Life Letters of Esolum

This is the journal blog of rk serrano. this is a exercise in writing for my characters to develop them. some of the words used here could be considered triggering due to historical means. keep that in mind.

[mythogenesi]

Dangit.

A few of my posts have been deleted by tumblr. Unfortunately, the app for tumblr has a very strange error where if you update from the phone with images it will not let you post it. The only way to do it is to save it as a draft and post it all over again. :|

[crimson-sun]

From the Shinra Photo Book Project - a set of magazine spreads shot during the Before Crisis/Crisis Core era to impress the public and recruit future candidates to each department.

I’m slowly reviving this project - hoping to have something physical by mid next year. Do check the tag up there for previous updates.

Patreon | Facebook | Twitter

[mythogenesi]

Kitesoix’s New Face

I tried to do a new face for her, a cuter face. I have always really hated my serious face anime style.   I wanted something just better, so I looked over some ideas and tried to make this mine :0!

[mythogenesi]

How to organize your world building

So, you want to start world-building but you don't know how to organize it. From the beginning you should have multiple places for this information in case you lose it. Here are things you need to start:

Google Drive

Usb Drive

Notebook

Writing software(ie: Microsoft Word.)

1. Sign up for Google Email.

You get 15g free with Google Drive. This is an amazing resource for writing on the go, inputing your ideas and keeping a secondary backup. This comes with Excel and Word type functions that are useful to you. This will become priceless to your world-building process.

The usb drive is a backup only for your offline work, after each finished item you should be exporting into the same files and folders for your computer. Basically, if you were to lose your drive and everything was lost, you would have an independant backup available away from eyes.

The notebook:

These can be purchased at Walgreens for around 5 dollars. They are 3/5 notebook, these are lifesavers. When world-building, you will find your best ideas are never when you are ready to write them but when you are idle. Usually, some places like work, school, driving, out with friends and you will have an idea and no place for it. These are just for small notes, random ideas, character plots. Etc..

I know a friend who uses one note, but you cannot always touch your phone where you are. I carry these in my pockets as I am not allowed to use my phone on the sales floor at my job. No one will look twice if you are writing something down, even when out with friends and family. Its a discreet way to work on it without being rude.

Software:

I suggest an offline software for your writing, something that you can work on without an internet connection. While it is unlikely that something will happen to your online copies in google drive, I always have multiple backups of something as important as world-building. The usb is used here to keep your files in a safe place, updated often. I plan to write multiple stories in the same world, so naturally a lot of it will need elaborating.

And there we go!

These are the first steps to beginning organizing your world!

[adventurebeneaththewords]

Hey y'all I wanna follow and interact with more writers.

So if that’s you, please reblog 💕

[mythogenesi]

<3

[inky-duchess]

Fantasy Guide to Writing Kings

Kings. The least powerful piece on the chessboard but the most powerful man in the kingdom. How do you write them?

1. The Image

Men are men. Kings are men. This toxic masculinity has always surrounded kings. They must be warriors, scholars and courtiers. They must be the best at everything. They must be number 1.

2. Shattered Image

They never are so wonderful. Henry VII was seen as a saviour by many Englishmen living under Richard III (not a terrible guy, fight me). But Henry spent his reign penny-pinching and being a miser. Kings are human, they are not perfect.

3. The Crown

How did your king get the crown? Invasion? Birthright? Murder? Does he want it? Why?

4. Personality vs Leadership.

Bad kings don’t mean bad people and vice versa. You can be a standup guy but a terrible monarch. Or a dick and a great ruler. Henry VI was a saintly man but a horrible king.

5. Watch those knives at your back

Crown and throne equal danger. Power equal danger. No man can wear a crown and be safe. The king is the alpha and many will want him to fall. He must protect himself or loose his crown and his head.

6. Play to win, never fairly

Kings cannot survive being nice. Good men will find the mantle of kingship hard to bear. They will have to play dirt to win most times. Treason is a weed and your king must burn it before it destroys the rest of the garden even if it burns his own hands or somebody else. Heavy lies that crown, my friends.

[mythogenesi]

Nasariel is like these <3

[inky-duchess]

Fantasy Guide to Executions

I am planning to write a big execution scene in TTK this week. Am I emotionally ready? No. Physically? No. Mentally? Kinda. So here are a few tips on writing a realistic execution.

