Hi;

[elumish]

Some of the biggest fantasy worldbuilding fails that I see, in no particular order

Gods without religion. The Gods are real and a known historical fact, but virtually nobody is religious.

Cultural racism/discrimination without structural racism/discrimination. Discrimination that exists only in microagressions or mean comments, without existing in any sort of structural way.

Secret history with no clear reason for it to be secret and no clear method for maintaining that secrecy. Major parts of the world's history are kept entirely secret, even though there's not an obvious reason to do so and even when history has shown this is virtually impossible to enforce (especially in a world with any movement or communication across borders).

Large, homogeneous countries. Even without immigration, virtually no country larger than the Vatican will be fully homogeneous in terms of culture, dialect, beliefs, traditions, etc., much less a large one with limited communication technology as is often seen in fantasy. The Planet of Hats problem.

[britcision]

Racial/species accents instead of regional accents. Like listen I know “all dwarves are Scottish” but a dwarf who is raised in the Underdark is not going to have the same accent as a dwarf who is raised on the surface a hundred thousand miles away in the literal exact same way that being white doesn’t mean having a Texan accent

Polytheism as monotheism with a phone book. (I will never shut up about this.) A polytheistic religion actually specifically means that there is more than one deity, so you offer prayers and offerings to the one who best suits your needs AT THE TIME… not that you pick your favourite one from a list and that’s Your God who You Worship and the only one you interact with. You do not pray to Odin to bring in a good harvest (but Thor, Freyr, Freya, or Frigg are all good options)

No one has ever heard of magic before. Now this is specifically if magic is explicitly included in the world, but as a general rule, if your MC has magical abilities that they have recognized and been able to hone with help from a mentor, or there’s a formal system like a sorcery guild or wizard school, people just might suspect that your MC knows magic when something implausible happens. Especially basic beginner magic - creating a shower of sparks in a world without electricity probably only has one cause, so they’ll look for a mage before “ooh what could possibly be causing that oh no!”

Everyone is human in a modern/urban fantasy. Fuck you put elves in your Starbucks.

[feotakahari]

I’ve seen Odin-worshippers on Tumblr who do the phone-book approach, but that might actually support your argument.

[britcision]

Yeah it’s one of the clearest flags of being raised in a monotheistic society and not actually thinking all that deeply when “changing” religions

(I mean really, trading SkyDaddy for Dishonourable War Berserker Daddy is painted as a direct one to one but Odin only became relevant after the vikings found England he’s just not the specialist we need)

There’s a whole concept in classical Greek culture specifically called sophrosune, which means “The Gods Will Kick Your Ass If You Play Favourites”

It was considered dangerous and bad to praise one god to the point of denigrating another, and the god you praised would be the one to kick your ass for trying to start shit

I wish people would just. Just learn one little thing. Before trying to put it in their worlds and games. Just open a book. Just look at history.

People have been people since the beginning of time and we always will be, but that is not the same as saying “and there’s no real difference”

Some motherfucker on here wrote a beautiful story about Odin welcoming people into Valhalla as warriors for fighting cancer and shit like that and listen

It was beautiful. It was touching. It was a wonderful story.

It was fucking bullshit there was SPECIFICALLY a place for every single person who didn’t get shanked bloody on a battlefield to go and it was Niflheim or Niflhel

(This was why Odin would deliberately and intentionally turn on his best heroes at their moment of greatest need to make sure they died violently)

Hel will welcome you with open, slightly frosted arms, and the Lady of Comfort did nothing whatsoever to deserve to be slighted like that

Also, Freya again. Goddess of death and magic and making sure warriors were reunited with their lovers in her hall of Fólkvangr because not everyone was into Valhalla but they still needed to not be scared to die in battle

But no, see, if we want Direct Christian Parallels, Odin ended up ruling the Æsir so he gets to play SkyDaddy because he’s got that old patriarchal Look, and well Hel, it’s in the name, and that’s also why Hades was a villain in Disney’s Hercules

(He also did nothing to deserve this he kidnapped one single person EVER, and was such a wifeguy that there were whole cults worshipping her to make sure they got a good afterlife

The Eleusinian mysteries, one of the few “mysteries” we do actually know something about because, well, they were fucking huge and widespread because people have always worried about what happens when you die)

If you want to worship a deity you should probably do a LOT more research than just to build a fantasy world and I will not be the one who dies on this hill but I will make it taller with as many bodies as necessary

[spacerockband]

well i bet youll never guess why i made this.

