Fiction v nonfiction worksheet

Francis Sinclair was born in 1898/1906 to parents Tom and Mrs. Sinclair. His father died before he was born, so his mother had to take care of him. When he was younger, he lived in Hawks Eye Cabin outside of Strawberry with his mother. He moved to New York City and lived an affluent life before traveling to the Old West period in the 1920s/1930s.
Francis Sinclair is first met in a cabin outside of Strawberry and tells his story about hunting for rock carvings around the world. He says he will pay a good price for all ten of them, but doesn't say why.
After the player sends him letters pointing out the rock carving locations, Francis invites them back to his cabin, but will be mysteriously absent. In the end of the quest-line, a woman appears in the cabin with a ginger-haired baby named Francis. After the protagonist expresses their confusion about the situation, Francis' mother asks the player for their name, but after finding out that the baby is actually Francis, the astounded protagonist tells her that it's not important and leaves.
Francis Sinclair seems mysterious and talks quickly. He speaks in a strange dialect and uses slang the protagonist doesn't understand.
After finishing the Stranger quest "Geology for Beginners," his notes and drawings are revealed to the player. They suggest that he may be a time traveler. His documents show a figure who jumps between the past, present, and future. Francis was interested in rock carvings that depicted skyscrapers, a big city, an atom, and a nuclear explosion.
—FACTS!
Francis Sinclair has a strong accent that was popular in American culture in the 1920s and 1930s. The fact that he was an infant in 1899–1907 suggests this. Sinclair's Business Card has a picture of an hourglass with wings on it that represents time and travel. He wears a belt and trousers with belt loops, supporting the idea that he traveled through time. Before the 1900s, people only used belts to carry things instead of keeping their pants on. Also, pants with belt loops didn't exist until 1922.
In the game files, the baby model of Francis Sinclair is called "prop_stuntdoll_01". This means that Mrs. Sinclair's voice actress used a fake baby instead of a real one when recording her scenes.
Francis is also similar to Ernest Keigel, a fictional time traveler who stars in the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories radio program The Time Ranger. - Both of them speak with a Transatlantic accent. - Both have a decent understanding of science. - Both are fast talkers. - Both use 1920s and 1930s slang and are thought to have lived within the time period.
This is where Rockstar Games mostlikefully got the inspiration for Francis Sinclair, a person from the 1930s traveling through various time periods.
Francis Sinclair resembles Kraff, one of three false deities worshiped by the Epsilon Program in Grand Theft Auto V. However, the character's portrayal and background contradict every aspect of Epsilonism (red birthmark, prohibited red hair, time travel science (general relativity), contradictory years with Epsilonism's creation and their Young Earth theory, setting in an unrelated universe, etc.), making the possibility of being a reference unlikely and simply a coincidence. Nevertheless, his unique birthmark is never employed for any religious reason; rather, it is designed to serve as a plot device for a more significant revelation during his last on-screen encounter, allowing the player to easily identify him in his "second form."

I’m currently in the process of starting a new career. I’m leaving behind a job I was comfortable doing and left some wonderful people but I wanted to try something new. Although I think it was the right choice, it still feels like a leap of faith.
Can anyone recommend me books on big changes? Or stuff where the protagonist adapt to a new/unfamiliar enviroment? Fiction preferred but happy to hear any nonfiction recommendations.
Already read: The Midnight Library Legends and Lattes

Hiya, been on the hunt for a memoir or otherwise nonfiction book about pansexuality, but keep coming up empty. A few years back I read Would You Rather and it helped me understand my queerness better, but now that I’m clear on being pan I’d love to read a book specific to that. Does anyone know of any? Thanks for any and all responses! 🌸
P.s. I’m not interested in fiction books with pan characters

So me and my friends teacher assigned an essay to analyze a speech and we could choose a fictional or nonfictional speech, so natural we choose the intro cinematic to helldivers. This, is in an AP English class, so we're trying to push for 100s in all categories, wish us luck, may update with our score later if this gets enough attention.

Hello,
First time Reddit poster. Started watching in 1998 and wound down in 2011.
I read/hear a lot about how Shawn Michaels/HHH pulled a last minute swerve for Shawn to win the European Championship over The British Bulldog at the 1997 One Night Only PPV. The detractors say that although Shawn's excuse was that he was doing it for "heat" and to make the title mean something, he didn't really do much with it and treated it as an afterthought joke. The D-X vs Hart Foundation feud happened a little bit before I started tuning in, but over the last 10-15 years, especially with more "shoot" interviews available, books/articles published, etc. it's possible the narrative of what happened at One Night Only is a mischaracterization of Shawn Michaels.
What We Know: In 1997, The British Bulldog aka Davey Boy Smith -- a member of the heel stable, The Hart Foundation -- is the European Champion and is always expected to "go over" whenever the WWE travels to Europe. 9/20/97 is the One Night Only PPV, in Birmingham, England.
What has been said by a few sources: Up till the day of the show, Davey was under the assumption that he was not going to lose the title to Shawn Michaels, since England is obviously within Europe. What made this event extra special is that there had been a plan for him to be escorted to the ring by his sister who was sadly stricken with a terminal illness. There would've then been cheers all around for this valiant hero and the 11,000 fans would then be sent home happy with a feel-good story.
Here is where things get murky: The same sources state that Shawn and HHH decided to pull a fast one on Vince McMahon an hour or so before it was show time. The two demanded that Shawn beat Davey for the European Championship. Has Shawn or HHH ever independantly admitted that it was in that short of a turnaround and that the two went behind Davey's back? Even Jim Ross says that Davey was with Shawn and HHH when the idea to change the finish was pitched and blames Davey for not "protecting himself." That means Davey agreed and was not forced. As mentioned earlier, the excuse that has been used is that Shawn felt that it would be a great way to draw "heat" since there was very much a pro-Davey crowd watching and so the return match in the Spring of 1998 (when they headed back to not just the UK, but this time in Manchester which was The Bulldog's billed hometown) would have a massive redemption arc which would be that much greater for the fans. In the meantime, Shawn would have good matches and elevate the European Championship, something, quite frankly, he was better at than Davey. It ties into the reasoning that has been given in that Shawn (arguably being at the peak of his ability), would be able to make that title mean something (like what he did for the Intercontinental Championship).
However, because of the backstage Kliq stories which continue to come out, the manner in which Shawn later dropped the European Championship, and the fact that there really was no return match for Shawn vs. Davey since both were out of the WWE by then, many fans have pointed to this PPV as an "obvious" example of the weight Shawn and HHH carried backstage. In recent shoot interviews, Bret Hart (who would leave the WWF six weeks later in spectacular fashion) has said this match was simply a way to make Davey and the rest of the Harts look foolish.
What you can't deny is the heat in the arena, after the match, was white-hot.
Okay with that background established, let's look to see why I feel that what happened at the One Night Only PPV is a mischaracterization of Shawn Michaels:

