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[sparkingstoryinspiration]

Write a story including a set of three things

1) a wedding dress, an old promise, a rusty car

2) a rooftop, newspaper articles, a burned piece of paper

3) candy wrappers, a thief, masks

4) an old spell-book, spilled whiskey, leather boots

5) a picnic, a silver ring, rain

6) a borrowed t-shirt, secret smiles, orange juice

7) leather bound books, a messy person, bad jokes

8) a scavenger map, an important phone call, migraines

9) a knife, tears, a stolen bicycle

10) a princess on the run, dark magic, a dagger in a river

[allthewordswithin]

restless nights

The apartment is cold. That’s the defining characteristic so far.

I'm sure it’ll warm up once we get all of our non-necessities in, like rugs and couches and those curtains you like. For now though, the floors are bare, and someone can probably see into our bedroom, and no one really spends that much time in the living room anyway.

For now, though, all I can think about is how cold it is at night.

You look warm, pressed into the mattress like you’re already comfortable in the new place. You look like you belong here. I still feel like we’re living in someone else’s space, like we shouldn’t be allowed to exist here. I’m afraid I’ll do something wrong.

I like the way the walls look at night. The lights from the city outside come in and dance with the shadows over that off-white color you keep referring to as “nasty” and “mind-numbingly plain.” I’m sure I’ll come home one day to see you’ve painted them dark blue, despite our renter’s agreement, just because you like to change everything up. You’re awfully good at that.

Cold feet and bare floors. I can’t sleep with all this noise in my head, asking if I’m doing the right thing. Empty rooms, empty questions, empty worries. I already know the answer, I wish I could skip to the part where you tell me I didn’t have to bother asking.

But time moves in that frustrating sort of way, all in order and without a fast forward button.

I feel like an unfamiliar ghost in these halls, haunting our new old place in the middle of the night. Instead of reliving memories left behind, I’m yearning for the ones yet to happen— a sort of reverse nostalgia that leaves a coppery taste in my throat.

Somehow I find myself back in the bedroom, and you’re still sleeping peacefully on your side of the bed. The early morning sun catches the gold in your dark hair, twisted against your neck. I was surprised to see the sunrise so soon, cresting over the ocean.

There’s a coat that I rarely wear hanging in the closet. The coat isn’t important though, it’s what’s inside the left pocket. This is the millionth time I’ve pulled it out, checked to make sure it’s where it’s supposed to be. At this rate, the velvet box will be worn and tattered by the time I manage to give it to you. I can’t seem to stop opening it, clicking the lid up and down. I wonder when the right time will be, if you’ll be surprised. Now might be as good a time as any. I could slip it onto your hand as you sleep.

On second thought, I should wait.

You stir in the bed as I open a dresser drawer. From somewhere far away, I hear you ask me what’s wrong.

“Nothing,” I say.

“Just getting some socks.” I wave the socks as proof.

“My feet got cold.”

[allthewordswithin]

my love,

i hate you.

i hate you for making me feel thinks like you do. i hate you for the way i have to harass myself into reconditioning my thoughts around you. i hate you for not being able to keep promises. i hate you for hurting me, for letting me go on loving you for so long, for the way love songs sound now, for the way we ended, and for the way we loved. i hate you for taking away my best friend and only confidant. i hate you for a million reasons, and then a million more.

because i love you.

i love you for what we were on a good day. i love you for the future we were crafting. i love you for the stolen kisses and the sweet hands and the way my arms felt when you were in them. i love you for the way you can’t dance. i love you for being stubborn, even when you sometimes make me want to rip my hair out. i love you for your little quirks, and your bad music, and the way you laugh so hard you can’t deliver a joke right. i love you for a million reasons, and a million more.

love that’s forced itself to hate.

does a breakup ever stop?

will i ever be able to say i don’t love you anymore? will i ever stop hurting, stop reopening wounds when i hear your name? will i ever be able to stop calling you babe?

was loving you worth the heartbreak you’ve given me?

[allthewordswithin]

once upon a time,

and not too long ago,

you promised to give me

all the stars in the sky

and a house on the moon.

i never asked for all of that.

all i wanted was to call you mine.

but i can’t even do that anymore.

[allthewordswithin]

i gave you parts of me

i never showed anyone else.

but you no longer

want to look at me like that.

- what hurts the most?

[questionprompts]

Oc Questions - Music Edition

1. Which oc refers to any song three to ten years post release as 'old?'

1a. Do they still enjoy said songs, or do they only like listening to current tracks?

1b. How old is this oc?

