Resource

Devcynical is my artist brand across all platforms. This blog shares my art progress and art resources I find across the web that you can use as well.

[kradeelav]

both drawn to life books are free to read on archive.org?? and downloadable as pdf???? what!! YO HOLY SHIT

a coworker yesterday was asking me about these behind my chair, and gun to my head, if you asked me what was the single best drawing book of all time -- it'd be these. there's a reason i keep them in irl arm's length.

not to toot my horn but i get a lot of comments about "believable life"/body language in my drawings, and i owe that to this book. Walt Stanchfield -the author- was one of the main mentors to a ton of the rennaisance era disney animators (Glen Keane, Musker, Deja, etc). this guy understands both the kinectic sense of how bodies move and squish/stretch, and how people "act", and composition/silhouette, and is honestly just a thoroughly decent dude.

some screenshots!

[scubaby]

#🧐

[blueboxbeagle]

By LabradoriteKing on Pinterest

[fuckyeahdwarffortress]

A handy guide for your Jewellers and Gem Cutters.

I accept payment in trillion-cut black diamonds.

Chop chop.

[writing-prompt-s]

Useful!

[heywriters]

not to encourage that one freak who would describe every new character's eyes as increasingly obscure gemstones, but....well here you go

[lozyrosie]

Notes on drawing babies!

[midwinterhunt]

hot artists don't gatekeep

I've been resource gathering for YEARS so now I am going to share my dragons hoard

Floorplanner. Design and furnish a house for you to use for having a consistent background in your comic or anything! Free, you need an account, easy to use, and you can save multiple houses.

Comparing Heights. Input the heights of characters to see what the different is between them. Great for keeping consistency. Free.

Magma. Draw online with friends in real time. Great for practice or hanging out. Free, paid plan available, account preferred.

Smithsonian Open Access. Loads of free images. Free.

SketchDaily. Lots of pose references, massive library, is set on a timer so you can practice quick figure drawing. Free.

SculptGL. A sculpting tool which I am yet to master, but you should be able to make whatever 3d object you like with it. free.

Pexels. Free stock images. And the search engine is actually pretty good at pulling up what you want.

Figurosity. Great pose references, diverse body types, lots of "how to draw" videos directly on the site, the models are 3d and you can rotate the angle, but you can't make custom poses or edit body proportions. Free, account option, paid plans available.

Line of Action. More drawing references, this one also has a focus on expressions, hands/feet, animals, landscapes. Free.

Animal Photo. You pose a 3d skull model and select an animal species, and they give you a bunch of photo references for that animal at that angle. Super handy. Free.

Height Weight Chart. You ever see an OC listed as having a certain weight but then they look Wildly different than the number suggests? Well here's a site to avoid that! It shows real people at different weights and heights to give you a better idea of what these abstract numbers all look like. Free to use.

[narrettwist]

Homie gonna share this

[blueboxbeagle]

By LabradoriteKing on Pinterest

[fuckyeahdwarffortress]

A handy guide for your Jewellers and Gem Cutters.

I accept payment in trillion-cut black diamonds.

Chop chop.

[writing-prompt-s]

Useful!

[creativepromptsforwriting]

Smutty One-Liners Part I

“I dreamed of your legs wrapped around my waist.”

“Don’t act innocent when we both know where your mouth was two minutes ago.”

“We should probably leave, before we start a scandal.”

“Stop looking at me like that or my knees will not hold me any longer.”

“I think you lost your underwear somewhere.”

“My tongue still remembers the way you taste.”

“Is there some space left in that bathtub?”

“The way your eyes get darker when you get aroused, is making me lose my mind.”

“I want to count every one of your freckles with my lips.”

“Jealousy seems to be a great motivator for you.”

“Oh no, there is only one bed, what will we do now?”

“I could make you feel better.”

“Get back down here, we’re not done yet.”

“Later you will definitely need to tell me where you learned this.”

