How I prepare articles for the blog

Author: Masticina Akicta

Date: 29 August 2022

Plan your target Audience

First of all your blog requires a target audience. In this blogs case the vampire community and those interested. This creates the first filter, what makes a blog post fitting your blog? And what will your audience like? KNOWING your audience helps you plan for a good fun blogging/reading experience. In my case I hang around in discords of the vampire community, as vampire myself that is very welcomed. And next to chatting and offering advice I gather topics for these blog posts. 

How I prepare articles for the blog

How do you know what to write on a blog? How do you know when article is ready? What topics make sense and how much work is it to get it ready for prime time?

For every article I post there are two that failed. Disheartening or maybe it is smart. 

I see creating articles for the blog much like planting seeds and growing plants. And then deciding what plant is the strongest and worthiest. 

And yes if a plant/article fails to reach a certain level then it is stashed away.

From seed to Plant

Everything starts with an idea, a question, a need. Much like this blog grew out of questions how to get things running or why you would run a blog. An idea is the very basics, a need! Someone talks about feeding, or shielding, or safety in a group I am part of and I got an idea for a topic. I seed it then, work out the very basics, how much I need to research, and so on. I will never post it day one! It needs time to grow. 

Harvesting on the right time

Returning to it to add to it, trim it, edit it and making sure the idea is valuable enough I create this lovely little plant. It is never perfect, but it is just right. And then it is harvesting time and with a last check it is time to post it. Making sure the spelling is right, it contains everything it needs and isn’t too long. I found that readers don’t like to read too long, not in these days. And longer blog posts need to be cut in multiple parts. Be ready to do that if needed.

Dry Times

Some times are dry. I don’t post weekly on my blog and though I always gather multiple ideas to work on some of them have failed, died. Maybe the wrong time or maybe the topic is beyond me. One has to accept their own limitations after all. And I only can do so much. There are topics that require research I don’t have access too. Yes sometimes I co-work with others to fill that hole. If the topic is important. Else I rather refer to those who are much better at it. 

Make your own blog

So you got ideas, hopes, dreams, and see needs around you. You could make a blog too. The world would say you need to update regular and provide top grade content. It needs to be one of those mom blogs that every week has wisdom and… I disagree. I rather want quality over quantity! 

Having a folder full of ideas you work on is not a bad idea at all. Some take a while, others require research and help from outsiders too. 

In our community information needs to be rehashed and retaught. The younger generation also has a point in there. Definitely since the older generation is getting really old and websites and slowly but surely disappearing.

You’ll need to find a website to host it of course. I use blogger, ran by google. It is simplistic but it works! That is about as much as there can be said. Enough options to for instance tag or set up things. Still simple enough. Another option would be a wordpress blog or even something hosted somewhere else. Niftier and a bit more options. You don’t have to spend money to get your whole own domain and website running for a blog! As long as you are willing to do the other work in it too. 

Co Authors and Proofreaders

On certain topics I lack enough insight. I got enough insight to offer advice but it helps to ask the aid of someone closer to it or better trained. 

Also a proof reader to make sure the spelling, grammar and more important obvious mistakes are written out. English is a second language for me so inevitable some mistakes will slide through. A fresh set of eyes does wonders. 

Co-authors are always a great addition, with their own insight into the matters. For instance Red Dragon who helped me with the Donor Ethics post. It can’t hurt to ask someone to help you. 

Publish

The magical time is here, you took time to do research, write, maybe get that co author and work out a very nice post. Full of useful insight and information. You got it through the proof reader so no obvious errors are left in it. And it is greenlit and posted. Hooray! Your work isn’t over yet though.

Connect with other people within the community

It is important not to stay too much in the shadow. Find ways to share it within the community. And be active, so if people have questions you can show them your blog. And connect with other active community members. We might be a community of shadows but that doesn’t means we are dead. 

So connect with others, maybe co-author posts. And in discords that allow it share your blog posts. Don’t be shy! You write for a reason, people deserve to read it! And the right audience might use it and you end up with the connections. 

Don’t give up! 

Remember to Enjoy the Process

In the end you write for an audience but also yourself. So Enjoy the process.

