The Mad Lady Petrichor

Hello! I am Petrichor and this is the madness of my mind, and I'm here to discover what this place is.

[petrichor102]

Me: *trying to write again*

My brain: *crickets chirping*

~

Me: *reads one of my old fics I'm proud of* 😮 How the f😭k did I

WRITE THAAAAAT?!

[bebx]

Mr. Sunshine x Inhun crossover

Eugene survived the event in the show and somehow time traveled / was teleported to the modern day.

He meets Gi-hun.

Gi-hun thinks Eugene is In-ho messing with his head. So he’s hostile. Meanwhile Eugene just wants to know where he is and why is everything so strange.

In-ho later shows up at Gi-hun’s motel. He just wants to continue messing with Gi-hun (liar, he misses Gi-hun and can’t stay away). He sees Eugene, a man with his face, and his first thought is that Gi-hun replaced him with a knockoff.

Eugene sees In-ho, a man with his face, and thinks “what kind of sorcery is this?”

Gi-hun walks into the room and suddenly there are two In-hoes(??????????) *brain short circuits* “why are there TWO of them??????”

Everybody is confused. Nobody is having a good time.

[petrichor102]

He dies???

[petrichor102]

Approval Odds

In-ho: You have my word. Gi-hun: 😑 Show me your credit history first. In-ho: Listen here, you ₩400millon-debt-ridden little sh🤬!

[hayatheauthor]

100 Dialogue Tags You Can Use Instead of “Said”

For the writers struggling to rid themselves of the classic ‘said’. Some are repeated in different categories since they fit multiple ones (but those are counted once so it adds up to 100 new words). 

1. Neutral Tags 

Straightforward and unobtrusive dialogue tags: 

Added, Replied, Stated, Remarked, Responded, Observed, Acknowledged, Commented, Noted, Voiced, Expressed, Shared, Answered, Mentioned, Declared.

2. Questioning Tags 

Curious, interrogative dialogue tags:

Asked, Queried, Wondered, Probed, Inquired, Requested, Pondered, Demanded, Challenged, Interjected, Investigated, Countered, Snapped, Pleaded, Insisted.

3. Emotive Tags 

Emotional dialogue tags:

Exclaimed, Shouted, Sobbed, Whispered, Cried, Hissed, Gasped, Laughed, Screamed, Stammered, Wailed, Murmured, Snarled, Choked, Barked.

4. Descriptive Tags 

Insightful, tonal dialogue tags: 

Muttered, Mumbled, Yelled, Uttered, Roared, Bellowed, Drawled, Spoke, Shrieked, Boomed, Snapped, Groaned, Rasped, Purred, Croaked.

5. Action-Oriented Tags 

Movement-based dialogue tags: 

Announced, Admitted, Interrupted, Joked, Suggested, Offered, Explained, Repeated, Advised, Warned, Agreed, Confirmed, Ordered, Reassured, Stated.

6. Conflict Tags 

Argumentative, defiant dialogue tags:

Argued, Snapped, Retorted, Rebuked, Disputed, Objected, Contested, Barked, Protested, Countered, Growled, Scoffed, Sneered, Challenged, Huffed.

7. Agreement Tags 

Understanding, compliant dialogue tags: 

Agreed, Assented, Nodded, Confirmed, Replied, Conceded, Acknowledged, Accepted, Affirmed, Yielded, Supported, Echoed, Consented, Promised, Concurred.

8. Disagreement Tags 

Resistant, defiant dialogue tags: 

Denied, Disagreed, Refused, Argued, Contradicted, Insisted, Protested, Objected, Rejected, Declined, Countered, Challenged, Snubbed, Dismissed, Rebuked.

9. Confused Tags 

Hesitant, uncertain dialogue tags:

Stammered, Hesitated, Fumbled, Babbled, Mumbled, Faltered, Stumbled, Wondered, Pondered, Stuttered, Blurted, Doubted, Confessed, Vacillated.

10. Surprise Tags

Shock-inducing dialogue tags:

Gasped, Stunned, Exclaimed, Blurted, Wondered, Staggered, Marvelled, Breathed, Recoiled, Jumped, Yelped, Shrieked, Stammered.

Note: everyone is entitled to their own opinion. No I am NOT telling people to abandon said and use these. Yes I understand that said is often good enough, but sometimes you WANT to draw attention to how the character is speaking. If you think adding an action/movement to your dialogue is 'good enough' hate to break it to you but that ruins immersion much more than a casual 'mumbled'. And for the last time: this is just a resource list, CALM DOWN. Hope that covers all the annoyingly redundant replies :)

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!

