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Writing x Characters When You Aren’t x, A Masterlist

x: a variable used to represent something unknown.

We’ve seen an influx of questions about how to write stories based around characters of color, disability, non-binary, etc. when the author does not fall into these categories. Rather than have these posts take over the site, we’ve decided to compile a list of resources to help our fellow writers become more educated about writing what they do not immediately know. However, this list is not the end-all-be-all of knowledge; one should always try to learn from someone with first hand experience in any topic. The world is constantly growing and changing, and because of that, there will always be more to learn. The admins at Plotline Hotline want to help writers form respectful, informed, and realistic characters that broaden the narrow range we see in literature today. 

*Be wary that some of the topics listed below contain sensitive material. Reader discretion is advised.* 

As always, the links I found to be especially apt will be in bold. Topics are listed alphabetically, excepting the “other” section.

Culture

Appropriate Cultural Appropriation

What is Cultural Appropriation? [1,2,3]

Cultural Appropriation Is, In Fact, Indefensible

Voice Appropriation & Writing About Other Cultures

Diversity, Appropriation, and Writing the Other [List]

Disability

Writing Disibilities [1,2,3,4,5]

Guides to Writing Deaf or Hard of Hearding People

National Association of the Deaf - Resources [List]

World Federation of the Deaf

Using a Prosthetic Device

Prostehtic Limbs (Character Guide)

How NOT to Write Disabled Characters

A Guide to Disibility Rights Law (United States)

Timeline of Disibility Rights in the United States

Social Security Disability: List of Impairments, Medical Conditions, and Problems [List] (United States)

How to Write Disabled Characters: An Opinion Piece

Artificial Eye Resources [List][Various]

Adapting to the Loss of an Eye

Misconceptions and Myths About Blindness

Blind Characters: A Process of Awareness

Writing Blind Characters [List]

Types of Learning Disabilities [List]

Diversity

A Guide to Spotting and Growing Past Stereotypes

How to Prepare to Write a Diverse Book

The Diversity of Writing

Why Diversity Matters for Everyone

Writing a Driverse Book [1,2,3,4,5]

Diversity, Political Correctness and The Power of Language

Diversity Book List [List][Books]

Basic Tips To Write Subcultures & Minority Religions Better 

Basic Tips to Avoid Tokenism

Gender

GLAAD Media Reference Guide - Transgender

Creating Well-Written Trans Characters

A Few Things Writers Need To Know About Sexuality & Gender Expression

Trans (Character Guide & Bio Building)

A Non-Binary Person’s Guide to Invented Pronouns

Gender Neutral Writing [List]

Keeping a Trans* Person a Person  

Suggestions for Reducing Gendered Terms in Language [Photo]

How to Review a Trans Book as a Cis Person

Writing Characters of Different Genders [List]

Understanding Gender

Gender Spectrum Resources [List]

Gender History

Illness 

Writing Chronic Illness [1,2]

The Spoon Theory - Also pertains to disibility

About HIV/AIDS

Sexually Transmitted Diseases [List]

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sex and Gender Differences in Health [Study]

All Chronic Illness Topics [List]

Coping with Chronic Illness

All Cancer Types

A Day in the Life of a Home Health Aide/Health Coach

Fiction Books With Chronically Ill Main Characters- Not Cancer [List][Books]

Neurotype (Including Mental Health)

Writing an Autistic Character When You Don’t Have Autism

Depression Resources [List]

What to Consider When Writing Mental Illness

Stanford Psychiatric Patient Care

Inpatient Psychiatric Questions and Tips

Don’t Call Me Crazy [Documentary]

(Avoid) Romanticizing Mental Illness [1,2]

A Day in the Life of a Mental Hospital Patient

State-run vs. Private Mental Hospitals

Mental Disorders

Mental Hospital Non-Fiction [List][Books]

National Institute of Mental Health - Mental Health Information [List]

Writing Autistic

What Causes PTSD?

Remember, Remember: The Basics of Writing Amnesia

ADHD Basic Information

What is a Learning Disability?

What is Neurotypical?

