#pirate writing prompts

[transfem-octopus]

These women are actually perfect for Historical Fiction because while we know of then; we know basically nothing about them.

We know Anne Bonny was a member of Rackam’s Crew; she was brutal and foul mouthed; she became pregnant; and sometime after her imprisonment disappeared without a trace.

Anything else is some combination of speculation and fiction.

Same with Mary Reid. She may have been the Daughter of Anne Cantrel and Jim Reed (An associated of the Pirate Adam Baldridge) born and raised in Bristol. But there’s no real way to connect that Mary Reid to the Mary Reid tried for piracy.

We know they dressed in men’s clothing; but it does not appear they did so to conceal their gender identities as Mary Reid and Anne Boney were both known as women when their pirate careers began.

We also know they had large beasts because one of their victims mentioned that’s how she knew they were women in men’s clothes when they attacked her canoe.

It really does make them perfect for Historical fiction; sure we know next to nothing about them but that means you can do pretty much anything with them.

Two notorious cross-dressing women became female pirates: Mary Reid and Anne Bonny, whose story was published as A General History of the Pirates in 1724.

"Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History" - Philippa Gregory

[unboundprompts]

Pirate Terms and Phrases

-> Pirate Lingo

-> A Pirate's Glossary

Batten Down The Hatches - tie everything down and put stuff away for a coming storm.

Brig - a prison on a ship.

Bring a Spring Upon 'er - turn the ship in a different direction

Broadside - the most vulnerable angle of a ship that runs the length of the boat.

Cutlass - a thick, heavy and rather short sword blade.

Dance with Jack Ketch - to hang; death at the hands of the law (Jack Ketch was a famed English executioner).

Davy Jones's Locker - a mythical place at the bottom of the ocean where drowned sailors are said to go.

Dead Men Tell No Tales - the reason given for leaving no survivors.

Flogging - severe beating of a person.

Gangplank - removable ramp between the pier and ship.

Give No Quarter - show no mercy.

Jack - flag flown at the front of the ship to show nationality.

Jolly Roger - black pirate flag with a white skull and crossbones.

Keelhaul - a punishment where someone is dragged under the ship. They are cut by the planks and barnacles on the bottom of the ship.

Landlubber - an inexperienced or clumsy person who doesn't have any sailing skills.

Letters of Marque - government-issued letters allowing privateers the right to piracy of another ship during wartime.

Man-O-War - a pirate ship that is decked out and prepared for battle.

Maroon - to leave someone stranded on a. deserted island with no supplies, typically a punishment for any crew members who disrespected the captain.

Mutiny - a situation in which the crew chooses a new captain, sometimes by forcibly removing the old one.

No Prey, No Pay - a common pirate law that meant crew members were not paid, but rather received a share of whatever loot was taken.

Old Salt - experienced pirate or sailor.

Pillage - to steal/rob a place using violence.

Powder Monkeys - men that performed the most dangerous work on the ship. They were treated harshly, rarely paid, and were expendable.

Privateer - government-appointed pirates.

Run A Shot Across the Bow - fire a warning shot at another boat's Captain.

Scurvy - a disease caused by Vitamin C Deficiency.

Sea Legs - when a sailor adjusts his balance from riding on a boat for a long time.

Strike Colors - lower a ship's flag to indicate surrender.

Weigh Anchor and Hoist the Mizzen - an order to the crew to pull up the anchor and get the ship sailing.

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[literaryvein-reblogs]

Words Related to Pirates

Ahoy - used in calling out to a passing ship or boat

Avast - a nautical command to stop or cease

Bilge - the bulging part of a cask or barrel

Booty - goods seized from an enemy in war or by robbery

Buccaneer - a person who tries to become wealthy or powerful by doing things that are illegal or dishonest

Cannon - any device for propelling a substance or object at high speeds

Capsize - to turn over; upset

Crow's nest - a partly enclosed place to stand high on the mast of a ship for use as a lookout

Cutlass - a short heavy curved sword

Hijack - to stop and steal or steal from a moving vehicle

Jolly Roger - a black flag with a white skull and crossbones formerly used by pirates as their ensign

Landlubber - a person who lives on land and knows little or nothing about the sea

Mutiny - a turning of a group (as of sailors) against a person in charge

Plunder - to rob or steal especially openly and by force (as during war)

Swashbuckler - a swaggering or daring soldier or adventurer

Source ⚜ More: Word Lists ⚜ Writing Notes: Pirates ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[buyandsellcar]

[mischievous-thunder]

Wade's sweet and spicy Pirate Logie Bear

[whump-in-the-closet]