“I know I should care about the reason why you’re naked in my bed, but I will just enjoy it for a moment.”

Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee! 🥰

[insomniac-arrest]

sure, you want to include sexual dimorphism in your alien species, go ahead. I’m actually pro-basing your alien species off of existing species, because every life on earth evolved to fill specific niches. Your aliens could have evolved to fill similar niches and thus look the same as like, a bat or something

and as they say, life takes many forms, ed boy.

oh, but hey, the only sexual dimorphism you’re familiar with is like humans?? and all of your females are smaller, wane-creatures?

uuuuh, but what about species where the female is larger than the male??

what about species where the male is colorfully decorated?

or hell, how about when they look exactly the same?

(as a side note, golden tamarins also practice “polyandry” where two males and one female raise the offspring together with the males doing most of the work, where’s that in my sci-fi Star Trek??)

There are literally so many configurations of sex, family structures, social hierarchy, mating rituals, and general evolutionary tactics to survival, the animal kingdom is rich with inspirational material. Please use it!

[bookishdiplodocus]

Naughty words in a godless world

Imagine you're writing a story that takes place in a world that has no God, or gods, or saints. What do you do with exclamations like "Oh gosh!" (derived from "Oh God") or "Jeez!" (derived from "Jesus!")? And - oh god - what do you do with curses and swear words? If your characters can't say "Oh my god", "hell no", or "damn" because there are no gods to damn anyone to hell... what are your options?

Here is a list for inspiration

In general, non-religious curse and swear words refer to local cultural taboos.

Many languages swear by referring to cleanliness: dirty, sweaty, sticky, smelly etc. This includes things you do on the toilet.

Some languages, like Dutch, use diseases as curses and insults. For example, someone nasty/bothersome might be called a "cancer sufferer" in Dutch. These swear words are combinations of (derivates of) typhus, cholera, and cancer.

Societal hierarchy and family trees, mainly the inferior positions like a bastard (seen as inferior in the family tree) or a derogatory word that refers to lower class people (seen as inferior in that society).

On the other hand, you could insult a highly valued member of the other person's family, like their mother, or of their society, like their Queen/Emperor.

Sexual taboos, often implying someone (or their mother) is more sexually active than society accepts of them.

Calling someone the word for someone's genitalia refers to the same taboo.

How do you apply this to your language?

You could use explicit/taboo words as ... :

... an intensifier: "It was a shit-hot day."

... a negative adjective: "This is a shitty job."

... an insulting noun: "This journey is shit."

Or try to be creative and combine different taboos for a multi-hit offense. My favorite one is the Spanish "I shit in your mother's milk", which combines insulting the other person's mother, the taboo of bodily functions, and the taboo of cleanliness.

During my research I came across this article, which contains a number of concrete examples from all over the world you can draw inspiration from.

And on a less offensive note, you could always make up your own equivalent of "Merlin's beard!", "Great Scott!", or "For Pete's sake!" (Pete, by the way, is a catholic reference: Pete is Saint Peter.)

I hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to ask me any questions, and happy writing!

Follow me for more writing advice, or check out my other writing tips here. New topics to write advice about are also always appreciated.

Tag list below the cut. If you like to be added to or removed from the list, let me know.

And if you come up with creative curses, feel free to add them in the comments :)

@therska @writingwordsaddrawingpictures @the-words-we-never-said @writingwhithotchocolate @i-rove-rock-n-roll @maskedlady @no-time-like-write-now @timefire25 @black-lakritz-dragon @nzmayart @fandomrandomness-stuff @dangertoozmanykids101 @anaestheticdisaster @storytellingofravens @purpleshadows1989 @mathematicpony @i-don-t-know-words @notquitenovelist @coffeescribles @reffaces @livingthelovelylife @katsglabella @lokitty-is-my-spirit-animal @thefallenbibliophilequote @watchmewritedumb @sting-the-scribe @kais-writing-shit @dameschnee123 @curiosityonmars @oodlittlething @nonbinarychaoticstupid

[writingwithcolor]

WritingWithColor FAQ: How do I start writing a character of color?

