thetrinityplanets

[thetrinityplanets]

When writing always remember… a character flaw is only a flaw until becomes useful. 

Is your protagonist manipulative? Well that’s awful… until they manipulate the antagonist into making a decision that saves the lives of their friends. 

Is your protagonist a skeptic? Well that’s not good… until someone tries to lie to them. 

Is your protagonist overprotective? That sucks… until someone they love is in danger. 

Is your protagonist remorseless? Well that makes them pretty unlikeable… until a hard decision has to be made. 

[thetrinityplanets]

“WRITE IT BADLY. Write it badly, write it badly, write it badly, write it badly. Stop what you’re doing, open a Word document, put a pencil on some paper, just get the idea out of your head. Let it be good later. Write it down now. Otherwise it will die in there.”

— Brandon Sanderson on overcoming writer’s block to create a first draft as a professional author

[thetrinityplanets]

muse things send a prompt for some character facts.

SELF + HEALTH

how do they see themselves?  

how do they want to be seen by others?

what is their life motto?

would they rather lead or follow? 

what motivates them?

are they most likely to fight with their fists or their tongue?

do they have any pet peeves?

what do they most regret?

what achievement are they most proud of? 

what would they like to improve on?

do they have any scars?

do they have a disability?

do they have any allergies or food intolerances?

do they have any long-term illnesses or injuries?

PERSONALITY

describe their personality in one word.

their predominant emotion?

someone wrongs them. do they respond with revenge or forgiveness?

do they make snap judgments or take time to consider? 

are they a glass half-full or a glass half-empty kind of person?

do they express themselves through words or deeds? 

how often do they lie?

do they listen to their head or their heart while making a decision?

HABITS

how organized/disorganized are they?

do they have any routines?

talk about their mannerisms.

is there an item they take with them wherever they go?

good habits and bad habits.

THOUGHTS

their views on formal education vs self-education?

what are their thoughts on animals?

how much do they care what people think about them?

do they enjoy being the center of attention? why or why not?

how do they feel about learning?

which do they value more: creativity or practicality?

thoughts on material possessions?

would they rather win an argument or avoid conflict?

views on people in general?

what qualities do they admire in other people?

how do they feel about fun? 

what do they want written on their tombstone?

what would an ideal day, in their mind, be like?

thoughts on privacy? (are they private or are they “tmi”?)

thoughts on superstitions or the occult? (do they believe, not believe, etc.)

what are their religious views?

WHAT IF’S

if they could go anywhere, where would they go?

if they could change anything, what would they choose?

if they could only bring two things with them, what what they be?

if they could go back in time and undo one of their own actions, which would it be?

if they could contact one person for help, who would it be?

if they could save one person, who would it be?

if they had good news, who would hear it first?

if they were leaving, who get the first goodbye? 

LAST TIMES

when was the last time they cried?

when was the last time they smiled?

when was the last time they laughed?

when was the last time they felt brave?

when was the last time they felt scared?

THE PAST

where did they grow up?

how would they describe their family?

what was their childhood like?

what did they want to be when they grew up? 

as a child, what were they most likely to be found doing?

the worst thing that has ever happened to them.

the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to them.

the best thing that has ever happened to them.

which memory stands out most clearly?

THE FUTURE

biggest and smallest short term goal?

biggest and smallest long term goal?

where do they see themselves 5 years from today?

do they believe in happy endings?

are they afraid of dying? why or why not?

TOUGH STUFF

do they have any phobias?

do they get nightmares?

what kind of person are they?

would they let someone take the blame for something they did?

what are they insecure about?

what is one way to earn their trust?

what is one way to lose their trust?

one thing they would hate anyone to know about them.

they have to pick one: to be loved, to be feared, or to be admired.

have they ever been bullied or teased?

FUN STUFF

what is their character archetype?

what are they confident about?

talk about their moral alignment.

describe them in three words.

describe their aesthetic.

what will make them laugh?

what makes them feel safe?

favorite color and the reason for it. 

favorite book genre?

favorite movie genre?

favorite type of muse?

if they could have a superpower, what would they choose?

do they have a role model?

what is their personal kryptonite?  

how do they entertain themselves?

