writing is hard

reverie-writes:

idk if anyone will find this useful, but this is how i go about planning my stories. i mostly write fantasy, so that’s what this is most applicable to. but it could work with other genres too.

so there’s three major components to a story: the characters, the plot, and the world. creating them individually is the easy part, but they all connect and affect each other in different ways. (like you can’t have a character who loves peaches and eats them every day if they live a peasant in a region that doesn’t grow peaches, for example.)

so i created a cheat sheet to help connect all three components together.

1) the world creates the characters.

this is related to the peach example above. the characters should be a direct result of the environment they grew up in and the environment they currently live in.

2) the characters are limited by the world.

also related to the peaches. characters can’t do anything outside of what the rules of their surroundings and universe allow, such as eating peaches when they’re not available. this also applies for magic users. they can’t have unlimited magic, so keep in mind what you want out of both the characters and the world when creating magic systems.

3) the characters carry the plot.

we’ve all heard it before: “bad characters can’t carry a good plot. good characters can carry a bad plot.” but we all like a good plot anyway. try to make sure you’re not giving your characters too heavy or too light of a plot to carry.

4) the plot pushes the characters.

if nothing in the plot happens, your characters will remain static forever. if you struggle with plots, try starting with what character development you want to happen, then go from there.

5) the plot depends on the world.

you can’t overthrow the evil government if there isn’t one. think of what your world needs most and what your plot is centered around, and fit those two together.

6) the world is changed by the plot.

even if your plot is centered around something most of your world would call “insignificant”, the world will still experience some change from the plot. either the evil government will be gone, or maybe that one teacher is now way more careful about keeping an eye on the test key. either way, the world will be different from now on.

final note: usually people will be able to write one or two of the components with ease, but don’t know where to go from there. i personally can’t write plots, but thinking this way has really helped me actually make a story out of the world and characters because i looked at what i needed from what i had. i really hope this can help you too! happy writing!

tl;dr this is a cheat sheet to help anyone who struggles with writing one or two of what i consider the three major components to a story.

(via ivecarvedawoodenheart)

daddigabi:

Eyes – General

large, small, narrow

sharp, squinty, round

wide-set, close-set, deep-set

sunken, bulging, protruding

wide, hooded, heavy-lidded

bright, sparkling, glittering

flecked, dull, bleary

rheumy, cloudy, red-rimmed

beady, birdlike cat-like

jewel-like, steely, hard

fringed with long lashes, with sweeping eyelashes, with thick eyelashes

Eyes – Color

chestnut, chocolate brown, cocoa brown

coffee brown, mocha, mahogany

sepia, sienna brown, mink brown

copper, amber, cognac

whiskey, brandy, honey

tawny, topaz, hazel, obsidian

onyx, coal, raven, midnight, sky blue, sunny blue

cornflower blue, steel blue, ice blue

Arctic blue, glacial blue, crystal blue

cerulean, electric blue, azure

lake blue, aquamarine, turquoise

denim blue, slate blue / slate gray, storm blue / storm gray

silver / silver gray, chrome, platinum, pewter

smoky gray, ash gray, concrete gray, dove gray

shark gray, fog gray, gunmetal gray, olive

emerald, leaf green, moss green

Eyebrows

arched, straight, plucked, sparse

trim, dark, faint, thin, thick, unruly

bushy, heavy

Skin – Color

amber, bronze, cinnamon

copper, dark brown, deep brown

ebony, honey, golden

pale, pallid, pasty

fair, light, cream / creamy

alabaster, ivory, bisque

milk, porcelain, chalky

sallow, olive, peach

rose / rosy, ruddy, florid

russet, tawny, fawn

Skin – General

lined, wrinkled, seamed

leathery, sagging, drooping

loose, clear, smooth

silken, satiny, dry

flaky, scaly, delicate

thin, translucent, luminescent

baby-soft, flawless, poreless

with large pores, glowing, dewy

dull, velvety, fuzzy

rough, uneven, mottled

dimpled, doughy, firm

freckled, pimply, pockmarked

blemished, pitted, scarred

bruised, veined, scratched

sunburned, weather-beaten, raw

tattooed

Face – Structure

square, round, oblong

oval, elongated, narrow

heart-shaped, catlike, wolfish

high forehead, broad forehea, prominent brow ridge

protruding brow bone, sharp cheekbones, high cheekbones

angular cheekbones, hollow cheeks, square jaw

chiseled, sculpted, craggy

soft, jowly, jutting chin

pointed chin, weak chin, receding chin

double chin, cleft chin, dimple in chin

visible Adam’s apple

Nose

snub, dainty, button

turned-up, long, broad

thin, straight, pointed

crooked, aquiline, Roman

bulbous, flared, hawk, strong

Mouth/Lips

thin, narrow, full

lush, Cupid’s bow, rosebud

dry, cracked, chapped

moist, glossy, straight teeth

gap between teeth, gleaming white teeth, overbite

underbite

Facial Hair 

clean-shaven

smooth-shaven

beard

neckbeard

goatee

moustache

sideburns

mutton-chop sideburns

stubble

a few days’ growth of beard

five o’ clock shadow

Hair – General

I threw a few hairstyles in here, though not many.