1. Chop and Change

Most executions are beheadings either by axe or guillotine. Though effective and bloody, they are done. There are hundreds of ways to kill a character by execution. Hanging, drawing, quartering. Let your inner Tudor out. Why not invent your own method of execution?

2. Setting

Executions happen on a specially built stage called a scaffold. Executions can be held before a crowd or in private. Commoners being executed were killed before crowds for entertainment. But nobles were sometimes killed in private but depending on how big a message their death was sending, they could be executed before a crowd.

3. The price

Yes. Executions cost money. You have to buy the scaffold, pay men to build it and of course pay the executioner. Yet, some nobles who were executed had to pay their own executioner for the pleasure. Anne Boleyn had to pay her own executioner.

4. Casual or fancy

Its a wonderful day for a funeral. What does your character wear? Well many prisoners wore their underclothes, their shirts and breeches or their chemises. Fancy clothes got in the way of the axe. Ladies would not wear veils and would have hair bound up.

5. Axe the swords, people

Executions did not take place with a sword. An axe was commonly used. Anne Boleyn’s was carried out by a French swordsman as a favour to her as he was quick. This sentiment did not repeat for the fifth wife, Katherine Howard or any one else.

6. Charges

What reason are they up on the scaffold? Treason? Murder? Think on whether the crime suits the punishment. Treason must always equal death, otherwise your ruler won’t sit that throne for long.

7. Bloody

If you are beheading your character, one swing doesn’t always make the cut. Mary Queen of Scots had multiple blows to kill her. Executions are murders, very ugly ones sometimes. Don’t tune it down.

[inky-duchess]

Fantasy Guide to Battle Strategies

Strategies are an important part of battle. As a writer you will need to know about strategies. You must plan your battles. You are the real battle commander in a battle. Own the part.

Before Battle

Supply and Demand: When planning a battle you must plan how you are going to feed, clothe and arm the army. You will have to bring at least two hundred wagons of supplies. If you want to hurt your enemy before battle begins, take out their food, weapons and armour.

Make an offer they can’t reuse: Let’s say three parties are coming to fight you. Before battle, you have a chat with each offering them terms. Sometimes the talks may be private. Your new ally can turn on your enemies in battle and the two of you can destroy your enemy.

Field: pick your battlefield. The battle of Flodden in Scotland was won by England on the back of the marshy land the Scottish foolishly picked.

During battle

Pincer: This is a movement meant to attack an army on both sides. While a splinter force attacks from the front distracting the army while the others attack from the sides.

Divide and conquer – picking off parts of an army one by one. Taking out parts instead of facing all of them.

Flanking – attacking from the side of the army or at the rear

Encirclement – surrounding the enemy on all sides and picking them off. This is how the Carthage won against Rome.

Strike and retreat- attack at full force and then withdraw. When repeated, this tires out an army and sets them on edge.

Feint – calling focus on an action while another action is taking place. This usually takes place before some of the others.

All in – throwing everything you have at once. This can be dangerous as you can be encircled. But if you have a bulky army, this may win a battle for you.

[sonderingeternally]

World Building Tips:  Empires and Power Structures

World building is important in any setting. There are places, such as fantasy literature where it can become the difference between a believable world and an unbelievable one. Suspension of disbelief is often a critical part to stories. 

Many fantasy books take place during times of war, or revolution or even a fall of a corrupt empire.  I love reading these sorts of stories, as many people do.  Power structures can be complex.  They can be used to create tension and drama between characters - take for instance the hero versus the corrupt government troupe in fiction such as The Hunger Games, Harry Potter or even more traditional fantasies such as Tigana ( by Guy Gavriel Kay) or The Wheel of Time series (by Robert Jordan).   As a reader it can be compelling to follow these stories.  For writers though, it can seem daunting to go into the details of shaping a believable power structure.  Here are some basic tips for creating one.  

There are four crucial factors to any power structure.  These are as follows:

1. Military - this includes the size of the army, the types of technology used (guns or swords? navy or land army?), the basic structure of the army (is it highly regimented like the Romans? What are the different groups within the army? How are they divided - by technology, skills or social status?). Another important question here is why has the military developed in this way? The Roman military, for example, grew out of competition with other Italian states. The opposition is equally important here - who were/are they within your story? Apply the above questions just as much to them, because empires and other structures are influenced by the world around them. The military can be the reason an empire begins in the first place.  The military should also play a role in sustaining the power structure/empire.  It doesn’t have to be the strongest factor by any means.  It may even become the downfall of the structure in the end.

