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It’s come to my attention that I have not yet made a post about Farmer’s Market Hot™.  

Farmer’s Market Hot is a specific kind of aesthetic that is the result of me watching Orphan’s Black and trying to describe the hotness of Cal to others.

See my point?

Farmer’s Market Hot is a wholesome kind of hot. Rugged but approachable. It’s not the kind of hot where you immediately go, “Oh my god they’re so perfect, I want to take them home and photograph them/tear their clothes off.” That’s for later.

This is the kind of hot for people who would visit the farmer’s market to buy some organic cheeses on their way to pick up their kids from their Creativity Through Music class. It’s the look that says “I’m here to support our local beekeepers.” You see them and it makes you want to settle down. You want to do your taxes with them, raise dogs together.

It’s borderline hipster without the elitism and irony, borderline country without the sound of Tim McGraw. If they’re white, racist shit like dreads automatically disqualifies them.

Guys will most likely be stubbly, or bearded, but not to the point of lumberjack. Think Chris Evans in between Marvel movies.

Pictured: a man who wants to buy artisan bread from a stall and be polite to the merchants.

Imagine a woman with a sunflower tattoo, wearing a high-low dress and clunky dependable boots, holding a dog’s leash while she waits at the knife sharpening booth. Imagine a man wearing flannel and holding a baby while talking about ethical alternatives to quinoa.

Farmer’s Market Hot™.

Add this to your vocabulary.

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11. Adult

You did it! Now panic.

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A couple notes on eye color descriptions:

First, eyes are small. If someone is more than a few feet away, there’s very little chance they will notice someone else’s eye color. Same is true if it’s dark or if they’re wearing glasses.

Second, people don’t pay that much attention to eye color. Most people don’t think of others (I don’t think) in terms of eye color. I’m not actually sure of the eye color of most of my relatives or friends

Third, this is in no way a useful descriptor unless it plays an important role in the story. Harry Potter’s eye color mattered because of his mother. Hermione’s eye color didn’t.

I know eye-color hair-color skin-color is a common descriptor for people when they’re first being introduced, but try something else, and stop relying on a thing that doesn’t matter. And, especially if the story is in first person or close third person, stop having people be able to tell eye colors from unrealistic distances or in unrealistic situations, or when they wouldn’t have any reason to pay attention to them.

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Answer As Your Muse

A: The worst Thanksgiving dish you ever had.

B: The long-lost roommate.

C: The moment you knew you were no longer a child.

D: The worst thing that could happen.

E: The best thing that could happen.

F: Three objects in your childhood bedroom.

G: A piece of clothing you keep just for the memory.

H: Where you wish you were.

I: A guilty pleasure.

J: Your most memorable experience in the back of a car.

K: What you were doing this time last year.

L: The first summer you fell in love.

M: The first time you had sex.

N: Your favourite book.

O: Your most treasured photograph.

P: The oldest item in your possession.

Q: Where you will be exactly one year from now.

R: You can keep only one memory from your entire life. What is it?

S: Your best birthday.

T: Your worst experience on an airplane.

U: A family (not your own) on the street where you grew up.

V: A never-ending breakup.

W: The last time you cheated.

X: The smell of a place you love.

Y: Your first time in a foreign country.

Z: Describe a person you see every day.

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Which OC would battle God over a bag of Doritos?

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What is something that will never change about your character?

Knowing your characters is an instrumental step in writing a good piece. Use these questions to get to know them a little better. Who knows, you might even surprise yourself.

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What RPG class do you see my muse as?

Some examples: Adventurer Archer Dungeon Crawler Explorer Paladin Knight Swordmaster Lancer Thief Mace Knight Spear Lancer Bard Cleric/Medic Magician Witch Wizard Black Mage White Mage Valkyrie Animal Tamer Summoner Hunter Gunslinger Ranger Berserker

…Etcetera!

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you can also do top 3 most and least if you have too many characters nwn

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OC Questions: Meta Edition

4th wall breaking, fandom/creator interpretations, self inserts, etc. As always, I’ll be splitting some of these questions up into separate posts, so don’t worry about answering all of them here (unless, of course, you wanna). Enjoy!

Which OC is the most likely to break the 4th wall?

One OC will protect you, and the others will try to kill you. Which OC would you pick to be your defender?

Would you rather live in your OCs’ universe or this one?

Your OC finds out that you are their creator. How do they react?

What is your noncanon nickname for your OC?

What is/would be the fandom nickname for your story?

What is/would be the nickname for a fan of your OC?

Which OC is most likely to be called “son”/ “daughter” / “child” by fans?

Which OC is most likely to be called “husband” / “wife” / “spouse” by fans?

If you could tell your OC one thing, what would it be?

What kind of advice would your OC give you?

Which OC is/would be “woobified” by the fandom?

What song would you sing to audition for the role of your OC?

Your OC finds themselves in your universe and you are their only contact. How well do they handle the adjustment and how would you try to help/hinder/contain them?

f/m/k: OC edition

Who would you cast to play the part of your OC in a TV show or movie?

If you could choose to meet one of your OCs in person, who would you pick?

Which OC would you absolutely NOT want to be a real person?

What is your dream medium for your story (book series, video game, comic, movie, cartoon/anime, etc)?

Which OC is the most likely to become a “mascot” for your story?

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40 Character Development Questions

Since I led off with a Character Development Checklist, I thought it might be nice to round it out with a Question Sheet, as well.

Also, can someone explain to me how the fuck I misspelled “Development” on that post title and didn’t notice? Don’t pull from drafts and edit at 4:00 am, kids.