long, short, shoulder-length

loose, limp, dull

shiny, glossy, sleek

smooth, luminous, lustrous, spiky

stringy, shaggy, tangled

messy, tousled, windblown

unkempt, bedhead, straggly

neatly combed, parted, slicked down / slicked back

cropped, clipped, buzzed / buzz cut

crewcut, bob, mullet

curly, bushy, frizzy

wavy, straight, lanky

dry, oily, greasy

layers, corkscrews, spirals

ringlets, braids, widow’s peak

bald, shaved, comb-over, afro

thick, luxuriant, voluminous

full, wild, untamed

bouncy, wispy, fine, thinning

Hair – Color

black, blue-black, jet black

raven, ebony, inky black

midnight, sable, salt and pepper

silver / silver gray, charcoal gray, steel gray

white, snow-white, brown

brunette, chocolate brown, coffee brown

ash brown, brown sugar, nut brown

caramel, tawny brown, toffee brown

red, ginger, auburn, Titian-haired

copper, strawberry blonde, butterscotch

honey, wheat, blonde

golden, sandy blond, flaxen

fair-haired, bleached, platinum

Body Type – General

tall, average height, short

petite, tiny, compact

big, large, burly

beefy, bulky, brawny

barrel-chested, heavy / heavy-set, fat

overweight, obese, flabby

chunky, chubby, pudgy

pot-bellied, portly thick

stout, lush, plush

full-figured, ample, rounded

generous, voluptuous, curvy

hourglass, plump, leggy / long-legged

gangling, lanky, coltish

lissome, willowy, lithe

lean, slim, slender

trim, thin, skinny

emaciated, gaunt, bony

spare, solid, stocky

wiry, rangy, sinewy

stringy, ropy

(via swansandslayers)

the-brightest-witch-studies:

Word Counter - Not only does it count the number of words you’ve written, it tells you which words are used most often and how many times they appear.

Tip Of My Tongue - Have you ever had a word on the tip of your tongue, but you just can’t figure out what it is? This site searches words by letters, length, definition, and more to alleviate that.

Readability Score - This calculates a multitude of text statistics, including character, syllable, word, and sentence count, characters and syllables per word, words per sentence, and average grade level.

Writer’s Block (Desktop Application) - This free application for your computer will block out everything on your computer until you meet a certain word count or spend a certain amount of time writing.

Cliche Finder - It does what the name says.

Write Rhymes - It’ll find rhymes for words as you write.

Verbix - This site conjugates verbs, because English is a weird language.

Graviax - This grammar checker is much more comprehensive than Microsoft Word, again, because English is a weird language.

---

Sorry for how short this is! I wanted to only include things I genuinely find useful.

(via hobbsyssel)

animatedamerican:

fixyourwritinghabits:

friendlytroll:

badmadwolf:

rainbowbarnacle:

toastyhat:

I just discovered foodtimeline.org, which is exactly what it sounds like: centuries worth of information about FOOD.  If you are writing something historical and you want a starting point for figuring out what people should be eating, this might be a good place?

CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY

this is awesome but the original link just turned into a redirect loop for me, here it is again (x)

OH HELLO

No more potatoes in medieval novels!

well this could be useful

(via allourheroes)

wordsnstuff:

Medicine

• A Study In Physical Injury
  
• Comas
  
• Medical Facts And Tips For Your Writing Needs
• Broken Bones
• Burns
• Unconsciousness & Head Trauma
• Blood Loss
• Stab Wounds
• Pain & Shock
• All About Mechanical Injuries (Injuries Caused By Violence)

