Welcome, Friends!

[florianschild]

Hello!

If you're a new friend, welcome! If you're an old friend, thanks for sticking around.

If you're thinking about whether you want to follow me, here's what I like to talk about:

• Reading, what I'm reading, what I like to read, meta about what I've read... lots of that.


• I'm signed up for the Fannish 50 challenge and I'm planning to write 50 posts of meta analyzing angst in fiction and what works for me/what doesn't. Or I might get bored with that and switch to a series of posts about 50 characters whom I want to have dinner with. Either way, it will be 50 posts and it will be about books.


• I should mention that I love angst, whump, sad stories about good people in shitty situations. Given my planned theme of the Fandom 50, that's going to come up a lot. So, warning for that I guess.


• Sometimes I blog about my personal life (traveling, goal setting, etc) and sometimes I talk about politics. I put political talk behind a cut if you want to skip that.

Here's a bit about me, if you're interested:

• I love to read, and do so on the regular. I have read a lot of fanfiction, but lately I've been enjoying novels a lot more. Thanks to the internet and fandom, I've refined my skill in zeroing in on the kinds of books that make me go all weak in the knees and desperate for more.


• I have lots and lots of hobbies, including cooking, learning Italian, political and community activism, sewing (clothing and quilting), calligraphy, papercrafts, writing, reading, board games, American and European card games, and various fitness activities. If you want to talk about any of these things, OMG I WOULD BE SO EXCITED TO DO THAT.


• Some things about me: I'm an over 30yo woman from the USA. I'm married and we have a cat. (Edit 2024: and now also a toddler.)


• Some of my personal beliefs: I'm a liberal, progressive, borderline socialist (I believe in the idea of a basic income for all), but I have a lot of respect for people who disagree with my views (libertarians, for example) and I think they're generally good, thoughtful folk. I love to discuss political philosophy, and have often had my mind changed. I'm an atheist. I'm a vegan. I try to be a minimalist, but I have the soul of a magpie and I tend to accumulate things. <-- If you disagree with any of these views, please know that I still respect you and your own life choices. I try not to be presumptuous, and I like to err on the side of assuming the best of everyone.


• I'm currently obsessed with the following tiny (non-existent) fandoms. If you like any of them, please friend me immediately and I will be SO freakin' happy:
  
  
  
  • The Rifter by Ginn Hale
  
  
  • Dragon's Winter by Elizabeth A. Lynn
  
  
  • Halfway Human by Carolyn Ives Gilman
  
  
  • The Half Bad Series by Sally Green
  
  
  • Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat
  
  
  • Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb (I'm actually still reading this so I'm trying to avoid spoilers but I'm looking forward to jumping into the fandom!)
  
  

I think that's the most important stuff. I'm trying to be more active on Dreamwidth, because I love this platform and I want to see fandom migrate over here a bit. I'm old enough to remember livejournal drama from waaaay back in 2007, and I don't trust corporate interests to look out for fandom. *yells at cloud*

Comments

[scripsi]

I look forward to get to know you better! :)

[florianschild]

Thank you, and welcome! Same goes to you! New friends are the best. :)

[chase_acow]

Hi! I was just meandering through random places and found this. I was kinda wondering how you use tvtropes to find new books? I struggle to find new things. I love rereading books, but reading them in the first place is hard. : ) Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

[florianschild]

Hi! I completely understand how tough it can be to find good stuff to read. I used to be lucky if I got 1-2 books per year that I loved enough to be shelved with my favorites.

Using TVTropes has been great. I use it in conjunction with Goodreads, which is an important part of the process. So basically, I browse TV tropes for things I know I like in books (for example Crapsack World, which is a trope that generally find compelling). Usually I'll start going through the literature examples of that trope, and see if anything catches my eye. If it does, I'll look it up in Goodreads and see if it has a high number of positive reviews. (Although this can be tricky, some of my favorite books are <3.5 stars on Goodreads. But it's a start. Go with your gut if something sounds right up your alley.) If Goodreads seems to suggest it's pretty good, I'll add it to my 'to read' list there, and then the next time I'm at the bookstore/library/have an Amazon spending spree I'll grab it.

