Late Last Year I Wanted To Start A Series Of Short Tutorials Called Tip Jar, As A Way Of Saying Thanks

Chapter: 1/1

Words: 933

Language: English

Fandom: 逆転裁判 | Gyakuten Saiban | Ace Attorney

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Applies

Relationships: Klapollo, Klavier Gavin/Apollo Justice

Characters: Apollo Justice, Klavier Gavin

Chapter: 1/1

Words: 1466

Language: English

Fandom: Star Trek, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Applies

Relationship: Garashir, Julian Baashir/Elim Garak

Characters: Julian Bashir, Elim Garak

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Work inspired by this piece.

For users of Clip Studio

When I create, I distribute some of the Clip Studio brushes I've made, so please check them out to see if there are any that you can use!

CLIP STUDIO ASSETS

ぽにょざらペン - CLIP STUDIO ASSETS

イラスト・マンガ制作に役立つトーン、ブラシ、3Dデータなどの素材をダウンロードしたり、自作の素材をアップロードしたりできます。CLIP STUDIO PAINTなどのグラフィックソフトに読み込んで使えます。

CLIP STUDIO ASSETS

しゃりふわペン - CLIP STUDIO ASSETS

イラスト・マンガ制作に役立つトーン、ブラシ、3Dデータなどの素材をダウンロードしたり、自作の素材をアップロードしたりできます。CLIP STUDIO PAINTなどのグラフィックソフトに読み込んで使えます。

CLIP STUDIO ASSETS

シャコペン - CLIP STUDIO ASSETS

イラスト・マンガ制作に役立つトーン、ブラシ、3Dデータなどの素材をダウンロードしたり、自作の素材をアップロードしたりできます。CLIP STUDIO PAINTなどのグラフィックソフトに読み込んで使えます。

The Struggle Between Being an Avid Fic Reader & Being a Fic Writer

New AO3 Tag Wrangling Policy and the Transformers Fandom

(This is a long one, folks, but I think it's important.)

A new tag-wrangling policy on AO3 has the potential to create some massive confusion and chaos in the Transformers fanfic community, with regards to fandom tags. There is a Reddit post about it here with a focus on anime fandoms, but I want to give some concrete examples for the Transformers fandom on why we DO NOT WANT this, and why I think it's a horrible idea.

The Problem

Basically, AO3 is looking to get rid of the "All Media Types" fandom tag across the board, either by dismantling them or just not maintaining them. The Transformers - All Media Types tag has been an all-purpose tag that you could select when your story doesn't fall into any one specific continuity. Additionally, all most (see below) TF continuities on AO3 are considered a subtag of the Transformers - All Media Types tag. For example, if you look at the link above for all works in the All Media Types tag, you will see fics that are also tagged ONLY with Transformers: Animated, because it falls under the All Media Types tag.

One exception: With the upcoming Transformers: One movie coming out imminently, there will likely be a big influx of stories tagged with Transformers: One. In fact, there are several already. However, it hasn't been linked to the larger Transformers - All Media Types tag yet. I wasn't worrying about it though, because I know these things can take time.

With information about this new tagging policy, however, I'm now wondering whether it'll EVER get linked to the All Media Types tag. If that happens, and when more continuities are developed in the coming years (since you know Hasbro loves creating new universes) this has the potential to cause massive confusion when looking for stories to read.

Searching for Stories with the New Tagging System

So let's say the All Media Types fandom tag isn't accurate anymore, because it no longer includes ALL of the continuities (such as TF:One). You will need to include ALL the Transformers continuities when browsing for TF fics.

How many tags is that? Well, here are all of the tags currently listed under the Transformers - All Media Types tag:

Note that this doesn't include Transformers: One since it hasn't been categorized yet.

You will potentially have to have 40 or more different fandom tags in your search, just in case the author tagged their story with something you weren't expecting.

This massively decreases the findability of a story.

Tagging with the New System

The email response from the Tag Wrangling group (see the linked Reddit post above) seems to be a bit flip in the response to the user's concern. "...encourages creators to tag with the media they intend."

