The test for allyship isn't how you treat an oppressed person who is your friend, family, spouse. It's how you treat an oppressed person you absolutely can't stand who is vile and loathsome in every way.
Do you gender trans people correctly even when they're being absolutely terrible people? Do you refuse to use the r-slur against someone who suicide baited you but is neurodivergent? Do you refuse to snark at a mentally ill person who is being genuinely unpleasant, "go take your meds!"
Do you allow members of marginalized groups to be terrible people without judging their entire demographic for it? One of the most invisible yet vital forms of privilege is the right to be terrible people as an individual rather than as a group. Do you acknowledge that there are bad people in every group, that it doesn't make their group less worth fighting for? Or do you shake your head if you happen to get mistreated by some who belong to a group and insist the entire group is awful and not worth your allyship?
Oppressed people can see how you treat those of us you like, but do you still treat the worst of us with the basic dignity you treat the worst of other groups with?
Am currently writing an evil monologue* and I was wondering, theoretically, how much antimatter would a person need to create an explosion (or other suitably destructive devastation with a side of either incineration or annihilation) that could have a radius of several light years. (double digits is preferred) And would that explosion be bigger if that antimatter was condensed to the size of a pin head, Ă la a black hole's singularity. And if so, how different would the radius be? Science side of tumbler, please, help a writer out.
(containment, creation, and release of the antimatter will be handwaved as magic but scientifically plausible methods of the above would be appreciated. I really just want accurate numbers since a character will be explaining this.)
some people think writers are so eloquent and good with words, but the reality is that we can sit there with our fingers on the keyboard going, âwhatâs the word for non-sunlight lighting? Like, fake lighting?â and for ten minutes, all our brain will supply is âunofficialâ, and we know thatâs not the right word, but itâs the only word we can come up withâŠuntil finally itâs like our face got smashed into a brick wall and we remember the word we want is âartificialâ.
Carol to Hal: My ducks? In a row. Ordered. Disciplined. Behaving predictably. Your ducks? Scattered. In disarray. Waddling aimlessly. Desperate for a leader to impose structure.
I think the aversion in our society to coming up w/ utilitarian answers to ethical questions (my favorite hobby) has caused us to cede way too much ground to the assholes of the world in the vein of "Evil will always triumph because good is dumb," as Dark Helmet put it. Like.
Laypeople (and also a concerning number of scientists) have often got the idea that unethical human experimentation is some sort of ultra-effective super science that would fix all the disease and discover all of the medicine and we only don't do it because it isn't nice (see: every science fiction show ever). No! Jumping straight from abstract theory to human trials is a terrible way to do science. It produces incoherent results and useless observations and nonsensical conclusions. We have pages and pages of historical precedent demonstrating this.
And lots of people have got the idea that totalitarianism is some sort of magic super-government that does all the government stuff really effectively abd efficiently and we only don't do it because it isn't nice. No!!!! "Let's put one idiot in charge and do whatever dumb shit they say" is the worst way to organize any project at all, let alone an economy and a political machine. Fascist regimes are models of corruption, waste, and inefficiency.
Empathy is the heartbeat of connection. It's he ability to feel alongside others, to hold space for pain, joy, fear. But when someone becomes hyper-attuned to emotions, they might begin to use that insight as leverage. What began as compassion shifts into subtle control. They know what others fear, need, or hope for. Then, they exploit it, nudging choices and reactions under the guise of care. The warmth of empathy cools into quiet manipulation, wrapped in smiles and soft voices.
⧠Intuition â Paranoia or Presumption
Intuition is powerful. It guides, warns, and illuminates. But when someone relies too heavily on gut instinct, they may stop seeking context or clarity. They begin to assume intentions, predict betrayals, or treat hunches as fact. What once helped them understand unspoken truths now drives wedges between them and others. Intuition becomes a filter that distorts rather than reveals.
⧠Bravery â Recklessness
True courage inspires others. It faces fear while acknowledging the cost. But courage without wisdom can spiral into recklessness. The brave character begins to leap before looking, refusing help, or seeking danger not to help others but to prove something. Worse, they may sacrifice themselves repeatedly in ways that seem noble but are fueled by guilt, ego, or escapism. What once protected others now isolates or endangers them.
