silverbird-scrive - Tumblr blog

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A quick pencil sketch of my Character Cygnus form SNOTSB. I was definitely trying to decide what type of a strange little alien ear I wanted to give him. I decided on a modification of a bat ear, but fixed onto a humanoid ear frame. The result is this slightly rounder, quite adorable Vycean ear style that I love.

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Oh my gosh, I adore the character interactions in this passage and I’m very curious to know more about the evil forces that Sun and Moon have to fight. I love the parallel that neither parties can actually resist their duties. They are all doomed to obey, and that’s so interesting to me. Wonderful job, and such a delight to read, as always! 💜💜💜

The Gift of Ashes Excerpt: Sun and Moon’s fight

This is an excerpt from Chapter 5, Tale of Sun, which recounts the aftermath of one of Sun’s battle against the Crawlers. Sun and Moon were created to be the mortals’ champions against this inidentified evil they condensed into this vicious God… And so they cannot help but fight, and fight again, and fight anew: there will be no final victory for either side, because it was never included in the myths…

Tagging @create-and-procrastinate @aslaugblom @toboldlywrite @pheita @cog-writes @silverbird-scrive @lady-redshield-writes @thewriterandthestoryteller @dreamywritingdragon

Sun’s fire is dimmed, wide patches of dull white cover her illusion of a body, recounting the tale of the umpteenth useless battle – a map retracing the steps of a pain she will never show; as She floats just a few feet above the refined pavement of the Temple, eyes closed and expression neutral, so tightly controlled it just might snap, Moon frets around her.

She is so honest, so blunt, so transparent in her reactions and feelings that shimmer in the fading twilight as She carries her heart on her sleeve with pride. She touches non-existent hands to the wounds, sharing her energy and thoughts to heal her beloved faster, and even as everything in her countenance indicates anger and weariness, She is nothing if not gentle in her care. “You fought the Crawlers again,” She states flatly.

Beside her, Darkness watches, flicking his tail here and there. He’s the one and only being who understands the depth of the love they share, when for all the others – immortals and mortals alike – it is but a passing fancy, or a stubborn caprice. “Of course She did,” He answers, voice filled with humour and the smallest hint of reproach. “She had to.”

“I hate them,” Moon growls through clenched teeth, and Sun meets her worried stare with a tender look of her own. “I hate that they keep lashing out at you.”

Keep reading

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Last Sentence Tag

I was tagged by the lovely @thewriterkatie 💜💜💜💜

RULES: Post the last sentence you wrote and then tag as many people as there are words. as I want to, because I’m a writer and we change the rules all the time.

I will be showing of a bit of dialogue I wrote from S.N.O.T.S.B.

*********

“Do you come fully equipped with maintenance tools?” Nate was uncertain of how helpful the android’s response would be, but he was running out of options and time.

“IF I DID I WOULD NOT SHARE WITH YOU,” the Android responded, the graviton-propulsion system under its carriage whirred in the air as it turned away from him with indignation.

“No, I’m sorry,” he said with a loaded sigh, “I assumed the C-models were superior in build to some of the rest of the droids on this station. I could find another—

“THE C-MODELS ARE SUPERIOR, YOU IGNORANT FLESH-SACK.” Although he wasn't completely familiar with the technological advances in artificial intelligence, it seemed that androids were becoming capable of more emotionality in their responses. The little C-45H model’s visual sensor panel was flashing red as it pushed Nate aside to asses the panel he was working on.

*******

I tag @aceraleigh, @alliewade, @alittle-writer, @weaver-of-fantasies-and-fables, @aschenink, @cog-writes, @writerofwriting, @lady-redshield-writes, @thewriterandthestoryteller, and anyone else who would love to do this!

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SYNONYMS FOR WORDS COMMONLY USED IN STUDENTS' WRITINGS

by larae.net

Amazing- incredible, unbelievable, improbable, fabulous, wonderful, fantastic, astonishing, astounding, extraordinary

Anger- enrage, infuriate, arouse, nettle, exasperate, inflame, madden

Angry- mad, furious, enraged, excited, wrathful, indignant, exasperated, aroused, inflamed

Answer- reply, respond, retort, acknowledge

Ask- question, inquire of, seek information from, put a question to, demand, request, expect, inquire, query, interrogate, examine, quiz

Awful- dreadful, terrible, abominable, bad, poor, unpleasant

Bad- evil, immoral, wicked, corrupt, sinful, depraved, rotten, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, harmful, injurious, unfavorable, defective, inferior, imperfect, substandard, faulty, improper, inappropriate, unsuitable, disagreeable, unpleasant, cross, nasty, unfriendly, irascible, horrible, atrocious, outrageous, scandalous, infamous, wrong, noxious, sinister, putrid, snide, deplorable, dismal, gross, heinous, nefarious, base, obnoxious, detestable, despicable, contemptible, foul, rank, ghastly, execrable

Beautiful - pretty, lovely, handsome, attractive, gorgeous, dazzling, splendid, magnificent, comely, fair, ravishing, graceful, elegant, fine, exquisite, aesthetic, pleasing, shapely, delicate, stunning, glorious, heavenly, resplendent, radiant, glowing, blooming, sparkling

