dvrkblooms

[dvrkblooms]

Literally typing in "Irish version of..." for names 😅

Sneak peak for Bucky's "real" last name: Ó Bearáin

[dvrkblooms]

I don't know if you've done this before but what are some good ways to describe speech?

Ways to Describe Speech

-> feel free to edit and adjust pronouns as you see fit.

His voice was deep like the rumbling of the earth.

She had the voice of a singer, smooth and rich like chocolate.

Their voice reminded him of spring rain.

He often paused in his speaking, like a car radio that had lost signal.

She had a lilt to her voice that made it seem like she was asking a question.

Their voice was monotonous, threatening to put her to sleep with every word.

He couldn't put her voice into words. It was... otherworldly.

Her voice was brittle, as if she were on the verge of tears.

Their voice was authoritative. Their words carried like a loud command.

His voice, unapologetic and unwavering, made her shrink back.

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Their words were cold with anger.

Other Words to Use to Describe Voice:

Firm

Formal

Frank

Hesitant

Humorous

Passionate

Playful

Professional

Respectful

Serious

Sympathetic

Smug

Superior

Croaky

Dry

Forceful

Grating

Hateful

Insincere

Nasally

Snarky

Tuneless

Wavering

Breaking

Coarse

Flat

Hoarse

High Pitched

Husky

Mellow

Raspy

Rough

Scratchy

Strong

Trembling

Boisterous

Booming

Screeching

Faint

Feeble

Frail

Penetrating

Piercing

Quiet

Raised

Shrill

Soft

Weak

Whisper

Captivating

Deep

Feathery

Hypnotic

Lilting

Mesmerizing

Rich

Smoky

Soothing

Breathy

Delicate

Warbling

If you like what I do and want to support me, please consider donating! I also offer editing services and other writing advice on my Ko-fi!

[dvrkblooms]

A quick guide to animal symbolism:

Animals have a long history of symbolism that varies between cultures and customs. As literary tropes develop, some animal symbolism has become universally recognised in the western literary canon. Here are some examples you can use in your writing to give subtext, develop motifs, or promote your thematic content.

🐥 Birds: freedom, hope, escape 🦁 Lions: strength, courage, royalty 🐶 Dogs: loyalty, devotion, protection 🐱 Cats: independence, stealth, mystery 🐺 Wolves: intelligence, nature, wildness 🦊 Foxes: cleverness, cunning, deception 🐍 Snakes: temptation, evil, deceit 🦋 Butterflies: transformation, change, new beginnings 🦉 Owls: wisdom, knowledge, mystery 🦅 Eagles: strength, freedom, nobility ◾ Ravens: death, mystery, the unknown 🕊️ Doves: peace, love, purity 🐻 Bears: resurrection, strength, power, new life 🤘 Bulls: virility, sovereignty, wealth

[dvrkblooms]

Scottish Folklore Creatures

I've been working on a little series of blog posts that bring together what I know about folklore creatures in Scottish traditional lore; rather than sharing them individually I thought I'd keep them all together and add to this post as I go.

Disclaimer: these blogs are largely what I've heard about these creatures from older family members and what I've learned from folktales in books (both children's collections and less sugar coated adult books) - folklore is notoriously complex. While I did secondary research, these posts represent my understanding as someone who grew up in the central belt of Scotland, so you may have heard different versions of the same stories, or read different stories entirely.

Gods I love folklore - anyway, here they are for those who want to read them:

The Baobhan Síth

Redcaps

Cù Sìth

Cat Sìth

The Wulver

[dvrkblooms]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐔𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

!!! 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

the definitions of these terms belong to me and they are created only for this blog, and if you notice that they differ from the usual definitions, then this is normal. I use all the terms listed here only in this meaning and in my works they have the same meaning.

♡ — UNIVERSE

ROLESWAP AU (including ageswap) — a world in which the characters change roles (Nezuko and the Demons become a slayer, Tanjirou and the Pillars become demons)

- AGESWAP AU — a world in which the age of the characters changes (for example, kamaboko become pillars, while the pillars become ordinary slayers).

FOREST AU — the action takes place in a world where animal hybrids live in their natural habitat. the world is most often undeveloped, and although animals have a set of rules (not observed by everyone) and the beginnings of society, they have not yet created a society in our understanding and do not obey laws except "the strong are always right".

MODERN AU — the action takes place in a world similar to ours.

OMEGAVERSE AU [a/b/o] (including: omegaarcy au, dark omegaverse au) — the actions take place in a world in which, together (or apart from) our gender system, there is another, divided into omegas (able to give birth) and alphas (able to fertilize); optionally, there are betas (most often depicted as asexuals or less leadership and more restrained alphas) and gammas (able to get pregnant and fertilize).

- OMEGAARCY AU, a world where the leaders and the most powerful figures are considered omegas (because of their large number or greater adaptability to the outside world), while alphas should behave politely, submissively and family-like (perform duties for taking care of the nest and puppies). in this universe, it is the omegas who are the leaders of the pack and create their own, while the alphas remain in the family they were born into until their partner omega takes them away. betas rarely create their own packs, but they can safely become part of the pack.

- DARK OMEGAVERSE, a world where the "Might Makes Right" rule still exists. most often, moments are natural for this world when omegas bite the neck of those who harassed them, and alphas can fight each other to death, unlike the usual omegaverse, where alphas are more prone to puppy rivalry. in the dark omegaverse, murder and violence are not prosecuted, but are considered a natural part, although there is still a strict system in place to protect puppies and weak persons.

MYTHICAL CREATIONS AU — a world in which mythical creatures exist (most often as you or your partner[s])(werewolf, vampire, fairy, elf, ect.)

DRAGON AU — a world in which some dragons and humans have created a symbiotic relationship for the sake of joint survival. as a rule, people take care of dragons as their "pets", while dragons protect them from dangerous creatures.

HYBRID AU [kemonomimi au] — a world in which there are hybrids of animals and people at the same time; most often hybrids have the 'pets role', but the world can also be equal.