⧠Uniqueness â Alienation or Superiority
Being different is a gift -- a perspective the world needs. But when a characterâs uniqueness becomes their identity, it can harden into alienation or quiet arrogance. They begin to believe no one can truly understand them. Or worse, that others are too ordinary to matter. They stop connecting, start dismissing. Their individuality, once empowering, becomes a lonely throne.
⧠Honesty â Weaponized Truth
Honesty builds trust, clarity, and integrity. But when honesty becomes detached from compassion, it cuts instead of connects. The character may justify harsh words as "just being real" or âtelling it like it is,â ignoring the emotional wreckage left behind. What began as transparency turns into a shield for cruelty. Truth without tact becomes a blade.
⧠Optimism â Denial
Optimism sees hope in hardship, light in shadows. But relentless positivity can blind someone to real danger or silence the pain of others. The character insists everything will work out, even when it wonât. They dismiss warnings, ignore wounds, or refuse to acknowledge their own struggle. What started as radiant hope becomes denial in disguise, robbing others of permission to feel.
⧠Loyalty â Loss of Self
Loyalty is sacred. It anchors trust and sustains love. But loyalty without discernment can turn into self-erasure. A character might defend the wrong people, tolerate mistreatment, or silence their conscience -- all in the name of loyalty. They stay, even when it hurts. They follow, even when it breaks them. What began as devotion becomes a chain.
⧠Humanity â Overwhelm or Emotional Collapse
To be deeply human is to feel joy, rage, sorrow, wonder -- all fully. But a character might become so open to the world's weight that they drown in it. They struggle to regulate emotions, internalizing every injustice or heartache. Their humanity is profound, but it becomes unsustainable. Their openness turns into fragility, and their emotional world consumes them.
⧠Altruism â Disintegration of Boundaries
The altruist gives freely, loves fiercely, and seeks nothing in return. But when they give too much without limits, they fade from themselves. They neglect rest, silence their needs, and begin to believe that self-worth is earned only through sacrifice. Eventually, others begin to rely on them, but never truly see them. Their selflessness becomes a slow disappearance.
The Guardians of Camoria by A.A. Walker
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Thereâs actually a few things here that majorly dropped childhood mortality. In no particular order these includeâŠ
Vaccines (yay!)
Pasteurization
Implementing and enforcing food quality and sanitation standards. Did you know White Castle was called as such because their gimmic was that they continually cleaned and bleached their stores inside and out to prevent food poisoning.
The invention of antibiotics! The first sulfa drugs dropped in the 1930s-40s
Widespread access and distribution of enriched food products! Enriched flour did a lot to prevent malnutrition, and itâs how Wonderbread got its name!
We got a hell of a lot better with medical care for sick and premature infants. The first incubators for premature babies were actually used as something of a sideshow attraction at Coney Island! It was the only way the doctor who invented them could get funding to keep them running because no one thought it would work. It showed a lot of people that really premature babies could survive with the right treatment and eventually was adopted by hospitals.
The green revolution in agriculture that prevented around a billion people from starving to death
More recently itâs been widespread access to mosquito nets and medication to poorer and rural areas
Things to consider when Writing about Rebellions!!
âč Who actually started this thing and why. was it one charismatic leader, a group of angry citizens, exiled nobles trying to reclaim power. because their original motivation might be very different from what the rebellion becomes
âč How are they funded?? rebellions need money. weapons cost money. feeding people costs money. are they stealing it, do they have secret benefactors, are they just desperately poor and making do with nothing. This affects EVERYTHING!
âč What's the actual organizational structure. is there a clear leader or is it more of a chaotic collective. How do decisions get made. Who has real power vs who's just the public face
âč Where do they hide/operate from. Secret basement meetings? the forest? another country that's protecting them? constantly moving? do normal citizens know where to find them if they want to join
âč How do they communicate without getting caught. Coded messages, magic, messenger birds, is there a spy network. What happens when the codes get cracked
âč What's their actual plan here. overthrow the government and then what?? do they have ideas for what comes after or are they just angry and desperate. this is where a lot of rebellions fall apart
âč Who joins a rebellion? the idealists, the people who lost everything, those seeking revenge, bored nobles wanting adventure (who are probably terrible at it), people who were forced into it. mix it up
âč How do members prove loyalty and what happens to suspected traitors. because there's definitely a traitor. there's always a traitor
Things to consider when Writing about Gods & Religion!!
