#Short Fiction Authors

[gildedbearediting]

Short Story Day (Africa)

Celebrating the Day June 21 is a day to celebrate diversity in writing, and authors across Africa. The people who write about what it’s really like in Africa, and speak on the issues faced by the African people. In the past, authors didn’t capture Africa as it was, and it can be hard to shake long-lived stereotypes and old narrow perspectives. I’ve seen it even now as African Social Media…

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

Creating Compelling Character Arcs: A Guide for Fiction Writers

As writers, one of our most important jobs is to craft characters that feel fully realized and three-dimensional. Great characters aren't just names on a page — they're complex beings with arcs that take them on profound journeys of change and growth. A compelling character arc can make the difference between a forgettable story and one that sticks with readers long after they've turned the final page.

Today, I'm going to walk you through the art of crafting character arcs that are as rich and multi-layered as the people you encounter in real life. Whether you're a first-time novelist or a seasoned storyteller, this guide will give you the tools to create character journeys that are equal parts meaningful and unforgettable.

What Is a Character Arc?

Before we go any further, let's make sure we're all on the same page about what a character arc actually is. In the most basic sense, a character arc refers to the internal journey a character undergoes over the course of a story. It's the path they travel, the obstacles they face, and the ways in which their beliefs, mindsets, and core selves evolve through the events of the narrative.

A character arc isn't just about what happens to a character on the outside. Sure, external conflict and plot developments play a major role — but the real meat of a character arc lies in how those external forces shape the character's internal landscape. Do their ideals get shattered? Is their worldview permanently altered? Do they have to confront harsh truths about themselves in order to grow?

The most resonant character arcs dig deep into these universal human experiences of struggle, self-discovery, and change. They mirror the journeys we all go through in our own lives, making characters feel powerfully relatable even in the most imaginative settings.

The Anatomy of an Effective Character Arc

Now that we understand what character arcs are, how do we actually construct one that feels authentic and impactful? Let's break down the key components:

The Inciting Incident

Every great character arc begins with a spark — something that disrupts the status quo of the character's life and sets them on an unexpected path. This inciting incident can take countless forms, be it the death of a loved one, a sudden loss of power or status, an epic betrayal, or a long-held dream finally becoming attainable.

Whatever shape it takes, the inciting incident needs to really shake the character's foundations and push them in a direction they wouldn't have gone otherwise. It opens up new struggles, questions, and internal conflicts that they'll have to grapple with over the course of the story.

Lies They Believe

Tied closely to the inciting incident are the core lies or limiting beliefs that have been holding your character back. Perhaps they've internalized society's body image expectations and believe they're unlovable. Maybe they grew up in poverty and are convinced that they'll never be able to escape that cyclical struggle.

Whatever these lies are, they'll inform how your character reacts and responds to the inciting incident. Their ingrained perceptions about themselves and the world will directly color their choices and emotional journeys — and the more visceral and specific these lies feel, the more compelling opportunities for growth your character will have.

The Struggle

With the stage set by the inciting incident and their deeply-held lies exposed, your character will then have to navigate a profound inner struggle that stems from this setup. This is where the real meat of the character arc takes place as they encounter obstacles, crises of faith, moral dilemmas, and other pivotal moments that start to reshape their core sense of self.

Importantly, this struggle shouldn't be a straight line from Point A to Point B. Just like in real life, people tend to take a messy, non-linear path when it comes to overcoming their limiting mindsets. They'll make progress, backslide into old habits, gain new awareness, then repeat the cycle. Mirroring this meandering but ever-deepening evolution is what makes a character arc feel authentic and relatable.

Moments of Truth

As your character wrestles with their internal demons and existential questions, you'll want to include potent Moments of Truth that shake them to their core. These are the climactic instances where they're forced to finally confront the lies they believe head-on. It could be a painful conversation that shatters their perception of someone they trusted. Or perhaps they realize the fatal flaw in their own logic after hitting a point of no return.

These Moments of Truth pack a visceral punch that catalyzes profound realizations within your character. They're the litmus tests where your protagonist either rises to the occasion and starts radically changing their mindset — or they fail, downing further into delusion or avoiding the insights they need to undergo a full transformation.

The Resolution

After enduring the long, tangled journey of their character arc, your protagonist will ideally arrive at a resolution that feels deeply cathartic and well-earned. This is where all of their struggle pays off and we see them evolve into a fundamentally different version of themselves, leaving their old limiting beliefs behind.

A successfully crafted resolution in a character arc shouldn't just arrive out of nowhere — it should feel completely organic based on everything they've experienced over the course of their thematic journey. We should be able to look back and see how all of the challenges they surmounted ultimately reshaped their perspective and led them to this new awakening. And while not every character needs to find total fulfillment, for an arc to feel truly complete, there needs to be a definitive sense that their internal struggle has reached a meaningful culmination.

Tips for Crafting Resonant Character Arcs

I know that was a lot of ground to cover, so let's recap a few key pointers to keep in mind as you start mapping out your own character's trajectories:

Get Specific With Backstory

To build a robust character arc, a deep understanding of your protagonist's backstory and psychology is indispensable. What childhood wounds do they carry? What belief systems were instilled in them from a young age? The more thoroughly you flesh out their history and inner workings, the more natural their arc will feel.

Strive For Nuance

One of the biggest pitfalls to avoid with character arcs is resorting to oversimplified clichés or unrealistic "redemption" stories. People are endlessly complex — your character's evolution should reflect that intricate messiness and nuance to feel grounded. Embrace moral grays, contradictions, and partial awakenings that upend expectations.

Make the External Match the Internal

While a character arc hinges on interior experiences, it's also crucial that the external plot events actively play a role in driving this inner journey. The inciting incident, the obstacles they face, the climactic Moments of Truth — all of these exterior occurrences should serve as narrative engines that force your character to continually reckon with themselves.

Dig Into Your Own Experiences

Finally, the best way to instill true authenticity into your character arcs is to draw deeply from the personal transformations you've gone through yourself. We all carry with us the scars, growth, and shattered illusions of our real-life arcs — use that raw honesty as fertile soil to birth characters whose journeys will resonate on a soulful level.

Happy Writing!