MONSTER AU — a world in which there are hybrids of monsters and people or humanoid monsters (incubus / succubus, lamia, arachne)

YANDERE WORLD AU — a world in which people are either "yandere" (having a strong fixation on one or more people, to whom they have an extremely unhealthy interest and various ways of courtship) or "darling", and such things as kidnapping, stalking, drug use, blackmail, suicide threats when parting and manic insanity with a threat to the lives of others are under the strict control of society and the state. although some people have to sacrifice for the sake of a bright future, the majority of society lives in peace and all problems are solved with the help of the state or psychotherapy.

COSMOOPERA AU — a world in which people have conquered space for a relatively long time, colonize planets and are able to communicate with aliens.

PROSEXUAL AU — a world where you make love instead of violence. any conflict is an excuse to first have sex and then calmly solve everything. any tension is solved first by sex and then by negotiations. in fact, sex has become another calm form of communication and performs the function of not only reproduction, but also social for solving any negative situations.

DOMESTIC AU — a separate universe for describing the family life between you and your partner(s), which will do nothing but describe the creation of a family & pregnancy.

♡ — MOST POPULAR

INTERSPECIES RELATIONSHIP [xenophilia] — the work describes the relationship between a human and a non-human.

POLYAMOROUS RELATIONSHIP — the work describes an agreed romantic / sexual relationship between more than two persons.

PREDATOR/PREY DYNAMIC — the relationship between a herbivorous hybrid (like rabbits) and a predator (like foxes) / omnivore (like bears) hybrid.

STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL — relationships in which there is not a stable flow of "sub / dom", but a struggle for who will be stronger / more resilient. for example, the relationship of two alphas, in which from time to time even the more submissive may instinctively try to knock you down, or brat, who gets on your nerves so that you punish them.

PENETRATION GIVING — the reader penetrates.

PENETRATION RECEIVING — the reader accepts penetration.

DUBIOUS CONSENT [dub-con, dubcon] — when at least one character either does not give a direct "yes" during a sex scene, but also does not interrupt it (does not try to significantly stop the partner[s] / does not say a clear "no"; the character wants to, but there are reasons why they do not give clear consent).

CNC [consensual non-con] — the characters act out a scene of non-consensual sex, consent is given before the scene.

PRIMAL KINK — describes a scene in which at least one character behaves like a 'wild animal'. it often includes a chase scene, the victory of the strong over the weak, rough sex and animal habits like growling, whining, biting, scratching.

♡ — STARS

SLAYER KYOJURO — the work describes Kyojuro, which has not yet become a pillar. most often it also contains a teacher / pillar Reader.

RACCOON DOG TANJIROU — the work describes the raccoon dog Tanjirou (most often his family life with you and the puppies).

PARENT READER — the work describes the parent! reader. it originally happened thanks to au with Kie and Tanjuro, but now it is used for any work where the reader is a "parent figure" or literally a parent.

♡ — EXCLUSIVE TERMS

RECOGNITION (omegaverse au) — the moment when omega begins to feel attracted to a potential partner. In order to avoid inheriting unhealthy mutations and creating healthy and strong offspring, omegas have the ability to recognize (with the help of smell) how good a potential partner is as a second parent for future puppies. And although recognition is considered a common phenomenon scientifically, in the common people, recognition is called "animal" attraction, when the omega has a very strong desire to mate with a partner (often with a first-time person); recognition is often accompanied by unplanned estrus to increase the chance of puppies.

MODERN ALPHA (omegaverse au, not omegaarcy au) — a term used in relation to alphas devoid of typically alpha traits (aggression, dominance, the desire to control and subordinate, competitiveness). It is believed that modern alphas appeared due to the change of roles in society and the emergence of a "modern omega" who is interested in an empathic and soft alpha, which makes dominant and aggressive alphas become less competitive.

BITCHING (omegaverse au) — the moment when an alpha bites an alpha or alpha-like beta; usually causes instinctive submission/appeasement in the one who was bitten. it is a very old method to calm restless alphas who show aggression towards others, but without proper influence from the very beginning, the effect may not occur (if the alpha does not consider the other sufficiently authoritative subconsciously).

[dvrkblooms]

COLOURS in DESCRIPTION

colour is the lifeblood of a scene. here are ways not to over-use it.

Red: cardinal, coral, crimson, flaming, maroon, rose, wine, brick red, burgundy, carmine, cerise, cherry, chestnut, claret, copper, dahlia, fuschia, garnet, geranium, infrared, magenta, puce, ruby, russet, rust, salmon, sanguine, scarlet, tition, vermilion, roseate, rubicund, ruddy, rubescent, florid

Orange: apricot, tangerine, merigold, cider, ginger, bronze, cantaloupe orange, clay, honey, marmalade orange, amber

Yellow: blond, chrome, cream, gold, ivory, lemon, saffron, tawny, xanthous, sandy

Green: grassy, leafy, verdant, emerald, aquamarine, chartreuse, fir, forest green, jade, lime, malachite, mossy, pea green, pine, sage, sea green, verdigris, willow, spinach green, viridian

Blue: azure, beryl, cerulean, cobalt, indigo, navy, royal blue, sapphire, teal, turquoise, ultramarine

Purple: violet, indigo, lavender, lilac, mauve, periwinkle, plum, violet, amethyst, heliotrope, mulberry, orchid, pomegranate purple, wine, amaranthine, perse, violaceous, reddish-blue

[dvrkblooms]

60 Worldbuilding Questions for A/B/O fic writers

Long post, press J to skip

So we were talking on Discord about writing A/B/O worlds, and somebody was wondering when parents should find out the secondary genders of kids and such. It led to a larger discussion about things to think about when worldbuilding for A/B/O fics, and I offered to come up with a question list for people to think about. 

Feel free to reblog and add onto this, cause worldbuilding is hard for everybody but a rich world with its own history makes the fics all the better. 

World Basics

Let’s start with the world in general. 

What are the overall population ratios? Are alphas and omegas common or rare? Are the ratios stable or does your world have decreasing numbers of alphas/omegas?

Can women be alphas, can males be omegas? Can male omegas father children and can women alphas bear? Can betas have children?

Are there certain physical characteristics that people associate with one secondary or another? Ex: Heavily muscled alphas or soft omegas?

