#personal writing project

[cumulohimbus]

Cover spread for my first book. It is very near completion now! 112-114 pages of my own original content (though I won't pretend to be a master of photo-editing by any means lol). Super proud of how it's turning out so far uvu

[writers-dilemma]

Hey there friends! I’ve been working on a short, personal writing project for myself, where I’m writing essentially a personal essay from Tissaia’s POV. It’s about what she observes as the differences between sex with mortals and sex with other mages - I am experimenting with trying to write a distinct and formal voice - And, when I say writing, I mean I’ve been handwriting it in cursive for funsies. I wanna know if y’all would be interested in me eventually posting it to AO3 and if you want pics of the cursive version as well. Lemme know, and I hope all of you are warm and well!

[3neurosisinatrenchcoat]

A monologue I wrote a while ago that probably never going to published as part of anything

At some point in the future you will meet whatever deity saw fit to let you exist in this universe. When that time comes, you will have to justify your existence. You will be judged not by the content of your heart, but by your actions, both against others, and yourself.

How do you justify your actions to yourself?

The time you “accidentally” pushed down your grade school rival. The lies you told your parents. The lies you told your friends. The lies you told yourself.

When did you first look in the mirror, and realize you don’t recognize the person staring back at you? At what point did you realize that you don’t know your own body? That what everyone else thinks of you defines your self worth.

When did you stop dreaming of the future? Actually, when did you stop believing you had a future? When did you realize the world you were being given was broken? That you were being handed a trash can fire and told it was gold. When did you realize that your future has been stolen by the very same people who told you you had one. Or, perhaps you haven’t.

When did you let go of your dreams to change the world? Where did you stop fighting to fix the broken world you had been handed? At what point did you start to believe that the bandaid you placed on a bullet hole was enough?

How did you justify your hatred of those who are different that you? Or did you convince yourself that their difference was enough of a reason. That your hatred was their fault. That it’s not your fault that you hate them. That it is never your fault.

Or perhaps you convinced yourself that it wasn’t hatred. Perhaps you convinced yourself that the world wasn’t your to fix; that your dreams weren’t worth it; that the eyes of everyone else where better judges than your own. Perhaps you convinced yourself you weren’t lying, you were just confused at the time. And you continue to lie to yourself.

One day you will meet the deity that saw fit to let you exist in this universe. When that day comes you will have to look them in the eyes and justify your actions. The question isn’t whether you will have to, but whether your justification will be enough; whether they will accept your explanation. One day you will have to plead you case to a uncaring judge. What will you do then?

[ryangaming3002]

The Villain and the Vampire

Viktor looked up from his book and turned to Alice, who was lying sideways on the bed. She was facing away from him; her form draped in a thick silk sheet.

"Is there a cure?" He asked calmly, watching for her reaction.

"For?" Alice asked, her chin meeting her shoulder as she turned to look back at him, her eyes glowing red in the dim candlelight.

"Vampirism," he replied.

"Oh, yes," she answered, turning back to face the wall.

Viktor quickly shut his book and set it aside. "What-" he started to ask.

"But," she interrupted, "do not go searching for my sake. You will only waste your time, dear."

"How do you mean?" he asked, his head tilting to the side.

Alice rolled over in her bed to face him, propping up her head in her hand. "It's complicated. Are you sure you want to know?"

"Quite sure," he answered, an eager hint in his tone.

"Hm." She stood up in bed, pulling her blanket over her form. "Well then. Let's start at the beginning. Every vampire comes from somewhere, afterall."

"So, Carmina, then?"

"Yes, her." Alice raises her hands, pointing one finger from each to the ceiling. "She was the one who turned me." Alice pushes both fingers together, connecting them. "That made me her thrall."

"Creating a connection, correct?"

She nods. "Quite so. The connection between thrall and master is a powerful one. Severing it is what would free them."

"So then, I must ask. Why the hesitation?"

"Freedom comes in only one of two ways. Freedom of control, or freedom from bloodlust."

"Elaborate?"

"If the master is killed, then the thrall is cured of their vampirism."

"Freedom from bloodlust, then."

"Yes. But if the thrall is to consume the blood of their master, they are then free of control."

"And remain a vampire."

"Correct."

Alice pauses, her gaze slowly drifting from Viktor. She licks her lips, then shook her head.

Viktor's eyes do not leave Alice. They watch closely as she seems to drift deeply into thought.

"What becomes of thralls, should they both manage to consume their master's blood and end their life?" He asked, looking directly into her eyes.

Alice looks up and meets his gaze directly. Her crimson irises glistened in the light. "They remain vampires," she responds simply.

Viktor sits up in his seat before leaning forwards. He opens his mouth to speak, but remains silent.

"There is no real cure for my condition, Viktor." Alice faces away from him, closing her eyes. "I will remain a vampire until I die, or-" she paused, the pale skin of her forehead bunching up and pushing down her eyebrows, while her lips twisted into a scowl. "Or until I am killed by the first pathetic hunter to kill you."

Viktor sits up straight, interlocking his fingers and placing them on his lap. "Alice, I-"

Alice snickered to herself. "Isn't it pathetic?" she asks. "I will not get to die old, or live forever." She faces him again, bloody tears forming in her eyes. "I'll die a monster. Alone. Scared. Hells, I'll even- I'll even hate the creature who ends my life."

"I'm sorry, Alice," Viktor replies, bowing his head.

"Why?" she asked.

"I can't help you," he answered, looking back up at her.

"Oh, Viktor." Alice reaches out from the bed, then begins to float over to him. The silk sheets envelope her body as her arms wrapped around his shoulders. "There's nothing anyone can do…"

Viktor kisses Alice on her cheek before wrapping his arms around her waist. He remains silent, simply holding her. "It's not fair."

Alice rests her head against his, lowering her chin into his shoulder. "No. No, it's not."

[lilyminer]

gotten to the part of worldbuilding my fantasy world where I've answered all the big obvious fun questions like "what are the dragons up to?" and "how do mages use magic?"

now I'm sitting here writing about the effect of sexism, xenophobia and racism on the interconnected web of politics I'm trying to develop.

[derdunkleengel]

Just saw the results of my latest poll and to be honest? I didn't expect that. Man, you guys are braver than me XD. I am still thinking about if I should include such a scene into my novel or not. But then...we have so many novels with smut (disgusting smut most of the time. Hardly romantic) and then I am sitting here, feeling ashamed of the thought of inlcuding a harmless tickle scene into my novel...

I am at chapter 5 right now. I am proud of myself that I keep writing on it :). I hope I can finish my book^^

[underworld-cows]

Evander character concept sketches

Evander is another ever-changing character. I guess where I'm going with his design is a character from a lower-class upbringing who grows up genuinely believing in the boot-strap narrative only to realize the only way to rise up is to tear everyone else down

[underworld-cows]

Marcellus concept sketches art dump

I think I'm going to make him the character with a warrior background. Idk maybe anger management issues, behavioral inhibition, mixed feelings about authority. He is probably the least concrete character, since I keep changing his whole appearance and concept.