Since we're talking about hellhounds, is it okay if we suggest unusual animals that you probably don't know about?
I have a favorite animal I'd like to suggest, but I'm not sure if I want to add more work into your code.
I've gotten a lot of asks about the hellhound's forms recently so I'm just gonna answer a bunch of them here
So, you're always welcome to send in suggestions for the hellhound (and I'm always up for learning more about animals) but I can't promise that I'll add the form in. This is because as you suggested, there's a lot of coding in my plate, but also because it just depends on the animal. Some forms are easier to add than others and it really depends on what the animal does and looks like vs. how common or rare it is (like how there's pangolin and capybara but no bunny or skunk). I use tags for the hellhound's forms and so it has to be fully described using these (+horns which isn't on this list yet) and can't have features about it that are too unique (like a skunk's spray or a bunny hopping around):

But I'd encourage you to send in your suggestions since, as I said, I'm always up for learning more about animals!! ☺️
As I just explained above, skunk, while super cute and would be quite funny, isn't one I'm going to be adding because of their spray and smell being too unique to them.
Duuuuuuude, these are so cool!!! You can definitely HC that your hellhound looks like this but I won't be adding in specific breeds of squirrels
Whoa, these are fascinating! Unfortunately as I mentioned with the hamster ask before, animals this size are too small for the hellhound's forms. There's kind of a baseline of functions and actions the hellhound has to be able to do in all its different forms and creatures this small just won't work. But thank you for sending this in! Loved learning about these mice.
Same story as above, rats unfortunately just aren't going to work right now. But, hey, thanks for sending in this ask! You did it perfectly and I encourage you to keep doing it in the future (I love talking with y'all) ☺️
Yeah, fish definitely isn't going to work, but I appreciate the creativity!
Improving Your Writing when English Isn’t Your First Language (mega-ask)
As you can see above, we've gotten more than one question about writing, improving your writing, and even publishing in English when it's not your native language. First off: that's awesome. To anyone writing or even consuming in a language that's not your first, kudos to you.
You can google any variation of this question and get different articles with a ton of the same advice, and some with conflicting advice. Not only have I compiled the most commonly repeated information, but I've also reached out to people on our Discord server and others for their personal experiences.
I'll start off by listing concise versions of the advice and then expound on them further on in the article. Remember that we are not experts on your writing and that everyone learns in different ways and at different paces. These are in no particular order.
-be patient
-practice
-get feedback from native sources
-don't undermine yourself to your audience
-Grammarly
-research
-don't get discouraged
Be patient
That's first because, well, duh. Patience is so important for both yourself and your writing. Writing is hard enough of a passion without the added difficulty of doing it in a language that doesn't come naturally. In the world of literature, writing/publishing in your non-native language isn't just a matter of translating words. It requires translating of ideas, concepts, and even cultural norms, which is why just slapping it into Google translate won't work.
Part of the reason for the advice of having patience, too, is that writing in your native language needs to take time. It doesn't really matter how fast you can whip out 20 pages of a first draft--it'll still be a simple first draft. Writing is a craft that requires not just love and passion but time. So what if you need a little bit of extra time--or a lot of extra time--because you're accomplishing a feat most don't even think about attempting?
Next is to practice.
That goes hand in hand with what I said about being patient. Again, writing in and of itself is all about practice and doing it daily (not that I'm an expert on getting that done, but you know). But when it comes to practice another language, there are different ways you can do that. You can reach out to native speakers (for English, there are going to be so many people willing to help, even just in our community! you just need to ask) and practice having conversations or ask them to look over your work. Practice by turning on your favorite movie or TV show in English with subtitles in your native language. Watch videos on YouTube, find a Spotify playlist/podcast, in your target language. There's also plenty of people who have done what you're trying to do who have shared their experiences and what helped them on those same platforms.