[duckprintspress]

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH, EVERYONE! We are thrilled to announce our second-annual Pride Bundles for Charity with two all-new short story bundles – 30 stories total! – that we are selling at a discount to raise money for our chosen queer charity!

Last year, our debut Pride bundles raised almost $350 for queer charities. This year, we’re back with a new General Imprint Bundle and a new Explicit Imprint Bundle, each discounted 20% from their list prices (and each including multiple stories that aren’t for sale and are usually only available to our backers on Patreon) and with 20% of the net profit going to Rainbow Railroad.

How This Works

you buy one or both bundles between now and July 8th, 2024.

we tally up all the proceeds earned and do some math-e-magic to figure out how much we’re donating!

before the end of July, we donate the raised money to Rainbow Railroad, we post the proof we’ve done so.

you get fantastic stories!

we all get that happy, glowy feeling of knowing that money has been well-spent on fantastic causes!

About the Press

Duck Prints Press is a queer-owned indie press, founded to publish original works by fancreators. We’ve been in operation for over 3 years, and in that time we’ve worked with well over 150 creators to publish six anthologies and almost 100 other stories, from shorts to novels, and we’ve got more on the works (our next anthology, our first erotica collection, will be crowdfunding within the next month!). The vast majority of our creators and their creations are queer/LGTBQIA+ (maybe even all, but we don’t out anyone and we don’t ask demography because, frankly, it’s none of our business).

25 of our authors have chosen to include their short stories in one or both of these short story bundles, and all our short story authors nominated potential charities and voted to select Rainbow Railroad as the beneficiary for our 2024 Pride Bundles.

About Rainbow Railroad

In countries around the world, LGBTQI+ people face violence and oppression simply because of who they love or who they are. Rainbow Railroad helps them get to safety! Rainbow Railroad is a global not-for-profit organization that helps at-risk LGBTQI+ people get to safety worldwide. Based in the United States and Canada, they’re an organization that helps LGBTQI+ people facing persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics. In a time when there are more displaced people than ever, LGBTQI+ people are uniquely vulnerable due to systemic, state-enabled homophobia and transphobia. These factors either displace them in their own country or prevent them from escaping harm. 

Note: This charity isnot affiliated with the Press, do not know we’re doing this fundraiser, have not endorsed this in anyway and are, as such, utterly uninvolved in this beyond being the beneficiaries of our efforts! Text is from the Rainbow Railroad website.

About the Bundles

We are offering two bundles, one with 18 short stories published under our General Imprint, the other containing 12 stories published under our Explicit Imprint. The shop listings include details about and excerpts from all the stories. Here’s the gist…

Titles in the General Imprint Charity Bundle:

The Princess and the Maze by A. L. Heard

Of Loops and Weaves by Catherine E. Green

Glass Slipper: A Dance by Cedar D. McCafferty-Svec

Songs, Suppers, and Stories by D. V. Morse

Waiting for the Tide to Turn by Genevieve Maxwell

Chinaski’s Dirty Work by J. D. Harlock

Foundations by Johnathan Stern

Seal Island by K. B. Vimes

Into the Wyvern’s Lair by Mikki Madison

Sarisa by N. C. Farrell

Whispers of Atlantis: A Tale of Discovery and Belonging by Neo Scarlett

Be Not Afraid by Nicola Kapron

Awkward and Oblivious by R. L. Houck

Washer Wars: A Laundromat Feud by Samantha M. Piper

The Wayward Timekeeper by Terra P. Waters

if it’s meant to be by Tris Lawrence

Meet C(omm)ute by Violet J. Hayes

Chrysopoeia by Zel Howland

18 stories. 254 pages. 82,462 words of fiction!

Price: $22.50

Approximately 20% of the list price of this bundle will go to Rainbow Railroad.

Titles in the Explicit Imprint Charity Bundle:

Brambles, Pollen, and Other Natural Disasters by A. L. Heard

A night such as this by April Steenburgh

Theirs All Along by boneturtle

Orchidelirium by Dei Walker

Old Kings and New by Lyonel Loy

Weather the Storm by Lyn Weaver

Pretty 7 Days a Week by R. L. Houck

Adventures of the Scarlet Sentry: After Dark by Samantha M. Piper

Worlds Apart (but Still Close) by Sanne Burg

Taken at Sea by Shea Sullivan

Warm Anything You Want by Tris Lawrence

LA Photographs Itself by YF Ollwell

12 stories. 198 pages. 69,550 words.

Price: $21.50

Approximately 20% of the list price of this bundle will go to Rainbow Railroad.

Come get some great stories, support a queer-owned business this Pride, and benefit two fantastic causes. Win-win-win situations don’t get much better than this!

These bundles will only be available for one month, so don’t miss out. Visit our webstore between now and July 8th and get yours!

[subjective-raven]

Hey everybody! I wrote a book! It comes out on September 17th 2024.

It’s a magical realism thriller anthology of four short stories and five poems! Each stand alone short story is set in a different season. Each story says something different about the human condition.

In “Dottie’s Final Day,” a reaper comes to Dottie Lyre in her garden. What does an elderly mother choose to do on her last day alive?

“The Door,” appears suddenly and disappears just as fast. What’s on the other side? Why won’t the door sit still? Jane’s going to find out.

Please share this with anyone you think might be interested! You can preorder the e-book on Amazon now for .99c and the paperback will be available SEPTEMBER 17th for $10.99! The price will go up a few dollars September 28th but I’ll also be getting a larger percentage of the sale.

I’ve been writing my entire life and this is my first published book so pleaseeee if you are reading this, this book is for anyone middle school to grave. It’s only like 142 pages and the cover is really pretty if you would rather just have a pretty trophy and leave me a review on Amazon like you read it and it was awesome then I also love you.

[bellesdreamyprofile]

cowboy feels with elvis and y/n 

“Are you my yittle honeybee?”, Elvis tickled his daughter’s tummy on the changing table. The little girl let out a delighted squeal at the feeling of her daddy’s fingers on her little tummy. A big smile framed her little face as her hands reached out for Elvis.