[rabbitindisguise]

me, a guy who has never once made a comic: oh shit my comic??

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

Dialogue Tags Aren’t the Problem, Your Dialogue Rhythm Is

friendly reminder that the word “said” did not kill your scene.

you don’t need to replace every line of dialogue with “he rasped” or “she intoned” or “they gasped breathlessly” (please no). your dialogue is not dying because of your tags. it’s dying because the rhythm is off.

👀 let me explain:

✨ what is dialogue rhythm?

it’s the flow of speech between characters. the beats. the pacing. the way words bounce, interrupt, cut off, trail, clash. it’s less about the words themselves and more about the energy they carry.

dialogue rhythm is what makes two people arguing feel like a boxing match, or a confession feel like a car crash. it’s how you keep tension in the room. if your rhythm sucks, no amount of fancy tags is gonna save you.

🔪 signs your dialogue rhythm is off:

every character is speaking in full, polished sentences like it’s a staged play

nobody ever interrupts, stammers, hesitates, or doubles back

the emotional pace stays flat, even in high-stakes scenes

all the action beats are “he nodded” “she smiled” “they looked at her” over and over

you read it out loud and it feels like a middle school skit

👂 here’s how to fix it:

Read your dialogue out loud. Like, actually out loud. if it sounds robotic, it is robotic. listen for places where people would realistically pause, ramble, get cut off, or trail off. insert those beats. add the mess.

Use white space and formatting to control speed. short lines = fast pace. long blocks = slow burn. a line break right before someone says something unhinged? elite move. example: “You really think I’d betray you?” Pause. “You already did.”

Cut 30% of your dialogue. if you can remove the line and nothing breaks, it was filler. chop chop. more silence = more tension. not every reply needs a full answer.

Let action interrupt speech. don’t wait for the character to finish talking before you show what they’re doing. intercut body language or physical actions mid-line. it mimics how people actually talk. like this: “Don’t touch that—” she lunged forward, grabbing his wrist. “—you don’t know what it is.”

Stop overexplaining with tags. you don’t need to say “she shouted angrily” if the line is literally “GET OUT.” trust the line. if the dialogue’s strong, “said” works just fine. if the dialogue’s weak, “murmured” won’t save it.

🛑 but what about dialogue tags?

use them! but treat them like punctuation, not prose. the goal is clarity, not ✨flair✨. you want the reader to know who’s speaking without noticing the machinery.

“Said” is invisible. “Snarled” is a spice. Use spices sparingly.

better yet: mix tags with beats to keep rhythm tight. example:

BAD: “I hate you,” he said angrily. “I hate you,” she snapped back.

BETTER: “I hate you,” he said, jaw clenched. She didn’t even blink. “Good. Then we’re even.”

💡 TL;DR: your scene doesn’t need fancy tags. it needs movement. conflict. silence. interruptions. character-specific tone. you fix that by fixing the rhythm, not the verbs.

go back to your WIP, open your messiest conversation scene, and test it. read it aloud. break it up. cut what drags. add one beat of silence. give someone a half-finished sentence and a reason to storm out.

watch how fast it starts to breathe.