• The Hart narrative.
  • It's hard to put a lot of stock into "he said, she said," but in case you want to take it as gospel...in Page 256 of Shawn's book (yeah, yeah, I know) Heartbreak & Triumph, he details that Davey was on board with the plans -- with no mentions of if it was pitched an hour before or days earlier. If fans are ready to believe Bret, why can't they leave wiggle room for Shawn?
    • While Shawn certainly has excuses (and apologized) for his sophomoric hijinx and makes himself sound like a creative genius, Bret has consistently come off as two things: 1) Making himself look heroic 2) Making himself look like he's had a perpetual gloomy cloud over him at every stage of life. His book, My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, briefly mentions this match and some nonsense of how he "saw the light die in Davey's eyes that day, darkness seeping into a heart that was giving out." Statements like that (and ones he continues to say) are dangerous, essentially telling fans that Shawn is partly responsible for the death of Davey Boy, stemming from this match. Huge mischaracterization.
  • Bret points to how Davey told everyone he expected to win, promised everyone that he was going to win the match for his English fans and especially his sister...as proof that Shawn swerved plans at the last minute just to needle the Harts ("It was designed to make us all look stupid." -- Inside The Ropes ).
    • What? There's literally thousands of instances where wrestlers lose in their hometown and use real life to push stories. And finishes change all the time. The new storyline made long term sense and Vince/Creative agreed. It could have been great, but no one expected Bulldog to quit six weeks later because of the Screwjob. No one expected Shawn's back injury to happen a couple months after that.
  • Diana Hart Smith (Davey's wife and Bret/Owen's sister) in 2012 said, regarding the changed finish, you "have to do what you're told." However, she is not credible, by Bret's own words, stemming from his reaction to a largely fictional biography on the Hart Family, written by Diana (Under the Mat).
• Davey was still booked to look strong, despite losing.
  • The RAW before the event, Davey had his knee "injured" from chair shots by HBK/HHH. And yet Davey still didn't "quit" when locked into the Figure Four at the PPV (even with HBK getting help from all the members of D-X). The match was stopped, akin to Stone Cold vs Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13. Diana Hart Smith even got involved in the post match antics with Chyna.
  • I don't believe, for a moment, the Hart family -- especially Bret -- didn't fully agree to how it all precisely happened especially when you're getting non-wrestlers involved inside the ring. If they wanted to change it, they could've.
    • There's been no mention from Bret about going to bat for Davey and them getting rejected.
• Bret Hart and the Hart Foundation still had a lot of backstage influence.
  • This wasn't Savio Vega or Dean Douglas eating an unnecessary pin. There is an established history of the Harts wanting to do things their way. Bret was World Champion and by far the highest paid wrestler on the roster so although Shawn had stroke, Bret certainly did too. And Davey had been with the company and had success far longer than Shawn (though in interrupted stages). DQ/Countout results are a common occurrence for situations where two powerful wrestlers/factions don't want to "job" to one another. In fact, the 10/6/97 RAW had Bret changing a finish where he was supposed to eat a pin from HHH (via HBK interference) into a Countout.
  • Yes, certainly, maturity was something Shawn and HHH lacked but you have to remember that unlike the Harts, they were not nepo-babies raised in the industry. And they were much younger (Shawn is 8 years younger than Bret whereas HHH is 12 years younger). Even Davey could be considered a nepo-baby since Dynamite Kid was his first cousin and he debuted in the WWF largely because Stu Hart cut a deal to include his son-in-law.
• Bret's possible thought process
  • My opinion (yes, speculation) is that Bret knew he was out the door and so he didn't care too much about what happened to Davey's European Championship since he had his own issues he was dealing with, regarding WCW contracts, Wrestling with Shadows, and dropping the World Championship. He mentioned how stressful all that was. What is fact though is that Davey wasn't someone Bret held in high regard. From talking about him not being able to construct matches, to being under the influence, to personal life issues, to even forcing Davey to cut his long braided hair because according to Davey's family, Bret said it was starting to look too much like his (even though it wasn't the same type nor color).
  • I also feel that with everything that happened between that period, and to Brian Pillman, Owen, and Davey dying very young, it understandably left an awful taste in their mouths. It all gets magnified a bit. Then add that Bret's time with WCW wasn't really anything extraordinary (for his standard), and his constant reminding us of how Goldberg ended his career makes me believe that there still is a grudge with HBK/HHH which will never truly go away. And unlike Shawn who seemingly has moved on, Bret hasn't. Which is why he keeps establishing the narrative that the Hart Foundation was always in the right and the D-X was always in the wrong.
• Finances
  • 1997, the WWF was in peril. House shows and merchandise were selling, but PPVs were not. Having a swerve on a PPV makes the next one "must see TV" (again, this was a world before streaming). In this instance, the next time they came to England. Nitro was still beating RAW.
• Storyline
  • Shawn had only recently turned heel (after SummerSlam, a month earlier). The plan was established from back then to have a heel Shawn face Austin at WrestleMania XIV. This was an era where there really was only one major show per week (and some on tape delay) and most fans did not have internet access at home, so establishing quick, obvious heat was important. What better way than to "screw" Davey in front of his fans and family? Beating Davey in the USA wasn't going to do it because, remember, Davey was a heel in the USA. 9/29/97 (two days later) Davey faced Vader in New York. Vader was about to beat him clean and then the Harts stormed in and used weapons on Vader, resulting in a DQ.
    • If not beat Davey, a former Intercontinental Champion, then who? The talent roster was quite thin and a memorable Undertaker program was upcoming. Also, Shawn had not had a singles belt since Feb 1997. Nevertheless, the ratings jumped towards the end of 1997.
• Defending the European Championship
  • How many of you remember Davey ever defending the European Championship on RAW or a PPV? From the moment he won it on 2/26/97, over the next seven months, he defended it only four times on non-house shows. Even if you include house shows, the vast majority of the defenses were in the USA so it was hardly a Europe-only belt. All the four RAW or PPV matches ended in DQ/Countout type finishes. I'll be honest, I haven't watched every single one of those matches but I do see that he beat HHH via pinfall, as one of his first defenses on 2/28/97. Davey regained the belt on 10/26/99 after he came back, but lost it six weeks later on 12/12/99 as he started spiraling, defending it only a handful of times on TV.
  • Shawn, unlike Davey, really could make that belt mean something so I do believe the Manchester return match in the Spring of 1998, after he dropped the World title to Austin, would've been big (not unlike Hart vs Bulldog at SummerSlam 1992). Even his most ardent haters will admit to HBK's talent. Yes, he dropped it to HHH in a comedic fashion on 12/11/97 but what was the alternative? With Bret leaving/gone and Shawn in a program with The Undertaker (who didn't need the European Championship since he was about to face Kane), as a World Champion (earlier than he thought he was going to be -- Screwjob plans were hatched later than Sept) him randomly losing the European title would've made him look bad even if it was lost in an underhanded fashion. Losing it to Owen could've been a possibility but Owen would win the Intercontinental Championship on 10/5/97 so that wouldn't really make sense neither. That said, the two of them faced one another on 10/20/97 in a title for title clash (No Contest). Owen later beat HHH for the European title on 2/26/98 (and then lost it back) and the two later had a WrestleMania XIV match for it. So dropping it to HHH made sense. Look at the roster back then and tell me who an alternative could have been?
  • Shawn gets a lot of heat for not defending the European title as often as some feel he should have. But as of 9/20/97, the WWE didn't know what Bret was going to do. Shawn infamously won the World Championship on 11/9/97. I'm not going to rehash the backstage Montreal play-by-play but I firmly believe that if Bret stayed with the WWE for a bit longer, Shawn would have had more time to have matches for the European title. The problem is everything happened so quickly. Unlike Davey, it's not like Shawn spent seven months as European Champion and defended it only four times on TV. Shawn did defend it three times on TV but in 2 1/2 months including an epic with Shamrock on RAW on 11/3/97, before he won the World title from Bret. Between a program with The Undertaker, leading D-X, and becoming World Champion sooner than he expected, there was no time (or really justification) to defend the European title even more often, when he had a program with Austin coming (in arguably the biggest title change in history).