Writing Specific Characters

• Portraying a kleptomaniac.
• Playing a character with cancer.
• How to portray a power driven character.
• Playing the manipulative character.
• Portraying a character with borderline personality disorder.
• Playing a character with Orthorexia Nervosa.
• Writing a character who lost someone important.
• Playing the bullies.
• Portraying the drug dealer.
• Playing a rebellious character.
• How to portray a sociopath.
• How to write characters with PTSD.
• Playing characters with memory loss.
• Playing a pyromaniac.
• How to write a mute character.
• How to write a character with an OCD.
• How to play a stoner.
• Playing a character with an eating disorder.
• Portraying a character who is anti-social.
• Portraying a character who is depressed.
• How to portray someone with dyslexia.
• How to portray a character with bipolar disorder.
• Portraying a character with severe depression.
• How to play a serial killer.
• Writing insane characters.
• Playing a character under the influence of marijuana.
• Tips on writing a drug addict.
• How to write a character with HPD.
• Writing a character with Nymphomania.
• Writing a character with schizophrenia.
• Writing a character with Dissociative Identity Disorder.
• Writing a character with depression.
• Writing a character who suffers from night terrors.
• Writing a character with paranoid personality disorder.
• How to play a victim of rape.
• How to play a mentally ill/insane character.
• Writing a character who self-harms.
• Writing a character who is high on amphetamines.
• How to play the stalker.
• How to portray a character high on cocaine.
• Playing a character with ADHD.
• How to play a sexual assault victim.
• Writing a compulsive gambler.
• Playing a character who is faking a disorder.
• Playing a prisoner.
• Portraying an emotionally detached character.
• How to play a character with social anxiety.
• Portraying a character who is high.
• Portraying characters who have secrets.
• Portraying a recovering alcoholic.
• Portraying a sex addict.
• How to play someone creepy.
• Portraying sexually/emotionally abused characters.
• Playing a character under the influence of drugs.
• Playing a character who struggles with Bulimia.

Illegal Activity

• Examining Mob Mentality
  
• How Street Gangs Work
  
• Domestic Abuse
• Torture
• Assault
• Murder
• Terrorism
• Internet Fraud
• Cyberwarfare
• Computer Viruses
• Corporate Crime
• Political Corruption
• Drug Trafficking
• Human Trafficking
• Sex Trafficking
• Illegal Immigration
• Contemporary Slavery 

Black Market Prices & Profits

• AK-47 prices on the black market
  
• Bribes
  
• Computer Hackers and Online Fraud
  
• Contract Killing
  
• Exotic Animals
  
• Fake Diplomas
  
• Fake ID Cards, Passports and Other Identity Documents
  
• Human Smuggling Fees
  
• Human Traffickers Prices
  
• Kidney and Organ Trafficking Prices
  
• Prostitution Prices
  
• Cocaine Prices
  
• Ecstasy Pills Prices
  
• Heroin Prices
  
• Marijuana Prices
  
• Meth Prices
  
• Earnings From Illegal Jobs
• Countries In Order Of Largest To Smallest Risk

Forensics

• arson
• Asphyxia
• Blood Analysis
• Book Review
• Cause & Manner of Death
• Chemistry/Physics
• Computers/Cell Phones/Electronics
• Cool & Odd-Mostly Odd
• Corpse Identification
• Corpse Location
• Crime and Science Radio
• crime lab
• Crime Scene
• Cults and Religions
• DNA
• Document Examination
• Fingerprints/Patterned Evidence
• Firearms Analysis
• Forensic Anthropology
• Forensic Art
• Forensic Dentistry
• Forensic History
• Forensic Psychiatry
• General Forensics
• Guest Blogger
• High Tech Forensics
• Interesting Cases
• Interesting Places
• Interviews
• Medical History
• Medical Issues
• Misc
• Multiple Murderers
• On This Day
• Poisons & Drugs
• Police Procedure
• Q&A
• serial killers
• Space Program
• Stupid Criminals
• Theft
• Time of Death
• Toxicology
• Trauma

(via nooowestayandgetcaught)

blackwatergold:

withintheblock:

juliawritesbooks:

stylincheetah:

bamonnineties:

khraddict:

ave-aria:

starforgedsteel:

berrybird:

• Sticking a landing will royally fuck up your joints and possibly shatter your ankles, depending on how high you’re jumping/falling from. There’s a very good reason free-runners dive and roll. 
• Hand-to-hand fights usually only last a matter of seconds, sometimes a few minutes. It’s exhausting work and unless you have a lot of training and history with hand-to-hand combat, you’re going to tire out really fast. 
• Arrows are very effective and you can’t just yank them out without doing a lot of damage. Most of the time the head of the arrow will break off inside the body if you try pulling it out, and arrows are built to pierce deep. An arrow wound demands medical attention. 
• Throwing your opponent across the room is really not all that smart. You’re giving them the chance to get up and run away. Unless you’re trying to put distance between you so you can shoot them or something, don’t throw them. 
• Everyone has something called a “flinch response” when they fight. This is pretty much the brain’s way of telling you “get the fuck out of here or we’re gonna die.” Experienced fighters have trained to suppress this. Think about how long your character has been fighting. A character in a fist fight for the first time is going to take a few hits before their survival instinct kicks in and they start hitting back. A character in a fist fight for the eighth time that week is going to respond a little differently. 
• ADRENALINE WORKS AGAINST YOU WHEN YOU FIGHT. THIS IS IMPORTANT. A lot of times people think that adrenaline will kick in and give you some badass fighting skills, but it’s actually the opposite. Adrenaline is what tires you out in a battle and it also affects the fighter’s efficacy - meaning it makes them shaky and inaccurate, and overall they lose about 60% of their fighting skill because their brain is focusing on not dying. Adrenaline keeps you alive, it doesn’t give you the skill to pull off a perfect roundhouse kick to the opponent’s face. 
• Swords WILL bend or break if you hit something hard enough. They also dull easily and take a lot of maintenance. In reality, someone who fights with a sword would have to have to repair or replace it constantly.
• Fights get messy. There’s blood and sweat everywhere, and that will make it hard to hold your weapon or get a good grip on someone. 
• A serious battle also smells horrible. There’s lots of sweat, but also the smell of urine and feces. After someone dies, their bowels and bladder empty. There might also be some questionable things on the ground which can be very psychologically traumatizing. Remember to think about all of the character’s senses when they’re in a fight. Everything WILL affect them in some way. 
• If your sword is sharpened down to a fine edge, the rest of the blade can’t go through the cut you make. You’ll just end up putting a tiny, shallow scratch in the surface of whatever you strike, and you could probably break your sword. 
• ARCHERS ARE STRONG TOO. Have you ever drawn a bow? It takes a lot of strength, especially when you’re shooting a bow with a higher draw weight. Draw weight basically means “the amount of force you have to use to pull this sucker back enough to fire it.” To give you an idea of how that works, here’s a helpful link to tell you about finding bow sizes and draw weights for your characters.  (CLICK ME)
• If an archer has to use a bow they’re not used to, it will probably throw them off a little until they’ve done a few practice shots with it and figured out its draw weight and stability. 
• People bleed. If they get punched in the face, they’ll probably get a bloody nose. If they get stabbed or cut somehow, they’ll bleed accordingly. And if they’ve been fighting for a while, they’ve got a LOT of blood rushing around to provide them with oxygen. They’re going to bleed a lot. 
• Here’s a link to a chart to show you how much blood a person can lose without dying. (CLICK ME) 
• If you want a more in-depth medical chart, try this one. (CLICK ME)

Hopefully this helps someone out there. If you reblog, feel free to add more tips for writers or correct anything I’ve gotten wrong here. 

How to apply Writing techniques for action scenes:

- Short sentences. Choppy. One action, then another. When there’s a lull in the fight, take a moment, using longer phrases to analyze the situation–then dive back in. Snap, snap, snap.
- Same thing with words - short, simple, and strong in the thick of battle. Save the longer syllables for elsewhere.
- Characters do not dwell on things when they are in the heat of the moment. They will get punched in the face. Focus on actions, not thoughts.
- Go back and cut out as many adverbs as possible.
- No seriously, if there’s ever a time to use the strongest verbs in your vocabulary - Bellow, thrash, heave, shriek, snarl, splinter, bolt, hurtle, crumble, shatter, charge, raze - it’s now.
- Don’t forget your other senses. People might not even be sure what they saw during a fight, but they always know how they felt.
- Taste: Dry mouth, salt from sweat, copper tang from blood, etc
- Smell: OP nailed it
- Touch: Headache, sore muscles, tense muscles, exhaustion, blood pounding. Bruised knuckles/bowstring fingers. Injuries that ache and pulse, sting and flare white hot with pain.
- Pain will stay with a character. Even if it’s minor.
- Sound and sight might blur or sharpen depending on the character and their experience/exhaustion. Colors and quick movements will catch the eye. Loud sounds or noises from behind may serve as a fighter’s only alert before an attack.
- If something unexpected happens, shifting the character’s whole attention to that thing will shift the Audience’s attention, too.
- Aftermath. This is where the details resurface, the characters pick up things they cast aside during the fight, both literally and metaphorically. Fights are chaotic, fast paced, and self-centered. Characters know only their self, their goals, what’s in their way, and the quickest way around those threats. The aftermath is when people can regain their emotions, their relationships, their rationality/introspection, and anything else they couldn’t afford to think or feel while their lives were on the line.

Do everything you can to keep the fight here and now. Maximize the physical, minimize the theoretical. Keep things immediate - no theories or what ifs.

If writing a strategist, who needs to think ahead, try this: keep strategy to before-and-after fights. Lay out plans in calm periods, try to guess what enemies are thinking or what they will do. During combat, however, the character should think about his options, enemies, and terrain in immediate terms; that is, in shapes and direction. (Large enemy rushing me; dive left, circle around / Scaffolding on fire, pool below me / two foes helping each other, separate them.)

Lastly, after writing, read it aloud. Anyplace your tongue catches up on a fast moving scene, edit. Smooth action scenes rarely come on the first try.