Get feedback from native speakers
This is a bit of an expansion on what I mentioned in the previous paragraph. In my experience, and from what others have shared, writing in a non-native language can be pretty clinical. Writing with figurative language or in metaphors won't be as easy or come as naturally as it does in your own language. Things like idioms and even pop cultures reference aren't always going to translate even if you have the exact words. That's where native speakers come into play. If they're willing to look over your work, whether as a friend or in an editorial position, they can give you advice about whether the wording in one spot sounds clunky or if a phrase doesn't make sense or if there're synonyms for what you already used to help convey your message even stronger.
Don't undermine yourself
This is something that I personally am saying. It's not mentioned on any of the linked sites, and no one I talked to said it. But as someone who is a native English speaker (and even has a degree in it) I think this is super important. This point goes towards native English speakers/writers, too. Don't undersell yourself and undermine your work to the audience before they have even picked it up. Disclaimers are different, and it all comes down to the words you use and how you use them. Let your readers know, whether it's people on AO3 or a literary agent, that English isn't your first language. Let them know concisely that they may find some basic errors--but stop there. Don't grovel. You have nothing to apologize for, especially once you've given that warning (those is it really a warning? what's so dangerous or scary about a few mistakes?). You're writing is not going to be any less of an accomplishment for a few grammatical errors, or mistranslated phrases, or even typos. I've seen so many mistakes in published works that it's kind of ridiculous. But if you put something out there for someone to read and in the same breath say "I don't know that this is worth reading" I'm going to need extra convincing to pick it up. *kicks soapbox away*
Grammarly
*NOT sponsored*
Grammarly is a wonderful tool that you can use, for FREE. It not only (with the free version) helps correct spelling and grammar, but can also help point out the tone you're writing with. For example, right now, Grammarly is telling me that this writing sounds mostly informative--which it's meant to be--and a little appreciative and friendly. When sending emails I've had it tell me that it sounds formal (which I was going for), and I've also had it not say anything because the text was a different kind of writing (like when I'm proof-reading something being posting it on AO3...). I honestly don't know what else it helps with once you've paid because I've been happily using the free version for about 3 years now.
Research
Don't be afraid to pick up a book, or head to the library, or pull up Google. Research is paramount to writing anyway, let alone once you're doing it in another language. Your research options are limitless and can include your mutuals on social media as well as those dictionaries that translate from one language into another. Research can also include (in my humble opinion) binge-watching/reading your favorite things...in English. In four years of university, one of the most frequently said things was to improve your writing 1) write every day and 2) read every day. You're never going to learn from worrying or overthinking, and you're also never going to learn from just doing DuoLingo (that's more conversational than literary anyway).
Something a member of Discord specifically said in relation to research was to look at morphology, at the roots of words (and root words). Morphology is, in linguistics, looking at how words are formed. For example, let's look at "biology". There are parts to this word that each has a different meaning, that formed together created a new/elevated meaning. "ology" means the study of something, and bio means life. So biology is, simply, the study of life. Once you've got those basics of things like "ology" under your belt it'll become easier to not just translate words but the concepts (if this works with your learning style).
Last but not least, don't get discouraged.
Writers of all kinds get discouraged when writing in their native language. Even those of us who speak English as our first language make mistakes worth discouragement (you will never know how many typos were corrected by Grammarly as I wrote this all out the first time). English is not an easy language. It's not the hardest, but it's far from easy (learning another language isn't easy regardless of what languages are involved). This is a post from someone who is a non-native English speaker but you would never know unless they told us.
While researching for this, I found some articles/blog posts that said mostly the same thing, and are where I got some of the information
This one is from a native English speaker giving advice
This one is for writing for non-native English readers, but still has good advice
And finally this one is a blog post (I think) from someone who is a non-native English speaker!