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[writing-chats]

the look of love (for writers)

"it's all in the eyes i was once told"

catching the stare of someone across a crowded room

subtle furrowing of eyebrows beyond a blank facade

coldness easing into warmth

a fond mothering gaze

corner of the lip nudged upward

forced glower/glare as they break underneath

batting their lashes, playful

a boisterous laugh

intrigue piercing the stoic

proud smugness at the other's success

lingering glances

a childish joy bursting through

pupils dilate

eyelids shut in a look of peace, calm and trust

look of longing/betrayal

"there was once a time when they were mine"

terseness

features fold into a scowl

an urgent flinching back

coldness returns (as though the warmth had never come)

lips part then purse

invasion of shock

slow stare at the floor

the ripple effect of a swallow

frustrated breath/sigh

bitter laugh in reminiscence

dread tearing through the seams of their composure

look of hatred

"darkness"

mean smirk- teeth bared grimace- scowl

dismissive gaze

gaze of contempt/impatience

threat lowering the voice

sardonic goading grins verging on manic

rolling one's eyes

flicker of irritation in the eyes

stares stubbornly ahead despite distraction

gritted teeth, clenched jaw

fierce biting remarks

even measured complexions betraying no thought

strangling oneself back from violence

utter apathy

murderous silence hanging in the stare

snobbish laughter

smiling at another's downfall

[luna-azzurra]

What Characters do when they're Alone!!!

˙⋆✮ Talking out loud to themselves through problems like no one is listening because no one is

˙⋆✮ The face they make when finally alone after too long being perceived

˙⋆✮ Dancing in a way they would die before doing in front of anyone

˙⋆✮ Practicing conversations that will never happen or already have

˙⋆✮ Eating whatever they want with zero performance of restraint

˙⋆✮ The shows they watch that they'd never recommend because they reveal too much

˙⋆✮ Crying at something small that was really about something large

˙⋆✮ Lying on the floor for no reason and finding it solves something

˙⋆✮ Narrating their own life quietly like a documentary no one commissioned

˙⋆✮ The hobby they've never mentioned to anyone because it belongs only to them

˙⋆✮ Laughing at their own thoughts in an empty room

˙⋆✮ Rehashing old arguments and finally saying the perfect thing three years too late

˙⋆✮ The way their posture completely changes when the last person leaves

˙⋆✮ Making elaborate meals or eating cereal over the sink with no in between

˙⋆✮ The music played at volumes that would concern the neighbors

˙⋆✮ Sitting in silence so deliberately it becomes its own kind of noise

˙⋆✮ Allowing themselves to want things they'd never say out loud to another person

˙⋆✮ The kindness they extend to themselves only when no one is watching

˙⋆✮ Falling apart in the shower because it's the only place that feels private enough

˙⋆✮ The version of themselves they are at 2am that no one else has ever met

[petrichor102]

This is helpful.

[petrichor102]

Associate: Uh, Mrs. Petrichor?

Me: That's me!

Assoc.: *looks up and down at the receipt* Oh, okay. Did your mother have a card on file?

Me: 🥹 I-I have the card here.

[andromeda40002019]

i love you im glad you exist im so happy you’re alive

[shatnerihardlyknowher]

Rb to tell prev you love them ur glad they exist and you’re so happy they’re alive

[petrichor102]

Waiter: Anything for dessert?

Jun-ho: *kissing Kim's nose* We're good.

Sae-byeok: *arm around Ji-yeong* We're ready for the bill.

In-ho: *turns to Gi-hun* Sure you don’t want anything?

Gi-hun: Hmm... no, Ga-yeong and I made a better chocolate cake. You want a slice~?

In-ho: Sure, but... you don't have to bring it all the way back to the restaurant. We're pretty much done.

*Sae-byeok facepalms*

Gi-hun: N-No, I mean... I want you to come with me~

In-ho: Oh, sure! You could grab a slice for yourself while we're there!

Jun-ho: Hwang In-ho, I swear on my life...

[petrichor102]

Look, I'm not saying it....

but—

[petrichor102]

Don't Feed the Freaks!

*Gi-hun sneaks up behind the man in the black mask; and STABS HIM in the shoulder* The Frontman: *turns a page in his Gi-hun scrapbook* Harder, Daddy.

for @bluerose5

[petrichor102]

Don't Feed the Freaks!