2. Economy - How is your power structure or empire funded? Does this change over time? Does your empire take part in internal or external trade? Is trade important to the running of the empire? Resources such as crops, fertile land or people are also a part of this and influences the larger actions (such as conquest) your structure takes towards other countries. Trade can be a form of control and influence as well, even outside of the structure’s territory. In terms of story, a lot of decisions that are made involve trade or economic reasons - no one wants to get on the wrong side of someone who controls valuable resources or trade with other entities. The British Empire was based mainly on trade and this insured a global influence even as it declined in actual power.

3. Administration: The system of government and the way it manages itself is important to know. Is it a traditional monarchy or a democracy? How is leadership decided? How is power delegated throughout the larger administration? Hierarchy? One person can’t do or know everything. In terms of empire and conquest this is equally important. Does the empire recruit the local elites from conquered areas to administer to the general public, like the Romans? If your story is set in the outskirts of your empire, this could effect the outcome of the story - local elites might enjoy the power they have gained through an alliance with the larger empire and thus be unwilling to revolt against it. What other ways does your power structure control its territory? Does it use culture, or a set language to spread out into new territory? What kind of empire is your empire? Is it land based (only conquering territories linked by land) or maritime (navy focused with overseas territory)?

4. Culture: How does your power structure interact with its subjects? Even in a small area, different ethnic groups exist, so what unites all of them together? Are they all united, or is there groups of people the power structure leaves out? Have they always been left out deliberately or have these groups formed over time?How does the the government and the people from inside the empire view outsiders and their culture? Does this influence your story or characters? Do negative stereotypes or different language create a barrier between your character and others? In newly conquered areas is the empire’s language, laws and social ideals endorsed to locals or is it forced upon them? Is religion important to how the empire works or interacts? For example, before war do the gods need to show approval for the empire’s commanders? What about clashes of religion with other areas? Where do cultures intersect? Is your empire influenced by an older power or a hard past? What is seen as integral to your structure’s culture - art, literature, music etc? Are allies connected with your structure through culture, a shared distant history?

Most power structures rely on all of these factors - but none are ever equal in importance. Your government will identify one or two of these areas as important and focus on them. This can impact how the structure comes together and eventually falls apart - the greatest strength becomes a weakness, or something is overlooked until it is too late.

This is a long post - so I’m going to leave it here for now. If you guys have any questions, feel free to use the Ask feature to contact me.

[wondrousworldbuilding]

Questions for developing the biology of a new species or race

Something to remember when developing your new species or races: always remember that your unique race/alien race should not distract from the narrative. It is always fun to experience new and different peoples that can be so similar to humanity while being so different. But you don’t want to create a main species that is so utterly alien that it distracts from your narrative. The details of your race should enhance your story, not needlessly complicate it.

So! With that in mind…

Starting from scratch:

What about them says “other”?

How are their environmental conditions reflected in their biology?

What texture/color is their skin or outer layer? Why?

Do they have hair? If so, where and what color(s)? What texture(s)?

How many biological sexes are there? How many genders?

How many cones do their eyes have?

How many limbs do they have? How are they used?

How many fingers/toes do they have? How has this altered their number system?

Were they the only race on their home planet that evolved to “intelligent?”

For further development:

How would it describe its setting?

Do they have physical traits specific to their class or caste?

What traits do others of their species find attractive? Why?

Do they use special tools to enhance or repair damaged/failing physical traits or senses (glasses/contacts, prosthetics, wheelchairs)?

What unifying characteristics set them apart from humans? What do they have in common?

What dietary needs do they have?

Do they use special ornamentation (clothing, jewelry, tattoos) to show rank, occupation, heritage, etc.?

How do they relate to temperature or climate?

Do they have joints or tendons that move in a way that would seem unnatural to humans?

What is their sexual biology like? Is it analogous to ours, or something entirely different?

What recreational activities are healthy/positive for their biology?

How does their body respond to various types of excitement or emotion?

Creative exercises for species/racial development:

If someone were write a wanted poster for a criminal of this race, what features would the notice highlight? Why?

What are (or hypothetically would be) the most popular plastic surgeries among people of this species?

What is their average morning routine? How do their care for themselves, physically, on a daily basis?