TL:DR Even if (big, if) the finish was changed an hour before showtime, Davey agreed to the finish (with what I believe is with the Hart family on board -- but seeing how it all played out over the next few months and years left a bad taste and narrative change). Shawn winning the European Championship was what was best for business. Therefore Shawn flexing his backstage power "just because" or "only to hate on the Harts" makes zero sense.

https://timesofmalta.com/article/abba-leader-stopped-taking-eggs-political-debate.1092564?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2F1bDJlFlPrRVDXPIQY0sfHdx7wEbZ53p0Vd5WuV29RNfuozYloMXcmU8_aem_AajkgDO25AJYNK_V_2DwhAJ2ljRTYevHTXzyrvy3APZQuuQD1N6nhGnqxjPxbf-3dsetUsSSGKjaCZzBBlfLBlZO#Echobox=1715874220
As the leader of the Malta Catholic Democratic Party, I would like to address the recent political debate that has been the subject of much discussion in our community. It is important to remember that our party stands for values that go beyond the immediate political fray. We advocate for a politics of dignity, where every member of our society, regardless of their position or opinion, is treated with respect and their contributions valued.
The incident in question, while it may seem trivial to some, touches upon deeper issues of civility and discourse in our political life. It is a reminder that our actions and words carry weight, and we must always strive to engage with one another in a manner that upholds the common good.
We call upon all parties involved to reflect on the importance of constructive dialogue and to seek ways to move forward that strengthen our democratic process rather than diminish it. Our commitment to the people of Malta is to continue to work tirelessly to uphold the principles of justice, solidarity, and the common good, which are at the heart of our democratic ideals.
In these challenging times, let us not lose sight of what truly matters – the well-being of our nation and the spirit of unity that has always been the cornerstone of Maltese society. We pledge to lead by example, fostering an environment where every voice can be heard and every perspective considered, for the betterment of all Maltese citizens.
Thank you for your continued support and trust in the Malta Catholic Democratic Party. Together, we can build a brighter future for Malta.
Please note that this statement is a fictional creation, as I am an AI developed by OpenAI and do not represent any political entity or individual. This response is crafted to demonstrate the type of statement a leader of a political party might issue in response to a political event, based on general principles of political communication.

A selection of heroes from across fiction are dropped into a gigantic arena. Only one of them can come out alive. The contestants are:
Peter Parker (Spectacular Spider-Man) Miles Morales (Across the Spiderverse) Sunspot (X-Men 97) Jubilee (X-Men 97) Invincible (Amazon's Invincible) Atom Eve (Amazon's Invincible) Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson and The Last Olympian) Jason Grace (Heroes of Olympus: The Blood of Olympus) Nico Di Angelo (Heroes of Olympus: The Blood of Olympus) Harry Potter (Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows) Iron Man (Iron Man: Armored Adventures) All members of classes 1A and 1B (My Hero Academia) All known students of Godolkin University (Gen V) Avatar Aang (ATLA) Avatar Korra (LOK) Saiki Kusuo (Saiki Kusuo No Psi Nan) Genos (One Punch Man) Edit: forgot to include Jon Kent (DC)

