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damselwrites

Words to use instead of “said” organized by emotion/intention

forageables

a list of quirks for characters to make them a little more interesting

doesn’t like to wear shoes

always has a piece of sugarfree gum in their mouth

has a collection of cartoon dvds

walks everywhere they go

only wears pastel colors

won’t go anywhere without three hairbands on their wrist

refuses to wear any shoes except red converse

has a crippling fear of something mundane like mushrooms

has a dream notebook filled with every dream they can remember

has a really loud sneeze and goes into sneeze fits

only wears vintage clothing

has damaged hair from messing with it too much

super good at advanced math but can’t do addition for shit

believes in the supernatural, like ghosts

likes to go on midnight shopping trips and run through stores

gets too emotionally attached

loves dogs and has three of them

has hallucinations, but not scary ones

works at a fast food establishment in their free time

always carries a musical instrument with them

always carries a sketchbook with them

likes to name inanimate objects

strictly against drug use

excessively polite

excessively indecisive

can recite the first 200 digits of pi

can only play clocks by coldplay on the piano and plays it 24/7

gets itchy skin when anxious

has to move things around in a certain pattern before going to sleep

worries that if they do one thing wrong they’ll die

obsessed with puzzles

obsessed with rpg videogames

texts with one thumb

always has red painted nails

an amazing runner with super toned legs

has a beautiful voice

has restless legs, especially at night

has terrible performance anxiety

doesn’t like to turn assignments in because they’re afraid they’ll fail

loves science but is really bad at it

can/can’t make friends easily

likes to lie in fields and stare at the stars

believes that wishes can come true

falls deeply in love

bruises super easily

beautiful/horrible handwriting

ambidextrous

only likes nintendo games

only drinks sparkling water

doesn’t watch tv/listen to music

goes to concerts every week

likes slam poetry

likes to study in coffee shops/libraries

doesn’t understand politics but tries nonetheless

wears the same sweatshirt every day

collects sweatshirts

works three part time jobs

crazy intelligent but super shy

likes to memorize phone numbers instead of writing them down

loves to calculate probability

gets homesick very easily

wants to leave home very badly

trips a lot

can’t dance but tries anyway

brushes their teeth seven times a day

incredibly honest to a sometimes brash extent

only draws with mechanical pencils

only writes with pens

collects pens from hotels

wants to believe in heaven but can’t

watches a ton of anime

makes people cute nicknames

makes people origami

uses origami as a coping mechanism

owns a ton of t-shirts from hot topic, but has never been inside

makes all their own food

vegetarian/vegan/pescatarian

eats rice krispies every morning

does everything “for the aesthetic”

watches kids shows

goes to a private school

short term memory loss

loves disney movies

makes lists of random things in their free time

only eats foods with a spoon

only likes to wear skirts

never has their hair down

dyes their hair every two weeks

likes to collect pokemon cards

gets obsessed with games really easily

gives up too easily

gets their heart broken too often

has a mysterious disease

has a big social media following

tries too hard to be popular

likes to draw everything and everyone

can eat a whole lemon

listens to “edgy” music all the time

0ctaviab1ake

For writers!

Instead of said, consider:

For normal responses:

stated

spoke

remarked

reported

For question responses:

added

asked

required

requested

begged

For answered responses:

answered

replied

retorted

explained

acknowledged

responded

For happy responses:

rejoiced

laughed

giggled

sang

cheered

smirked

marvelled

smirked

chimed

For loud responses:

shouted

belted

yelled

shrieked

screamed

boomed

exclaimed

called

For quiet responses:

murmered

mumbled

muttered

breathed

sighed

hissed

mouthed

uttered

intoned

susurrated

purred

gasped

hinted

spoke softly

spoke in a hushed tone

insinuated

For worried/nervous responses:

quaked

trembled

stammered

stuttered

gulped

For angry responses:

demanded

hissed

fumed

thundered

snapped

sneered

barked

ranted

grunted

roared

bellowed

For bossy responses:

commanded

ordered

dictated

insisted

For crying responses:

cried

sobbed

groaned

bawled

whined

For silent responses:

thought

pondered

wondered

badassunicorn2016

Writing Tip June 4th

A list of body language phrases.

