Atlas & Artemis

Writer. Reader. Gamer. Traveler. Part time fitness enthusiast, full time nerd.

[dungeoninspiration]

If you like Dungeon inspiration, you might like Character Portraits

[anomalously-written]

Seasonal Inspired Names

[the-right-writing]

Basic checklist for your story

This checklist can be used during both planning and editing stages.

Your Protagonist

Does your protagonist have a personality beyond being heroic and nice?

Does your protagonist have agency?

Does your protagonist’s personality change?

Did your protagonist have a life and relationships before the events of the story?

Does your protagonist have flaws?

Is your protagonist active as opposed to passive or reactive?

Your Setting

Is your setting described well enough that readers can imagine themselves there?

Is your setting used or described differently than similar settings by other authors?

Do readers have a sense that your world extends outside the events of your story?

Does your setting have its own unique atmosphere aside from being a backdrop for your plot?

Is it important that the events in your story take place in this setting and not another?

Your Romantic Subplot/Plot (if applicable)

Does the relationship have flaws?

Does the relationship take time to develop?

Does the love interest have their own personality beyond their romantic traits?

Does the love interest have agency both inside and outside the relationship?

Does the love interest have flaws?

Your Major Non-Protagonist Characters

Do your major characters have varying opinions on your protagonist?

Do your major characters have traits outside of their relationships with the protagonist?

Do your major characters have varying gender identities, races, ability statuses, and sexual orientations, unless there is a good plot reason otherwise (such as the story taking place mainly at a male prison or a gay bar)?

Do your major characters have different worldviews and senses of morality?

Do most of your major characters have agency?

Do your major characters have flaws?

Do all of your major characters need to be there?

Do most of your major characters’ personalities change?

Your Minor and Background Characters

Do most of your minor characters have something that makes them interesting and memorable?

Do your minor characters have varying gender identities, races, ability statuses, and sexual orientations, unless there is a good plot reason otherwise (such as the story taking place mainly at a male prison or a gay bar)?

Do all of your minor characters need to be there?

Your Antagonist

Does your antagonist have a reasonable motive for their actions?

Does your antagonist have agency?

Has your antagonist done enough to be taken seriously?

Does your antagonist have good traits?

Does your antagonist have traits outside of their relationship with the protagonist?

Your Plot

Do your scenes flow logically?

Are all of your questions either answered or left unanswered for a reason?

Are there too many coincidences?

Does your plot begin at the perfect spot?

Does your plot end at the perfect spot?

Is there conflict?

Are there any scenes that could be left out?

Does your plot happen because of the actions, reactions, and decisions of your characters?

Your Mechanics

Are there any spelling or grammatical errors?

Are there any sentences that could be left out?

Are most of your sentences active instead of passive?

Do you use mostly strong verbs (ex: drank, ran) instead of weak verbs (ex: was, did)?

Do you use too many adverbs?

Are your sentences varied in structure?

[writeworld-blog]

SYNONYMS FOR WORDS COMMONLY USED IN STUDENTS' WRITINGS

by larae.net

Amazing- incredible, unbelievable, improbable, fabulous, wonderful, fantastic, astonishing, astounding, extraordinary

Anger- enrage, infuriate, arouse, nettle, exasperate, inflame, madden

Angry- mad, furious, enraged, excited, wrathful, indignant, exasperated, aroused, inflamed

Answer- reply, respond, retort, acknowledge

Ask- question, inquire of, seek information from, put a question to, demand, request, expect, inquire, query, interrogate, examine, quiz

Awful- dreadful, terrible, abominable, bad, poor, unpleasant

Bad- evil, immoral, wicked, corrupt, sinful, depraved, rotten, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, harmful, injurious, unfavorable, defective, inferior, imperfect, substandard, faulty, improper, inappropriate, unsuitable, disagreeable, unpleasant, cross, nasty, unfriendly, irascible, horrible, atrocious, outrageous, scandalous, infamous, wrong, noxious, sinister, putrid, snide, deplorable, dismal, gross, heinous, nefarious, base, obnoxious, detestable, despicable, contemptible, foul, rank, ghastly, execrable

Beautiful - pretty, lovely, handsome, attractive, gorgeous, dazzling, splendid, magnificent, comely, fair, ravishing, graceful, elegant, fine, exquisite, aesthetic, pleasing, shapely, delicate, stunning, glorious, heavenly, resplendent, radiant, glowing, blooming, sparkling