More for martial arts or hand-to-hand in general

What a character’s wearing will affect how they fight.  The more restricting the clothes, the harder it will be.  If they’re wearing a skirt that is loose enough to fight in, modesty will be lost in a life or death situation.

Jewelry can also be very bad.  Necklaces can be grabbed onto.  Bracelets also can be grabbed onto or inhibit movement.  Rings it can depend on the person.

Shoes also matter.  Tennis shoes are good and solid, but if you’re unused to them there’s a chance of accidentally hurting your ankle.  High heels can definitely be a problem.  However, they can also make very good weapons, especially for someone used to balancing on the balls of their feet.  Side kicks and thrusting kicks in soft areas (like the solar plexus) or the feet are good ideas.  They can also (hopefully) be taken off quickly and used as a hand weapon.  Combat boots are great but if someone relies more on speed or aren’t used to them, they can weigh a person down.  Cowboy boots can be surprisingly good.  Spin kicks (if a character is quick enough to use them) are especially nasty in these shoes.

If a character is going to fight barefoot, please keep location in mind.  Concrete can mess up your feet quick.  Lawns, yards, etc often have hidden holes and other obstacles that can mess up a fighter.  Tile floors or waxed wood can be very slippery if you’re not careful or used to them.

Likewise, if it’s outside be aware of how weather will affect the fight.  The sun’s glare can really impede a fighter’s sight.  A wet location, inside or outside, can cause a fighter to slip and fall.  Sweat on the body can cause a fighter to lose a grip on an opponent too.

Pressure points for a trained fighter are great places to aim for in a fight.  The solar plexus is another great place to aim for.  It will knock the wind out of anyone and immediately weaken your opponent. 

It your character is hit in the solar plexus and isn’t trained, they’re going down.  The first time you get hit there you are out of breath and most people double over in confusion and pain.  If a fighter is more used to it, they will stand tall and expand themselves in order to get some breath.  They will likely keep fighting, but until their breath returns to normal, they will be considerably weaker.

Do not be afraid to have your character use obstacles in their environment.  Pillars, boxes, bookshelves, doors, etc.  They put distance between you and an opponent which can allow you to catch your breath. 

Do not be afraid to have your character use objects in their environment.  Someone’s coming at you with a spear, trident, etc, then pick up a chair and get it caught in the legs or use it as a shield.  Bedsheets can make a good distraction and tangle someone up.  Someone’s invading your home and you need to defend yourself?  Throw a lamp.  Anything can be turned into a weapon.

Guns often miss their targets at longer distances, even by those who have trained heavily with them.  They can also be easier to disarm as they only shoot in one direction.  However, depending on the type, grabbing onto the top is a very very bad idea.  There is a good likelihood you WILL get hurt.

Knives are nasty weapons by someone who knows what they’re doing.  Good fighters never hold a knife the way you would when cutting food.  It is best used when held against the forearm.  In defense, this makes a block more effective and in offense, slashing movement from any direction are going to be bad.  If a character is in a fight with a knife or trying to disarm one, they will get hurt. 

Soft areas hit with hard body parts.  Hard areas hit with soft body parts.  The neck, stomach, and other soft areas are best hit with punches, side kicks, elbows, and other hard body parts.  Head and other hard parts are best hit using a knife hand, palm strike, etc.  Spin kicks will be nasty regardless of what you’re aiming for it they land.

Common misconception with round house kicks is that you’re hitting with the top of the foot.  You’re hitting with the ball.  You’re likely to break your foot when hitting with the top.

When punching, the thumb is outside of the fist.  You’ll break something if you’re hitting with the thumb inside, which a lot of inexperienced fighters do. 

Also, punching the face or jaw can hurt. 

It can be hard to grab a punch if you’re not experienced with it despite how easy movies make it seem.  It’s best to dodge or redirect it.

Hitting to the head is not always the best idea.  It can take a bit of training to be able to reach for the head with a kick because of the height.  Flexibility is very much needed.  If there are problems with their hips or they just aren’t very flexible, kicks to the head aren’t happening.

Jump kicks are a good way to hit the head, but an opponent will see it coming if it’s too slow or they are fast/experienced.

A good kick can throw an opponent back or knock them to the ground.  If the person you’ve hit has experience though, they’ll immediately be getting up again.

Even if they’ve trained for years in a martial art, if they haven’t actually hit anything before or gotten hit, it will be slightly stunning for the person.  It does not feel the way you expect it too.

Those yells in martial arts are not just for show.  If done right, they tighten your core making it easier to take a hit in that area.  Also, they can be used to intimidate an opponent.  Yelling or screaming right by their ear can startle someone.  (Generally, KHR fans look at Squalo for yelling)

Biting can also be used if someone’s grabbing you.  Spitting in someone’s eyes can’t hurt.  Also, in a chokehold or if someone is trying to grab your neck in general, PUT YOU CHIN DOWN.  This cuts off access and if they’re grabbing in the front can dig into their hand and hurt.

