Myerraticheartbeat - Tumblr Posts

Unpopular opinion: grey spelled with an e is more aesthetically pleasing.

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

New theory: girls in country songs are part of a mafia-like organization and that’s why they’re able to kill their husbands and get away with it.

A Little Lonely

I think I’ve always been a little lonely. I think I’ve always been off balance. I think I’ve always had companionship, But I don’t think it became what it could.

I think I’ve always wanted listeners. I think I’ve always wanted support. I think I’ve always had companionship, But I don’t think it did me any good.

I think I’ve always had a passion. I think I’ve always kept it hidden. I think I’ve always had companionship, But I don’t think they understood.

writing romance...

Me: *gives person A a super tragic backstory*

Me: *gives person A a love interest, person B, who has no experiences to help them understand A*

Me: They're perfect! Their love will be one for the ages!

Me:

Me:

Me: *blinks*

Me: Okay, so maybe not.

Developing Diverse Characters...

...is hard. About a week ago, I started doing character development for a series I really want to write. The trouble with this is that I have been trying, with some difficulty, to invent a plethora of ethnically and sexually diverse characters. As a white, formerly sheltered, bisexual young woman, I've realized just how hard this is going to be for me. A few issues I've realised are:

I am white, which means I don't have a full grasp on what it's like to be a person of color in 21st century America, let alone a queer person of color in 21st century America.

I'm only halfway out of the closet. I've told some people about my sexuality (they were all, thankfully, very accepting) but I still hesitate to tell others. Because of this, I have not experienced the same criticism and hate that other members of the LGBTQ+ community have and therefore, I will likely get it all wrong.

I grew up in a very sheltered home and I mean sheltered as in, wasn't allowed to watch anything but Little Einsteins, Bob the Builder, and VeggieTales (bit of an exaggeration but you get the point). Despite the blinders having been removed in recent years, I'm still figuring some things out.

Then there's the issue of asking myself the question of if I'm including too much diversity. Nearly every character I've worked on so far is included somewhere among the LGBTQ+ community and while my aim is to cover a broad spectrum of sexual and romantic orientations, ethnicities, and lifestyles, the worry that I'm doing too much still creeps up on me.

And those among many others.

While it may stand to reason that, with enough research, it is possible to portray a mostly lifelike representation of everything I'd like to include, I always strive for the utmost accuracy in my writing. That, and I know I fall spectacularly short of the mark sometimes. All that being said, my goal would be to spread awareness while simultaneously not misrepresenting or offending any group or private individual. Of course, I do recognize that someone will get offended, no doubt. And I recognize that no one is perfect in any sense of the word.

Still, I hold to my claim: developing diverse characters is hard.

Reading moods be like...

Me, taking a "short" break: I'm just going to read one or two chapters of this new book and then I'll get back to writing.

Me, 279ish pages later: I'm over halfway through. I'll just finish it and then I'll keep writing.

Me, after finishing the book: Now ... where did I put the sequel?

Happy Father’s Day, everyone.

Today we recognize the men brave enough to step up to the plate and guide their children through life. Today isn't about the fathers, it's about the dads. The ones who never give up on us, always support us, and help us out when we fuck things up.

To those whose dads have passed on, remember them today, remember the good times and the bad and embrace it because, while no dad is perfect, they sure as hell are pretty awesome.

To those whose fathers are pieces of work, there will be someone who will step up and do your father's job and that man, that will be your dad, and maybe he's already right there.

With love, Nova

You know those moments when you're out and you see someone you know and you actually do want to talk to them but then you're too nervous to go up and say hello? You know those moments?

René Descartes once made the profound statement "cogito ergo sum" which is latin for "I think therefore I am." I suppose he must have been having some type of existential crisis to have come up with that but it is still a favorite quote of mine.

When I first designed the aesthetic for the word "exist" I did it as a gag and included the words of René Descartes. Given that I made the original at a 16:9 ratio I had to change a few things and get it to 1:1 for Instagram (where I originally posted the aesthetic).

(original aesthetic pictured above)

I think the new quote is much more profound and gives the word a deeper meaning but the background image and knocked out text remain the same and offer a visual that is sometimes difficult to convey with words alone.

What does it mean to exist? Like, comment, reblog, or any combination of the three if you're now having an existential crisis like Mr. Descartes.

With love, Nova

that shade of blue

a poem by Nova Starling

I always hated that shade of blue. Maybe because it is the color of hard     goodbyes and broken hearts. Perhaps because it was the color of the     sky when I left the first time. Or maybe it is the same shade as the     ocean I let separate us.

I fell in love with that shade of blue. It is the color of your eyes when they     light up at the sight of me. It is the color of the cold nights I spent     cuddled up against you. It is the color of the flowers you brought     me after our first fight.

It has ruined me, that shade of blue. It is the color of the eyes I took for granted     when they were still open. It is the color of the shivers I get when you     cannot keep me warm. It is the color of the flowers I bring to tell     you that I still love you.

All of this because it is only that shade     of blue that reminds me of the times when     there was the possibility of me and you.

So, funny story. I meant to post this two days ago but I was obligated by familial reasons to spend the whole day talking to people I would rather avoid since I'm *coughs into fist* antisocial. Therefore, even though I was off work two days ago, I didn't get to post.

But hey! You get two posts today instead and how awesome is that?

With love, Nova

Ps. The art in the background of the quote was done by Michael Manomivibul who illustrated the 25th anniversary edition of The Princess Bride novel.