Begin - start, open, launch, initiate, commence, inaugurate, originate

Big - enormous, huge, immense, gigantic, vast, colossal, gargantuan, large, sizable, grand, great, tall, substantial, mammoth, astronomical, ample, broad, expansive, spacious, stout, tremendous, titanic, mountainous

Brave - courageous, fearless, dauntless, intrepid, plucky, daring, heroic, valorous, audacious, bold, gallant, valiant, doughty, mettlesome

Break - fracture, rupture, shatter, smash, wreck, crash, demolish, atomize

Bright - shining, shiny, gleaming, brilliant, sparkling, shimmering, radiant, vivid, colorful, lustrous, luminous, incandescent, intelligent, knowing, quick-witted, smart, intellectual

Calm - quiet, peaceful, still, tranquil, mild, serene, smooth, composed, collected, unruffled, level-headed, unexcited, detached, aloof

Come - approach, advance, near, arrive, reach

Cool - chilly, cold, frosty, wintry, icy, frigid

Crooked - bent, twisted, curved, hooked, zigzag

Cry - shout, yell, yowl, scream, roar, bellow, weep, wail, sob, bawl

Cut - gash, slash, prick, nick, sever, slice, carve, cleave, slit, chop, crop, lop, reduce

Dangerous - perilous, hazardous, risky, uncertain, unsafe

Dark - shadowy, unlit, murky, gloomy, dim, dusky, shaded, sunless, black, dismal, sad

Decide - determine, settle, choose, resolve

Definite - certain, sure, positive, determined, clear, distinct, obvious

Delicious - savory, delectable, appetizing, luscious, scrumptious, palatable, delightful, enjoyable, toothsome, exquisite

Describe - portray, characterize, picture, narrate, relate, recount, represent, report, record

Destroy - ruin, demolish, raze, waste, kill, slay, end, extinguish

Difference - disagreement, inequity, contrast, dissimilarity, incompatibility

Do - execute, enact, carry out, finish, conclude, effect, accomplish, achieve, attain

Dull - boring, tiring,, tiresome, uninteresting, slow, dumb, stupid, unimaginative, lifeless, dead, insensible, tedious, wearisome, listless, expressionless, plain, monotonous, humdrum, dreary

Eager - keen, fervent, enthusiastic, involved, interested, alive to

End - stop, finish, terminate, conclude, close, halt, cessation, discontinuance

Enjoy - appreciate, delight in, be pleased, indulge in, luxuriate in, bask in, relish, devour, savor, like

Explain - elaborate, clarify, define, interpret, justify, account for

Fair - just, impartial, unbiased, objective, unprejudiced, honest

Fall - drop, descend, plunge, topple, tumble

False - fake, fraudulent, counterfeit, spurious, untrue, unfounded, erroneous, deceptive, groundless, fallacious

Famous - well-known, renowned, celebrated, famed, eminent, illustrious, distinguished, noted, notorious

Fast - quick, rapid, speedy, fleet, hasty, snappy, mercurial, swiftly, rapidly, quickly, snappily, speedily, lickety-split, posthaste, hastily, expeditiously, like a flash

Fat - stout, corpulent, fleshy, beefy, paunchy, plump, full, rotund, tubby, pudgy, chubby, chunky, burly, bulky, elephantine

Fear - fright, dread, terror, alarm, dismay, anxiety, scare, awe, horror, panic, apprehension

Fly - soar, hover, flit, wing, flee, waft, glide, coast, skim, sail, cruise

Funny - humorous, amusing, droll, comic, comical, laughable, silly

Get - acquire, obtain, secure, procure, gain, fetch, find, score, accumulate, win, earn, rep, catch, net, bag, derive, collect, gather, glean, pick up, accept, come by, regain, salvage

Go - recede, depart, fade, disappear, move, travel, proceed

Good - excellent, fine, superior, wonderful, marvelous, qualified, suited, suitable, apt, proper, capable, generous, kindly, friendly, gracious, obliging, pleasant, agreeable, pleasurable, satisfactory, well-behaved, obedient, honorable, reliable, trustworthy, safe, favorable, profitable, advantageous, righteous, expedient, helpful, valid, genuine, ample, salubrious, estimable, beneficial, splendid, great, noble, worthy, first-rate, top-notch, grand, sterling, superb, respectable, edifying

Great - noteworthy, worthy, distinguished, remarkable, grand, considerable, powerful, much, mighty

Gross - improper, rude, coarse, indecent, crude, vulgar, outrageous, extreme, grievous, shameful, uncouth, obscene, low

Happy - pleased, contented, satisfied, delighted, elated, joyful, cheerful, ecstatic, jubilant, gay, tickled, gratified, glad, blissful, overjoyed

Hate - despise, loathe, detest, abhor, disfavor, dislike, disapprove, abominate

Have - hold, possess, own, contain, acquire, gain, maintain, believe, bear, beget, occupy, absorb, fill, enjoy

Help - aid, assist, support, encourage, back, wait on, attend, serve, relieve, succor, benefit, befriend, abet