“I know, babygirl, daddy knows.”, he cooed, gently picking her up. “Daddy’s bestest girl. After your mama, of course.”, they walked out her nursery and then made their appearance known to their guests.

“This yittle baby is finally up.”, Elvis said in a happy tone - your daughter waved her little hand at the Mafia members. The men laughed at her little gesture and waved back, earning more squeals from the little girl.

“Jerry, I ain’t seeing my wife in here.”, Elvis said, looking around the room. The wives of the Mafia were in their own area minding their own business — everyone but the wife of the King.

“You know where she is E.P.”, Jerry said and Elvis shook her head with a small smile. The little girl in his arms almost sensed who her daddy was looking for as she also started looking around wide-eyed.

“Even on a Monday morning.”, he muttered and found his baby girl’s jacket as the air was a little too cool for her. A little bucket hat was placed on top of her little head, making her delightfully touch it. Elvis smiled at her little movements and picked her up again. “Let’s go find mama.”

Walking out of the house with his baby girl was almost a routine for him. He didn’t remember the last time he spend a morning in bed with his wife, cuddling her warm body. She took off before dawn and spent most of the early morning at the stables, feeding all four horses and brushing each of their soft manes. Y/N was an early bird by nature - she thought that sleeping longer than she needed to was a waste of her time as there were so many things that needed to be done. That was what she claimed anyways. Elvis preferred slow mornings - waking up towards eleven and finding his baby girl in the nursery, who was luckily a heavy sleeper like her daddy. An abundant breakfast would follow, accompanied by a large, black coffee and some baby talk.

He tried waking up earlier and she tried sleeping in, but that only seemed to disrupt their baby’s schedule. And they weren’t in the best moods either. The best possible solution seemed to adapt to each other’s morning as well as they could. Slowly but surely, they found their pace.

“Mama!”, the little girl wiggled in Elvis´ arms, making him yelp in surprise.

“Hold up, baby girl.”, he adjusted her on his forearm and moved closer to the fence dividing them from the horses and her mama. Y/N appeared almost instantly as her name was called.

“Mama horse.”, the baby tried to reach out to her with her little hands. Y/N hopped off the horse and walked with it to the fence, closer to her little face. A smile framed her face at the sight of her husband’s bed hair and their little girl in his arms.

“Hi.”, she muttered with another smile and once she was close enough to him, placed a kiss on his lips.

“Missed you in bed.”, Elvis muttered against her lips. The little baby fisted his thick, brown jacket, almost asking for his undivided attention.

“You always say that.”, she noted with a small smile. “She woke you up, didn’t she?”

“Daddy don’t mind his little baby. Right, my little bee?”, Elvis blew a raspberry on the little baby’s cheek, the little girl squealing in delight. Y/N looked at the two with a growing smile on her face.

“Let me close up the stables and I’ll be right there, okay?”, she smiled at the two and patted the horse.

“Say oki doki mama.”, Elvis grabbed little honeybee´s hand and waved it at her. “She said she’ll be back, honey. Ain’t no need to get all fussy.”, the little girl whined at the sight of her mama leaving.

Elvis jumped a little and there was his little happy baby again, squealing in delight at her daddy’s silly actions. Moments later the lady of the hour came up to the two, one of Elvis´ cowboy hats on top of her head. Her husband let out a low whistle.

“Alright mama, so this is what’s going on when I’m sleepin´ in, huh?”, his teasing tone made her chuckle, though the way his blue eyes moved up and down her figure, made her flustered. 

“Aw, shut it.”, she said gently and grasped the cowboy hat, placing it on top of his head.

“Oh.”, their little baby said, making the two parents laugh.

“Mama is so silly, ain’t she baby?”, the little honeybee squealed and waved her minuscule arms around, almost wanting to grasp the cowboy hat herself.

“Let’s go cowboy.”

A/N: cutie pie chapter - I love dad elvis so much ; if you got any requests, feel free to write them down!

MASTERLIST

[writing-with-sophia]

Writing a novel: Step by step

Most writers aspire to publish at least one book in their lifetime, but writing a novel is not easy. From new writers to experienced writers who have published hundreds of books, everyone must follow a step-by-step process to create their work. These steps are based on the wisdom of famous writers, so while they may not be entirely definitive, they will certainly be helpful to you.

Step 1: Generate ideas

Start by generating ideas for your novel. This can involve brainstorming, keeping a journal of potential story concepts, or drawing inspiration from real-life experiences, books, movies, or current events.

Once you get an idea, hone it.

Step 2: Create characters

A novel cannot be successful without unique and charming characters. Create compelling and well-rounded characters for your novel. Develop their backgrounds, motivations, personalities, and relationships. Consider their strengths, flaws, and how they will evolve throughout the story.

Remember, the more realistic the characters, the better the novel will be.

Step 3: Build setting

Establish the setting or world in which your novel takes place. Whether it's a real location or a fictional world, provide enough descriptive details to immerse readers and make the setting feel vivid and believable.

Step 4: Define plot and make an outline

What is your story about? How will it unfold? How does it begin, develop, and conclude? What and how many scenes will be included? Make an depth and very depth outline, even going so far as to outline every chapter.

Step 5: Write

Begin writing your first draft. Don't worry about perfection; the goal is to get the story down on paper. Embrace the creative process and let the ideas flow. Please remember, don't go back and make changes. Just write!

Step 6: Revise and edit

Once the first draft is complete, take a break (for 3 days) before revising and editing. (This will keep you from overediting or not editing enough.) Then, read through your manuscript with a critical eye, focusing on plot holes, inconsistencies, pacing, character development, and overall storytelling. Revise and rewrite sections as needed.

Step 7: Get beta readers

(You must) seek feedback from trusted individuals, such as beta readers, writing critique groups or your friends. Their input can provide valuable perspectives on areas that may need improvement. Consider their suggestions while maintaining your unique voice and vision for the story.

Step 8: Polish and refine

Polish and refine your novel based on the feedback received. Pay attention to sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, and overall prose. Ensure clarity and coherence in your writing.

Step 9: Publish

You can research different publishing options, such as traditional publishing or self-publishing. Remember to evaluate the pros and cons of each approach and decide which is the best fit for your goals and circumstances.

That's all. I hope you success in publishing your novel!!