How often do heats/ruts occur on average? Can omegas only get pregnant during a heat or anytime?

How long do heats/ruts last?

Are mating bites a one-and-done, or can new mates be taken with new bites?

What about kids? Do omega bodies reject sex/children for anybody but their bonded mates?

Is there an emotional/psychic connection for bonded mates?

Can bonding bites be anywhere, or are they required to be on the neck?

Is there anything special about how bonding works? Venoms? Ceremonies? Do they have to consummate within a certain timeframe?

Think about anatomy. Do omegas have cloaca? Is it only male omegas who have cloaca, or do female omegas have two wombs? Do female alphas have enlarged bits to deliver seed?

Are chances of being an alpha or omega random, or do alpha/omega pairs have greater chances of similar children? Can people breed for better chances of one or the other?

Are birth control, heat/rut suppressants, and scent suppressants common, unavailable or illegal on a worldwide basis?

Is omega trafficking a problem?

Are there power structures based on secondary gender? Are omegas oppressed? Are alphas required to do anything near ruts to prevent violence?

Think of famous historical figures. How would they have landed on your gender scale? Was Queen Elizabeth I an alpha? What about Helen of Troy? These historical figures can lead to modern modes of thought. 

What about religion? How has religion handled the secondarys?

Are/were arranged marriages the norm?

When do people learn what they are outside of medical testing? Are they born with a mark or secondary specific trait, or is it a mystery until they present or not?

Military: Historically are any genders or secondarys not allowed to participate in the military? Are female alphas allowed? What about male omegas?

Location Basics

Ok, narrowing down to more location specific thoughts. 

How has your country or town handled specific difficulties with heats or ruts? For example: Shoji screens in Japan aren’t all that safe for an omega in heat… so has the country developed a system of safe houses or were heats particularly terrifying? Are heat rooms a thing?

What are the power structures in your specific country? Are all secondarys represented or do alphas dominate political structure?

What are the laws in your country in terms of registration? Do people have to register their secondary?

Are omegas sequestered in special compounds prior to mating or have to report to specific government controlled institutions for training or to be matched, or are they allowed to choose for themselves and interact in society?

Are birth control and suppressants legal or illegal? Are they legal only for alphas, or do omegas have to have permission of an alpha to acquire them?

Are there laws in place dictating when people have to mate or have children by?

What are the courtship customs? Are there meetings and dates? Do parents decide who will mate?

Are there things that alphas or omegas are prohibited from doing? Ex: Are omegas outlawed from professional sports in your country?

Schooling: Were all kids lumped together for school regardless of secondary? Were they separated when they presented? If it’s known from birth are omegas sent to omega-only schools?

What about customs: Are there norms about how alphas and omegas are supposed to act when interacting? Do omegas bear their scent glands in a sign of submission? Do they keep their eyes downcast in the presence of alphas? How is this different from other countries? Are there possible international problems where your alpha/omega born in one country doesn’t know the custom of another and commits a faux pas?

Alpha Basics

How are alphas generally perceived by your society? Top tier leaders, or violent thugs that are a throwback to outdated evolution?

What attracts your alphas to an omega? Scent? Body? 

What are the characteristics of a rut? Do they go prowling for omegas or hunker down and get through it?

How do knots in your world work? Long? Short? Different lengths of time for different things? Do they expand quickly inside, or grow slowly until they can’t move anymore?

How do alphas mark their mates aside from bonding bites? Do they?

How do alphas act when their mate/intended mate/children are in danger? Do they go feral?

What happens if an alpha is rejected by or lose their mate? 

If something happens to the mate of an alpha, that they couldn’t control, do they have any psychological issues from “failing” to protect their mate?

Omega Basics

How are omegas generally perceived by your society? Breeders? Regular people? Shunned?

What attracts your omegas to an alpha? Scent? Societal status?

Are omegas subject to alpha commands? All alphas, only their mates? Does it change from before mating to after?

What are the characteristics of a heat? Are they open to any alpha who comes along, or only one of their choosing?

Do your omegas nest? Only during heats, or ongoing as a source of comfort?

Do omegas reverse mark their alphas?

What does an omega do when they or their children are in danger? Do they have a response or are they completely dependent on an alpha for protection?

What happens if an omega is rejected or loses their alpha?

Do your omegas ‘drop’ in stressful or life-threatening situations?

Are there any differences in pregnancies for male omegas? Longer gestation? Shorter?

Beta Basics

How are betas generally perceived by your society?

Are your betas attracted to alphas/omegas or vice versa?

Do betas help alphas/omegas with heats or ruts, or is this frowned upon?

Are betas regarded as “safe” by either alphas or omegas when an omega is distressed?

Do betas have any restrictions on jobs etc?

Do betas play unique roles in a family structure? Ex: An alpha/omega pair has a beta third to help raise children and satisfy an alpha’s mating urges when the omega is unable due to pregnancy etc?

Are betas affected by scents? Alpha commands?

Other Basics

For the things that just don’t fit elsewhere. 

Harems/reverse Harems/Poly relationships: Do alphas tend to collect omegas and breed several? Might an omega have several alphas? Are there families that might have several in a good family dynamic? How are these arrangements perceived by society?

Heteronormativity. - Are male/female relationships regardless of secondary pushed, or with the addition of secondary genders are same-gender relationships much more accepted in your society? Do male omegas feel pressured to “look female” in order to find a mate? Do female alphas have to play up their masculine side?

Transgender people - How does the addition of secondary genders affect transgender rights? Does it make it more or less complex for a male omega to transition to female? Would a female omega have a harder time transitioning to male?

Infertility - are infertile omegas ostracized? Are they at risk of losing their mates?

Words - Mother and father? Sire and dam? Babies or pups?

Hopefully that’s a good start to help you think about the broader world around your story. 

Happy Writing!