In specific response to some of the asks:
English, like any other language, changes. It's a very dynamic language, actually, and from region to region, there will not only be different accents but different frames of reference. 1950 isn't so far back in time for the English to be drastically different from what is spoken today, but I'm in the USA and you're asking about Oxford. English in England has very different nuances, even more so than you would get between California and Texas and New York. This is a link to the Oxford English Dictionary list of words that became more common in the 50s. However, this is a generalized list, not specific to any English-speaking country let alone region or city. If you're wanting to look at how to convey the accent of people from/in Oxford, there are videos on YouTube of people speaking in different accents so that you can have an idea, a comparison, at least in your own mind. With the 50s it's going to be more just thinking really of what words and lifestyles and things weren't around yet; cell phones didn't exist yet. Here's another link to some stock images of Oxford in the 50s. Remember, this time was very close to WWII so there'll be lingering effects of that, especially in England.
About fight scenes and curses, there's a ton of resources on that. If you just search "fight" on our page, you'll get a ton of posts answering that question. Also, here's a link to a superb and excellent source on writing fight scenes. When it comes to curses...just watch Rage Quit on YouTube, or spend a while on TikTok. If you want to dive right in just Google "English curses" and there'll be YouTube videos, entries on Urban Dictionary, you name it.
When it comes to publishing, once you've gotten your manuscript is a perfect time to have a native-speaking friend look it over. Whether editing is their thing or not, they'll be able to help with the things that are really obvious. I don't have any experience publishing in a different language, though, so there might be other resources along the different stages to help you. Some general publishing advice I've gotten: when wanting to publish fiction, literature, start small. Start with short stories in literary journals, online and in print. You really can't make much headway with large publishing houses without a literary agent and it'll be easier to attract one if you have evidence that you can write, and write well enough people want to read it. When it comes to poetry, just start submitting. Get familiar with the process, and educate yourself on things like simultaneous submissions and a good rejection. Publishing is an ever-changing game that isn't cut and dry in any language or country. We can't tell you what's best, but my advice is to go with your gut and try your best. Don't be afraid to try again, too.
Everyone overthinks their writing. Or at least, everyone I know who writes does. Honestly, in my opinion, if you're not overthinking at least a little bit, you're not worried enough. You will never be able to fully know whether you've explained or described enough. A good chunk of the experience is up to the readers, so you have to leave them some wiggle room for imagination. But that doesn't mean you have to cheapen your story or short-change your characters. You mention specifically that you're POC, which I'm gonna guess also means that your characters will be POC. It's never too much to specify the race/ethnicity of your characters, even in a fantasy work. How you go about writing those descriptions might need to change but it's kind of like chocolate chips, in my mind: you decide those things with your soul.
So, there you have it. A ridiculously long way to say: you're awesome, you do you, practice, love yourself and your writing, and don't be afraid to put yourself out there (in any way).
(images read:
Anonymous said: Im writing a book based in Oxford in 1950s. how was the language different from now. I am not from an English speaking country at all. Never been outside my country either. And Im going to write a book based in England in English
Anonymous said: Hi there, I’m a writer for almost 3 years now but since English isn’t my first language I get discouraged easily if things I write come off strange to myself. Do you maybe have any advice for me, on how to motivate myself and not comparing myself with native English speakers? Thank you in advance!
Anonymous said: Hello! I starting to work on this shortfic but it’s been really hard. It’s like I’m trying to building a house alone and with my bare hands. Even though I’m already used to write in mother tongue. Any advice for non-english speaker trying to write their first story in English?
Yaelburstine said: Hi. Do you have any tips about how to write a good fight scene and curses that people speak English get cus’ it’s not my first language
gyger said: I am not a native english speaker, but most of the books I read are in english and I generally prefer writing in english as well. However, I am worried about making mistakes that I can’t recognize myself. I have no idea how good my english is to a native english speaker, plus some things are easier to write in my native tongue (such as dialogue). I’m also worried about publishing, since that definitely would be easier in my country than abroad. How do I decide what language to choose?
Anonymous said: As a POC writer and English as their second language, I overthink all the writing I do. I feel like I don’t describe my ideas thoroughly or my character descriptions are vague or not good enough. I’m currently working on a YA novel but I plan on writing a YA fantasy novel but I feel like my lack of vocabulary and grammar structure makes me give up on finishing my book. Is this normal for native English speaking authors or is this considered a language barrier thing? Thanks! Love your blog!