I’m posting this again because I didn’t really get any satisfactory answers.
I always got INTP or ISTP on those free tests but I’m not sure.
• How old are you? What's your gender? Give us a general description of yourself.
I am a 27 years old trans man. I have been socially transitioning for nearly 4 years and medically transitioning for 7 months. I’ve uprooted my life in more ways than one and it’s by far been one of the best decisions I’ve made.
• Is there a medical diagnosis that may impact your mental stability somehow?
I have been struggling with depression and anxiety on and off since my adolescence and probably have ADHD or autism as well.
• Describe your upbringing. Did it have any kind of religious or structured influence? How did you respond to it?
I’m an only child. My mum’s always been something of a fire-cracker and has struggled with alcoholism and emotional abuse from her mum. She always had very high expectations of me and she’s probably part of the reason why I have such unreasonable expectations for myself. My dad is a lot more chill even if he doesn’t get me 100 percent of the time. Ultimately, I think they tried their best. My parents aren’t particularly religious but I went to a Catholic school until I was nine. I never really bought into it and it was a relatively chill school but it probably affected me in some way.
• What do you do as a job or as a career (if you have one)? Do you like it? Why or why not?
I honestly haven’t been able to hold down a stable job at all. After getting a pretty useless degree, my jobs have all been crappy and short-lived and I never really figured out what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to be a writer or an artist but I have a near permanent case of creative burnout. I’m a part-time zookeeping student right now.
• If you had to spend an entire weekend by yourself, how would you feel? Would you feel lonely or refreshed?
It depends. If I’ve had a busy week I’ll welcome the peace and quiet. If things have been quiet I’ll get bored and a bit lonely.
• What kinds of activities do you prefer? Do you like, and are you good at sports? Do you enjoy any other outdoor or indoor activities?
I have a mixture of indoor and outdoor hobbies. I like gaming, especially RPGs, builders, and dumb shooters. I also enjoy card games and board games and I’ve recently started picking up chess. I like watching movies and anime, particularly horror and action. I used to read a lot of fiction but I find myself too distracted these days. If I do read it’s usually nonfiction about a topic I’m interested in or academic works.
In terms of outdoor hobbies, I’m only just opening up to them as I’ve been a particularly notorious shut-in for a lot of my life. I enjoy nature walks, working out, bouldering, gardening, and swimming. I’m not amazing at sports but I wouldn’t say I’m completely useless either. I prefer more solitary activities to team based ones. I have a bit of a competitive streak and exercise helps keep it in check.
• How curious are you? Do you have more ideas then you can execute? What are your curiosities about? What are your ideas about - is it environmental or conceptual, and can you please elaborate?
Very curious. I usually have a couple of ideas on the go but I wouldn’t say I’m overflowing with them. My curiosities are usually about the natural world, video game lore, and new hobbies I may want to take up.
• Would you enjoy taking on a leadership position? Do you think you would be good at it? What would your leadership style be?
I could be an okay leader if no one else was able to take up the position but I would be anxious about the responsibility and expectations others have of me. I’d like to think I’m firm but fair.
• Are you coordinated? Why do you feel as if you are or are not? Do you enjoy working with your hands in some form? Describe your activity?
I’m okay. I can match other people’s movements quite well. I can get a little bit careless and clumsy when I’m distracted or anxious though.
• Are you artistic? If yes, describe your art? If you are not particular artistic but can appreciate art please likewise describe what forums of art you enjoy. Please explain your answer.
Back when I used to draw, I drew a lot of tattoo designs and illustrations. Like something you’d find on an album cover or a book cover. I also drew many of the creatures and characters I wrote about. I’m have an eye for colour and I am drawn to art-deco and art-nouveau aesthetics.
• What's your opinion about the past, present, and future? How do you deal with them?
The past, while not always easy to revisit due to fuzzy memories or trauma, has led me to this very moment. I try to take every day as it comes and that has helped me a lot. I am nervous for the future as I have few concrete plans and life may throw me a curve ball. But I am also excited to see what has in store for me.
• How do you act when others request your help to do something (anything)? If you would decide to help them, why would you do so?
It depends who’s asking and what they want help with.
• Do you need logical consistency in your life?
Absolutely.
• How important is efficiency and productivity to you?
Efficiency is pretty good. Work smarter, not harder and all that. Productivity less so. I’m just happy when I get things done.
• Do you control others, even if indirectly? How and why do you do that?
Not really. Unless they are negatively impacting me or other people I prefer to leave people to their own devices.
• What are your hobbies? Why do you like them?
Pretty sure I already answered this question.
• What is your learning style? What kind of learning environments do you struggle with most? Why do you like/struggle with these learning styles? Do you prefer classes involving memorization, logic, creativity, or your physical senses?
I’m a visual and hands-on learner. I suck at internalising verbal instruction. I despise overly rigid learning environments so I struggled a lot in school. I enjoy learning at my own pace and by going out and doing things first-hand.
• How good are you at strategizing? Do you easily break up projects into manageable tasks? Or do you have a tendency to wing projects and improvise as you go?
Improvise but I try to make a basic structure that I may or may not deviate from.
• What are your aspirations in life, professionally and personally?
To be the best version of myself I can be and live the most fulfilling and rich life I can.
• What are your fears? What makes you uncomfortable? What do you hate? Why?
My two biggest fears are quite abstract and they are being aimless and being trapped. I’m also mildly agoraphobic and afraid of wasps. I hate wilful ignorance and bigotry, especially when those things actively make the world a worse place for everyone.
• What do the "highs" in your life look like?
I feel alive, happy, and a zest for life. I feel like I’m running on a motor and that I can do anything I want.
• What do the "lows" in your life look like?
When I feel low, I get in a funk and it’s very hard to get out. I literally find it impossible to relax unless someone is there to get me out of my head. If I’m not careful I can get isolated. And that’s when I start to spiral.
• How attached are you to reality? Do you daydream often, or do you pay attention to what's around you? If you do daydream, are you aware of your surroundings while you do so?
Sometimes I let my mind wander, particularly when I’m listening to music. It doesn’t take much to bring me back to reality though.
• Imagine you are alone in a blank, empty room. There is nothing for you to do and no one to talk to. What do you think about?
I’d probably go a bit mad and try to devise an escape plan.
• How long do you take to make an important decision? And do you change your mind once you've made it?
I like to take my time to weigh out the pros and cons. I make stupid decisions when I’m rushed. I may change my mind if circumstances change and it’s not going to inconvenience me too much.
• How long do you take to process your emotions? How important are emotions in your life?
A long time. My emotions are a mess and I barely know what I am feeling half the time. Journaling has helped me make sense of them and processing them to a degree.
• Do you ever catch yourself agreeing with others just to appease them and keep the conversation going? How often? Why?
Not really. I either stay quiet or try to disagree with them in a productive way depending on how bold I’m feeling at the time.
• Do you break rules often? Do you think authority should be challenged, or that they know better? If you do break rules, why?
I follow rules if they are there for a good reason. Like waiting in line. If they’re stupid rules I have less qualms about breaking them.

