A Poets Storage

[ljooheonie]

Eyes, Skin, Face, Hair, Build: Character physical descriptions.

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

[referenceforwriters]

Masterlist: Military, Weapons, Terrorism, and More

Anonymous said: Hi! First off, I love your blog. Whenever I’m stuck or needing some sort of inspiration, I always check out your site. Now, I’m writing a heavy action, military/police work novel and was wondering if you had anything that could help me when it came to the specifics of weapons, ammunition, bombs. Bomb making. Inside the mind of a terrorist. All that fun jazz. Thanks!

Weapons & Ammo

List of weapons

Weapons of the US military

Ammo types

Ammunition

Ammunition types and characteristics

Category: Weapons

Guns in general

Getting a handle on guns

Gun terms for writers

Bombs

Bombs

Category: explosives

List of bombs 

Bomb basics: why you need to know…

Explosive types

Atomic bombs

Military

List of military tactics

List of military strategies and concepts

List of established military terms

What’s Inside: Military

How the military recruiting process works

Military career fields

Job Skill Training

Military language

Military Sign Language

Counter-terrorism

Counter-terrorism

The counter-terrorism strategy

On counter-terrorism (background, problems, policy)

Terrorism

Terrorism-Research →  Behavior / Goals

Terrorism: psychology behind

Tactics of terrorism

Terrorism

How suicide bombers work

The terrorist mind

Getting inside the terrorist’s mind

→ Military & PTSD

Book recs: 

Before anything, I’ve got to say that I’m only mentioning these books for informative purposes, for the anon and anyone else that requires them for writing. 

The Anarchist Cook Book: many, many chapters of this book talk about the making of several kinds of bombs. It also has another types of “hacks” and how to’s. Some of them are creepy. A lot of them are creepy. You can read online here.

Homemade C-4: what tite says. You can read online here.

Blogs to check for military&gun info

soldierporn

gunrunnerhell

Got more links you’d like to share with us? info? feel free to ask or submit and it’ll be added.

-Alex

[poems-and-word]

[thebeautifulwordlist]

Elucidate

Verb (used with object)

[ih-loo-si-deyt] 

1. to make lucid or clear; throw light upon; explain:     an explanation that elucidated his recent strange behavior.    Synonyms: clarify, illuminate.

Verb (used without object)

2. to provide clarification; explain.     Synonyms: clarify, clear up, illustrate.

Origin: 1560-70; < Late Latin ēlūcidātus (past participle of ēlūcidāre) enlightened, equivalent to ē- e-1+ lūcid(us) lucid + -ātus -ate1

“It may help to elucidate this matter if we regard it from another point of view.” - George John Romanes, Mind and Motion and Monism 

[slavicafire]

“the three songs” ask set

1. three songs that come up when you put your phone on shuffle

2. three last songs you listened to

3. three songs you were recently obsessed with

4. three songs that you know thanks to your parents

5. three songs you wish you could forget (because listening to them hurts)

6. three songs you wish you could erase from history (because they’re terrible)

7. three songs you didn’t expect to like but eventually loved

8. three songs that remind you most of summer and vacation

9. three songs that get you in the Christmas Mood

10. three favourite Halloween/spooky songs

11. three favourite songs from movie or TV series soundtrack

12. three favourite songs from video games

13. three songs you want at your funeral

14. three songs you want at your wedding

15. three songs you want to dance with your love to

16. three favourite songs for sex

17. three songs that remind you of your crush

18. three songs that remind you of your best friend

19. three songs that are your guilty pleasure

20. three songs that remind you of the person who sends this one

21. three songs of your childhood

22. three songs you listen to when you’re sad

23. three songs that never fail to get you pumped up

24. three favourite old songs

25. three favourite songs of 2017

26. three favourite non-English songs

27. three songs that you sing while drunk

28. three best songs to get drunk or high to

29. three songs that influenced you most (some songs change or save lives)

30. three songs you really want your followers to know (for reasons other than all those above)

[wordsnstuff]

Kiss Scenes 101: How To Write The Perfect Kiss

Anonymous said: Hey there. Not sure what kind of questions you accept but…here goes. Do you have any tips for writing kiss scenes? Not fluffy kiss scenes but really passionate ones. Thanks!