Pirate Whump

the brig!! thrown in there and forgotten while saltwater seeps through and drenches whumpee constantly leaving them coughing and miserable

lack of sleep, forced to be on duty for hours at a time

smacking whumpee to the deck with a blow that leaves their eyes watering.

scrubbing the deck until their hands are scraped and bleeding. their arms and back ache so badly that when they stand up, they immediately double over.

flogging for minor mistakes. the humiliation of having their shirt ripped away and the stabbing, sharp pain of the cat o'nine tails on their skin is enough to break down the most stoic of the crew

collapsing on deck. in general. fainting. nausea. suddenly light headed and woozy from blood loss

falling to the deck on hands and knees and scraping them on the rough, worm-eaten wood

hostage situations on “friendly” terms. whumpee can wander around on deck and maybe they even joke around with some of the pirates. but the minute they try to escape, there’s a sweeping blade at their throat and someone roughly manhandling them to the captains quarters to be “dealt with”

being made an example of for misconduct is often extreme and cruel. there are no laws on the high seas

the damage left by the opposing side’s cannon fire? timber embedded in limbs, gaping wounds, and formerly brave sailors curling up in fetal positions to try and protect themselves

a captain whumper who calls their prisoner whumpee “darling” in the most derogatory way possible.

emergency first aid being applied hurriedly and with unskilled hands.bandages made from old shirts, amputations done unabashedly and crew mates being carried back fireman style to their ship.

“bite down on this” and “don’t look” as they cut away a damaged limb, multiple crew members holding whumpee down

mer whumpees— caught and put on a leash so they’re dragged along the side of the boat. sometimes they pull whumpee up and “have a bit of fun” as whumpee thrashes and gasps for air.

captain whumpee found stranded on an island by an opposing captain. they’re “taken care of” by being humiliated and beaten, laughed at, and forced to be the cabin boy

[milotraflgkl]

Law being delusional /neg

LAW x GN!READER

note: this is a request i had gotten a LONGGG time ago, I apologize for being absent and not posting anything but I'm trying to make a comeback. WC: (799) PART 2 here content: angst, law is a dick, no comfort, cliffhanger??

You had done everything in your power to be near him to show him new little things you found while researching a topic that you were very into, also giving him little things you saw that reminded you of him. This time, you had a bracelet you made specifically for him. You were going to give it to him, making your way toward him and maneuvering around the submarine with a big dorky smile decorating your face that didn’t go unnoticed by the rest of your crewmates. When you had found your Captain he was with other people in the dining room, your eyes lit up as you practically skipped your way over to him with a big smile on your face. “Captain!” You sang out as you moved to hold your arms behind your back as you tilted your head to look at him, “I got you something.” You exclaim practically vibrating and rocking back and forth out of pure excitement to give him something that you had made specifically for him. 

He was trying hard to keep his eyes down, covered by his hat that was decorated with spots. He didn’t want to talk to you, not when he finally had just gotten Penguin and Shachi off of his ass before they gave him a headache and now you were here and it was like you just triggered the headache to turn into a migraine. His brows pinched together and he brought his slender hands up to his face to pinch the bridge of his nose, praying that you’d get the idea and piss off. Also doing this action to attempt to release some sort of pressure from his head, he noticed how his head hurt whenever you came around. He wasn’t sure why, maybe it was the strong and disgusting smell of your perfume or the way you just always seemed so annoying and happy. “Are you alright? Does your head hurt? I can go get something or make you tea-” You were trying to be nice but he cut you off, “Do you ever shut up?” He snarled his eyes snapping to look up at you.  Freezing in your spot you stared down at him, the face and the tone of his voice caused you to almost drop the bracelet to the ground. “I’m… sorry?” You questioned if he meant what he had said, “I asked, do you ever shut up.” He growled before he moved to stand up his figure towering over yours as he stared down at you, usually in moments like this you would feel all flustered and nervous but this time… you were nervous for a different reason. You swallowed thickly and stepped back from him growing scared at his sudden harshness as you watched him before you slowly lowered your head, “I’m sorry for being such a bother, Captain.” You whispered under your breath and your voice was fighting not to crack, your tears watering as you kept your eyes locked onto the ground. “I’ll get out of your way.” You spoke quickly before sprinting off, going to hide in a small room somewhere to cry.  Law was satisfied with the moment, moving to sit back down as he sighed and rested his head back against the chair he was sitting on to let himself relax and close his eyes. What he hadn’t realized is the fact that… you just stopped showing up around him. He was annoyed that he had for some reason taken notice of that fact as he moved toward the dining area one afternoon, hoping to find some coffee to keep himself awake so he could distract himself with work and stop thinking such stupid thoughts. But instead, he saw something that caused him to freeze, there you were sitting with Penguin and Shachi doing some random craft… his brows furrowed as he tried to figure out what you three were doing before he realized you were making the two boys' bracelets. Law felt his fist clench and his brows pinched together, he wasn’t sure why it irked him so much that you were doing that with them. It was childish the things you were doing but for some reason, he wanted you to do it near him again. To talk his ear off about how you make the bracelets and then about the day, instead, you were telling them.  He would simply just huff and try to shake it off, making himself coffee and noticing how you just ignored him being there. He’d go back to his office attempting to continue with his work but failing, his mind reminding him of how happy you looked sitting there with Penguin and Shachi. He hated it and he should hate you but he just… missed you.