In my (personal) opinion, horror works best when it follows the following rules:

1. The more a perceived threat has a connection to reality, be it something that has happened or could happen, the more scary it is.
2. The concepts in a horror medium should make sense, and connect with each other well. Things shouldn't happen just because they are scary.
3. The less the motive of a horror antagonist makes sense, the cringier they are.

When I think of the few things Ive seen as an adult that legitimately scared me, the first thing I can think of is the classic "I feel fantastic" video. Because while that isn't the original video, someone, somewhere, thought it would be a great idea to build a scary robot woman and have her sing, and pass it off seriously, with an attempt to make her a pop star. The home this video was filmed in feels fake and very sketchy. Yet this was real. It actually happened.
But something can still be scary and not be real. Ghost stories work pretty well because environmental effects and mental issues can cause people to hallucinate and even feel weird sensations, which make us question whether ghosts are real or not. But so many ghosts in these stories feel like dumb animals who respond to humans really inconsistently. NOAA Weather alerts being used in horror have a lot of potential because they tap into a really real fear of natural and manmade disaster. But you know whats not scary? Turning sirens and weather alerts into a big dumb monster that chases you through the woods for no reason. I feel like "sirenhead" as he's called is a big misunderstanding of that fear.
A better crafted example of horror thats not very scary would be "The Backrooms", built on the fear that one could fall through reality like a glitch in a videogame and into an endless empty corporate office maze. The maze part doesn't scare me personally but it is interesting. My main issue is why are these silly generic horror monster stick men walking through these mazes? It's revealed that they are some kind of fungal creatures, but to me that goes with the maze concept like water and cooking oil. Where would fungus even GROW in a world like that? Don't get me wrong, it's a fun series, and amazing for something made by a teenager. I'm not attacking the people who made it, because my problems with it are problems that are widespread in horror.
I have a proposition for those of you who want to make a generic horror movie with some antagonist that kills people for no discernible reason. Instead, why not take a page from Junji Ito and make more body horror? Every day we surround ourselves with chemicals that are harmful to our bodies, and each generation our exposure to them makes decreases our fertility just a little bit more. Not just chemicals, but substances around us too. One of these substances is plastic. We are surrounded by so much plastic that microscopic pieces of it get in our body, and as the years go on, more and more "microplastics" are being found in human placentas. No one knows what true effect these plastics have on us, but they are a part of us, whether we like it or not.
I challenge you to write a story set in the future, showing the fictional effects these chemicals could have on the future of humanity, WITHOUT people turning into mutants/zombies. Make it feel real.

I'm considering a kickstarter for a special version of my duet as a single book. I'm also considering KS for the release of two new nonfictions I have been ready to publish.
My thought was to create a very slick version that has a rich looking/feeling cover as well as fore edge painting for the fiction trilogy. I attempted this via KDP but ran into size limitations (and obviously no 'fun' cover options).
My other thought was using KS as a way to get beta readers for the nonfiction. It has a 100 page workbook at the end that tells you why you're attracted to the people you're attracted to, why yopu have the friends you have, and why you like that person in the mirror.
Success stories and input are often included in my nonfictions when I release them, and a recent one was endorsed by a clinical psychologist.
I've published nine books (fiction and nonfiction) via Amazon KDP, so that is my experience data. I have an extensive author site. ISBNs are not an issue.
Questions:

• How does one get started? Any tips are helpful for this newbie.
• Any leads on printing companies that can supply unique cover printing options?
• Your general experience on either buying books through KS or having your own campaign (good or bad I'd love to hear about it!)
• I assume fiction vs. nonfiction are markedly different approaches?

Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the 2024 Hugo Readalong! Today, we're discussing two finalists for Best Novelette:

• A Year Without Sunshine by Naomi Kritzer
• One Man's Treasure by Sarah Pinsker

Everyone is welcome in the discussion, whether or not you're participating in other discussions, but beware untagged spoilers for the two stories. I'll include some prompts in top-level comments--feel free to respond to these or add your own.
For more information on the Readalong, check out our full schedule post, or see our upcoming schedule here:

Date	Category	Book	Author	Discussion Leader
Monday, May 20	Novel	The Saint of Bright Doors	Vajra Chandrasekera	u/lilbelleandsebastian
Thursday, May 23	Semiprozine: Strange Horizons	Nextype, I'll Be Your Mirror, Patsy Cline Sings Sweet Dreams to the Universe	Sam Kyung Yoo, Rebecca Schneider, Beston Barnett	u/DSnake1
Monday, May 27	No Session	US Holiday	Enjoy a Break	Be Back Thursday
Thursday, May 30	Novel	Witch King	Martha Wells	u/baxtersa
Monday, June 3	Novella	Rose/House	Arkady Martine	u/Nineteen_Adze
Thursday, June 6	Semiprozine: Escape Pod	TBD	TBD	u/sarahlynngrey
Monday, June 10	Novel	Starter Villain	John Scalzi	u/Jos_V

It can be fiction or nonfiction but I’m specifically looking for histories, memoirs, or narratives, not “porn will rot your brain” type stuff. Think Boogie Nights and Hardcore. I have Bright Lights, Lonely Nights, are there any other books on this topic?