Begin - start, open, launch, initiate, commence, inaugurate, originate

Big - enormous, huge, immense, gigantic, vast, colossal, gargantuan, large, sizable, grand, great, tall, substantial, mammoth, astronomical, ample, broad, expansive, spacious, stout, tremendous, titanic, mountainous

Brave - courageous, fearless, dauntless, intrepid, plucky, daring, heroic, valorous, audacious, bold, gallant, valiant, doughty, mettlesome

Break - fracture, rupture, shatter, smash, wreck, crash, demolish, atomize

Bright - shining, shiny, gleaming, brilliant, sparkling, shimmering, radiant, vivid, colorful, lustrous, luminous, incandescent, intelligent, knowing, quick-witted, smart, intellectual

Calm - quiet, peaceful, still, tranquil, mild, serene, smooth, composed, collected, unruffled, level-headed, unexcited, detached, aloof

Come - approach, advance, near, arrive, reach

Cool - chilly, cold, frosty, wintry, icy, frigid

Crooked - bent, twisted, curved, hooked, zigzag

Cry - shout, yell, yowl, scream, roar, bellow, weep, wail, sob, bawl

Cut - gash, slash, prick, nick, sever, slice, carve, cleave, slit, chop, crop, lop, reduce

Dangerous - perilous, hazardous, risky, uncertain, unsafe

Dark - shadowy, unlit, murky, gloomy, dim, dusky, shaded, sunless, black, dismal, sad

Decide - determine, settle, choose, resolve

Definite - certain, sure, positive, determined, clear, distinct, obvious

Delicious - savory, delectable, appetizing, luscious, scrumptious, palatable, delightful, enjoyable, toothsome, exquisite

Describe - portray, characterize, picture, narrate, relate, recount, represent, report, record

Destroy - ruin, demolish, raze, waste, kill, slay, end, extinguish

Difference - disagreement, inequity, contrast, dissimilarity, incompatibility

Do - execute, enact, carry out, finish, conclude, effect, accomplish, achieve, attain

Dull - boring, tiring,, tiresome, uninteresting, slow, dumb, stupid, unimaginative, lifeless, dead, insensible, tedious, wearisome, listless, expressionless, plain, monotonous, humdrum, dreary

Eager - keen, fervent, enthusiastic, involved, interested, alive to

End - stop, finish, terminate, conclude, close, halt, cessation, discontinuance

Enjoy - appreciate, delight in, be pleased, indulge in, luxuriate in, bask in, relish, devour, savor, like

Explain - elaborate, clarify, define, interpret, justify, account for

Fair - just, impartial, unbiased, objective, unprejudiced, honest

Fall - drop, descend, plunge, topple, tumble

False - fake, fraudulent, counterfeit, spurious, untrue, unfounded, erroneous, deceptive, groundless, fallacious

Famous - well-known, renowned, celebrated, famed, eminent, illustrious, distinguished, noted, notorious

Fast - quick, rapid, speedy, fleet, hasty, snappy, mercurial, swiftly, rapidly, quickly, snappily, speedily, lickety-split, posthaste, hastily, expeditiously, like a flash

Fat - stout, corpulent, fleshy, beefy, paunchy, plump, full, rotund, tubby, pudgy, chubby, chunky, burly, bulky, elephantine

Fear - fright, dread, terror, alarm, dismay, anxiety, scare, awe, horror, panic, apprehension

Fly - soar, hover, flit, wing, flee, waft, glide, coast, skim, sail, cruise

Funny - humorous, amusing, droll, comic, comical, laughable, silly

Get - acquire, obtain, secure, procure, gain, fetch, find, score, accumulate, win, earn, rep, catch, net, bag, derive, collect, gather, glean, pick up, accept, come by, regain, salvage

Go - recede, depart, fade, disappear, move, travel, proceed

Good - excellent, fine, superior, wonderful, marvelous, qualified, suited, suitable, apt, proper, capable, generous, kindly, friendly, gracious, obliging, pleasant, agreeable, pleasurable, satisfactory, well-behaved, obedient, honorable, reliable, trustworthy, safe, favorable, profitable, advantageous, righteous, expedient, helpful, valid, genuine, ample, salubrious, estimable, beneficial, splendid, great, noble, worthy, first-rate, top-notch, grand, sterling, superb, respectable, edifying

Great - noteworthy, worthy, distinguished, remarkable, grand, considerable, powerful, much, mighty

Gross - improper, rude, coarse, indecent, crude, vulgar, outrageous, extreme, grievous, shameful, uncouth, obscene, low

Happy - pleased, contented, satisfied, delighted, elated, joyful, cheerful, ecstatic, jubilant, gay, tickled, gratified, glad, blissful, overjoyed

