The cat hungerssss

ellievsbear

Janaina Medeiros

oozey mess

Kiana Khansmith
we're not kids anymore.
Game of Thrones Daily
todays bird
noise dept.

Love Begins
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH

★
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"

#extradirty

❣ Chile in a Photography ❣
sheepfilms
NASA
will byers stan first human second
almost home

No title available

JBB: An Artblog!
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@cffortner
The cat hungerssss
I am burdened with the ability to create, in a world that sees creativity as a burden.
finished jade legacy by fonda lee no one speak to me
Me this very moment with tears in my eyes
Boyfriend swears the tumblr bitches will love this so here it is
Acrylic markers on canvas
Carmilla & Laura
art by: maena.paillet
🤍 🖤
Carmilla & Laura
art by: maena.paillet
let’s go lesbians
The Rights of Trees
The Overstory by Richard Powers shows the reader a narrative that the life of every single tree is comparable to the life of every single human. That the rights of humans are interwoven with the rights of trees and our environment. These trees enlighten us on our mistakes as we kill them similarly to the way we kill other humans. Not only that but how the human race kills trees while doubting their intelligence and their ability to communicate and save each other. This book tells a story that trees are more closely related to us than we think they are, “Old trees are our parents, and our parent's parents, perchance. If you would learn the secrets of Nature, you must practice more humanity.” (Overstory, 5)
The Overstory opens up with a beautiful story of a Chestnut tree. It’s about this farmer who takes these chestnuts and plants them into the ground and watches them grow. These nuts change to saplings and only one of them survives to be a tree. These saplings grow with his children. Then they start taking pictures of the last tree. Every month around the same day he would take a photo. Then his son, and his son’s son carried on the project till they get this magnificent flip book of change and growth. Something that you wouldn’t notice day to day but change and growth that happens gradually over time. Much like humans and our growth. When we are young we do not see the changes over time, but if you take a step back and look at the bigger picture you can see that change that happens. During this time that the tree is growing a sickness sweeps over North America wiping out all chestnut trees in its path. So humans do what they do best and destroy the trees, “Loggers race through a dozen states to cut down whatever the fungus hasn’t reached. The nascent Forest Service encourages them. Use the wood, at least, before it’s ruined. And in the salvage mission, men kill any tree that might contain the secret of resistance.” (Overstory, 14) They killed these trees before any of them were given the chance to try and live, and very few chestnut trees remained. This reminds me of another part of the book. In the seventh short story we read in the Overstory, Patricia Westerford’s father says, “We only see things that look like us,” (Overstory 114) she later says something very similar in a book she wrote called The Giving Tree she says, “people see better what looks like them.” (Overstory, 221) People killed these trees because the trees look different than people, and even though they do so much for people and for the environment they were torn down and killed. When plagues and sicknesses ravage humans instead of killing we try to find cures, and eventually, there have been people who have resisted that sickness and we have found those cures. Maybe instead of tearing down those trees for their usefulness, they could have tried to save them with the same effort as they try to save their fellow humans when they are sick. However, instead of helping, those loggers were encouraged to kill and chop every chestnut tree until only a slight few remained who were too far away from that sickness, but in the end, those chestnut trees were as good as extinct as well. America's fastest-growing tree is gone in the blink of an eye.