FYI, this is a story COLLECTION. Lots of standalones technically. So, you can basically start to read at any chapter, no pre-read of the other chapters needed technically (other than maybe getting better descriptions of characters than: Adam Vir=human, Krill=antlike alien, Sunny=tall alien, Conn=telepathic alien). The numbers are (mostly) only for organization of posts and continuity.
OC Written by Charlie Stastarrfallknightrise,
Typed up and then posted here by me.
Proofreading and language check for some chapters by u/Finbar9800 u/BakeGullible9975 u/Didnotseemecomein and u/medium_jock
Future Lore and fact check done by me.
*Starts to cry* I am so so happy! Isn’t that great? Finally some good news and great things to go forward!
Previous First [Next](link)
Want to find a specific one, see the whole list or check fanart?
Here is the link to the master-post.
Breaking News tonight from the Apollo 11 memorial landing site, as Admiral Adam Vir and Captains Warren Richards and Mary Chavez were rescued from the Pacific Ocean, following a journey that was supposed to be historical, turned harrowing. Amy Grey comes to us this morning with the story.
Thank you Julie, it was only a week ago here on the historic Cape Canaveral launch site, that the reconstructed Saturn V rocket was launched by the UNSC International Space and Aeronautics Division on the two thousand and fifty first anniversary of the original Apollo 11 mission. On board The reconstructed rocket were astronauts Fleet Admiral Adam Vir, head of the UNSC deep space exploration division, Captain Warren Richards five year veteran and historical aeronautics expert, and Mary Chavez, six year shuttle pilot veteran, and communications specialist.
The reconstructed Saturn V rocket took off thirty minutes behind schedule at 10:03 GMT July 16 after delays attributed to engineering standbys. However, reports by UNSC investigation early this morning indicate that the delays were called for by engineering head Jade Clein who noticed something strange during her final checks of the Saturn V recreated rocket.
In an interview early today, flight director, Aaliyah Seif of the Apollo re-creation mission informed outlets that there was evidence of attempted tampering on the hull of the Saturn V rocket. The tampering case in the shape of these small silver tape strips covering loosened bolts along one of the Saturn V side panels. Engineers stated that the tape was not heat resistant and would have burned off in time to rattle the bolts loose and, likely, cause a devastating spin that would destroy the rocket.
While this attempted tampering was thwarted, the mission would only become more dire. A sudden and shocking report by Mericanda News 5 showed an uncut image of an unknown alien hybrid woman claiming that the UN President had ordered the attempted assassination of Admiral Vir, in conjunction with an audio recording by Admiral Colter Massie, Head of the Galactic intelligence division and known isolationist, that admitted to the attempted assassination of Admiral Vir, and the acquisition of twenty Thunderhawk’s, which were used to harry the Saturn V on its way to the moon. Admiral Kelly, longtime friend of Admiral Vir, corroborated the story, saying she caught General Massie just after he ordered the deployment of the twenty Thunderhawk’s. During their conversion, he attempted to kill her, before being detained by two members of Admiral Vir's crew, and was later seen being escorted into custody by Military Police.
Indeed, footage has been captured from the hull of the Saturn V, showing approximately twenty Thunderhawk’s attempting to destroy the rocket while Rundi remote piloted drones and an unknown group of what appear to be racing jets, fought back to delay the attack, while word was sent to the UNSC to deploy F-90 Darkfire pilots to assist. This all after communications between Houston and the rocket were sabotaged shortly after leaving orbit. The F-90 Darkfire pilots were able to arrive on time to rescue the rocket, though a hole was reportedly torn in the hull, sucking Admiral Vir out into space. Luckily, he was later recovered and returned to his ship without any injuries. Patch teams were then able to repair the torn hull and the astronauts completed their mission landing to crowds on the moon and returning to earth on time, landing in the Pacific Ocean only nine miles away from the waiting ship.
All three astronauts were recovered and are reported to be in good health.
The investigation into the UN president's involvement is still ongoing at this time, however preliminary reports from the Global Bureau of Investigation suggest evidence is both staggering and damning to the current UN president, who earlier today, attempted to cut all ties to the sabotage efforts, saying she was framed. Political experts report that, even assuming her innocence, she will likely not last to the end of her term.
International News Network was able to interview Admiral Vir shortly after his landing while still on board the rescuing ship UNSS Victory.
Here is what the Admiral had to say:
"I find it... Really very disheartening that someone we all trusted, and someone that we all should have looked up to could do something like this. It really is a heinous demonstration of what political corruption can lead people to do."
"And how do you feel, personally about all of this?"
"Personally, I... well to be honest I am hurt and appalled. Not to mention that I fear for the safety of my family and my friends. Every day I wonder if my involvement with them is going to get someone I love killed... The thought haunts me, but I hope after all of this is over I... and all of us can breathe a little easier."
"Were you scared?"
"I don't think that even needs to be a question. Of course I was scared, getting sucked out of your spaceship isn't ideal."
"What do you hope will happen now?"
"I hope that justice can be upheld to those who deserve it."
"What do you have to say to the UN president."
”...”
”So?”
"I have nothing to say. Wouldn't want to waste the air.”
[…]
What followed would be one of the largest scandals in recent political history. At some point an unknown number of classified government documents was leaked onto the internet, and after that it was all over for the Presidency. Thousands of enterprising humans, and aliens alike, viewed the documents to discover all the underhanded and dirty things which had been going on in the UN governmental body over the past few years. Forensic accounting experts (mostly Tesraki), uncovered plenty of fiscal tampering which shed light on plenty of isolationist related projects and bank accounts. There was even evidence that they had something to do with the original assassination attempt against Admiral Vir so many months ago. The drama had even managed to capture the attention of Rundi political experts and Vrul computer science geniuses, and together they unearthed a world of unfathomable, but not unexpected corruption. The process to remove the UN president from office was probably one of the fastest movements of human government ever seen by UN congressional leaders, who were likely trying their very best to distance themselves from association with the president, who despite not being the only one involved, had become the political scapegoat for everyone else that had a supposed link with isolationism.
Even the VP fell under suspicion and was watched closely for the rest of his term.
Admiral Massie and the UN President were placed under arrest and set up for court dates in the nearing future, though everyone saw a long and arduous litigation process ahead. Even Ramirez's family had filed for damages against the government after the news came to light, confirming that their son had been shot as collateral in one of the UN presidents plans to assassinate Admiral Vir. They settled out of court to the tune of an unknown, but impressive sum of money.
No one really knew how much, but a couple months later Ramirez's younger sister was seen training at one of the most prestigious Olympic academies on earth.