While I appreciate what they are attempting to do, this policy change feels like a solution in search of a problem, especially in larger fandoms with multiple continuities, versions, and media types that are all cross-pollinated in both canon and fanon. While I'm focusing on Transformers fandom, imagine a creator in the DC comic universe writing a story that incorporates bits and pieces from a dozen different reboots.

For example, let's say that I am writing a fic about Ratchet. I am using the setting of the original G1 episodes, but I also am using the characterization of him as a bit of an old man grump. That characterization originated in the Animated continuity, but I want to incorporate bits of pieces of his other characterizations as well (old friend of Optimus from TFP, Ratchet ran a faction-free clinic like he did in the War for Cybertron series, he's got a Decepticon boyfriend like in IDW1 - or maybe even Cyberverse, etc.)

With this new tagging structure, I might potentially have to tag the story with ALL of those continuities. So instead of just slapping down the "All Media Types" tag (and maybe one other fandom tag that matches the characters as best I can), I'll have to analyze my story and try to figure out how best to tag for the characters I used.

And what if you're doing a completely AU version of the story? For example, a humanformers story, or merformers? Using the All Media Types tag along with a Alternate Universe - Human or Alternate Universe - Mermaid tag worked perfectly, since you weren't writing the story to fit into one specific continuity. But now, that might not be an option.

What To Do??

The first thing I would suggest is to contact AO3 (using the Feedback and Support page) and let them know (nicely) that you think this is a horrible idea. Give them some examples on how you use the All Media Types tag to find stories to read, or to help you tag a story. People outside of the Transformers fandom don't always appreciate how absolutely tangled the continuities can be with each other, and providing examples might help them see why this would be a really messy change.

Readers: Be aware that when you are looking in the All Media Types tag, it will no longer show newer continuities. And if AO3 starts dismantling that tag like they suggested they are doing, be aware that some stories won't show up in that tag like they used to. You can also create and then bookmark a custom search page that includes all 40+ continuities. REALLY annoying, but it's a workaround.

Writers: Until they start dismantling the All Media Types tag, ALWAYS ALWAYS tag your stories using Transformers - All Media Types... Especially for newer continuities. This will be especially important if you are writing a Transformers: One story. Right now, anyone who is only browsing the All Media Types tag will not see a story tagged only with Transformers: One. Make sure you're aware of how tags work and how they can affect the visibility and findability of your story.

Epilogue

Ugh. That's a lot of words for a long-weekend Saturday. And maybe I'm overreacting a tiny bit. But my work involves information architecture, and this change just absolutely baffles me. It's almost as though they want to make it harder to find stories. Considering that AO3 won a Hugo partially because of its fantastic tagging system, this change seems like AO3 is doing its best to shoot itself in the foot.

When you have a square hole, a round hole, and a rectangular hole… Yeah, you DO want each peg to go in the "right" hole. But if all of the pegs fit in the square hole, who cares? You got the job done.

I love you @ao3org, but please reconsider this change... Especially for IPs that are as old and are as varied as Transformers.

Made a twitter thread of the brushes and textures I use!! Wanted to share them here too

Links for everything can be found here

Chapter: 5/? (ongoing)

Words: 5198 (ongoing)

Language: English

Fandom: The Owl House (Cartoon)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Applies

Relationship: Raeda, Eda Clawthorne/Raine Whispers, Eda Clawthorne and her kids, Amity Blight/Luz Noceda

Characters: Eda Clawthorne, Luz Noceda, Raine Whispers, Lilith Clawthorne, Amity Blight, Willow Park, Gus Porter, Sinag Sun - OC

EDIT (18/10/2021): New chapter just dropped! Sinag Sun is introduced!

“why would you write fics for small, unpopular fandoms? you’re not gonna reach that many hits in fandoms not many people know about” ?? because I’m not writing fics for hits or kudos, I’m writing them for me because these characters are my blorbos and I have so many ideas, so much thoughts about them that my brain might explode if I don’t write them out.

my two main brushes

Made this because my other “ms paint tips” post is going around, but the images in it were only made as supplemental material for a paper i had to write and dont include all the necessary information on how the tricks work. As a result people are getting very confused when they try them out to unfavorable results. I hope all those people find this post and their confusion can be cleared up.