Hate - despise, loathe, detest, abhor, disfavor, dislike, disapprove, abominate

Have - hold, possess, own, contain, acquire, gain, maintain, believe, bear, beget, occupy, absorb, fill, enjoy

Help - aid, assist, support, encourage, back, wait on, attend, serve, relieve, succor, benefit, befriend, abet

Hide - conceal, cover, mask, cloak, camouflage, screen, shroud, veil

Hurry - rush, run, speed, race, hasten, urge, accelerate, bustle

Hurt - damage, harm, injure, wound, distress, afflict, pain

Idea - thought, concept, conception, notion, understanding, opinion, plan, view, belief

Important - necessary, vital, critical, indispensable, valuable, essential, significant, primary, principal, considerable, famous, distinguished, notable, well-known

Interesting - fascinating, engaging, sharp, keen, bright, intelligent, animated, spirited, attractive, inviting, intriguing, provocative, though-provoking, challenging, inspiring, involving, moving, titillating, tantalizing, exciting, entertaining, piquant, lively, racy, spicy, engrossing, absorbing, consuming, gripping, arresting, enthralling, spellbinding, curious, captivating, enchanting, bewitching, appealing

Keep - hold, retain, withhold, preserve, maintain, sustain, support

Kill - slay, execute, assassinate, murder, destroy, cancel, abolish

Lazy - indolent, slothful, idle, inactive, sluggish

Little - tiny, small, diminutive, shrimp, runt, miniature, puny, exiguous, dinky, cramped, limited, itsy-bitsy, microscopic, slight, petite, minute

Look - gaze, see, glance, watch, survey, study, seek, search for, peek, peep, glimpse, stare, contemplate, examine, gape, ogle, scrutinize, inspect, leer, behold, observe, view, witness, perceive, spy, sight, discover, notice, recognize, peer, eye, gawk, peruse, explore

Love - like, admire, esteem, fancy, care for, cherish, adore, treasure, worship, appreciate, savor

Make - create, originate, invent, beget, form, construct, design, fabricate, manufacture, produce, build, develop, do, effect, execute, compose, perform, accomplish, earn, gain, obtain, acquire, get

Mark - label, tag, price, ticket, impress, effect, trace, imprint, stamp, brand, sign, note, heed, notice, designate

Mischievous - prankish, playful, naughty, roguish, waggish, impish, sportive

Move - plod, go, creep, crawl, inch, poke, drag, toddle, shuffle, trot, dawdle, walk, traipse, mosey, jog, plug, trudge, slump, lumber, trail, lag, run, sprint, trip, bound, hotfoot, high-tail, streak, stride, tear, breeze, whisk, rush, dash, dart, bolt, fling, scamper, scurry, skedaddle, scoot, scuttle, scramble, race, chase, hasten, hurry, hump, gallop, lope, accelerate, stir, budge, travel, wander, roam, journey, trek, ride, spin, slip, glide, slide, slither, coast, flow, sail, saunter, hobble, amble, stagger, paddle, slouch, prance, straggle, meander, perambulate, waddle, wobble, pace, swagger, promenade, lunge

Moody - temperamental, changeable, short-tempered, glum, morose, sullen, mopish, irritable, testy, peevish, fretful, spiteful, sulky, touchy

Neat - clean, orderly, tidy, trim, dapper, natty, smart, elegant, well-organized, super, desirable, spruce, shipshape, well-kept, shapely

New - fresh, unique, original, unusual, novel, modern, current, recent

Old - feeble, frail, ancient, weak, aged, used, worn, dilapidated, ragged, faded, broken-down, former, old-fashioned, outmoded, passe, veteran, mature, venerable, primitive, traditional, archaic, conventional, customary, stale, musty, obsolete, extinct

Part - portion, share, piece, allotment, section, fraction, fragment

Place - space, area, spot, plot, region, location, situation, position, residence, dwelling, set, site, station, status, state

Plan - plot, scheme, design, draw, map, diagram, procedure, arrangement, intention, device, contrivance, method, way, blueprint

Popular - well-liked, approved, accepted, favorite, celebrated, common, current

Predicament - quandary, dilemma, pickle, problem, plight, spot, scrape, jam

Put - place, set, attach, establish, assign, keep, save, set aside, effect, achieve, do, build

Quiet - silent, still, soundless, mute, tranquil, peaceful, calm, restful

Right - correct, accurate, factual, true, good, just, honest, upright, lawful, moral, proper, suitable, apt, legal, fair

