Writing References

Just a Blog for Reference materials for writing Novels. May have Litchwood MI stuff in here.

[luna-azzurra]

Things characters never say out loud!!!

✮ I need you to stay without me having to ask

✮ I'm not actually fine and haven't been for longer than I've admitted  

✮ I'm afraid that if you really knew me you would leave

✮ I don't know who I am outside of what I do for other people

✮ I miss who I was before everything that made me who I am

✮ I'm lonely in a way that having people around doesn't fix

✮ I think about that moment more than I will ever tell you

✮ I'm proud of myself and I don't know how to hold that without someone giving me permission

✮ I chose you specifically and I need you to know that even though I'll never say it

✮ I'm angrier than I look and have been for years

✮ I forgave you a long time ago and kept the grudge because the grudge felt safer

✮ I want to be taken care of just once without having to orchestrate it myself

✮ I don't know how to let this go and I'm not sure I want to

✮ That thing you said changed the direction of my life and you have no idea

✮ I stayed because of you specifically and I'll never tell you because of what it would mean

✮ I'm scared that this is as good as I'm capable of becoming

✮ I love you in a way I don't have the right category for

✮ I needed you to fight for me and you didn't and I'm still not over it

✮ I'm grieving something I never had and I don't know how to explain that to anyone

✮ I think I could be happy and that terrifies me more than anything that has ever hurt me

[sunnyswritingresources]

No matter what anyone says about RWBY, I love it. I am so happy that its coming back. I want it to get the ending it deserves. I want to see my girls again.

Long Live RWBY.

[creativepromptsforwriting]

How to write emotions

How to write emotional scenes

How to show emotions Part I

How to show emotions Part II

How to show emotions Part III

How to show emotions Part IV

How to show emotions Part V

How to show emotions Part VI

How to show emotions Part VII

How to show emotions Part VIII

How to show emotions Part IX

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[luna-azzurra]

Random Character Traits!!! Part 8

⟡ Knows exactly what their damage is and has named it and introduced it to people

⟡ Can narrate their own spiral in real time with impressive clinical accuracy

⟡ Says 'this is a me problem' and then continues having the me problem at full volume

⟡ Has identified their patterns, knows when they're in one, and watches it happen anyway

⟡ Describes their own chaotic behavior with the tone of a nature documentary about someone else

⟡ Says 'I know this is irrational' and then presents the irrational thing with full documentation

⟡ Has done enough self-reflection to know they are going to do the exact thing they just analyzed

⟡ Announces their own red flags upfront as a courtesy and an efficiency measure

⟡ Has therapized themselves into understanding the behavior without being able to stop the behavior

⟡ Provides running commentary on their own decision-making in a way that is both useful and unhelpful

⟡ Knows which of their habits are coping mechanisms and uses them anyway with full awareness

⟡ Can explain exactly why they do the thing they do and cannot stop doing the thing they do

⟡ Says 'future me is going to hate this' and does it with eyes open and no hesitation

⟡ Has made peace with their most chaotic trait by giving it a name and some light boundaries

⟡ Diagnoses their own communication style mid-sentence and continues in the same style

⟡ Knows when they are projecting, names the projection, and finishes projecting

⟡ Has awareness of their avoidance patterns precise enough to predict their own behavior in advance

⟡ Catches themselves catastrophizing, acknowledges it out loud, and catastrophizes more efficiently

⟡ Can trace any of their current issues back to a specific formative moment and does so freely

⟡ Says 'I have a type and this is it' while looking at the very type they said they were done with

⟡ Knows the difference between their actual feelings and their performed feelings and shares both

⟡ Has insight into their own behavior that would be impressive if it translated into change

⟡ Is aware they overthink, thinks about how much they overthink, catches it, continues

⟡ Can explain their attachment style, recognize it in action, and proceed at full speed anyway

⟡ Knows their response to stress, predicts it accurately, and produces it on schedule

⟡ Says 'I'm going to regret this' and does the thing with full and informed consent

⟡ Has so much self-knowledge that it functions as entertainment for the people around them

⟡ Understands their own contradictions well enough to explain them and not well enough to resolve them

[luna-azzurra]

[luna-azzurra]

Hurt / Comfort Prompts!!!