I’ve included a very comprehensive list, organized by the type of body movement, hand and arm movements, facial expressions etc. In some cases, a phrase fits more than one heading, so it may appear twice. Possible emotions are given after each BL phrase unless the emotion is indicated within the phrase. (They are underlined for emphasis, not due to a hyperlink.)

Note: I’ve included a few body postures and body conditions as they are non-verbal testimony to the character’s physical condition.

Have fun and generate your own ideas.:-)

Eyes, Brows and Forehead

arched a sly brow: sly, haughty

blinked owlishly: just waking, focusing, needs glasses

brows bumped together in a scowl: worried, disapproving, irritated

brows knitted in a frown: worried, disapproval, thoughtful

bug-eyed: surprised, fear, horror

cocky wink and confident smile: over confidence, arrogant, good humor, sexy humor

eyes burned with hatred: besides hatred this might suggest maniacal feelings

eyes flashed: fury, defiance, lust, promise, seduction

eyes rolled skyward: disbelief, distrust, humor

forehead puckered: thoughtful, worried, irritation

frustration crinkled her eyes

gaze dipped to her décolletage: sexual interest, attraction, lust

gimlet-eyed/narrowed eyes: irritation, thoughtful, mean, angry

gleam of deviltry: humor, conniving, cunning

kept eye contact but her gaze became glazed: pretending interest where there is none/bordom

narrowed to crinkled slits: angry, distrust

nystagmic eyes missed nothing (constantly shifting eyes): Shifty

pupils dilated: interested, attraction to opposite sex, fear

raked her with freezing contempt

slammed his eyes shut: stunned, furious, pain

squinted in a furtive manner: fearful, sneaky

stared with cow eyes: surprised, disbelief, hopeful, lovestruck

subtle wink: sexy, humor/sharing a joke, sarcasm

unrelenting stare: distrust, demanding, high interest, unyielding

Place To Place, Stationary Or Posture

ambled away: relaxed, lazy

barged ahead: rude, hurried

battled his way through the melee: desperate, anger, alarm

cruised into the diner: easy-going, feeling dapper, confident

dawdled alongside the road: lazy, deliberate delay for motives, unhurried, relaxed

dragged his blanket in the dirt: sadness/depressed, weary

edged closer to him: sneaky, seeking comfort, seeking protection, seeking an audience

he stood straighter and straightened his tie: sudden interest, sexual attraction

held his crotch and danced a frantic jig: demonstrates physical condition – he has to pee

hips rolled and undulated: sexy walk, exaggerating for sex appeal

hovered over them with malice/like a threatening storm: here it’s malice, but one may hover for many reasons.

hunched over to look shorter: appear inconspicuous, ashamed of actions, ashamed of height

leaped into action feet hammering the marbled floor: eager, fear, joyous

long-legged strides: hurried, impatient

lumbered across: heavy steps of a big man in a hurry

minced her way up to him: timid, sneaky, insecure, dainty or pretense at dainty

paced/prowled the halls: worried, worried impatience, impatient, diligently seeking pivoted on his heel and took off: mistaken and changes direction, following orders, hurried, abrupt change of mind, angry retreat

plodded down the road: unhurried, burdened, reluctant

practiced sensual stroll: sexy, showing off

rammed her bare foot into her jeans: angry, rushed

rocked back and forth on his heels: thoughtful, impatiently waiting

sagged against the wall: exhausted, disappointment

sallied forth: confident, determined

sashayed her cute little fanny: confident, determined, angered and determined

shrank into the angry crowd: fear, insecure, seeking to elude

sketched a brief bow and assumed a regal pose: confident, mocking, snooty, arrogant skidded to an abrupt halt: change of heart, fear, surprise, shock

