Poppy Atkinson

29. Writeblr. Instagram: poppyatkinson_thewriter Little diary of thoughts and feelings and WIPS as I write. Banner by michknight.studio on insta

[iitzsci]

🎉✨ Masterlist ✨🎉

A list of my short fics, WIPs and thoughts in one place. The short fics are practicing short stories, a very long time ago. Will update accordingly.

1. Current WIPs (unfinished)

Death Comes For Us All

Never Knew

2. Ideas

3. Practing short stories (old)

Out of Time

Reverse Soulmate Prompt

Countdown

Vegas

Destruction Demon

RUN

Unlucky

Alone

[iitzsci]

I haven’t had the time to sit down and write, although I have half of the end of a chapter and the start of another chapter to put into story / word doc. (I basically like to write in notes so I can edit it and then put it on the word doc with the rest of the story.)

I feel guilty. Like I know I should put the half finished chapter / start of new chapter on there, but that means, when I come to write, I’ll find it harder to start. I need it so that I can get that pen MOVING when I do have time to write.

But it’s always there, in the back of my mind. “You haven’t put me on the doc yet! You need to remember to put me on the doc!”

[iitzsci]

Azwar vs Human Lore

Some Human and Azwar lore for Never Knew! Feel free to ask questions! :)

Azwars

Azwars are Humans born with magical powers. Only one other person shares the same magical ability, making them Soulmates. Azwars become significantly stronger when they’re with their Soulmate.

Soulmates are the foundation of Azwar society. Romantic dating does not exist; instead, everyone (needs)hopes to find their destined partner. However, because the Azwar population is rapidly declining, many Azwars never discover who their soulmate is.

Azwars are dying out due to two reasons. One is because of the Humans Hunts.

There are natural and unnatural soulmates. Azwars are natural Soulmates.

Humans

Humans fear and hate Azwars. They believe that Azwars will eventually use their magic to overthrow humanity and drive humans to extinction. To prevent this, they teach every generation to hunt Azwars and the women to repopulate.

Humans do not have natural Soulmates. Instead, the Higher Ups assign marriages when people come of age (17), convincing the population that these matches are destined by "fate". Most humans never question it.

Human society expects every married couple to have many children. Boys are taught to learn how to fight Azwars, while girls learn to care for the home, raise children, and tend to injured hunters after each hunt. Choosing not to have children is considered abnormal.

[iitzsci]

​sometimes, if I don’t get the sentence I’m thinking of down quick enough it’ll disappear. But I also struggle to type fast enough to do it too. I can type fast …but not that fast! So I’m starting to try voice notes.

I think it ended a little jumbled though 😂

I know what I’m trying to say at least.

[iitzsci]

Several attempts later, after changing and changing one word and another, this mumble of words works. I have a paragraph!

And that’s why you should always write down (or record) every idea or thought. I thought this was dumb!

I know I’ve said but I’ve always found it hard to free write and edit after. But this is a lesson learned, I guess.

[iitzsci]

After a week's break, I feel better about writing again. It's quite nice actually, rather than going from assignments to writing to the next assignment, to have a little break from it as a whole.

Got started on Never Knew chapter 4 (though trying not to freak out I haven't finished writing chapter 3...I'm fine..it's fine.)

It's always interesting to hear how different writers write. My friend tends to write and write and write and then edit, sending updates on how many words they've done. (A lot). I have to write a little and edit, sending updates of: I've done a paragraph today (...I know...I know.)

What do other writers do?

Either way, even a little progress is good news.

[creativepromptsforwriting]

we need to be more bored. i used to be so creative in my spare time, now I'm just on my phone.

[sentientsky]

repeating this to myself forever and ever

[insert-witty-user-name-here]

[iitzsci]

Never Knew, current WIP

Ash has always been told what to do and who to hate. As Princess and Future Queen, obedience isn't a choice.

So when she discovers she is an Azwar, the very thing she's been taught to despise and men hunt, her whole worldview shatters. Everyone insists that she and Cole are soulmates, destined to be together. But if her entire life has been built on lies, why should she believe her future isn't too?

Will Ash accept the life that's already been chosen for her? Or choose her own path into the dark, even if it means losing herself?

Never Knew is my current YA fantasy work in progress. At its heart, the story is about choice. It asks whether destiny should decide who we love, whether we marry, whether we want children, or even who we become. The soulmate trope has always frustrated me. It's often presented as if two people simply belong to each other, that they're made for each other, rather than being your own person. But what if your soulmate isn't the love of your life? What if they die and you fall in love again? Were they still your soulmate? Or is your current partner your soulmate?

Like and follow! :)

DO NOT COPY OR REPOST

Azwars = magical creatures with powers the Humans don't have and are afraid of. They believe that their soulmates make them stronger and without them, become ill and die. Each Azwar has a soulmate, another half to their power.

[iitzsci]

​sometimes, if I don’t get the sentence I’m thinking of down quick enough it’ll disappear. But I also struggle to type fast enough to do it too. I can type fast …but not that fast! So I’m starting to try voice notes.

I think it ended a little jumbled though 😂

I know what I’m trying to say at least.

[iitzsci]

Sometimes I hate writing. One section, can’t figure out, the other sections - don’t feel right when I try and write it.