I was hoping to post this on Valentine’s Day, but I got a little busy so it got pushed back. Happy (late) Valentine’s Day, and enjoy!

|| 1 || Detail. Remember that describing a kiss means including more detail than just what is happening and when. Be sure to include description of how the protagonist’s five senses are being affected, as well as some other elements such as:

What the protagonist smells

What the protagonist tastes

What the protagonist hears

What the protagonist sees

The inner monologue of the protagonist, if the point of view in your story allows it.

|| 2 || Make the kiss(es) realistic. Situational details are a key factor in making the scene more satisfying and memorable. Pay attention to details like the character’s physical characteristics, such as glasses, braces, messy hair, etc. and incorporate those tiny details into the scene.

She turned her head to the left, leaning in to brush her lips against her partner’s, but was interrupted when their noses bumped together, making them both giggle, and the awkwardness fade away.

I mean, sure, that’s not the best example, but at least it’s better than:

Their lips collided, and they made out flawlessly, as if they were in a Nicholas Sparks novel.

Little details like bumping noses, giggling, grinning like an idiot, stumbling, hesitating, etc. can make the scene so much better.

|| 3 || It doesn’t always have to be a full on make out session every time two characters kiss. A lot of the time, kisses are short and sweet and that can be enough to send a substantial spark to the fingers and toes, and send the reader out smiling. Pecks, if only on the cheek, can be more than enough and are extremely underrated.

|| 4 || Pay attention to what your characters do with the rest of their bodies. Kissing is in no way just about the mouth. Keep in mind that most of the time, people don’t just lean forward and mush their faces together. Grab the face, caress the lower back, hold their hand, hell, sweep them off their feet and carry them into the sunset! Don’t just stand there!

|| 5 || Lastly, but not least..ly.. VOCABULARY. Using the right wordage can improve your kiss scene-no, scratch that- ANY SCENE a million times better. I’ve made an entire post on vocabulary and synonyms to use for your sex/kiss scenes {shameless plug} and you can find it: 

HERE HERE HERE HERE HERE HERE HERE HERE

|| 6 || Read kiss scenes as a writer would. Read kiss scenes that you’ve enjoyed and nitpick them to find what you do and don’t like about them, adding the good things to your own scene and being wary of the bad. 

And now, here are some extra tips to get you going:

 I. Practice - If you’re in a relationship or have a really great friend {;)}, practice the act and take notes on how it actually feels! A lot of people who read these kiss scenes take it as the reality because some have never kissed anyone, so teach them how it’s done!

II. Know your characters - Would they actually bite their partner’s lip like that? Would they actually go as far as caressing the majestical inner thigh? Think about it.

III. Add elements of the setting - Are your characters standing in the middle of a crowd? In a high school hallway? Elevator? Include details like sounds and smells and lighting to give the reader a more full-sensory experience.

IV. Dialogue can be fun to play with - Kissing doesn’t always have to be silent. Maybe they break for a second to say “You’re so beautiful” or “Did you pop a mint when I wasn’t looking, oh sneaky one?”. Include those little mutterings or comments because they are some of the best parts.

V. Have someone you trust read it - If you’ve got a good friend who will be honest, have them read and suggest edits. Google docs is fantastic for having your friends read and help you edit your work, because you can change the setting to “suggest edits” and you can see everything they’ve suggested without permanently altering the scene.

[wordsnstuff]

20 Sentence Story Prompt

– I recently did an exercise in class during a creative writing unit that focused on flash fiction, and while I’m not big into short story writing anymore, it was a really good method of generating ideas in a short amount of time and I decided to share it with you. This sort of 20 sentence story prompt style is really easy to create and follow along with, and there are so many variations you could create for yourself to mix it up, so here’s an example for you to try out and if you like it, feel free to make up your own 20 sentence story prompt list and tag me in it! Happy writing!

Title your story “The Item”, then write the story one sentence at a time, each sentence fulfilling one of the prompts below, in order.

Describe a place.

Introduce a character.

Describe a smell.

Have your character find something small enough to fit into their pocket.

Describe the object using a color and a sound.

Have a line of dialogue.

Have your character put the item in their pocket.

Introduce a character.

Have a line of dialogue between the two characters.

Write something that mentions the weather.

Introduce an element: water, fire, wind, earth, etc.

Have the character hear a sound.

Give your character a reason to run.

Use a metaphor or a similie to describe their run.

Have your character with the item in their pocket use/interact with the item in some way.

Have your characters stop running without using the word “stop” or “run” in any variation of these words.

Write a line of dialogue with the word “bye” or “goodbye”.

Make one of your characters leave.

Describe a taste.

Have your characters say something that includes the word “end”.