First, be mindful that no race, culture, or ethnicity makes one inherently predisposed to certain emotions or personalities, despite what stereotypes or TTRPGs may suggest. We are all humans who share the same range of emotions and ways of thinking, even if we have different values.

Understand that there is no single template for a good [race, ethnicity] character. A person’s social, economic, and geographical background influences their life and values just as much as their race, culture, or religion. Consider: a Black American boy who grew up in a California mansion versus a Black American boy who grew up on an Illinois cornfield versus a Black boy who grew up in an apartment one city over. All three will have very different privileges, disadvantages, and outlooks on life.

Further reading (WWC x NaNoWriMo):

The Do’s of Writing PoC

Properly Coded: Creating Characters of Color

3 Ways to Show a Character's Culture

---

This Q&A is an excerpt from our General FAQ for Newcomers, which can be found in our new Masterpost of rules and FAQs. For more general resources on POC representation, check it out!

-Writing With Color

[theemeraldgreenwitch]

Do you have any tips for writing intellectually disabled characters? Like from their pov, from the POV of other characters, etc? Any existing characters you think are done well?

Omg another ask! 🥹 Sorry this is late. Thank you so much for asking for my advice, opnion, input, or whatever you wanna call it. Okay so a lot of what I say may parrot mod Sasza from cripplecharacters but I'll try to give my thoughts.

Note: I apologize in advance for using stupid and dumb when describing said characters but I don't always have another way of getting these points across. I also can't speak for every person who has ID or Borderline ID.

Definition: Intectually Disability or ID is a condition where your intelligence is below average. For those of average intelligence, their IQ is at or above 84 or 85.

This can affect learning, communication, social skills, and life skills. The subtypes are: mild, moderate, severe, and profound. Then there's Borderline ID which has higher IQ than someone with ID but below average intelligence.

Answering your questions:

1. I honestly think that you should be careful using any slurs, stereotypes, and microagressions. I think it should serve a purpose in the story.

A microagression would be like: "You're smart in other ways."

Slurs and insults: I think we're familiar with these so I'm just going to skip it.

Stereotypes and tropes:

*Being really strong or smart in other ways

*Predators or Murderers

*Bury the disabled

*Abandon the disabled

*Abusive or negligent caregivers

*I don't know what to call it but we sound the same?

*We do not know any better.

*We're side characters especially sidekicks to villains or evil geniuses.

*We're also aggressive, violent, or emotionally unstable?

*Infantilized

*We're really nice which is apparently the "Dumb is Good" trope.

There are others but these are some of them. That's not to say they should never be written ever but I'd be careful. We want diversity! Some people with ID have other disabilities or conditions such as Down Syndrome, ADHD, Autism, a TBI, etc. which I'd do research or ask others because I don't have them.

Write us like people! We go to school, work, hang out with friends, date, etc. People with ID have interests, jobs, lives, careers, relationships, and some live independently among other things!

2. POV is not one of my strengths but give them a unique character voice and get inside their head. There are all kind of people and different ways we speak.

I have gotten better at English but still struggle with being articulate, making sense, grammar, and there are a lot of words I don't know.

Sometimes I speak like this or use my name and smaller words. Those who need help with speech or can't speak at all deserve respect and to be taken just as seriously!

3. Unfortunately not one that I can of. 😅 I'm sorry! I hope that maybe I can change that or it will be changed in the future. When ID characters are written, they are either severe or profound.

I think the ones with bad or okay representation should be read or watched. I think works like "Of Mice and Men" are important pieces of media.

Thanks again for the ask but before you go:

[large text: writing intellectually disabled characters] Something that very rarely comes up in disability media representation are intelle

Other blogs:

1. cripplecharacters @cripplecharacters

2. zebulontheplanet @zebulontheplanet

3. gwydion's aac blog @gwydion-aacblog

4. Shit! It's a blog by someone named Flower so I'll have to get back to you on that. (I'm sorry that I forgot your blog name.)

