shut up the stars and bury the ash in the earth @deadchileanpoet - Tumblr Blog

Hi internet friends! Rachel, 30s, she/her. Recovering oversharer.

A long time ago I had a “normal” tumblr, but this one is just for writing stuff. Usually you’ll see reblogs of things I found useful and images that made my brain go ✨ping✨ for an aspect of my current project. You can click around on my tags if you get curious, and I’ll happily take questions.

#writeblr #writers on tumblr

vangoghcore

by mai_7100

#modern day elves: aesthetic

gardenbicycle

Abandoned studio in Italy.

#modern day elves: aesthetic #modern day elves: worldbuilding

vangoghcore

by frl_chrisuellers_sichtweise

#modern day elves: karakia #modern day elves: aesthetic

completelylegal

Things I’ve noticed are essential in plotting and would probably have saved me a lot of time if I had considered it earlier

The START of your story - how fucked up flawed is your premise/character at the start? what do they have to change? why are they HERE?

The END of your story - How do you want your main character/theme/universe to change after your story? Does it get better or worse? THIS SETS UP THE TONE DRASTICALLY.

What you want to happen IN BETWEEN - the MEAT of it. What made you start writing this WIP in the first place. Don't be ashamed to indulge, it's where the BRAIN JUICE comes from. You want a deep dive into worldbuilding and complex systems? Then your start and end should be rooted in some fundamental, unique rule of your universe (what made you obsess over it?). Want to write unabashed ship content? Make sure your start and end are so compelling you'll never run out of smut scenarios to shove in between scenes (what relationship dynamics made you ship it in the first place?).

The ANTE - the GRAVITY of your story. How high are the stakes? Writing a blurb or interaction? start with a small day-in-the-life so you can focus on shorter timelines and hourly minutiae that can easily get overlooked in more complicated epics. Or you can go ham on it and plot out your whole universe's timeline from conception to demise. Remember: the larger the scale, the less attached your story may get. How quickly time flies in your story typically correlates with the ante (not a hard rule, ofc, but most epics span years of time within a few pages, while a romance novel usually charts out the events of a few months over a whole manuscript.)

Everything else follows….?

#writing resources #resources: plot #resources: worldbuilding

fuckyeahchinesegarden

Summer in china ( photo by 可乐要加彬，诗涵)

#modern day elves: karakia #modern day elves: worldbuilding #modern day elves: aesthetic

prinnay

Springtime patron

#modern day elves: people #modern day elves: sparrow #modern day elves: aesthetic

writerthreads

How to avoid White Room Syndrome

by Writerthreads on Instagram

A common problem writers face is "white room syndrome"—when scenes feel like they’re happening in an empty white room. To avoid this, it's important to describe settings in a way that makes them feel real and alive, without overloading readers with too much detail. Here are a few tips below to help!

Focus on a few key details

You don’t need to describe everything in the scene—just pick a couple of specific, memorable details to bring the setting to life. Maybe it’s the creaky floorboards in an old house, the musty smell of a forgotten attic, or the soft hum of a refrigerator in a small kitchen. These little details help anchor the scene and give readers something to picture, without dragging the action with heaps of descriptions.

Engage the senses

Instead of just focusing on what characters can see, try to incorporate all five senses—what do they hear, smell, feel, or even taste? Describe the smell of fresh bread from a nearby bakery, or the damp chill of a foggy morning. This adds a lot of depth and make the location feel more real and imaginable.

Mix descriptions with actions

Have characters interact with the environment. How do your characters move through the space? Are they brushing their hands over a dusty bookshelf, shuffling through fallen leaves, or squeezing through a crowded subway car? Instead of dumping a paragraph of description, mix it in with the action or dialogue.

Use the setting to reflect a mood or theme

Sometimes, the setting can do more than just provide a backdrop—it can reinforce the mood of a scene or even reflect a theme in the story. A stormy night might enhance tension, while a warm, sunny day might highlight a moment of peace. The environment can add an extra layer to what’s happening symbolically.

Here's an example of writing a description that hopefully feels alive and realistic, without dragging the action:

The bookstore was tucked between two brick buildings, its faded sign creaking with every gust of wind. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of worn paper and dust, mingling with the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee from a corner café down the street. The wooden floorboards groaned as Ella wandered between the shelves, her fingertips brushing the spines of forgotten novels. Somewhere in the back, the soft sound of jazz crackled from an ancient radio.

Hope these tips help in your writing!

#writing resources

prompt-heaven

a list of 100+ buildings to put in your fantasy town

academy

adventurer's guild

alchemist

apiary

apothecary

aquarium

armory

art gallery

bakery

bank

barber

barracks

bathhouse

blacksmith

boathouse

book store

bookbinder

botanical garden

brothel

butcher

carpenter

cartographer

casino

castle

cobbler

coffee shop

council chamber

court house

crypt for the noble family

#resources: worldbuilding #writing resources

mcflymemes

"I NEED YOU CLOSE AT ALL TIMES" PROMPTS * assorted dialogue for protective moments, adjust as necessary

i'm stronger when you're near me.

if they want to get to you, they'll have to get through me first.

i can't be expected to do this without you.

whatever happens, i'm right here beside you.

you're important to me. maybe you don't realize just how important.