P.S. I made a free mini eBook about the 5 biggest mistakes writers make in the first 10 pages 👀 you can grab it here for FREE:

5 Opening Pages Mistakes to Stop Making — A Mini eBook for Fiction Writers

✦ A free (and actually helpful) guide to leveling up your first 10 pages ✦If you're unsure whether your opening is ✨doing enough✨ to hook re

🕯️ download the pack & write something cursed:

Write the Darkness: 75 Dark Academia x Horror Prompts

A gothic prompt pack for writers who love cursed universities, secret societies, and scholarly rot.✎ Write the Darkness ✎A 75-prompt horror

[judasrpc]

WEIRDLY SPECIFIC BUT HELPFUL CHARACTER BUILDING QUESTIONS

What’s the lie your character says most often?

How loosely or strictly do they use the word ‘friend’?

How often do they show their genuine emotions to others versus just the audience knowing?

What’s a hobby they used to have that they miss?

Can they cry on command? If so, what do they think about to make it happen?

What’s their favorite [insert anything] that they’ve never recommended to anyone before?

What would you (mun) yell in the middle of a crowd to find them? What would their best friend and/or romantic partner yell?

How loose is their use of the phrase ‘I love you’?

Do they give tough love or gentle love most often? Which do they prefer to receive?

What fact do they excitedly tell everyone about at every opportunity?

If someone was impersonating them, what would friends / family ask or do to tell the difference?

What’s something that makes them laugh every single time? Be specific!

When do they fake a smile? How often?

How do they put out a candle?

What’s the most obvious difference between their behavior at home, at work, at school, with friends, and when they’re alone?

What kinds of people do they have arguments with in their head?

What do they notice first in the mirror versus what most people first notice looking at them?

Who do they love truly, 100% unconditionally (if anyone)?

What would they do if stuck in a room with the person they’ve been avoiding?

Who do they like as a person but hate their work? Vice versa, whose work do they like but don’t like the person?

What common etiquette do they disagree with? Do they still follow it?

What simple activity that most people do / can do scares your character?

What do they feel guilty for that the other person(s) doesn’t / don’t even remember?

Did they take a cookie from the cookie jar? What kind of cookie was it?

What subject / topic do they know a lot about that’s completely useless to the direct plot?

How would they respond to being fired by a good boss?

What’s the worst gift they ever received? How did they respond?

What do they tell people they want? What do they actually want?

How do they respond when someone doesn’t believe them?

When they make a mistake and feel bad, does the guilt differ when it’s personal versus when it’s professional?

When do they feel the most guilt? How do they respond to it?

If they committed one petty crime / misdemeanor, what would it be? Why?

How do they greet someone they dislike / hate?

How do they greet someone they like / love?

What is the smallest, morally questionable choice they’ve made?

Who do they keep in their life for professional gain? Is it for malicious intent?

What’s a secret they haven’t told serious romantic partners and don’t plan to tell?

What hobby are they good at in private, but bad at in front of others? Why?

Would they rather be invited to an event to feel included or be excluded from an event if they were not genuinely wanted there?

How do they respond to a loose handshake? What goes through their head?

What phrases, pronunciations, or mannerisms did they pick up from someone / somewhere else?

If invited to a TED Talk, what topic would they present on? What would the title of their presentation be?

What do they commonly misinterpret because of their own upbringing / environment / biases? How do they respond when realizing the misunderstanding?

What language would be easiest for them to learn? Why?

What’s something unimportant / frivolous that they hate passionately?

Are they a listener or a talker? If they’re a listener, what makes them talk? If they’re a talker, what makes them listen?

Who have they forgotten about that remembers them very well?

Who would they say ‘yes’ to if invited to do something they abhorred / strongly didn’t want to do?

Would they eat something they find gross to be polite?

What belief / moral / personality trait do they stand by that you (mun) personally don’t agree with?

What’s a phrase they say a lot?

Do they act on their immediate emotions, or do they wait for the facts before acting?

Who would / do they believe without question?

What’s their instinct in a fight / flight / freeze / fawn situation?

What’s something they’re expected to enjoy based on their hobbies / profession that they actually dislike / hate?

