art trade piece for @another-heroine!!
lowkey inspired by Ivan Bilibin's illustrations because his use of frames always delighted me and I thought something like that would work lovely for Katya's aesthetic 💕
PSA for those writing coffee shop AUs, bakery AUs, etc.
I have worked in the food service industry for 20 years and I just wanted to make an informational list of common mistakes or misconceptions I see in writing about said industry. Not trying to be a jerk, just thought I would try to make a helpful list! I will add more if I think of any and please feel free to ask any questions you may have!
- it's cookie dough, not cookie batter. Doughs are for thicker stuff, typically something you can pick up in your hand (cookies, bread). Batters are more liquid and pourable (cakes, brownies, muffins)
- one person cannot make all the products from scratch and bake everything themselves unless they are a very slow business. Most of the time someone has a specific thing they do weather it's focused on specific products or split up like one person does the batters/doughs, one person preps and bakes, one person decorates. Sometimes one person does multiple things but generally not every single thing every day by themselves
- Front of House = people interacting with customers like barista, waiter, person at the register. Back of House = people making the food (line cook, baker, etc), dish washer (the worst job in the world, I salute all dishwashers everywhere)
- if they're doing stuff like bagels, doughnuts, breakfast pastries, cinnamon rolls, bread, etc they are there EARLY. Depending on the product some people start working at 2 in the morning. I saw a published book that had someone making dozens and dozens of cinnamon rolls from scratch in like one hour. Not possible even though I wish it was
- frosting, icing, and glaze are all different things. Frosting is the thicker stuff you see on cakes and cupcakes. Icing is typically for cookies, especially the decorated cut out sugar cookies. Glaze is thin, like what you get on doughnuts
- 99% of people who work in the food service industry will immediately go home and shower. I've seen lots stories where the character gets done at work and goes out. You are covered in various substances with powdered sugar in places you didn't know it could get, a shower before Literally Anything is a must
10 Non-Lethal Injuries to Add Pain to Your Writing
New Part: 10 Lethal Injury Ideas
If you need a simple way to make your characters feel pain, here are some ideas:
1. Sprained Ankle
A common injury that can severely limit mobility. This is useful because your characters will have to experience a mild struggle and adapt their plans to their new lack of mobiliy. Perfect to add tension to a chase scene.
2. Rib Contusion
A painful bruise on the ribs can make breathing difficult, helping you sneak in those ragged wheezes during a fight scene. Could also be used for something sport-related! It's impactful enough to leave a lingering pain but not enough to hinder their overall movement.
3. Concussions
This common brain injury can lead to confusion, dizziness, and mood swings, affecting a character’s judgment heavily. It can also cause mild amnesia.
I enjoy using concussions when you need another character to subtly take over the fight/scene, it's an easy way to switch POVs. You could also use it if you need a 'cute' recovery moment with A and B.
4. Fractured Finger
A broken finger can complicate tasks that require fine motor skills. This would be perfect for characters like artists, writers, etc. Or, a fighter who brushes it off as nothing till they try to throw a punch and are hit with pain.
5. Road Rash
Road rash is an abrasion caused by friction. Aka scraping skin. The raw, painful sting resulting from a fall can be a quick but effective way to add pain to your writing. Tip: it's great if you need a mild injury for a child.
6. Shoulder Dislocation
This injury can be excruciating and often leads to an inability to use one arm, forcing characters to confront their limitations while adding urgency to their situation. Good for torture scenes.
7. Deep Laceration
A deep laceration is a cut that requires stitches. As someone who got stitches as a kid, they really aren't that bad! A 2-3 inch wound (in length) provides just enough pain and blood to add that dramatic flair to your writing while not severely deterring your character.
This is also a great wound to look back on since it often scars. Note: the deeper and wider the cut the worse your character's condition. Don't give them a 5 inch deep gash and call that mild.
8. Burns
Whether from fire, chemicals, or hot surfaces, burns can cause intense suffering and lingering trauma. Like the previous injury, the lasting physical and emotional trauma of a burn is a great wound for characters to look back on.
If you want to explore writing burns, read here.
9. Pulled Muscle
This can create ongoing pain and restrict movement, offering a window to force your character to lean on another. Note: I personally use muscle related injuries when I want to focus more on the pain and sprains to focus on a lack of mobility.
10. Tendonitis
Inflammation of a tendon can cause chronic pain and limit a character's ability to perform tasks they usually take for granted. When exploring tendonitis make sure you research well as this can easily turn into a more severe injury.
This is a quick, brief list of ideas to provide writers inspiration. Since it is a shorter blog, I have not covered the injuries in detail. This is inspiration, not a thorough guide. Happy writing! :)
Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks?
Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!
For the writers struggling to rid themselves of the classic ‘said’. Some are repeated in different categories since they fit multiple ones (but those are counted once so it adds up to 100 new words).
Powdered herbs are most easily taken as capsules but can be sprinkled on food or taken with water.