skulked on the edges of the crowd: sneaky, ashamed, timid

slithered through the door: sneaky, evil, bad intentions

stormed toward her, pulling up short when: anger with a sudden surprise

swaggered into the class room: over confident, proud, arrogant, conceited

tall erect posture: confidence, military bearing

toe tapped a staccato rhythm: impatience, irritation

tottered/staggered unsteadily then keeled over: drunk, drugged, aged, ill

waltzed across the floor: happy, blissful, exuberant, conceited, arrogant

Head Movement

cocked his head: curiosity, smart-alecky, wondering, thoughtful

cocked his head left and rolled his eyes to right corner of the ceiling: introspection

droop of his head: depressed, downcast, hiding true feelings

nodded vigorously: eager

tilted her head to one side while listening: extreme interest, possibly sexual interest

Mouth And Jaw

a lackluster smile: feigning cheerfulness

cigarette hung immobile in mouth: shock, lazy, uncaring, relaxed casualness

clinched his jaw at the sight: angered, worried, surprised

curled her lips with icy contempt

expelled her breath in a whose: relief, disappointment

gagged at the smell: disgust, distaste

gapped mouth stare: surprised, shock, disbelief

gritted his teeth: anger, irritation, holding back opinion

inhaled a sharp breath: surprise, shock, fear, horror

licked her lips: nervous, sexual attraction

lips primed: affronted, upset, insulted

lips pursed for a juicy kiss

lips pursed like she’d been chewing a lemon rind: dislike, angry, irritated, sarcasm

lips screwed into: irritation, anger, grimace, scorn

lips set in a grim line: sorrow, worried, fear of the worst

pursed her lips: perturbed, waiting for a kiss

scarfed down the last biscuit: physical hunger, greed

slack-mouthed: total shock, disbelief

slow and sexy smile: attraction, seductive, coy

smacked his lips: anticipation

smile congealed then melted into horror

smile dangled on the corner of his lips: cocky, sexy

smirked and tossed her hair over her shoulder: conceit, sarcasm, over confident

sneered and flicked lint off his suit: sarcasm, conceit

spewed water and spit: shock

stuck out her tongue: humor, sarcasm, teasing, childish

toothy smile: eagerness, hopeful

wary smile surfaced on her lips

Nose

nose wrinkled in distaste/at the aroma

nostrils flared: anger, sexual attraction

nose in the air: snooty, haughty

Face in General

crimson with fury

handed it over shame-faced

jutted his chin: confident, anger, forceful

managed a deadpan expression: expressionless

muscles in her face tightened: unsmiling, concealing emotions, anger, worried

rested his chin in his palm and looked thoughtful

rubbed a hand over his dark stubble: thoughtful, ashamed of his appearance

screwed up her face: anger, smiling, ready to cry, could almost be any emotion

sneered and flicked lint off his suit: conceit, derision, scorn

Arm and Hand

a vicious yank

arm curled around her waist, tugging her next to him: possessive, pride, protective

bit her lip and glanced away: shy, ashamed, insecure

brandished his fist: anger, threatening, ready to fight, confident, show of pride

clamped his fingers into tender flesh: anger, protective, wants to inflict pain

clenched his dirty little fists: stubborn, angry

clapped her hands on her hips, arms crooked like sugar bowel handles: anger, demanding, disbelief

constantly twirled her hair and tucked it behind her ear: attracted to the opposite sex, shy crossed his arms over his chest: waiting, impatient, putting a barrier

crushed the paper in his fist: anger, surrender, discard

dived into the food: hunger, eager, greedy

doffed his hat: polite gesture, mocking, teasing

doodled on the phone pad and tapped the air with her foot: bored, inattention, introspection

drummed her fingers on the desk: impatient, frustrated, bored

fanned her heated face with her hands: physically hot, embarrassed, indicating attraction

fiddled with his keys: nervous, bored

firm, palm to palm hand shake: confident, honest

flipped him the bird: sarcastic discard

forked his fingers through his hair for the third time: disquiet/consternation, worry, thoughtful