Race

Writing Race: A Checklist for Authors

Transracial Writing for the Sincere

Is my character “black enough”

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

Challenge, Counter, Controvert: Subverting Expectations

Writing With Color: Blogs - Recs - Resources [List]

Writing People of Color (If you happen to be a person of another color)

7 Offensive Mistakes Well-Intentioned Writers Make

Description Guide - Words for Skin Tone

Religion

Religion in Novels: Terrific or Taboo?

How to Write a Fantasy Novel that Sells: The Religion

Writing About Faith And Religion

From Aladdin to Homeland: How Hollywood Can Reinforce Racial and Religious Stereotypes 

Sexuality

Understanding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity [List]

Writing Gay Characters [1,2,3]

American Civil Liberties Union - LGBT+ Rights

LGBT+ Rights by Country or Territory

History of Gay Rights

Gay Rights Movement

LGBT+ Culture

Gay Myths and Stereotypes

LGBT+ Studies Web Sites [List]

LGBTQ Youth Issues

LGBTData.com

Overview of Gay and Lesbian Parenting, Adoption and Foster Care (United States)

Other

How Doctors’ Offices—and Queer Culture—Are Failing Autistic LGBTQ People

Five Traps and Tips for Character Development

Developing Realistic Characters

I hope that this list will provide topics a writer may not initially think to research when writing. If there are any resources that you think would be fitting for this list, please let us know! We want to have as many helpful sources as possible to maximize learning opportunities. 

Stay educated,

xx Sarah

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literally what is the point of having a second account for this random shit and not using it smh

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Desiko didn’t know what the fuck was happening anymore.

Only maybe twenty minutes ago, she had been nominated to find Glow and talk to her. Fifteen minutes ago, Desiko caught wind of someone being paranoid that some ‘blonde chick looked like she was considering jumping’. Ten minutes ago, Desiko had practically hunted down Glow by rumour alone, which nearly had Desiko laughing bitterly at the irony. In ten minutes, she’d managed to somehow talk to Glow without starting an argument.

And somewhere to the end of those ten minutes, Glow had suddenly collapsed into what Desiko wanted to call either a full blown fucking meltdown or an anxiety attack.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out Desiko didn’t know how to deal with high emotions. She barely understood her own outside of frustration, worry, and happiness. There was a reason Desiko left all of mushy-feely things to Neo or Glow or whoever else. Shit, even Nyx, notorious for being detached from a lot of the emotion spectrum, was better than Desiko. Though that was more up to the fact Nyx knew how to filter through the emotion to the problem and talk through it.

If it’s a problem Desiko can’t kill or argue with, then there was no hope. And Glow had been hyperventilating on the floor looking one step away from being thrown into a full on panic attack, something Desiko had, admittedly, never seen from Glow.

Which is why, imagine her fucking surprise, when Desiko impulsively pulled Glow into a hug, Glow had frozen for barely even a heartbeat before crushing Desiko into a tighter and more desperate hug. Desiko had moved to try sit more comfortably, and Glow had moved with her, sobbing heavily and clutching onto Desiko with panicked urgency.

When Glow had stopped crying, Desiko didn’t say anything. Or move. Glow’s grip on her shirt relaxed, and for a fleeting moment of uncomfortable hope Desiko hoped Glow was going to back away. Maybe apologise for using Desiko as a sob pillow and they’d stand up and Desiko could continue prying answers and a conversation out of her. Get across the memo that yeah, what you did was fucking horrible and you kinda deserved what you got, but also we don’t hate you nearly as much as you think we do and you’re a fucking idiot.

And, as Desiko had learned long ago, it was foolish to assume Desiko knew what Glow was going to do. Because suddenly Glow was slumping against her chest and practically dead weight, supported only by Desiko herself. What the fuck.

A nervous glance at Glow’s face--still tearstained, for all the annoying stab of pain in her chest noticed--told her all she needed and also didn’t want to know.

Desiko had seen Glow asleep a handful of times. Once, back in University when Neo and Ace had dragged Glow into a cuddle pile she’d ended up at the bottom of. Another was a few years ago when she’d managed to fall asleep in Nyx’s lap, and a few days later when Glow had latched onto Blossom trying to get Blossom to sit still and relax. Then two years ago when Nyx, Blossom, Ace, Neo, and Glow had ended up in a cuddle pile during one of Blossom and Neo’s obligatory movie nights.