[thetrinityplanets]

[thetrinityplanets]

Chaotic Nuetral Date Ideas

1. Break into an abandoned building, bring drinks and a camera and take cryptic photos of each other

2. Watch the sunset/stargaze from the rooftop of a building

3. Go on a walk in the woods at night together, listen to all the noises of the night

4. Go do some light anti-fascist vandalism together

5. (If necessary) flee the scene together

6. Go thrift shopping together and pick out the weirdest outfit for each other and then stroll around town wearing them.

7. Walk down some train tracks and see where they lead

8. Get stoned at a concert together

9. Go to Waffle House at 5am and be as cryptic as possible

10. Get kicked out of the mall together

11. Punch nazis

12. Catch and release toads after giving them all affectionate names

13. Have a tea party in a graveyard and keep the spirits company

14. Get lost together, wander and see what you can find.

—-feel free to add some more questionably legal and/or chaotic date ideas!!——(be gay so crime)

[thetrinityplanets]

I am a(n):

⚪ Male

⚪ Female

🔘 Writer

Looking for

⚪ Boyfriend

⚪ Girlfriend

🔘 An incredibly specific word that I can't remember

[thetrinityplanets]

Minor Annoyances of Writing Fantasy

the number of weird words you end up adding to your word processor’s dictionary, just so your screen isn’t filled with red squiggles

the number of supplemental files containing world building information you need to KEEP OPEN at all times

the truly bizarre things you need to research (”Hmmm… does it make more sense for my merpeople to be based on dolphin biology or fish biology?” or “wait, this character is half dragon? HOW? I feel like I need to understand how that would happen… let’s see if there are any existing mythos for it…” or “Just how damaging is mistletoe to an oak tree? What other trees have a susceptibility to mistletoe? What about other parasitic plants?”)

creating new slang, axioms, and proverbs that make sense in a world unlike our own

trying to maintain a consistent level of technological advancement across multiple aspects of culture

names for things that are not characters

Feel free to add your own!

[thetrinityplanets]

Freddie, drunk: If cats knew what sin was, they wouldn't even care.

Roger, equally as drunk: I don't care either, fuck trigonometry.

[thetrinityplanets]

“Why do men spit so much? can’t stand the taste of their own lies?”

— Peggy Carter.

[thetrinityplanets]

“Dear Diary, my teen angst bullshit has a body count.”

— Peter Parker.

[thetrinityplanets]

James: We have to stop being so intolerant.

Sirius: Who? Society? I know.

James: No, us. You and me. We're arseholes.

[thetrinityplanets]

Character 1, talking about something: because that is some petty mortal bullshit right there

Character 2: You’re also a human though

Character 1, realizing their mistake: Ah yes, of course. I am the most humany human that ever humaned

[thetrinityplanets]

New writing rule: Checkov’s friend

If you introduce a named character with a relationship to a protagonist, their character arc must be resolved in a way that feels reasonable and satisfying

Which is to say: they can’t just dissappear when they’re no longer a convenient plot device

[thetrinityplanets]

i was once annoyed at myself for being obsessed with soapmaking for 3 straight months and making way too much soap but now im not. i can give heaps of soap to everyone in a 20 mile radius of me. 

AND i have plenty of precious little eggs from my illegal chickens. only the neighbors who didnt snitch to the HOA get free eggs though. bet you wish you had some fresh eggs right now huh RICHARD

[thetrinityplanets]

“I am very laid back. I only care about two things: every person on earth and their opinion of me, and the psychological weight of being alive.”

— Sirius Black, likely.

[thetrinityplanets]

ATTENTION WRITERS

Google BetaBooks. Do it now. It’s the best damn thing EVER.

You just upload your manuscript, write out some questions for your beta readers to answer in each chapter, and invite readers to check out your book!

It’s SO easy!

You can even track your readers! It tells you when they last read, and what chapter they read!

Your beta readers can even highlight and react to the text!!!

There’s also this thing where you can search the website for available readers best suited for YOUR book!

Seriously guys, BetaBooks is the most useful website in the whole world when it comes to beta reading, and… IT’S FREE.

[thetrinityplanets]

Earth Deities for Earth Day.