Anyway! I would check these out, hope this answers your questions, and please have a wonderful day. :)

[soulwriter-sp]

Creative misfortunes for characters

Identity Crisis: Have your character lose their memory, forcing them to rediscover their true self and past.

Betrayal by a Loved One: A close friend or family member betrays the character's trust, leading to emotional turmoil and inner conflict.

Physical Transformation: Give your character a physical ailment or transformation that they must come to terms with, such as sudden blindness, a debilitating illness, or turning into a different species.

Unrequited Love: Make your character fall deeply in love with someone who doesn't reciprocate their feelings, causing heartache and a quest for self-discovery.

Financial Ruin: Strip your character of their wealth and privilege, forcing them to adapt to a life of poverty and face the harsh realities of the world.

False Accusation: Have your character falsely accused of a crime they didn't commit, leading to a desperate quest to clear their name.

Natural Disaster: Place your character in the path of a devastating natural disaster, such as a hurricane, earthquake, or tsunami, and force them to survive and rebuild.

Loss of a Sense: Take away one of your character's senses (e.g., sight, hearing, taste) and explore how they adapt and cope with this profound change.

Forced Isolation: Trap your character in a remote location, like a deserted island, and make them confront their inner demons while struggling to survive.

Haunted Past: Reveal a dark secret from your character's past that comes back to haunt them, threatening their relationships and well-being.

Time Travel Consequences: Send your character back in time, but make them inadvertently change a crucial event in history, leading to unintended consequences in the present.

Psychological Breakdown: Push your character to the brink of a mental breakdown, exploring the complexities of their psyche and their journey towards recovery.

Unwanted Prophecy: Have your character be the subject of a prophecy they want no part of, as it places them in grave danger or disrupts their life.

Loss of a Loved One: Kill off a beloved character or make your protagonist witness the death of someone close to them, igniting a quest for revenge or justice.

Incurable Curse or Disease: Curse your character with an incurable ailment or supernatural curse, and follow their journey to find a cure or accept their fate.

Sudden Disappearance: Make a character disappear mysteriously, leaving the others to search for them and uncover the truth.

Betrayal of Morals: Force your character into a situation where they must compromise their ethical values for a greater cause, leading to moral dilemmas and internal conflict.

Loss of a Precious Object: Have your character lose a cherished possession or artifact that holds sentimental or magical significance, setting them on a quest to recover it.

Political Intrigue: Place your character in a position of power or influence, then subject them to political intrigue, manipulation, and power struggles.

Existential Crisis: Make your character question the meaning of life, their purpose, and their place in the universe, leading to a philosophical journey of self-discovery.

Remember that misfortunes should serve a purpose in your story, driving character growth, plot development, and thematic exploration.

[novlr]

How to Write Defiance: A Quick Guide for Writers

Whether they're standing against authority or resisting the status quo, the actions of defiant characters can add layers of depth to your story. Here are some quick tips on how to effectively write defiance in your characters.