Hide - conceal, cover, mask, cloak, camouflage, screen, shroud, veil

Hurry - rush, run, speed, race, hasten, urge, accelerate, bustle

Hurt - damage, harm, injure, wound, distress, afflict, pain

Idea - thought, concept, conception, notion, understanding, opinion, plan, view, belief

Important - necessary, vital, critical, indispensable, valuable, essential, significant, primary, principal, considerable, famous, distinguished, notable, well-known

Interesting - fascinating, engaging, sharp, keen, bright, intelligent, animated, spirited, attractive, inviting, intriguing, provocative, though-provoking, challenging, inspiring, involving, moving, titillating, tantalizing, exciting, entertaining, piquant, lively, racy, spicy, engrossing, absorbing, consuming, gripping, arresting, enthralling, spellbinding, curious, captivating, enchanting, bewitching, appealing

Keep - hold, retain, withhold, preserve, maintain, sustain, support

Kill - slay, execute, assassinate, murder, destroy, cancel, abolish

Lazy - indolent, slothful, idle, inactive, sluggish

Little - tiny, small, diminutive, shrimp, runt, miniature, puny, exiguous, dinky, cramped, limited, itsy-bitsy, microscopic, slight, petite, minute

Look - gaze, see, glance, watch, survey, study, seek, search for, peek, peep, glimpse, stare, contemplate, examine, gape, ogle, scrutinize, inspect, leer, behold, observe, view, witness, perceive, spy, sight, discover, notice, recognize, peer, eye, gawk, peruse, explore

Love - like, admire, esteem, fancy, care for, cherish, adore, treasure, worship, appreciate, savor

Make - create, originate, invent, beget, form, construct, design, fabricate, manufacture, produce, build, develop, do, effect, execute, compose, perform, accomplish, earn, gain, obtain, acquire, get

Mark - label, tag, price, ticket, impress, effect, trace, imprint, stamp, brand, sign, note, heed, notice, designate

Mischievous - prankish, playful, naughty, roguish, waggish, impish, sportive

Move - plod, go, creep, crawl, inch, poke, drag, toddle, shuffle, trot, dawdle, walk, traipse, mosey, jog, plug, trudge, slump, lumber, trail, lag, run, sprint, trip, bound, hotfoot, high-tail, streak, stride, tear, breeze, whisk, rush, dash, dart, bolt, fling, scamper, scurry, skedaddle, scoot, scuttle, scramble, race, chase, hasten, hurry, hump, gallop, lope, accelerate, stir, budge, travel, wander, roam, journey, trek, ride, spin, slip, glide, slide, slither, coast, flow, sail, saunter, hobble, amble, stagger, paddle, slouch, prance, straggle, meander, perambulate, waddle, wobble, pace, swagger, promenade, lunge

Moody - temperamental, changeable, short-tempered, glum, morose, sullen, mopish, irritable, testy, peevish, fretful, spiteful, sulky, touchy

Neat - clean, orderly, tidy, trim, dapper, natty, smart, elegant, well-organized, super, desirable, spruce, shipshape, well-kept, shapely

New - fresh, unique, original, unusual, novel, modern, current, recent

Old - feeble, frail, ancient, weak, aged, used, worn, dilapidated, ragged, faded, broken-down, former, old-fashioned, outmoded, passe, veteran, mature, venerable, primitive, traditional, archaic, conventional, customary, stale, musty, obsolete, extinct

Part - portion, share, piece, allotment, section, fraction, fragment

Place - space, area, spot, plot, region, location, situation, position, residence, dwelling, set, site, station, status, state

Plan - plot, scheme, design, draw, map, diagram, procedure, arrangement, intention, device, contrivance, method, way, blueprint

Popular - well-liked, approved, accepted, favorite, celebrated, common, current

Predicament - quandary, dilemma, pickle, problem, plight, spot, scrape, jam

Put - place, set, attach, establish, assign, keep, save, set aside, effect, achieve, do, build

Quiet - silent, still, soundless, mute, tranquil, peaceful, calm, restful

Right - correct, accurate, factual, true, good, just, honest, upright, lawful, moral, proper, suitable, apt, legal, fair

Run - race, speed, hurry, hasten, sprint, dash, rush, escape, elope, flee

Say/Tell - inform, notify, advise, relate, recount, narrate, explain, reveal, disclose, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, enlighten, instruct, insist, teach, train, direct, issue, remark, converse, speak, affirm, suppose, utter, negate, express, verbalize, voice, articulate, pronounce, deliver, convey, impart, assert, state, allege, mutter, mumble, whisper, sigh, exclaim, yell, sing, yelp, snarl, hiss, grunt, snort, roar, bellow, thunder, boom, scream, shriek, screech, squawk, whine, philosophize, stammer, stutter, lisp, drawl, jabber, protest, announce, swear, vow, content, assure, deny, dispute

Scared - afraid, frightened, alarmed, terrified, panicked, fearful, unnerved, insecure, timid, shy, skittish, jumpy, disquieted, worried, vexed, troubled, disturbed, horrified, terrorized, shocked, petrified, haunted, timorous, shrinking, tremulous, stupefied, paralyzed, stunned, apprehensive

Show - display, exhibit, present, note, point to, indicate, explain, reveal, prove, demonstrate, expose