If they’re scared, who do they want comfort from? Does this answer change depending on the type of fear?

What’s a simple daily activity / motion that they mess up often?

How many hobbies have they attempted to have over their lifetime? Is there a common theme?

[transpigeon]

STOP! before you decide you are irretrievably doomed, try one of the following options:

transition

bdsm

iron supplements

[spirit-of-science]

sleep study

ADHD medication

DBT

[headedoutleft]

vitamin D

go outside for an hour and observe birds

eat a snack

[motherfucker-somewhat-limited]

jerk off

wash your hair

[sheheraldsthedarkstar]

A quick piece to make a crystal character and test out some rendering teks.

[sheheraldsthedarkstar]

[sheheraldsthedarkstar]

[sheheraldsthedarkstar]

Wisp-Thorn was a sharpshooter for the Cerulca Nobility (Dark Blue, nobles in Heart-Heim). Turned resistance informant, after so many years on his sniper tower looking down on everyone. Was banished 3ish years ago, narrowly executed. She plottd her banishment, leaving service by choise was not slang for dead by wit. Managing to frame a former elven friend(who was totally okay with how things were) Maris(she/her), who was executed instead. Wisp was still banished, because they did not betray their friend for their noble host.

Now a half member of the Heartheim rebellion. A known sympathizer. Took to ambushing trade routes of Heartheim, most of which Wisp sold to Valentine nobles. After killing a Yeenog Paladin she layed low and learned of Former Valentine. Went there in search of the pearl of power. Saw a dark humanoid, shot it through the head. After a few days sneaking and stabbing Woolbeasts(sheep like monsters) in the depths, she found the pearl of power(Among many other riches the woolbeasts hoarded). She also found three flocking amulets. Which when worn allow a creature greater controll of their subservients. Or the inverse when broken.

[thejoyfool]

5 min tutorial for trcelyne, hope it helps! 

[sushinfood]

Tried this out REALLY roughly just for fun and WOAH!?

IT WORKS WELL!!

[sushinfood]

IT STILL WORKS WELL!

[9volt-art]

Huh, that worked pretty well

[leafinsect-deactivated20201122]

v rushed but it works!!

[xedramon]

What an amazing little tutorial!!! Highly recommend!!!

[a-humble-waffle]

I’m so mad that it’s this easy and I’m a struggle boi

[king-of-fuffies]

reblog to save an artist

[shitlordofthebitches]

Fucking really??? That’s all it took?????

[cinnabuncrumbs]

wow! this works really well!!! now i can start easily plotting out how the hallways of my new children’s hospital are going to look :)

[im-a-dragon-cawcaw]

I love color theory

[rheas-chaos-anthology]

Questions to ask beta readers

General:

Were you confused at any point of the story?

What genre would you say this book is?

When did you put the story down?

Is the ending satisfying?

If you had to cut 3 scenes what would they be?

When did you feel like the story really began?

What was the last book you read before this story?

Characters:

Do you get any of the characters names confused?

Which character is your favorite?

If you had to remove a character who would you and why? (you don't have to remove the character, just make sure their role is meaningful)

Which character do you relate to the most?

Which character do you relate to the least?

Do the characters feel real?

Are character relationships believable?

Are the goals clear and influence the plot?

Are the characters distinct (voice, motivations, etc)

Setting:

Which setting was clearest to you?

Which setting was the most memorable?

Am including enough/too much detail?

Plot and conflict:

Are the internal and external conflicts well defined for the main characters?

Are the internal conflicts and the external conflicts organic and believable?

Are there enough stakes?

Are the plot twists believable but still unexpected?

[real-oddity-deactivated20240907]

RadenWA is honestly a hero for these

they're got even more than these, too!