[dvrkblooms]

Hey have you already made a word list for the words ending "-cide" related to killing?? Like suicide, homicide, genocide, patricide, etc. Are these police procedural terms or legal terms?? (Maybe none of them? Like just wanna know if there is an umbrella term for these words) (sorry for such a weird request😭)

Word List: Kill

-cide: killer; killing

Aborticide - the act of destroying a fetus within the uterus

Autocide - suicide by crashing one's automobile

Avunculicide - the killing of an uncle by his nephew or niece

Ethnocide - the deliberate destruction of an ethnic culture

Felicide - the killing of a cat

Femicide - the gender-based murder of a woman or girl by a man

Feticide - the act of causing the death of a fetus

Filicide - the murder of one's own daughter or son

Fratricide - one that murders or kills his or her own brother or sister or an individual (such as a countryman) having a relationship like that of a brother or sister

Genocide - the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group

Homicide - a killing of one human being by another

Infanticide - the killing of an infant

Mariticide - one that murders or kills his or her spouse

Omnicide - the destruction of all life or all human life (as by nuclear war)

Parricide - one that murders his or her father, mother, or a close relative

Patricide - the murder of one's own father

Regicide - the killing of a king

Sororicide - the act of killing one's sister

Suicide - the act or an instance of ending one's own life voluntarily and intentionally

Tyrannicide - the act of killing a tyrant

Hi, I've done a similar list here — so not really a weird request for me! I'm not sure if there's a specific term for this, but they're definitely part of the terminology used in police procedural, legal thrillers, crime fiction, and other related genres. Hope this helps with your writing :)

[dvrkblooms]

Writing Notes: Wedding Theme

Theme - (in wedding planning) an idea, concept, or mood that unites the various elements of your wedding day.

The chosen vibe of your wedding can dictate the floral bouquets, décor color schemes, and even the style of the wedding attire.

You can choose from different wedding styles or aesthetics, such as: boho, glam, eco-friendly, minimalist, or elegant.

Part of the fun of planning your wedding is that you get to choose how your wedding venue can help you accomplish your theme, and you can select wedding décor that match your ideas.

Wedding Theme Ideas

Once you decide on a theme, choose the design motifs that will make for the perfect wedding. Consider these popular wedding themes:

Art deco wedding: This is a more design-forward approach; flappers and other 1920s aesthetics may weave their way into your art deco style, which features geometric shapes, sleek artwork, and zigzag or chevron-patterned forms. You can extend the theme into wedding favors, like gold art deco matchboxes for guests.

Beach wedding: Guests may go barefoot at the waterfront ceremony for this kind of destination wedding. You might suggest pastels for décor to keep with the summery vibe or advise guests wear white or neutral-colored linen outfits to match the aesthetic. You can extend the theme to the drink menu, with specialty cocktails like Mojitos and Piña Coladas.

Bohemian wedding: You might feature found materials or DIY centerpieces as table décor for your bohemian wedding. For bohemian weddings, brides and grooms might opt for nontraditional attire, and guests can wear looser, less formal clothing. Bohemian weddings emphasize authenticity over glitz and Edison bulbs over expensive chandeliers. This wedding theme may take on an outdoorsy element, so a garden wedding can also double as a boho-chic one.

Outdoor wedding: You can transform the great outdoors into your personal wonderland. If you gather in a park or backyard or near the mountain or a lake, your outdoor wedding can offer wedding guests a less formal setting. You can opt for simple table settings and wildflowers from nearby areas as your wedding flowers. Wedding planners should have a backup plan in case of bad weather.

Modern wedding: For a modern, elegant wedding, choose simple décor and clean lines to emphasize the venue or wedding location.

Rustic wedding: The rustic wedding theme nods toward the natural world with wood and DIY flair. You might use glass jars as drinking vessels, rely on fairy lights for softer lighting, and set your wedding ceremony in a barn or other setting with elements of greenery.

Seasonal wedding: When planning a wedding, lean into the season. You have plenty to play with in terms of floral arrangements, dress colors, and even linen styles depending on if you have a spring wedding, summer wedding, fall wedding, or winter wedding. For example, your fall wedding might feature tablescapes with autumn leaves.

Traditional wedding: If you want a classic wedding theme, you will follow several traditions. For example, you might host a black-tie event where groomsmen wear tuxedos, and the bridal party wears matching dresses. Or you may have a cake topper that looks like you and your significant other in doll form. Your classic wedding can follow familiar beats: a ceremony and then cocktail hour, toasts, dinner, dancing, and the cutting of the wedding cake.

Whimsical wedding: Whimsy can certainly factor into your romantic wedding. You can choose quirky floral arrangements, dresses with funky patterns, snaking tables (as opposed to plain circular or square ones), and various types of chairs and lighting fixtures.

Vintage wedding: Upcycled and reclaimed goods can make for a glamorous wedding. You can tie the theme together and give your guests a memorable experience with vintage dresses, silverware, glassware, and other materials.

Wedding Theme Tips

When fashioning your wedding theme, consider these tips from celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss:

Borrow décor items and flatware. Themes often require particular décor items, like wooden slabs for a rustic reception, rattan chargers for a tropical event, or mismatched china for a romantic affair. “You can borrow furniture,” Mindy says. “If you like that eclectic look, pull out a bunch of different tables. It's only gonna add to the personality.” You can also suggest a theme through votives, glassware, and flatware. “I guarantee you your aunts, your mother, your sisters, and your friends will have wonderful flatware that you can borrow,” she adds.”

Go bold with your theme. The color and size of décor items you choose can help express a theme, regardless of your budget. “If you're looking for ultimate drama, I would go deep, dark, bold flowers,” Mindy says. “No matter the time of year. . . if someone comes in and says, ‘I wanna sexy, bold wedding,’ I'm gonna reach right for these big, burgundy dahlias or roses, which are readily available most places. So bold is color, it's size, and it's depth. If you're goin' bold, do it. And you can do it on a budget because more color, the less you need.”

Enlist the help of your wedding party. It takes time and effort to commit to a theme, especially when you have a budget to consider. A theme might require you to forage wild flowers, hang string lights, or craft centerpieces. “Get your wedding party to help you—both sides of the wedding party,” Mindy advises. “Make it a fun event maybe even a couple days before the wedding, or don't go to bed too late the night before [and] spend the day together, finishing everything up.”

