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If you're reading this...

go write three sentences on your current writing project.

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bark beetle patterns

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Don't Mess Up Your Character Introduction

Your characters only get one introduction, and from that very first moment, readers will form their opinions and impressions of that character. Once they have, it’s incredibly hard to change their minds, so you have to make sure that you make the right first impression.

In my last novel (currently querying right now!) I had a beta reader come back to me to say that he really didn’t like my female protagonist. However, in his notes on the actual manuscript, there were several parts he highlighted because he was very sympathetic to her—so why didn’t those parts sway him? It was because they came too little, too late. He’d already formed his thoughts on the protagonist as a person.

I heard recently that Finding Nemo’s flashback that the movie opens with was initially later in the film to explain why Marlin was such an overprotective parent, but test audiences really hated him, and by then, all the tragedy in the world wouldn’t convince them otherwise. Instead, Disney moved the flashback to the beginning so that we started the movie sympathetic to him, and were able to overlook or understand his more annoying/frustrating traits.

I’m saying that right out of the gate, if we’re meant to root for them, you need to show us why. If we’re meant to hate them, you also need to show us why. Don’t hold onto your cards, don’t keep secrets too late, because once we form an opinion on someone, it’s difficult to change.

When that opinion does need to change (such as when you’re pulling off a villain redemption arc), it typically takes the entire story and genuine character growth to do.

See my post here on why we root for a character.

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Elisabeth Bathory by Agostino Arrivabene

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how would your oc respond to the statement "tell me about yourself"?

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9. Has any of them had to be saved from the brink of death? Were there any consequences after?

One that comes to mind is my necromancer, Adrian. In his setting (modern fantasy universe, which I'm just calling the Fae World for now) necromancy is a practice that is somewhat stigmatized, regulated, but still readily taught. Adrian is a professor of necromancy, and it was during a practice session with one of his grad students that he very nearly died.

Magic in general requires a lot of focus, necromancy especially because of how the magic draws out one's own energy and body mass: without concentration the flow could stop or, in this case, start going far too quickly. Adrian's student got distracted--by no fault of their own--and he had to step in and stop the process before they were killed. He succeeded, his student was unharmed and everything was stopped, but the magical draw focused on his arm. It was gone, dead and withered on the spot, before either of them even had the thought to call an ambulance.

Adrian has a rather eccentric personality, and he takes this experience as more of a lesson than anything. Later on, he does start using magical prosthetics--an enchanted limb capable of independant movement and sensation--but this is not without its own drawbacks. The prosthetic can "feel" but it's still prone to being uneven, with sensations either being too dull or painfully heightened (and it only does so much to help with phantom pains), and the issues are somewhat similar with movement as well. All things considered, the consequences are pretty much what one would expect after losing a limb.

As with nearly every character I have so far in this universe, Adrian serves as a sort of worldbuilding focus point. I find it much easier to build out magic, social, and political systems when I have some Guy to dunk into situations relating to it.

Thank you so much for the ask!

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Torturing your ocs ask game :)

(Delightful, I know. But we all do it sometimes)

1. Which of your ocs do you most often imagine sick? In what ways?

2. Which of them do you most imagine injured in other ways?

3. Who do you put through the most emotional turmoil?

4. Which oc has been tortured? Through what means?

5. Which of them has the worst luck?

6. Who goes through the most relationship conflicts? (applies to any relationships)

7. Who do you put most into stressful situations or other drama?

8. Who ends up in survival situations the most? How do they fair in them?

9. Has any of them had to be saved from the brink of death? Were there any consequences after?

10. Has any of them had to be revived / brought back to life? How did this affect them?

11. Who is afraid the most? How does this effect them?

12. What kind of health repercussions has your oc experienced through intense stress? How do they manage them?

13. Who cries the most often? What are the usual causes?

14. How does your oc cope?

15. To cap off what kind of hurt/comfort scenarios do you put your oc in?

This can be about canon story events or simply rotating scenarios for fun!

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hello writers.

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All the chapters of Weald and Wen are up now.

If you want to read an entire book for free you can do that.

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Lots of arts

Did I share all my squiggles for Weald and Wen? I dunno if I did...I'm gunna now. Have too many messy arts.

//Warning: Lot of images//

//Second warning for Delgrij's dangly bits hanging out in one of them. He owns pants I just haven't drawn him in them yet//

->Weald and Wen Taglist<-

~Lemme know if you want on/off~

@sapphicwizards @rowanmgrey-author @watermeezer @badscientist

@hyacinthslibrary @olliexwrites @wyked-ao3 @ashlovesfiction ^.-

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🧑‍🍼100 Question OC Family Dynamics Ask Game👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Get into the weeds of your OC’s family relationships with this game! Can be applied to blood, adopted, and found family dynamics. Remember to send an ask to the person you reblog it from to make sure everyone gets to play!