If you want to read more posts about writing, please click here and give me a follow!

[celestemagnoliathewriter]

Writer Goal Ask List for a New Year 🎉

These writer asks are always so fun to both ask and answer. Fanfic or original fiction writers, reblog away! These are asks based in new goals for a new year.

💖 What is your primary writing goal for this year?

🛳 Are there any new ships you want to write for? (Platonic, romantic, or anything in between.)

🤔 Are there any new characters you want to write about?

🥸 Does anyone in IRL know you write fanfic or original fiction? If not, do you plan on telling anyone this year?

🥵 Any plans to write steamy or spicy content this year?

👻 Is there a new genre you'd like to write?

🦄 Is there a new POV you'd like to try writing?

🐌 What is one of your smallest writing goals?

🦖 Are there any fandoms you wrote for in the past that you'd like to return to?

🍄 Are there any fandoms you've never written for but want to try?

🌈 What research do you plan on doing for your writing?

✨What's one area of your writing that you think needs the least amount of improvement?

🥕 What's one area of your writing that you think needs the most amount of improvement?

🫘 Spill the beans. What's a new project you're doing this year?

🥳 How are you going to celebrate when you achieve one of your writing goals?

🎃 Do you plan on writing any seasonal fics?

🐾 Do you plan on writing for any fests or competitions?

✍️ Which stat matters most to you (if at all!): subscriptions, kudos/favorites, comments, bookmarks, word count, or hits?

👾 Do you have any "bad" writing habits you want to break?

🤖 Are you looking to change your current writing setup? (Or establish one, if you don't have one?)

🦷 Is there a chapter, scene, or WIP you're dreading to write (but is necessary to your plot)? Share a snippet or tell us about it!

💥Is there a chapter, scene, or WIP you're most excited to write? Share a snippet or tell us about it!

🍕Will you be making any changes to your posting schedule (if you have one)? (Or do you want to establish a posting schedule?)

🛏 Is there a new trope you'd like to write this year?

🪩 Do you have any "good" writing habits you want to cultivate?

🎉 How are you going to be kind to yourself if you don't meet your goals?

💌 Are you willing to take requests or prompts for writing?

[beedokwrites]

New Story Release!

One friend got a manga style gender-flu.

The other is trans and on HRT.

They're both surprised.

Available on Amazon and Itch.

[rehnwriter]

Hey there, everyone! Currently working on polishing up many of my older stories to publish them as an anthology.

The theme of the collection will be 'real-life' horror, so the focus this time isn't on the supernatural, but the dark underbelly of society.

Right now, I'm working on polishing up 23 of my stories for publication. I might publish some of the edited versions on here within the next couple of days as I'm working my way through them.

Right now, I'm not planning on adding exclusive stories, but this might change depending on how long the work takes.

This is only the first of five collections I plan on releasing in the future, all with their own overarching theme. Only two have enough material right now, so I'm going to focus on them so far.

Altogether, the themes are:

Real Life Horror

Weird Fiction

Ghots and Monsters

Childhood Scares

Lovecraftian

[girl-and-her-cat]

Chapter One: Extended Contracts

The probe was dead.

I knew it the moment I lay eyes on the thing. And no, it wasn’t because of the layer of icy crust surrounding the shaft nor did it have anything to do with user error. I knew it the moment they told me what the issue was. The probe had been running non-stop for four months in a freezing cold vacuum. AKA; space. And they were using a standard run-of-the-mill type-13. No way could that handle a four month operating time with no breaks.

Dumbasses.

The two techs that had brought me out here were arguing through their helmets on the main channel; I could hear everything from the saliva smacking against their lips to their stuffed up noses they wouldn’t stop snorting through as if that would help them breathe any better.

Just use a goddamn tissue.

“What’s the application?” I asked again. I knew what it was, I just wanted them to stop barking at each other. The techs got nervous when I came up here. At first I thought it was because my job was to report back to HQ and let them know if the tech’s were doing their jobs; RJ told me it’s because I’m a woman.

One tech, the one that only had one front tooth and was clearly the follower of the other guy responded after snorting mucus down his throat. “Temp and pressure of the atmosphere surrounding the pipes. Gotta know how much they can handle before being blown to shit.”

He looked at his bro for approval and smirked at me after receiving a nod.

“Can you tell us what the problem is so we can get back down? Boss don’t like us being up here too long wasting oxygen.” Leader boy said this nonchalantly but I knew who his boss was and also knew that a guy had been fired last week for using more than the mediated level of oxygen for a site run like this one. Found out he had brought his girl up for some “sight seeing”.

Fucking idiot.

“It’s dead. You’ll need to get a new one. A Type- 15 to be exact if you want it to run longer than 4 months out here.”

Read More Here

[bacchanal-if]

November's Short Story: A Heart Without Herald (Rabbit)

Wordcount: 1,293

As twilight settles over the Thames, Rabbit finds themself drawn into the quiet beauty of the world—seeing in its gentle mysteries a reflection of their own heart.

To sign up for the Courtly Charmer tier and access the story, please do so here! This will be the last month to view all of the works on Patreon before I pause subscriptions in order to focus on getting Chapter 2 finished.

[infosphere]

Gotham's Redemption - Audiobook - Fan Fiction - A Batman story

Synopsis: Gotham City teeters on the edge as a new vigilante, known as The Redeemer, emerges, targeting corrupt officials under the guise of justice. When Mayor Hamilton's dark secrets are exposed, Batman is thrust into a tense battle against a foe whose ideals mirror his own, yet whose methods cross dangerous lines. With the help of his allies, Batman uncovers The Redeemer's true identity and motives. As they work to dismantle the corruption in Gotham, Batman must also guide The Redeemer towards redemption, proving that true justice can be achieved without crossing moral boundaries. In a city shadowed by darkness, hope and redemption rise once more.

[morallysuperiorlips]

3 Traits That'll Make Your Villain as Cunty as Possible!

A sense of style goes a long way: I think a big part of "slaying the house down boots" is having a sense of style that beats down every pissy protag at the bar. Your villain walks into a room in something fresh off the runway, and they know they’re serving. They might have a signature “piece” that they’re known for, too.