⋆˚✿˖° "You don't have to be okay right now. You don't have to be anything right now."

⋆˚✿˖° "When did you last eat. And water doesn't count and neither does coffee."

⋆˚✿˖° "I've got you. You're safe. I've got you."

⋆˚✿˖° "Stop apologizing for needing things. Stop it right now."

⋆˚✿˖° "You called me at 2am and I came. That's not something I did out of obligation. I want you to understand that."

⋆˚✿˖° "Lay down. I'm not asking."

⋆˚✿˖° "You've been holding this alone for how long. How long have you been holding this alone."

⋆˚✿˖° "I'm going to sit right here. You don't have to talk. I'm just going to be here."

⋆˚✿˖° "When did taking care of yourself become something you had to earn."

⋆˚✿˖° ⟢ "You're shaking." - "I'm fine." - "You're shaking and you've been crying and you're not fine and that's okay."

⋆˚✿˖° "I'm not leaving. You can ask me to leave and I still won't. You're stuck with me tonight."

⋆˚✿˖° "Has anyone ever just — taken care of you. Without needing something back." - "..." - "That's what I thought. Come here."

⋆˚✿˖° "You scared me. I need you to know you scared me and I need you to never do that again."

⋆˚✿˖° "I heated up the leftovers. You're going to eat them. We can fight about everything else tomorrow."

⋆˚✿˖° "Stop being brave for one second. Just one second. It's just me."

⋆˚✿˖° "I noticed you weren't okay three weeks ago. I've been trying to figure out how to say something."

⋆˚✿˖° "You don't have to explain it. You don't owe me an explanation. Just tell me what you need."

⋆˚✿˖° "Nobody should have to go through that. I know you did. I'm so sorry you did."

⋆˚✿˖° "Close your eyes. I'll stay until you fall asleep. I'll be here when you wake up."

⋆˚✿˖° "You keep saying you're fine and your hands keep shaking and I need you to pick one."

⋆˚✿˖° "I made your tea the way you like it." - "You remembered." - "I remember everything about you."

⋆˚✿˖° "You were there for me when I had nothing. Did you really think I wasn't going to show up for you."

⋆˚✿˖° "Rest. The world can wait. It's waited before. Rest."

[luna-azzurra]

Random Character Traits!!! Part 7

⟡ Forgets their own name when asked to introduce themselves in front of more than four people

⟡ ⟡ Has a whole rehearsed answer for common questions that evaporates the moment they're asked

⟡ Trips over words in high-stakes moments that they say perfectly fine every other time

⟡ Laughs at completely inappropriate moments because their nervous system has chosen chaos

⟡ Gets asked a simple question in public and suddenly cannot locate any information they own

⟡ Waves back at someone who wasn't waving, realizes it mid-wave, and cannot stop the wave

⟡ Freezes during low-stakes moments and is completely fine during actual emergencies

⟡ Accidentally says the quiet part loud and then says something unrelated very loudly to cover it

⟡ Nods while someone is talking and has no idea what was said and nods again

⟡ Forgets a word they use every single day when they need it in a sentence out loud

⟡ Gets a compliment and responds with something that is technically not a word

⟡ Says the wrong name, knows it immediately, says it again, fully commits

⟡ Texts perfectly and then cannot convert any of it into speech in real time

⟡ Runs through the handshake, hug, or wave decision too slowly and does all three partially

⟡ Says 'you too' when someone says something that cannot be replied to with you too

⟡ Has a practiced calm face that they deploy too late so everyone sees the moment before it

⟡ Responds to being startled by making a sound that has never been made by a human before

⟡ Sends the message to the person the message is about and discovers new levels of stillness

⟡ Has a laugh that changes pitch under stress in a direction no one predicted

⟡ Knocks something over, tries to catch it, knocks over something else, stands very still

⟡ Gets asked what they want to eat and all food leaves their brain simultaneously