Ethics within the Vampire Community

Author: Masticina Akicta
Contributors: TheRedDragon1966
Date: 10 May 2022

What are Ethics

Ethics are rules to life by, rules to be a good and trust-able person. Rules that others within groups expect to go by so everybody can work together. And some are enshrined in laws to protect society.
Some are personal ethics, and the ethics of every person can differ based upon upbringing, religion, situation, and other influences. 
Ethics can be connected to life choices, like being vegan or vegetarian. Or trying to be as green as possible in the way they life. Or support certain causes or try to cause change into the world that one deems as positive. 
Every society has some form of ethics, expected behavior. Do not steal and do not kill for instance. There are laws for that, but it is also an ethical issue. Help other people when they need it, a common one, not enforced by any state law. But many will try to follow such. In short ethics are personal rules to life by, some enshrined by laws to protect society, others are personal. 

Vampirism and Ethics

Vampires have many problems, one of them is that they need to feed. Their choice of source can be quite limited indeed, sanguinary vampires will have little choice but through blood. Be it from a donor or even animal blood. Getting this is a topic that many sanguinary vampires talk about and there are guides written by them.  
Eros vampires, the succubus and incubus feed during sex. Getting consent is obviously an important part here. And they also need to find willing playmates/donors.
Psychic vampires have a bit more choice in resources and methods. But they have a bad name because untrained psychic vampires use the worst methods. You heard of them, they are either very draining personalities or caustic. They cause trouble, and things never seem to be right around them. This raises emotions and hence energy in the people around them which they feed off. They are sometimes called emotional vampires. And many guides have been written by energy workers how to deal with them.
There are many ways to feed for psychic vampires. Finding one that is both ethical and with consent is difficult, but within reach.

Choice of Feeding - Psychic vampire

As a psychic vampire I have learned a lot of things about safe feeding methods. 
So, lets start there. The most ethical way to feed is to find a donor, a willing person who can consent and you two talks through it and make sure it is done safely. 
But you can’t find a donor? You and many other vampires. So, what are your other options?
One of the most troubling methods is to cause a ruckus or trouble then feed from the energy released by others. You won’t end up with many friends that way. It is why we have such a bad name. Do you really want to be known as that troublemaker? Or person who always has a hard time/issues? 
Another method is to learn to control your tendrils which is part of your energy system. The tendrils can be directed toward the donor. See and feel the energy then nibble. This is how to connect to a donor over distance. You can also use this method while out in public place and you can gather hovering energy that is freely released.
A highly unethical method, and many vampires have done it, is by using tendrils to connect to an unknowing/unwilling person and feed from them. I shouldn’t have to point out WHY this isn’t the most ethical way. Sanguinary vampires would point out that this is like running around with lancets and attacking people. 
Instead, an ethnical solution is to feed from a public area, not targeting one or any group of humans. This requires human activity and movement rich area. Different locations have different levels of energy, a disco/bar can be delicious depending on the night, a shopping mall or busy train-station is fine. Remember: keep it ethical do not feed directly from others, but feed from the area. There is a difference here. This is where learning to filter and process energy will help too. I have survived for years on this more ethical diet. 
Nature is another option, the energy is slow, very slow, but with a bit of training and adjustment can offer some food value. Yes, you are munching trees, and no it isn’t very tasty! But if worst come to shove, aka Covid, you can survive on it for a while. Just not thrive. The early months of Covid, no travel, no nothing, all I had was nature and trees. I survived not thrived! 

Finding a Donor

The big D, donor that is! A person willing to give you blood, or energy. Better respect them for offering, and finding one is the big question.
There are a few websites that try to connect vampires and donors like The Black books: https://theblackbooks.net , and once people find out that you are a vampire some might become a donor. What can I say, vampires have that beacon thing, that won’t only attract other vampires but also donors and energy sensitives. Of course it is a bit of a freak magnet so buyers beware. Be double sure to check you you tell your true nature off.
A Donor should understand your needs, what their role is, and most important that it is done safe and with consent. In short, you talk through things, how it works, how to do it safe and tell them that they can say NO! I just saw some people from the BDSM community nod their head. Lets talk about the Donor Consent and rights.

Donor Consent and other matters

Before a donor can offer their energy and/or blood to you there are some issues. First, they need to understand what they are going to do. They need to consent and be able to consent. I am sure that some freshly awoken vampires will skirt that last part at times. Mostly as choices are little. 
What matters is that the donor knows what really is going on, that the method is safe, that you deal with the aftercare and that they can say STOP! They retain control. Yes, a vampire can be hungry but, the donor safety and health matters. 
A vampire also can decide depending on the situation if it is safe to feed. Sanguinary vampires highly probably require regular blood checks for blood born diseases. That is not a luxury! And if the vampire notices that the donor isn’t 100% stable or healthy, they should decide to post-phone the feeding. 
It sounds harsh to the vampires but treating people right opens up doors. 