Slow - unhurried, gradual, leisurely, late, behind, tedious, slack

Stop - cease, halt, stay, pause, discontinue, conclude, end, finish, quit

Story - tale, myth, legend, fable, yarn, account, narrative, chronicle, epic, sage, anecdote, record, memoir

Strange - odd, peculiar, unusual, unfamiliar, uncommon, queer, weird, outlandish, curious, unique, exclusive, irregular

Take - hold, catch, seize, grasp, win, capture, acquire, pick, choose, select, prefer, remove, steal, lift, rob, engage, bewitch, purchase, buy, retract, recall, assume, occupy, consume

Tell - disclose, reveal, show, expose, uncover, relate, narrate, inform, advise, explain, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, recount, repeat

Think - judge, deem, assume, believe, consider, contemplate, reflect, mediate

Trouble - distress, anguish, anxiety, worry, wretchedness, pain, danger, peril, disaster, grief, misfortune, difficulty, concern, pains, inconvenience, exertion, effort

True - accurate, right, proper, precise, exact, valid, genuine, real, actual, trusty, steady, loyal, dependable, sincere, staunch

Ugly - hideous, frightful, frightening, shocking, horrible, unpleasant, monstrous, terrifying, gross, grisly, ghastly, horrid, unsightly, plain, homely, evil, repulsive, repugnant, gruesome

Unhappy - miserable, uncomfortable, wretched, heart-broken, unfortunate, poor, downhearted, sorrowful, depressed, dejected, melancholy, glum, gloomy, dismal, discouraged, sad

Use - employ, utilize, exhaust, spend, expend, consume, exercise

Wrong - incorrect, inaccurate, mistaken, erroneous, improper, unsuitable

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Can you please reblog if your blog is a safe place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, pansexual, non binary, demisexual or any other kind of queer or questioning people? Because mine is.

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Your Character’s Personality

Personality is the most important thing about your character.

So, whenever I see character sheets, most people just put a little paragraph for that section. If you’re struggling and don’t know what your character should say or do, what decisions they should make, I guarantee you that this is the problem.

You know your character’s name, age, race, sexuality, height, weight, eye color, hair color, their parents’ and siblings’ names. But these are not the things that truly matter about them.

Traits: 

pick traits that don’t necessarily go together. For example, someone who is controlling, aggressive and vain can also be generous, sensitive and soft-spoken. Characters need to have at least one flaw that really impacts how they interact with others. Positive traits can work as flaws, too. It is advised that you pick at least ten traits

people are complex, full of contradictions, and please forgive me if this makes anyone uncomfortable, but even bullies can be “nice” people. Anyone can be a “bad” person, even someone who is polite, kind, helpful or timid can also be narcissistic, annoying, inconsiderate and a liar. People are not just “evil” or “good”

Beliefs:

ideas or thoughts that your character has or thinks about the world, society, others or themselves, even without proof or evidence, or which may or may not be true. Beliefs can contradict their values, motives, self-image, etc. For example, the belief that they are an awesome and responsible person when their traits are lazy, irresponsible and shallow. Their self-image and any beliefs they have about themselves may or may not be similar/the same. They might have a poor self-image, but still believe they’re better than everybody else

Values:

what your character thinks is important. Usually influenced by beliefs, their self-image, their history, etc. Some values may contradict their beliefs, wants, traits, or even other values. For example, your character may value being respect, but one of their traits is disrespectful. It is advised you list at least two values, and know which one they value more. For example, your character values justice and family. Their sister tells them she just stole $200 from her teacher’s wallet. Do they tell on her, or do they let her keep the money: justice, or family? Either way, your character probably has some negative feelings, guilt, anger, etc., over betraying their other value

Motives:

what your character wants. It can be abstract or something tangible. For example, wanting to be adored or wanting that job to pay for their father’s medication. Motives can contradict their beliefs, traits, values, behavior, or even other motives. For example, your character may want to be a good person, but their traits are selfish, manipulative, and narcissistic. Motives can be long term or short term. Everyone has wants, whether they realize it or not. You can write “they don’t know what they want,” but you should know. It is advised that you list at least one abstract want

Recurring Feelings:

feelings that they have throughout most of their life. If you put them down as a trait, it is likely they are also recurring feelings. For example, depressed, lonely, happy, etc.

Self Image:

what the character thinks of themselves: their self-esteem. Some character are proud of themselves, others are ashamed of themselves, etc. They may think they are not good enough, or think they are the smartest person in the world. Their self-image can contradict their beliefs, traits, values, behavior, motives, etc. For example, if their self-image is poor, they can still be a cheerful or optimistic person. If they have a positive self-image, they can still be a depressed or negative person. How they picture themselves may or may not be true: maybe they think they’re a horrible person, when they are, in fact, very considerate, helpful, kind, generous, patient, etc. They still have flaws, but flaws don’t necessarily make you a terrible person

Behavior:

how the character’s traits, values, beliefs, self-image, etc., are outwardly displayed: how they act. For example, two characters may have the trait “angry” but they all probably express it differently. One character may be quiet and want to be left alone when they are angry, the other could become verbally aggressive. If your character is a liar, do they pause before lying, or do they suddenly speak very carefully when they normally don’t? Someone who is inconsiderate may have issues with boundaries or eat the last piece of pizza in the fridge when they knew it wasn’t theirs. Behavior is extremely important and it is advised you think long and hard about your character’s actions and what exactly it shows about them

Demeanor:

their general mood and disposition. Maybe they’re usually quiet, cheerful, moody, or irritable, etc.

