Category: Creativity

The Magic Of Fanfiction

I’ve always been an eager reader. However, in the past couple of years, I switched to non-fiction literature almost exclusively. I guess, it felt more productive to do so. I know :sigh:, I just cringed at myself too.

I had no idea how much I was missing out on by leaving the world of fiction behind. And when I was ready to explore it again, I stumbled upon something I never thought I’d enjoy – fanfiction.

Fanfiction allows fandoms to step outside of the canon narrative and explore the stories deeper. It creates ships that wouldn’t happen otherwise and follows the existing ones a little deeper.

Fanfiction has the power of fixing a character that had a limited story arc. It helps solve the burning “what if” questions that people have when they deconstruct the story. It touches on alternative universes and transports the characters into a different time. It is creative magic in its purest form.

Words cannot describe how wonderful it is here. The writers are talented, creative people. But most importantly, both readers and writers are so supportive! It is incredible to see comments, likes, and shares that people in the fandoms are so generous with.

As of right now, I have a couple of fics in progress. Once they are finished, I’ll start publishing them on my website and on AO3. I can’t wait 🙂

Meanwhile, let me share a couple of my favorite Dragon Age Inquisition Solavellan-inspired fanfics:

Beloved by Cedarmoons

What A Wicked Game To Play by CrackingLamb

Beneath The Veilfire by Oxygenforthewicked

Ouroboros by Cedarmoons

Message Sent by Aicosu

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Elder Scrolls Online Solitude House

The End Of A Long Day: Instrumental Music Playlist

Imagine coming home after a long day. You feel tired and spent. But it’s ok, you got the whole night to yourself, and it’s your favorite time of the day anyway. You go to your most beloved part of the house – the balcony – to listen to the sounds of the night. The town is slowly falling asleep, becoming quieter and quieter. Now you can hear cicadas, birds, and even the sound of wind grazing the trees outside of your townhouse.

It is time to reflect on the day you’ve had. Your mind drifts away, recalling all the people you’ve met and all the things you did today. Now that you’re home, safe and sound, everything that happened today seems so far away. You’re home; it’s time to rest.

Instrumental Music Playlist. The End Of A Long Day.

The visuals are from the game Elder Scrolls Online (ESO). It is player housing in Solitude, the Proudspire Manor, that is also well-known to anyone who has ever played Skyrim. Hope you enjoy the music, ambient sounds, setting, and character design!

If you want to learn more about the game, check out my Twitch account. I stream ESO content at least 3 times a week:

All music came from Epidemic Sound. If you need royalty-free music for your projects, videos, or live streams, check out Epidemic Sound .

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gloomy forest color inspiration

Color Inspiration: Moods of the forest

I’ve loved a good hiking trip for as long as I can remember. My favorite way to hike is in a mountain forest. Some areas are dark and some are full of light, some are gloomy and mysterious, and some are bright and vivid. Sometimes I’m lucky to come across a river or a fast stream that formed overnight cause of rain. And sometimes I get even luckier and get to enjoy the ambient or violent sounds of rain hitting the leaves and the branches.

Although I’ve hiked in quite a few different places on Earth – to list some of them, tropical rainforest of El Yunque, snowy Bulgarian mountains, and dunes of Cape Cod, each trip has gifted me with a special feeling of freedom. My heart was racing from the track, my brain was full of breathtaking mental pictures, and my feet were buzzing from the walking up and down all day. Despite being physically exhausted, I felt like everything was possible. Like the whole world was at my feet – in both literal and figurative meaning.

So here are some beautiful images of forests. None are alike; they all have their unique character. Some are full of life and movement, some are still and silent. Now that we’re living through the epidemic, we start to understand the special value that the wild nature really has, and that it can’t be overshadowed by the fanciest country house or the most well-taken care backyard.