[name], it's you. it's always been you.

don't make me beg you to stay, because i will.

i don't like sleeping alone.

i'm going to hold your hand and i won't let go.

the bed is cold when you're not here.

i always feel better when you're near me. i smile more.

you have no idea what you mean to me.

if you left me, i don't know what i would do.

it would be better if you stayed beside me.

you won't be alone through this. i'll be right here the whole time.

will you stay up with me and keep me company?

i really can't deal with this alone.

would you hold my hand for a while?

we're a team. we can't do anything without each other.

you're the only one who has ever understood me.

no one else gets me like you do.

it's really nice having you close by.

thank you for being here when i needed you.

i can't do this alone.

i'd be better off with you, to be honest.

can you tell them we need to be together?

i won't let them separate us.

after what happened before, i can't let you out of my sight.

i'm not going to risk losing you.

maybe you don't realize how much you mean to me.

it would be better if we went together.

we would do so much better as a team.

i don't think they understand how much you mean to me.

you've always meant the world to me.

please stay close to me.

i like it when i can reach over and grab your hand.

your presence is a comfort.

i always feel reassured when i look over and see you.

never told you how much you mean to me.

they'll never understand our connection.

i'd be better off going with you.

what do you mean? of course i'm coming with you.

i don't really care what they think. i'm not letting you go alone.

you're going to need my help, and i need yours.

would it be okay if i leaned against you for a while?

you're riding with me.

i'll look after your wound.

i promise to take good care of you.

it's just us now. no one else is around.

i can't believe we spent so much time apart.

we were always made to fit together.

i think i was meant for you in some way.

i don't need anyone like i need you.

i promised i'd keep you safe, and i'm not about to break that promise anytime soon.

i don't think you realize just how much you mean to me.

i was made for you, and you were made for me.

we're a team. we're in this 'til the end.

i'm not giving up on you.

you can't die on me. we're a team.

#resources: diction #resources: characters

cassandrapentayaaaaas

Uncommon Questions for OCs and their creators:

Send me a # (questions for OCs) or a letter (questions for creators) and I’ll answer

QUESTIONS FOR YOUR OCs

What’s the maximum amount of time your character can sit still with nothing to do?

How easy is it for your character to laugh?

How do they put themselves to bed at night (reading, singing, thinking?)

How easy is it to earn their trust?

How easy is it to earn their mistrust?

Do they consider laws flexible, or immovable?

What triggers nostalgia for them, most often? Do they enjoy that feeling?

What were they told to stop/start doing most often as a child

Do they swear? Do they remember their first swear word?

What lie do they most frequently remember telling? Does it haunt them?

How do they cope with confusion (seek clarification, pretend they understand, etc)?

How do they deal with an itch found in a place they can’t quite reach?

What color do they think they look best in? Do they actually look best in that color?

What animal do they fear most?

How do they speak? Is what they say usually thought of on the spot, or do they rehearse it in their mind first?

What makes their stomach turn?

Are they easily embarrassed?

What embarrasses them?

What is their favorite number?

If they were asked to explain the difference between romantic and platonic or familial love, how would they do so?

Why do they get up in the morning?

How does jealousy manifest itself in them (they become possessive, they become aloof, etc)?

How does envy manifest itself in them (they take what they want, they become resentful, etc)?

Is sex something that they’re comfortable speaking about? To whom?

What are their thoughts on marriage?

What is their preferred mode of transportation?

What causes them to feel dread?

Would they prefer a lie over an unpleasant truth?

Do they usually live up to their own ideals?

Who do they most regret meeting?

Who are they the most glad to have met?

Do they have a go-to story in conversation? Or a joke?

Could they be considered lazy?

How hard is it for them to shake a sense of guilt?

How do they treat the things their friends come to them excited about? Are they supportive?

Do they actively seek romance, or do they wait for it to fall into their lap?

Do they have a system for remembering names, long lists of numbers, things that need to go in a certain order (like anagrams, putting things to melodies, etc)?

What memory do they revisit the most often?

How easy is it for them to ignore flaws in other people?

How sensitive are they to their own flaws?

How do they feel about children?

How badly do they want to reach their end goal?

If someone asked them to explain their sexuality, how would they do so?

QUESTIONS FOR CREATORS

A) Why are you excited about this character? B) What inspired you to create them? C) Did you have trouble figuring out where they fit in their own story? D) Have they always had the same physical appearance, or have you had to edit how they look? E) Are they someone you would get along with? Would they get along with you? F) What do you feel when you think of your OC (pride, excitement, frustration, etc)? G) What trait of theirs bothers you the most? H) What trait do you admire most? I) Do you prefer to keep them in their canon universe? J) Did you have to manipulate or exclude canon factors to allow them to create their character?

#resources: characters #writing resources

parkes-and-wrecks

Bhutanese Guitar Player, Pharo, Bhutan, 2018

Bhutan is unusual country in many ways; it is the first country to have a carbon negative economy. It is home to the world’s largest pocket, a feature of the traditional clothes men wear in their professional lives. It’s international airport has one of the most difficult landings in the world, with only 8 pilots qualified to make it. You also can’t just rock up in Bhutan as a tourist: you have to apply with one of its many local companies, who will accompany you at all times for a daily stipend which covers all your expenses like accomodation and food. This means this ia much more guided (and controlled) experience than most travellers will be used to, but also one that leaves you steeped in the country’s traditions and culture. Here, a Bhutanese guitarist poses with his exquisitely detailed Bhutanese guitar, the neck crested by a dragon, a creature that holds place in Bhutanese myth.

#modern day elves: aesthetic #modern day elves: karakia

duchessofostergotlands

The Bhutanese royal family have shared a series of images to mark Coronation Day. They feature the Queen and her two children: four year old Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck and 7 month Prince Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck

#modern day elves: aesthetic #modern day elves: karakia