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pantserspen

How to Create Writing that Sounds Old-Fashioned | For Fantasy Writers

Common Faux-Archaic Word Swaps

Pronouns & Address

you → thou / thee (singular, informal)

your → thy / thine

yours → thine

yourself → thyself

my → mine (before vowels: mine eyes)

sir / ma’am → my lord / my lady

friend → good sir / good woman

Tip: Overusing thou can feel forced. Many modern fantasy stories skip it entirely.

Verbs & Actions

are → art

is → be

have → hast / hath

do → dost

did → didst

will → shall

can → may

must → must needs

go → depart

come → approach

leave → take one’s leave

stay → remain

die → perish

kill → slay

help → aid

stop → cease

begin → commence

Common Descriptors

before → ere

after → henceforth

now → presently

soon → anon

always → ever

never → ne’er

maybe → mayhap

nothing → naught

anything → aught

angry → wroth

afraid → afeard

tired → weary

quiet → hushed

dark → gloomed / shadowed

Faux-Archaic Phrases (Very Usable)

“I would have words with you.”

“So it shall be.”

“You speak boldly.”

“This matter is settled.”

“I will hear no more of this.”

“Mark my words.”

“Gods be good.”

“By my honor.”

“It is not my place.”

“Let it be known.”

“You overstep.”

“Enough of this.”

“On my life.”

“Say it plain.”

Dialogue Tone Shifts (Modern → Faux-Archaic)

“What do you want?” → “Speak your purpose.”

“I don’t trust you.” → “I place no faith in you.”

“You lied to me.” → “You spoke false.”

“We’re out of time.” → “Time runs thin.”

“This is dangerous.” → “This path is perilous.”

“I’ll handle it.” → “I shall see to it.”

Syntax Tricks (This Is the Secret Sauce)

Instead of archaic words, shift sentence structure:

Put emphasis first → “Never have I seen such folly.”

Drop contractions → “I will not” instead of I won’t

Slightly formal word order → “Gone are the days of mercy.”

Replace casual filler → “Well…” → “So…” / “Then…”

Writing Tip:

Good faux-archaic prose is about restraint, not accuracy.

Use just enough elevated language to suggest age—without slowing the reader down.

#on language #writing resources

bounce-a-coin-off-your-witcher

Oh you're writing a gay smut fic with a fantasy setting? Don't forget to give one of your characters a

philosophicalparadox

It’s not that mysterious though.

Anyone carrying a bladed weapon carried oil. (More on that in a sec) Oil is what you use to clean and condition steel, especially, since water will rust it.

Many people in the Middle Ages used scented oils for their skin and hair from noblemen to lowly serfs.

Oil was incredibly abundant and quite cheap. The TYPE of oil however does matter in this.

Sheep oil (rendered from their fat) was very common and used for all manner of things from making soap to treating skin conditions. Rendered sheep fat has a very light texture and is a decent carrier oil without too pungent of a scent. Unfortunately it did rancid fast so it was common to add lots of herbs to it to help preserve it, especially rosemary, borage, marjoram and citron peels. This is how it became a common “perfume” oil used to scent hair skin or clothes. Nearly anyone would have had this handy somewhere.

Rendered pork oil was very common too and was most popular as a cooking oil.

Vegetable oil made from walnuts, almonds and flax seed was by far the most common non-animal oil. Nearly anybody had a bottle of almond or walnut oil in their pantry or on their person. These were by far the most popular oils used for conditioning steel, with walnut oil preferred because its tannins also gave armor a patina that kept it better. Only the absurdly wealthy ever wore polished armor. Everyone else blackened it to make it keep better. Walnut oil is good at doing that.

Walnut oil also works well as a lubricant. People back then DID use sexual lube by the way. No prostitute would be caught dead without it. Their favorite types were walnut and olive oil, though almond oil might be used in a pinch. They also used watered down acacia gum in southern Europe, which was sticky but slick and easy to re-wet.