âč Are the gods actually real and active or is it all faith-based. because "god shows up physically to yell at people" is a very different vibe from "we haven't heard from them in 500 years but we still pray"
âč What do they want from their followers. worship, sacrifices, good deeds, chaos, entertainment. are they benevolent or kind of jerks about it. Ancient mythology gods were mostly jerks tbh
âč How many gods are there and do they get along. monotheism is simple but a messy pantheon where the gods have drama with each other?? so much more fun to write. they can have feuds. forbidden relationships. family issues
âč What happens when you die in this religion. reincarnation? specific afterlife? different afterlives based on how you lived? just nothing? this affects how people behave SO much
âč Who are the priests/priestesses and what's their role. are they magical conduits, political power players, just regular people leading prayers.
âč Are there religious laws and how strict are they. what are the sins/taboos. what happens if you break them.
âč What are the religious practices. daily prayers, annual festivals, pilgrimages, ritual sacrifices (of what though). the specific details make it feel real
âč Is there religious persecution. multiple religions that hate each other? one state religion and everything else is banned? forced conversions? people hiding their faith?
âč Do the gods play favorites or can anyone worship them. are there gods for specific groups (god of soldiers, god of thieves)
âč What proof is there that any of this is real. miracles? prophecies that came true? divine artifacts? or is it all just faith and tradition and nobody actually knows
âč How has the religion changed over time. do they have like reformation drama, lost texts?
âč What's the church's relationship with magic if magic exists. is magic a gift from the gods, heresy, completely separate, or did magic exist first and gods came later
WHEN A CHARACTER IS PRETENDING TO BE SOMEONE THEYâRE NOT
REPOST!
Pretending isnât just lying, no, itâs becoming a version of yourself that feels easier to manage (easier to love, or control, or survive inside.) Itâs a mask that starts out as protection and slowly becomes a second skin. One thatâs hard to take off, even when you want to.
âŠÂ They mirror the people around them without meaning to. Their laugh, their phrasing, the way they sit, it all shifts depending on who theyâre with. Like theyâre constantly adjusting, matching the energy in the room, trying to be what they think people want.
âŠÂ Theyâre vague when things get personal, and not because theyâre secretive, but because they donât know anymore. Ask them their favorite song, and theyâll pause too long. Ask about their past, and their answers are half-finished, polished at the edges, like theyâve been told too many times to keep it clean.
âŠÂ  They over-prepare for conversations. They run through the dialogue in their head ahead of time. Rehearse their jokes, their exits, their answers. Everything feels a little scripted, like theyâre playing the role of âthemselvesâ instead of just⊠being.
âŠÂ They always look put-together, maybe almost too much. Their clothes, their hair, their whole vibe is carefully chosen. But thereâs a difference between style and armor, and this is armor. A version of themselves theyâve curated, down to the last thread.
âŠÂ They panic when the script slips. Catch them off guard, and it shows⊠like, they freeze and fumble. The real stuff, feels dangerous. Being authentic means being vulnerable, and theyâve learned the hard way how risky that is.
âŠÂ They shift depending on the room. One version of them at home, another at school, another with friends, like flipping channels. Itâs not manipulation, no guys, itâs muscle memory, and theyâve learned to survive by adapting, and now they canât stop.
âŠÂ They touch their face or hair when theyâre uncomfortable, like theyâre checking to make sure the mask is still in place. A nervous habit thatâs half-grounding, half-ritual, as if letting their guard down even physically would let everything else fall apart, too.
âŠÂ Their smile is always photo-ready. Perfect, pretty, practicedâŠBut thereâs something in the eyes that doesnât match, like theyâre smiling at you, not with you. Like theyâve learned what people want to see, and theyâve gotten very good at giving it.
âŠÂ  If someone tells them, âI like the real you,â they go quiet. Not because theyâre shy, but because deep down, they donât know who the ârealâ version even is anymore. They want to believe thereâs someone underneath it all, they just donât know how to find them.
⧠Being poor is expensive. You can't buy in bulk to save money. You pay fees for not having enough in your account. You buy cheap shoes that wear out fast instead of good ones that last.