🔢How many parents/guardians did they grow up with? How many do they have now?

🤝Did they get along with their parent(s)/guardian(s) in childhood? Do they now?

💞If they had more than one, which of their parents/guardians did they get along best with in their childhood? Is that still the case?

⚠️Do they go to their parent(s)/guardian(s) for advice regularly? Only in emergencies? Never?

📞Do they speak with their parent(s)/guardian(s) regularly?

🪢How did they bond with their parent(s)/guardian(s) in childhood? Do they still bond that way?

🏈Did they pick up any hobbies or interests from their parent(s)/guardian(s)? Which ones?

😤Did they ever intentionally go against their parent(s)/guardian(s) in a fit of defiance? What did they do?

🫵Were they often grounded by their parent(s)/guardian(s)?

📖What values did their parent(s)/guardian(s) really drill into their head?

🤔What are things they picked up from their parent(s)/guardian(s) that weren’t intentionally taught?

✂️Have they completely cut off one or more of their parents/guardians? Why?

🚼How many siblings did they grow up with, if any?

🛝Did they get along with their sibling(s) in childhood? Do they now?

📅How far apart in age are they and their sibling(s)?

😡What’s the dumbest sibling argument they’ve ever had?

😇What’s the fondest memory they have with their sibling(s)?

😋Do they have any goofy inside jokes with their sibling(s)?

💝What do they like most about having sibling(s)?

💔What do they dislike the most about having sibling(s)?

👍What’s a situation where they really appreciated having their sibling(s) around?

👎What’s a situation where they wished they’d been an only child?

1️⃣If they’re an only child, have they ever wished they had siblings?

⚔️Are they protective of their sibling(s)? Are their sibling(s) protective of them?

📢Do they speak with their sibling(s) regularly?

🎹Did they pick up any hobbies or interests from their sibling(s)? Which ones?

🙅‍♀️Were they the type to do the complete opposite of whatever their sibling(s) did? Why?

🚩Have they completely cut off one or more of their siblings? Why?

⭐Did their parent(s)/guardian(s) show favoritism between siblings? How did that impact the siblings’ relationships? The child-parent relationships?

🫴Did they have trouble with being asked to share their friends with their sibling(s) growing up? Vice versa?

2️⃣Are they a twin/triplet/etc.? Identical or fraternal?

🌍How did being a twin/triplet/etc. impact their relationship to their parent(s)/guardian(s), their twin/siblings, and the world?

♊If twins/triplets/etc., did their parent(s)/guardian(s) obsess about making them exactly the same? How did that impact their relationships/personalities?

🧓Do they have living grandparents? Did they ever meet their grandparents?

🫂Were their grandparent(s) a big part of their childhood?

🏠Did they go over to their grandparents’ house often?

🪑Were their grandparent(s) regular caretakers when their parent(s)/guardian(s) weren’t available?

✨Did their grandparent(s) show favoritism between siblings? How did that impact the siblings’ relationships? The child-grandparent relationships?

🌪️Did their grandparent(s) show favoritism between their parent/guardian and one of their siblings? How did that impact the family?

⛈️Have they completely cut off one or more of their grandparents? Why?

🤯Do they have aunts/uncles/piblings and/or cousins?

🥳Do they get along with a particular aunt/uncle/pibling best?

🙋Do they get along with a particular cousin the best?

👋Were they close with their aunt(s)/uncle(s)/pibling(s) in childhood? Are they still?

🫰Were they close with their cousin(s) in childhood? Are they still?

🤪Do they have a “fun uncle” type family member?

❌Have they completely cut off one or more of their cousins? Why?

😵Have they completely cut off one or more of their aunts/uncles/piblings? Why?

📏Do they know their extended family well? Are they basically strangers?

👀How often do they see their extended family members? Which side of the family do they see most often?

💗Do they prefer one side of the family more?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦How would they define “family”?

‼️What’s the most important part of having a “family” to them?

🙏Are there things about their family they wish were different?

💪Do they identify strongly with any family terms? (i.e. big/little sibling, a parent, Aunt/Uncle/Pibling [name])

💒How do their cultural values inform their relationship with their family?

⁉️Do they have a family relationship that’s considered unconventional in their culture?