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[wordsnstuff]

[wordsnstuff]

Resources For Creating Characters

Physical Appearance

Face Shapes

Hair Types

Hair Colors

Hair Styles

Facial Hair

Eyebrows

Eye Shapes

Eye Colors

Lip Shapes

Skin Colors

Skin Types

Height Comparison

Types Of Piercings

Body Types

More Specific Words For Body Types

Nose Shapes

Voices

Speech Patterns

Speech Impediments

Distinguishable Facial Features

Fashion Styles

Personality

Hobbies

Archetypes

Secrets

Quirks

Mannerisms

Bad Habits

Fears

Religions

Mental Disorders

Pet Peeves

Strengths

Weaknesses

Flaws

Talents & Skills

Character Motivations

Miscellaneous

Character Building Chart

Character Name Generator

Basic Character Appearance Generator

Character Detail Generators

Backstory & Origin Generators

Outfit, Costume, Clothing, & Wardrobe Generators

Basic Character Premise Generator

Character Cast Generator

Alternative Character Cast Generator

Zombie Generator

Vampire Generator

Teen Generator

Pirate Generator

Music Band Generator

Murder Mystery Victim Generator

Merperson Generator

Fairy Generator

Fantasy & Sci-Fi Race Generator

Elemental Person Generator

Deity Generator

Villain Generator

Other Resources From Wordsnstuff

Resources For Describing Physical Things

Resources For Describing Characters

Resources For Describing Emotions

Resources For Writing Sketchy Topics

Useful Writing Resources

Useful Writing Resources II

Support Wordsnstuff!

Request A Writing Help Post/Themed Playlist/Writing Tips!

Send Me Poetry To Feature On Our Instagram!

Receive Updates & Participate In Polls On Our Twitter!

Like us and share on Facebook!

Read More On Our Masterlist & See our Frequently Asked Questions!

Tag What You Want Me To See With #wordsnstuff!

Participate in monthly writing challenges!

[wordsnstuff]

Resources For Describing Characters

Physical Appearance

Arms

Athletic Build

Back

Butts

Cheeks

Chest

Chins

Curvy Build

Ears

Eyebrows

Eyes

Faces

Facial Hair

Feet

Fingernails

Fingers

Hair

Hands

Head

Hips

Jaws

Knees

Legs

Lips

Muscular Build

Neck

Noses

Shoulders

Slender Build

Sickly Build

Skin

Stocky Build

Stomach

Teeth

Toenails

Toes

Underweight Build

Character Traits

Affectionate

Ambitious

Bossy

Brave

Calm

Cautious

Charismatic

Clever

Conceited

Courageous

Creative

Critical

Curious

Determined

Diplomatic

Dishonest

Disorganized

Eccentric

Excitable

Friendly

Funny

Generous

Glamorous

Guarded

Honest

Impulsive

Independent

Intelligent

Just

Kind

Loyal

Manipulative

Mature

Modest

Mysterious

Naïve

Optimistic

Prejudiced

Persistent

Proper

Responsible

Sensitive

Sentimental

Serious

Shy

Reckless

Stingy

Stubborn

Talented

Thoughtful

Thrifty

Visionary

Wise

Witty

Worry Wart

Wounded

Talents & Skills

A Knack for Languages

A Knack for Making Money

A Way with Animals

Archery

Astral Projection

Astrological Divination

Baking

Basic First Aid

Blending In

Carpentry

Charm

ESP (Clairvoyance)

Empathy

Enhanced Hearing

Enhanced Sense of Smell

Enhanced Taste Buds

Farming

Fishing

Foraging

Gaining the Trust of Others

Gaming

Gardening

Good Listening Skills

Haggling

Herbalism

Hospitality

Hot-Wiring a Car

High Pain Tolerance

Knife Throwing

Knowledge of Explosives

Lip-Reading

Lying

Making People Laugh

Mechanically Inclined

Mentalism

Mimicking

Multitasking

Musicality

Organization

Parkour

Photographic Memory

Predicting the Weather

Promotion

Psychokinesis

Reading People

Regeneration

Repurposing

Sculpting

Self-Defense

Sewing

Sharpshooting

Sleight-of-Hand

Strategic Thinking

Strong Breath Control

Super Strength

Survival Skills

Swift-footedness

Talking With The Dead

Throwing One’s Voice

Whittling

Wilderness Navigation

Wrestling

Elemental Abilities

Miscellaneous

Voices

Voice Types

Speech Patterns

Speech Impediment

List of Character Flaws

List of Archetypes

Hairstyles

Describing Body Types & How They Move Around

Secrets To Give Your Character

Support Wordsnstuff!