Wrist grabs and other grabs can be good.  Especially if it’s the first move an opponent makes and the character is trained, there are simple ways to counter that will have a person on their knees in seconds..

Use what your character has to their advantage.  If they’re smaller or have less mass, then they’ll be relying on speed, intelligence, evasion, and other similar tactics.  Larger opponents will be able to take hits better, they’re hits may be slower depending on who it is but will hurt like hell if they land, and size can be intimidating.   Taller people with longer legs will want to rely on kicking and keeping their distance since they have the advantage there.  Shorter people will want to keep the distance closer where it’s easier for them but harder for a taller opponent.  Punching is a good idea.

Using a person’s momentum against them is great.  There’s martial arts that revolve around this whole concept.  They throw a punch?  Grab it and pull them forward and around.  Their momentum will keep them going and knock them off balance. 

Leverage can used in the same way.  If used right, you can flip a person, dislocate a shoulder, throw out a knee, etc.

One note on adrenaline:  All that was said above is true about it.  But, in a fight, it can also make you more aware of what’s going on.  A fight that lasts twenty seconds can feel like a minute because time seems to almost slow down while moving extremely rapidly.  You only have so much time to think about what you’re doing.  You’re taking in information constantly and trying to adjust.  Even in the slow down adrenaline gives you, everything is moving very rapidly. 

Feelings will be your downfall even more so than adrenaline.  Adrenaline can make those feelings more intense, but a good fighter has learned not to listen to those feelings.  A good fighter may feel anger at being knocked down or in some way humiliated - their pride taken down.  Yet they will not act on the anger.  Acting on it makes a fighter more instinctive and many will charge without thinking.  Losing control of anything (adrenaline rush, emotions, technique, etc) can be a terrible thing in a fight.

Just thought I’d add in here.

YES. YES.

Such good writing tips!

@myebi

@jmlascar you’ve probably seen this already, but in case you haven’t, it’s got some good info on fight scenes :)

Pretty important for the scenes I’m focusing on right now. Thanks for the writing tips!!

This has crossed my dash before, but I forgot to reblog it.

(via imhookedonaswan)

wordsnstuff:

Emotions

• Without Making Your Character Feel Too Self Aware
  
• Showing Emotion Without Telling About It
  
• Emotions Associated With Body Language
  
• Telling Readers What The Character Doesn’t Want To Show
  
• Hiding Emotions
  
• Expressing Cardinal Emotions: Masculine vs. Feminine
  
• Writing Extreme Emotion Without Melodrama

Specific Emotions

• Conveying Shock
  
• Conveying Embarrassment
  
• Conveying Disappointment
  
• Conveying Love/Attraction
  
• Conveying Annoyance
  
• Conveying Relief
  
• Conveying Uncertainty
  
• Conveying Impatience
  
• Conveying Shame
  
• Conveying Resentment
  
• Conveying Panic
  
• Conveying Guilt
  
• Conveying Desperation
  
• Conveying Sarcasm & Verbal Disrespect
  
• Conveying Confusion
  
• Conveying Stubbornness
  
• Conveying Frustration
  
• Conveying Indifference
  
• Conveying Indignation
  
• Conveying Confidence & Pride
  
• Conveying Smugness
  
• Conveying Enthusiasm
  
• Conveying Curiosity
  
• Conveying Hopefulness
  
• Conveying Unease
  
• Conveying Reluctance
  
• Conveying Worry
  
• Conveying Humility & Meekness
  
• Conveying Happiness & Joy
  
• Conveying Amusement
  
• Conveying Disgust
  
• Conveying Resignation
  
• Conveying Jealousy
  
• Conveying Anticipation
  
• Conveying Contentment
  
• Conveying Defeat
  
• Conveying Excitement
  
• Conveying Fear
  
• Conveying Hatred
  
• Conveying Hurt
  
• Conveying Being Overwhelmed
  
• Conveying Sadness & Grief
  
• Conveying Satisfaction
  
• Conveying Somberness
  
• Conveying Sympathy & Empathy
  
• Conveying Wariness
  
• Conveying Defensiveness
  
• Conveying Desire
  
• Conveying Doubt
  
• Conveying Energy
  
• Conveying Exhaustion
  
• Conveying Hunger
  
• Conveying Loneliness
  
• Conveying Physical Pain

Emotional Wounds

• A Role Model Who Disappoints
  
• A Sibling’s Betrayal
  
• A Speech Impediment
  
• Becoming a Caregiver at an Early Age
  
• Being Bullied
  
• Being Fired or Laid Off
  
• Being Held Captive
  
• Being Mugged
  
• Being Publicly Humiliated
  
• Being Raised by Neglectful Parents
  
• Being Raised by Overprotective Parents
  
• Being So Beautiful It’s All People See
  
• Being the Victim of a Vicious Rumor
  
• Being Stalked
  
• Being Trapped in a Collapsed Building
  
• Being Unfairly Blamed For The Death of Another
  
• Childhood Sexual Abuse (by a family member or known person)
  