Posture:

a secondary part of your character’s personality: not as important as everything else. It is advised you fill this out after. Posture is how the character carries themselves. For example, perhaps they swing their arms and keep their shoulders back while they walk, which seems to be the posture of a confident person, so when they sit, their legs are probably open. Another character may slump and have their arms folded when they’re sitting, and when they’re walking, perhaps they drag their feet and look at the ground

Speech Pattern:

a secondary part of your character’s personality: not as important as everything else. It is advised you fill this out after. Speech patterns can be words that your character uses frequently, if they speak clearly, what sort of grammar they use, if they have a wide vocabulary, a small vocabulary, if it’s sophisticated, crude, stammering, repeating themselves, etc. I personally don’t have a very wide vocabulary, if you could tell

Hobbies:

a secondary part of your character’s personality: not as important as everything else. It is advised you fill this out after. Hobbies can include things like drawing, writing, playing an instrument, collecting rocks, collecting tea cups, etc.

Quirks:

a secondary part of your character’s personality, not as important as everything else. It is advised you fill this out after. Quirks are behaviors that are unique to your character. For example, I personally always put my socks on inside out and check the ceiling for spiders a few times a day

Likes:

a secondary part of your character’s personality, not as important as everything else. It is advised you fill this out after. Likes and dislikes are usually connected to the rest of their personality, but not necessarily. For example, if your character likes to do other people’s homework, maybe it’s because they want to be appreciated

Dislikes:

a secondary part of your character’s personality, not as important as everything else. It is advised you fill this out after. Likes and dislikes can also contradict the rest of their personality. For example, maybe one of your character’s traits is dishonest, but they dislike liars

History:

your character’s past that has key events that influence and shape their beliefs, values, behavior, wants, self-image, etc. Events written down should imply or explain why they are the way they are. For example, if your character is distrustful, maybe they were lied to a lot by their parents when they were a child. Maybe they were in a relationship for twenty years and found out their partner was cheating on them the whole time. If their motive/want is to have positive attention, maybe their parents just didn’t praise them enough and focused too much on the negative

On Mental and Physical Disabilities or Illnesses

if your character experienced a trauma, it needs to have an affect on your character. Maybe they became more angry or impatient or critical of others. Maybe their beliefs on people changed to become “even bullies can be ‘nice’ people: anyone can be a ‘bad’ person”

people are not their illness or disability: it should not be their defining trait. I have health anxiety, but I’m still idealistic, lazy, considerate, impatient and occasionally spiteful; I still want to become an author; I still believe that people are generally good; I still value doing what make me feel comfortable; I still have a positive self-image; I’m still a person. You should fill out your character’s personality at least half-way before you even touch on the possibility of your character having a disability or illness

Generally everything about your character should connect, but hey, even twins that grew up in the same exact household have different personalities; they value different things, have different beliefs. Maybe one of them watched a movie that had a huge impact on them.

Not everything needs to be explained. Someone can be picky or fussy ever since they were little for no reason at all. Someone can be a negative person even if they grew up in a happy home.

I believe this is a thought out layout for making well-rounded OCs, antagonists and protagonists, whether they’re being created for a roleplay or for a book. This layout is also helpful for studying Canon Characters if you’re looking to accurately roleplay as them or write them in fanfiction or whatever.

I’m really excited to post this, so hopefully I didn’t miss anything important…

If you have any questions, feel free to send a message.

- Chick

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Words for OCs Tag

I was tagged by @weaver-of-fantasies-and-fables

I will be doing this for my sci-fi WIP Speak Not of the Stymphalian Birds

I only have a few main characters worked out for it so far, so it’s a little list. :)

Nathan Fife - (Perseverence) The steadfast endurance despite the difficulty of the situation. Nathan has a stubborn tendency to hold to his morals and to keep trying to reconcile for his past mistakes.

Cygnus - (Anatopism) Out of place, not belonging, foreign and alien to the people and places around him. Cygnus is out of his element, hiding from the world in the best interest of everyone around him, but doesn't let that deter him from what he wants to accomplish.

Dr. Lenora Hawkes - (Adaptability) The quality of being able to adjust to new situations despite your preconceived notions and previous environment. Lenora is placed in a difficult position, between her old life and an ethical decision that will change everything she’s comfortable with.

I tag @cog-writes, @writerofwriting, @aschenink, @aceraleigh and anyone else who’d love to participate in this!

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I have a question. How would you go about writing/describing a universe/setting that’s not normal? Like how Suzanne Collins did with The Hunger Games or what J.K. Rowling did with Harry Potter. What do you think the most important parts of the universe are the most important/appealing to the reader?

You write it like it’s normal to the characters and give bits of exposition to explain the background. 

