#deception-united

[deception-united]

Writing Tips Master Post

Edit: Some posts may be deleted

Character writing/development:

Character Arcs

Making Character Profiles

Character Development

Comic Relief Arc

Internal Conflict

Character Voices

Creating Distinct Characters

Creating Likeable Characters

Writing Strong Female Characters

Writing POC Characters

Building Tension

Plot devices/development:

Intrigue in Storytelling

Enemies to Lovers

Alternatives to Killing Characters

Worldbuilding

Misdirection

Consider Before Killing Characters

Foreshadowing

Narrative:

Emphasising the Stakes

Avoid Info-Dumping

Writing Without Dialogue

1st vs. 2nd vs. 3rd Perspective

Fight Scenes (+ More)

Transitions

Pacing

Writing Prologues

Dialogue Tips

Writing War

Writing Cheating

Worldbuilding:

Worldbuilding: Questions to Consider

Creating Laws/Rules in Fantasy Worlds

Book writing:

Connected vs. Stand-Alone Series

A & B Stories

Writer resources:

Writing YouTube Channels, Podcasts, & Blogs

Online Writing Resources

Outlining/Writing/Editing Software

Writer help:

Losing Passion/Burnout

Overcoming Writer's Block

Fantasy terms:

How To Name Fantasy Races (Step-by-Step)

Naming Elemental Races

Naming Fire-Related Races

How To Name Fantasy Places

Ask games:

Character Ask Game #1

Character Ask Game #2

Character Ask Game #3

Miscellaneous:

1000 Follower Post

2000 Follower Poll

Writing Fantasy

[famousthingrunaway]

(Amazon) hiring and looking for staff for these shifts:

Morning: 6:30 AM - 2:30 PM 👍 Afternoon: 2:30 PM - 10:30 PM 👍 Night: 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM 👍

Positions are Monday to Friday. Good Salary…. Thfc ✅ Here are all details. ↪️ If you are interested…….Click here

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Self-Deception

If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; — 1 John 1:6 | New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE) New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved worldwide. Cross References: John 3:21; John 8:12; John 8:55; John 12:35; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 John 2:4; 1 John 2:11

Read full chapter

1 John 1:6 in all English translations

[goth4lifers]

Sooo as someone with a fixation on several video games and stuff obviously some characters look like each other but while I fawned over bg3 like a nerd I realized something

This beautiful man, absolute handsome devil, light of my life and kin of the century had me confused cause I thought he looked familiar; like someone

The fucking someone was Bierce from dark deception

[looseygoosey66]

Brad - Pieces Of Sky In My Hand

[nationallawreview]

Plaintiff’s Attorney Spencer Sheehan Sanctioned

Spencer Sheehan is a Plaintiff’s attorney who has filed hundreds of class action lawsuits against food companies for allegedly deceptive labeling and marketing. A small percentage of these lawsuits survive the motion to dismiss stage, let alone succeed on the merits. Indeed, many of his losses are suffered many times over as he has a practice of refiling essentially identical lawsuits in…

[kurlyfrasier]

NEED HELP WRITING? (a masterlist)

I have likely not added many that I've reblogged to this list. Please feel free to roam my blog and/or ask/message me to add something you'd like to see on this list!

Synonym Lists

Look by @writers-potion

Descriptors

Voices by @saraswritingtipps

Show, Don't Tell by @lyralit

Tips & Tricks

5 Tips for Creating Intimidating Antagonists by @writingwithfolklore

How To (Realistically) Make a Habit of Writing by @byoldervine

Let's Talk About Misdirection by @deception-united

Tips to Improve Character Voice by @tanaor

Stephen King's Top 20 Rules for Writers posted by @toocoolformedschool

Fun Things to Add to a Fight Scene (Hand to Hand Edition) by @illarian-rambling

Questions I Ask My Beta Readers by @burntoutdaydreamer

Skip Google for Research by @s-n-arly

Breaking Writing Rules Right: Don't Write Direct Dialogue by @septemberercfawkes

Databases/Resources

International Clothing

Advice/Uplifting

Too Ashamed of Writing To Write by @writingquestionsanswered

"Said" is Beautiful by @blue-eyed-author

[dandy-daisylion]

every time someone says ‘oh, you knit? do you like it?’ i have the marrow-deep urge to tenderly take their face in my hands and press my lips to their eyelids and telepathically transmit the full overwhelming awareness that i carry just beneath my skin every moment of every day of how important fiber crafts and textiles are and historically have been to humanity. every stitch i work is a thousand billion stitches that have already been worked and will be worked in the future, from the farthest reaches of prehistory until time immemorial. every spindle i spin is spun with the same flick of uncountable fingers from ages past, all united across history in the deceptively simple movement that has shaped history, and art, is the context within which every single person on earth has ever lived their life and lives their lives still. everything from our phones to our homes is given shape and form by the overlooked but utterly important textile arts.