2. Which oc hears OC1 refer to one such 'old song' and suddenly feels ancient?

2a. What songs does OC2 consider old?

2b. How old is this oc?

3. What is your oc's preferred taste in music?

4. Which oc enjoys an incredibly specific subgenre of music?

4a. How did they discover it in the first place, and do they get anyone else to enjoy it with them?

5. Which oc is kind of a snob about their taste in music?

6. Which oc has no genre preference and can happily listen to pretty much anything?

7. Which oc doesn't really enjoy music at all?

8. If your oc plays an instrument, what is it?

8a. When did they start, and have they always enjoyed it?

9. Which oc sings?

10. Which oc used to sing or play an instrument, but hasn't in a long time?

10a. Is there a reason they stopped?

10b. Do they ever consider getting back into it, or would they rather not?

11. Which oc isn't very confident in their musical ability or is just starting to learn a musical skill?

12. Which oc is very shy about the sort of music they listen to?

13. Which oc has the personality of a rock star?

14. Which oc has a stage persona that doesn't really reflect who they are in everyday life?

15. Which oc has a stage persona that does reflect who they really are?

16. Which oc writes songs for a hobby or a living?

17. Which oc still has a big collection of records, cassette tapes, or CDs?

18. Which oc only keeps digital copies of songs?

19. If your oc doesn't have access to recorded songs, how often do they hear live music?

19a. Do they go out of their way to hear it (either going out or playing it themself?)

20. Which oc is often asked to sing or play an instrument by others?

20a. How do they feel about this?

21. In what language does your oc prefer to listen to songs?

[poetryprompts]

Write a poem about the ocean. But…DON’T use any of the following words:

beach

ocean

sand

sea

waves

blue

[thepatchworkcrow]

A poem, please, about LGBT relating to the “otherness” of vampires, fae, selkie, et cetera!

A tall order, but here’s my attempt!

Call me vampirepredatory because of whom I loveor so it I am in your eyes.Our world borne of nightclubsand bloodshedand secrets kept behind closed doorselaborate lies and identities to hide behindbecause of those who seek to end us.Call me monsterthis body that isn’t mine a prison.Call me selkie in my seal skin.If I wrap this coat around my shouldersmaybe I can slip into that other worldand be what my heart tells me I truly am,but what society tells me I’m notand never could be.Call me faerieyou mean it as a slur-a paint-splatter to mark me as something ‘other’but I wear it like faerie glamourI change shape and blendand mold myself to somethingmore beautiful than you are able to comprehend.Call me bansheebecause my voice will not be silencedour story will live on and on.You can ignore our screams of agonybut they will echo in your ears for eternityages after we are gone.Call me what you will,but realize:your monsters are your own creation.

[allthewordswithin]

“The world isn’t safe. That heartbreak- wanting to give people that you love what you can’t give them, what you can’t even give yourself...”

-John Green, The Anthropocene Reviewed, reminding me that his metaphors speak directly to my soul.

[frognonbinary-deactivated202412]

i’ve been doing my homework on how to break into a writing career and honestly. there’s a Lot that i didn’t know about thats critical to a writing career in this day and age, and on the one hand, its understandable because we’re experiencing a massive cultural shift, but on the other hand, writers who do not have formal training in school or don’t have the connections to learn more via social osmosis end up extremely out of loop and working at a disadvantage. 

[frognonbinary-deactivated202412]

like, i didnt know about twitter pitch parties!! i didnt know about literary agents and publishers tweeting their manuscript wishlist, in hopes that some poor soul out there has written the book they really want to read and publish!! this isnt some shit you learn about in school! you really need to know the ins and outs of the writing community to be successful! 

[frognonbinary-deactivated202412]

for anyone interested, here’s what i’ve learned so far in my quest for more writing knowledge:

1. Writer’s Market 2019 is a great place to start– it gives you a list of magazines and journals that you can send your work to depending on the genre as well as lists a shit ton of literary agents that specify what genres they represent, how you can get in contact with them and how they accept query letters. this is a book that updates every year and tbh i only bought it this year so i dont know how critical it is to have an updated version  

2. do your research. mostly on literary agents because if you listed on your site that you like to represent fluffy YA novels and some asshole sends you a 80k manuscript about like…gritty viking culture, you will be severely pissed off. always go in finding someone who you know will actually like your work because they’re the ones who will try to advocate for you in getting published.