She knew Glow only ever slept when in physical contact with someone else. Mainly only because the minute Nyx had managed to peel herself away that one time, Glow had shot up and acted like nothing happened. And when Blossom dumped Glow off her lap Glow had reacted like someone had shot a gun by her head. Then the cuddle pile, everyone had started to move away when Glow had suddenly woken up, and if Desiko hadn’t known Glow did fall asleep, she’d have thought Glow was wide awake the whole time.

Once is an incident, twice is a coincidence, three’s a pattern.

And apparently, Desiko added to herself just shy of sourly as she moved as slowly as her struggling body could take to move Glow to carry her, four is a fact.

Lifting Glow wasn’t as hard of a task as Desiko would’ve thought. What was a hard task, though, was ignoring the baffled looks when she all but kicked the door open to the room Neo was in. 

Blossom looked damn near incredulous, pinching her arm before giving Desiko an even more bewildered look. Nyx, on the other hand, had simply nodded at Desiko before sending a curious look at Glow, frowning when she must’ve noticed the tear tracks that still hadn’t lost the faint sheen of water. Lurine, still sitting at the foot of the bed with his back to the wall and knees to his chest and looking more like a frightened kid than a thousand year old Sckrai, only looked at Glow with sympathy before he was looking back at Neo. Ace and Cade were still nowhere to be seen.

“So,” Blossom drew out, eyebrow raised when no one spoke. “Story?” Desiko shot her a dirty glare. Blossom amusedly huffed. “Alright, damn, fine.”

Desiko gave Blossom a sarcastic eye roll, eyes sweeping over the room before sighing and depositing Glow against the wall, sliding down to pull Glow into a one armed hug before she had the abrupt reaction of looking like she’d gotten suddenly stabbed and jolting awake. Blossom’s confused expression only deepened, bordering dangerously on hysteric. Nyx kicked Blossom’s shin lightly before speaking, ignoring Blossom’s indignant ‘hey!’.

“I presume there’s an explanation?” She asked with a lot more worry than Desiko was used to. Desiko nodded anyway.

“I have no fucking idea what the fuck happened,” Desiko started dryly, drawing a snort from Blossom, who she shot a quick glare. “She just zoned out and then suddenly had a weird as fuck breakdown. Looked like an anxiety attack, I don’t fuckin’ know.”

If Desiko sounded worried, nobody commented on it. Blossom winced in sympathy just as Nyx’s frown deepened, crossing the short gap to crouch in front of them. Nyx, surprisingly, showed restraint by not reaching out to analyse whatever she could without stirring Glow, instead scanning over her face like she was looking for something that Desiko definitely didn’t know about. Whether Nyx did or didn’t find it, Desiko didn’t actually know when Nyx leaned away, a soft sigh escaping her as she turned back, sitting in a chair against the adjacent wall. From the bed, Lurine was watching them all curiously.

“Is--” Lurine started hesitantly, flinching back when all eyes turned to him. He looked like he was floundering for a moment before he spoke again, much more hesitant. “Is... her eye okay? The right?” That earned from confused and panicked looks, scanning over Glow’s face.

Desiko blinked. She hadn’t really been paying attention to what Glow had been doing while having her sudden breakdown, moreso trying to figure out what the fuck she was supposed to do. But, thinking back, Glow had mostly covered her right eye.

“I have no fucking idea.” Is what escaped Desiko’s mouth.

Lurine considered it for a moment. “I dunno what happened,” he said quietly, “but the- the… It did, um. Something.” Lurine paused, curling in on himself as he searched for words. “It kept… It kept trying to go for her right. Sh’said something about a symbol. I think.” He winced, hiding his face in his knees. “‘M sorry. I don’t know anything else.”

Nyx offered him a tired smile. “That’s alright. You don’t have to talk about anything you’re uncomfortable with.” She gave Desiko a cautious look. “It’s something.”

Desiko couldn’t help the feeling that it wasn’t just a small, insignificant ‘something’.

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Dialogue Prompt

“God, you’re infuriating! I could kill you!”

“No, you can’t. This would be the third time this week that you've tried. Give it up.”

“...Then I’ll hide the pudding cups to thwart you instead. ”

“Wait please, I’ll do anything-"

- submission by _sco0bby_ on Instagram

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tag the oc who lives with a close friend

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tag the oc who you associate with the color pink

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tag the oc who knows how to do cpr

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☺ Love-Hate Roommates Prompts ☺

“It’s your turn to do the dishes!”