🫄Do they want to start a family of their own one day? Have they already?

📝Do they want to emulate their family’s dynamics? Do they want to avoid it as much as possible?

🏫What would they teach their kids about what family means if/when they have any?

🚸Would they want their kids to be involved with their other family members, or as far away as possible?

🎭Are they worried about “becoming like their parent(s)/guardian(s)” as they age?

🤐Are they keeping any “family secrets”? How serious are they?

🙊Are they keeping any secrets from their family? Why?

🔮Do they have any “family curses”? Are they real?

😉Did they have any family friends growing up that they saw regularly? Do they still?

🏆Is their family well-known where they grew up? For good reasons or unfortunate ones?

💊How much caretaking did/do they do for their older family members? Is it more or less than is expected of them?

🧼How much caretaking did/do they do for their youngest family members? Is it more or less than is expected of them?

🩺Do they expect their kids or other family members to take care of them when they get older?

😱How would they react to being asked to care for an ill and/or elderly family member long-term?

🏡When did they move out of their childhood home? Have they moved out? Do they plan to?

🏢Would they ever want to live in the same house with their family members long-term? For their whole life?

📌Do they live close to their family? By choice?

🗺️What’s the maximum distance they’d ever live from their family?

🦺Can they count on their family members to help in an emergency?

😢Have they ever disappointed any member of their family?

😔Have any of their family members disappointed them?

🎖️What’s a time they felt extremely proud of their family?

🎉What’s a time their family celebrated one of their achievements?

💢Do they argue with their family a lot? About anything in particular?

🙈How many embarrassing stories would their family be able to tell about them?

🗣️How many embarrassing stories could they tell about their family?

📚What’s a family story they always tell people?

💛What’s their favorite story that their parent(s)/guardian(s) have told?

🪦Were any of their partners given the “if you hurt my kid, they’ll never find your body” talk from their parent(s)/guardian(s)? How embarrassing was it?

👌Were their parent(s)/guardian(s) accepting of their partner(s)?

✌️Did their sibling(s) accept their partner(s)?

🤗Do they consider their partner’s family to be their family too?

🤢What kinds of traits in other families are they jealous of, if any?

😄Is there any trait they particularly appreciate about their family?

🫡Are they proud to talk about their family to other people?

👂Do they enjoy listening to other people talk about their families?

🎳Are their friends welcome among their family? Only certain friends?

🎈Do they celebrate any extremely specific holidays that their family pretty much invented from scratch?

🐕Did they have any family pets growing up? Do they have any now?

🐈Were their parent(s)/guardian(s) opposed to having a pet? Did it ever change?

🐸Did having a family pet encourage them to have pets if/when they moved out?

🐭Do they consider pets to be a part of the family?

🃏Wild card! Ask anything you want!

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hey if you're the type of writer that's like me where you tend to write specific scenes first that vaguely weave together into a plot, you might like using obsidian as a writing app.

my frustration with other writing applications is that i will write my scenes out of order and it's hard to move things around and rearrange them on a regular document.

but with obsidian there's this canvas feature where you can just write all your scenes and plot moments on these little cards that you can freely rearrange. you can color code them and connect them too.

here's the canvas i've created for my current multi-chapter fic: (if you zoom in you can see all the text in each card this what it looks like zoomed out)

as you can see, i color code them based off chapters and will group them next to a document card with the working title of the chapter. anything not color-coded are scenes that don't have a proper place quite yet or it's just world building references. this app can also be good for note-taking and collecting research!

best of all, it's FREE!!! the only downside is that if you want your stuff to sync across devices, you do have to pay for that. i constantly hop between my laptop and desktop so i pay for the syncing. but if you write on only one device it's completely free! EDIT: some reblogs have mentioned that you can apparently link your own personal cloud storage (dropbox, gdrive, icloud, etc.) to obsidian for free! that way you can access your obsidian vaults across multiple devices without the extra fee. i don't mind supporting the devs but just something to look into if costs is a concern.

i typically use it for organizing my thoughts for a first draft. once i get all the scenes arranged and mostly written out, i will copy and paste them into ellipsus (also free & highly recommended as a google doc alternative) so that they're all in one document that i can edit.

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Things I Didn’t Think Would Be Hard To Write But ARE

Walking into a room

Transitioning between scenes without it feeling awkward

Two characters saying “I love you” without it being cringe

Describing a character’s face without using the word “eyes” 500 times

A battle scene that doesn’t feel like a turn-based RPG

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shoutout your art accounts here!! let’s connect as an artistic community!!