3. learn how to write a query letter. there are slightly varying formulas to how you can write an effective query letter. you’re also going to want to get feedback on your query letter because its the first thing the literary agent will read and based on how well you do it, it could be the difference between them rejecting you outright and giving your manuscript a quick read

4. unfortunately, you’re gonna want to get a twitter. Twitter is where a lot of literary agents are nowadays, and they host things like twitter pitch parties, where you pitch your manuscript in a few sentences and hashtag it with #Pitmad #Pitdark, some version of pit. a lot of literary agents and publishers will ALSO post their manuscript wishlists, which is just the kind of books they’d like to represent/publish, and they hashtag this with #MSWL (it is NOT for writers to use, only for agents/publishers)

5. connect with other writers, literary agents, publishers at book events. you will absolutely need the connections if you want to get ahead as a writer. thats just kind of the state of the world.

[promptsforthesoul]

[fourtristattoos-deactivated2019]

Fourtristattoos’s Fairy Tale Prompt List

Hello! This prompt list is inspired by The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and other fairy tales/ballets! They can work for non-au’s also. 

“You look breathtaking”

“Have I seen you before? I could’ve sworn…”

“Rosé, please.”

“They’re diamonds, but they look like tears, don’t they?”

“Dance with me.”

“You could have any person in this room…why me?”

“The waltz isn’t my strongest suit, if I have to be honest.”

“Follow me”

“I’ll lead you”

“My father used to say that, when you found your true love, you’d see them in the stars.”

“This place is just…beautiful”

“It’s like a fairytale”

“How many siblings did you say you had?”

“She…she died just before Christmas.”

“Tea anyone?”

“But mother it’s Christmas!”

“Just one push at a time, and you’ll be gliding across the pond!”

“Help me with this, would you?”

“You’re so warm…”

“So soft, so pure.”

“Has [he/she/they] ever made you feel this way?”

“Don’t look at me like that, it’s dangerous”

“Take my hand”

“Steady now…”

“The fire is so warm…” “Lay with me and you’ll be warmer.”

“How much do you think this cheese costs.”

“Touché”

“Someone as handsome as yourself? I doubt it.”

“Kiss me.”

“[his/hers/their] lips were like cotton…”

“Help me button this, please?”

“I don’t think [he’d/she’d/they’d] like that I’m talking to you.”

“What are you doing?”

“Get down from there!”

“My foot hurts.”

“[She’s/he’s/they’re] beautiful…aren’t they.” “They are, but not as beautiful as you.”

“Leave [her/him/them] alone.”

“Good night…”

“Hold me…just a little tighter.”

“Was everything just a game to you? Some little charade?”

“I hope…I hope everything that’s happened was worth it.”

“I’m leaving, I don’t know where I’m going but…it’s going to be far from here.”

“Don’t touch me!”

“Just stop! Nothing you say will change what happened.”

“You may not…but [he/she/they] will.”

“Don’t you dare walk out that door.”

“I’ve got you”

“You’re safe…I promise you’re safe.”

“Look at me,”

“I know you can,”

“Nothing will hurt you again.”

“Don’t mind [him/her/them], they’re just for extra protection”

“You’ve never seen one before?”

“Why are you so breathless?”

“I wish we could stay like this forever.”

“Have you ever seen something so beautiful?”

“You’ve never rode a horse before?”

“My hero,”

“Does it hurt?”

“How’d you get this scar?”

“I know there around here somewhere…”

“Don’t eat that.”

“Your highness”

“[He/she/they] haven’t been with anyone since [name]’s death”

They say [he/she/they] has/have one of the cruelest hearts, you know.”

“I don’t believe rumors until I see them for myself.”

“You’re a monster!”

“I never want to look at you again.”

“Go ahead! Leave! See if I care.”

“I should have walked away the moment I laid eyes on you.”

“We can’t be together, you know this.”

“We were meant to break, like ice.”

“How can you even look at me, knowing what I did…”

“Because I love you.”

“Have you seen [him/her/them] this morning?” 

“I promise, the water is warm.”

“I hear [she’s/he’s/they’re] just beautiful…”

“They hurt me.”

“Please, come inside, out of the rain.”

“I don’t want to fight anymore.”

“Being away from you is like a hundred nights in the desert.”

“I’m starved without your touch.”

“Touch me, please,”

“What if they find out…”

“We both know what would happen.”

“The fireworks are beautiful”

“A swan…”

“My family…they never wanted me from the start.”

“I’ve always been different.”

“You’re astounding, you know that?”

“Look at all of them.”

“I never want to leave you again.”

“Please, don’t go, stay longer…”

“This [dress/shirt] won’t take itself off.”

“Someone like you, deserves their face on every painting, every piece of money.”