Behaviour

Question authority and break rules

Don't easily back down from challenges

Rebellious and do the unexpected

May appear stubborn to others

Don't easily conform to norms

Value their independence and freedom

Resilient in the face of adversity

Assertive and direct

Courageous in the face of danger

Act based on their principles and beliefs

Interactions

Direct and stand their ground during disagreements

Don't shy away from tough conversations

Don't let others manipulate or control them

Not afraid to express their opinions

May challenge others' viewpoints during discussions

Stand up for what they believe in

Protective of those they care about

May be argumentative or confrontational

Don't give in easily during negotiations

Can be inspiring, encouraging others to stand with them

Body language

Head high with a strong posture

Serious or determined expression

Maintain steady and direct eye contact

Use expansive, open body language

Do not shy away from physical confrontation

Cross their arms to show resistance

Move with purpose and determination

Not easily intimidated by the physical presence of others

Clench their fists when frustrated or angry

Adopt a challenging stance

Attitude

Not easily swayed by popular opinion

Confident in their own abilities

Persevere no matter how tough the situation gets

Believe strongly in their cause or principles

Refuse to be victims

Unruffled by criticism or opposition

Disregard rules they don't agree with

Risk-takers who often choose difficult paths

Value transparency and honesty

Can come across as proud or arrogant

Positive story outcomes

They may succeed in overturning an unjust system

They can inspire others to stand up against injustice

They achieve their goals through sheer determination

They may help someone break free from oppression

They can contribute to a significant societal change

Negative story outcomes

Their defiance can get them into trouble

They may alienate themselves from others with their behaviour

They can face severe consequences for breaking the rules

Their relationships may suffer due to their stubbornness

They can be misunderstood and labelled as troublemakers

Helpful Synonyms

Rebellious

Nonconformist

Contrary

Dissident

Contrarian

Unruly

Insurgent

Uncooperative

Unmanageable

Mutinous

Intransigent

Insubordinate

Recalcitrant

Resistant

Obstinate

Obstreperous

Noncompliant

Indomitable

Unyielding

Fractious

[2soulscollide]

my favorite free tools for writers

hello, hello! hope you're doing well.

today i am bringing you another list with my top 3 favorite (free!) tools that I find helpful for each phase of writing a novel.

brainstorming phase

Fantasy Names Generator - not only for fantasy (you can also generate real names). this website is just... amazing! it helps you come up with names for characters, places and locations, descriptions, generate traits, outfits (yes, outfits!!), and probably something else you could ever think of.

The Story's Hack - this one is so cool! you can generate names for everything, create your own generator, and practice writing through writing exercises! plus, you can save your generated names to see later, and you earn coins for each idea generated (you can later buy themes - dark, snow, forest, etc)

RanGen - my last favorite generator on this list is RanGen! you can generate plots, appearances, archetypes, love interests, cities, worlds, items, and more.

developing the idea phase

Bryn Donovan - in this blog you can find master lists under the tag "master lists for writers". it is so helpful when you first start developing the characters and need to find the right words to describe them and to find some quirks and flaws!

Writers Write (350 character traits) - again, this is so helpful!

Story Planner - ah, the number of times I've talked about this website... please, PLEASE take a look at it, you won't regret it. this website has literally everything you need to fully develop your idea with outlines for you to fill in step by step.

writing phase

Colleen Houck (80+ barriers to love) - need more romace conflict? there you go!

Cheat Sheets for Writing Body Language - so, you know how your character's feeling, but don't know how he'd physically act? check out this list!

Describing Words - honestly, this is a lifesaver. don't you struggle to find the right word to describe something? well, with this website all you have to do is to type the object you're trying to describe and see which description fits better to you!

revising phase

Language Tool for Google Docs - i know we all have heard about google docs before, but the truth is, it's almost impossible to find free softwares to check grammar and spelling. so, google docs is useful, because it automatically revises it for us, and it's completely free. plus, you can add adds-on, such as "language tool".

Unfortunately, there's only one (free) tool that I actually enjoy for the revising phase. if you know some others, please let me know so that I can try them out and feature in this list.

exporting phase

Google Docs - i find google docs very easy to format and export to .epub, so i'd recommend using it as a free tool.

Reedsy - this is also a free tool available online. all you have to do is to write down each chapter (copy and paste) or import your word document. it will format the document to your liking and export it to pdf, epub and mobi.

that's everything for now! i hope this post was somehow helpful or inspiring!

if you want to see more master lists full of resources, check these:

WEBSITES FOR WRITERS {masterpost}

BEST accounts to follow as a writer

BEST SITES & SOFTWARES TO WRITE FICTION

DIALOGUE IDEAS TO GET RID OF THAT WRITING BLOCK (masterpost)

Useful Resources & Tips for Writers

also, if you are a notion lover just like me, check the free template I just released with everything you need to develop and write your novel!

thank you so much for reading! hope to see you around, and have a nice day <3

[creativepromptsforwriting]

Angsty Dialogue Masterpost

Angsty family/platonic dialogue

Angsty Questions Prompts #1

Angsty Question Prompts #2

Angsty Question Prompts #3

Angsty/Fighting Dialogue Prompts

Concerned/Angsty Question Prompts 

Angsty Starters

Angst Prompts

angsty.