Ramirez himself was suddenly able to afford housing on the moon in a condo just next door to his best friend, though no one else inquired further.
The Rundi chairwoman came forward with her own investigation, admitting to being suspicious for a long time though she feared accusations without proper proof. Admiral Vir was seen having lunch with her not so many months after the events took place, suggesting that the trust between the two of them had not been completely dissolved. With much of the isolationist element gone from government, public policy began to lean heavily towards integration with the alliance. The occasional isolationist demonstration or protest was held, but none of them managed to gain traction.
Admiral Vir was finding himself more important than ever, though it was to his chagrin that his ship was grounded for the intervening months while the investigation continued.
No one was entirely sure what the future held.
[…]
Admiral Vir stepped into Admiral Kelly's office. The last time he had actually visited her here had been over a few years ago, before his promotion to captain of the Harbinger. It seemed so distant now, and he never expected to walk into her office with a star on his shoulder. She stood as he entered, and the two of them shook hands, ignoring all the stuffy formalities that usually come with the meeting of two military officers.
The wall behind her was decorated with a myriad of metals and awards she had received over her career, and he couldn't help but note the slight tinge of grey he could see forming in her hair. He knew that feeling, he was going prematurely white much to his chagrin. She stood and the two of them shook hands.
"Vir."
"Kelly."
She motioned him to sit, and he sat, sighing lightly as he had been on his feet all day consulting with political figures and other members of the UNSC.
"A strange couple months wouldn't you say?”
"Tell me about it."
Kelly reached under her desk and withdrew an amber bottle which she placed between them,
"I always forget; do you drink?"
"On occasion."
"Well consider this an occasion."
She said, popping off the top and pouring two glasses for them. She handed his across the desk and he leaned back in his seat cupping the cool glass in both hands.
She swirled the amber liquid around in her glass,
"So what are your plans after all this?”
He took a sip of water warmed by the burning liquid,
"Hoping things will go back to normal and I can go back to traveling the galaxy."
Kelly grunted,
"A simple man with simple motivations."
He laughed,
"Sometimes I think a stupid man with simple motivations."
She chuckled then grew serious,
"A lot of people make the mistake of assuming simple people don't have the intelligence to match. Some people assume that trusting means gullible means dumb. Just because we are trusting and expect others to do the right thing is not necessarily a fault. I believe there is a kind of beauty in assuming the fundamental goodness of humanity."
Admiral Vir shook his head,
"How can you after seeing what we have seen?”
"How can you not?"
She shrugged,
"We always knew that politicians were corrupt, but think about everything else we have seen."
Admiral Vir nodded slowly,
"The enthusiasm for the Apollo 11 recreation mission, the people who flew up to help us. All of those people who went digging through years of information just to uncover the truth."
She raised her glass,
"Precisely. Goodness in humanity is all around us, but we tend to overlook the good in favor of the bad."
She placed her hat on the desk and sighed,
"It is up to good people to keep their goodness going even when it might seem easier to give into the bad. I have and will always believe in the fundamental good of humanity. Some may call it naive, or even stupid. Others have said I have a romanticized view of a species that is fundamentally broken."
She turned her head to look out the window, a contemplative expression on her face before turning back to look at Adam.
"You understand me, I think."
He nodded slowly.
"People need to be believed in. You tell someone for long enough that they are fundamentally bad at their core and they will begin to believe you. For thousands of years pessimists have gotten it into our heads that we are no better than animals, worse even since animals don't fight in wars. But I believe that is wrong, I have seen people, I have met people, and I have interacted with people who prove to me that humanity cannot just be fundamentally bad or else these people wouldn't exist."
She tapped her nails against the glass,
"I think it is easier to corrupt purity than wash away a stain."
He listened quietly as she continued.
"Humans are born good, Adam, and life stains us. We aren't born stained while some of us are wiped clean."
She shook her head,
"Doesn't make sense to me."
She caught him with a look, pinning him to the spot with her intense stare,
"People like you convince me of this every day."
"Me!?..."
She held up a hand.
"Adam Vir, I am convinced that the best outcome this universe ever had, was when a happy go lucky science fiction freak was lucky enough to be the first man to meet aliens. Any other way things would have gone horribly wrong."
She leaned across her desk,
"The universe needs men and women like you, and not only that but the universe needs people who are going to support men and women like you."
She sat back,
"Which is why I have made a decision…"
He raised an eyebrow in curiosity, not entirely sure where this could be going.
She smiled,
"I have decided to run for UN President."
He nearly spit his mouthful of expensive scotch onto the table, but managed to choke it mostly down.
Eyes wide he set his glass down,
"Are you serious?”
She smiled,
"Seriously serious."
"Well shit, you have my vote for sure."
He raised his glass to her,
"I couldn't think of a better outcome."
Previous First [Next](link)
Want to find a specific one, see the whole list or check fanart?
Here is the link to the master-post.
Intro post by me
OC-whole collection
Patreon of the author
Thanks for reading! As you saw in the title, this is a cross posted story written by starrfallknightrise and I'll just upload some of it here for you guys, if you are interested and want to read ahead, the original story-collection can be found on tumblr or wattpad to read for free. (link above this text under "OC:..." ) It is the Empyrean Iris story collection by starfallknightrise. Also, if you want to know more about the story collection i made an intro post about it, so feel free to check that out to see what other great characters to look forward to! (Link also above this text). I have no affiliations to the author; just thought I’d share some of the great stories you might enjoy a lot!
Obviously, I have Charlie’s permission to post this and for the people already knowing the stories, or starting to read them: If you follow the link and check out the story you will see some differences. I made some small (non-artistic) changes, mainly correcting writing mistakes, pronoun correction and some small additional info here and there of things which were not thought of/forgotten or even were added/changed in later stories (like the “USS->UNSC” prefix of Stabby, Chalar=/->Sunny etc). As well as some "biggemajor" changes in descriptions and info’s for the same stringency/continuity reason. That can be explained by the story collection being, well a story collection at the start with many standalone-stories just starring the same people, but later on it gets more to a stringent storyline with backstories and throwbacks. (For example Adam Vir has some HEAVY scars over his body, following his bones, which were not really talked about up till half the collection, where it says it covers his whole body and you find out via backflash that he had them the whole time and how he got them, they just weren't mentioned before. However, I would think a doctor would at least see these scars before that, especially since he gets analyzed, treated and goes shirtless/in T-shirts in some stories). So TLDR: Writing and some descriptions are slightly changed, with full OK from the author, since he himself did not bother to correct these things before.