“Do you feel that?”

“Now that wasn’t so hard now, was it?”

“The music is beautiful.” 

“Smile like that again. Please.”

“God I’m so in love with you.” 

Chose a number and send one in! Please don’t repost, but you’re more than welcome to reblog! 

[lonelywoodland]

Nine Stories, J.D. Salinger. 1953

[faeryqueenwitch]

♀A Mermaid’s Countenance ♀

🐚 Our conceptions of merfolk have changed over time, gradually evolving into the lovely creatures we know today. Some mermaid historians explain that once sailors began traveling the seven seas- and swapping mermaid stories- a generally accepted picture of these enigmatic creatures developed.

🐚 According to The Standard Dictionary Of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, typical mermaids exhibit the following traits:

🌊 Bodies tend to be graceful,slim, and about the size of small humans: males are approximately 5 feet 6 inches in length and weigh about 110 to 130 pounds; females are a few inches shorter, weighing 95 to 115 pounds.

🌊 Skin color can be pale or brilliantly colored: black, green, blue, white, yellow, turquoise, or red, and may be mottled like that of fish.

🌊 Hair is usually long, often streaked with lighter shades than the principal color, and is sometimes braided or beaded ( other sources say hair color can be anything from blonde to black, even green,blue, or purple).

🌊 Hands are webbed, and fingers may lack fingernails; other sources describe the nails as looking like shells.

🌊 Eyes, though similar in appearance to humans’, are large and have both eyelids and an additional , protective inner shield; the eyes are usually black,blue, or green.

🌊 Two separate but complementary pulmonary and cardio circuits … allow them to breathe in water or on land. They have gills below their ears, which close when they are on land.

🌊 They rarely wear clothing , but may don bracelets,necklaces,earrings, torques,armbands,belts,and anklets.

>Art by: blackbanshee80 on deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/blackbanshee80/art/Calda-giornata-estiva-759700275

DISSECTING MERMAIDS

🌊 Some researchers,such as the mysterious mermaid enthusiast known only as the Water Mage Ge Wonderwed Of Carmalad, claim to have examined the anatomy of mermaids in great depth and detail. In the essay “Mermaids: A Myth Being Dissected,” the Water Mage reports that these enigmatic creatures have the following characteristics:

Their bodily fluids are turquoise.

Oil-secreting glands along the hairline offer protection during immersion in water- perhaps the reason mermaids are often seen combing their hairs.

They have lips,tongues,and rows of small,pointed teeth.

A strong, bony “gridle” at the waist,connected to the backbone, supports the muscular tail.

They have a single lung and small hearts, but lack the other internal organs of humans.

Reproductive organs and capabilities are uncertain.

________________________________________________________________

Source: Mermaids By Skye Alexander

[allthewordswithin]

sometimes i tell small lies to others.

white, insignificant.

things i shouldn’t need to lie about.

hoping that if i cast it

in just the right light,

the lie becomes truth

and the truth won’t hurt as much.

[writing-prompt-s]

You are a, quote unquote, “evil sorcerer” notorious for kidnapping the princess of a neighboring land. The truth is, you have a crush on the princess’s knight and the only time you get to see him is when he “rescues” the princess.

[allthewordswithin]

plot twist: the knight is in on the scheme and likes to spend extra long “rescuing” the princess so that the knight and the sorcerer can spend a romantic weekend by the sea or whatever.

*princess may also be in on the plan and enjoys the time spent away from home.

[allthewordswithin]

do you ever read over something you’ve written and just think ‘wow... this is genuinely bad writing’ ?

because same.

[temporary]

“Sometimes you’re 23 and standing in the kitchen of your house making breakfast and brewing coffee and listening to music that for some reason is really getting to your heart. You’re just standing there thinking about going to work and picking up your dry cleaning. And also more exciting things like books you’re reading and trips you plan on taking and relationships that are springing into existence. Or fading from your memory, which is far less exciting. And suddenly you just don’t feel at home in your skin or in your house and you just want home but “Mom’s” probably wouldn’t feel like home anymore either. There used to be the comfort of a number in your phone and ears that listened everyday and arms that were never for anyone else. But just to calm you down when you started feeling trapped in a five-minute period where nostalgia is too much and thoughts of this person you are feel foreign. When you realize that you’ll never be this young again but this is the first time you’ve ever been this old. When you can’t remember how you got from sixteen to here and all the same feel like sixteen is just as much of a stranger to you now. The song is over. The coffee’s done. You’re going to breathe in and out. You’re going to be fine in about five minutes.”

— Unknown (via blua)