Olive oil though was THE oil in Europe. It was expensive, comparatively, but obviously people considered it well worth its cost because it was found everywhere south of the Seine and frequently seen in even minor lordly houses or knights quarters much farther north. Considering quite a few people of the time thought it had aphrodisiac qualities when applied as certain way (likely because raw olive oil has a warming effect) I think you can imagine the most common reason it was sought after by men in particular.

Olive oil was also used in medicine and just about any church had some floating around somewhere because it’s conveniently good at treating minor infections and is wonderful for toothaches.

So the mysterious vial of oil isn’t at all mysterious and even if he were carrying it around with the sole intention of using it for sex, that wouldn’t actually be that strange either.

#how tf do I tag this?#on sex #oil #lubricants #writing resources

caesarsaladinn

doing a reverse mary sue self-insert where you make up an oc and give them all of your worst personality traits

#oh so impatience - anger issues - social isolation - lotta white lies - anxiety - trust issues - oversharing - some cleptomaniac tendencies #well frick the list could go on but this is actually giving me ideas #on ocs

pantserspen

How to write Authentic Friendships

Developing powerful character friendships requires focusing not only on the dynamic between the characters but also ensuring that each individual is fully realized, and that their interactions are realistic and complex.

The best tips for creating strong character friendships include:

1. Establish the Individual Characters (The Foundation)

Make Each Character Their Own Person: If a character's sole purpose is "be the friend," they will be flat and uninteresting, making the friendship uninvested.

Apply all the same character creation rules to the friend as you would the main character.

Flesh out both characters by giving them a history, passions, dreams, values, and other relationships like family and friends.

Ensure they both have different internal journeys, even if they share the same external goal.

2. Define Their Connection

Give Them Something in Common: Provide similarities that give them a reason to be friends and offer common ground for communication. Similarities can include shared struggles, hobbies, interests, history, background, goals, dreams, or even an enemy. Even if characters are vastly different, they need a common factor that ignites the friendship, like a love of cheesy movies or shared ambitious characteristics.

Give Them Meaningful Differences: Don't just make them different; give them differences that complement each other. These differences should allow them to support each other's strengths and build each other up during times of weakness. Examples of differences include:

Skills: One is intelligent, the other is hands-on; one is good at planning, the other is good at improvising.

Conflict Resolution: One wants to confront issues (like a bully), while the other chooses to ignore them.

Personalities: One is confident and sly while the other is quiet and awkward.

Reactions: One friend might freak out during an event while the other stays calm, or one might get discouraged while the other encourages them to keep going.

Create a Glue: Identify what is keeping your friends from parting ways. This "glue" can be a shared goal, an existing character dynamic (like a gardener and the person they serve), or a situation where they are thrown together and cannot get away from each other.

3. Show History and Depth

Give Them a History That Shines Through: Throw out hints that the friends have known each other for a while to make readers curious about their past. If they are new friends, sneak in hints that they are learning more about each other as the story progresses.

Utilize Communication Cues: Show history and depth through specific interactions:

Give them an inside joke that only they share.

Give them a silly, ongoing argument (like arguing over pineapple on pizza or Star Trek versus Star Wars) which makes them feel real and reveals different shades of their personality.

Utilize nonverbal communication, allowing them to sit comfortably in silence, convey meaning through gestures, or predict what the other is going to do.

Show that they know each other's likes and dislikes, such as one ordering the other's "go-to coffee order" without asking.

Know the Other’s Past/Family Life: Good friends know the highs, lows, and mundane details of each other's backstory. They might refer to shared historical events with just a few words (e.g., “The ‘09 Thanksgiving disaster”), indicating a deep, unspoken understanding.

Develop chemistry through easy banter, teasing one another without missing a beat. The teasing should be good-natured and not used to hurt the other.

Ensure mutual support by showing characters being vulnerable and being there for each other. This support should be tailored to the specific needs of each friend, whether they respond to physical comfort or material comfort like ice cream.

Be Protective: Make the friends fiercely protective of each other. If one is hurt or demeaned, the other should be furious, defend them vehemently, or try to exact revenge.

4. Inject Complexity

Create Meaningful Scenes: Insert key moments in the novel to demonstrate the relationship's power, such as sharing a jacket, eating food together, giving a gift, or teaching each other something.