“Do I seriously have to make a chores chart? What are we, five?”

“Did you hide my keys?”

“I’m never inviting my family here. I can’t let them know I share a place with a freak.”

“When am I gonna meet your parents? We are pretty much an old married couple by now.”

“Please don’t say we’re married.”

“I’m making a phone call, please don’t scream nonsense again.”

“Are you using my hairbrush as a microphone?”

“You forgot to close the window!”

“Don’t ignore me!”

“How many packages do you get in a week?”

“No one took your package, you just forgot to put it away, so I hid it under your bed.”

“Did you eat my leftovers?”

“Why would you make pancakes without me?”

“Please stop talking. I’m losing brain cells.”

“Oh, great, your friends are over. Guess I’ll be leaving.”

“You’re insufferable this early in the morning.”

“How on Earth did I get to room with a morning person?”

“We can’t get a dog. We already have you to mess up the place.”

“Slam the door one more time and I’ll tear yours right off the hinges.”

“Do you need help with that?”

“Can you buy the groceries this week?”

“Do you want to watch a movie? I wasn’t going to ask but you seem down.”

“Fine, we can get a pet. But I get to name it!”

“They broke up with you? Give me their address, I’ll give them a piece of my mind.”

“They’re my roommate. Only I can make fun of them!”

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“It’s so scary when you two get the same idea at the same time without even telling each other about it.”

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Person A: “I have something to tell you.”

Person B: “Oooh~ Are you about to profess your undying love for me?”

Person A: “Yes, I am.”

Person B: “…..What?”

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I don’t honestly need to post this anywhere but I mean, I have a blog so I may as well abuse it. :/ yeet me into the sun fisjkdgioj.

Some part of her wished the last few months were the result of a fever dream. That she had caught something while she was out picking the next stack of movies with Blossom for obligatory movie night and that right now she was lying in bed, unconscious, and experiencing a fever dream. That nothing in the past few months was real and just the result of her feverish mind creating a wild dream she could laugh about later.

Neo could easily see it. She’d wake up and her fever would break, and Ace would half-yell at her for getting sick and then tell her everything she’d missed. Like Blossom making a mess in Nyx’s room that would result in Nyx chasing Blossom around with a broom, yelling in another language while Blossom cheers happily and throwing papers behind her. Or Glow stealing Desiko’s karambits again and hiding them somewhere in the bushes and the two of them spending a whole day of hide-and-seek that wound up with Glow in a headlock and Desiko stealing Glow’s array of crystals. And Eve and Ace creating a ruckus at the nearest coffee shop that causes them to be ‘politely escorted out’, which everyone knew they’d been kicked out.

She’d get up and Glow would literally tackle her to the ground in a bone-crushing hug and reprimand her for getting sick, rephrasing exactly what Ace would’ve said to Neo prior. Blossom would sneakily hand her a sugar sachet and distract Nyx by sending her into a science spiral that would inevitably become an argument of how stupid science is. Nyx would sigh and shake her head, telling them all that Neo was always going to be fine, it wasn’t serious at all. Desiko would snort and comment how Glow thought the opposite, and it would quickly spiral into the usual banter as Ace joins in and the topic changes five times in a minute.

At some point, Neo would bring up her strange dream. Nyx would shake her head and list all the ways it was impossible, chronologically and alphabetically. Blossom would look completely ecstatic and go into detail about random things. Desiko would snort and say Blossom was sneaking Neo sugars somehow and inevitably end up in an argument with Glow, who would’ve looked at Neo like she’d grown two heads, about if she really did have a secret life they didn’t know about. And Ace and Eve would look at Neo for moments of silence before practically demanding details about who they were in her weird fever dream.

All would be as it should.

Which is why Neo wasn’t sure why the image of that being true felt so…wrong. Uncomfortable. The part of her that wanted it to be true crowed on and on about the idea she wasn’t really awake. But the other part of her felt like it was wrong, in some twisted way. That the world she wished was real felt…empty, somehow. Like it was missing something.

Someone, it supplied.

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Prompt

“Why are you crying?”