Request A Writing Help Post/Themed Playlist/Writing Tips!

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Receive Updates & Participate In Polls On Our Twitter!

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Read More On Our Masterlist & See our Frequently Asked Questions!

Tag What You Want Me To See With #wordsnstuff!

Participate in monthly writing challenges!

[writinghelpers]

55 Words to Describe Someone's Voice

I was sitting on the computer last night trying to be productive and actually write something. My first sentence included the character listening to a voice through an intercom and my first thought was, “What kind of voice is it?" 

So, naturally, I found myself googling the different ways to describe a voice. I present to you my findings! I hope you all find it useful. 

[writinghelpers]

adenoidal (adj): if someone’s voice is adenoidal, some of the sound seems to come through their nose

appealing (adj): an appealing look/voice shows that you want help, approval, or agreement

breathy (adj): with loud breathing noises

brittle (adj): if you speak in a brittle voice, you sound as if you are about to cry

croaky (adj): if someone’s voice sounds croaky, they speak in a low, rough voice that sounds as if they have a sore throat

dead (adj): if someone’s eyes or voice are dead, they feel or show no emotion

disembodied (adj): a disembodied voice comes from someone who you cannot see

flat (adj): spoken in a voice that does not go up and down; this word is often used for describing the speech of people from a particular region

Keep reading

[wordsnstuff]

Resources For Describing Emotion

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

Support Wordsnstuff!

Request A Writing Help Post/Themed Playlist/Writing Tips!

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Receive Updates & Participate In Polls On Our Twitter!

Like us and share on Facebook!

Read More On Our Masterlist & See our Frequently Asked Questions!

Tag What You Want Me To See With #wordsnstuff!

Participate in monthly writing challenges!

[blackgirlmagicwrites-archived]

Specific Setting Ideas

Deserted gas station at 2AM

Church tucked away on the edge of town with only a glowing cross to light it up

Liquor store with a few high school kids buying stuff for a house party

At the drive-thru late at night trying to figure out your order/everyone in the car’s order

Hospital waiting room in the early hours of the morning

Birthday party with a bad clown and kids covered in cake and snot

Basketball court on a block with a bunch of ratty apartment buildings

Dark alleyway with only a lone street lamp light at the mouth of the alley

Bench/hill in the middle of the park as the sun starts to come up

Cluttered basement with a beat-up couch and an old TV

Sunny, warm enclosed porch on the back of someone’s house

Quiet field of flowers in the middle of a wooded area

Snowy mountain trail with black ice no one notices

Dark stretch of road without street lamps at 3 AM

Rooftop in the middle of the day

Driving through heavy fog early in the morning where you feel like you’re the only one awake

On top of a giant dune in the middle of the desert with a hot breeze that never cools anyone down

Teenagers playing Marco Polo in a store

Covered bridge at the edge of town

Abandoned building that other teenagers explore

[classical-beauty-of-the-past]

Reggia di Caserta fountains:

Fountain of Venus and Adonis

Fountain of Diana and Actaeon

Fountain of Diana and Actaeon

Fountain of Ceres

Fountain of Aeolus

Fountain of the dolphins

[books-n-quotes]

You could rattle the stars,“ she whispered. “You could do anything, if only you dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That’s what scares you most.

Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass (via books-n-quotes)

[cjwritesfanfiction]

Untitled Number One

Hey guys, as most of you know I’m in college and currently enrolled in a literature class. For the final, we get to choose what we get to do and I decided to write my own thing (naturally). I would love some feedback on this. Also TW FOR SEXUAL THEMES. THIS IS BEING WRITTEN FOR A COLLEGE LEVEL COURSE. Let me know what y'all think. 

There’s nothing more haunting than a 7-11 at 2 in the morning. Harsh neon lights beckoned me inside with the promise of slurpees and a cheap midnight snack. Rows of snacks fill the shelves down the aisles like soldiers ready for battle. In a way, it was like they were watching me as I strolled down the aisle towards the pop machine. I grabbed a big gulp and filled it with Dr.Pepper, minding my own business, when suddenly the person behind the counter came out and asked if I needed any help. Her smiling face, perfect blonde hair, and hazel eyes are almost demonic as they stared into my soul and searched for my deepest secrets. I looked away feeling guilty. Who the hell was this happy at two in the morning anyway?! I grumbled staring at a cracked tile on the floor and shook my head. She smiled and walked away disappearing behind the counter again. I grumbled to myself and nervously played with my hair as I browsed the shelves. I still felt her eyes on me…  