handed it over shame-faced: guilt, shame

held his crotch and danced a frantic jig: physical need to relieve himself

limp hand shake: lack of confidence, lack of enthusiasm

propped his elbow on his knee: relaxed, thoughtful

punched her pillow: restless, can’t sleep, angry

rested his chin in his palm: thoughful, worried

scratched his hairy belly and yawned: indolent, bored, lazy, relaxed, just waking

shoulders lifted in a shrug: doubtful, careless discard

slapped his face in front of God and country: enraged, affronted/insulted

snapped a sharp salute: respect, sarcastic gesture meaning the opposite of respect

snapped his fingers, expecting service: arrogant, lack of respect, self-centered

sneered and flicked lint off his suit

spread her arms wide: welcoming, joy, love

stabbed at the food: anger, hunger, determined

stood straighter and smoothed his tie: sudden interest, possible sexual interest

stuffed his hands in his pockets: self-conscious, throwing up a barrier

sweaty handshake: nervous, fearful

touched his arm several times while explaining: sign of attraction, flattery, possessive

wide sweep of his arms: welcoming, all inclusive gesture, horror

Sitting or Rising

collapsed in a stupor: exhausted, drunk, drugged, disbelief

enthroned himself at the desk: conceit, pronouncing or taking ownership

exploded out of the chair: shock, eager, anger, supreme joy

roosted on the porch rail like a cock on a hen house roof: claiming ownership, conceit, content

sat, squaring an ankle over one knee: relaxed and open

slouched/wilted in a chair and paid languid attention to: drowsy, lazy, depressed, disinterest, sad, totally relaxed, disrespectful

squirmed in his chair: ill at ease, nervous, needs the bathroom

Recline

flung himself into the bed: sad, depressed, exhausted, happy

prostrated himself: surrender, desperate, miserable, powerless, obsequious, fawning, flattering

punched her pillow: can’t sleep, anger, frustrated

threw himself on the floor kicking and screaming: tantrum

Entire body and General

body stiffened at the remark: offended, anger, alerted

body swayed to music: dreamy, fond memories, enjoys the music

bounced in the car seat, pointing: excitement, fear, eager

cowered behind his brother: fear, shyness, coward, desperate

curled into a ball: sorrow, fear, sleepy, defensive

heart galloping: anxiety, joy, eager

held his crotch and danced a frantic jig

humped over his cane, each step shaking and careful: pain, aged

inhaled a deep breath and blew out slowly: buying time to find words/thoughtful, reconciled

quick and jerky like rusty cogs on a wheel: unsure of actions, self-conscious, tense, edgy

rocked back and forth on his heels: impatient, cocky, gleeful

manhandled the woman into a corner: bully, anger

slumped shoulders: defeat, depressed, sad, surrender

stiff-backed: priggish, haughty, affronted

stood straighter and straightened his tie: sexual interest, wants to make an impression

stooped and bent: aged, arthritic, in pain

stretched extravagantly and yawned: tired, bored, unconcerned

sweating uncontrollably: nervous, fear, guilt

tall erect posture: confidence, military bearing

was panting now at: afraid, exhausted, out of breath, sexual excitement

-Sharla Rae

scotchymemes

Anti-Holiday Starter Sentences!

Because not all muses like the holidays…

I just want to stay home and watch a movie or something.

I don’t celebrate it. It’s not a part of my faith.

Put that Christmas tree away, it’s not even December yet.

Full offense, but that tree is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen.

This is all big commercial bullshit.

The only thing more stupid than Christmas is New Year.

The only thing different than any other day of the year is that on New Year’s Eve, you can get drunk off expensive champagne.

Your end of the year jokes are even worse than your (…).

Matching Christmas sweaters, my ass!

Any more tinsel and that tree’s going to look like a tinsel mummy.

There’s not even any fucking snow!

I’m not watching Home Alone again.

Take off the Santa hat, you look fucking stupid.

Is that a reindeer nose on the dog/cat/…?

I am surrounded by the biggest lunatics in the universe.

Who the fuck even came up with eggnog?

Go away. I’m not kissing you under this damn salad.

I wish I could just sleep for a week.

I don’t feel so well, I think I’ll have to skip on the family dinner.