Run - race, speed, hurry, hasten, sprint, dash, rush, escape, elope, flee

Say/Tell - inform, notify, advise, relate, recount, narrate, explain, reveal, disclose, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, enlighten, instruct, insist, teach, train, direct, issue, remark, converse, speak, affirm, suppose, utter, negate, express, verbalize, voice, articulate, pronounce, deliver, convey, impart, assert, state, allege, mutter, mumble, whisper, sigh, exclaim, yell, sing, yelp, snarl, hiss, grunt, snort, roar, bellow, thunder, boom, scream, shriek, screech, squawk, whine, philosophize, stammer, stutter, lisp, drawl, jabber, protest, announce, swear, vow, content, assure, deny, dispute

Scared - afraid, frightened, alarmed, terrified, panicked, fearful, unnerved, insecure, timid, shy, skittish, jumpy, disquieted, worried, vexed, troubled, disturbed, horrified, terrorized, shocked, petrified, haunted, timorous, shrinking, tremulous, stupefied, paralyzed, stunned, apprehensive

Show - display, exhibit, present, note, point to, indicate, explain, reveal, prove, demonstrate, expose

Slow - unhurried, gradual, leisurely, late, behind, tedious, slack

Stop - cease, halt, stay, pause, discontinue, conclude, end, finish, quit

Story - tale, myth, legend, fable, yarn, account, narrative, chronicle, epic, sage, anecdote, record, memoir

Strange - odd, peculiar, unusual, unfamiliar, uncommon, queer, weird, outlandish, curious, unique, exclusive, irregular

Take - hold, catch, seize, grasp, win, capture, acquire, pick, choose, select, prefer, remove, steal, lift, rob, engage, bewitch, purchase, buy, retract, recall, assume, occupy, consume

Tell - disclose, reveal, show, expose, uncover, relate, narrate, inform, advise, explain, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, recount, repeat

Think - judge, deem, assume, believe, consider, contemplate, reflect, mediate

Trouble - distress, anguish, anxiety, worry, wretchedness, pain, danger, peril, disaster, grief, misfortune, difficulty, concern, pains, inconvenience, exertion, effort

True - accurate, right, proper, precise, exact, valid, genuine, real, actual, trusty, steady, loyal, dependable, sincere, staunch

Ugly - hideous, frightful, frightening, shocking, horrible, unpleasant, monstrous, terrifying, gross, grisly, ghastly, horrid, unsightly, plain, homely, evil, repulsive, repugnant, gruesome

Unhappy - miserable, uncomfortable, wretched, heart-broken, unfortunate, poor, downhearted, sorrowful, depressed, dejected, melancholy, glum, gloomy, dismal, discouraged, sad

Use - employ, utilize, exhaust, spend, expend, consume, exercise

Wrong - incorrect, inaccurate, mistaken, erroneous, improper, unsuitable

[thelongdirtroad-deactivated2020]

“The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hands of man.” Point Reyes, CA #adventures #travel #nature

[atlasandartemis]

Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are

Benjamin Franklin

[atlasandartemis]

Book Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

★★★★★: Take a journey through mystery, magic, and more emotion than you can handle from a girl with duel coloured eyes and a dangerous skill

This book has been rising in the ranks of “Must Read" YA novels, and as it had been sitting on my shelf for a while I decided I needed to give it a read. Lucky that I did, because I could not put this book down.

Katsa is a Graceling, a girl born with duel coloured eyes and a skill for killing. From a young age Katsa has been feared for her “grace,“ and used as a tool by her uncle the king to instill terror and obedience in his subjects. She keeps herself closed off from the company of others who do not understand what it is to be “graced,” and focuses her unique skill set on trying to set the balance right in the world. When Po appears in her life, Katsa finds someone that will make her question everything she knows to be true, and will inevitably help her answer the question she most fears: when you’re graced to kill, can you be anything but a monster?

This book is everything I look for when I’m browsing the book aisles. Fantastic premise, intriguing story, with a plucky heroine and a misunderstood hero - something many readers can identify with. The heroine was so well written, definitely a great role model for any age, and I loved that she had a unique outlook on life - she was a strong female who didn’t need anyone to define her or her happiness. I highly recommend this book!

[atlasandartemis]

Book Review: The Annotated Alice, (the definitive edition) by Lewis Carroll

★★★★☆: Such an educational read, brings new insight into Wonderland!

This book follows the journey of Alice, as she runs after a curiously dressed white rabbit and falls head first down a rabbit hole into the wonderful world that is Wonderland. Cue the little bottles marked “drink me,” the cakes marked “eat me,” and all manner of weird and wonderful creatures who strike up conversations with Alice.