‘of fucking course i like knitting, you jackass,’ i say gently. ‘i wouldn’t do it otherwise.’

[truth4ourfreedom]

Please reblog to all the people you know! This is important. The UN, WEF, WHO, and most of the world governments have signed off on this plan. We Americans are like the frog in the pot of water that is very slowly brought to a boil, the changes foisted upon us are incremental and we are not going to realize what has been done to us until after it is too late! Why do you think Bill Gates is buying up US farmland? Not to farm it, but to let it go to waste! We all need to WAKE UP!

- Brief explanation of Agenda 21, which was agreed and signed by 179 nations. Covid was created and released as a means to further this agenda, so pay attention.

- (Note: agenda 21 is now refferred to as Agenda 2030) 🤔

[deception-united]

Let's talk about character voices.

Giving a character a unique voice in your writing involves several elements, such as word choice, sentence structure, dialogue quirks, and mannerisms. Incorporating these elements into your writing can really help create characters with distinct voices that resonate with readers and bring your narrative to life, as well as avoiding making all your characters sound the same, which is important especially when switching POVs.

Here are some tips you may find helpful:

Distinct vocabulary: Choose words that reflect the character's background, personality, profession, interests, experiences, and education level. For example, a well-educated professor would probably use more sophisticated language.

Dialogue quirks: Give each character specific speech patterns or quirks that set them apart, like repeated phrases, stuttering, using or avoiding contractions, or speaking in a particular dialect or accent, but don't overdo it to the point where it's distracting or it's hard to decipher what's being said.

Sentence structure: Pay attention to the rhythm and structure of their sentences. Some characters might speak in short, abrupt sentences, while others might use long, flowing ones. This can convey their confidence, hesitation, or urgency in the particular scenario, but also their general demeanor or manner.

Internal monologue: Show the character's unique thought process through their internal monologue. This can help readers understand their motivations, fears, and desires, further distinguishing them from other characters. (This may not necessarily apply to your story if you're writing in a third person omniscient perspective, or if you intend to exclusively follow the internal monologue of the main character.)

Physical gestures/actions: State what the the character's physical gestures and actions are while speaking. A nervous character might fidget, slouch, or avoid eye contact, while a confident character would stand tall and make direct eye contact.

Background & history: The character's upbringing, cultural influences, and past experiences can all shape the way they speak and interact with others.

Consistency: It's important to maintain consistency in the character's voice throughout the story and make sure their speech patterns, vocabulary, and mannerisms remain true to their established personality and don't contradict with anything.

Real conversations: Pay attention to how people speak in real life, and the tone, vocabulary, and speech patterns of different people, to help create more authentic and believable dialogue.

Read aloud: Reading your dialogue aloud can help you identify areas where the character's voice may not sound authentic. If it doesn't sound like something they would say, revise.

Hope this helps!

Previous | Next

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Month - June 2024

💡Eco-friendly innovations building a better future—literally

1. Bill Gates-backed startup creates Lego-like brick that can store air pollution for centuries: 'A milestone for affordably removing carbon dioxide from the air'

The Washington Post detailed a "deceptively simple" procedure by Graphyte to store a ton of CO2 for around $100 a ton, a number long considered a milestone for affordably removing carbon dioxide from the air. Direct air capture technologies used in the United States and Iceland cost $600 to $1,200 per ton, per the Post.

2. Violent crime is down and the US murder rate is plunging, FBI statistics show

Violent crime dropped by more than 15% in the United States during the first three months of 2024, according to statistics released Monday by the FBI.

The new numbers show violent crime from January to March dropped 15.2% compared to the same period in 2023, while murders fell 26.4% and reported rapes decreased by 25.7%.