Angsty Sentence Starters #1

Angsty Sentence Starters #2

Leaving Dialogue Prompts

Reunion Dialogue Reactions

Unwilling goodbye + love confession prompts

Trying to make them stay dialogue prompts

Betrayal Dialogue Prompts

Hiding from horror dialogue

Finding out the truth dialogue

“I’m sorry…” Apology Starters

Apologizing for emotional neglect

Desperate Dialogue

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! And check out my Instagram! 🥰

[onehelluvacritic]

People are comparing Viv’s style to Tim burton but it's so aggressively Invader Zim style mishmashed with early 2000s colourful scene kid aesthetic. With a drop of Walt Disney furry in it.

[resource01]

Ngl, it's very appealing.

[writers-potion]

Said is dead, and so are some other words that we writers tend to overuse. Here's a brief list to aid your brain:

01. "VERY" ☆★⋆⭒˚.⋆

Very angry -> Furious

Very beautiful -> Gorgeous

Very bog -> Massive

Very boring -> Dull

Very poor -> Destitute

Very cheap -> Stingy

Very clean -> Spotless

Very difficult -> Arduous

Very dry -> Arid

Very quick -> Rapid

Very strong -> Forceful

Very ugly -> Hideous

Very calm -> Serene

Very huge -> Colossal

Very small -> Petite

02. "WHISPERED" 🤫

Murmurd

Mumbled

Muttered

Breathed

Sighed

Hissed

Mouthed

Susurrated

Intoned

Purred

Said in an undertone

Hinted

Said low

Said in hushed tones

Gasped

03. "BAD" 😈

Corrupt

Sinful

Depraved

Contaminated

Tainted

Irascible

Atrocious

Sinister

Snide

Deplorable

Detestable

Execrable

Ghastly

Noxious

Substandard

Despicable

Contemptible

Foul, rank, faulty

04. "BEAUTIFUL" 🦋

Dazzling

Splendid

Magnificent

Aesthetic

Delicate

Glorious

Stunning

Heavenly

Resplendent

Radiant

Glowing

Blooming

Sparkling

05. "BEGIN" ▶️

Open

Launch

Initite

Commence

Inaugurate

Originate

06. "BIG" ⚡

Immense

Gigantic

Vast

Gargantuan

Sizable

Grand

Mammoth

Astronomical

Titanic

Mountainous

If you like my blog, buy me a coffee! ☕

🖱️References

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/2603712279594924/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/81627811987512761/

[unboundprompts]

prompts for denial of feelings or refusal to accept that they like someone?

I've got some other prompts that you might like Here.

Denial of Romantic Feelings Prompts

-> feel free to edit and adjust pronouns as you see fit.

She couldn't be in love with him.

The very idea that he might be in love made his stomach twist with anxiety.

No, no, no. This could not be happening. They could not, would not, ever, be in love with her.

He wasn't in love. Couldn't be. But nothing else could explain the blush that would creep across his cheeks anytime they caught him staring.

She could scream. She could rip her hair out. She could lie face down on the floor and cry. She was in love.

Their friends would tease them constantly about their crush on [Name]. But it wasn't a crush. They were not-- and will not ever be-- in love with [Name].

"Are you in love?" "Absolutely not."

He didn't have time to be in love. No matter how he felt, it just couldn't happen.

If you like what I do and want to support me, please consider buying me a coffee! I also offer editing services and other writing advice on my Ko-fi! Become a member to receive exclusive content, early access, and prioritized writing prompt requests.