[providencediscord]

Just wondering does anyone know if Hondo Onaka has been the star of a Star Wars time travel fix-it? I just feel he would save things in the most unhinged and flamboyant way possible as a fantastic pirate captain.

[deepwaterwritingprompts]

Text: The ship paints a stark figure on the horizon. Pirates. From my binoculars, I watch the man up in the nest spread glossy black wings and soar down towards the shore, scouting.

[sharksfrommars]

in the Better World, Stan faked his death and moved to Argentina. He takes Ford’s journal, he reads it on days he gets lonely. But he lives. Because a long, long time ago, he promised his brother that they’d die at exactly the same time, fighting monsters. And even if Stan still feels the brand on his shoulder sting with shattered dreams, he can’t bring himself to die without his brother.

so Argentina it is. Stan deals with his issues in the least healthy way possible. He ends up in rehab about 5 times. He lives by the sea, and goes fishing, learns to scuba dive. He dates a lot, gets burned a lot, and ends up building a small circle of friends. And he slowly builds his life back up. Stanley Pines is dead, but Stan still finds a way to live.

Ford thinks Stan is dead. He only found out about the car crash in ‘85, when he finally called his mother. Two years, for two whole years, Ford didn’t realise his twin was dead. They didn’t find a journal in the car, but it was pretty burnt up from a gasoline explosion. The only thing that identified Stan was his teeth, a plethora of fake ids, and a photo of Stan and Ford boxing, back in the 60s.

Ford feels like it was his fault somehow. He and McGucket run the institute of Oddology. They become rich and famous, people respect him. But Ford still feels the weight of the photos he kept in his pocket, of the last things he ever said to his brother before he died.

[serene-cinders]

A mermaid whumpee, strung up in a pirate ship. Kept below the deck, so that not even cracks of sunlight can seep in. Cramped, stinking and hot, this is nothing like the crisp winds and rolling tides. Lagoons of azure and open oceans of royal blue. The salty depths of the sea against their scales was a simple pleasure they took for granted for far too long.

Hemp rope tears the tender crooks of their elbows, the webbing connecting flexible limbs to a lithe body dried to tatters. They’re awkwardly pinned up against unfinished wood. Shoulders are taut and numb.

Every now and then, a gaunt cabin boy will slink in, bucket in hand, and throw a pail of water over the dried coil of scales. It wasn’t much relief. And it was never quite enough. It dried too fast, sucked in by flaking scales.

Even in the low light of the open door, they could see the sunken, almost apologetic eyes of the boy, before he slams the door behind him.

[unboundprompts]

Pirate prompts?? Please i can barely find any but i need so muchhh

Pirate Writing Prompts

-> feel free to edit and adjust pronouns as you see fit.

The captain’s hand instinctively covered their forearm, hiding the tattoo inked when they’d sworn a foolish oath years ago. They pulled down their sleeve, but it was too late—the young deckhand’s sharp eyes had caught the telltale lines of a treasure map scrawled in dark ink. "You saw nothing," the captain muttered.

Stranded on a stretch of empty beach, the two pirate captains—once bitter enemies—could barely look each other in the eye. "I’m not sharing my firewood with you," she snapped, hoarding the meager pile of driftwood they’d collected for warmth. Her rival just sneered, pulling his coat tighter around him against the sharp ocean wind. "Fine," he retorted with a smirk. "Let’s see who freezes first. Might just solve the whole problem."

The stowaway, caught by the crew in the dark belly of the ship, glared defiantly at the captain, despite the empty cutlass against their neck. "You’ve got fire in you; I’ll give you that much," the captain said, their eyes gleaming with a curiosity that no one expected. "Maybe it’s just the kind we need to outrun that navy fleet on our tail." The stowaway blinked, hope flickering across their face as the cutlass lowered just enough for them to breathe.