*Gi-hun sneaks up behind the man in the black mask; and STABS HIM in the shoulder* The Frontman: *turns a page in his Gi-hun scrapbook* Harder, Daddy.

for @bluerose5

[petrichor102]

No Boit!

Gi-hun: ...?

"Young-il": 👀 ... *nom*

Gi-hun: *panics at Young-il hanging off his pec* What are you doing?

"Young-il": *om nom nom*

[mr-stendahl]

The players:

The pink guards:

[petrichor102]

Our beloved Freak-ho

[petrichor102]

No Boit!

Gi-hun: ...?

"Young-il": 👀 ... *nom*

Gi-hun: *panics at Young-il hanging off his pec* What are you doing?

"Young-il": *om nom nom*

[mr-stendahl]

I accidentally took a pharmacy vault key HOME yesterday and apparently didn’t know so now my poor boyfriend has to drive to my work and drop it off 😔

[petrichor102]

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu🥲k.

[misscandyla]

Squid Game locations that are seriously underutilized in fanfiction:

Motel Rosa:

Seriously, Gi-hun has a motel with a hideout full of rooms, beds, a specific room crammed with cash, a room full of weapons—and yet there’s space for just ONE HUGE HALLWAY MADE OF BROKEN WALLS, WITH LIGHTS INSTALLED, WHERE HE PRACTICES SHOOTING???? No, seriously, he has all that and we don’t talk about it enough? Have you ever thought about him grabbing a hammer in the middle of the night in a fit of rage and starting to smash things? Or even just the motel front desk 😭😭—I mean, there must be a counter. Imagine him hiding behind it—because he was careless and didn’t notice someone watching him from outside—and if they go up, they’ll see him through the glass. There’s so much potential

Game area: another extremely poorly thought-out element. Okay, so games happen—what else? I’m telling you! Guys, it’s a massive architectural and electrical structure. How many game rooms must there be? The hide-and-seek maze??? Imagine if Gi-hun finds it and runs into the maze, and the guards have to look for him? Or if he hides out there on the edge of the drop-off, with his feet dangling over the edge, for hours? Or the mingle? In a sillier scene, In-ho testing the rides before the games, and the carousel goes too fast and the guinea-pig guards fall off? That marbles scene, which looks just like a neighborhood Gi-hun would know. And one I’m going to work on myself soon: dalgona, the playground. IT’S A FULL-SIZE PLAYGROUND—WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT????

Next up, the soldiers’ area.

This is where things get interesting! I’ve already talked about the games, but have you ever thought about the maintenance areas? The kitchen, the bedrooms, the crematorium, the elevators, the boat area, the command room… guys, I can’t be the only one who’s fascinated by this. And here I also include the behind-the-scenes details of the games, like in the jump rope game—the part on the floor. Same with tug-of-war

The staircases.

We talk about them as if they just had a lot of paths. Have you ever really stopped to look at them? It’s a structure that goes from bottom to top, with staircases that go up and down, intertwine, and loop back to the starting point—all extremely colorful, with windows and seemingly random passageways. I know we say, “Oh, he’s been there so long he’s memorized it.” But honestly, I think they look up in the system how to get to that room—except for RLGL. It would drive anyone crazy. And if I may, I’d really love to see a suicidal Gi-hun running from the guards and In-ho, realizing how high the stairs are and trying to jump.

The beach.

Do I need to say more?

And now for what I WANTED MOST

THE FOREST

Do you realize it’s an island, with vegetation and small animals? That there must be trails for the soldiers? That there’s a lot of underbrush there and they need to make sure the upper part of the camp is well-maintained and hidden? Imagine Gi-hun escaping, but everyone starts watching the beach—3, 5, 10 hours go by, and he doesn’t show up. All the boats are there, and there’s no sign of him. Then we realize he must be in that forest.

I need this

[petrichor102]

Huh, I'll keep that in mind.

[petrichor102]

~Then~

Mgr: Just move your date this ONE time.

Me: No! Move your contractor's assessment "this one time".

Mgr: You know we're understaffed! I need you to be a team player. It's not like you have a flight scheduled.

Me: Yeah, wonder why *that* is... Heaven forbid I need one beach day.

Mgr: I don't understand why you need so much time to begin with.

Me: I have five weeks alotted to me a year, what are you TALKING ABOUT?

~Now~

Mgr: Will you please take a vacation?

Me: ... Are you sure? 🥺 Rick's not here.

Mgr: You haven’t taken a single day! It's been nine months already.

Me: ... I never make plans that far ahead.