• Discovering One’s Parent is a Monster
  
• Discovering One’s Sibling was Abused
  
• Experiencing a Miscarriage or Stillbirth
  
• Failing At School
  
• Failing To Do The Right Thing
  
• Financial Ruin Due To A Spouse’s Irresponsibility
  
• Finding Out One’s Child Was Abused
  
• Finding Out One Was Adopted
  
• Getting Lost In a Natural Environment
  
• Growing Up In A Cult
  
• Growing Up in a Dangerous Neighborhood
  
• Growing Up In Foster Care
  
• Growing Up In The Public Eye
  
• Growing Up In The Shadow of a Successful Sibling
  
• Growing Up with a Sibling Who Has a Chronic Disability or Illness
  
• Having Parents Who Favored One Child Over Another
  
• Having To Kill Another Person To Survive
  
• Infertility
  
• Infidelity (emotional or physical)
  
• Losing a Limb
  
• Losing a Loved One To A Random Act of Violence
  
• Making a Very Public Mistake
  
• Overly Critical or Strict Parents
  
• Physical Disfigurement
  
• Rejection By One’s Peers
  
• Telling The Truth But Not Being Believed
  
• The Death of a Child On One’s Watch
  
• Victimization via Identity Theft
  
• Watching A Loved One Die
  
• Wrongful Imprisonment
  
• Spending Time In Jail
  
• Suffering From a Learning Disability

Motivation

• Achieving Spiritual Enlightenment
  
• Avoiding Certain Death
  
• Avoiding Financial Ruin
  
• Beating a Diagnosis or Condition
  
• Being Acknowledged and Appreciated by Family
  
• Being a Leader of Others
  
• Being the Best At Something
  
• Caring for an Aging Parent
  
• Carrying on a Legacy
  
• Catching The Bad Guy or Girl
  
• Coming To Grips With Mental Illness
  
• Discovering One’s True Self
  
• Escaping a Dangerous Life one Doesn’t Want
  
• Escaping a Killer
  
• Escaping a Widespread Disaster
  
• Escaping Confinement
  
• Escaping Homelessness
  
• Escaping Invaders
  
• Finding Friendship or Companionship
  
• Finding a Lifelong Partner
  
• Having a Child
  
• Helping a Loved One See They Are Hurting Themselves and Others
  
• Obtaining Shelter From The Elements
  
• Overcoming Abuse and Learning To Trust
  
• Overcoming Addiction
  
• Protecting One’s Home or Property
  
• Pursuing Justice For Oneself or Others
  
• Realizing a Dream
  
• Reconciling with an Estranged Family Member
  
• Rescuing a Loved One From a Captor
  
• Restoring A Name or Reputation
  
• Righting a Deep Wrong
  
• Seeking Out One’s Biological Roots
  
• Stopping an Event From Happening
  
• Trying Again When One Has Previously Failed

---

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(via geniusorinsanity)

redadhdventures:

thewritingcafe:

thewritingcafe:

Want to create a religion for your fictional world? Here are some references and resources!

General:

• General Folklore
• Various Folktales
• Heroes
• Weather Folklore
• Trees in Mythology
• Animals in Mythology
• Birds in Mythology
• Flowers in Mythology
• Fruit in Mythology
• Plants in Mythology
• Folktales from Around the World

Africa:

• Egyptian Mythology
• African Mythology
• More African Mythology
• Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
• The Gods of Africa
• Even More African Mythology
• West African Mythology
• All About African Mythology
• African Mythical Creatures
• Gods and Goddesses

The Americas:

• Aztec Mythology
• Haitian Mythology
• Inca Mythology
• Maya Mythology
• Native American Mythology
• More Inca Mythology
• More Native American Mythology
• South American Mythical Creatures
• North American Mythical Creatures
• Aztec Gods and Goddesses

Asia:

• Chinese Mythology
• Hindu Mythology
• Japanese Mythology
• Korean Mythology
• More Japanese Mythology
• Chinese and Japanese Mythical Creatures
• Indian Mythical Creatures
• Chinese Gods and Goddesses
• Hindu Gods and Goddesses
• Korean Gods and Goddesses

Europe:

• Basque Mythology
• Celtic Mythology
• Etruscan Mythology
• Greek Mythology
• Latvian Mythology
• Norse Mythology
• Roman Mythology
• Arthurian Legends
• Bestiary
• Celtic Gods and Goddesses
• Gods and Goddesses of the Celtic Lands
• Finnish Mythology
• Celtic Mythical Creatures
• Gods and Goddesses