They know and acknowledge their weakness: Might be a personal preference, but there’s something about a villain that knows what could be their downfall and they’re just like, “Yeah. And?” Not only does this give them a level of unbreakable, absolute slay energy, but it kind of makes them pretty scary! Like, "I know if you killed my cat it would break me, but try me. See how that works out for you, bestie."

Obstacles don’t phase them: Yeah, your protagonist might be able to get a leg up on them somehow, but having a villain see that and just go “Oh. Okay.” and COMPLETELY pivot without the slightest sense that they’re unnerved or angry is SUCH a serve. It’s like, “Yeah okay, you might have one-upped me but if you think this is gonna change anything, you have another thing coming,” and then next thing your protag knows, villain is back better than ever. That's a cunty villain.

As always, go fucking write something <3

[the-ellia-west]

Raavas 1/3 - Feathered Sword

Enjoy! (Hopefully)

-------------------------------------------------

"With all due respect, you aren't getting any younger, sir."

"Ha!" Evellias touched a grey streak in his beard at the thought. "I suppose you're right. But I'm not dead yet!"

"If you're reckless, you could be by the end of the year."

"I'm reckless?"

"Not at the moment, but you could be if you start thinking you're invincible."

"I won't. Besides, I know my way around a sword Aery. Don't worry so much."

"It is my job to worry, sir." The guard put his hands behind his back. "You're the only protector we've got. This kingdom can't afford to lose you."

"Can't afford to lose my sword, you mean." Evellias raised an eyebrow, "You know just as well as I that the only reason they haven't taken it from me is because I'm the only one who can use it."

Aery started to speak, stopped, and continued. "You have protection nonetheless, sir."

"Well then, I may just have to use you for some other purpose, hm? How do you feel about errands, Aery?"

"No."

Evellias laughed, but a faint cry stopped both men in their tracks.

"Did you hear that, sir?"

"I did." The soldier reached for his sword. "What was that?"

"It sounded almost like a child." Aery knelt by the reeds. "It came from here."

"Almost bird-like." Evellias nodded. But just as he started to help, a strange feeling tugged in his chest. Almost like fuzzy strings wrapped around his heart, pulling him toward the water of the creek. The swordsman followed the pull but stopped as a faint glow caught his eye, pulsing faintly beneath the murky water. The warrior squinted at the cool light and slowly edged toward it. But as water soaked through the toe of his boot, the sigil carved into the center of the cross guards on his own sword burst into a light of its own.

A Protector's sword. But it couldn't be lit on its own.

The swordsman glanced around, steeled his resolve, and plunged into the water. He dropped under, reaching for the light. The tip of his finger brushed a hard object, and he fumbled with the metal for a moment before getting a grip on the hilt. Evellias pulled at the sword. It wouldn't budge.

The warrior pulled harder, bracing himself against a rock. And as he pushed himself to the last of his strength, the sword finally sprung free of the mud. Evellias flipped his hair back out of his face, brushing off the sword.

"Sir!" Aery stopped, catching sight of his boss standing in the middle of a creek. "What- Uh, never mind. Sir, you may want to come take a look at this."

"What?" The warrior hooked the sword to his belt beside his own and trotted over to Aery, the sword's light blazing brighter as he did so.

"It's a child, sir. A Harpy hatchling, to be precise."

"Why is it here?" Evellias frowned as the small bundle sniffled softly before continuing its tiny chirping cries.

"I'm not sure. But the nest looked like it had been abandoned." A pause stretched between the two. "We should kill it."

Evellias frowned and glanced at the sword. "No."

"What? Sir, we have to. If we let it loose in town, it could attack someone!"

"It's a baby. It doesn't know how to."

"Then we need to get rid of it before it learns."

"Aery," Evellias drew the sword. "It's a protector."

"What?" Aery stopped, staring at the glowing steel and back at the child. The guard pushed a lock of hair out of its face. "I... I suppose... Harpies are sentient..."

"Yes! It can learn!"

Another long pause stretched the air thin before Aery spoke again. "He. He can learn." The guard's eyes softened. "What will you do, sir?"

"I'll take him with us. I'll raise him, train him. This sword is meant for him. We'll make him a guard, the protector he's meant to be."

***

"What is rule number one?"

"Only eat what I'm supposed to."

"Rule number two?"

"Keep the sword safe, and make sure I always know where it is."

"Number three?"

"If something goes wrong, hide and wait for you."

Evellias ruffled the young Harpy's hair. "Good job!"

Raavas wrapped his wings around himself as a soft cooing chirp escaped his lips at the praise. "Thanks, Papa!"

"You're very welcome." The swordsman scooped the little boy into his arms.

"Can we go outside? Please?"

"Alright. Do you have your sword?"

The Harpy nodded, touching the little toy sword in its sheath resting beneath his wing. "Yes, Papa!"

"Okay, then we can go."

"Yay!" The little boy's fluffy white wings fluttered excitedly as Evellias took him to the front of the building.

Minutes passed of the little boy playing about in the grass before a familiar shape passed by the gate. Raavas gasped and leaped to his feet.

The man dismounted his horse and knelt. The little Harpy flung his arms around him. "Raavas! How are you doing?"

"Good!"

"Aery. Welcome back. Have you found anything?"

"Unfortunately, not. But we need to talk. Things have gotten complicated."

"What's the news?"

Aery glanced at the young Harpy. "It's a message from the king. Anyway, have you been behaving?"

"Yes! Did you bring presents?" The little boy grinned.

"Ha! Sorry to say, little one, not this time."

Raavas' smile faded a little. "Okay."

"I need to talk to Aery, okay? Can I leave you here for a little bit, Raav? Is that okay?"

"Papa?" Raavas squirmed, and Aery put him down.

"Yes?"

"Can I go get a snack?"

"Not right now, maybe soon, okay?"

"Okay."

The two adults retreated inside the building to converse, and Evellias called for a servant to watch the little Harpy.

They spoke and shared information on the new situations and the adaptations they'd have to make for a while. But just after they'd finished speaking, a servant burst into the room.

"Sir! Master Evellias! The young master has gone missing! We looked for him in the garden and all about the house, but he's gone. We can't find him!"