But the best way of finding things on TV tropes is by reading the trope description. So, in the example above 'Crapsack World' is a pretty general trope. But within the description there are often sub-tropes that can get even more specific for what you prefer to read. Maybe what you like best about the Crapsack World trope is the smart-ass anti-hero character who often shows up there, and when you read the description you might realize that and click on the Anti-Hero trope to find more examples. I guess the trope description really just helps your pinpoint what it is that you actually like about a story, and then find other books that share the same themes.

Hope that helps some!

[chase_acow]

Thank you so much! I think this'll help a lot. I was just looking at specific fandoms in tvtropes, but not really following the tropes out. I appreciate your help!

[florianschild]

You're so welcome! I'm glad it was helpful. It's been a great resource for me.

[st_aurafina]

*waves hello*

bean-to-bar chocolate making
You can do this as a hobby? (I mean, as opposed to as a small business?) That's really cool!

[florianschild]

Hi! *waves back* Thanks for stopping by. :)

Haha, well yes technically you can do bean-to-bar chocolate as a hobby if you're willing to buy some specialized kitchen appliances. Right now I'm just doing it for fun/personal use/gifts but I am thinking about eventually pivoting it to a small business. If I can improve my tempering technique!

[rachelmanija]

Hey! I LOVE The Rifter. I have a bunch of posts on it (tagged by author.)

[florianschild]

*grins* Yeah, I found your journal via a Rifter-related google search. I'm shamelessly trolling for fan-friends of this series. :D

Your posts about it are wonderful! You had so many of the same thoughts about it that I've been having. I especially liked your discussion of foreshadowing, because I remember being completely blown away by that. There were so many things that were flat-out told to the reader that still worked as fabulous plot twists.

If you're interested, I've been blogging about the series on tumblr at notesfromnayeshi. I've been thinking about cross-posting here, but there don't seem to be many Ginn Hale fans on DW.

[rachelmanija]

I KNOW. I have literally never encountered that before.

Do cross-post! I'll point people your way.

[florianschild]

I don't think I've ever seen it done quite this way either. Megan Whalen Turner tends to do a good job with the double entendre. It really rewards the re-reader. Although, the way that Ginn Hale does it reminds of me George R.R. Martin a bit actually: they give the reader all the information needed to solve the mystery, but scattered throughout different conversations and viewpoints, which obfuscates it.

I'll definitely start cross-posting! Thanks for the poke. :D

[psyques]

Hello! Nice to meet you! I haven't been reading fics lately, but I always want some good reading recommendations!

[florianschild]

Hello! Nice to meet you as well. I saw you're entry that you're reading A Clash of Kings? I love the Song of Ice and Fire series, but it took me a long time to get through as well. The third book is my favorite though!

[psyques]

I am! Cool! I need to finish this one faster to read the next then!!

[isabellerecs]

Hi, I didn't really have anything particular to say except that I feel like you're my kind of people (especially on the political front, though I don't post about politics here much if any). Though I'm not in any of your tiny (non-existent) fandoms, I feel that pain and sympathize.

[florianschild]

Oh wow, hi! That's so funny, because I was just perusing your journal and thinking the same thing. I do occasionally enjoy some larger fandoms. Lately it's been The Witcher and Downton Abbey, but previously I've been around Hunger Games, Harry Potter, and Sherlock communities.

I'll add you, and maybe I can lure you into one of my tiny fandoms. :D

[isabellerecs]

As might have been apparent, I am easily lured into fandoms both large and small. ;D 'Cause I'm easy like that, lol. The Witcher has been some good stuff, and I occasionally like some Downton Abbey though that is because I need fic to let Thomas be happy. ;)

[florianschild]

Thomas is my fave! I loved how the movie was basically all about him and finally giving him a romantic storyline.

I'm very new to The Witcher. I just finished the Netflix series last week and promptly started reading the first book (and perusing the fic tags on AO3). I'm looking forward to getting into it.

[eller]

Snowflake Challenge brought me here - just saying hi! Also, I've read The Rifter series and liked it! :)

[florianschild]

Hiii omg a Rifter fan?? Please stick around! We are a small and very chill fandom. :D

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I love to read, and do so on the regular. I read a lot of fanfiction <<

I write a lot -- nonfiction, fiction, poetry; some fanfic, more original. Today's post is a set of 50 haiku on exoplanets.