This isn’t the only time that humans look at trees as if they are mindless plants. Trees may not have the intelligence to speak and move like we can, but they still communicate. Trees do not discriminate from one tree to another, ash trees do not only protect ash trees, birches do not only protect birch. Ash trees protect and communicate with birch, walnut, pine, and many more. Patricia Westerford tells us all about it when she writes her first paper as a doctor of science. Over a long period of time, she performs experiments with the trees to see if they can communicate with one another, “Another nearby tree gets infested. She measures again. Again, she doubts the evidence… Confirmation comes the following spring. Three more trials, and she’s convinced. The trees under attack pump out insecticides to save their lives. That much is uncontroversial… Trees a little ways off, untouched by the invading swarms, ramp up their own defenses when their neighbor is attacked. Something alerts them… Only one conclusion makes any sense… These brainless, stationary trunks are protecting each other.” (Overstory, 125-126) Even though these trees are not the same, even though they look different from each other, trees do not see themselves that way. They see themselves as one being, with one common goal. To survive. To take care of each other because that is the only way to make it to the end. These trees are older and wiser than people could ever dream. They know so much because they have been through the rise and fall of great civilizations to see it all. Just like that chestnut tree that saw the family through a bark frame. “There are no individuals. There aren’t even separate species. Everything in the forest is the forest… two trees join their vascular systems together and become one. Networked together underground… trees feed and heal each other, keep their youth and sick alive, pool their resources and metabolites into community chests… trees are far more social than even Patricia suspected.” (Overstory, 142)
Humans on the other hand have a hard time seeing each other as one being. Through out the the course of history our color, our cultures, and our very beings have separated us from one another. The movie Hotel Rowanda is a dark movie about the genocide of the Tutsi people by the Hutu. These two groups of people are both humans, have similar colored skin, and have the same amount of fingers, eyes, ears, and limbs. However, they have been treated differently which causes a divide between these two groups. The Hutu see themselves as better than, because at one point in time, they had been told they were better and put in a position of power, because of that it led to hate towards the Tutsi people. Not every Hutu thought like that. The main character was a Hutu and he married a Tutsi woman. However, the Hutu people couldn’t see passed these minuscule differences. In their mind Hutu were better they had separated themselves, and thought themselves better. So they committed genocide towards the Tutsi. Till almost all of them were dead. Trees are the exact opposite. Trees are all on the same playing ground. If one thing attacks a tree then that tree tells all the others to be prepared. That something is coming, that they need to protect themselves. However, very much like trees, these humans group up with each other. Almost all the Hutu grouped up with each other for one common goal, even if it wasn’t a good goal. The trees do the same. As Patricia Westerford says, “No other animal close ranks faster than Homo Sapiens.” (Overstory, 127) If you mess up in a social group you may never be welcomed back. If you make one wrong move you can be fired and have close friends turn on you. Humans will also close their ranks faster than a breath, but at least even for a moment, they are on the same side. If we look towards trees maybe we too can find a way to be on the same side.
This book shows us that we and trees are the same, it says that “You and the tree in your backyard come from a common ancestor. A billion and a half years ago the two of you parted ways. But even now, after an immense journey in separate directions, that tree and you still share a quarter of your genes. (Overstory, 132) If we see ourselves as equal to everything else maybe rights wouldn’t be an issue. Maybe corporations wouldn’t be as greedy, maybe the word genocide would not be in the dictionary. However, those ideas are not known and will never be. For we have separated ourselves from the green earth and the looming wise trees. We have separated ourselves within ourselves just to prove who is better and smarter, who is stronger and faster. We separate ourselves on so many different levels it's amazing when we can come together on anything. Usually thought when humans do come together in big ways it’s almost always for something bad.