They called it The Silent Marauder, the ghost ship that drifted out of the mist on blood-red nights, promising riches for those who dared board. "One must stay," the captain read aloud from the ancient log book, unease prickling the crew’s skin as they glanced at each other in horror. A shiver crept down their spines as they realized the truth: the captain would have to decide which of them would stay behind as payment for their prize.

The captain smirked, shackled to the wooden post in the navy brig, as the young officer watched them through the bars. "So," the captain drawled, "will you throw the book at me, or are you the type to bend a rule or two for an honest pirate?" The officer’s expression wavered, his fingers hovering over his keys, and for a split second, the line between duty and temptation flickered dangerously in his eyes.

The silver-haired mermaid lay limp on the ship’s deck, her scales shimmering under the moonlight as she met the captain’s gaze with an unearthly intensity. "If you release me, I’ll lead you to treasure beyond imagining," she whispered, her voice lilting like the waves.

The grizzled sailor reached out to the young captain with trembling hands, a half-smile on his weathered face. "So you’re really my daughter, then," he murmured, his voice rough and thick with years lost. She clenched her jaw, her hands balled into fists as she fought against the waves of emotion rising inside her; after years of fighting her way to captaincy, she never thought she’d face her father.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Words Related to the Beach

Boardwalk - a wooden path along a beach

Brine - the salty water of the ocean

Buoy - an object that floats on water in a lake, bay, river, etc., to show areas that are safe or dangerous for boats

Conch - a very large sea snail with a tall thick spiral shell

Coral - a tiny soft-bodied animal that typically lives within a stony skeleton grouped in large colonies and that is related to the jellyfish

Current - a body of fluid (as air or water) moving in a specified direction

Decuman - of a wave: extremely large; huge

Dune - a hill of sand near an ocean or in a desert that is formed by the wind

Kelp - a large brown seaweed

Lagoon - a shallow channel or pond near or connected to a larger body of water

Lido - a fashionable beach resort

Lifeguard - a person employed at a beach or swimming pool to protect swimmers from drowning

Plage - the beach of a seaside resort

Praya - beach, strand, waterfront

Reef - a chain of rocks or coral or a ridge of sand at or near the surface of water

Sand dollar - a flat round sea urchin

Spindrift - sea spray

Swash - the rush of water up a beach from a breaking wave

Tide - the rising and falling of the surface of the ocean caused twice daily by the attraction of the sun and the moon

Undertow - a current beneath the surface of the water that moves away from or along the shore while the surface water above it moves toward the shore

Types of Tides

ebb tide: the tide while ebbing or at ebb (i.e., move away from the land; recede)

high tide: the tide when the water is at its greatest height

low tide: the farthest ebb of the tide

neap tide: a tide of minimum range occurring at the first and the third quarters of the moon

riptide: a strong usually narrow current of water that flows away from a shore

springtide: a tide of greater-than-average range around the times of new moon and full moon

storm tide: a high tide that is significantly higher than normal due to onshore winds reinforcing tidal action

Source ⚜ More: Word Lists ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[marlynnofmany]

Sometimes you don't have time to do anything with a story idea, but it's fun to think about anyway

[imfinereallyy]

Steve Harrington was not a treasure.

His family had treasure for sure: more gold than they could count, family jewels passed down from generation to generation, and an estate with more rooms than servants. But Steve himself was nothing worthwhile.

Women were worth something; well… daughters were. In Steve’s mind, it all seemed a bit twisted. The women he knew were only as good as their selling price, not seen for their minds or strength. It confounded him most days, considering they could rule better than he ever could. They probably should rule instead. Still, in most family’s eyes, although their worth was demeaning, but it was still worth.

Steve Harrington didn’t hold any value. Most saw him at best as the damaged heir, broken and bruised beyond repair. Others saw him at worst as his father saw him, as a disappointment who would only make good helping running the ship under the man Richard wished was his son.

Steve was almost certain he could be lost at sea, and no one would ever bat an eye.

So Steve is baffled, really, when one of the few times his ships is back in port and he stays a rare night in his family’s estate.

Perplexed when the rooms are broken into and raided in the time before dawn by the ruthless crew of Hellfire, that they come looking for more than gold. He is baffled, and downright alarmed when, instead of killing Steve as they had for many of the guards, they rip him away and steal him, much like the gold that lined the halls.

And when he meets the dreaded Captain Munson for the first time, where he brushes a thumb across the scar on Steve’s lip…Steve can’t help but be stunned into silence when Munson mutters under his breath, “Looks like we found our hidden treasure.”

[writing-to-survive]

#230

"I am not a pirate."

"You and I just stole a ship."