“Well! I’ve often seen a cat without a grin,” thought Alice; “But a grin without a cat! It’s the most curious thing I ever saw in my life!” (pg 67)

I’ve always been a fan of Wonderland and all its whimsy, it is very inspiring to a fantasy writer. What I love about this edition of the story is that a fellow called Martin Gardner has collected all of the notes that correspond to the narrative, the author and the real people who inspired the characters and compiled them all in this edition of Alice in Wonderland. Thus I learned that Alice changes size about 12 times throughout the story, and that there are a fair number of death jokes, which one wouldn’t expect in a children’s story. I love that I was able to see the familiar story in a new light, and I think this is something I could read again and again and learn something new each time.

“For, you see, so many out-of-the-way things had happened lately, that Alice had begun to think that very few things indeed were really impossible.” (pg 16)

[atlasandartemis]

Book Review: The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

★★★★★: Hilarious fantasy romp through the wilds of Pratchett’s Discworld!

Tiffany Aching is a fiercely intelligent and down right odd girl who lives on a farm with the rest of the Aching clan, in the hills and downs that have belonged to her family for generations. When odd things start happening, like creatures popping up in the pond, headless horsemen chasing her across the fields and wee little blue men stealing sheep, Tiffany knows that something is off with the world, and she is the only one who can put a stop to it. Her and her frying pan.

“Another world is colliding with this one,” said the toad. “All the monsters are coming back.” “Why?” said Tiffany. “There’s no one to stop them.” There was silence for a moment. Then Tiffany said, “There’s me.”

I absolutely loved Tiffany, she was so well written, and Pratchett wasn’t afraid to make her as odd and as standoffish as possible. He doesn’t make her all sugary sweet just because she’s a young girl, in fact I think he went in the opposite direction. She doesn’t cry when things don’t go her way, or when she loses people she loves; she just gets on with it. She doesn’t depend on adults, in fact she eschews them completely in favour of doing things her own way, with the help of the Wee Free Men who speak in a brogue that is so fun to read.

Honestly, I could wax lyrical about how fun this book was to read, I laughed out loud so many times, it was so cleverly written and the magic portions of it were original and very creative. Tiffany was such a great character, she has now joined the ranks of my favourite no-nonsense heroines.

[atlasandartemis]

Book Review: The Fall of Reach by Eric S. Nylund

★★★★☆: Gamers and sci-fi nerds, this book is for you.Science fiction is not my usual genre, by any means. But I am a self-professed gamer, and as a lover of the Halo series I felt it was necessary to check out the books based on the games, and I was not disappointed.

Halo: The Fall of Reach tells the story of the creation of Master Chief, or John, Spartan 117, and how he and the rest of the Spartan warriors were chosen and began their training together.

The book does a great job of connecting you emotionally to a character that is actually quite hard to relate to, but Nylund manages to show you the inner workings of the mind of the quietest character of the gaming world, and one that could quite easily (and incorrectly) be called a sociopath.It also tells the story of the fall of their home planet Reach, and how Master Chief and Cortana, the genius and sassy AI became acquainted.

For any fans of the Halo series, if you just dabble in gaming or are seriously addicted to all that is sci-fi, The Fall of Reach is a great book to get you started and totally hooked on Master Chief.

[atlasandartemis]

Radium was a silent stalker, hiding behind that mask, using it’s disguise to burrow deep into the woman's jaws and teeth.

Radium Girls by Kate Moore

[atlasandartemis]

GoodReads Reading Challenge

How many books did you read this year? Happy 2017!

[atlasandartemis]

There's always a story," she said. "It's all stories, really. The sun coming up every day is a story. Everything's got a story in it. Change the story, change the world.

A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett

[atlasandartemis]

Generally, women can't do this, but men retain the ancient ability to leave a family and a past. They just unhook themselves, like removing a fake beard, and skulk discreetly back into society, changed men. Unrecognizable.

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

[atlasandartemis]

Pożegnanie (farewell) Poland 🇵🇱 #poland #adventures #europeantour #wanderlust #grinandbearit (at Kraków, Poland)

[atlasandartemis]

If you don’t believe in even the possibility of magic you’ll never find it 🏰

[atlasandartemis]

There’s a legend in Kraków of a dragon that used to live in a cave beneath the castle. It terrorised the townspeople, who would feed a young woman to it weekly to keep it satisfied. The prince decided to kill the dragon to save the townspeople, and now the dragon’s cave lies empty...for now