Merry Christmas, my ass!

Will you just stop with the Christmas carols?!

I hope Santa gets stuck in the chimney.

You go party. I’ll just get drunk on my own with a hand down my pants.

I don’t even have a family to celebrate with, so what’s the point?

Most wonderful time of the year, my ass!

lanadelrph

Winter & Holiday Starters ❄️

Send one and I’ll write a starter based on:

⛄️ – our muses build a snowman together ❄️ – our muses get snowed in and the electricity goes out 🍗 – our muses have to cook a holiday dinner together 🍷– our muses wake up hungover after an office party and don’t remember what happened ✈️ – our muses go on a holiday vacation together 🎅 – one of our muses is dressed as santa and the other sits in their lap 💔 – our muses are both single on christmas 🎄 – our muses decorate for christmas 🍪 – our muses bake cookies together 🎁 – our muses exchange presents 🎤 – one of our muses tries to get the other to sing christmas carols 💋 – our muses kiss under the mistletoe ⛸️ – our muses go ice skating 👼 – our muses go to church services 💲 – our muses go to the mall together to shop for presents ⭐– our muses get dressed up for a holiday party

vampiricallyinclined

Festive Prompt List

“Is that mistletoe?”

“Are you- are you pulling down mistletoe?”

“I don’t care about tradition, you try and get me to kiss you under the mistletoe and I will punch you”

“If I hear one more Mariah Carey song I will riot”

“Remind me why I can’t kill the carolers?”

“Hum one more note of that carol and I will stab you”

“My house, my rules. The Christmas music stays on”

“If you throw that snowball you’re declaring war”

“You’re kidding, right? I’m not going out in that snow storm!”

“I don’t care what you say, The Nightmare Before Christmas works for Christmas and Halloween”

“I can’t believe you did all this, for me”

“You don’t have to go to all this trouble, you know”

“You didn’t really think I’d let you spend Christmas alone, did you?”

“You’d make a really terrible Santa”

“It’s a time of good will, not whatever the hell you’re doing”

“Aren’t you just Santa’s Little Helper?”

“You call this decorated?”

“How on earth did you get tinsel there?”

“Wow, you really go overboard with decorations, don’t you?”

“It looks like Santa threw up here”

“What are you doing to that poor wrapping paper?”

“Exactly how much more hinting do I have to do?”

“Have I told you how much I hate Christmas shopping?”

“Secret Santa is bullshit”

“Tell me what you want for Christmas”

“Why are you so impossible to shop for?”

“Can’t I just give you $20 and you can buy something for yourself?”

“Please tell me you aren’t searching my room for where I’ve hidden the presents”

“I thought we weren’t doing gifts!”

“I got you a Christmas sweater!”

“How many Christmas sweaters do you own?”

“You’re wearing the Santa hat, whether you like it or not”

“One normal Christmas, that’s all I wanted”

“I’m sure what ever threat is out there can wait until after Christmas dinner”

“You invited how many people over for Christmas dinner??”

“You really can’t cook, can you?”

“Who the hell turned off the oven?!”

“This calls for eggnog”

“I can’t believe no one has spiked the eggnog yet”

“Just how much eggnog have you had?”

“I’m starting to regret having taught you about gluhwein”

“Oi! That’s my hot chocolate”

“Spam is not a suitable replacement for turkey”

“No offence meant, but I do not trust you to carve the turkey”

“I don’t care about anything else, the pudding is all that matters”

“Hey, binge eating at Christmas is totally justified!”

“You made gingerbread zombies?”

“Step away from the cookies.”

“Who ate all the advent calendar chocolates?!”

“Normally I’d say no, but I’m on my 14th candy cane, so why not?”

splattermemes-deactivated202007

christmas / holiday starters

Feel free to change pronouns or anything else !

at a party

“Woah, someone drank too much egg nog.”

“Look, I only came for the Christmas cookies.”

“So do I make a sexy Santa/elf/reindeer or what?”

“Merry Christmas! Let’s get wasted.”

“Is my outfit too festive/not festive enough?”