Douglas or Douggie Pavlicek is another one of the characters in this book. He is a Vietnam war veteran and took place in a real controversy experiment that happened in human history. It is known as the Stanford prison experiment where several college students were divided into two, prisoners and guards. They would go two weeks living out this simulation and they would be studied on situational effects. It ended badly. The experiment ended after six days. Douggie became prisoner 571. The prisoners were subjected to cleaning out poop buckets, strip searches, solitary confinement, and much more. If a guard said it, prisoner 571 had to do it. This part in the book also translates to Hotel Rwanda really well. It shows that if people are given power to be better or put in a position where they are deemed better then they will act with malicious intent. Just like the Hutu acting towards the Tutsi, by killing them and even calling them roaches because they were no better than bugs. When they should be in fact equals. The guards and the prisoners were equals, however, the guards teamed up and took advantage of their situation and acted maliciously. At first, Douglas’s story doesn’t seem to have much involvement with trees, just with the fact that humans are messed up on some psychological standpoint, but later on during the war, we see a tree. A lone banyan tree looms and as Douglas is crashing to the ground out of control, with no use of his parachute and a bullet in his leg, the tree saves him. It catches him. This tree saves his life, and he feels like he owes the universe or the trees a favor. In the second part of the book we see Douglas and he works to replant trees. He is proud of his work, but when he finds out the intentions behind it he is disgusted. He feels like doing something and making a difference, but he’s not. ‘“The hell we celebrating, Rockefeller?” “My fifty thousandth tree. Nine hours a day, rain or shine, five and half days a week, through ever planting month, for almost four years.” …“You know they’re just gonna cut them right back down again, couple more years.”... “And those companies you plant for? You realize they get good-citizen credits for every seedling you plant? Every time you stick one in the ground, it lets them raise the annual allowable cut.” “No,” Douglas says. “That can’t be right. “Oh, it’s right, all right. You’re putting in babies so they can kill grandfathers. And when your seedlings grow out, they’ll be monocrop blights, man.”’ (Overstory, 185-186) No matter how many good people are in the world, no matter how much one person tries, greed, corporations, and privilege will find a way to ruin everything. No matter how many trees he plants, no matter how many hours he spends it will never be enough, because the people with money will keep killing trees like they are nothing. This story tells us how important trees are, and how wise they are. Douglas says, “Hang on. Only ten or twenty decades. Child’s play, for you guys. You just have to outlast us. Then no one will be left to fuck you over.” (Overstory, 90) If these trees can just survive until humans kill themselves off with war, and genocide, and chemical waste then the trees can live. They just have to make it. This line is so powerful, because he knows that the trees have been here long before us, and will be here long after us. The corporations in these books may be killing off old wise trees, but maybe those young trees he plans will grow to be even bigger, and wiser. To see the end of their civilization and the beginning of a new one.
There, in this narrative about the love of trees is one more character that stands out brighter than the others. Neelay Mehta. He and his father designed a video game about trees. In our current modern day, there are games like Stardew Valley, Coffee Talk, Moonstone Island, Harvest Moon, Coral Island, and many other farming simulators or what is now known to be cozy games. These games are interesting in the fact that they are based on everyday life activities. In Coffee Talk, you talk to customers and make coffee. In Stardew Valley you grow crops, fish, farm, take care of animals, and date people. The thing about these cozy games is most of them take place in forestry towns, or with nature all around you and they don’t have the annoyance of rude people. You just exist and can play and live and explore. That’s why these games are so fun, because even though in real life these tasks would seem meaningless and tedious. However, they are fun if you are in the right environment. Neelay figured that out too.
They developed the game Redwood. After sequels and different versions, he came up with a beautiful game. Since the first one it had been a best seller, but the newest one is revolutionary. A game where you can survive with the land and with other people, co-exist and explore the beauty of the world. Not hurting and revolutionizing it to be a corporation. In Stardew Valley there are two roads you can take, where you can rebuild the community center and get rid of the corporation Jo-Jo Mart, or where you buy the last membership to Jo-Jo Mart and it closes down the small local business in Stardew Valley. In the vast world of online gaming on pc only 4.2% out of more than 530,000 people gained this achievement. That means that those players would rather work and struggle and be one with the land and save trees, save towns, save people than join a corrupt organization. The Redwood game, it brings that same enlightenment that Stardew Valley brings. That we are one with our environment. That the world around us affects us. At the end of the day, these games are supposed to make us feel something. It’s not just a cozy game about living. It’s an experience and a message to do better, to be better. To change our ways so that one day we may still be able to see the environment flourish and thrive.