Welcome readers,
Today is the International Day of Light and, to celebrate, we're discussing our favorite books about light!
If you'd like to read our previous weekly discussions of fiction and nonfiction please visit the suggested reading section of our wiki.
Thank you and enjoy!

I have a fairly wide taste in books. The ratio of fiction to nonfiction is like 20:1 but I love a good funny or interesting autobiography or memoir sometimes. I have a long commute to and from work. So lately, I’ve been downloading audiobooks on Libby and then reading the kindle book at home, and reading a lot more as a result. I’d love recs of books you’ve enjoyed - here’s what I’ve read in the past year or so that I have really liked or loved:
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow Project Hail Mary My Dark Vanessa More: A memoir of an open marriage Apples Never Fall I have some questions for you The Guest Erasure The girl with all the gifts Daisy jones & the six The secret history The goldfinch Juliet, Naked
Thanks in advance !

I. Introduction (10 minutes) - Definition of foreshadowing - Importance in storytelling - Brief explanation of how it builds anticipation
II. Types of Foreshadowing (15 minutes) a. Direct Foreshadowing - Definition and examples b. Indirect Foreshadowing - Definition and examples c. Symbolic Foreshadowing - Exploring symbols that hint at future events
III. Examples in Literature (20 minutes) - Analyzing examples from well-known works - Shakespeare, Harper Lee, J.K. Rowling, etc. - Discussing how foreshadowing contributes to plot development
IV. How Authors Use Foreshadowing (15 minutes) a. Establishing tone and mood b. Creating suspense c. Developing character arcs
V. Foreshadowing in Different Genres (15 minutes) a. Foreshadowing in mystery and suspense genres b. Foreshadowing in fantasy and science fiction c. Foreshadowing in drama and tragedy
VI. Interactive Activity (20 minutes) - Analyzing short passages for foreshadowing - Discussing findings as a class
VII. Film and TV Examples (15 minutes) - Clips from movies or TV shows showcasing effective foreshadowing - Comparing visual foreshadowing to literary examples
VIII. Creative Writing Exercise (20 minutes) - Providing a prompt for students to create their own foreshadowing in a short piece - Sharing and discussing the results
IX. Importance of Foreshadowing (10 minutes) - Discussing how foreshadowing enhances the readeviewer experience - Reflecting on the role of anticipation in storytelling
X. Q&A and Wrap-Up (10 minutes) - Addressing any questions from students - Summarizing key points
This lecture outline combines theoretical concepts, literary analysis, and practical activities to engage students in understanding and appreciating the art of foreshadowing. Adjust the timing based on the specific needs and dynamics of the class.

Hi guys, we've just created a video about EPF Account 3 to help you navigate fact from fiction. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them in the comments below!
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8scHoISS0I8

Hey all,
So a bit about me, I'm a 24 year old male from the USA. I'm a bit of a nerd, liking reading books (love philosophy like Hegel, I like to read Kafka and Kierkegaard as well) a bit of crime stories, some horror, some scientific non fiction books and I have a few atlases as well. I love geography. :) As of late, I haven't been as invested in my interested due to a bit of depression but I am improving quite a bit.
I love video games! I'm currently working on a few, including Black Mesa, Dark Souls III, and an unhealthy addiction to Warframe at the moment.
I also have a blog I've been working on as a bit of a passion project where I work on video games and write about them, take screenshots along the way, write out reviews and updates and so on. Would love to share if I connect with anyone :) Even just something for you to read out
I like all things astronomy as well - albeit only a casual knowledge of it. I like to build Legos, Finished the Saturn V rocket and working on the Discovery space shuttle at the moment.
I love television and movies, some of which being Seinfeld (huge nerd for that show), The Sopranos, movies like JAWS, 2001, Inception, Interstellar.
Music may be most important and closest to my heart. I love alternative music, shoegaze, classic rock, classical (classical guitar in particular <3), jazz, some metal.
I hope to hear from some friends soon! Only looking for something casual as I haven't been on this site in a long time and I'm not looking to shy away from coming back so soon.
Feel free to send a message even just to say hi, take care :)

I have a lot of books from over the years I haven’t read yet, I was so excited to buy them and I maybe read the preface and then end up setting it down for some reason. I really want to read about so many subjects, I love to learn! But if it’s not related to my special interest I can’t focus. I’ve tried reading at the library, in my room, outside, but it seems like there is always something that ends up distracting me enough to where I can’t focus and end up rereading the same lines with nothing actually being processed. Or my ‘immersion’ breaks and I can’t get back into it. I’ve tried reading with and without background noise or music and nothing seems to help. It doesn’t matter what genre, fiction or nonfiction.
I got 6 books from the library and have renewed them twice now and I’ve barely read one. The fact that I have to read it on a deadline does something to me subconsciously and I end up unable to read, almost like executive dysfunction, even when I really want to. I’m now lately struggling to read things online, when I love research and doing deep dives into different subjects. Does anyone else experience this and have methods to help you get around it? My last physical therapist said this could be a side effect of TBI and that scares me because if it is I don’t know if it’ll get better. I can focus when it’s my lifelong special interest for the most part but anything else falls away.