Make it personal. No matter what theme you choose, add personal touches to go the extra mile. “I did an event once where the client really did the research and gave me a picture of every guest there,” Mindy recalls. “We made that part of the place card. So not only was it fun to find your place, but it really showed that the couple took the extra effort to let you know, ‘We are happy that you're at our event.’”

Pick a color palette. Mindy encourages couples to add a little color, even if they have a simple palette. “Colors really reflect an emotion, not only with you as a couple, but as your guests walk into the room,” Mindy says. “There's always a reaction. So whether you're choosing something that's very modern or you're choosing something that is like an unkempt garden, immediately they will know what direction you have chosen for the look and feel of your wedding.”

Source ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[dvrkblooms]

Plotting Tips for Romantasy 𓆩🖤𓆪

Check out my masterpost for more tips :)

Okay, What IS romantasy?

Generally speaking, romantasy is a commercial subgenere that provides equal weightage to romance and fantasy.

If you can remove one side of the plot and still have a complete story, you may not be fulfilling genre expectations.

To summerize:

Romantic Fantasy = Fantasy + Romantic subplot

Fantasy ROmance = Romance + Fantasy subplot

Romantasy = Romance + Fantasy

Balancing Romance and Fantasy Elements

Combine two or more tropes from each genre.

Romantasy is all about an interesting mix-and-match. Think of your favorite romance/fantasy tropes, then marry them:

Enemies to Lovers discover a Portal to Faerieland in their Contemporary Office setting.

Grumpy and Sunshine accidentally anger a Troupe of vengeful witches while on a Road Trip

a Second Chance Couple is thrown into a Forced Proximity in order to plant hunt, and she must keep her Botanical Magical Powers a super-secret from him.

2. Integrate the two plots into one another.

The best way to juggle with two different plots is to integrate them into one another. For example,

Romance as a prerequisite for using magic: e.g. only when a witch meets her soulmate will se be able to use her wand.

Love between characters threatens the fantasy world. e.g. forbidden love between two magical species has now become a full-blown war.

Romance between non-human characters. The key is to remind your readers of the fantasy elemnts by giving the characters nonhuman conflicts, personalisties and values.

Common Genre Tropes for Romantasy

A female lens: The readership is largely made up of women - they want to read narratives that foreground women and their stories. Where the heroine loves the hero, the love interest should be likable.

Strong heroine who saves the day: Most common in books by women for women this includes fewer damsels in distress and plenty of dames doing the saving.

Enemies-to-lovers: This trope has plenty of scope for inter-species prejudices and love across (literal) battle lines, which is a common must in fantasy.

Friendship and found family: Portraying relationships from a romantics AND fantasy point of view is important. The hero who begins as the cool, aloof longer must eventually become part of a collective even if that's only through their partner.

Elemental magic: Who wouldn't want to be able to hurl fireballs or lightening bolts? It would be useful in a lovers' fight, too.

Popular Romantasy Books 📚

The best way to understand the genre norms is to read it for yourself!

A Court of Throns and Roses (Sarah J. Maas)

Fourth Wing (Rebecca Yarros)

Stardust (Neil Gaiman)

The Paper Magician (Charlie Holmberg)

A Promise of Fire (Amanda Bouchet)

The Paper Magician (Charlie Holmberg)

If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! 📸

[dvrkblooms]

Vocabulary List for Fight Scenes

Combat Actions

Hoist

Dart/Dash

Deflect

Shield

Sidestep

Snatch up

Stalk

Stamp/stomp

Stretch

Stride

Wagger

Oust

Leap

Lose ground

Mimick

Mirror

Negate

Overpower

Parry

Rear to full height

Resurgate

Suanter

Seize

Take cover

Throttle

Twirl

Unleash

Withdraw

Entwine

Flee

Gain ground

Grasp

Cling to

Breach

Duck

Dodge

Hits

Amputate

Bloody

Carbe

Castrate

Collision

Connect

Crush

Defenestrate

Destroy

Disfigure

Dismember

Dissever

Grind

Maul

Perforate

Rend

Riddle with holes

Saw

Smack

Splatter

Sunder

Torn Asunder

Traumatize

Whack

Writhe

Gut

Hammer

Maim

Mangle

Plow

Puncture

Melee

Assault

Attack

Barrage

Bash

Belebor

Bludgeon

Carve

Chop

Cleave

Clio

Club

Crosscut

Dice

DIg

Gore

Hack

Impale

Jab

Kick

Knock

Onsalught

Pierce

Plnt

Punch

Rive

Shove

Skewer

Slice

Smash

Stab

Strike

Sweep

Swipe

Swing

Transfix

Thrust

Visual Flair

Agony

Asphyxiate

Chock

Cough up bile

Cut to ribbons

Flop limply

Fractue

Freckled with blood

Gouts of blood

Grimane

Hemorrhage

Hiccup blood

Imprint

Indent

Resounding

Retch

Rip

rupture

Shiny with gore

Spew

Splash

Slumped in despair

Splatter

Split

Tear

Topple

Void

Vomit

Wedge

With a fell gaze

With a fiendish grin

With blank surprise

Audible Flair

Bang

Barking

Bong

Boom

Crack

Cackle

Clang

Clash

Crash

Cry

Echo

Elicit a curse

Frunt

Hiss

Howel

Hum

Moan

Muttering

Whoosh

Whistle

Whizz

With a keening cry

Thud

Thunk

Thawk

Splat

Snarl

Swoosh

Squeal

Sing

Sickening Pop

Silintly

Shriek

Shout

Snap

Thundering

Effects

Blind

Burn

Cause frostbite

Cauterize

Concussion

Combust

Daze

Dazzle

Deafen

Disintegrate

Electrocute

Freeze

Fuse flesh

Immobilze

Incinerate

Melt

Pralyse

Petrify

Purbind

Radiate

Reduced to

Shock

Sightless

Stun

Transiluminate

Death Blows

Annihilate

Behead

Decapitate

Disembowel

Eviscerate

Extirpate

Murder

Obliterate

Raze

Exterminate

[dvrkblooms]