Trees save lives just like people do. Trees care for each other just like people do. Trees may not be able to feel or be able to think like humans, but they are a living thing worthy of rights. Animals have rights at least to an extent. We color ivory husks so they are not hunted to be used, we try to save abused animals because they do not deserve that. What about the trees? We are hunting, burning, and cutting down trees. One day soon all the old trees will be gone because of human greed, and where will that lead? This is more than a genocide of trees, it is the destruction of ecosystems, and homes. These trees give squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and insects homes. By cutting down these trees we are not only stealing our oxygen from our very lungs but we are wrecking homes. These trees tell stories. The rings of a tree will tell you how old it is. Archeologists are the ones who study how to world was, and how people were, they can tell you what the weather was like 500 years ago from a tree that old or older. The rings will be wider if it rained, and thinner and paler if it was a dryer season. They cannot go back in time and look at those trees, but once they are cut we can see the years. Count back those rings and see how life was. “The years roll away under his fingers-their floods and droughts, their cold spells and scorched seasons all written in varying rings. When the countdown reaches 1975, he makes a fine black x… makes another x on a ray just a little bit counterclockwise from the first, and labels it 195o… and in the outermost ring, that caption: CUT DOWN WHILE YOU SLEPT.” (Overstory, 206) These trees that are older than parents and grandparents are being cut and used. Shouldn’t they get a say in what they are used for? Shouldn’t they get a say in whether or not they are cut down?
The Overstory is a book about trees. Simple as that. It tells the story of nine people whose lives are changed because of trees. Whether it be their death that leads them to fight for the rights of trees, or for a veteran who thought he was doing some good, or even for that scientist who got ridiculed for believing that trees are social creatures. The Overstory is a book about trees and the lives that try to protect and change the world because the world is ever-changing. Humans may murder, steal, cause chaos, do good, fight for what is right, but trees? Trees have been here long before us, and they will survive long after us too, it is just a matter of if we will learn our lesson before our time runs out, and if we persevere what little is left.
Class project I did about the Overstory By Richard Powers
No-spoiler Iron Lung review
As a stage actor I was talking to a fellow performer about Mark Fischbach’s performance in Iron Lung; how hard it is to maintain an audience’s attention while alone, all the value and weight of moments of quiet and silence, and of acting in a confined environment. I praised the film for how it kept my attention with one actor being onscreen for 95% of the film, and often having nobody to talk with or to (other actors are mostly disembodied).
I saw some critics call the film a snooze-fest, and too slow. I completely disagree. I was captivated. Rather than the film feeling like a drag, I felt anticipation and dread building for a long period. The goal of the main character and the information at his disposal changed often enough to help prevent repetition in a limited environment/premise. As an actor I felt like Fischbach was competent and passionate.
The film was very intimate. Some people accused the story of being full of gaps, but I felt like the limited lore and history of the environment made me curious and thoughtful rather than confused or frustrated.
Granted, I’m a Markiplier fan to begin with, so I went into the film excited and favorable, but I genuinely thought it was excellent, especially for an indie film. It did stuff I want MORE of in film. Didn’t lore dump. Allowed the viewer to guess, assume, suppose, and think rather than holding their hand. Valued moments of silence and quiet.
Fantasy Guide to International Relations
When writing fantasy, geopolitics is an element that shows up often. How nations interact with one another, how they create alliances or how they handle tense situations with each other. How nations behave with each other and communiticate with one another can effect your overall plot and character situations.
Receipts
With any story, you have to go back to the beginning to understand any relationship. Kingdoms who have had past history of war or invasion or colonisation may act more wary around each other. Kingdoms who have aided each other in the past might tend to side with each other over matters. International Relations are not unlike interpersonal relations in the fact that if trust is a foundation, then much is possible in the ways of alliances and any betrayal is far more impactful. If trust was not there at the start, then an alliance will be difficult to form.
Quid Pro Ho
The thing about international politics especially in a fantasy setting is that there's no such thing as black and white. Countries deal with each other out of necessity even if they are ideologically removed from one another or have a history, one country will have something the other needs, be it military support, political support or resources.