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Week 63 sips!

You can reblog this post and do em all now, save 'em and find 'em as you have the energy/time, or just use it as a heads up for what's comin'.

Up to you!

All I ask is that you use the #sipofsnips tag so people can find each other's snips and get excited about writing.

Have fun ^.-

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🏰Fantasy Worldbuilding Ask Game🐉

Do you have a fantasy world? Do you want to talk about swords, sorcery, and everything in between? Look no further, for you have stumbled across 100 questions that will let you ramble as long as you want! Remember to send an ask to the person you reblog it from to make sure everyone gets to play!

📚What “type” of fantasy is your WIP? High, low, urban, historical etc.?

🌍Does it take place on a fantasy planet, or somewhere on Earth (hidden or not-so-hidden)?

💭If your WIP doesn’t take place on Earth, where did you draw inspiration from to create your new fantasy world?

📍If your WIP does take place on Earth, where did you choose to set it? Why?

🧍Do humans exist in your WIP? Are they any different from humans in our real world?

🧝Do other fantasy species exist in your WIP? Describe them!

🤝Are the different fantasy species all living together, or does everybody keep to themselves?

☮️What are the different fantasy species’ customs and cultures? How well do they get along with each other, if at all?

⏳Are there any dramatic lifespan differences between your fantasy species and humans? How does that influence their societies and relationships with each other?

👑What’s the political configuration of your WIP? Kingdoms, nations, something else?

⚠️What’s the political climate of your WIP? Are nations on the brink of conflict, or enjoying many years of peace?

✊What’s the social climate of your WIP? Are people struggling against inequality or war?

🏰Are there royals and/or nobility in your WIP? How do they treat the common people? What do the common people think of them?

💎What are the hallmarks of a higher-class person in your WIP? What marks someone as lower-class?

🙇Are the common people expected to serve the higher class in some way, explicitly or implicitly? Are some kinds of service more respectable than others?

🪖How are wars fought in your WIP? Swords and spells, firearms, war machines?

🏢What kind of unique or magical architecture exists in your WIP?

💰How does trade function in your WIP? Merchant caravans, local markets, dragon drop-shipping?

📦Are there any specialized or magical imports/exports that your fantasy societies rely on? Why are they so important?

💵What kinds of currency exist in your WIP? Do people use gold coins, barter and trade, or something else?

👚What kinds of clothes do people wear in your WIP? What accommodations are made for any fantasy body parts?

🎉What are some unique cultural holidays people celebrate in your WIP? What goes into celebrating them?

🐈‍⬛What are some unique superstitions or cultural taboos in your WIP? How common are they?

📰How do people get news or information in your WIP? Town criers, travelling bards, magic bulletin boards?

🏙️Are there any especially famous cities or nations in your WIP? What are they known for?

🚩Are there any especially infamous cities or nations in your WIP? What earned them the sour reputation?

🥪What kind of unique and/or popular foods exist in your WIP? Magical foods?

🚗How do people travel over land in your WIP? Are there any magical machines that help?

⛵How do people sail over oceans and seas in your WIP? Are there any magical machines that help?

✈️Is air travel possible in your WIP? Through magic, technology, or a mix of both?

🚇Do people regularly travel underground in your WIP? Are there any magical machines that help?

🪄Is there magic in your WIP? Where does it come from?

🎆How does magic work in your WIP? How can it do all those fantastic things?

🚫What CAN’T magic do in your WIP? Where does the mystical power fall short?

🤕What are the drawbacks to using magic in your WIP? Do they improve or get worse depending on how powerful you are?

🔮Who can wield magic in your WIP? Everyone, a select group, or basically nobody?

💪How do people wield magic in your WIP? Are magic users able to bend it to their will, or merely guide it?

🔨Is magic considered useful or dangerous in your WIP? Do different cultures or species view magic differently?

⚖️Are certain fantasy species more likely to be magic users than others? Which ones? Why?

🤷Is there a way someone could lose their ability to use magic? Has it ever happened before?

🤐Is magic a secret in your WIP? What happens if it’s revealed to the outside world?

⚙️How has magic influenced the level and complexity of technology in your WIP?

⚔️Are there any special magical objects in your WIP? What do they do? Who owns them?

🧪How does magic interact with scientific advancements in your WIP? Are they considered the same?

🧐Do people research magic in your WIP? What’s the most popular or prestigious topic of study? The least popular?

🧙‍♂️Does your WIP differentiate between witches, wizards, sorcerers, etc.? Is there no distinction at all?

