Quasi

#ScribesAndMakers 29: Last line of dialogue you wrote. * “It has to be possible,” Carrie breathed. “There HAS to be a way.”

#ScribesAndMakers 18: Needlework made or admired? Just this week I had to sew a badge onto my daughter's blanket. It's not really needlepoint but I'm pleased with the result and I don't have the brainpower for an alternative.

#ScribesAndMakers July 1: Libraries? Wondrous places. Back in high school it's where I tended to hide out and read. When our internet went out a decade ago, I had to use the library wifi to do my work. Most recently, they have great programming for my daughter during school breaks, plus she gets books from there more than me. Aside, when teaching got rocky, I looked into the qualifications to be a librarian instead. Damn. Possibly harder than you'd first think.

#ScribesAndMakers 3: Reintroduction These days, I mostly write time travel, and stories in serial format. Though I've prior experience with RPGs, webcomics, comic reviews, personified mathematics, AMVs, fanfiction, photography and theatre work. Canadian, non-binary. My day job is teaching, so I tend to post to hashtags late in the day. Published in three short story anthologies, on AO3 (below) and various other websites. You could check that out right now! @QuasiTemporal@archiveofourown.org

#ScribesAndMakers 27: Favourite woodwind? The flute, which I played for five years back in high school. In part because I could not make a sound with a reed instrument. Like you're supposed to vibrate it... somehow... and oboes have two? Forget it. Plus I like the sound, and it also doubles as family friendly swearing when you spell it with the accent, flûte.

#ScribesAndMakers 2: #TTMD with @ElyseMGrasso@wandering.shop Seems to me you've experienced a lot of major setbacks in life, from your house to dairy to who knows what else. Do you have any tips or techniques that help you through such rough times, and has any of it worked it's way into your writing or character backstories? And as always, was anything else you wanted to talk about or had hoped to be asked? Finally, happy birthday, hope positive things happened today!

#ScribesAndMakers 3: Sketch representing self as a creative person, one minute or less First I have to find a few minutes in the day to do this. >.< Good enough.

#ScribesAndMakers 17: An idyllic garden? I've often contemplated just a small herb garden, a bit like what my parents had growing up. Only about a metre squared. But we have too much local wildlife for it to work without some sort of barrier, while indoors I kill ferns with my inattentiveness. Though if we're talking to visit, I always find topiary gardening clever. Somewhere quiet, except for birds and the like, away from city noises.

#ScribesAndMakers 11: How much you worry about what others think about creative work? Massively. 95%. Part of schizotypal personality disorder (STPD) is social anxiety, and a core belief that others somehow see I don't fit in, or otherwise think negatively of me. Doesn't help that a few years ago, someone thought my writing implied predatory behaviour IRL. Um, no - but great way to give me added paranoia! (It led to the diagnosis.) It's a daily struggle. I'm a work in progress, so to speak.

#ScribesAndMakers 21: Create work based on creations of others (fanart/fanfic/etc)? I feel that's a gateway for many. As a teenager I used to sketch cartoon characters, which became writing fanfic. It helps to not have to create everything yourself (plus I find world building a real pain) and/or it lets one fill in little gaps. Audiences can find you too. I ultimately leaned into parody ("Irony Chef", "Marmalade Mercury") before doing my own thing. I might return, mostly there's just no time.

#ScribesAndMakers 20: How difficult to receive criticism? The receiving isn't the issue, it's the coping afterward. This is less an issue as I age, but I have a constant concern that I'm doing things too differently, that this is why I don't have more readers, and how can I ever adapt without sacrificing my vision. Criticism amps that feeling up, it's partly why I gave up doing illustrations. But then I experience the same thing in most (social) situations, not just creative ones.

#ScribesAndMakers 25/26: A poll with movies you enjoyed because they were well made, one you liked despite itself. Just as well I've fallen behind, this is the first poll that doesn't work for me. I don't watch many movies, and those I do, it's usually for the plot (or was recommended). Nothing about how they were created. I don't even know what metric to use for "well made". Have fun, see you tomorrow.