"What?" Evellias leaped to his feet. "Shit. Aery, find some sort of clues. You, follow him."

After a short moment to process, all three figures raced off to their respective orders. Evellias tossed the corner of his carpet away from the bed and pried up the loose floorboard, drawing out the magnificent silver sword.

It's light cast dimly upon the floor, he rushed back to the ground floor and nearly ran into Aery. "What did you find?"

"He's inside. We found trails of dirt in the hallways, and one of the servants heard him say something about food before he dissapeared."

"He did mention wanting something before we went to talk. We should go to the kitchen. See if he's somewhere in there."

"Agreed." Aery nodded, and the two warriors followed the hallways to the kitchen, but after searching it, found nothing.

Evellias drew the sword and held it out. The light glowed at the light levels of a candle. He backed toward the door, but as he did so, the light faded. "He's here."

"But that's impossible, sir. We checked everywhere."

"Apparently not." Evellias trailed around the room and stopped in front of a wall. "Here is brightest."

"But- wait. Unless..." Aery passed Evellias and pulled open the cellar door.

"No, that's not possible, how..." Evellias looked down at the sword. He stepped hesitantly onto the steps, the light growing stronger. But as the two swordsmen followed the stairs, a faint noise stopped them in their tracks.

A soft sniffling cry somewhere between a sob and a bird trill. Aery glanced at Evellias, and the swordsman dropped the weapon, rushing down the stairs. "Raavas? Raavas, is that you? Answer me. Are you okay?"

Instead of an answer, the sobbing continued. "Aery, grab a torch. Now."

"Yessir!"

Evellias stepped cautiously into the darkness, little hiccups interrupted the sobs as a small voice gasped from the darkness. "Papa... I... I'm sorry... I didn't... I didn't mean..."

"Raavas!" Evellias sighed in relief, but froze as the words finally sunk in and the child returned to sobbing just as Aery brought the torch.

But both of the swordsmen froze in their tracks as the light fell over the child. Blood. Panic surged through Evellias, but he stopped as he caught sight of the small shapes beside him. Crimson soaked the Harpy's hands and face and he flinched. "Papa... I'm sorry..."

"Raavas. What's there to be sorry about?" Evellias hid his fear as he sat beside the little boy and cradled him in his arms as Aery knelt to examine the shapes and the blood.

"I... I... I broke... I broke the rules! Don't... don't be mad... Papa. P-please."

"What do you mean?"

"Rats." Aery looked up. "Desecrated..."

"I was hungry, Papa." Raavas hugged Evellias. "I... they're quiet. I didn't want to hurt them... I..." He broke down sobbing again, and Evellias hugged him close again.

"It's okay, Raavas. It's okay. Everything's going to be okay. It'll be the same as it always is." But as he and Aery locked eyes, they both knew that would be a lie.

Nothing would ever be the same.

Thanks for reading! Please comment anything if you read it! Anything at all!

Part 1 (Here) | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 3.5

@i-do-anything-but-write @friendlesscat @darkandstormydolls @artsandstoriesandstuff @rivenantiqnerd

@urnumber1star @bloodmoonloveletter @sunglasses-in-the-bentley @stars-forever @corinneglass

@supercimi @phoenixradiant @whoevenknowswhatimwriting @blue-kyber @aalinaaaaaa

@lunaeuphternal @chaoticcandle @sunflowerrosy @n1ghtcrwler @ghostlyboysstories

@floweryprosegarden @thisisntrocket @bluektw @nkikio @i-hate-happy-endings

@confused-romantic @vyuntspakhkite-l-darling @starslide @ramwritblr @homelessnerdwrites

@thecoolerlucky @bread-roses-and-chrome @thepeculiarbird @roleplay-fanatic @bbatcat

@thelazywitchphotographer @ryahisbored @pastellbg @agirlandherquill

@taleweaver-ramblings @bigwipscholar @fantastictrashpolice @cowboylikericky

@cosmolumine @caffeinated-and-annoying-bard @cherrychiplip @theliteraryarchitect @the-letterbox-archives

Thank you for reading! <333

[bellesdreamyprofile]

sad days with y/n - 1970´s elvis

You've never experienced long-term happiness before. You've had great days that even turned into happy, delightful weeks - which you were thankful for as you were finally able to spend your energy on the people you loved. But when those happy days turned into sudden pits of endless sorrow, you felt guilty and as powerless as ever.

Why did you feel like this? You thought of a necklace and the love of your life bought it for you without batting an eye. Business class, shoes, hair, makeup and even an entire room with every book that your little heart desired.

Why did you feel like this?

You sighed as you gazed out of the large window, shiny Las Vegas lights blinked every now and then. People's chatter mixed with loud thoughts running in your head. You couldn't even concentrate on what the wives were saying, let alone at the grand entrance Elvis made in the room after another one of his magnificent shows.

"—and Joe kept complaining at the pair of shoes I bought the week before we departed for Vegas.", Joanie tapped her cigarette on the ashtray. Patty nodded in understanding and lit up her own cigarette.

"Red's been the same.", she rolled her eyes. "Like I haven't given him a son just months ago. That's the excuse I like to use anyways."

The chit chat went on for another hot minute and you couldn't help but sigh.

"How about you y/n? You and Elvis thinking of having a couple?", you blinked at Joanie's words.

"Sorry?"

"I meant if you were thinking of having kids.", if it weren't for your pitiful mood you would've blushed.

"We never talked about it, no.", you shook your head. "Now that he's started performing again a-and with the tours... I wouldn't wanna do it on my own.", you gave a brief explanation. Joanie and Pat exchanged a look, making you frown a little.

"You really think that Elvis would take some time off to stay with you?", she asked with irony laced in her voice.

Your lips parted. "When the baby comes, yes. I'm not expecting him to be 24/7 with me all throughout my pregnancy.", you said honestly.

"Oh, honey.", Patty shook her head and took a sip of her drink. "A man like Elvis Presley would never leave the luxury of a Vegas hotel and the love of thousands of fans for — don't take it personally — for a baby."