Don’t Make Their Relationship Perfect: A perfect friendship will lead to a less poignant story. Set up conflicts that naturally occur because of who the characters are and what they believe.

Introduce complexity by allowing their differences to get the better of them, having them react differently to a pivotal event, or having one friend's internal demons create tension that the other must address.

Hurdles make the friendship feel more earned and compelling. Watching characters overcome these obstacles and remain friends makes the relationship feel more real, deep, and deserved.

A good friendship can turn an okay story into a memorable one by adding emotional weight and making readers care more about the narrative.

#on characters #on friendship #writing resources

unboundprompts

advice for a character who grips control like a lifeline. who wants to be in charge of every little thing because whenever they're not in control of something something bad could happen. has happened. they can't let a single variable be wild or in someone else's hands

How to Write a Controlling Character

Backstory Rooted in Trauma or Guilt

This character likely has a history that has ingrained the belief that they must be in control or face devastating consequences. Perhaps they once trusted someone else with something crucial—a promise, a responsibility, or a life-altering choice—and that trust was broken in a way that had lasting repercussions. For example, maybe they lost someone because they weren’t “careful enough,” or they experienced a betrayal when they trusted another person’s plan.

They might frequently flash back to this moment, possibly catching themselves thinking, If only I’d been the one in control, this wouldn’t have happened. This memory fuels their need to keep a tight grip on everything, especially if they’re in high-stakes situations.

Rigid Daily Routines and Habits

This character’s day is probably packed with small rituals and routines that give them a sense of security. From double-checking door locks to setting multiple alarms, they rely on routines to give themselves a sense of order. In fact, they might be nearly ritualistic about small actions—checking emails three times before sending, never leaving a task halfway finished, or meticulously arranging their workspace.

Even something as simple as making coffee can become a precise process. If someone moves one of their tools or a file from their desk, they may feel a spike of frustration or even anxiety, seeing it as a disruption to their personal “system.” They could feel that control in their daily life is the only thing keeping chaos at bay.

Intensely Observant of Details and Mistakes

They are hyperaware of mistakes or inefficiencies in others, mentally cataloging things like a coworker’s slight lateness or a friend’s disorganization. They may feel a sense of superiority (or frustration) over people who don’t “have it together” and take it upon themselves to organize or “fix” things for others.

In conversation, they might cut people off or “correct” them even over small points, often justifying this to themselves as necessary. For instance, if someone shares a plan that seems half-formed, this character could immediately dive in, pointing out potential problems or filling in details.

Controlling Relationships and Social Situations

This character struggles in relationships where they aren’t the dominant or organizing force. They might instinctively take over when making plans with friends, micromanaging even casual hangouts to make sure everything goes “right.” For example, they might pick the restaurant, plan the travel route, and check weather forecasts—assuming that if they don’t, no one else will think of these things.

When someone resists their attempts at control, they can respond defensively, often turning cold or resentful, unable to understand why anyone wouldn’t want them to manage the situation. Statements like, “Fine, but don’t blame me if this doesn’t go well,” are frequent in their interactions.

Extreme Anxiety or Panic When Control Is Taken Away

When things go beyond their reach, this character might experience panic, as if they’re suddenly powerless. For instance, if an unexpected roadblock prevents them from handling a task (like a canceled flight they needed to board, or a plan that falls apart), they might spend hours trying to regain control, calling every contact or frantically exploring alternatives.

Their reaction may feel extreme to others. Even minor setbacks—such as a colleague taking initiative on a project or a friend planning something without consulting them—can trigger a disproportionate response, like clenching their fists, pacing, or silently stewing as they feel the situation “slipping.”

Inability to Accept Help or Collaboration

Their controlling nature makes it hard for them to collaborate, as they believe their methods are the only ones that work. For them, accepting help feels like an admission of weakness or failure, so they rarely delegate or ask for assistance. If they do reluctantly accept help, they are constantly supervising or “suggesting” things, making it feel more like they’re still in charge.

In a team setting, they might take on all the major tasks, either out of distrust in others’ abilities or a feeling that no one will match their standards. Their motto could be something like, “If you want something done right, do it yourself,” even if that means working late or burning out.