🕯️ Shadows & Symbolism: The Gothic Writer's Grimoire 🦇

Hello writers! I hope you're all doing well. Autumn is my favorite time of year, and I'm sure many of you love it too. With Halloween just around the corner, I thought it would be nice to start getting into the spirit a bit early. For those of you working on a gothic or fiction book, I wanted to share some themes and symbols to help bring that spooky, gothic, and dark vibe to your writing. 🦇

.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆

🕸️Themes and Symbols for Gothic & Horror Stories🕯️

🌙 The Moon 🌚

Symbol of mystery, the unknown, and the supernatural

Represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth

Can signify madness, hysteria, and the primal forces of nature

🕷️ Spiders & Webs 🕸️

Symbolize entrapment, deception, and the unseen

Represent the intricate, tangled nature of evil and darkness

Can foreshadow impending doom or the unraveling of secrets

💀 Skulls & Bones 💀

Signify mortality, the fragility of life, and the inevitability of death

Evoke a sense of the macabre, the morbid, and the occult

Can represent the lingering presence of the dead or the afterlife

��� Darkness & Shadows 🌑

Symbolize the unknown, the subconscious, and the mysterious

Represent the hidden, sinister forces that lurk in the corners

Can signify a descent into madness or the loss of control

🦇 Bats & Ravens 🦇

Portend ominous events, death, and misfortune

Symbolize the supernatural, the occult, and the Gothic

Can represent messengers from the underworld or harbingers of doom

🕯️ Candles & Flames 🕯️

Signify the fragility of life and the ever-present threat of extinguishment

Represent the struggle between light and dark, good and evil

Can symbolize the human soul, spirituality, and the afterlife

🧠 The Mind & Madness ��

Explore the depths of the psyche and the fragility of sanity

Represent the battle between reason and the irrational

Signify the descent into obsession, delusion, and the unknown

🏰 Crumbling Mansions & Castles 🏰

Symbolize the decay of the old order and the erosion of power

Represent the weight of the past and the burden of history

Can signify the collapse of the elite and the rise of the macabre

Use these evocative themes and symbols to craft your next Gothic or horror masterpiece and chill your readers to the bone! 💀 Let me know if want more post related to everything spooky!

.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆

Happy Writing! - Rin T. 🍁🎃🍂

Before you go, why not join us at The Write Right Society? We're a supportive Tumblr community where writers lift each other up. Whether you're a newbie or a pro, we'd love to have you! Share your work, get feedback, and connect with fellow wordsmiths, writers and aspiring authors. 

[dvrkblooms]

⚔️🗡️Fantasy Battle Scenes 101

Step 1: Understand The Purpose of War

The reason for war doesn't have to be political: morality, love, land, bad blood, resources, religion, theft, etc...

No one likes mindless violence for the sake of it. War has extremely high stakes for the characters (death), so they must have a damn good reason to risk it.

Think about people other than the main general/leader. Why would the men/common people support the war effort? Is the cause big enough for them, too?

Step 2: Establish the Norms and Rules

Know Your World

Research different kinds of tools and weapons used for your fantasy army. It can be tye typical sword/dagger/bow or more imaginative, like magical items.

If you're writing historical fiction, make sure that what you write lives up to the time period.

Rules of Engagement

Establish the level of military technology and any magical aspects. DO NOT have your characters spring up random abilities in the middle of battle that will make the worldbuilding confusing.

What counts as war crime?

Are there laws of war? Perhaps your army has different levels of engagement for varying levels of danger.

Open battle vs. Siege vs. Assualt:

Open battles are A LOT more costly. Often, the side that wins is the side that can afford to bare the losses of thousands of dead.injured men and resources spent on charging against the other continuosly.

The siege is more common. The outnumbered side will fall back to a stronghold, with the stronger army rolling up and preparing to besige the stronghold.

Assualts only happen with haste is needed (maybe winter is coming) or an exploitable weakness is found.

Step 3: Set the Scene

Think about terrain and weather. How does it impact the fighting?

Describe the two forces - size? Who is the aggressor? Establish teh scope and mood of the two armies.

Establish the noticeable landmarks that will allow your readers to place themselves better in the battlefield

Step 4: Build The Tension Beforehand

Show how your characters feel BEFORE the battle.

Nervous, fearful and wanting to run or boisterous, excultant, hungry for blood? Maybe they are fighting because they're desperate.

Instead of rushing into the maiming and beheading, spend some time describing the sound/smell/sight of the battle and how this affects your characters.

Make the readers feel the terror and oppressive weight of the struggle to come, gripping them with the ovewhelming horror, danger and anticipating.

Step 5: Clarity Among Chaos

Don't stay away from your main character for too long or too often. Readers must be able to understand the scope and direction of the battle.

Choose a few main locations/characters involved and stick to them. Brush too broadly (aka trying to describe EVERYTHING) will make the reader confused and disconnected from the plot.

Get CLOSE TO THE CHARACTERS. Show the cuts and bruises, hear cries of pain, the clanging of swords, roaring of the cannon and the smell of sweat and blood.

Show the emotions of individual characters. Show how they tire, suffer wounds, push themselves onto their feet and feel fear, excitement, disgust, pride and shame.

Provide concrete, tangible details (not a general bird's eye view of everything) to ground your reader.

Write Cohesively.

While your characters can feel confused and overwhelmed, you as a writer shouldn't be.

Set markers for yourself. Make a list of major battle points that needs to happen and keep this consistent between POVs, helping your readers follow important events as they unfold.

Step 6: A Meaningful End

As your battle progresses, keep raising the stakes.

Increase the personal danger to your hero as his side runs ourt of resources or his best commrads fall. Make them struggle more and more until that moment of breakthrough that leads to victory. Make that victory loook earned.

Provide the ending image - the consequences of battle. Show the destruction and carnage, the relief and sweet tang of victory on men's faces. Create a lasting image for the reader to carry forward.

+ Other Tips / Common Sense

Horsemen keep moving. They would rarely stand still and engage in melee unless cornered. A stationary horse and rider would be eary targets for missile infantry.

Fighting is either engaged by whole units or individually. Warrior oriented societies will value single fighting prowess and therefore battles devolve into a tangled brawl. Usually the more "civilized" societies will have a stricter unit cohesion where men group together.