⧠The math is constant. Every purchase is a calculation. Can I afford this? What can I skip? Is this worth it? Your character's always doing mental accounting.
⧠You get creative. Meals from whatever's left in the pantry. Fixing things with duct tape and hope. Making do because you have to.
⧠Shame is real. Your character might lie about why they can't go out. Make excuses. Hide their situation because poverty is treated like a moral failure.
⧠Small luxuries feel huge. A coffee from an actual coffee shop instead of gas station. Buying name-brand something. These aren't nothing, they're big deals.
⧠You're always tired. Working multiple jobs, irregular hours, the stress of never having enough, it's exhausting. Your character's running on empty.
⧠Future planning is hard. When you're worried about making rent, thinking about retirement or savings feels impossible. You're in survival mode.
⧠Other people don't get it. Friends who casually suggest expensive activities. People who think you're bad with money when really there's just not enough of it.
⧠The system works against you. Need an ID to get a job but need money to get an ID. Need an address to get assistance but you're homeless. Catch-22s everywhere.
⧠IT'S NOT A CHARACTER FLAW. Your character isn't poor because they're lazy or stupid. Circumstances, bad luck, systemic issues, poverty is complex and it's not about moral worth.
As I dive into researching signs of fear for my horror WIP, I wanted to share some of the most compelling and visceral reactions Iâve come across. Whether youâre writing a chilling scene or crafting a characterâs panic, these 20 signs of fear can help bring tension and realism to your story.
Physical Reactions
Hyperventilating â sucking in air but never feeling like itâs enough
Chest tightens â feels like a weight or hands pressing down
Limbs shaking violently, knees buckling
Complete loss of muscle control â collapsing or unable to stand
Cold sweat soaking through clothes
Heart hammering so hard they feel it in their throat or head
Tunnel vision â the world narrowing down to one terrifying focal point
Ringing in the ears or sudden deafness, like the world drops away
Emotional Walls Your Character Has Built (And What Might Finally Break Them)
(How your character defends their soft core and what could shatter it) Because protection becomes prison real fast.
ⶠSarcasm as armor. (Break it with someone who laughs gently, not mockingly.)
ⶠHyper-independence. (Break it with someone who shows up even when theyâre told not to.)
ⶠStoicism. (Break it with a safe space to fall apart.)
ⶠFlirting to avoid intimacy. (Break it with real vulnerability they didnât see coming.)
ⶠGhosting everyone. (Break it with someone who wonât take silence as an answer.)
ⶠLying for convenience. (Break it with someone who sees through them but stays anyway.)
ⶠAvoiding touch. (Break it with accidental, gentle contact that feels like home.)
ⶠOversharing meaningless things to hide real depth. (Break it with someone who asks the second question.)
ⶠOverworking. (Break it with forced stillness and the terrifying sound of their own thoughts.)
ⶠPretending not to care. (Break it with a loss they canât fake their way through.)
ⶠAvoiding mirrors. (Break it with a quiet compliment that hits too hard.)
ⶠTurning every conversation into a joke. (Break it with someone who doesnât laugh.)
ⶠBeing everyoneâs helper. (Break it when someone asks what they need, and waits for an answer.)
ⶠConstantly saying âIâm fine.â (Break it when they finally scream that theyâre not.)
ⶠRunning. Always running. (Break it with someone who doesnât chase, but doesnât leave, either.)
ⶠIntellectualizing every feeling. (Break it with raw, messy emotion they canât logic away.)
ⶠTrying to be the strong one. (Break it when someone sees the weight theyâre carrying, and offers to help.)
ⶠHiding behind success. (Break it when they succeed and still feel empty.)
ⶠAvoiding conflict at all costs. (Break it when silence causes more pain than the truth.)
ⶠFocusing on everyone elseâs healing but their own. (Break it when they hit emotional burnout.)
1. To all those who are new to Tumblr no matter the reason I really recommend for you to at least personalize your Tumblr, just change your picture profile at least.
While I myself am fairly new so I don't really know what the war with the bots is, others will block you on sight, because you do look like a bot
I know that rebloging is hard, I still have a hard time, but try to search for something you really like, maybe a drawing or photos of places, just have at least one or two reblogs, it'll show others you are not a bot
And number 2
My asks are open about any fandom I've written about,