Write a short story in which someone of your new species/race attempts to put on a set of human clothes or visa versa. 

What is the most popular sport and how is it played? How do the species’ unique traits play into the game, if at all?

Check out the rest of the Brainstorming Series! Magic Systems, Part One Magic Systems, Part Two New Worlds Cultures Civilizations Map Making Politics and Government Belief Systems & Religion Guilds, Factions, & Groups War & Conflict Science & Technology Wildlife & Ecosystems History & Lore

[mythogenesi]

This is useful.

[wondrousworldbuilding]

Why develop a fictional culture?

When you’re creating a race of people for your new world, you need a culture to give those people and their way of life some context. The culture helps determine how the characters act, dress, eat, solve problems, among so many other things. You can (and sometimes, should) have multiple cultures in your world, depending on how large your focus area is. Cultures affect each other, but also serve in a narrative sense to draw contrast in-world and to draw parallels to the reader’s world. 

So here are some thoughts, big and small, that are meant to help inspire you as you create amazing cultures. (And remember that you’re thinking about the following questions in the context of the general population, not your main character(s).) You can simply answer these questions in short-answer form, or you can write a short story to flesh out one or two or three questions at once. If you do that, submit them to me! I’d love to feature them on the blog. 

How old do people believe their race is? How old are they really?

How prevalent are religions to the common person?

What is/are the origin stories of the main religion(s)?

What do most people think should be the highest priority:

biological family?

chosen family?

career?

service/charity (of any kind)?

religion?

entertainment/fun?

nation?

expansion (of nation/culture/influence/understanding)?

How do culturally shared priorities shape interactions?

What is the common greeting? Does it vary by age, class, rank, or sect?

How is gender viewed by the majority? Why?

What are common myths/legends of your people and how heavily do they influence the modern day?

How trustful are people of outsiders?

How welcoming are people, in general, of strangers into their homes?

How well do people of various factions (class, race, religion, etc.) get along in society?

How far has technology advanced, and how has it been implemented into their daily lives?

If magic exists, what do they believe is its origin? Its source?

If there is division between magic/non-magic, how do the two treat each other and why? How long has it been that way?

What sort of relationship do they have with their ruler?

How content is the average person?

How do people make their living and how big a part of their life is their career (if applicable)?

Do they have “weekends” and if so, what sets them apart from “weekdays”?

How do they treat their close friends?

How do they treat their enemies?

How do they handle small conflict, between individuals or small groups?

How do they handle larger conflicts?

How are they prepared for any potential war? Do they have some sort of military or militia in place? 

How many wars have they, as a society, fought over the course of their lives/history? How much of an impact does that have on their cultural identity? (i.e. WW2′s impact on patriotism in America, and how it’s yet to go away.)

What virtues do they value in individuals? What virtues do they say they value? If those are different, why?

How do they dress? Does it vary greatly by gender, or not? Is their focus on clothing very practical, religious, sentimental, or simply driven by the latest arbitrary fashion? How do the above answers reflect on the culture on a deeper level?

How do they treat their elderly?

How do they treat their children?

At what age does a baby become a child, a child a young adult, a young adult an adult, an adult an elder?

How much regulation does the day-to-day life of the average citizen entail? Or, how involved is the government in micro affairs?

How are these people seen throughout their known world? How do other cultures view this culture?

Check out the rest of the Brainstorming Series! Magic Systems, Part One Magic Systems, Part Two New Species New Worlds  Map Making Politics and Government Belief Systems & Religion Guilds, Factions, & Groups War & Conflict Science & Technology Wildlife & Ecosystems History & Lore

[mythogenesi]

Super helpful!

[thewritingwarrior]

Need to follow more fantasy writeblrs

Please reblog if your are a fantasy writer or just enjoy fantasy and I’ll check out your blog!

[mythogenesi]

Howdy!

[brynwrites]

What not to write in fantasy.

I’ve seen some posts going around on what not to write in fantasy, many of which amount to:

Don’t write evil kings.

Don’t write people who are evil for the sake of evil.

Don’t write bullies.

Don’t write villains at all actually.

Don’t write mentors.

Don’t let your characters learn how to do hard things on their own though.

Don’t write people on adventures.

Don’t write people fighting evil governments.

Don’t write any fantasy species ever written before.

Don’t write any fantasy trope ever written before.

Don’t write any fantasy plot ever written before. 