⟡ Makes intense eye contact while trying to seem relaxed which confirms the opposite

⟡ Says goodbye, walks away, comes back because they forgot something, this happens twice

⟡ Panics in a way that looks exactly like calm to everyone except the people who know

⟡ Types a frantic message and sends it with a typo that changes the meaning completely

⟡ Has a full and sensible thought that exits their mouth as a different and confusing one

⟡ Goes to say one word and produces a completely different word with similar energy

⟡ Does the awkward sidestep dance with a stranger and ends up doing it four more times

⟡ 29.⟡ Agrees to something before processing what it was and has to go back and check

⟡ Responds to 'how are you' with 'good thanks how are you' before the first person has finished asking

[luna-azzurra]

Nervous System & Anxiety Tells 

˙⋆✮ The involuntary breath held during an awkward silence

˙⋆✮ Laughing at the wrong moment because the body needs an exit

˙⋆✮ Picking at the skin around fingernails without noticing

˙⋆✮ That specific swallow before saying something difficult

˙⋆✮ Nodding too much to overcompensate for not listening

˙⋆✮ The way legs bounce under tables when sitting still feels impossible

˙⋆✮ Counting things on the ceiling to avoid eye contact

˙⋆✮ Rubbing the same spot on the palm over and over

˙⋆✮ Clearing the throat before speaking even when nothing's there

˙⋆✮ The micro-flinch when someone gets too close unexpectedly ˙

⋆✮ Smiling through something that genuinely hurts

˙⋆✮ Blinking more rapidly when caught off guard

˙⋆✮ The sharp exhale that's almost but not quite a laugh

˙⋆✮ Gripping a cup or glass tighter than necessary

˙⋆✮ That quick look toward the nearest exit in overwhelming rooms

˙⋆✮ Talking faster when the topic gets too personal

˙⋆✮ The pause before answering that gives everything away

˙⋆✮ Pressing lips together in a thin line instead of responding

˙⋆✮ Scratching the back of the neck when put on the spot

[theaawalker]

Guide to Writing a Small Town Tale

1. Establish the Foundation

Decide What the Town Represents: Is it a refuge, a prison, a home, a relic of the past, or a community worth protecting? Small towns often symbolize something deeply personal.

Define Its Identity: Every memorable small town has a reputation. Maybe it's known for farming, tourism, fishing, mining, local legends, or a historic event nobody has forgotten.

Determine Your Character's Relationship to It: Do they love it, resent it, feel trapped by it, or long to return? A small town often means different things to different people.

2. Shape the Town as a Character

Give It Landmarks: A diner, church, old theater, water tower, town square, abandoned factory, or mysterious forest can become symbols of the town's identity.

Create a Shared History: Small towns remember. Old scandals, family feuds, local heroes, tragedies, and traditions linger for generations.

Make Everyone Connected: Even strangers often know each other's families, histories, or reputations. Relationships form the town's heartbeat.

3. Build Daily Life

Focus on Familiarity: People recognize faces, wave from porches, remember birthdays, and notice when someone misses their routine.

Show Community Rituals: Festivals, football games, farmers markets, church gatherings, parades, town meetings, and annual celebrations help define the culture.

Use Small Details: The bell above the diner door, the old man feeding birds every morning, the cashier who knows everyone's order—these details create authenticity.

4. Define the Benefits and Challenges

Highlight Community: Small towns can offer belonging, support, tradition, and strong social bonds.

Acknowledge the Downsides: Gossip spreads fast. Privacy is scarce. Opportunities may be limited. Old reputations can be difficult to escape.

Explore Generational Influence: Families often carry histories that affect how people are treated long before they introduce themselves.

5. Create Meaningful Conflict

Use Personal Stakes: In small-town stories, conflicts often feel intimate rather than global. A friendship, family dispute, or local controversy can affect everyone.

Leverage Social Pressure: Reputation matters. Community expectations can become powerful obstacles.

Introduce Hidden Secrets: Small towns often appear peaceful on the surface while concealing old crimes, family secrets, supernatural mysteries, or buried tensions.