3. She thrifted this vase for $4. It turned out to be an ancient Mayan artifact

Anna Lee Dozier, paid about $4 for what she assumed was a reproduction of a Mayan vase. It turned out to be the real deal: an artifact that’s at least 1,200 years old from the ancient civilization. And now, it's headed back to its homeland.

4. U.S. Marshals Find 200 Missing Children Across the Nation During Operation We Will Find You 2

Of the 200 children found, 173 were endangered runaways, 25 were considered otherwise missing, one was a family abduction, and one was a non-family abduction. [...] 14 of the children were found outside the city where they went missing.

5. Amazon's ditching the plastic air pillows in its boxes

Amazon said the change will help it use nearly 15 billion fewer plastic pillows annually. The paper fillers are made from 100% recyclable materials and are curbside recyclable. The company began a transition away from plastic filler in October 2023 when it announced its first U.S. automated fulfillment center to eliminate plastic-delivery packaging.

6. Supreme Court rejects bid to restrict access to abortion pill

In a blow for anti-abortion advocates, the Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a challenge to the abortion pill mifepristone, meaning the commonly used drug can remain widely available. The court found unanimously that the group of anti-abortion doctors who questioned the Food and Drug Administration’s decisions making it easier to access the pill did not have legal standing to sue.  

7. Wild horses return to Kazakhstan steppes after absence of two centuries

A group of the world’s last wild horses have returned to their native Kazakhstan after an absence of about 200 years. Seven Przewalski’s horses, the only truly wild species of the animal in the world, flown to central Asian country from zoos in Europe

That's it for this month :)

This newsletter will always be free. If you liked this post you can support me with a small kofi donation here:

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Also don’t forget to share this post with your friends.

[architectureforsuicides]

Tromperie (Arnaud Desplechin, 2021) Brooklyn Bridge (On the left) New York City, New York (USA) Bridge over the East river Type: suspension bridge. & Tower Bridge (On the right) London (UK) Bridge over the River Thames Type: bascule bridge, suspension bridge.

[plutonianeris]

Asteroid Messalina (545)

Messalina in the 1st House: A magnetic force cloaked in unapologetic allure. You project raw, intense energy that makes others both crave and fear you. People might label you as “too much” too bold, too sexual, too willing to flaunt what others hide. There’s an air of danger about you that captivates, yet some may accuse you of arrogance or vanity, uncomfortable with how easily you embrace your desires and power. They may call you a “tease” or “attention-seeker,” shaming you for the very magnetism they’re drawn to.

Messalina in the 2nd House: Insatiable appetite for luxury, pleasure, and control. You have a way of attracting wealth and comfort, often through charm and allure, and people notice. Some may accuse you of being “materialistic” or “gold-digging,” casting shame on your desire for life’s finer things. They might say you only care about money or possessions, failing to understand that your connection to beauty and luxury is an art form, a way to savor the sensual aspects of life. Others envy your ability to claim abundance without apology, projecting their discomfort onto you.

Messalina in the 3rd House: Words like honey, laced with mystery and intrigue. You wield language like a weapon, charming and beguiling others with your words, but also leaving them feeling vulnerable, as if they’re being wrapped in a web they can’t escape. People may accuse you of being “manipulative” or “deceptive,” fearing your power to influence thoughts and emotions. They may try to shame you for your “silver tongue” or call you “calculating,” uncomfortable with your ability to get what you want without lifting a finger.

Messalina in the 4th House: The seductress behind closed doors. Your allure is hidden but potent, drawing others into your world in ways that feel deeply personal. Family or close friends might shame you for “not fitting in” or “disrupting tradition,” accusing you of destabilizing the family unit or pushing emotional boundaries. People may be wary of what lies beneath your calm exterior, sensing the storm of desires you keep hidden. There may be whispers that you’re “too intense” or “secretive,” as if your passions somehow threaten the sanctity of home.

Messalina in the 5th House: An unapologetic siren of pleasure and creativity. You shine in romance, play, and artistic pursuits, embracing every opportunity to indulge in life’s pleasures. Others may view your bold self-expression as excessive, calling you “shameless” or “self-indulgent.” People may gossip about your love life, painting you as “wild” or “unrestrained,” uncomfortable with how freely you embrace joy and passion. You’re often envied for your charisma but shamed for your fearless pursuit of fun and pleasure.