Armor is heavy. Even weathered soldiers will be affected by the heat and rain, experiencing fatigue quickly in their heavy, not-well-ventilated armor.

Battle hardly last all day, let alone days. Think in minutes or 1-2 hours max. Up until gunpowder arose, medieval battles were short. Unless your battle is taking place over a mass expanse of land (and thus required quite a bit of travel along with actual clashes) or there are multiple armies, keep it short.

Momentum and morale are important factors of victory. When led by charismatic generals and men belive in their victory, the army has a higher chance of winning than ever.

Use multiple POV: If you need readers in multiple parts of the battlefield at once (especially if fighting takes place in many, disconnected locations), switch betwen characters'perspectives to create a complete picture.

Use sensory details

Use short sentences and paragraphs.

Use dialogue sparingly: try to focus on the action and description, since it will be hard to hear in the height of fighting.

Some recommendations for good battle scene examples:

- The Lord of the Rings by J R.R. Tolkien - Battle of Helm's Deep, Battle of the Pelennor Fields - A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin - Battle of the Blackwater, Battle of Winterfell - The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan - Battle fo Falme, the Last Battle - The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson - Battle of the Tower, Battle of Thaylen Field

Questions for Further Thought

Is there an ulternative to this war scene? If yes, why is a war scene better than other forms of conflict?

How should war change the characters?

Does war have a lasting effect on the rest of the story? How much would the plot be impacted by the outcome?

Is this battle necessary? Or is it just a "shock factor" so that you can write some gore?

If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! 📸

References:

https://mythicscribes.com/writing-techniques/writing-warfare/

https://www.osswriting.com/post/writing-epic-battle-scenes

https://www.stevensmithauthor.com/blog/to-war-how-to-write-a-fantasy-battle-scene

[dvrkblooms]

Writing Notes: Dramatic Structure

Dramatic Structure - the framework that allows a story’s plot to unfold.

Aristotle’s ancient Greek text on dramatic theory, Poetics, was the first written work to examine story structure.

Since then, writers and readers have used various approaches to dramatic structure to organize and analyze the plots of plays, poems, short stories, and novels.

Dramatic structure is typically broken up into acts, scenes, and plot points. Examples of popular dramatic structures include the three-act structure and five-act structure.

During the 19th century, German playwright Gustav Freytag presented a plot diagram, commonly known as Freytag’s pyramid or Freytag’s triangle. Freytag's analysis of structure—which centers around a rising action, climax, and falling action—is now one of the most common tools for storytellers.

Key Elements of Dramatic Structure

Introduction: This early part of the story includes exposition—backstory information about the setting and the protagonist, or main character. After introducing the key elements of your story, present an inciting incident—also known as an exciting force—that disrupts the status quo of the story and sets the plot into motion.

Rising action: Following the inciting incident, the main character enters a new world and moves toward a clear goal. The action rises along with the stakes as the protagonist faces obstacles and trials.

Climax: The rising action culminates in a climax, or the turning point of the story arc. At this stage, the protagonist faces their main conflict head-on, opposing the antagonistic force of the story—typically a villain.

Falling action: Immediately following the climax, the conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist unravels, creating suspense about the final outcome. The falling action is often out of the protagonist’s control.

Resolution: Sometimes called the denouement, the resolution of a story concludes the plot, tying up loose ends and answering final questions.

How to Use Dramatic Structure to Write a Story

Although there is a vast variety of methods for structuring stories, consider these general tips for how to best structure your story.

Identify your theme. Before locking in a plot structure, find the central theme of your story. Integrate the central philosophical question of your theme throughout the dramatic arc of your story.

Develop your characters. Identify the goals, desires, needs, and weaknesses of your main character. The more you develop your protagonist, the clearer your story structure will become. Alongside the main plot of your story, create subplots that develop your secondary characters, including allies, mentors, and antagonists.

Experiment with genre. Different genres include different tropes when it comes to story structure. Depending on the genre of your story, choose a story structure that either confirms or subverts the expectations of that genre.

Choose a plot structure for your story. Dramatic structures can be linear, cyclical, or non-linear with flashbacks. The most common plot structure in films and television is a three-act structure with a clear first, second, and third act. Two-act stories often include a climactic midpoint where the stakes rise or the protagonist’s goal changes.

Adapt your structure when necessary. The possibilities for potential dramatic structures are nearly endless. Be prepared to change your dramatic structure based on how your story unfolds on the page. Stay open-minded during the writing process to determine whether your dramatic structure is organic and authentic to the story you’re telling.

Source ⚜ More: Writing Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[dvrkblooms]

I can explain

[dvrkblooms]

Fantasy Guide to Building A Culture

Culture is defined by a collection of morals, ethics, traditions, customs and behaviours shared by a group of people.

Hierarchy and Social Structures

Within every culture, there is a hierarchy. Hierarchies are an important part of any culture, usually do ingrained that one within the culture wouldn't even question it. Hierarchy can be established either by age, gender or wealth and could even determine roles within their society. Sometimes hierarchy can may be oppressive and rigid whilst other times, ranks can intermingle without trouble. You should consider how these different ranks interact with one another and whether there are any special gestures or acts of deference one must pay to those higher than them. For example, the Khasi people of Meghalaya (Northern India), are strictly matrillineal. Women run the households, inheritance runs through the female line, and the men of the culture typically defer to their mothers and wives. Here are a few questions to consider:

How is a leader determined within the culture as a whole and the family unit?

Is the culture matriarchal? Patriarchal? Or does gender even matter?

How would one recognise the different ranks?

How would one act around somebody higher ranking? How would somebody he expected to act around somebody lower ranking?

Can one move socially? If not, why? If so, how?

Traditions and Customs

Traditions are a staple in any culture. These can be gestures or living life a certain way or to the way a certain person should look. Traditions are a personal detail to culture, they are what make it important. Tradition can dictate how one should keep their home, run their family, take care of their appearance, act in public and even determine relationship. Tradition can also be a double edged sword. Traditions can also be restrictive and allow a culture to push away a former member if they do not adhere to them, eg Traditional expectations of chastity led to thousands of Irish women being imprisoned at the Magdelene Laundries. Customs could be anything from how one treats another, to how they greet someone.