Just… don’t fucking write fantasy I guess??

And this is such utter bullshit, my friends.

We do need more originality and diversity in fantasy, but we don’t need to remove everything that fantasy is and has been in the process.

(Especially, especially, when diversity is being included in traditionally cishet white male protagonist fantasy stories.)

Maybe the chosen one with special magic powers and a royal bloodline going on a quest with a group of friends to defeat the evil king has been done before with a white cis man a thousand times over, but how many times has a black trans woman got to go on that adventure? 

Maybe elves and orcs have been written into the dust, but they still make great templates on which to tell stories with original twists, and there’s nothing about them that stops a good, emotional story from hitting you straight in the heart.

Maybe dragons have been done by every writer ever to write fantasy, but you know what? Dragons are fucking awesome, my dudes. Many readers are always gonna love them.

Maybe we have told the same fantasy stories over and over again, but every step you take away from the known template is a step you have to spend more and more exposition on before the reader will understand your original creation.

So don’t let anyone make you feel like that your (inclusive) fantasy story is too ‘traditional’ to be good. As long as you produce a well written story you’ve put your heart into, it’ll be a story many readers will love. 

[mythogenesi]

Listen, one of my characters is an evil king, but he is more than the trope. That's what you are trying to achieve here, so don't worry about what everyone else says.

[inky-duchess]

Fantasy Guide to Royal Weddings

Yes, it has happened. Ms. Markle has married Prince Harry and it is a win for all. Or some shit like that. Fairytales don’t come true. Fantasy is the closest thing you will get to it.

In fantasy, Royal Weddings are not made for love. They are made for:

1. Alliances

Families marry their children to their allies or enemies to form an alliance. Marriages can be seen as a business merger, two companies coming together as one.

2. Acquisitions

Some marriages are made to gain something. Some spouses marry to gain money or lands or power.

3. Dynastic Reasons

Royal families or noble families sometimes marry certain spouses to continue bloodlines or to pass on a certain gene, let’s say a magic power or to pass on a right, like right to the throne.

4. Love

Yes, it does happen. Some marriages can be for love. Peasants even royalty will risk all for love. See the cases of Wallis Simpson and Elizabeth Woodville for ideas. Perhaps fairytales can come true.

[mythogenesi]

<3

[inky-duchess]

Fantasy Guide to Female Court Positions Part 1

A royal court is the servants, friends and noble families that live with the king or queen in the royal palace. Here are four female roles for noblewomen at court.

1. Lady-in-waiting

The lady-in-waiting is the female companion of the queen, a consort, princess or a noblewoman. They are there to keep their lady company, looking fine and some even turn spy for or against their mistress. They are women from the top noble families and sometimes royal spouses.

2. Maid-in-waiting

Like the lady-in-waiting, these women do the same thing. But these are unmarried women from lower noble families.

3. Mistress

The girlfriend or side-hoe of a king, noble or even a queen (woo, diversity). They are usually noblewomen. They hold an important role at court and can be treated as an unofficial queen. They are not always bitches however, some historical mistresses have been besties with the queens or wives of their lovers.

4. Governess

These women look after royal children. Think of them like a nanny without having to deal with the mess and tears. They can be surrogate mothers to their charges or like evil step-mothers.

[write-the-galaxy-blog]

Some Things to Think About While Writing Your Fantasy Novel

Is there any way I can add a unique spin to dragons/fairies/unicorns/other mythos?

Is there a troupe or cliche I can subvert here?

Have I done my research? (Yes you need to do research when writing fantasy stories.)

Can I make this gayer?

Will this just come off as another “chosen one” story?

Is my main character enjoyable to be in the head of? (If you’re writing first person, that is.)

What tone am I going for? (funny, serious, inspiring, whimsical, depressing, more than one of the above?)

Am I avoiding negative stereotypes?

Can I make this gayer?

Does the magic system follow the rules I’ve established?

Have I established rules for my magic system?

Just how far are my characters travelling, and how long does it take?

What are the customs of this setting? (Social cues, common stories, dialect, beliefs?)

Can I make it even gayer?

Am I respectful to any cultures or ethnicities I draw inspiration from and/or am representing in my novel?

[ahjiee-rana-deactivated20250402]

[Character has little to no concrete backstory]

Fanfic writers:

[mythogenesi]

The stories Ive crafted for nobody special lol