Middle East:

• Islamic Mythology
• Judaic Mythology
• Mesopotamian Mythology
• Persian Mythology
• Middle Eastern Mythical Creatures

Oceania:

• Aboriginal Mythology
• Polynesian Mythology
• More Polynesian Mythology
• Mythology of the Polynesian Islands
• Melanesian Mythology
• Massive Polynesian Mythology Post
• Maori Mythical Creatures
• Hawaiian Gods and Goddesses
• Hawaiian Goddesses
• Gods and Goddesses

Creating a Fantasy Religion:

• Creating Part 1
• Creating Part 2
• Creating Part 3
• Creating Part 4
• Fantasy Religion Design Guide
• Using Religion in Fantasy
• Religion in Fantasy
• Creating Fantasy Worlds
• Beliefs in Fantasy

Some superstitions:

Read More

Here, I have some more:

Africa:

• Ancient Egypt: the Mythology
• Egyptian Gods
• Legendary Monsters of Africa

The Americas:

• Aztec Mythology
• Incan Mythology
• Haitian Mythology
• Mayan Mythology

Asia:

• Chinese Mythology
• Japanese Mythology
• Korean Mythology
• Hindu Mythology
• Japanese Folklore and Mythology
• Chinese Mythology

Europe:

• Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology
• The Olympians
• Women in Greek Myths
• Greek Mythology
• More Greek Mythology
• Even More Greek Mythology
• Greek/Roman Mythology
• Germanic Myths, Legends, and Sagas
• Norse Mythology
• The Muse
• Creepy Irish Creatures
• Irish Folklore
• Norse Mythology
• Arthurian Mythology
• Celtic Mythology
• Latvian Mythology
• Norse Gods, Goddesses, and More
• A Celtic Pantheon
• Welsh Gods and Goddesses
• Celtic Deities
• Werewolf Legends from Germany
• Welsh Deities
• Celtic Gods and Goddesses

Oceanic:

• Australian Mythology
• Polynesian Mythology

General:

• Ancient Myth and Magic
• Massive List of Mythological Creatures
• Mythical Creatures
• Hairy Hominids
• Cryptozoology
• Mysterious Beings, Monsters, and Creatures
• Amulets and Good Luck Charms A - Z
• Modern Monsters
• Myths and Legends
• Folklore and Mythology (2)
• More Links
• Folklore, Myth, and Legend
• Names of Gods and Goddesses
• Folklore Mythology

Reblogging because wow. What a resource.

(via queerwitchcraft)

8writingblock8:

mystictrashheap:

mystictrashheap:

mystictrashheap:

mystictrashheap:

A small list of random ass sites I’ve found useful when writing:

• Fragrantica: perfume enthusiast site that has a long list of scents. v helpful when you’re writing your guilty pleasure abo fics
  
• Just One Cookbook: recipe site that centers on Japanese cuisine. Lots of different recipes to browse, plenty of inspiration so you’re not just “ramen and sushi” 
• This comparing heights page: gives you a visual on height differences between characters
• A page on the colors of bruises+healing stages: well just that. there you go. describe your bruises properly
• McCormick Science Institute: yes this is a real thing. the site shows off research on spices and gives the history on them. be historically accurate or just indulge in mindless fascination. boost your restaurant au with it
• A Glossary of Astronomy Terms: to pepper in that sweet terminology for your astrophysics major college au needs

Adding to this since I’m working on a shifter au one-shot:

• Canine Body Language
  
• Feline Body Language
  

More:

• Cocktail Flow: a site with a variety of cocktails that’s pretty easy to navigate and offers photos of the drinks. You can sort by themes, strengths, type and base. My only real annoyance with this site is that the drinks are sometimes sorted into ~masculine~ and ~feminine~ but ehhhh. It’s great otherwise.
  
• Tie-A-Tie: a site centered around ties, obviously. I stumbled upon it while researching tie fabrics but there’s a lot more to look at. It offers insight into dress code for events, tells you how to tie your ties, and has a section on the often forgotten about tie accessories
  

Even more:

• Types of High Heels: A page describing twenty five different types of high heels. It gives a description and pictures. Shake it up from just “stilettos and kitten heels”
  
• Random Job Generator: Exactly as it says. The site offer more generators like characters, plots, or town names.
  
• Glossary of Hosiery Terms: Figure out what is what on a pair of stockings.
  
• Men’s Dress Shoe Guide: A quick guide describing the eight most common types of men’s dress shoes. Pics included.
  
• Types of Women’s Coats: Descriptions and pics of various different types of coats.
  

WRITING REFERENCES

(via hoenursey)