>> I have lots and lots of hobbies, including cooking, learning Italian, bean-to-bar chocolate making, political and community activism, sewing (clothing and quilting), calligraphy, papercrafts, writing, reading, board games, American and European card games, and various fitness activities. If you want to talk about any of these things, OMG I WOULD BE SO EXCITED TO DO THAT. <<

I share most of these interests. See my Recipe tag. My current Saturday recurring post is Community Building Tips.

Have you found whole bean chocolate? I've read about it but haven't seen any yet. I am a huge fan of ruby chocolate.

>> Halfway Human by Carolyn Ives Gilman <<

I have read this one, and I like genderfic in general. I write a lot of characters with alternative sex/gender dynamics, including some agender ones.

>>I'm trying to be more active on Dreamwidth, because I love this platform and I want to see fandom migrate over here a bit.<<

I recommend recurring posts as a way of creating desired content with minimal effort. You could make one for crafts, one for fannish content, and so on.

Communities are a good way to connect with like-minded people. Dreamwidth has ways to search for communities or individual blogs that share your interests.

You might like:

allbingo is a high-inspiration, low-stress community. All fandoms and original work, all sizes and media are welcome. It hosts a monthly fest on different themes; currently active is Fresh Starts.

crowdfunding is a community for creators, fans, and patrons of cyberfunded creativity. It hosts a mid-month Creative Jam; this month will be on Darkness and Light.

I invite you to drop by my blog and see if you like it.

[wearing_tearing]

Here over from Snowflake Challenge to scream:

A FELLOW ROBIN HOBB FAN HI HELLOOOOO :D Are you still reading the series?

[florianschild]

Oh no, hi!!! I missed this comment somehow! I'm so sorry!

I'm definitely still reading the series and I'm kind of obsessed with it. But I did a very bad thing (apparently) and skipped Liveship Traders lol. So I just read the Farseer trilogy then skipped to Tawny Man. I finished Fool's Fate in December and I absolutely LOVED it. So now I have to go back and read Liveship but I'm kind of sad to be leaving Fitz for so long because after that I guess I have to read Rain Wilds...

[wearing_tearing]

LOL Yup! I think you'll enjoy Liveship Traders and the... Connections that the series has :D Rain Wilds is my least favorite, but it still manages to be so good?? Robin Hobb, the author that you are.

[florianschild]

Yes, I was spoiled via Tawny Man to at least some of the connections haha. But I'm still looking forward to it because Hobb is such a good writer. I have a lot of faith that she can interest me in just about anything at this point!

[wearing_tearing]

Me too! I'm going to do a universe reread this year since I miss everyone and want to appreciate the story more. Happy reading when you come back to it!

[florianschild]

For real? Do you reread all the books? I might be rereading snippets here and there because I plan on discussing Fitz' character pretty extensively for my planned Fannish 50 theme. :D

[wearing_tearing]

This time around I'm going to reread all of them! I finally managed to complete my paperback collection last year and so I have physical copies I can hold in my own two hands \o/ It's been a long enough time that I've probably forgotten some intriguing plot details as well. Tt'll be fun to go back to it and really take my time with it.

I can't wait for your Fitz posts! :D

[dividedbyblue]

Hi! I read that you like board games. What board games are your favorites?

[florianschild]

Hi! I LOVE board games. I'll play almost anything but I love social deduction games the most. My favorites are Coup and The Resistance of the ones I've tried so far.

[dividedbyblue]

I haven’t played those two. I looked them up, they look cool!

When I play board games solo, I play games like Callico & Cascadia, or fantasy-type board games where you get to be immersed in the fantasy world the game is set in. Games I play like that are Runebound 2nd edition, Defenders of the Realm, Mage Knight (thought that’s been a while to be honest, the rules are quite heavy :) ), Four Against Darkness (that’s more of a pen and paper boardgame) With my friends I usually play Legends of Andor, Machiavelli, Lords of Waterdeep

[thatjustwontbreak]

Following! I too, love whump. And reading. Found you from the Sunshine Revival. :)

[florianschild]

Lovely to meet you! Whump omg yes. When you get down to the core of all my favorites, it's probably the one thing they all have in common lol.

[berryfairyghost]

Hello! Here from the sunshine revival! (thanks for hosting!)
I like how you write and I'm interested in what your bookish and fandom-y thoughts will be, so I'll be subscribing.
I hope this week treats you well!