Entering into a Political Alliance
A political alliance is when two or more nations agree to work together or support each other. An alliance is agreement like a contract, which lays out the demands of each nation when entering an agreement, what they expect of one another, rules of engagement between one another and instances where they would be compelled to act on the others behalf. However, on both sides, there are situations where it might compel them to be a bit more pragmatic. For example, if Kingdom A had an alliance with Kingdom B, they may demand military support on the threat of war from their neighbour Kingdom C but if Kingdom B has a fairly good relationship with C and doesn’t wish to cause a war but it will promise to stand up for them in a political sense, it isn’t exactly a great deal but it is better than nothing. Every political alliance is based on necessity rather than just need and or even on the basis that they even like each other. It is about survival or stability in the long run, protection from other nations. Political alliances shift over time and may be broken off for bigger or better things. It isn’t a friendship though it is framed like that in media. It is a contract, an agreed set of terms of how the nations behave with one other, how they behave with other nations and what both nations can get off one other.
Trade Alliances
In making a trade alliance, like I said above, it is all based on the idea of you scratch my back, I scratch yours. To make any set of trading agreements, one has to be prepared to get taken to the cleaners as well as strike gold. Trade is basically an exchange of goods and services, one person is getting something in return for giving another. If Country A has a wealth of forests such as oak to build ships, Country B might enter a trade deal to recieve the wood for a set price based on its market value however, if Country A suspects that the wood might be used to build ships or weapons that could be used against them or an ally, Country A might charge B a steeper price, akin to a tax. Trade alliances can occur between allies but also foes, though trade will be strictly limited in some situations, due to embargoes on certain items or higher tax on items and services. The need to generate wealth and trade often transcends little things like politics but the government would decide which nations its citizens will sell and buy from, who they will trade with and if they will enter into agreements. From a political standpoint point, trade agreements have to take into consideration of two things: need of the consumer and protection of national trade. If it is cheaper to purchase some goods such as silk abroad and Kingdom X has an industry in silk, Kingdom X would impose a higher tax and tarriff on foreign silk coming into the country.
Communication Between Nations
In another post, I spoke about the role of ambassadors as it corrolates to the communication between nations. Ambassadors are the main line of communication between nations, a physical being of go-betwee who is charged with the passing along of messages and dispatches. Ambassadors like I said can be seen as physical manifestations of the nation they serve and how they are treated and welcomed or if indeed they are at all, is a direct response to how one nation views its relationship with another. Ambassadors aren’t the only figures involved in diplomacy. Sometimes heads of state will communicate face to face on state visits or at summits or they will maintain communication through letters or telephone but this is sometimes dictated by the government though heads of state and even their families can maintain personal correspondence with one another (though in times of war or strife, it is not recommended). Gestures speak louder than words when communicating. Keeping a channel of communication between nations open is a gesture of “I’m willing to hear you “ whilst expelling ambassadors is the equivalent of slamming your flip phone closed during an argument. A smart nation would always keep communication open in order to remain informed even through times of tension. That isn’t to say all communication is official or even known to the parties. Letters, dispatches, reports, telephone calls, cables, telegrams and other ways of education might be opened or intercepted or tapped in order to gain information that usually would not be available or information that has been hidden for a sinister reason. Spies are not exactly seen as fair play but it would be a mistake to think that they don’t exist. Spies can be anybody from either trained individuals who are sent into nations to gather information or they can be people within the nation such as politicians or even staff paid or threatened or persuaded to pass along information.
Perception
If you look at today’s media and back to historical pamphlets and newspapers, you can glean clear as crystal who is a country’s ally, who is a foe and who is sort of on the fence. The media of nations who are at odds with each other will often lean into stereotypes of each other or they will outright slander each other or take stances against them because that is the status quo. The media may depict the citizens of that nation in unflattering light, exaggerating features or characteristics or propaganda highlighting past agressions or mistakes. Nations who are political allies might shape headlines of depictions of their allies in flattering lights in order to mould the hearts and minds of people so they will look favourably on that nation’s actions, say for example if an Invader/Occupier were slaughtering civilians in hospitals or in safe zones or systematically committing what can only be coined as an outright genocide than their allies would depict Invader/Occupier’s actions as justified or as mistakes while placing the blame on those civilians. It’s plain propaganda and bullshit but it feeds from the machine of alliances. This doesn’t even have to leak into media, it can manifest through a standpoint of civilians, they may view their allied nation in a better light then those that are their enemy and may even treat their enemy with hostility on the back of the political standpoint of their nations - this of course depends on individuals but it is safe to say that sometimes one can get swept up into the narratives peddled by the media and one’s government. Perception is a delicate balance between sculpted truth and the facts that are black and white. And even after things are made fine and dandy between nations, sometimes lingering resentments do remain.