Once they sat back downwith their drinks, the food on its way, he leaned back in the leather chairand let his gaze drift to the ceiling, the parallel wooden boards interlacedwith small lights. Gentle murmurs of conversation floated to his ears, topicsof the mundane to the weighted mixing into a steady background lull. The twopeople behind him talked about an assault on a creature nest just north ofthe city, and his friend perked up, the cup of tea halfway to her lips.

“Nobody was hurt, right?” one of them said.

“Yeah, but it delayed train passage for a few hours. Oneof the beasts apparently tunneled under the tracks and they had to make surethe ground above could hold.”

Beyondthe protected city, beyond the country and across the ocean was the the dimensional rift that ravaged the border of theother country, bleeding savage creatures into the land, air, and sea.Manyof the invaders didn’t survive, unable to adapt to the new world, butthroughout history some had spread across the globe, taking territories anduprooting people on animalistic whims.

First part of that example is perfectly “normal” of a scenario, and you can use that “normality” to ground readers for when you explain the “fantasy”. (Only, I’d use actual names instead of “the city” or “other country” to give it a more realistic feel.)

To actually come up with the ideas is an issue of creativity which I am definitely not qualified to teach in any way, but for the actual moments that require explaining the world, here’s How to World-Build Without Boring Your Readers.

For the most appealing parts… well, there’s no answer to that. You don’t write a story about a world, you write a story about a protagonist who happens to show readers that world. The “most appealing” or “important” aspects all depend on what kind of story you want to tell in the first place.

A fantasy romance story would require showing the reader how romance actually works in that world. What are the cultural implications? What are the consequences?

A sci-fi adventure story would require showing the reader new worlds (new to the characters anyway). What’s the climate? Are there aliens?

It’s not about what readers want to see, it’s about what your story needs to be explored. It’s about where the plot takes the characters (or the characters take the plot). Reader “wants” are why we divide books into genres, so there’s no general answer for what everyone wants.

Well, maybe everyone wants a well-developed world that makes enough sense for the story to have happened in the first place. A “good story”, if I dare use such a generic term. But I can’t give specifics for “most important” because it all depends on what you’re trying to write in the first place. 

Good luck with everything!

[silverbird-scrive]

The Great SNOTSB - First Snippet

Hello, Writeblr!

I should probably do an introductory post, but perhaps I’ll do that later. I’ve been dying to share a snipped with you all from my current WIP, Speak Not of the Stymphalian Birds.

@weaver-of-fantasies-and-fables, @lady-redshield-writes, @cog-writes, you are all some of my favorite writeblrs on this site, and I’d love for you to see this. Anyone else who wants to be tagged in future excerpts, please let me know!

EDIT: I made a huge goof and left off the first paragraph. It’s updated now, and should make more sense.

Snippet One

****

Of all of the places on this wretched planet that the Morkuva could have selected to hide, it had to be a desert. Not that Nate could blame them. It was the last place he would have wanted to look. The binary stars that were the center of the Medusa system were white-hot on the back of his neck, despite the light layers of cloth he had wrapped around himself to keep his flesh from blistering under their heat. The ‘Eyes of Medusa’ was what other spacefarers before him had called them, and only now did the name make perfect sense. He was certain no one could survive the vengeful scorch of those twin suns.

He felt sweat trickling down his neck, making him grimace at the grimy clumps of his hair matting to the back of his head. He glanced at his DIAD to try and glean an estimate for how far they’d have left to travel, but when static met his ears, the sound as vicious and empty as the sandy winds whipping around him, he knew they’d be stuck making their rendezvous the old-fashioned way.

The ache in his back from the strap of his carrier pack digging into his skin begged to differ. He grumbled under his breath, cursing the Morkuva for choosing such an asinine location, and adjusted the pack, sighing in relief as the weight transferred from one sore shoulder to the next.

Are you sure you can carry that for the rest of the journey?

Nate chuckled at the familiar voice echoing in his head. He turned around and saw his traveling companion close behind him, his head tilted to the side as if he were analyzing him with a scientific curiosity. “I’ll be fine,” he said, cheeks pulling into a grin masked behind the cloth that was wrapped around his face.

The heat seems to be bothering you. I am not as affected, so I might be better suited—

“No,” he insisted, waving his hand up to halt further arguments. “I’ve worked with the Morkuva before. They aren’t the friendliest people to deal with, and they don’t take kindly to strangers. Besides,” he added, “since you’re the stronger of the two of us, I need you to keep yourself as unburdened as possible, in case we run into danger.” He knew Cygnus would be able to see through the lie if he wanted to, but even though he could sense the nature of his false words, he would never pry into why he said them. It was a sign of respect between them.

If Cygnus were to delve deeper into his thoughts, he would have seen that his fear of the Morkuva was not founded in their distrust of strangers, but the ability of the particular stranger he was traveling with. If the Morkuva figured out that Cygnus was an augment, and a telepathic one at that, the Eribrium crystals he was bringing them would hold little value in comparison. He had been adamant that Cygnus stay on the Nettle when they’d pulled her into orbit, but he was no match for Cyg’s own stubborn logic as he presented a flawless argument about the potential threats of the unmapped portions in the Larujm desert that Nate couldn’t refute.