Reluctance to Show Vulnerability or Need

Since vulnerability and control rarely coexist for them, they avoid showing weakness at all costs, preferring to mask stress or struggles as “just part of the job.” If they do become overwhelmed, they’re more likely to shut people out, saying, “I’ve got it handled,” even if it’s far from true.

When people push them to let go or share the load, they might lash out, accusing others of “just not understanding.” They often see their intense responsibility as a form of sacrifice, justifying their behavior with, “If I don’t handle this, who will?”

#writing resources #on characters

luna-azzurra

Quick tips for writing Sleep Deprivation

☽ Memory becomes absolute garbage. Like “why am I in the kitchen?” garbage. “What was I saying?” garbage. Their brain is running on buffering screens and regret.

☽ Fine motor skills? Ha. They’re dropping everything. Pens. Phones. Entire moral compass. They’re basically a malfunctioning claw machine.

☽ Hallucinations creep in. That jacket on the chair? Suddenly a person. That noise? Definitely doom. Everything becomes mildly haunted.

☽ Time gets weird. Five minutes feel like a year. A full hour disappears and they swear they blinked wrong.

☽ Irritation skyrockets. They get mad at chairs. At air. At gravity. At the audacity of other humans continuing to exist.

☽ Their voice sounds weird. Slow, scratchy, like they swallowed sand.

☽ They walk like a drunk baby giraffe. Walls suddenly jump closer. Floors rise unexpectedly. Coordination said: “I’m out.”

☽ Zoning out becomes a hobby. They stare at random objects like they’re trying to understand quantum mechanics.

☽ Vision blurs in and out. Like someone smeared Vaseline over their eyeballs out of spite.

☽ Their body just hurts. Not a dramatic pain, just the “why does my skeleton feel like it’s buzzing?” pain.

☽ Food cravings go feral. They’d fight someone for a stale cookie.

☽ Terrible choices. They will absolutely say “I’m fine” while making decisions that end in disaster.

☽ Random emotional implosions. Crying because their sock feels wrong? Yes.

☽ Cold hands. Cold feet. Cold heart. (Okay maybe not the last one, but it feels like it.)

#writing resources #on sleep deprivation

nekoqueenalice

PSA: AO3 Bots Are Getting Worse (And Here's What You Need To Know)

Alright so if you're active on AO3, you've probably heard about the bot problem. It's been going on for years but it's gotten way worse lately, so here's a breakdown of what's happening and how to protect yourself.

What Are AO3 Bots?

Basically spam accounts that leave comments on fics. They're automated and they've been plaguing the site since like 2021, but they keep getting more sophisticated.

Types of Bots You Might See:

Praise Bots - These leave super generic compliments that could apply to literally any fic. Stuff like "This is pure genius, I'm in awe of your world-building" or "This deserves all recognition." The dead giveaway is when someone praises your "heartwarming" fic when everyone literally died and the earth shattered around them lmao.

Hateful/Cruel Bots - These are the really fucked up ones. They scrape REAL AO3 usernames and attach them to horrible, cruel comments. So innocent people get their names attached to hateful shit they never said. If you see a mean comment, check if the username is clickable - if it's not linked to an actual profile, it's a bot.

Kudos Bots - Some authors have woken up to like 30-60 fake kudos dumped on their fics all at once, with no corresponding increase in hit counts. This completely destroys the metric system especially in smaller fandoms.

AI Accusation Bots - These accuse authors of using ChatGPT or other AI tools, sometimes on fics that are literally older than the AI programs they're being accused of using. Some link to "AI detection tools" which are likely just trying to get you to feed more fics into AI training databases.

Misinformation Bots - A newer type that showed up in May 2025 claiming AO3 was removing works to "conserve server space" and telling authors to delete their own work or risk being banned. Complete bullshit - AO3 has never done this and never will.

Mary Sue Bots - Accuse your OCs of being Mary Sues, even when your fic only has canon characters and no self-inserts at all.