Although, if that’s the worst mistake I made yesterday then I think I’m doing pretty good. 

Basics:

How/why was your character named? 

If they have a nickname, how did it originate?

How many languages can they speak? (and why)

What is the extent of their education?

Where do they live?

How close are they to their family?

Do they have pets? 

Are all the characters name easy to understand, pronounce, and are mostly different from all the other names throughout the story?

Is the cast of characters diverse and interesting?

Do you have an acceptable mix of men/women and of different ethnicity in ratio of how large your cast is? If not, why not?

Physical:

What does your character look like?

If they have scars/tattoos, what is the origin?

What is their most physically distinguishing characteristic?

How similar do they look compared to their family members?

Are all the characters different physically?

Psychology:

What is their motive? 

What is something about them that can surprise me (the writer)?

On what occasion does this character lie?

What is their greatest regret?

What is their greatest fear?

What is their worst vice?

What is a talent they would like to have?

Did they have a happy childhood? (why/why not?)

What was the best thing that ever happened to them?

What is their worst tic/habit?

Who is the person they love the most?

Who is the person who they hate the most?

What is the state of their house? Clean? Messy? Run down? Perfect and stately?

Are they superstitious? Why/why not? 

How easy are they to get along with?

Other:

How is this character different than all the other characters? 

What would happen if your character had more information about the plot you’ve created?

What would happen if your character had less information about the plot you’ve created?

What has brought this character to this point in time?

What is motivating your character in the plot so far? And do you expect this to change?

How happy is your character with the way things are going?

How has your character changed throughout the novel? Or, how do you plan on it changing?

How are the goals changing for your character?

Why is the story happening to this character and not someone else? 

How can I make my character more likeable/unlikable, depending on the reaction I want?

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50 Questions for your oc

(i got bored and made some questions to ask for ocs. Not much but something to get gears going. Ask away please).

Personal

1)      Age?

2)      Gender?

3)      Romantic/Sexual Orientation?

4)      Height?

5)      Race?

6)      What do they look like? (i.e, hair color, eye color, etc).

7)      Any disabilities?

8)      Is there a meaning to their name?

9)      What makes them, them? 

10)   What do they want to be when they grow up/what do they want to do with their lives?

Family

11)   Do they have parents? What are they like and how do they act with their child(ren)?

12)   Do they have siblings? How do they interact with them? If not, do they wish they had siblings?

13)   Extended family? Do they see them often?

14)   Do they like where they live? (Is it a safe place?)

15)   Where do they live? Are they wealthy? Poor? Middle-Class?

16)   Do they have a lot of expectations/pressure on them from family to do great?

17)   Do they have pets?

18)   Who do they look up to the most/are the closest to in their family?

19)   This there anything special about their family?

20)   Do they wish they lived in a different family/household?

Friends

21)   Best Friend(s)?

22)   Who was their first friend?

23)   What is their friend group like?

24)   Do they have a love/hate relationship with any of them?

25)   Do they consider any of their friends to be like siblings?

26)   Have they ever hurt a friend or lost one?

27)   Do they have a crush on any of their friends?

28)   Do they share classes with good friends?

29)   Whom do they go to the most when they need a shoulder to cry on?

30)   What would this person do without their friends in their lives?

School

31)   What grade are they in? If they aren’t in school, how come?

32)   Do/Did they like their teachers? Was there a good one? Bad one?

33)   Do/Did they listen to their teachers or are/where they goofing off a lot?

34)   Are/Where they a good student grade wise?

35)   Do/Did they need extra help?

36)   What is/was their school like?

37)   Do/Did they have bullies in school?

38)   Have they ever gotten into a fight at school?

39)   Have they ever done something stupid/embarrassing at school?

40)   How far do they plan to go with school? If they dropped out, do they want to go back?

Other

41)   Are they dating anyone? Do they want to date? Are the married? Divorced? 

42)   What is their favorite hobby? Do they keep it a secret?

43)   If they could have one thing in life, what would it be?

44)   Do they work? If so, what is it? If not, are they looking for one or even want one?

45)   Do they use social media?

46)   Have they ever been in the hospital?

47)   Do they believe in the supernatural, that there is more than the eye can see?

48)   What do they do when they get angry, stressed, or upset?

49)   Would they consider themselves as a good person, bad person, or morally grey?

50)   Does this OC have any part of you in them? (I.e, personality traits, similar background, etc)

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Holly: I've contracted a disease

Dani: What disease

Holly: Love

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It was a dark and stormy night But it wasn't dark Not stormy It was actually noon, and the weather was pretty nice

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“Money can’t buy happiness.” The younger stated matter of factly.

Holly looked her dead in the eyes, “The Percy Jackson books.”

The younger considered this, opening and closing their mouth, then finally said, “Point taken, statement retracted.”

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PSA

The only one who can sass Theo openly is Bella. Everyone else is banned. Maybe Elmer on a good day but other than that... don't. He will stop a serious conversation just to roast you and it is not pretty.

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Theo: You need to go outside

Bella: You need to stop breathing

Theo: ...harsh

Bella: Good, now shut up im almost done with this season

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The Sound of Silence

There are too many words you could say. So many that could break them, so many that could make them feel guilty, if they even felt at all. An icy fire courses through your veins making you shiver. It’s not fair. None of this is fair. You want to scream at the top of your lungs, to be heard at the neighbors house. You want to pour your frustrations into curses at the people who hurt you. You want that fire to burn in your blood until it can be called an inferno. 

But that would be giving them what they want. They want you to break, to stain your reputation. So you do the only thing that you know would anger them far greater than any string of curses would. You turn around and walk out. Without  uttering a single word.