Cygnus hadn't been wrong to warrant caution. If he was the one insisting upon Nate staying behind, Nate would have used the same rebuttal. Since the DIADs could not get signal in this sector of the planet, there was a significant limit of information they could rely upon to help them navigate the barren dunes. The only thing he recalled from the database on the ship’s computer was that the desert climate in Larujm made up aproximately seventy-three percent of the planet’s ecosystem.

They continued walking through the russet sand, with no visible trace of life, save for the two of them under the Medusan suns. Nate swallowed, trying to relieve the dryness in his throat, and realized with mild annoyance that he would have to take another sip of water soon.

Cygnus, he’d noticed with a pinch of shame, hadn't opened the canteen once.

In fact, as he cast a glance over his shoulder at his quiet companion, he noticed Cygnus looked as though he were meant to belong here, as natural and expected as the rich-colored sands and scorching heat themselves. The cloth of his desert robes, clean from any perspiration, were rippling in a savage dance with the wind, and he walked through the sand with such grace, as if he were gliding upon a surface as smooth as glass.

Nate decided, in a private moment of disbelief, that he would have to retract his earlier theory that no one could survive here. Not that such a feature should startle him anymore. In the time that he’d know him, when had Cygnus ever failed to be full of surprises?

[silverbird-scrive]

Wow, this sounds incredible. I can’t wait to see more of this. All the characters sound interesting and the world sounds horrific in the best of ways. Sign me up ;)

In a world devastated by the soviet supervirus “Dawn”, Jackal is just trying his best to stay alive.  When he wakes up from a bandit raid on the ruins of I-5, survival means teaming up with bloodthirsty mercenary Viktor and explosives expert Nadege to make sure no one’s coming back to finish the job.  Survival is everything, regardless of what it takes.

Magenta’s goal is simple and absolute: revenge.  Having escaped from slavery, she wants nothing more than to make sure her captives get what they deserve.  If this means joining the Cascadian Army and dragging them into a turf war against her traffickers, so be it.  Lives are a price worth paying to enact justice.

Justice means nothing to Onyx.  Left mute from his time as a captive, all he wants is for his insides to match the silence of his screams.  Things are bleak.  Rumors of a cure for Dawn and the violence that follows only makes things bleaker.  Sometimes it seems like the only light left in the world is the one he makes, even if that means burning everything else with it.

Fire is all Oswald wants.  Armies are on the brink of war in the Cascades, bandits turn men into prey, and rumors of a cure are circulating and bringing thousands more souls with it.  Mutated populations, “Biotics”, have started to crawl out of their hovels to seek the for cure themselves.  The apocalypse is severely overrated.  This is the best time to be death itself.

Find more of my SciFi WIP Eosophobia here, and pertinent posts here. 

[silverbird-scrive]

Writers of Tumblr!

Every time you see this post on your dashboard, stop what you’re doing and write one sentence in your current project.

It can be long. It can be short. It can be sad or happy or scary or silly. But write one sentence.

Then you can go back to what you were doing.

[silverbird-scrive]

Wow! Let me just say that this—

“No, he couldn’t have always been like this. He didn’t even know what this was. Just that it didn’t hurt, not like before, even though it should have. Maybe he really was dying. Maybe this was what happened when you drowned.”

—is a fantastic line.

Also I absolutely love the way you wrote Lev, he seems to be such an interesting character with questionable morality and curious motives. Another highlight for me was the way you described Lonnie’s powers. It was equal parts horrifying and intriguing, which is how I’d imagine to feel if my body could do that.

Wonderful excerpt! I can’t wait for more!

Resonant Frequency: Excerpt 6

Every time I post something original, I’m blown away by the response. Again, I want to thank all of you for your kindness. Your feedback and encouragement have lit a creative spark in me. 

Now! I have another Resonant Frequency excerpt for you. Did I ever mention that Orbulon has some…special skills? No? Then how about I let Lev introduce those skills - both to you and Orbulon.

This is a very long excerpt, so make sure you have the time to read!

Tagging those who’ve interacted with/otherwise enjoyed previous excerpts: @aschenink, @taz-writes, @cog-writes, @oheoo, @folatefangirl, @toboldlywrite, @starlitesymphony, @raiswanson, @nonsensicalwritings, @homesteadhorner, @weaver-of-fantasies-and-fables, and @brynwrites.

Small warning for squirmy imagery.

Excerpt One | Excerpt Two | Excerpt Three | Excerpt Four | Excerpt Five | Meet the Eldritch Horror | Chapter One

Without further ado…

“All right, Lonnie!” Salvatore announced. “You next!”

“Oh!” Orbulon tilted his head. “Is that okay?”

“Sure!” said Eloisia. “You haven’t gone for a while.”

That was true. Orbulon liked jumping on the trampoline more than he did landing in the water. And watching just how happy the others were when they surfaced was much better than surfacing himself. Still, Orbulon bounced over to the side of the trampoline, waiting.

“We should head in after this,” said Vittoro. He ran a hand through his hair, an apologetic smile on his face. “I confess I’m very hungry.”

“There’s fish,” Melchiorre said.

Vittoro gave him a kiss on the forehead. “Lovely.”