Art Commission Scam Bots - Leave praise then offer to make comic/art commissions of your fic. They get you off-site to Discord or Instagram, take your payment, then either send AI-generated garbage or ghost you completely.

How Do They Work?

The bots comment as unregistered guests and scrape real AO3 usernames to attach to their comments. The username shows up but isn't clickable and has no actual profile associated with it (unless you search for that name directly, which makes it look legit at first).

The newer ones are getting smarter too - they scrape your fic's tags and use them to make the generic praise seem more personalized. So if you tagged "angst" they'll specifically mention emotions and tension.

How To Spot Them:

Username isn't clickable/has no profile

Generic praise that could apply to any fic

Comments that make zero sense for what actually happened in your story

Multiple comments hitting your fics really fast (like 7 comments timestamped over 9 hours)

Sudden spike in kudos with no matching increase in hits

Anyone trying to get you off-site for commissions or services

The Emotional Impact:

This shit genuinely hurts authors. Some don't realize they're bots at first and think the hate comments or AI accusations are real criticism of their writing. There's also concerns from neurodivergent and ESL authors who worry their real comments will be mistaken for bots because their writing style might seem stilted.

And if your username gets stolen? You might have to track down authors and explain that hateful comment wasn't actually you.

What You Can Do:

As an author:

Delete bot comments as soon as you spot them

If it gets bad, lock your comments to registered users only (Settings → Privacy → "Only show your work to registered users")

Report the comments if you can

As a reader/commenter:

Don't panic if your username got stolen - reach out to the author and explain it wasn't you

Keep leaving real comments! Authors need to know there are real people who love their work

Maybe make your comments a bit more specific/personal so authors know you're real

Everyone:

Spread awareness so people know what to look for

Don't feed fics into "AI detection tools" that bots link to

Why Are They Doing This?

Honestly? Probably to keep AI brands in the "fandom news" cycle and create controversy. Some are straight-up scams. Either way, they suck.

Stay safe out there and keep supporting your favorite authors with real comments. We need that genuine engagement now more than ever. 💜

Tagging all my mutuals @ruinationz and @turbotasticnumberone and @cartoon-cat7241 and @cru5h-cascades and @seleyaaaa and @mono-squamblo and @strayfelinez and @strangelilangel and @yukihirop and @rivertheemoo and @meatmedallion and @drownedsilverforever and @senpaipaws and @cartoonlover999 and @byronicmoron and @resolutelymadvermin and @wanka-wanky and @looksmokin and @justwatchedsometv and @oakwoodvida and @human-n0-l0ng3r and @glooberousgoon and @goddess-of-lov3 and @lucifersdog-luci and @casethecreep and @aoihibiki247 and and @klyju and @fleshistic and @golshi-sweetheart and @femmesagemoon222 and @4ggravatez and @resonanthideoutruin and @saddmyths and @homestuckyaoi413 and @blueloky and @divine-vxnity and @ace-productions7 and @fiberopticemoweeb666 and @cryptedlullaby and @3veryth1ngstays and @blossomletters and @alpheiaa and @juniizhq and @sapphicavocado and @bloodybigirl and @yanderehiro and @dnplicoricenutttt and @russkiy-american-dreams and @2catnip4me and @miracle-winkel and @mickyx-x and @biblicallyunhingedtheo and @the-only-good-ai and @prettirei and @unhinged-pink-espresso and @patchofglass

#psa #once again it's bots yay #ao3 #stay safe

otsanda

Canon divergent AU where Arthur takes the blame for Merlin’s magic before Uther by saying Merlin was acting under Arthur’s direct orders. Bonus points if he’s bluffing and just found out about Merlin’s magic 5 min prior and is really hoping nobody interrogates them separately

#writing prompts #bbc merlin

deverauxwrites-deactivated20251

So, you have to kill off a character 🔪🖤

1. Silence > Scream ❖ Don’t let anyone shout “NOOO!” like it’s a bad soap opera. ❖ The gut-punch comes from stillness. A friend realizing the body isn’t moving. A hand slipping from theirs. A breath that doesn’t come back. ❖ Example: “He waited for the next rise of her chest. It never came.”