6. Develop the Town's Arc

Let the Town Change: Businesses close. New families arrive. Traditions fade. Communities evolve just like people do.

Reflect the Character's Journey: As the protagonist changes, so should their perception of the town.

Create a Sense of Home: Whether characters stay or leave, the town should leave a permanent mark on them.

Common Small-Town Themes

Belonging and identity

Family legacy

Tradition versus change

Community and responsibility

Escaping home versus returning home

Secrets beneath the surface

Nostalgia and memory

Essential Small-Town Locations

Main Street

Local diner or café

Church or community center

High school

Town square

Hardware store

Gas station

Forest, lake, or countryside

Family-owned businesses

Old landmarks everyone knows

Small-Town Atmospheres You Can Use

The Cozy Town: Warm, welcoming, and full of community spirit.

The Dying Town: Businesses close, young people leave, and the future feels uncertain.

The Secretive Town: Something dark lurks beneath the friendly smiles.

The Storybook Town: Charming festivals, quirky residents, and a touch of whimsy.

The Haunted Town: History refuses to stay buried, whether literally or figuratively.

Examples of Strong Small-Town Tales

Literature Examples

To Kill a Mockingbird: Explores community, prejudice, and childhood through the lens of a small Southern town.

The Body: Captures friendship and growing up in a close-knit town.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café: A community shaped by relationships, memories, and local history.

Film/TV Examples

Gilmore Girls: A small town whose eccentric residents are as important as the protagonists.

Stranger Things: Combines ordinary small-town life with extraordinary supernatural threats.

The Goonies: Childhood adventure rooted in a close community and local history.

Fantasy Examples

The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A quiet countryside setting hiding immense magical forces.

Something Wicked This Way Comes: A small town confronted by wonder, temptation, and fear.

Kiki's Delivery Service: A coastal town that feels intimate, welcoming, and alive with everyday magic.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐎𝐟𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚

The Guardians of Camoria by A.A. Walker

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thank you, i am farkle :)

requested by @donanimee

[luna-azzurra]

Expressing 'Anger' in Writing

Jaw clenching tightly

Hands balling into fists

Veins throbbing visibly at the temple

Eyes narrowing to slits

Breathing becoming quick and shallow

Stomping or heavy footsteps

Voice rising in pitch or volume

Flushing or reddening of the face

Throwing or slamming objects

Brows knitting together in frustration

Lips pressing into a thin line

Teeth grinding audibly

Staring with a hard, fixed gaze

Sarcasm dripping from every word

Snapping responses or barking orders

[traumasurvivors]

Anger is one of the most invalidated emotions in trauma recovery. People often say things like, “Being angry just lets them win,” or “You’re only hurting yourself.” But that isn’t true. Anger is a normal, valid part of healing.

Anger isn’t automatically bad. There’s destructive anger, which lashes out or harms yourself and others, and constructive anger, which helps you understand your pain, your needs, and what boundaries you want to set. Ignoring anger or bottling it up often leads to blow-ups or misdirected frustration later.

For me, learning to feel anger was a turning point. For years I blamed myself for my trauma. Feeling angry at those who hurt me was the first step toward realizing I didn’t deserve what happened. My anger was grief, betrayal, and the part of me that wanted to be safe.

Constructive anger can be a powerful tool. It can:

Motivate you to set boundaries or leave unsafe situations

Help you advocate for change or take action in your own life

Push you toward healing and growth

Anger becomes a problem when it consumes you or causes harm but the feeling itself isn’t bad. Listening to it, understanding where it comes from, and channeling it in safe ways (like journaling, exercise, or creative outlets) can make it part of your healing.

Your anger doesn’t mean they’re “winning.” Sometimes, it means you are because you’re finally putting the blame where it belongs and giving yourself the chance to heal. 

I wrote a longer post about this here. 

[luna-azzurra]

Caretaker Lines!!

✮ "Stop trying to act tough. You're shaking."

✮ "When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

✮ "Hold still--I know it stings, but I have to do this."

✮ "You scared me half to death, you know that?"

✮ "I've got you. You don't have to hold yourself up anymore."