At this point your night couldn't take a worse turn. You hadn't been feeling your best and now they were trying to convince you not to have a baby with Elvis. Like the baby would've been neglected by a man like him. It secretly made you wonder if your dreams of Elvis being a wonderful and caring father would ever come true.

"You're telling me that Red didn't take some time off to be with you and your baby?", you raised an eyebrow.

"Honey, he's Elvis' bodyguard. In no universe would he have been by my side.", she said, nodding. Her eyes wandering outside as if she was reliving every single thing she went through. "Giving birth alone, taking care of the baby alone, feeding the baby alone... It's a lonely life."

"For the wife of the Mafia.", Joe added in. "But for the wife of the King..."

"It's even lonelier.", Patty finished off and sighed, her now finished cigarette on the ashtray. "Shame you don't smoke y/n, it's a great stress reliever.", she stood up and dusted off her skirt. "I'll back in a sec.", she exchanged a knowing look with Joanie, who reluctantly stood up. They knew what happened if they left the King's wife all by her lonesome. But they had already screwed up the moment they started talking.

"Yeah, I'll go grab another drink.", Joe offered you a tightlipped smile. "You want anything, y/n?", you shook your head and gazed outside the large window once again. You sighed and gulped as you felt salty tears form in your eyes. You let out a few shaky breaths and then decided to stand up and leave the party. Grabbing your purse and wiping the fallen tears away, a voice interrupted your actions.

"Hey honey.", it was him. It almost made you want to burst out in tears. You turned around and automatically smiled at the pretty face looking back at you.

"Hey my love.", you placed a hand on his cheek and tenderly kissed his lips. "Great show, like always.", you complimented, offering the best smile you could muster. But it seemed like he had already caught up on the glistening tears in your eyes.

"Thank you baby.", he said lowly and placed another kiss on your lips. Elvis gently took hold of your hand. "Let's go somewhere quieter for a moment, yes?", you simply nodded, not understanding why he would leave his own party. Jerry was quick to approach him, but Elvis waved him off.

"I'll come back later.", he justified and led you both in another room. "Go sit on that couch, honey.", you followed his words and sat down on the couch facing the large Vegas window. You sighed once again and that's when you realized he was going to confront you as to why you weren't as socially active as every other wife was.

Or perhaps he was going to compare you to the other girlfriends he had-

"What's the matter with you, lovie?", his finger gently moved your chin in his direction. You sighed, not being able to meet those baby blues. "Mhm? Honey?", another shaky sigh escaped your pink lips.

"C'mon baby, deep breaths for me.", Elvis grasped your hand and squeezed it — that was when everything started crumbling.

"It's been— It's been so hard lately, Elvis.", tears were now rolling down your cheeks as the built up tension was suddenly released. His hand was no longer on yours as your body was now engulfed by his own. How could you have doubted this man?

"I feel— I feel so fucking sad all the time I-I don't know what to do.", you confessed through your sobs. Though Elvis chose to remain silent and let you continue. "Then the girls said— The girls said that if we had a baby... You would leave me to care for it on my own.", that was when your gaze met his. "I can't raise a baby without you, Elvis. I can't.", you buried your face in his chest, desperately seeking for his familiar warmth.

Elvis' hand rubbed up and down your back, bringing you impossibly closer to him. His thoughts brought him reminders of the couple of days where he wasn't able to check up on you as he usually would. He was aware he was your comfort person and yet he chose to prioritize his career over your wellbeing. Elvis knew you would never resent him for that — you were his very own cheerleader. Yet he couldn't help but feel like he let you down — to the point of little, glistening tears rolling down your usual rosy cheeks.

And those women letting you believe he wouldn't be there for you when your little bundle of joy would eventually come along? They were going to pay. But there was a warm, fuzzy feeling in his tummy at the mention of you two having a yittle baby of your own. A little baby that would be the perfect mix of you and him. Those women were able to turn something so beautiful into something so fearful to you.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, Satnin.", his finger grazed your teary cheeks. "With the new tour and the death threats— I just wanted to keep ya safe—"

You jolted up, giving him a confused look. "Death threats? Elvis!", but his eyes remained in yours, now proud you were finally able to look at him.

"You're telling me you would've been able to handle that information, baby?", Elvis raised an eyebrow and you lowly huffed, muttering a little "no".

"But still. You should've told me. I could've helped.", you justified and wiped a tear away. Elvis still gave you that look.

"Yeah because little miss over here was also open enough to tell me what's going on in her pretty head.", he tapped your temple, making you look down. "Little one, look at me.", another finger brought your chin up once again. "You need to understand that your emotions are in no way too much or not enough to tell me. You'll feel so much better afterwards, don't you?", you nodded and sighed, realizing that all of this could've been avoided with an honest conversation.

"I love you.", Elvis said firmly. "And it hurts seeing my best girl like this.", he placed a tender kiss on your lips, your eyes fluttering shut at his action. "Promise me you'll tell me everything from now on?", he showed you his pinky, making a small grin appear on your lips.

"You're silly.", you said in a light tone, but your words made his heart soar and his lips smile the biggest smile.

"Only for you, honey.", Elvis hooked your pinky with his and brought them closer to his lips, placing a small kiss on top. He suddenly furrowed, remembering a topic he forgot to mention to you. "Y/N?"

You looked his way and softly hummed.

"You do know that those bitches know nothing about you and I, right?"

You complained at the choice of words. "Elvis—"

"When the time comes for us to have a mini us...", he trailed off, mindlessly playing with the rings around your fingers. You fought back a small smile at his anxiety-led actions. "I would take off all the time we need. There ain't no way you're raising our child on your own, honey.", his eyes searched for yours and his honesty touched your heart.

It should be a given for a parent to take care of their child — but with Elvis and the world he has created for his fans, family and friends, it was a little more challenging. That's why you appreciated his words. Though only time will tell.

"Thank you, baby.", you said, letting your finger wander on his jaw. You placed your lips on his and then pulled away, feeling your heart as light as a feather. "I don't know what I would've done without you.", you confessed and he pouted.

"What would I do without you, honey?"