#ScribesAndMakers 24: Fish story? I legitimately don't recall the last time I used fish in a story. Closest is jellyfish, technically not really fish... as compared to seahorses, which are fish. Perhaps serials can be tricky to get fin-ished? It could be a matter of scale. Sorry this post isn't reel good, someone get the hook.

#ScribesAndMakers 6: Subject matter for photography? It's usually my daughter in some capacity, or I'm taking scenic holiday photos. The occasional exception is something in nature, usually an animal. Here was a strange visitor to our property a month ago (taken with my phone, as I didn't have my camera on me). Abandoned places is an interesting one, makes me think of liminal spaces. I might photograph, if I was in the right mood.

#ScribesAndMakers 30: An adjective to describe how you're feeling about creativity going into July. Plausible.

#ScribesAndMakers 23: #TTMD w/ @EmpyClaw@mastodon.social Saskatchewan! Made popular by Chappell Roan. Have you lived there all your life? Anyway. How easy is it to write about individuals with parts we don't have? (Horns, extra arms, etc) I suspect I'd have someone wear a hat and only three scenes later go "wait, darn it..." Related, how do their tailoring businesses work? And as always, was there any question you hoped to be asked or anything you didn't get to talk about and wanted to? Also, happy birthday!

#ScribesAndMakers 28: Aside from obligations, biggest distractions from your creative work? The creative works of others, generally. Extending to being in weekly RPGs. I don't need to do the same analysis and thinking when, for instance, I'm reading a post or watching a Lets Play. Sure, I COULD use the time for only my stuff, but I suspect it'd burn me out too. Doesn't help that my mentality is such that I really need at least an hour uninterrupted to get my things done.

#ScribesAndMakers 4: @#$&!? I wouldn't necessarily recommend 23471 as a password, too many consecutive digits. Also, someone's shift key broke on this question. Wait, why are so many people talking about swearing.

#ScribesAndMakers 9: Ask an author/artist (living or deceased) one question? "Is there anything you haven't been asked about yet that you'd like to discuss today?" In all seriousness, I've got no one specific that I'd want to talk with. I rarely went to autograph sessions when I attended conventions either. But hey, it might be interesting to know what else famous people like to talk about other than their works.

#ScribesAndMakers 15: Adjective describing creativity from June 1st still fit? Yeah, "faint" still fits. Not ready to knock it down to "null and void" quite yet.

#ScribesAndMakers June 1: An adjective to describe creativity this month? Faint. Also works as a noun.

#ScribesAndMakers 14: Should there be "quality control" when it comes to self-published work? Probably, because otherwise it's largely the people who have money who will self-publish, regardless of ability. (I suppose I'm not counting web posting.) It's not feasible though, because how would you set a bar, or find the time/money to set it up. There are no easy answers here.

#ScribesAndMakers 19: A stranger ever recognized you because of your creative work? "Recognized" me in terms of realizing who I am? I don't believe so, though see below. "Recognized" me in terms of offering an interview or guest post on their site? Yes, a few times. I've written such posts on time travel, on mathematics, and was once on the "Zannen, Canada" podcast (which looks at Canadian anime connections). Because my CBC anime interview from the late 90s pops up in the weirdest places.

#ScribesAndMakers 12: Something kind about your creativity? That is actually so hard. It's persistent. I'll give it that. A decade of "Time Untied", and I'm still at it, despite several times I could have simply sped to a finish. When personified math didn't take as a serial, I tried it as a webcomic. I started writing one fanfic in 1996 and finished it in 2017 after a 17 year hiatus. Stuff gets done. Eventually.

#ScribesAndMakers 28: Ever written serials? Being the featured creator, yeah, but it's more than that. My inclination is to chunk long works into entries too. Because that's how I process media. I do not get people who binge read or binge watch. I can't do it. I need time between major events to process or hypothesize. I could *maybe* get through a 12 episode show in 12 days, but that's pushing it (and not merely time constraints). Becomes a real problem when I fall behind in something.