2. Subtle Details, Not Monologues ❖ Avoid characters delivering five-minute speeches about how much the dead one meant. That’s cheese-drenched exposition. ❖ Instead: show someone trying to tie their shoes with shaking hands. Or refusing to leave the body. Or pocketing some tiny keepsake.

3. Physicality Over Words ❖ Grief is ugly in the body before it’s in the mouth. ❖ Numb fingers. Stomach drop. Knees buckling against a wall. ❖ The best line might be no line at all—just the sound of someone struggling to breathe.

4. Aftermath, Not Just Death ❖ Don’t zoom out as soon as the heart monitor flatlines. The power is in the next five minutes. ❖ How do the survivors react differently? The sarcastic one goes silent. The stoic one cracks. The optimist starts cleaning blood off their hands like if they scrub hard enough, it won’t be real.

5. Tone, Not Tropes ❖ Kill cliché phrases: “Don’t leave me,” “Stay with me,” “No, God please no!” ❖ Replace with something raw and specific: - “You were supposed to outlive us all, you stubborn bastard.” - “Don’t you dare make me the one to tell her.”

#writing resources #on death

boilingheart-archive

heyitsmetonid

This list couldn’t come at a better time!

#writing resources #on vocabulary

hayatheauthor

100 Dialogue Tags You Can Use Instead of “Said”

For the writers struggling to rid themselves of the classic ‘said’. Some are repeated in different categories since they fit multiple ones (but those are counted once so it adds up to 100 new words).

1. Neutral Tags

Straightforward and unobtrusive dialogue tags:

Added, Replied, Stated, Remarked, Responded, Observed, Acknowledged, Commented, Noted, Voiced, Expressed, Shared, Answered, Mentioned, Declared.

2. Questioning Tags

Curious, interrogative dialogue tags:

Asked, Queried, Wondered, Probed, Inquired, Requested, Pondered, Demanded, Challenged, Interjected, Investigated, Countered, Snapped, Pleaded, Insisted.

3. Emotive Tags

Emotional dialogue tags:

Exclaimed, Shouted, Sobbed, Whispered, Cried, Hissed, Gasped, Laughed, Screamed, Stammered, Wailed, Murmured, Snarled, Choked, Barked.

4. Descriptive Tags

Insightful, tonal dialogue tags:

Muttered, Mumbled, Yelled, Uttered, Roared, Bellowed, Drawled, Spoke, Shrieked, Boomed, Snapped, Groaned, Rasped, Purred, Croaked.

5. Action-Oriented Tags

Movement-based dialogue tags:

Announced, Admitted, Interrupted, Joked, Suggested, Offered, Explained, Repeated, Advised, Warned, Agreed, Confirmed, Ordered, Reassured, Stated.

6. Conflict Tags

Argumentative, defiant dialogue tags:

Argued, Snapped, Retorted, Rebuked, Disputed, Objected, Contested, Barked, Protested, Countered, Growled, Scoffed, Sneered, Challenged, Huffed.

7. Agreement Tags

Understanding, compliant dialogue tags:

Agreed, Assented, Nodded, Confirmed, Replied, Conceded, Acknowledged, Accepted, Affirmed, Yielded, Supported, Echoed, Consented, Promised, Concurred.

8. Disagreement Tags

Resistant, defiant dialogue tags:

Denied, Disagreed, Refused, Argued, Contradicted, Insisted, Protested, Objected, Rejected, Declined, Countered, Challenged, Snubbed, Dismissed, Rebuked.

9. Confused Tags

Hesitant, uncertain dialogue tags:

Stammered, Hesitated, Fumbled, Babbled, Mumbled, Faltered, Stumbled, Wondered, Pondered, Stuttered, Blurted, Doubted, Confessed, Vacillated.

10. Surprise Tags

Shock-inducing dialogue tags:

Gasped, Stunned, Exclaimed, Blurted, Wondered, Staggered, Marvelled, Breathed, Recoiled, Jumped, Yelped, Shrieked, Stammered.

