Catching up on Snowflake Challenge

[elwinfortuna]

Challenge #1

Update your fandom information. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

I've updated my DW profile with some minor wording changes, as nothing much has changed in the last year.

Challenge #2

In your own space, set yourself some goals for the coming year. They can be fannish or not, public or private. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

I'm only going to set myself one goal for 2024 as regards fandom: write and post at least one thing just for fun, not for an exchange, not for anyone else, just for me, just because it's what I want to write. It feels like quite a long time since I wrote something just because I wanted to.

Challenge #3

Create a wish list of fandom things (podfic, graphics, playlists, canon recs translations, research help, vids, sky's the limit!) that you'd like to receive. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.



1. I always love it when people record podfic or translate my fic.
2. For people who are into Tolkien canons to participate in hidden_paths
3. I would greatly appreciate a guide to vidding using DaVinci Resolve, for beginners.
4. Rec me fantasy canons: books, shows, or movies. There is a certain quality to the fantasy I enjoy and it involves having a spirit of enduring hope and a belief that good people exist, rather than grimdark or crapsack universes. I also love beautiful things and people.

Challenge #4

IceBreaker Challenge! Tell us about yourself. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.



1. What's the best part of rain?
The smell of it. Petrichor! It's one thing I miss about Arizona; the rain there smells of creosote which is a smell I just can't explain: it's sharp and refreshing, a bright wake-up scent.

2. Do you believe there is only one other person in the world for you or many?
I believe you don't find your soulmate, you build a relationship with someone and knit your soul together with theirs. I think there are potentially many people I could have done this with, but I only chose one.

3. What do you try to do to make the world a little better?
I try very hard to be kind to everyone I encounter on a daily basis. I've worked in service jobs (retail and call centre jobs, many years ago) and I know how basic it should be to just thank people when they help you and also how rare it is when they do get thanks. I strongly believe that how you treat people who are serving you is emblematic of your basic morals.

4. What type of exercise do you like most?
Weightlifting is genuinely incredible. I never experienced exercise endorphins until I started it. But honestly, having a trainer to help me and a private space to work out in has really given me motivation. I think I'd still be intimidated to go to a gym, but maybe one day I won't be.

5. Do you believe that money can make you happy?
To a degree. I think people are happy when they have enough money to pay all their bills, and buy some things they want. But I think people who are obscenely rich are no happier than those who are just comfortable.

6. What is something that will instantly annoy you?
Spam texts and phone calls, overhearing people yelling at each other, and my cat Rey scratching things to get attention.

7. What the best thing that can happen in the first 5 minutes after waking up?
Rey jumping up on the bed (with the cutest little "mrrp!") and snuggling in next to me, purring her little head off, so I can cuddle her and relax for a bit longer.

I'll do 5 and 6 in separate posts in the next couple of days!

Comments

[spiced_wine]

love beautiful things and people.

Oh, me too!

What is a crapsack universe? I’m already put-off!

I strongly believe that how you treat people who are serving you is emblematic of your basic morals.

Yes, absolutely this. I go out of my way to ask how they are and say thank you because I know how awful people can be. They are serving the public but they’re not ‘servants’ ffs. If you can make someone feel that you view them the same as you view yourself, and ‘see’ them at least it makes that bit of their day a little better.

Yes to the weights, while I find doing the sets boring admittedly, the feeling after is worth it and my musculoskeletal strength and bone are both edging over the ‘high’ now, which at my age I’m glad about (trying to push back being decrepit!)
Takes time, but it’s one thing I always make sure I do.

[elwinfortuna]

A crapsack world or universe is just one where things just suck, all the time, there are no truly decent people, and bad things happen, but not even, like, horrific bad things, just an endless grind of misery. (As compared with grimdark where nearly all people are genuinely evil, and terrible things are happening around every corner.)

It's just unpleasant to even think about both of these concepts for too long, for me. I need a little light, I don't mind if things get somewhat dark but there has got to be some life and happiness somewhere (and ideally along the way too, not just at the end), or what's it all for?

[spiced_wine]

just an endless grind of misery.

Oh dear. Yes, there has to be some hope, moments of lightness even laughter. Sometimes hope is all you have.

[isis]

I think money doesn't necessarily make you happy, but not having enough money makes your life a lot harder and makes you more likely to be unhappy.

[elwinfortuna]

Yeah, definitely this. They say money doesn't buy happiness, but the lack of money sure means a lot of hardship.

[predelection]

There is a certain quality to the fantasy I enjoy and it involves having a spirit of enduring hope and a belief that good people exist, rather than grimdark or crapsack universes. I also love beautiful things and people.

Have you read The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison? It's about a half-elf, half-goblin prince who unexpectedly becomes the Emperor of the elves and whose intrinsic good-naturedness touches the lives of many people. There are a many characters all with unique dynamics so they all feel like psychological characters (and multi-shippable).

[elwinfortuna]

I have read this and loved it! I hear the author has written other books in the same world but I haven't got around to them yet. The Goblin Emperor is a very good example of the type of fantasy I love. <3

[muccamukk]

I like your one thing for fun goal. Some years I look at my works page, and it's *all* for fests or exchanges. And I love writing gift works, but ...

[elwinfortuna]

Same. I love doing exchanges, and writing gifts for other people always feels good in the end, but the most fun I've ever had writing a fic was when I wrote myself a story that catered to all my own my most loved tropes and kinks. To this day it's one of my own favourites, and it was also surprisingly popular.

[sunshine304]

Cute cats in the morning are the best thing ever! <3

[verdande_mi]

Fantasy rec: The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K Jemisin. I am reading the second book now and it's as wonderful as the first one. The world-building is amazing.

[elwinfortuna]

Thank you! I've heard of this book before. I'll give it a try!

[aurumcalendula]

re: fantasy, have you read Aliette de Bodard's Dominion of the Fallen series? (I'm particularly fond of the spin-off novellas)

[elwinfortuna]

I had never even heard of this! It looks great, thanks so much!