Thank you for your questions, and for your patience as we do our best to answer them.
Mod here. There have been a lot of asks about niddah lately. I think I’ve already posted one or more, but there’s at least one more in the inbox, and it seems like folks are getting progressively more confused. I’m going to try to boil the asks and any resulting conversations I can imagine down into one post so folks aren’t stuck repeating themselves:
What’s niddah? Why are there laws around it? What’s the deal about breaking it?
Who can be in niddah, from the perspective of your community? Who is affected by niddah and how?
In answering these questions, if applicable for your community/perspective, please mention how it affects relationships/interaction outside marriage/sex. It would be helpful if respondents could provide a communal or halachic FOR.
Readers of this post: if, with time, you still have remaining general questions about niddah, please send them in a message (ideally! you can always make a throw-away side-blog) or an ask so I can append them to this post.
MEGA ASK: Do you enjoy fires? What's a pastry that you're always up for? Do you believe that the end justifies the means? What's more important to you- your position in your community, or the position of your community? What's your favourite condiment? Do you have any very niche, but strong opinions? Describe your ideal place to relax.
Time to answer this question!
Yes, I enjoy fires - campfires mostly. I’m not an arsonist... as far as anyone knows.
I am always up for just about any pastry to be honest? Danishes are great though.
I have a generally utilitarian morality, but I don’t necessarily believe the end justifies the means. Some means are too much for any end.
My community of course.
I don’t tend to think about ranking my condiments, but I’d have to go with some kind of spicy sauce - like chili sauce. Or Sriracha.
I... probably do? I can’t think of anything off the top of my head though.
Somewhere quiet, probably rainy and I’m under cover.
There might not be enough room for all these, lol: Black, Green, BLUE, Teal, Rainbow, Periwinkle, Mauve, Blush, Copper, Vermilion, Honeydew, Lavender, Razzmatazz, WINE, Saffron, Timberwolf, Fallow, Chartreuse, Burgundy. Now there, I think I got 'em all covered. Yes, there are many, but all are true!
I do these “Ask me” things and never get a response. I would say THIS response makes up for that. Here we go.
BLACK: I would date you. Dawwww
GREEN: I think you’re cute
BLUE: You are my Tumblr crush. ((blushes))
TEAL: We have a lot in common
RAINBOW: BED PLZ. To sleep….or….other stuff?
PERIWINKLE: You make me laugh.
MAUVE: You are really talented. Yeah…talented at being an idiot
BLUSH: Seeing you on my dash makes my day a little better. YAY!!
COPPER: Your blog content is trash (and I love it) Oh yeah. PURE trash
VERMILLION: you make me feel passionate
HONEYDEW: I want to call you by a nickname. Go for it!
LAVENDER: You inspire me. Great! To write? Draw? Do the thing?
RAZZMATAZZ: I would share my fave food with you. I like to eat. A lot.
WINE: You make me feel kinda funny.
SAFFRON: I love your ideas. Yeah…most of my ideas are bad ones
TIMBERWOLF: I trust you. heh heh…yeah…well…
FALLOW: I want to run through the northern wilderness barefoot with you. We’ll get splinters.
CHARTREUSE: You’re my homie
BURGUNDY: I get excited when I see posts from you
So this is like ten asks combined into one super mega powerful Ask.
Sorry about all that downtime, Mega Fans, but hopefully I’ll have some more free time over the next few weeks and I can get to watching those last bunch of episodes!
Everytime i see one of your posts i feel the necessity to slam my face violently to the desk repeatedly. I love your blog.
DISCLAIMER: SUPERFIGHTINGROBOT-MEGAMAN IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY HEAD/FACE-RELATED INJURIES SUSTAINED DURING PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO RUBY-SPEARS MEGA MAN