“Aw. Fine,” said Salvatore. “Mel’s fish is best fish.”

Orbulon and Eloisia exchanged a brief glance. He tried to suppress the image of the knife sinking into bloodied silver flesh.

Then there simply wasn’t time to think about it. On Vittoro’s count, the others leapt up high as they could. They landed all at once – and Orbulon shot off the trampoline. For a moment, he flew backward through empty space, his stomach lurching up into his mouth.

Keep reading

[silverbird-scrive]

So, here’s a thing. I edit, all day. It’s what I do for work. And damn, I’m tired. So when I post sometimes I don’t always catch my own mistakes because I’ve been checking for other people’s all day and only really look for those. I do enjoy watching people take my editing notes and better their writing, the opposite however when people keep making the same mistake though I have worked with them multiple times gets exhausting. I’ll never give up but I will get tired. 

Furthermore, writing the first time around is meant to suck. That’s what it’s there for. Don’t give up on something because you can’t get the wording right. Don’t put something down and never pick it up again because you keep making the same mistake. 

I’m an editor and I will keep working with you. That’s what we do.

So, in conclusion: DON’T GIVE UP BECAUSE YOU MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES. You’ll get better, there’s always draft two, there’s always tomorrow, there’s always an editing phase. Write your little hearts out dammit! 

Make mistakes. Keep writing. The world needs your ideas.

[silverbird-scrive]

Red Worldbuilds: Great Storms

@weaver-of-fantasies-and-fables asked me about this a little while ago, and I’ve been wanting to show off the giant weather monsters for a while now. Tagging a few more folks who might be interested: @cog-writes, @toboldlywrite, @aschenink, @brynwrites. So, without further ado, I present: Great Storms!

In A Nutshell

A Great Storm is a beast which has mild to severe control over some aspect of the weather. This control can range from making gusts of wind to manipulating hurricanes. The creatures themselves range in scale from hawk-sized to skyscraper-sized. Some say the largest ones lurk at the bottom of the sea.

Keep reading

[silverbird-scrive]

This passage from a project that my friend is working on is so good. Please give it a read if you have the time!

Scio and Sunon: First meeting; excerpt from Chapter 1, Deadly Violations

I thought I’d share this! It’s the very first scene that came to my mind, and what inspired me to write this novel! 

For a suspended moment, Ri’sal and her Shorin stared at one another. Those eyes, those eyes were so haunting and lost and yet full of wonder. There was a pull to her that made the warrior wish to sink into her, melt against her warmth, rest until the universe came to an end… It seemed as though the Prophet was about to speak, but Scio did not let her: she dropped to her knees and curved her back until her nose nearly touched cold marble.

“I have sinned,” she proclaimed, studying her own pale reflection and thinking it was a poor substitute for the brightness that had enveloped her when she had glanced at the Seer. “I am unworthy of your presence and your light. Please know that my only interest is that you survive, Ri’sal.”

Keep reading

[silverbird-scrive]

Questions for developing the biology of a new species or race

Something to remember when developing your new species or races: always remember that your unique race/alien race should not distract from the narrative. It is always fun to experience new and different peoples that can be so similar to humanity while being so different. But you don’t want to create a main species that is so utterly alien that it distracts from your narrative. The details of your race should enhance your story, not needlessly complicate it.

So! With that in mind…

Starting from scratch:

What about them says “other”?

How are their environmental conditions reflected in their biology?

What texture/color is their skin or outer layer? Why?

Do they have hair? If so, where and what color(s)? What texture(s)?

How many biological sexes are there? How many genders?

How many cones do their eyes have?

How many limbs do they have? How are they used?

How many fingers/toes do they have? How has this altered their number system?

Were they the only race on their home planet that evolved to “intelligent?”

For further development:

How would it describe its setting?

Do they have physical traits specific to their class or caste?

What traits do others of their species find attractive? Why?

Do they use special tools to enhance or repair damaged/failing physical traits or senses (glasses/contacts, prosthetics, wheelchairs)?

What unifying characteristics set them apart from humans? What do they have in common?

What dietary needs do they have?

Do they use special ornamentation (clothing, jewelry, tattoos) to show rank, occupation, heritage, etc.?

How do they relate to temperature or climate?

Do they have joints or tendons that move in a way that would seem unnatural to humans?

What is their sexual biology like? Is it analogous to ours, or something entirely different?

What recreational activities are healthy/positive for their biology?

How does their body respond to various types of excitement or emotion?

Creative exercises for species/racial development:

If someone were write a wanted poster for a criminal of this race, what features would the notice highlight? Why?

What are (or hypothetically would be) the most popular plastic surgeries among people of this species?

What is their average morning routine? How do their care for themselves, physically, on a daily basis?

Write a short story in which someone of your new species/race attempts to put on a set of human clothes or visa versa. 

What is the most popular sport and how is it played? How do the species’ unique traits play into the game, if at all?

Check out the rest of the Brainstorming Series! Magic Systems, Part One Magic Systems, Part Two New Worlds Cultures Civilizations Map Making Politics and Government Belief Systems & Religion Guilds, Factions, & Groups War & Conflict Science & Technology Wildlife & Ecosystems History & Lore