Cycle of Life
To believe that one nation will always be friends with another or they will always hate each other would be nice and neat in theory but frankly impossible. The needs, desires, limitations and power of nations dwindles and rises like the sun and nobody knows what can happen over the course of centuries. Old enemies such as the French and English would never have been put on the same side of a major global war, but it happened in the 20th century sometimes on the same fields they fought the Hundred Years War. Allies cannot always remain friendly, this is not Ru Paul’ Best Friend Race, this is a struggle to survive and to build something everlasting, alliances will break due to betrayal or need to get the next best thing. Fair or unfair, it happens. It is the reality of life and politics. Nothing good or bad lasts. Nations have to keep moving to survive and if that is over the backs of former allies, handclasped with an old enemy in order to save themselves and protect their borders, it will have to be done.
Worldbuilding asks
I was looking for a numbered ask list about worldbuilding projects and found none so I made my own.
What inspired you to make your project and what was the starting idea?
What is the first art you made for the project?
What is something that you struggle with designing / writing for the project?
What kinds of pet animals do your sophonts keep?
What is the technological era of your setting? how does it differ from our timeline?
What are the health and beauty standards of your sophonts?
How do your sophonts react to seasonal change?
What does your sophonts art look like?
How many colors can your sophont see?
What are the basic foliage colors? are there areas where the color is different?
What do plants look like? are they similar to earth ones are drastically different?
Are there unique biomes?
Are there any non intelligent species in your sophonts clade? how do your sophonts view them?
How social are your sophonts? how do they show affection? is it done in private or in public?
Is there a crab like creature?
What weapons or tools are used by your sophonts?
What is your sophonts diet like? how does this affect agriculture?
Are there any big cities or well known areas in the world?
What sports are common and how is it perceived publicly?
Are there any rude or disrespectful gestures used by sophonts?
What does the typical family structure look like?
What organisms reside around cities or settlements but are not domesticated? (like seagulls or rats)
How does society view those not within the norm?
Are body modifications like piercings, tattoos, decorative scarification / branding common?
What are some holidays celebrated?
Is there food only eaten during certain times of year? is it because of the availability of the food or just the holiday?
Are there any dolls or toys that resemble sophonts?
What musical instruments are common? how often is it enjoyed?
What are forms of literacy that are used? are there books , scrolls or other forms of writing canvas?
Is seafood regularly eaten?
What types of drugs or smokable substances are used?
What domestic livestock exist? how do they differ from the wild species? what different breeds are there?
Is your sophont located in a specific area or are they found everywhere?
What insect or small organism species are there?
What large organism clades are there and how have they evolved?
Are there any animals that evolved out of the ocean and returned like whales / dolphins?
What are commonly ridden animals?
What "bird" species are there?
What children's toys are there depending on the age group?
What beverages are common?
What new invention exists and what is the public perception of it?
What creature or concept have you wanted to talk about but have not had the chance to? now is your chance :)
How do your sophonts refer to themselves?
What is your biggest worldbuilding pet peeve?
What camouflaged organisms are there?
What are some architecture examples?
What home decorations are common? are there statues, tiles, flags or other decorations?
What are some bed/ chair examples used?
How big are your sophonts compared to a human?
What mythical creatures or sprits are believed in?
WORLD BUILDING CHECKLIST
If you are writing a book/story that takes place in another world, I have provided for you the complete world building checklist to ensure that you know your world inside out.