It didn’t take long for a beat up, rusty, red pickup truck to pull up at the front of the store. I squinted my eyes as the bright florescent headlighted blind me and turn off just as quickly. A slightly portly man gets out of the car and stared at me before entering the store. He is a man of average height, maybe a little shorter. His round face studied me like I was a plate of pork steak and mashed potatoes. I glared back at him. I will not let this man have the right to look at me like a predator on prey. Why do men do that anyway? They view women like a possession or a number more than people. Finally, his eyes glanced down at the ground and my jaw clenched. I took the opportunity to look over the man’s body. The main was fairly average up to his waist/ It wasn’t until my eyes wandered to his midsection that my stomach flip flopped and I suddenly felt sick. I wouldn’t say the man was fat per say. Let’s just say the twelve pack of beer he greedily guzzled down everyday started to catch up with him. His stomach bulged out pressing against his too tight, red flannel shirt. I was certain that at some point the buttons would burst revealing the man’s hairy chest and bloated stomach. I swallowed and continued to browse the shelves starting to regret agreeing to this.

You see, the man in question was named Terry Johnson. Terry was a wanna-be cowboy who owned a small ranch outside of Austin. He was one of those people who took pride in his fifty-seven long horns and proclaimed himself as a modern cowboy. His wife had blessed him with three kids in their youth after they got married at the ripe age of eighteen. His sons were his pride and joy. They were good little boys raised on “good Christian values”. His wife, however,  was nothing short of a slave to her husband. She did all the cooking, cleaning, repairing, and anything else her husband wanted while he was out drinking beer and playing cowboy. However, Terry kept a secret from his wife that he would take to his grave. No matter how hard she tried, she could not get her husband aroused, something that was easy during their youth. He assured her that it was just old age, his limbido wasn’t what it used to be. She blindly believed it and tried to keep her sobs quiet at night when she heard him jerk one off in the bathroom while she was supposedly sleeping.

However, this little white lie couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, Terry had this sick fantasy of having sex with an Indian woman. Ever since he was a child, he dreamed of being a cowboy. He worked hard to live his dream, but it wasn’t until recently when this fantasy had become an obsession. He had spent hours wondering what it would be like to be with an Indian woman. Would her skin be soft like cotton? Would her hair smell of wild grass and pumpkin? And what would her body be like? He hoped that it would be perfectly tanned and curved in all the right places. It was definitely an errotic thought for him. Sometimes in his fantasies, the woman would be perfectly submissive for him. In others, he would have to put her in her place. But, to Terry, this sick fantasy was just another step in completing his ultimate goal of becoming a modern cowboy of the old west. Terry really was a sick bastard.

Terry had contacted me through the internet. I’m not going to go into detail about how we met or the details of our deal. All you need to know is I needed the money and Terry was willing to pay a sum as big as his beer belly for a no strings attached one night stand. Normally, I wouldn’t let myself be degraded like this. However, some things in my life are more important than the respect that nobody had for me except for myself. Because I was an Indian, white men viewed me as a prize, an object, a source of sexual desire rather than a person. It was one of the reasons why I despised white men.  

Terry sulked around the convenience store like a gray wolf stalking elk. I watched him out of the corner of my eye as I fumbled with a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos. He walked up and stood besides me looking at the beef jerky. From here, I could smell the sweet smell of cow feed and musty straw on his clothes. Nervousness bubbled up in the pit of my stomach and settled in my throat. He glanced over to me and smiled.

“Are you Red?”

I sucked in a shaky breath and wondered where my courage had ran off to. I nodded unable to speak from either fear or regret; I couldn’t tell which. I didn’t tell him my real name for obvious reasons, but he insisted I knew his. He smiled and walked behind me before wrapping his long arms around my chest. I stopped breathing as I felt his nose in my hair taking a sniff. He muttered something about wild strawberries and pressed his hips into my ass. He was already hard as his hands ran down my sides causing me to shiver.

“You’re very pretty.” He said. I said nothing, but it didn’t seem to bother him. Eventually, he pulled a couple sticks of beef jerky off the shelf and gently grabbed my hand giving it a squeeze. “Did you want something for the road?” He asked. I grabbed a bag of Doritos and followed him to the checkout. I took a couple of deep breaths as he chatted with the demon woman from earlier. It at least gave me time to calm down before he lead me outside again with a large hand gently pushing against the small of my back. Once we were outside, he glanced over to me. “Are you sure about this? You seem scared.”