[drowning-lessonz]

daily affirmations

i am the unkillable faggot

i can exist in grocery stores

i have the shittiest music taste in any room

i have a gun

[opaattack]

[daily-purple-character]

day 316!

tooth hurty! (HYPERDONTIA)

[circleskirtfeminine]

I want to try so many little hobbies. Candle making, soap making, basket weaving, wood carving, book binding, baking, weaving, I want to try them all.

[thatscavlife]

I almost made a post about this the other day (unless i actually did and totally forgot) but there’s so many

I was going to make a list, but then i realized this is a good time to share this book

Making Stuff and Doing things is a whole collection of old punk DIY zines about making and doing just about anything, even things you probably never knew you wanted to do.

Book binding? In there.

Making bowls from old vinyl records? I made a whole ton for my brother’s grad party last year.

Basics of guitar? Making rubber stamps? Silk screening? Composting? Homemade beer, root beer, and wine? Soymilk?? Quill pens??? All in there.

Since it’s more punk, it doesn’t have a ton of the folksy, cottage vibes/hobbies, but it’s all about being resourceful and sustainable, which they both have in common.

If i ever need to do anything I’m not sure of, I double check this book to see if there’s anything in there. It’s one of the only books on diy I’ve ever needed.

[selfportrait27]

Making Stuff & Doing Things (2016) : Kyle Bravo : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Handbook of basic life skills for a young punk or activist, or anyone without a lot of money.Following some of the advice in this book could

You can download the entire book as a PDF in the link above.

[xyywrites]

Best Writing Advice I’ve Ever Received

1. “You can’t edit a blank page.”

This advice hit me like a ton of bricks when I first heard it. It’s so simple, yet so powerful. Writing something—even if it’s not perfect—is better than writing nothing at all. The idea is to get the words out, even if they’re messy, and then fix them later. There’s always room to improve, but the hardest part is starting. So, don’t wait for perfection. Just write.

2. “Show, don’t tell—except when you should tell.”

It’s one of the classic writing rules, and yet, I found this piece of advice to be both a game-changer and a huge relief. So often, we get stuck on the idea that “showing” is the ultimate goal. But sometimes, telling is just as effective. It’s about knowing when to lean into subtlety and when to give the reader exactly what they need upfront.

3. “Write the book you want to read.”

This was one of the most liberating pieces of advice I’ve ever received. So many times, we get caught up in writing what we think people will want to read, or what we think is “marketable.” But when you focus on writing a story you genuinely want to read—one that excites and moves you—everything else falls into place.

4. “Don’t compare your first draft to someone else’s final draft.”

This one is a tough one to swallow, especially in the age of social media where we’re constantly exposed to the polished, perfect versions of other people’s work. It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind when you compare your rough drafts to someone else’s masterpiece. But every writer starts somewhere, and your first draft is just that—a draft.

5. “Make your characters want something, even if it’s just a glass of water.”

This advice came from a workshop, and it’s one that I’ve come back to time and time again. It’s a reminder that characters need motivation—whether it’s a big goal like saving the world, or something small and personal, like finding a glass of water in the desert. A character without desire is a character that feels flat and uninteresting.

6. “The best way to improve your writing is to read more than you write.”

This advice took me a while to fully understand, but it makes perfect sense. Reading other authors’ work, especially those whose writing you admire, teaches you things that can’t be learned through theory or workshops alone. You’ll pick up on pacing, voice, structure, and what makes a story truly captivating—all while expanding your understanding of storytelling.

7. “Your first draft is just you telling yourself the story.”

This was another gem of wisdom that I didn’t fully grasp at first. It’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting your first draft to be perfect, but it’s not meant to be. The first draft is for you—to explore the plot, the characters, the world. It’s your chance to get everything down and see where it leads, without worrying about perfection.

8. “Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open.”

This is one of Stephen King’s rules of writing, and it’s a brilliant one. When you’re drafting, don’t worry about anyone else reading your work. It’s your time to be raw and experimental. But when it comes to revising, open that door—let others in for feedback, because the revision process is where the magic happens.