A Sanguinary’s points of view

“A vampire may choose to seek out a human blood donor to alleviate symptoms and as a means of maintaining health and wellbeing. Often, a donor is chosen from within the vampire’s social circle such a family member, a spouse, lover, a friend, or an acquaintance. Exhausting these resources, the vampire may choose to advertise for a donor via a posted advertisement.
Both the vampire and donor need to be of legal age of consent, be mentally stable, fully competent, and able to understand and consent to the procedure of having blood drawn and subsequently ingested.
Please note that the legalities surrounding consent and the ingestion of human blood is complex is greatly dependent upon the country and region in which you live and well beyond the scope of this document.
The amount of blood ingested, frequency and methods utilized to extract same varies widely. Aftercare with the donor the next day to ensure they are feeling well and to check that a wound is healing properly. Discussion around how much aftercare; if any; is something that can be negotiated.
Blood screening to rule out underlying medical issues and contagious diseases should not only be expected but insisted upon by the parties involved. How often these need to be completed can be negotiated between the vampire and donor; and may be dependent upon the personal history and lifestyles. Be aware that when dealing with bodily fluids; even with the best of care, there are always risks. Do keep in confidence any personal disclosure of medical and personal information.
Abuse of any kind should never be tolerated or condoned. Including verbal abuse such as name calling, slander, ridicule, intimidation, verbal or physical threats, coercion, emotional, psychological, financial, sexual, or physical violence.
The nature of the relationship between vampire and donor is special and it cannot be understated as it is very much about consent, negotiation, and trust between the parties involved. People and situations are every evolving and thus negotiation and consent is an ongoing process. 
Remember, both vampires and donors are people. They have lives, careers, families, friends, and acquaintances and share the same emotions, feelings, and concerns as everyone else in society and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.“
- TheRedDragon1966

Donor Bill of Rights

One of the early things that rolled out of working together between different houses were things like The Black Veil, how vampires should behave, and The Donor Bill of Rights, how donors ought to be treated and their rights. The Black Veil is a topic of its own.
Neither of these are air tight legal documents but many vampires try to stick to these. 
The Donor Bill of Rights(External): http://www.neworleansvampireassociation.org/donor-bill-of-rights.html

Conclusion

Being a vampire and having needs is one thing, however, our behaviour should not cause others any trouble. We can find donors if we have them in the area. Psychic vampires can decide how they feed and from whom. They can also seek donors or find ways that don’t directly target other people. Some even feed or munch on trees. Sangs require a more physical resource, and this can be gained through temporal alternatives or finding donors. All this is to be done smartly, with care and ethical insight. Our needs don’t stand above those who can or are willing to offer it, and we need to take care of our donors too.

Update and feeling Pekish, insight in some future posts and activity

Update and Feeling Pekish

Author: Masticina Akicta

Date: 4 May 2022

Update

Time for an update, I have been busy. Hunting apartments, reacting, on a few I was allowed to visit and about a month ago I finally moved. It took a while. But also a lot of energy and attention. The market here is insane! The waiting time is… ah I am sure you are not here to me vent over that. It was a hard long search. 

But in the good news, this blog is NOT dead, there are plans. As usual things just had a little enforced break. Some big plans plans are re-awoken too now things are stabilizing. Less crap around the move, more time for other stuff. 

Also upcoming post will be about Ethics, I am co-writing this with someone because ethics is not a simple issue. And to offer insight from a sanguinary insight too. It will be a good post! We are still editing it to perfection

Feeling Hungry

So on the topic, it has been a move, and I haven’t fed in a while. I feel it, my skin feels thin, I react sharper on things, I am rougher around people and a certain hunger. Even animals seem more worried around me then usual. Which is odd. Many of us vampires know what I mean. It isn’t that bad yet but I feel it. Which means I need to feed soon.

I am moved though so I need a new feeding spot, I feed ambient, non contact wise. Lacking a donor right now that is the option I have. For that I need an area where many people either move through or gather for longer times. Not sure if I like a local church for it. 

But I will find a ETHICAL spot to feed. Yeah. I will.

Now, hopefully next week Friday we have the post about Ethics. It feels good working together with others for things like that.