How important is tradition?

What are some rituals your culture undertakes?

What are some traditional values in your world? Does it effect daily life?

Are there any traditions that determine one's status?

Values and Opinions

Values and Opinions are the bread and butter of any culture. This is the way your culture sees the world and how they approach different life hurdles. These may differ with other cultures and be considered odd to outsiders, what one culture may value another may not and what opinion another holds, one may not. There will be historical and traditional reasons to why these values and opinions are held. Cultures usually have a paragon to which they hold their members to, a list of characteristics that they expect one to if not adhere to then aspire to. The Yoruba people value honesty, hard work, courage and integrity. Here are some questions to consider?

How important are these ethics and core values? Could somebody be ostracised for not living up to them?

What are some morals that clash with other cultures?

What does your culture precieved to be right? Or wrong?

What are some opinions that are considered to be taboo in your culture? Why?

Dress Code

For many cultures, the way somebody dresses can be important. History and ethics can effect how one is meant to be dressed such as an expectation of chastity, can impose strict modesty. While other cultures, put more importance on details, the different sorts of clothes worn and when or what colour one might wear. The Palestinian people (من النهر إلى البحر ، قد يكونون أحرارا) denoted different family ties, marriage status and wealth by the embroidery and detailing on their thoub.

Are there traditional clothes for your world? Are they something somebody wears on a daily basis or just on occasion?

Are there any rules around what people can wear?

What would be considered formal dress? Casual dress?

What would happen if somebody wore the wrong clothes to an event?

Language

Language can also be ingrained as part of a Culture. It can be a specific way one speaks or a an entirely different language. For example, in the Southern States of America, one can engage in a sort of double talk, saying something that sounds sweet whilst delivering something pointed. Bless their heart. I have a post on creating your own language here.

Arts, Music and Craft

Many cultures are known for different styles of dance, their artwork and crafts. Art is a great part of culture, a way for people to express themselves and their culture in art form. Dance can be an integral part of culture, such as céilí dance in Ireland or the Polka in the Czech Republic. Handicrafts could also be important in culture, such as knitting in Scottish culture and Hebron glass in Palestine. Music is also close to culture, from traditional kinds of singing such as the White Voice in Ukraine and the playing of certain instruments such as the mvet.

Food and Diet

The way a culture prepares or intakes or treats certain foods are important to a culture. In some cultures, there is a diet yo adhere to, certain foods are completely banned. With Jewish culture, pork is prohibited along with fish such as sturgeon, along with shellfish and certain fowl. Meat must also be prepared in a certain way and animal byproducts such as dairy, must never be created or even eaten around this meat. This is known as kosher. The way one consumes food is also important to culture. In some cultures, only certain people may eat together. Some cultures place important on how food is eaten. In Nigerian culture, the oldest guests are served first usually the men before the women. In Japanese culture, one must say 'itadakimasu' (I recieve) before eating. Culture may also include fasting, periods of time one doesn't intake food for a specific reason.

What are some traditional dishes in your world?

What would be a basic diet for the common man?

What's considered a delicacy?

Is there a societal difference in diet? What are the factors that effect diet between classes?

Is there any influence from other cuisines? If not, why not? If so, to what extent?

What would a typical breakfast contain?

What meals are served during the day?

What's considered a comfort food or drink?

Are there any restrictions on who can eat what or when?

Are there any banned foods?

What stance does your world take on alcohol? Is it legal? Can anybody consume it?

Are there any dining customs? Are traditions?

Is there a difference in formal meals or casual meals? If so, what's involved?

Are there any gestures or actions unacceptable at the dinner table?

How are guests treated at meals? If they are given deference, how so?

[dvrkblooms]

🐚⚓️🫧List of Random Things For Your Dark Coastal Settings | For Writers🐚⚓️🫧

Since you all loved the list of random things for Dark Academia, here’s a list of items, things, sights etc.. you might find in a Dark Coastal setting.

The Cliffside 🌊

Jagged slate-gray rocks jutting out from the churning sea

Swaths of wild, windblown grasses and mosses clinging to the cliffs

Crumbling stone ruins half-hidden in the fog

The eerie cries of seabirds circling overhead

Gnarled, salt-weathered driftwood scattered across the shoreline

The Cove 🐚

A small pebbly beach tucked into a sheltered inlet

Seaweed-covered tide pools teeming with mysterious marine life

Centuries-old fishing nets and lobster traps hung to dry

Weathered wooden rowboats moored at a rickety dock

The salty, briny scent of the sea lingering in the air

The Lighthouse 🗼

A tall, round stone tower with a flickering lantern on top

Faded nautical charts and weather-beaten log books inside

An antique brass telescope trained on the horizon

The heavy thump of the lighthouse bell in the distance

Coils of fraying rope and a tarnished brass spyglass on the windowsill

The Shipwreck 🛥️

The rusted, half-submerged hull of an ancient sailing vessel

Tangled knots of kelp and barnacles clinging to the metal

Fragments of shattered wood and twisted metal debris

The eerie, echoing creaks and groans of the wreckage in the waves

Fragments of weathered, sun-bleached bones glinting in the murky depths

The Coastal Cottage 🏠

A small, weathered wooden house with peeling paint

Tattered sheer curtains fluttering in the salty sea breeze

Shelves lined with antique glass bottles and driftwood sculptures

A wood-burning stove with a teapot whistling softly

The distant sound of foghorns cutting through the mist

The Shipwreck Cove 🚢

Jutting black cliffs, their bases strewn with the bones of broken ships

Seaweed-covered ribs of an old shipwreck, barnacles clinging to the wood

Rusted metal and shattered glass glittering in the crashing waves

Cawing of crows circling overhead, their shadows flickering on the rocks

The hollow, echoing sound of the wind whistling through the caves

The Seaside Cemetery 🪦

Rows of crumbling tombstones covered in moss and lichen

Twisted, windblown trees casting long, ominous shadows

The faint scent of night-blooming jasmine on the breeze

A rusted wrought-iron gate creaking open to the path

Fog rolling in, obscuring the distant sound of the surf