There is so much beauty in the wilderness of the forest. There is so much mystery, so much that is uncovered. There is always a room to go deeper, to look closer, to observe more. There is a way to pay attention to the smaller details or to perceive the bigger picture. So many ways to feel the essence with your soul.

Sometimes we get lucky to experience it just a little, to feel its immense power just a little bit. I’m so grateful that I live right next to the beautiful Beach Forest of Cape Cod, Provincetown, and that I get to hike and enjoy the outside world even in times like this without endangering myself or those around me.

I feel like a “Women Who Run with the Wolves” metaphor is overdue here, but I’ve prepared none. I simply hope that I’ve inspired you to step outside (as long as it’s safe for you to do so) and appreciate the gift of nature that Mother Earth has given us.

With love,

Kseniya.

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Music Inspiration: Work From Home

I love deep house. I love how it takes me places without being too invasive and how it makes me flow and feel grounded at the same time.

So here’s another playlist that I’ve created. It’s lighthearted and it’s fun. You can work or study to it. You can also dance or get ready for yet another Saturday night in. The world is your oyster!

Work from home playlist by Creative Overthinker. Tracklist is in the video description on Youtube.

Personally, I love writing first drafts to this kind of music. For me, it’s an equivalent of drinking a hot strong cup of coffee. Deep house tracks of this playlist keep me going and don’t allow me to break up a writing session because of its “thick” composition.

Yeah, music has “thickness” and “thinness” to it in the way I perceive. Please don’t quote this sentiment to anyone who earned a music-related diploma, I won’t handle the ridicule))

Back in my college years, I used to listen to Lady Gaga’s “Marry The Night” song on repeat for the same exact reason. The outro of that song is pure perfection. It forces you to pump out anything that needs to be pumped out (oh gosh, what do I mean by that). It takes you out of a hole of overthinking (and any thinking, really) and pushes you to just get it out and done.

I’ve used this song countless times when I needed to just get the first draft finished, no matter the grammar, punctuation or coherence. That’s how my core ideas would surface, and this is how I don’t get stopped by minor obstacles such as “this word doesn’t exist” and “I don’t think anyone will get this reference”. If you’re a write a lot, you know exactly what I mean.

Now, my mix is far less intense that the part of the “Marry The Night” video that I’ve tagged for you, but it’s also longer, so you’re geared for a nice 45-minute session.

Get done whatever you need to get done. Work from home better and faster than you do at the office. Listen to kick-ass music and enjoy your day!

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Another Late Night Cover Art

Music Inspiration: “Another Late Night” Instrumental Playlist

Sometimes I still can’t wrap my mind around how magical music is.

Music makes us feel a full specter of emotions. It changes mood in an instant, and you can use that power to your advantage.

When I was in college, I used to seek out random playlists on Youtube to learn about new bands and new genres. I had the greatest time listening to random bands, signers, and musicians. I don’t think anything contributed to me becoming the person I am today as much as that experience.

I also loved listening to ambient music playlists for studying and work. It helps me concentrate on my work better and creates a pleasant cocoon of background sound. Instrumental music allows my thoughts flow without obstruction while also creating a rhythm that keeps me on track without getting destructed.

Now I make this kind of playlists myself. Here is the latest one that I’ve created:

I’m a huge fan of staying up late. I do it to have “me” time when my husband is asleep and my cats are busy playing with each other (right around 3am). I like how quiet and dark it gets when computer screen with the night mode on is the only source of light.

I’m currently posting one video per week on Sundays. Follow me on Youtube to listen to the playlists!

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5 Creativity Myths That Prevent You From Living A Creative Life

5 Creativity Myths That Prevent You From Living A Creative Life

Creativity myths are so sneaky! Sometimes they disguise as rationality, as logic and common sense. But trust me, creativity myths are just that – they are legends that a brain creates to protect itself from its worst fears. That’s a topic of its own, but for now – here are 5 myths that prevent you from living your life in a creative way.

Continue reading “5 Creativity Myths That Prevent You From Living A Creative Life” →

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