“Yeah, I’m sure. I guess I’m just nervous.” I admitted opening the door and getting into the passenger’s seat. Luckily, the ride to the hotel was silent and I was only left with my thoughts of the situation. I glanced over to Terry who ripped off a good chunk of beef jerky with his teeth. I snorted. It was ironic really; how much I was like that piece of beef jerky. Terry was going to take me to a hotel and have sex with me. He was going rip my pride into pieces, piece by piece, until I was reduced to a little stub of what I once was. God, Terry was a sick bastard.

Finally, we got to the hotel. Honestly, I don’t remember Terry checking in or the silent ride up the elevator. But, I do remember getting to the room. Suddenly, Terry seemed timid like he didn’t really know what to do. He slid his snakeskin boots off of his feet and fumbled with the top button of his flannel shirt. He glanced all around the room to everywhere but me. For a split second, I pitied him, but that feeling soon passed when I remembered what he was about to do to my body and my pride.

“So, uh, how do you want to do this? Should I take off your clothes or mine or…” He trailed off wanting me to fill in the blank with my answer. I groaned. I didn’t have time for this virgin bullshit. I walked over to him and slowly unbuttoned his shirt while he watched in shock for a few moments. About halfway down, he finally regained control of his confidence and brushed the hair out of my face smiling down at me. I shook off the uneasy feeling and continued on focusing on the buttons until they are all undone. He slid off his shirt and gently pulled on the hem of mine.  “Yours too.” He muttered fondly, like we were lovers. We are not lovers.

I pulled off my shirt and threw it to the side feeling indifferent. I just wanted to get this over with. He pulled on my hips into his lap and smiled. He cupped my cheek and leaned forward to kiss me. His lips were chapped and rough against mine and I haphazardly kissed him back. I wondered to myself what his wife saw in the man I was kissing. He kissed with the inexperience of a teenager. Sometimes, he went a little too slow. Sometimes, he went a little too fast. Other times, he used too much teeth or not enough. It was frustrating to say the least. So, I took pity on the man and took the lead. His eyes widened, but he slowly melted into the passionate kisses matching the tempo I set.

We made out for a while, until Terry decided he was ready for more. But, I already knew this. I was in his lap after all. He flipped us around so that my back was on the bed and he was hovering over me. He kissed my neck softly, while he pulled off his pants and underwear. While he did that, I unhooked my bra and threw it to the side near my shirt. His hands were freezing and I really didn’t want his hands on my back because it would make my hair stand up on end and send an electric pulse down my spine. He smiled and cupped my breasts in his hands. I shivered slightly and clenched my eyes shut, while he kissed down my body making sure to run his hands down each and every ridge. Finally, he worked down to my waist where he stopped and gently grabbed my hips. Why the hell was he being so gentle?!

“Is this okay?” He asked pulling at my pants. I was thankful that he had asked for my consent before he did anything major. I nodded and took a deep breath. Terry and I had sex. It’s not worth talking about, because honestly, it wasn’t that good. I was just glad it was over.

As I put on my clothes again, Terry watched me with a fond smile on his face. I knew he just had the time of his life. It made me absolutely sick. His eyes followed the curves of my body as I shimmied into my jeans and put on my bra. It wasn’t until my shirt and leather jacket was on that he finally looked away from my body. He settled himself in the bed and beckoned me over with his finger like a dog. He might as well whistled too, that’s about as human as I felt anyway. I stood at the side of the bed looking through the breakfast menu as he counted out the money he owed me. At least he was stupid enough to actually pay me instead of just hitting it and quitting it.

“You know, you could stay the night if you wanted.” He said handing me five-thousand dollars. Terry really was an idiot for paying me this much for a one night stand. But, then again, most rich people were foolish with money. “I’ll buy you breakfast tomorrow.”

I snorted and counted the cash not wanting to be ripped off for a fatal blow to my pride. “No thanks. I’m a one night stand, not a sugar baby.”

Terry laughed at my joke and settled back into his bed. “Your loss sweetheart. Thanks again for your… services.” I scoffed. How dare he talk to me like I was a fucking prostitute?! I slammed the door on the way out hating Terry more than a typical white man. Sick bastard…

On the way home, I decided to smoke a cigarette. I was stressed and had way too many thoughts running through my mind. I took a drag and slowly breathed out the smoke that had settled in my lungs. I hugged my body as I walked in the frigid Texan air. Dew was starting to settle on the grass making the air damp and cold. I longed for a warm bed and a body to share it with. I longed to go home.