Externally, they can be applied as a dusting powder to the skin or mixed with tinctures as a poultice.
COMPRESSES & LOTIONS
Lotions are water-based herbal preparations such as infusions, decoctions, or diluted tinctures that are used to bathe inflamed or irritated skin.
Compresses are cloths soaked in a lotion and held against the skin.
Both are simple ways to use herbs externally and can be very effective in relieving swelling, bruising, and pain, soothing inflammation and headaches, and cooling fevers.
CREAMS
Making a cream involves combining oil or fat and water in an emulsion. If the process is rushed, the oil and water may separate.
Unlike ointments, creams blend with the skin and have the advantage of being cooling and soothing while at the same time allowing the skin to breathe and sweat naturally.
They can, however, deteriorate quite quickly and are best stored in dark, airtight jars in a refrigerator.
DECOCTIONS
Roots, bark, twigs, and berries usually require a more forceful treatment than leaves or flowers to extract their medicinal constituents. A decoction involves simmering these tougher parts in boiling water.
Fresh or dried plant material may be used and should be cut or broken into small pieces before decocting. Like infusions, decoctions can be taken hot or cold.
INFUSED OILS
Infusing an herb in oil allows its active, fat-soluble ingredients to be extracted; hot infused oils are simmered, while cold infused oils are heated naturally by the sun.
Both types of oil can be used externally as massage oils or added to creams and ointments.
Infused oil should not be confused with essential oil, which is an active constituent naturally present in a plant and has specific medicinal properties and a distinct aroma.
Essential oil may be added to an infused oil to increase its medicinal efficacy
INFUSIONS
An infusion is the simplest way to prepare the more delicate aerial parts of plants, especially leaves and flowers, for use as a medicine or as a revitalizing or relaxing drink.
It is made in a similar way to tea, using either a single herb or a combination of herbs, and may be drunk hot or cold.
OINTMENTS
Ointments contain oils or fats heated with herbs and, unlike creams, contain no water. As a result, ointments form a separate layer on the surface of the skin.
They protect against injury or inflammation of damaged skin and carry active medicinal constituents, such as essential oils, to the affected area.
Useful in conditions such as hemorrhoids or where protection is needed from moisture, as in chapped lips and diaper rash.
POULTICES
A poultice is a mixture of fresh, dried, or powdered herbs that is applied to an affected area.
Used to ease nerve or muscle pains, sprains, or broken bones, and to draw pus from infected wounds, ulcers, or boils.
SYRUPS
Honey and unrefined sugar are effective preservatives.
Can be combined with infusions or decoctions to make syrups and cordials.
They have the additional benefit of having a soothing action, and therefore make a perfect vehicle for cough mixtures as well as relieving sore throats.
With their sweet taste, syrups can disguise the taste of unpalatable herbs and are therefore greatly appreciated by children.
TINCTURES
Tinctures are made by soaking an herb in alcohol. This encourages the active plant constituents to dissolve, giving tinctures a relatively stronger action than infusions or decoctions.
They are convenient to use and last up to 2 years.
Tinctures can be made using a jug and a jelly bag, instead of a wine press. Although mainly used in European, American, and Australian herbal medicine, tinctures play a part in most herbal traditions.
TONIC WINES
Tonic wines are an agreeable way to take strengthening and tonic herbs to increase vitality and improve digestion.
Neither strictly medicinal, nor simply appealing to the palate, they are easy to prepare at home.
Made by steeping tonic herbs in red or white wine for several weeks.
OTHER PREPARATIONS
Steam Inhalations
Steam inhalations are an effective way to clear congestion and relieve sinusitis, hay fever, and bronchial asthma.
The combination of steam and antiseptic ingredients clears the airways throughout the respiratory system.
Gargles & Mouthwashes
Gargles and mouthwashes usually contain astringent herbs, which tighten the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.
As gargles and mouthwashes are made from infusions, decoctions, or diluted tinctures, they can generally be swallowed for internal treatment. Ensure you do not exceed the daily internal dose of an herb.
Pessaries & Suppositories
Pessaries and suppositories are waxy pellets containing essential oil or fine powder.
They are used when oral medicine is likely to be broken down during digestion before reaching its intended site.
Pessaries are inserted into the vagina and suppositories into the anus, where they melt at body temperature.
The herb is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, providing fast relief. It is best to buy ready-made suppositories.
Essential Oils
Essential oils can be used in massage to soothe minor aches and pains.
Before use, they should be diluted with a carrier oil as they can irritate the skin.
Essential oils deteriorate rapidly after dilution, so it is best to mix small quantities as you need them.
Baths & Skin Washes
Herbal baths and skin washes can relieve many conditions, including aching limbs and stuffy sinuses.
They are made from diluted essential oils or infusions.
Eyebaths soothe sore, inflamed, or irritated eyes.
Cold Macerations
Heat destroys the active constituents of some herbs.
Thus, a cold maceration might be more appropriate than a decoction.