MASTERLIST

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

Unlock the Secrets of Writing Realistic Fiction: Research Strategies for Authors

Understanding the Basics of Writing Realistic Fiction

Understanding the basics of writing realistic fiction is a key part of becoming a successful author. Realistic fiction is a genre of writing that strives to recreate the everyday realities of life as accurately and realistically as possible. It's often based on true-to-life characters and settings, and requires authors to draw on their own experiences and observations in order to create believable stories. To ensure that your writing is as realistic as possible, it is important to familiarize yourself with the genre, understand its core elements, and explore research strategies that can help you create realistic stories.

The Benefits of Writing Realistic Fiction

Writing realistic fiction has a number of benefits for authors, including the ability to draw on the real world for inspiration. Realistic fiction allows authors to create stories that are rooted in reality, allowing them to capture the nuances of everyday life and explore complex themes and issues. Writing realistic fiction also allows authors to create characters that are well-rounded and believable, allowing readers to connect with them on an emotional level. Additionally, by writing in the genre, authors can help create a sense of empathy and understanding between readers and the characters they are reading about. With these benefits in mind, it's clear why writing realistic fiction can be so rewarding and satisfying for authors—and why it's worth taking the time to research and plan your story before you begin writing.

Research Strategies for Writing Realistic Fiction

Research is an important part of writing realistic fiction. It helps to ensure that your story is based in reality and believable to readers. In order to write realistic fiction, authors should use research strategies that will help them to create an accurate and believable story.

When researching for your story, it is important to look for accurate information. This means researching in reliable sources such as libraries, historical societies, and government websites. Additionally, authors should make sure to take notes or keep track of the information they have gathered.

Another important research strategy is to talk to people who have experienced the topic you are writing about. This could include interviewing people, reading memoirs, and observing people in their natural environment. This will help you to create more realistic characters and scenes in your story.

Finally, it is important to keep track of all of your research and use it to inform your writing. Make sure to review your research notes regularly to ensure accuracy and credibility. Additionally, make sure to review your story with a critical eye to make sure that all of the details are true-to-life and believable.

By using these research strategies, authors can create realistic and believable stories that will captivate their readers.

Identifying the Core Elements of Realistic Fiction

Realistic fiction is a type of story that is based on real-life experiences and events. To write a convincing and believable story, authors must identify the core elements of realistic fiction. The most important of these elements are believable characters, a setting that is realistic and plausible, a plot that is believable and engaging, and writing that is vivid and evocative. Identifying and understanding these elements are essential to creating an authentic and believable story. When beginning to write a realistic fiction piece, the author must first decide which elements to focus on. Once these core elements have been identified, the author can begin to develop a story that is both believable and compelling. Researching and gathering information about the elements of realistic fiction will help the author create a story that is well-crafted and engaging.

Structuring Your Writing for Realistic Fiction

Structuring your writing for realistic fiction is an essential part of the creative process. It's important to plan out how you will structure your story before you begin writing. This can help ensure that your story has a logical flow and is consistent throughout. When structuring your writing, you should consider the overall plot arc, subplots, and the pacing of the story. You should also consider how the characters will interact with each other and the overall setting. By considering all of these aspects, you can ensure that your story is structured in a way that will pull readers in and keep them engaged throughout the story.

Crafting True-to-Life Characters

Creating believable characters is an essential part of writing realistic fiction. While it may be tempting to rely on stereotypes or stock characters, it’s important to remember that readers will be looking for characters with realistic motivations, flaws, and personalities. To craft true-to-life characters, authors should start by researching common character traits in their genre. It’s also important to create characters with unique features and backgrounds that will be relatable to readers. Additionally, authors should use research to create characters that are believable within the context of their story’s setting. Finally, it’s important to use research to ensure that characters’ actions and conversations are true to life. By following these tips, authors can ensure that their characters are realistic and engaging for readers.

Setting the Scene with Realistic Details

When writing realistic fiction, it's important to incorporate realistic details to make the story more believable. Setting the scene with realistic details helps to draw readers in and create a more immersive experience. This can be achieved by researching the setting and other details such as the time period and the culture of the characters. Using accurate language and descriptions will add to the authenticity of the story, making it more believable. When writing about a particular location, it's important to research the landmarks, geography, climate, and other relevant details. Knowing the culture of the characters is also essential for setting the scene with realistic details. Researching things such as the architecture, music, food, and language of the location can help bring the story to life. Finally, it's important to research the current events of the time period in order to provide an accurate backdrop for the characters and plot. By researching the setting and other details, authors can create a vivid and believable setting for their realistic fiction story.

Developing a Plotline that is Believable

Developing a plotline that is believable is essential for creating a successful piece of realistic fiction. It’s important to ensure that the plot follows a logical sequence of events. It can be helpful to come up with a basic outline of the story and then brainstorm the details. Ask yourself questions about the characters and their motivations and then use this information to build the plot. A believable plot should also have a clear beginning, middle, and end with rising action towards a climax. Pay attention to the pace of the story and make sure that there are no gaps in logic. When crafting a plot, it’s important to consider both the external and internal conflicts of the characters. This will help to create a realistic storyline that resonates with readers.

Finding Inspiration for Writing Realistic Fiction

As an author of realistic fiction, it’s important to have a source of inspiration for your stories. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to find new ideas and inspiration for writing realistic fiction. One of the best ways is to use research strategies to explore different topics and ideas. Researching different cultural backgrounds, settings, and events can provide writers with insight into the world of realistic fiction. Additionally, authors can draw inspiration from their own personal lives and experiences, incorporating them into their stories. Finally, reading the works of other authors in the same genre can also be a great source of inspiration. By using these strategies, authors can find the inspiration they need to write believable and captivating stories.

Making the Most of Your Research Strategies for Writing Realistic Fiction

Conclusion

Once you have completed your research for your realistic fiction story, it is essential that you make the most of the information you have gathered. To do this, you should take the time to review your notes and highlight the key pieces of information that you will use in your writing. Think about how you can incorporate the details in a meaningful way that will bring your story to life. Additionally, consider how you can use your research to deepen your understanding of the topic and create a realistic and believable story. Finally, be sure to use the research strategies you have developed to keep your story on track and add authenticity to your writing. By doing this, you will be able to create a story that is unique and engaging.

Copyright © 2023 by Ren T.

TheWriteAdviceForWriters 2023