Note: everyone is entitled to their own opinion. No I am NOT telling people to abandon said and use these. Yes I understand that said is often good enough, but sometimes you WANT to draw attention to how the character is speaking. If you think adding an action/movement to your dialogue is 'good enough' hate to break it to you but that ruins immersion much more than a casual 'mumbled'. And for the last time: this is just a resource list, CALM DOWN. Hope that covers all the annoyingly redundant replies :)

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks?

Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!

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#writing resources #on dialogue

thestuffedalligator

If a fantasy setting has both fantasy races like dwarves, elves, and halflings and contractible vampirism, I think vampire dwarves, vampire elves and vampire halflings should have their own bespoke weaknesses and powers from human vampires.

Vampire dwarves burn in pure darkness and must always carry a lit candle. Vampire elves can turn into owls. The only way to kill a vampire halfling is to feed it a soup it loved in life. Etc

ahallister

AD&D had this way back in the day, like pre-2000. Elven vampires, for example, could only be out during the day, had to enchant their coffins to blast them with sunlight all night long, drained charisma instead of constitution, and could turn into an eagle instead of a bat. No idea why that went away, those sorts of details made the game way weirder in the best possible way.

deceptifemme

Yes! I found a place you can find this stuff again:

Just type 'Vampire' and the d&d race you want to see. Dark Elf, Dwarf, Gnome, etc.

#writing resources #on world building

firemind411

Waking Up Scenarios

Concrete Cold — eyes open to the sting of gravel pressed into their cheek, dried blood sticking their skin to the ground. Every muscle aches when they try to move.

Fogged and Bound — awareness trickles back with a burning neck, wrists cinched tight, fighting for vision as they realise they can’t move.

Hands First — they wake to someone slapping lightly at their face, murmuring “hey, come on, stay with me” — blurred voices and panic before the world comes back into play.

Public Humiliation — wake flat on their back in the middle of a crowd, strangers staring down, some filming, none helping fast enough.

Too Bright — harsh light floods in the second they pry their eyes open, head pounding, body strapped to a metal table.

Caretaker’s Lap — they stir to the feeling of a shirt under their cheek, arms around them, someone whispering: “easy, you’re safe, I’ve got you.”

Alone and Exposed — waking in an alley, shirt damp, ribs aching, with no memory of how they got there or why their hands won’t stop shaking.

Dragged Back — half-conscious, they wake only enough to realize they’re being carried, boots scraping the floor, head limp against a stranger’s chest.

Fever-Slick — waking mid-sickness, drenched in sweat, mumbling nonsense, too weak to push the blanket away.

Interrupted Nightmare — they jolt awake with a cry, not realizing the screams were theirs, throat raw, body fighting before hands pin them gently down.

Pinned by Weight — stirring only to feel a boot or a knee across their chest, air still cut off, the fight not finished after all.

Labored Return — they come to gasping, chest heavy, heartbeat wrong, every inhale clawing its way through cracked ribs or bruised lungs.

Disoriented — first thought: where am I? Second: why can’t I move? Third: oh fuck, someone’s watching me.

#writing resources #on characters #on waking up

appendingfic

Instead of doing NanoWriMo I will be doing something where I try to aim for writing an actual average of 400 words a day for the month of November in memory of Terry Pratchett, who as far as I know never thought telling a computer to write a book for you is a good way to hone your skills as a writer.

sweaterkittensahoy

I LOVE THIS. THIS is the spirit of NaNoWriMo: to invent a challenge to make you write.

If I may add some ideas:

The 666 challenge: Writing six pages a day in a month (no matter how shitty) because Stephen King writes 6 pages a day. Equating it with the devil is to explain why it's shit sometimes.

The 420 challenge: Get high. Write 420 words a day.

THE OTHER 51 challenge: Write 51 words a day because, yes, Hamilton wrote 51 essays in six months, but that bitch was crazy, and you can write 51 words without feeling like you're running out of time.

The Fibonacci challenge: Try to write as many words a day as required to meet the Fibonacci sequence. So, 100 on day one. 200 on day two. 300 on day three. Etcetera. If you don't hit the number in the sequence, you can respond "DO I LOOK LIKE A MATHIMATICIAN TO YOU"

If you wanna NaNo your heart out at 1667 a day, absolutely do that. Enjoy it! But if start talking now if you're looking for a group who will join you and not try to fuck AI up its server-hole.