Messalina in the 6th House: An alluring force in the workplace, blurring lines and stirring intrigue. Your sensual energy infuses even the most mundane routines, making you unforgettable in the day-to-day. Colleagues or superiors may accuse you of “overstepping boundaries” or “distracting others,” shaming you for bringing such intensity into professional spaces. People may view your charisma as a threat to order, calling you “disruptive” or “inappropriate,” uncomfortable with how effortlessly you attract attention and admiration.

Messalina in the 7th House: A partner who’s as captivating as they are mysterious. Relationships with you are intense, and others may accuse you of being “too controlling” or “manipulative” in love, perhaps uncomfortable with how deeply you engage with intimacy. You may be shamed for not following traditional relationship norms, seen as “possessive” or “overly demanding.” Yet, this allure makes you a magnetic partner, leaving lovers feeling as if they’re playing with fire.

Messalina in the 8th House: A dangerous siren of secrets and shadows. This is Messalina’s realm, and you are a master of hidden desires, power plays, and transformation. People may label you “obsessive” or “corrupt,” shaming you for the depths you’re willing to explore. There may be rumors that you’re “too intense” or “dark,” as if your interest in taboo topics and hidden emotions makes you somehow dangerous. Yet, your allure is undeniable, leaving others both afraid of and drawn to your aura of mystery.

Messalina in the 9th House: The seductive philosopher, unafraid to push boundaries of thought and experience. You’re drawn to explore life’s pleasures on a grand scale, seeking wisdom in every experience. People may shame you for being “reckless” or “too bold” in your pursuits, accusing you of using your charm to bypass conventional morals. You might be labeled as a “free spirit” or “hedonist,” criticized for pursuing pleasure and knowledge with such intensity. Yet, your curiosity and depth make you unforgettable.

Messalina in the 10th House: A public figure with a magnetic, almost forbidden allure. In your career and public life, you command respect and stir intrigue, but others may accuse you of “climbing the ladder through charm” or “using people” to get ahead. You might be shamed for “taking shortcuts” or “being too ambitious,” as if your success is somehow a result of manipulation. Yet, people can’t deny your power and presence, even if they feel threatened by it.

Messalina in the 11th House: An enigma within social circles, irresistible yet misunderstood. You thrive in groups, where your magnetism draws others in, but people may accuse you of being “too influential” or “manipulative.” Friends or acquaintances may shame you for being “too provocative” or accuse you of “playing games,” uncomfortable with the sway you hold over others. They may gossip about your social power, as if your presence disrupts the balance, yet they keep coming back for more.

Messalina in the 12th House or Pisces: The seductive mystic, a hidden storm of desire and secrecy. Your allure is deeply private, a mystery that others sense but can’t fully grasp. People may shame you for being “too elusive” or “hard to read,” accusing you of “keeping secrets” or “hiding something.” Some may even fear the dark intensity they sense beneath your surface, whispering that you’re “too intense” or “deceptive.” Yet, this hidden magnetism makes you unforgettable, leaving people haunted by thoughts of you long after you’re gone.

[northgazaupdates]

A group of journalists held a public appeal yesterday for an end to Israel’s siege of the northern Gaza Strip, where practically no food aid has entered since October 2023. People in the north are living and dying in famine due to the complete blockade by the IOF.

To make matters worse, most mainstream media outlets are ignoring the plight of north Gaza, as the journalists and other people remaining in the north are predominantly Arabic-speaking. The north of Gaza is starving in silence.

Instagram user faridaek has been kind enough to repost the appeal with English subtitles added. This is a significant undertaking that we greatly appreciate, and we ask everyone with an Instagram account to share the video.

The journalist speaking is Islam Bader. He and his colleagues are making this appeal on behalf of the people of northern Gaza. The journalists present include Abed Alqadr Sabbah, Mahmoud Al-Awadia, Momin Abu Owda, Mahmoud Sabbah, Mahmoud El-Shareef, Anas Al-Sharif, Islam Bader, Mohammed Ahmed, and Fadi Al-Whidi, among others. The subtitles read

From the north of the Gaza Strip, we, as journalists still stationed here in the north stand today driven by our ethical responsibility and national duty as a voice for all those who remain steadfast in Gaza and its north who are being subjected to a policy of extermination and a policy of starvation which is no less than extermination. The markets have been emptied of all essentials, and there is no flour available except in rare instances. The occupation does not allow aid to enter, maintaining its obstinate siege against our people and our families. We are of this people, and today we speak for Palestinians, for the besieged and for those denied life’s essentials. The most basic necessities have now become extremely rare in Gaza.

