging to Add an Image Description to Someone Else’s Image

Why I Write Image Descriptions

Terms, Definitions, and Practical Advice

-New- What is the difference between Light Perception and Shadow Perception

Writing Blind Characters

Advice for a Character Who was Born Blind

-New- A More Recent Post about Characters Born Blind 

Over-Protective Parents of a Blind Character, Why They’re Over-Protective and How to Avoid Crossing a Line

A Blind Character in Victorian Era Historical Fiction

Is It Bad Not to Have Guide Dogs in a Fantasy/Historical Setting Without Guide Dogs (short answer: it’s not bad)

Someone Asked About My Thoughts on a Medusa-like Character Blinding Herself to Avoid Hurting Anyone

-New- Someone Asked For Advice Writing a Character whose Eyes were Gouged Out–and Why Blindfolds are Not a Good Idea + Medical Alternatives

Characters Who Have Recently Gone Blind and Avoiding Inspiration Porn

-New- Inclusive Language in Dialogue: Is it appropriate for a blind character to use visual verbs like “I saw” and “I watched”

-New- Thoughts on If Characters Would Drink and Go to Bars

(In one of my original guides I said I was sure most blind people would not go to bars. A few years later, I’ve now realized that sentiment is influenced by my gender, not my disability.)

-New- Researching Blind Historical Figures

I took a disability studies class focusing on Helen Keller’s complicated legacy. My professor gave us the option to get creative with our final projects, so I gathered all the research I had for three blog posts.

How did Helen Keller Navigate her World

My extensive historical research on the accessibility tools Keller had in her lifetime

Who was Helen Keller: Her Passions and Interests

I talk about her writing, her politics as a socialist and suffragette, her love for animals and nature, her brief history as a performer on stage, and how she became the face for Blind Advocacy. This includes lots of photos of Keller with image descriptions I wrote.

The Controversies Surrounding Helen Keller

-This includes:

Her family history as the daughter of a Confederate Captain

Growing up on a plantation that formerly held slaves

How she met Alexander Graham Bell and the negative influence both had on the Deaf community

Her sexuality and falling in love (and why that was so controversial)

Her stance on eugenics and her internalized ableism

The Miracle Worker (1963) movie- how it became the most popular depiction of Keller, why it’s problematic, and how it damaged her legacy

The 2020 TikTok Controversy and #HelenKellerwasfake

Talking about Popular Blind Characters In Media

Does Daredevil’s Echolocation Negate His Blindness

-New- Is it Worth it to Watch All of Daredevil for the Research (It’s Not)

Someone Else was Asked How to Write Daredevil Fanfiction

Blind Characters with Superpowers/Fighting Styles

World Setting where the General Population has a Superpower

Superpowers that don’t involve sight, Five questions to ask yourself if this superpower is a bad idea or a good one

-New- Your character would not use a cane as a weapon, it’s a bad idea

D&D/Roleplaying Blind Characters

-New- Animal Familiars Acting as Service Animals and Advice for Communicating with Your DM

-New- Portraying Older Blind Characters + Causes for Vision Loss with Old Age

Okay now that you guys have liked Lil Nas X, Megan thee Stallion, Kendrick Lamar AND Doechii. Surely you can listen to rap now. Surely you see the merits of the genre. Surely.

Character Art from "X-MEN: EVOLUTION" (2000 - 2003)

Everyone look at the cat blanket I made like .. 3 years ago

Tyler Otto (aka. Dean Tsiranides) | Photographed by Rick Day Yummy Magazine Issue #8 - 2024

Just to make a point, every time I finished a panel of this I would export it as a PNG on the perceptual setting and use it as a color reference for the next panel

IT'S BAD

PLEASE CHECK YOUR COLOR SETTINGS

EDIT: If you're still having problems, it might help to switch from "Save/Save as" to "Export (as a) Single Layer". Just. Make SURE the box labeled "Expression Color" is set to RGB. I've been messing with this all day, and it looks like this combination of settings will allow exported PNGs to maintain their colors perfectly. To you. So far both Discord and Toyhouse still only display desaturated images and I cannot for the life of me figure out why

Moving along to the popular round collar robe of the Tang Dynasty :D

In the 2nd pic, the model in the picture on the bottom wearing the 2-coloured robe has wrist protectors on, which is why the sleeves don't look like "regular" sleeves. To wear the protectors, you gather the sleeve tightly around your arm, then put the protector over the sleeve, so it's a separate piece and not sewn/attached to the robe.

Thoughts on Wings by Uzlo

God, I love this one.

How to Paint Light by jonhuangart