#ScribesAndMakers 10: Preference between linear progress vs books jumping in time? Slight preference for linear, which is also how I write. The thing I really have trouble with though, is plots jumping in SPACE. If the party splits, half going north and half going west, don't hop back and forth chapter to chapter as the days go on. Finish the north party, rewind time, then do the west party. Don't get me invested in one plot, then jerk me elsewhere for the other group. I will jump ahead.

#ScribesAndMakers 16: Alix could finally see daylight... ...while Xila could see their nightlight. Hopefully this switch through the mirror to the alternate universe would be beneficial for both of them.

#ScribesAndMakers 30: Yeah, didn't ask a question of myself, but feel like I should have a placeholder here. I did learn that the limit of my phone for notifications was 100, beyond that the count doesn't register (it was set for likes as well as RTs and mentions). Go figure, thanks again.

#ScribesAndMakers 22: Collaborative work on a creative project? Way back in University I was chief scriptwriter for a musical; had to coordinate other writers. More recently I did some artwork with the (former) Comic Tea Party... I'd post here, but would want to attribute and don't have the brainpower. It all went fine, but I know I'm the type to overthink what others are doing, so it's not my go-to. It is less of a factor with RPGs, granted. Sorry for catsup, Qs later.

#ScribesAndMakers 13: Share something you've been working on this week Here's a review sheet for a Grade 10 class. It was either showing you this, or the drawing of dolphins I was colouring with my daughter this morning (after fixing my damn printer). It's June. Literally no idea what else y'all think I have time to create.

#ScribesAndMakers 31: How confident in creative projects? In terms of getting anything done? Not that confident at all, but then that's to be expected for May and even more likely for June. In terms of it being a worthwhile thing to continue? Definitely feeling better about that now. Not that it was especially low this month, but sometimes I think that's my delusions talking.

#ScribesAndMakers 8: Something you consider creative that others might not? Dealing with food. From figuring out how to package it into bags at the store, to working out substitutions in recipes that might work. It's not as straightforward as it appears even if you're not a chef (though I do see I'm not the first to suggest it).

#ScribesAndMakers 22: Which book world to live in for a week? THAT is a question. I keep thinking about it, and ultimately, I don't know. Do I prefer seeing characters, which leans yuri, or a setting, which leans fantasy, or a world where time travel is a possibility? In the end, maybe a world where one can change their form or gender. Whether to experience their world in a different persona, or to briefly be a different self, I don't know. Fascinating. (I guess I'll take suggestions.)

#ScribesAndMakers 7: #TTMD with @Nisaa@sfba.social I see your medieval reenactments on your photography page are labelled "Time Travel". Would you ever want to literally visit those times yourself? How do you think you would fit in? For that matter, any other particular time period you'd like (if there was a TARDIS)? And per usual, was there a question that wasn't asked which you would like to answer, or anything else you'd enjoy talking about that didn't come up?

#ScribesAndMakers 21: What medium to depict a visual image of a lake? My first instinct would be a photograph. With a camera, not a phone. But not because I can't draw. If there isn't actually a lake around to take a picture of, I'd attempt a sketch... I like to think I'm better with scenery than people. (Or anthropomorphized beings.)

#ScribesAndMakers 29: Maths feature in creative work? The obvious one is the personified mathematics characters who have graphs for their hairstyles. Para even made her way into "Epsilon" stories. Tons of math puns in "Any Qs"... I suspect most fly right by people. However, the way time travel works in my stories also requires some calculations towards arrival point, and Heather goes off about space-time dimensions more than once.

#ScribesAndMakers 27: What advice to yourself back on May 1st? Probably just "keep doing your best". I write time travel, I know no good would come of providing any advance information about the perpetual crises that exist in my life. At least they're mostly sequential, rather than in parallel. See my other post regarding CBT. I try to make the best of every situation, otherwise I'd go mad.