Eventually, I caved and called a late night taxi, which got me home in a mere half hour rather than the good hour it would have taken me to walk home. It was a soothing ride. The repetition of the familiar streetlights I saw allowed my mind to blank and absorb the sensory objects around me. The cold glass on the window felt nice against my cheek, and chilled my aching head. I fell asleep in the back of the cab until the driver woke me up when we arrived at my house. I took a fifty dollar bill out of my pocket and handed it to him telling him to keep the change. It paid the forty dollar fee plus a sizable tip.

I walked into my apartment sighing in relief and swearing to myself that I was never going to leave my apartment again. I slid off my shoes and hung up my jacket on the coat hanger feeling a furry mass wrap around my leg. I smiled for the first time tonight and looked down to see my cat, Edelweiss. She looked up at me and meowed before purring and rubbing against my leg. I chuckled and picked her up allowing her to settle in my arms. Her purring calmed me down and I stroked her fur walking towards my room. I set her in the crook of the couch where the arm met the cushion and she settled in for the night. I smiled softly and disappeared into my bedroom.

A mass on my bed stirred as I quietly shut the door.

“Honey?” I heard a scratchy voice say. I chuckled softly at the fact that I had been caught sneaking into my own bedroom.

“Yes, Elizabeth?” I asked slipping into my pajamas as she sat up and rubbed her eyes. Elizabeth Smith was the love of my life. She was an incredibly talented artist who was trying to make a name for herself. Many artists in the industry were impressed with her work, but she wasn’t confident with her own work. I convinced her that she had talent and she started taking college courses again at the university here in town. But, college wasn’t cheap. I worked three jobs to fund her education, so she didn’t have to stress out about the financial burden of going to college. Unfortunately, I got laid off from one of my jobs and didn’t have enough saved up to pay rent and this semester’s bill. That’s why I decided to accept Terry’s offer. Elizabeth’s happiness came before mine. I would always choose her over me. And when I had enough money, I was going to ask her to marry me.

“You work too hard.” She whined and outstretched her hands. She was so cute when she was tired. “Come cuddle with me.” I chuckled and laid down next to her wrapping her in my arms. I played with her hair and tried to ignore the guilt that washed over me. I had cheated on the love of my life. After about an hour, I heard soft snores come from her, and I moved her caramel hair out of her face. Elizabeth looked like an angel. She was so, so beautiful… She deserved better than me… I laid down and buried my face in her hair. I sobbed softly. I was just as much as a bastard as Terry,  and I hated myself as much as I hated him…

[cjwritesfanfiction]

The Impossible Dream

Summary: Undergrad Ruben approaches his professor about a research opportunity. He just hopes things go well for him. 

Note: Hey guys! I’ve been wanting to write for DNH for a while (because I absolutely love Ruben). Anyway, this story is based off my own experiences and I hope you like it! Special thanks to @thisstableground for introducing me to Ruben and y’all should read her stuff! Also, if you guys have questions about the chemistry in this shoot me an ask and I’ll explain. 

Dr.Reid, Organic Chemistry. Ruben stared at the plaque on the wall for the thousandth time today. Every day for a week, Ruben had walked by the door and read the same sign before turning on his heels and walking back to his dorm room feeling stupid and embarrassed that he couldn’t face his anxiety. But, today was Friday and he promised himself he would get the courage to talk to his professor about a potential research opportunity.

Dr.Reid was Ruben’s organic chemistry professor. Last week, Ruben had reluctantly gone to a faculty presentation in hopes of finding a research job for next semester. Ruben didn’t know a lot of the professors, but he admired how passionately they talked about their work. It made Ruben’s heart skip a beat and his stomach drop in excitement. During the presentations, Ruben dreamed about working in a research lab doing his own work and presenting his own findings. However, Ruben was realistic. He knew before this dream came true he would have to go to grad school and before that he had to get a research job with a professor, which brought him to Dr.Reid.

Dr.Reid was studying Nitrogen Heterocycles and different methods of synthesis. If Dr.Reid was successful, producing these heterocycles would be more efficient and cheaper making the medication containing them more accessible to the general public. Deep down, Reuben really wanted to help people. Dr.Reid’s research interested him quite a bit, but there was one problem. Dr.Reid was scary…

Dr.Reid had a reputation around campus for being intimidating and tough on her students. Students tended to avoid her class, and her in general. When she walked down the hallway, people made it a habit to stick close to the edges as she walked proudly down the center of the aisle. She had a glare that could freeze a lake in the middle of July, and she didn’t let people fuck around in her class. In her class, Ruben was doing okay. He had a B, which was really good for her class. However, Ruben had his doubts. There were plenty of other students way better than he was in class. His friend who had an A in the class was rejected from Dr.Reid. Thus, Ruben was more than scared to talk to Dr.Reid about her research.