✮ "Just breathe. In and out. I'm right here."

✮ "You're going to need stitches and I swear, if you say you're fine one more time--"

✮ "Don't argue with me right now. Just let me help you."

✮ "I'm not going anywhere, so stop telling me to leave."

✮ "Can you squeeze my hand? I need to know you can hear me."

✮ "You're running a fever on top of everything else. Of course you are."

✮ "I found you on the floor. Do you understand how terrifying that was?"

[creativepromptsforwriting]

subtle acts of love

giving them food without them asking for it

randomly bringing them flowers

holding a door open for them

pulling out their chair for them

guiding them with a gentle hand on the small of their back

making them lunch to take to work with them

fixing their clothes or hair

giving them a massage

talking casually about a shared future

showing them their appreciation for them

waiting at home to say hello when they come in

paying complete attention to them

giving them a casual, but thoughtful compliment

writing them a love letter and hiding it for them to find

showing them something that reminded them of their partner

humming a song to calm them down

giving them a quick kiss whenever they pass each other at home

casual grabbing their hand and swinging it back and forth

remembering something they told them

[creativepromptsforwriting]

How to become friends

Here a some ways on how your characters could become/could've become friends.

"School & Childhood" Friends

Sitting next to each other on the first day of class

Being assigned as lab/project partners

Having the same teacher and complaining together

Sharing school supplies

Being the only two people who don’t know anyone

Riding the same school bus

Getting seated alphabetically near each other every year

Being in detention together

Letting the other cheat off of them

One person defending the other from bullying

Meeting at recess or on the playground

Competing on the same academic team

Being roommates in college

Always sitting next to each other in the library

Staying up late talking in the dorms

Helping each other study before exams

Meeting during orientation week

"Family Connections" Friends

Their mothers/fathers being friends

Being cousins close in age

Growing up as neighbors

Family friends who vacation together

Parents arranging playdates

Siblings introducing them

One family helping another during hard times

Their families attending the same religious or community events

Becoming friends because their kids are friends

Meeting at weddings or family reunions

Dating each others' siblings

"Neighborhood & Everyday Life" Friends

Living in the same apartment building

Seeing each other walking dogs every day

Sharing a fence/backyard

Helping shovel snow or carry groceries

Meeting at a local park regularly

Frequenting the same café

Running into each other during morning commutes

One person helping after a car breakdown

Being regulars at the same store

Sharing a laundry room in their apartment building

"Work & Professional Life" Friends

Starting work on the same day

Complaining about the boss together

Working late on the same project

Covering shifts for each other

Sitting beside each other in the office

Traveling together for work

Bonding during training sessions

Accidentally getting trapped in endless meetings together

One mentoring the other

Quitting the same toxic workplace

"Shared Interests" Friends

Joining the same sports team

Playing in the same band

Meeting in an online game

Joining the same fandom

Taking the same art/music/dance classes

Going to the same gym

Meeting through cosplay or conventions

Attending book clubs

Participating in hobby communities

Posting in the same niche online forum

Volunteering for the same cause

Meeting in a run club

Following each other online

"Through Other Friends" Friends

“You two would get along”

Becoming the last two awake at a party

Mutual friends inviting both people repeatedly

Being added to the same group chat

Becoming friends after a breakup divides the friend group

One friend “adopting” the quieter person

Meeting through double dates

Their two friend groups mixing with each other when two people start dating

Becoming roommates through mutuals

"Random Coincidences" Friends

Missing the same train

Being stranded somewhere together

Wearing the same outfit or shirt

Reaching for the same book in a library

Accidentally texting the wrong number

Dancing next to each other at a concert

Sitting together in the airport during a delayed flight

Sitting next to each other on the train/plane

Getting stuck in an elevator with each other

Meeting on holiday together

One person dropping something and the other helping

Surviving an embarrassing moment together

Laughing at the same thing no one else noticed

"Funny & Unexpected Situation" Friends

Mistaken identity leading to conversation

Fighting first and later becoming close

One stealing the other’s seat

A shared hatred of the same person

Both pretending to understand something they don’t

Meeting because of a lost pet

Becoming friends after a minor car accident

One person overhearing the other say something unhinged and agreeing

Meeting through a heated conversation in a comment section

Accidentally attending the wrong event together

Competing against each other and gaining each other's respect

More: Friendship Masterpost (Prompts & Advice)