Therefore, we issue this call as a final warning, about a severe famine that is unprecedented on a global scale and impacting all facets of life, particularly children, individuals with chronic conditions and society’s most vulnerable groups. We hold the Israeli occupation and the international community especially the United States responsible for this starvation because it is happening in front of the eyes and ears of the entire world without any concrete action [on the ground] to stop it. The occupation’s claims of aid delivery are deceptive and unfounded. In reality, nothing has entered the north of the Gaza Strip.

Therefore, this final call, on behalf of all these people, on behalf of our fellow journalists, on behalf of our families and on behalf of Palestinians and the displaced in the north of the Gaza Strip is for the world to uphold its responsibility. North Gaza is starving, and this famine must be stopped.

Source: Islam Bader et al via faridaek on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Farida EK (@faridaek)

[reasonsforhope]

"For the first time in almost 60 years, a state has formally overturned a so-called “right to work” law, clearing the way for workers to organize new union locals, collectively bargain, and make their voices heard at election time.

This week, Michigan finalized the process of eliminating a decade-old “right to work” law, which began with the shift in control of the state legislature from anti-union Republicans to pro-union Democrats following the 2022 election. “This moment has been decades in the making,” declared Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber. “By standing up and taking their power back, at the ballot box and in the workplace, workers have made it clear Michigan is and always will be the beating heart of the modern American labor movement.”

[Note: The article doesn't actually explain it, so anyway, "right to work" laws are powerful and deceptively named pieces of anti-union legislation. What right to work laws do is ban "union shops," or companies where every worker that benefits from a union is required to pay dues to the union. Right-to-work laws really undermine the leverage and especially the funding of unions, by letting non-union members receive most of the benefits of a union without helping sustain them. Sources: x, x, x, x]

In addition to formally scrapping the anti-labor law on Tuesday [February 13, 2024], Michigan also restored prevailing-wage protections for construction workers, expanded collective bargaining rights for public school employees, and restored organizing rights for graduate student research assistants at the state’s public colleges and universities. But even amid all of these wins for labor, it was the overturning of the “right to work” law that caught the attention of unions nationwide...

Now, the tide has begun to turn—beginning in a state with a rich labor history. And that’s got the attention of union activists and working-class people nationwide...

At a time when the labor movement is showing renewed vigor—and notching a string of high-profile victories, including last year’s successful strike by the United Auto Workers union against the Big Three carmakers, the historic UPS contract victory by the Teamsters, the SAG-AFTRA strike win in a struggle over abuses of AI technology in particular and the future of work in general, and the explosion of grassroots union organizing at workplaces across the country—the overturning of Michigan’s “right to work” law and the implementation of a sweeping pro-union agenda provides tangible evidence of how much has changed in recent years for workers and their unions...

By the mid-2010s, 27 states had “right to work” laws on the books.

But then, as a new generation of workers embraced “Fight for 15” organizing to raise wages, and campaigns to sign up workers at Starbucks and Amazon began to take off, the corporate-sponsored crusade to enact “right to work” measures stalled. New Hampshire’s legislature blocked a proposed “right to work” law in 2017 (and again in 2021), despite the fact that the measure was promoted by Republican Governor Chris Sununu. And in 2018, Missouri voters rejected a “right to work” referendum by a 67-33 margin.

Preventing anti-union legislation from being enacted and implemented is one thing, however. Actually overturning an existing law is something else altogether.

But that’s what happened in Michigan after 2022 voting saw the reelection of Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a labor ally, and—thanks to the overturning of gerrymandered legislative district maps that had favored the GOP—the election of Democratic majorities in the state House and state Senate. For the first time in four decades, the Democrats controlled all the major levers of power in Michigan, and they used them to implement a sweeping pro-labor agenda. That was a significant shift for Michigan, to be sure. But it was also an indication of what could be done in other states across the Great Lakes region, and nationwide.

“Michigan Democrats took full control of the state government for the first time in 40 years. They used that power to repeal the state’s ‘right to work’ law,” explained a delighted former US secretary of labor Robert Reich, who added, “This is why we have to show up for our state and local elections.”"

-via The Nation, February 16, 2024