Ruben closed his eyes and drew in a shaky breath. He could do this. He needed to do this. Before his courage ran off, he quickly knocked on the door and waited outside the small office at the corner of the building.

“Come in.” He heard a voice say from inside. There was no turning back now. He took one more deep breath and walked inside plastering a nervous smile on his face.

“Hi Dr.Reid.”

Dr.Reid turned around in her chair and smiled taking off her glasses. “Hello Ruben. It’s nice to see you. Do you have a question about the class material?” She asked pulling up the powerpoint from the last lecture they had together. Ruben shifted from foot to foot glancing around the room and pulling on the sleeve of his sweatshirt.

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something else.”

“Oh,” She said turning off the powerpoint and motioning for Ruben to sit down. “What’s up?”

“I want to know more about your research.” Ruben muttered sitting in the stiff green padded chair across from her desk. She frowned and put her glasses on again before leaning over the desk getting closer to Ruben. Ruben swallowed and tried to keep himself from leaning away. He had to appear confident even though he was absolutely terrified.  She looked like she was going to eat him alive.

“What do you want to know?” She asked in a careful voice. It was almost like she was testing Ruben to say the wrong thing so she could pounce like a tiger. Ruben itched his wrists and licked his lips trying to force the words out of his mouth. They sat in silence for a few moments before Ruben forced himself to speak.

“Well, I looked into nitrogen heterocycles before I came here.” He started trying to ignore her gaze looking straight through him. “And I noticed that there’s a lot of applications for it. It’s used in plastics, pharmaceuticals, oils, and other things. I was wondering what application you’re interested in and what’s the goals of your research.”

She leaned back into her chair and crossed her arms. Ruben prayed he said the right thing and she would take mercy on him. He wanted this so badly he could taste it. If he was rejected, it would be a blow to his confidence as a scientist and a person. But, if Dr.Reid was feeling any emotion, she wouldn’t show it on the outside. In fact, for the most part, she remained emotionless.

“In grad school, I was really interested in the pharmaceutical side of organic chemistry. I focussed my research on that and I still do. My goal by the end of this is to either close a bicyclic bond creating two heterocycles or taking an alkane and treating it with a potential solvent to force it to form a heterocycle.”

Ruben nodded trying to wrap his head around all the lingo he wasn’t sure about yet. “And what’s the ultimate outcome if it’s successful?”

“Well, nitrogen heterocycles are really important in medication, especially for pneumonia. If we can make it better, treatment can get to patients faster. I might not be a medical doctor, but I can still help people.”

Ruben smiled relaxing a little bit. The two of them chatted about the research for a little bit. Ruben was surprised about how nice Dr.Reid was when she settled into conversation. It was like she was a whole new different person. Five P.M. rolled around and Dr.Reid announced that she needed to head home. Ruben nodded and started to pack up feeling guilty that he never asked to work for her.

“Oh, and Ruben, what classes are you taking next semester?”

“Physics, inorganic chemistry, a writing class, and yours. Why?”

She smiled and put her hands into her pockets. “Do you want to be on my research team? You won’t get paid your first semester, but if I like your work, I’ll pay you to stay for the summer team.”

Ruben’s face turned beat red and he looked up at her surprised. Dr.Reid, hardass of the university, had asked him, Ruben, B- student of organic chemistry, to be on her research team. Ruben nodded quickly like she was going to take it away.

“Yes! Yes, please. But, why? You didn’t accept Ty and he’s doing really good in the class.”

“Ruben, interest in the subject is different than just doing it because you need to. I see how much you love labs and I see a lot of potential in you. That’s why I told you to come talk to me. Ty straight up asked for a job, and you asked about the research. That’s why I want you… Because you actually care.”

Ruben felt his face heat up and he smiled looking away feeling embarrassed. “Well, thank you.”

“No problem.” She chuckled and held the door open for him to scurry out. “And Ruben,” He turned around to listen and she smiled. “Have a little more confidence in yourself. I see you doing big things in the future.”

Ruben smiled and nodded. For the first time in a long time, Ruben felt proud of himself and excited for the future.