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[promptcalender]

Magical Ingredients for Tea in your Fantasy World🍵🌿

phoenix's ashes: bitter, burnt taste; grants temporary ability to perceive auras

dried moss scraped from ancient altars: earthy, cold taste; may cause a temporary state of astral projection

crushed dragon scales: spicy and earthy taste; allows for prolonged immunity to magical curses and spells

blood of a unicorn: sickly sweet and metallic taste; health booster, accelerates healing

hellhound bone powder: spicy and ashy; raises tolerance to heat and fire

banshee saliva: salty, medicinal taste; induces visions of coming misfortune and death

dried embermint leaves: sharp and cool taste; gives icy breath for an hour or two

griffin beak powder: dry and nutty taste; makes it hard or even impossible to speak a lie

splinters from a satyr's flute: rich and old taste; grants ability to communicate with animals

pegasus feathers: slightly sweet and light taste; grants ability to see and speak to spirits

basilisk tears: sharp and sticky taste; temporary thermal vision

[Prompt Calender: May 21st, International Tea Day]

[luna-azzurra]

Villain motivations & justifications

x revenge wrapped in righteousness: “I’m not cruel, I’m fair.” (translation: they absolutely are cruel, but they’ve convinced themselves it’s fine.)

x grief that demands the world suffer the same loss. Because healing is for people with healthier coping mechanisms.

x obsession with order, born from a childhood of chaos. Aka: “I color-coded my trauma and now everyone else has to follow the chart.”

x the hunger for freedom, even if it costs others theirs. Nothing says irony like a villain screaming “liberation!” while taking hostages.

x “I will make the world better, even if I have to break it first.” Better for who though? (just them.)

x love twisted into possession: if I can’t have you, no one will. Honestly the motto of every toxic ex.

x humiliation turned into fuel: never again the one who bows. Character arc powered entirely by petty grudges.

x the belief that power is the only true protection. Therapy? Never heard of her.

x “someone has to make the hard choices, and I’m strong enough.” 

x betrayal so deep that destroying everything feels like justice. I mean, who needs closure when you can have mass destruction.

x desperation disguised as ambition. “I totally meant to do that” but villain edition.

x loneliness hardened into cruelty. Because friends are hard to make but enemies? Instant.

x the refusal to be forgotten: “if not loved, then feared.” Peak main-character energy, unfortunately on the wrong side.

x a broken idealist who still thinks they’re saving the world. Someone please tell them they’re not the chosen one.

x “pain should be shared”... spreading suffering to make it universal.

x craving recognition in a world that overlooked them. Half villain arcs are just “notice me, senpai” but make it violent.

x reshaping reality so it mirrors their own fracture.

x envy sharpened until it looks like destiny. They don’t actually want the throne, they just can’t stand who’s sitting on it.

x protecting one person so fiercely it destroys everyone else. We call this “romance but make it everyone’s problem.”

x the wound of never being chosen, never being enough. Honestly? Relatable. Terrifying, but relatable.

x fear of irrelevance disguised as ambition.

x obsession with someone else’s light ... “if I can’t shine, I’ll burn it out.” Just pure Jealousy.

x ego so fragile it needs the world to bend around it. Like glass, but louder.

[lauraharrisbooks]

Beyond this, consider how these professions might vary depending on who the customers are - nobles, or lower class. Are they good at their job or just scraping by? Do they work with lots of other people or on their own? City or village?

For younger characters:

Apprentice to any of the above

Messenger/runner

Page/squire

Pickpocket

Shop assistant

Student

Looks after younger siblings

(Images all from Wikimedia Commons)

[notetakers-blog-of-holding]

This neat image lists 100 potential professions (that aren’t knight or peasant) for your yet-employed fantasy character.