#writing challenge #imma try 420

clumsyclifford

questions for fic writers

a collection of questions i, as a writer, would love to be asked !!!

1. What fic of yours would you recommend to someone who had never read any of your work? (In other words, what do you think is the best introduction to your fics?)

2. Go to your AO3 “Works” page, to the sidebar with all the filters, and click the drop-down arrow for “Additional Tags.” What are your top 3-5 most used tags? Do you think they accurately represent your writing habits?

3. What are some tropes or details that you think are very characteristic of your fics?

4. What detail in [insert fic] are you really proud of?

5. What do you wish someone would ask you about [insert fic]? Answer it now!

6. What’s one fact about the universe of [insert fic] that you didn’t get a chance to mention in the fic itself?

7. Any worldbuilding you’re particularly proud of?

8. What song would make a great fic (to either write or read)?

9. How do you find new fic to read?

10. How do you decide what to write?

11. Are you partial to a certain character/pairing or are you more equal-opportunity? If you are partial to any character/pairing, why do you think that is?

12. Are there any tropes you used to dislike but have grown on you?

13. Are there any tropes you used to like but don’t anymore?

14. Are there any tropes you would only read if written by a trusted friend or writer?

15. What’s your favorite AU that you’ve written?

16. What’s an AU you would love to read (or have read and loved)?

17. What highly specific AU do you want to read or write even though you might be the only person to appreciate it?

18. If you wrote a sequel to [insert fic], what would it involve?

19. If you wrote a spin-off of [insert fic], what would it involve?

20. If you wrote a prequel to [insert fic], what would it involve?

21. If you wrote a “missing scene” in [insert fic], what would it be?

22. Who is your favorite character in [insert fic] and why?

23. What’s a trope, AU, or concept you’ve never written, but would like to?

24. Are there any easter eggs in [insert fic], and if so, what are they?

25. What other websites or resources do you use most often when you write?

26. Would you rather write a fic that had no dialogue or one that was only dialogue?

27. How long did it take to write [insert fic]? Describe the process.

28. Does anyone read your fics before you post them? If so, who?

29. What songs would be (or are) on a playlist for [insert fic]? Explain your choices if you want!

30. Have you ever written something that was out of your comfort zone? If so, what was it, and how did it affect your approach to writing fic thereafter?

31. What’s your ideal fic length to write?

32. What’s your ideal fic length to read?

33. If you write chaptered fics, what’s your ideal chapter length to write? Is it different from your ideal chapter length to read?

34. What aspects of your writing are inspired by/taken from your real life?

35. What aspects of your writing are completely unlike your real life?

36. Do you visualize what you read/write?

37. Promote one of your own “deep cut” fics (an underrated one, or one that never got as much traction as you think it deserves!). What do you like about it?

38. Did any of your fics get surprisingly popular (whatever that means to you)? Which ones? Why do you think they were so successful?

39. Is any aspect of your writing process inspired by other writers or people? If so, who?

40. Do you tend to reread fics or are you a one-and-done kind of person?

41. Link a fic that made you think, “Wow, I want to write like that.”

42. Have you ever received a comment that particularly stood out to you for whatever reason?

43. If you take/write prompts: what’s your favorite prompt fic that you’ve written?

44. If you take/write prompts: do you prefer dialogue or scenario/narrative prompts?

45. What’s something you’ve improved on since you started writing fic?

46. Do you prefer writing on your phone or on a computer (or something else)? Do you think where you write affects the way you write?

47. If [insert fic] was a pair of shoes, what kind would it be? Describe the shoes.

48. What’s the last fic you read? Do you recommend it?

49. What are you currently working on? Share a few lines if you’re up for it!

50. Answer any question of your choice, or talk about anything you want to talk about!

#ask game #don't be shy

this is how you make an artist incredibly happy ❤️ and don't worry dear reader, there's so much more to come! thank you!

#shink #fanfic review #I love you no joke

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