Economy A. Currency B. Poverty rate/line
Government A. Crime & Legal System B. Foreign Relations C. Politics D. War
The Land A. Physical & Historical Features B. Climate C. Geography D. Natural Resources E. Population
Society & Culture A. Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation B. Architecture C. Calendar D. Daily Life. E. Diet F. Ethics & Values G. fashion & Dress H. History I. Dining Customs J. Education K. Language L. Gestures M. Manners N. Meeting & Greeting O. Religion & Philosophy P. Social organization
Magic A. Magicians B. Magic and science C. Magic & Technology D. Rules of Magic
Technology C. Technology D. Medicine D. Transportation & Communication you're welcome <3
Fell free to reblog and fill it out if you want. I am curious to see the worlds in my fellow writers heads.
Follow me @leisureflame for more posts like this!
Consequences of Magic Use
accelerated aging
anxiety and a constant feeling of dread
disorientation / blurred vision
bones cracking and breaking
bruising around hands and arm
burn marks on palms and finger tips
cognitive decline / memory lapses
debilitating migraines
exhaustion / fatigue
eyes reddening when veins pop
greying hair due to strain / eyes losing vibrancy
joint, muscle and limb pain
losing hair, teeth and finger nails
loss of body heat / constantly freezing
nose bleeds / ear bleeds
numbness / slowed reflexes / brain fog
requiring a lot more nutrition and rest
sensitive eyes and ears / raspy, raw voice
twitches and muscle spasms
weakened immune system
The books that I've seen handle this best were Peter V Brett's Demon Cycle series and Steven Erickson's Malazan Book of the Fallen. Good magic systems in both.
dearwriters Masterlist
After some years running this blog, I've decided to accumulate some of my posts I often reference in this little master list. Enjoy!
General advice (editing, research, plotting, etc.)
Newbie Writer Tips
ADHD writing tips
Revision Masterlist
How to research
Plotting Tips
How to outline (The Murder-Board-Method)
Creating Subplots
In defense of plot structures
About orginality
Staying motivated
About pacing
When to start/end a scene
Free writing advice resources
Character (creation, development, etc.)
The Minimalist Character Sheet
Character Creation pt. 1 (GMC)
Character Creation pt. 2 (wants&needs)
Character Creation pt. 3 (flaws & consequences)
Character Voice
Code-Switching
Fixing a bland protagonist
Morally grey characters
Worldbuilding
Description-Tips
Creating depth
Creating a Magic System
Specific advice (tropes, scenes, situations, identities)
Screaming into the tumblr void is not diversity research
Asking a random person on tumblr to give advice on an identity that isn't theirs is not research
Writing (slow burn) Romance
Enemies to lovers
Panic attacks
Writing horror (general)
Writing horror (the uncanny)
Writing horror (disgust)
Fight Scenes
Publishing:
Traditional publishing is a team project
Pen Names
Turning Fanfic into original fiction
The Minimalist Character Sheet
So I am not the biggest fan of those ten page character sheets that include 100 questions like “What’s their favourite ice cream?”. Don’t get me wrong: If those help you with your writing, more power to you! Do what works for you. But I tend to discover all the little details of a character while writing. I only need the fundamental things. Maybe this works for you too!
The Basics
Name: including all nicknames, titles, etc.
Gender
Age
Role in the Narrative
Physical Description: focus on defining features
GMC (If you want to learn more about the concept, check out this post.)
Internal Goal
Internal Motivation
Internal Conflict
External Goal
External Motivation
External Conflict
Personality
Short characterization: internal personality and external behavior
Their biggest failure/issue/flaw: and how it impacts their life/personality/behavior
Backstory: and its consequences, such as triggers
Speech pattern: at least three speech marks that emphasize their personality (if you want to learn more about speech patterns, check out this post)
Behaviour pattern: at least three habits that emphasize their personality
Character Arc: where do they start, how do they change, where do they end?
That’s it! Hope this gave you some pointers on how to start out with character creation.
Have fun writing!
Sooo.....Not Okay...??? Wait......🤨
THEY LOOK SO EFFING GOOD