When this happens, it means I’ve been working on the story too long, too frequently, that it means I need to have a (big) break from it.

But Lord, do I wanna keep going.

[iitzsci]

Concept Front and Back Cover for Death Comes For Us All

(Front and back cover is licensed by Creative Commons that was available for creative use.)

Read the first chapter here!

DO NOT USE OR REPOST.

Please let me know what you think!

[russianblush]

no ai usage over here. you’re gonna get my shitty authentic writing whether you like it or not

[pukicho]

Book tok is cool because they’ll get on camera and suggest you read the biggest pile of dog shit ever made for no good reason

[iitzsci]

A friend suggested I could try writing fanfiction because that can help grow an audience and connect with more people and then I can show my own stories and ideas. Problem is, I’ve always struggled to write it.

I tend to make them OOC and prefer having and creating my own characters and situations.

Does anyone else struggle to write fanfics?

Is it better to just work on your own work and hope?

[iitzsci]

Death Comes For Us All Chapter 1

(I have three chapters of this, but I wanted to give a taste of the story itself. Read the blurb here!)

Let me know what you think!

© iitzsci. DO NOT COPY OR REPOST.

----------------------------------------------------------------

ONE SITTING. THAT’S ALL IT TAKES. . . 

Chapter 1 

The flicker from the iron streetlamp signalled that her time was up. Erica sighed, checking the tin cup in front of her, even though she knew it’d be empty. There was nothing she could do about it now.  

She tried to rise, but her hands trembled on the cobblestones, and she only made it onto her knees. She gasped, fighting a losing battle for breath. Even her stomach betrayed her, grumbling for food Erica couldn’t provide.  

Eventually, she stood.  

By then, only one or two townspeople remained, hastily avoiding her gaze as they hurried home. Erica wished she could do the same. Instead, she trudged her way into the narrow alleyway nearby, where the shadows waited for her. 

“You’re late,” they hissed in synchronised whispers. “Master won’t be happy.”  

She shuddered. All at once, an unnatural chill flooded the alleyway, and her breath clouded the air. Nearby buildings hunched in to listen, while cobblestones began to crack one by one. Erica pulled her tattered shawl tighter, waiting. She didn’t run. She knew better than that.  

The whispers shifted, rising into a chorus of laughter and taunts. Black tendrils slithered in from the streets, colliding at the centre of the alleyway.

From this, Death emerged.  

He glided out of the tendrils, his form half-draped in smoke that withered and curled of its own accord. Night deepened around him, darkness shrinking in his presence. Death resembled a tall, fleshless man, his red, glaring eyes the only colour he possessed. 

“There you are, Caged One,” he purred. “Pray tell, how many souls have you brought me today?”  

Death’s voice was a velvety hum, dreadful yet irresistibly familiar. 

“None.”  

Erica braced herself, but Death said nothing. His eyes locked onto her brown, searching for the lie that wasn’t there. The silence stretched on, refusing to break. 

Then he was suddenly looming over her, so quick she didn’t see him move. Her feet lifted off the ground, her throat gripped by cold, invisible hands.

“Please,” she croaked. “They don’t–”  

He ignored her. “I am a patient being, Erica. I only ask for one simple thing: you bring me souls, and in return I provide you with enough to last another day. And yet, you come to me empty-handed. Again.” 

The edges of her vision were blurring, black spots appearing. She clawed at her tightening throat, but he didn’t even flinch. Instead, he tightened his grip. Her legs jerked in desperate, erratic kicks until a tingling numbness crept in. 

“Please.” 

Erica swayed, her body slowing until it stilled. Her hands fell. Was this it? 

“You know the consequence.”   

“Ple-”

Her head dropped. 

At last, he let go.  

Erica collapsed onto the jagged cobblestones, wheezing. Pain surged through her body as the world spun, a blurry mess she couldn’t grasp.   

A cold finger tilted her chin up.  

“You live because of your gift,” Death murmured, tucking a piece of brown hair behind her ear. “But I can easily take it back. So, predict those fortunes. Get me what I desire.”  

She couldn’t respond. His hand pulled away as black tendrils slithered back beneath his form, claiming him once again. Her eyes fluttered, each blink slower than the last, until finally she too surrendered to the consuming darkness. She didn’t even see him leave.  

 It was still dark when she next woke. She wasn’t sure how long it had been, all she knew was it was over. For now, at least.  

 The world’s quiet pressed heavily around her, returning to a normalcy as though nothing had happened. Erica coughed, once, then twice more. Blood splattered onto the cobblestones as she did, staining them and her hands with dark red. 

Cool air sliced through her bones, her borrowed dress doing nothing to protect her. Erica slowly pushed herself upright anyway, managing to steady herself enough to stand. She brushed the dirt away, shaky fingers ghosting over the too big dress. 

Erica stumbled out of the alleyway, using the nearby walls for support as she slowly emerged into the now-empty street. Her usual spot wasn’t far, marked by her ragged blanket and cardboard sign offering free fortunes to anyone who passed. Not that it was enough to tempt many to stop. Erica slumped into her spot, leaning her head against an old, boarded up bank wall. Gently, she massaged the burn at the base of her throat, hoping to shrink the forming bruise.  

Now, all that was left to do was wait for morning. 

[iitzsci]

I'm finally back which means I can finally upload more stuff...