A looked at B. How little they knew about the world, how little death and destruction they had experienced. They had no right to let silver line their eyes and fall to the forsaken ground.

“Because you don’t need to know someone well to feel the pain.”

- submission by yourworst391 on Instagram

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Injury Profiles: Sprained Ankle

Welcome back to Mangled Mondays, where every Monday we talk about another facet of maiming, mangling, mauling, and mistreating your main characters — and all of their friends. 

Today we’ll be talking about Sprained Ankles. While this injury seems fairly superficial, it can actually affect your character’s mobility for years and has a very high risk of reocurrance! 

For the rest of the Mangled Mondays series, [click here].

QUICK HEADS UP: Due to the way the holidays are falling this year, this will be the last Mangled Monday of 2017. I’m taking 12/25 through 1/1 off of the blog completely. Mangled Mondays will resume on January 8th 2017. Thanks and happy holidays to those who celebrate!

Lethality Index

1

What Is It?

An ankle sprain is a tear in the ligaments that hold the ankle together. There are many variations of the injury, but this entry will only deal with the most common: the lateral ankle sprain.

Ankle sprains range from extremely mild (Grade I) through completely debilitating (Grade III). The grade of the sprain is based upon the amount of damage done to the tendons.

A Grade I ankle sprain doesn’t typically require medical attention. These injuries involve some pain and swelling, but can bear weight very well and don’t really affect a character’s quality of life. Grade I sprains won’t be discussed further in this entry, as their impact and care are minor.

A Grade II sprain has moderate pain, swelling, and bruising. The stability of the joint has begun to be affected, and it’s painful and difficult to bear weight on the affected ankle. Walking will be poor if it’s possible at all.

A Grade III sprain is one in which the ligament involved has torn completely and is severed. The pain and swelling are immense, and the character can’t bear weight on the ankle or walk.

Clinical Signs:

Tenderness, swelling, and bruising on the lateral side of the affected ankle.

When examined, Grade II and III sprains will show some instability of the joint.

Pain upon motion of the ankle during examination which mimics the mechanics of how the foot was injured.

Symptoms:

Inability to bear weight (Grade II – partial; Grade III – total).

How Does It Happen?

Ankle sprains happen when the calf is going one way and the foot goes another. Almost exclusively, this happens when…

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Keep reading

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QUESTION IDEAS #10

Some more question-based dialogue to include in your writing. (Be creative and use these in any context you desire) 

“Are you ready?”

“What did you wish for?”

“How is this my fault?”

“Is this really necessary?”

“What time is it?”

“How was your day?”

“Want some company?”

“Why me?”

“What’s going on?”

“Where does it hurt?”

“Are you busy?”

“Who told you that?”

“Why didn’t you listen to me?”

“Is it working?”

“Are you warm enough?”

“Who are you talking to?”

“When will you be home?”

“Is that even possible?”

“Do you want me to stop?”

“What’s the point?”

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Prompts #62

Villain working for the heroes edition:

- “I am done!” Villain screamed. “I have tried and tried and nothing will change their opinions of me! To hell with them all, if they want a villain so badly then by god, they’re going to get one!”

- “They… they accept me? W.why?” “you just saved the whole city,“ Hero answered as if it was obvious. “But… that doesn’t mean anything, anyone would save it if they lived here.“ Hero smiled sadly, “No, they wouldn’t.”

- “You can’t just force me to be a hero!” Villain retorted, folding their arms. Hero held up the contract, “Actually, I can, and trust me, I’m no happier about it than you are, not put on the suit.”

- Hero knelt down by Villain’s battered body. “W.what happened? Why didn’t you fight? You could have took them,” Hero asked in shock. “B.because I was afraid I.I’d go too far, h.hurt them… Didn’t want to get in trouble…“

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Person A: “Did…..did I just get adopted?”

Person B: “Yep.”

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Writing Prompt #1197

The morning after the battle, her brain held nothing more than fog and regret. She pressed her fingers against the hot tin of her cup, hoping to find its usual comfort, but instead barely registered its burn.

She had lost friends. Allies. And she was beginning to think her faith would be next.

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I will never ever ever ever EVER be over Character A barely surviving something and Character B being so overcome with relief they just have to clutch A and bury their face in A's neck while A tells them it's okay.