#ScribesAndMakers 5: Part of any communities related to creative interests? I have been, online. Posted to the WFG (Webfiction Guide) community for serials in the early 2010s, and the CTP (Comic Tea Party) community for webcomics in the late 2010s. NaNoWriMo through the same period, as well as with a Twitter group of math teachers. All dissolved now. What remains is some Discord communities, which is also where our RPG groups meet. (The SCA is a new one on me, had to look it up.)

#ScribesAndMakers 25: Stella had been dreading this moment... (scrolls through the tag) Wait, am I the only person who immediately went to streetcars? I blame my old English classes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q3fBK6LbCc

#ScribesAndMakers 23: A story about a cryptid? I didn't realize that was a term (and neither does my spellcheck). I really don't delve into the supernatural in that way though, so I'm not sure. Possibly one that's misunderstood and looking for love, or under a curse or something. I have difficulty playing that sort of thing straight.

#ScribesAndMakers 20: Have $100 to spend on a support to creativity. If I top that up a bit, I could get a substitute teacher for a day. Even given the time loss to create away lesson plans, I'd still come out ahead. Self funding a substitute is tricky though, so maybe a gardener to take care of the lawn, and I can use that time. Or someone else to do the shopping. Or driving. I guess commissionned art is another option, but money's never been the issue with me. It's lack of time.

#ScribesAndMakers 18: A character based on me, how often exclamation points in dialogue? Depends on the subject matter. I can get quite excitable when talking about maths, serials or time travel plots. Otherwise, probably not much. Certainly very rarely in an anger context. (My tolerance threshold is extremely high, along with patience, which likely correlates with being a teacher.) My main issue is talking too fast.

@ami_angelwings@urusai.social #QuestionOfTheDay : A scene with no dialogue you still think about. Stargate SG-1, "Reckoning, Part 2", the final destruction of the replicators in Season 8. "Point 76." "Do it!" Several seconds of every flippin' Stargate everywhere doing KaWOOSH to a musical score. Two lines of dialogue underscore the events and the gravity. Then for over a minute the score takes over again, and the Ancient Weapon goes off with only facial expressions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSopryli10Q

#ScribesAndMakers 2: A line from something you've read today? '"Sometimes in science, we hit a dead end," her dad mused. "Go beyond the data. The town may be telling you something the instruments can't."' From "The Case of the Disappearing Rainbow" by Kelsey McEwen in Chickadee Magazine, May/June 2026. Last time I read something for myself (that wasn't news) was back in April. Not holding my breath for this month either.

#ScribesAndMakers 19: Locked in Ikea for a week, what will you build? I mean, the standard answer would be time for myself, but that would be true if it was Ikea or anywhere else. As such... I'd probably redesign the place and build better maps, including more of those secret passages that take you between sections. I have an innate sense of direction, and even I can get turned around in there.

#ScribesAndMakers 26: Favourite vampire? I have to go with Angel from "Buffy". Partly as he's one of the first I ever encountered, partly as he became a private supernatural investigator, which is cool. (Yes, I know he's not alone in that.) Honourable mentions: @NaraMoore@sakurajima.moe reminded me of Carmilla. Got reinvented for modern day as a series of webisodes. Never had time to finish them. Anime's Karin, the blood producer. Try to ignore stupid fanservice nudity in the opening. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yns_FB6yNgE

#ScribesAndMakers 24: Warp? Trek, but likely not what you're thinking. Check elapsed time, Mr. Sulu. https://youtu.be/DSg58lpaX4c?si=t7xMuosQZoWh_ky7&t=77

@AlinaLeonova@wandering.shop Wishing you all the best with your writing and such as well, I know it's been keeping you busy. Thank you for all the years of helping to manage the tag(s).

@WTL@mastodon.social Gymnastics ends about 1:45, I should be able to drop in before 2:30 for a little while at least. Sorry to hear about the wind damage!

@Klepsis@indieauthors.social I personally feel fantasy is less limiting. Science fiction needs some science, yet fantasy can be magic (in society or in the shadows), historical, supernatural, even all of those. While I sometimes say I write "urban science fiction", saying "urban fantasy" would also be accurate. Whereas someone writing urban fantasy can't necessarily make the reverse claim. #TTMD