“Hey! Come on in, I’ll get you a drink.”

a grinch

“I can’t believe I’m all alone during the holidays.”

“Most wonderful time of the year, my ass.”

“I hate snow. And smiling children.”

“If I hear one more Christmas song, someone is getting strangled with tinsel.”

“The only thing good about Christmas is the candy canes.”

“Wow, that gingerbread house is…unique.”

“Egg nog is disgusting.”

anti-grinch

“I’ve had my tree up since November.”

“How could you not like the holidays?!”

“I’m going to shove a candy cane up my ass. I’m so excited!”

“Christmas is the only time of year when I’m stressed out AND receiving a bunch of gifts.”

“There’s NO way I’m going to lose the house decorating competition.”

“Christmas isn’t a holiday. It’s a way of life.”

presents

“What did you get me?” / “I’m not telling you! It’s a surprise.”

“I didn’t know what to buy you, so..I made you something…”

“You gave me the present that I gave to YOU last year?”

“It’s perfect…”

“Aw, you didn’t have to get me anything.”

“The only gift I want is stability and happiness. But this wrapping paper is pretty.”

“You just rip the paper right off?! You heathen.” / “You save the paper? Nerd.”

secret santa

“Ugh, I can’t believe I got ___ for secret santa.”

“I got ____!! What should I give him/her/them?”

“Who bought me socks? They’re plain white no-brand socks.”

“The limit was $20, people. Why do I see an iPhone?”

“I know who got me this. There’s only one person who knows me this well. It’s you.”

with friends

“I got us matching ugly sweaters.”

“Do you think I can fit these candy canes up my nose?”

“Merry Christmas, fuckers. I’m broke but at least I got you stuff.”

“This is really corny…but you’re already a gift to me.”

“I haven’t seen you in so long! Get over here and give me a hug.”

flirty

“Are you Santa? Because I’d sit on your lap.”

“Have I been naughty this year?”

“Oh, I’d ride in your sleigh.”

“Your eyes twinkle like tree lights.”

“All I want for Christmas is you.”

snow

“It’s snowing! That’s so perfect!”

“Great, now my flight is delayed…”

“How am I supposed to get home in this weather?”

“Baby, it’s cold outside…”

“Let’s have a snowball fight.”

no snow

“Why can’t we have a white Christmas?”

“It’s too hot for hot cocoa.”

“I wish I could wear a sweater without dying.”

“It’s nice to get away from all the cold.”

“The only ice I want to see is in a cold drink.”

knows nothing about other holidays

“So is it Jesus’s birthday?”

“Where did Santa even come from?”

“…Isn’t the tree a pagan tradition?”

“How do the deer fly?”

“This holiday sounds like it was made by someone on crack.”

“What’s a Hannukah?” / “What’s a Kwanzaa?”

“Is what I’m wearing okay?”

“Stop calling me a grinch! I’m not even Christian.”

hannukah

“Watch me shove all these latkes in my mouth.”

“You don’t know how to play with a dreidel?” / “Let me teach you the dreidel game.”

“See the menorah? It’s LIT.”

“Try the sufganiyot and you will forget about Christmas cookies.”

“Hannukah is the time of year when us Jews gather and decide the next step in taking over the world. At least that’s what that crazy guy from work told me.”

“Do these dreidel cake pops look Pinterest-y enough?”

“Christians get WAY too upset over Starbucks cups. I’ve never gotten a Hannukah Starbucks cup! You don’t see me rioting about it.”

“That’s not a dreidel…That’s a beyblade.”

kwanzaa

“Who needs one day of Christmas when I have a whole week of Kwanzaa?”

“See the kinara? It’s LIT.”

“I can’t go home until I buy a new kinara.”

“What do you think of the decorations? I think I need more African print.”

“How are we out of food? Kwanzaa is about the harvest!”

“I like Kwanzaa. It’s a holiday of principles.”

“It’s not a ‘made-up’ holiday. All holidays are made up.”

“Kinda wish the unity cup was filled with whiskey. And that I could drink all of it.”