⚕️How has magic changed the landscape of medicine and healing in your WIP?

😷Are there magic illnesses in your WIP? How do you catch them? How are they treated?

🏈Has magic brought about the existence of magical games or sports? What are they?

📺Has magic changed or improved any pre-existing mundane forms of entertainment? How?

🎨Are there any kind of unique magical forms of entertainment? What are they?

🏬What kind of magical professions can a magic-user pursue in your WIP? Is it considered especially prestigious, normal, or below respect?

🎭Has magic brought about social good in your WIP? Social ills?

🙅Are there any kinds of forbidden magic? What kinds, and why?

🤔Are there any kinds of “forgotten” or ancient magic that nobody remembers anymore? How was the knowledge lost?

🫥Are there any kinds of magic that are intentionally hidden from the general population? Who’s hiding this knowledge, and why?

⛪What are the popular religions in your WIP? Where is each belief more prominent?

📢Are there any particularly influential religious institutions in your WIP?

🕯️Do folk religions exist? Where are they practiced?

🙏Is devotion to a particular religion expected of people? What happens to non-believers?

🫵Can the deities in your WIP grant people special powers? When do they choose to do so?

🗣️Can anyone commune with the deities in your WIP, or do they only answer to special devotees?

🦑Are there otherworldly entities in your WIP? Where did they come from?

🎃Can otherworldly entities grant people special powers? When do they choose to do so?

👽Can anyone commune with otherworldly entities in your WIP, or do they only communicate at their leisure?

📞Is it rare to be contacted by higher beings, or does it happen all the time?

🧩Are there prophecies in your WIP? Do people believe in them?

🌟Have any prophecies ever come true in your WIP’s history? How important are they to your WIP in the present?

👂Can anyone hear prophecies in your WIP, or do they only appear to certain people, like oracles?

🤐Are prophecies kept secret, or told to everyone who wants to hear? Why?

🦄What kinds of magical creatures exist in your WIP? Dragons, unicorns, griffons, etc.?

🐕Are any magical creatures kept as pets? Which ones?

🐄Have any magical creatures been domesticated? Which ones?

🦁Have any non-magical creatures been domesticated in your WIP that aren’t domesticated in the real world? Which ones?

🐎Are any domesticated creatures (magical or mudane) used as beasts of burden? For farm labor? For warfare?

🐉Do any magical creatures form special bonds with people? What does this bond mean for the pair?

🤓Are there any intelligent magical creatures, ones that can communicate with language? How do they interact with wider society?

👹Are there monsters or other dangerous beasts in your WIP? How are they differentiated from standard wild animals, or other magical creatures?

🧟Are there monsters that can infect places or people in some way, like werewolves or zombies?

🗡️Is killing monsters or magical creatures a viable profession in your WIP? Is it lauded work or scorned?

😢Are monsters legitimately dangerous, or are they simply misunderstood?

💀Can people commune with spirits of the dead in your WIP? How?

😱Is it considered normal or taboo to speak with the dead in your WIP? Does it vary from culture to culture?

👻Do spirits wander freely in your WIP? Why? Is there a way to help them pass on?

⚰️Is it possible to completely resurrect someone in your WIP? How? If not, has anybody ever tried?

🗺️Is your WIP a globe-trotting adventure, or is all the adventure contained in one place?

🧚Is adventuring common in your WIP, or something only for fairytales?

🪙When people go on adventures in your WIP, what are they looking for? Fame, fortune, power?

🦸Are there any legendary heroes or adventurers in your WIP’s history? What are they famous for?

🦹Are there any infamous villains in your WIP? How were they defeated?

🌄How much has the landscape and environment of your WIP been shaped by magic? Have entire mountains been wiped off the map, or is everything the same as if magic didn’t exist?

🪷Are there any plants that are inherently magical in your WIP? Do people use or cultivate them?

🌅Are there any landforms or locations that are inherently magical in your WIP? Do people visit them often?

🌥️Are there any magical places in your WIP that are kept hidden from outsiders? Why?

☀️Is there anything magical about the weather or seasons in your WIP? How do people cope?

🌪️Are there any “supernatural disasters” caused by magic in your WIP? Why do they happen? How do people cope?

📆How do the different cultures in your world track the year?

🌕Does your fantasy world have any unique celestial features, like multiple moons or planetary rings? Are they culturally important?

🌃What are some unique constellations in your fantasy world? Are they culturally important?

🃏Wild card! Mention anything else about your WIP that you want!

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There's nothing quite like having an epiphany so strong that you automatically scramble for a notepad to jot it down