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Engaged ❤️

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12 Red Herrings to Keep Your Readers Distracted

I’ve seen mystery/thriller authors use the same handful of red herrings too many times to count. So here are some (hopefully not as common) red herrings for your writing. 

1. The Unreliable Narrator's Bias

Your narrator can play favourites and scheme and twist the way your readers interpret the story. Use this to your advantage! A character portrayed as untrustworthy can really be someone innocent the narrator framed, vice versa. 

2. The Loyal Traitor

A character with a history of betrayal or questionable loyalty is an obvious suspect. They did it once, they could do it again, right? Wrong! They’ve actually changed and the real traitor is someone you trusted. 

3. The Conflicted Expert

An expert—like a detective, scientist, or historian—analyses a piece of evidence. They’re ultimately wrong, either due to bias, missing data, or pressure to provide quick answers.

4. The Overly Competent Ally

You know that one sidekick or ally who’s somehow always ahead of the curve? They’re just really knowledgeable, your characters know this, but it makes it hard to trust them. Perfection is suspicious! But in this case, they’re actually just perfect. 

5. The Misleading Emotional Clue

Maybe one of your characters is seen crying, angry, or suspiciously happy after xyz event. Characters suspect them, but turns out they’re just having a personal issue. (People have lives outside of yours MC smh). Or it could be a cover-up. 

6. A Misleading Alibi

At first this character’s alibi seems perfect but once the protag digs into it, it has a major hole/lie. Maybe they were in a different location or the person they claimed to be with was out of town. 

7. The Odd Pattern

Have a seemingly significant pattern—symbols left at crime scenes, items stolen in a specific order, crimes on specific dates. Then make it deliberately planted to mislead.

8. The Misinterpreted Relationship

A character was secretly close to a victim/suspect, making them a suspect. Turns out they were hiding a completely unrelated secret; an affair, hidden family connection, etc.

9. A Forgotten Grudge

Create a grudge or past feud and use it to cast suspicion on an innocent character. Introducing an aspect of their past also helps flesh out their character and dynamics as a group + plant distrust. 

10. The Faked Death

Luke Castellan, need I say more (I will)? A supposedly innocent character dies, but turns out they faked it and were never a victim in the first place. They just needed to be out of the picture. 

11. The Mistaken Eavesdropper 

A character overhears a threat, argument, etc. They suspect B based on this convo, but turns out they just came to a false conclusion. (Or did they?)

12. The Forgetful Alibi 

Someone confesses to hearing/seeing a clue, but turns out they were mistaken. Maybe they thought they heard a certain ringtone, or saw xyz which C always wears, but their memory was faulty or influenced by stress.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!

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10 Lethal Injuries to Add Pain to Your Writing

Prev: Non-Lethal Injury Ideas

Need some creative ways to give your characters a real fight for survival? Here are 10 ideas: 

1. Punctured Artery

A puncture to major arteries like the femoral artery (thigh), the carotid artery (neck), or radial artery (arm) can cause rapid blood loss. It starts off with a sharp pain, weakness, lightheadedness and eventually can lead to hypovolemic shock. Requires urgent medical attention.

2. Punctured Eye Socket

A punctured eye socket will cause blood vessel damage leading to internal bleeding. I would use this for non-combat characters trying to get away. The eyes are an easy weak spot + you don’t need much strength to cause a critical injury/puncture. Also good for a protag's tragic backstory.

3. Torn Achilles Tendon

A torn Achilles tendon can result in severe bleeding if nearby arteries or veins are damaged. Your character will be forced to hobble away as pain causes their foot to swell and bruise. Plus, you can easily adjust the pain levels per your scene, from swift cuts to explosive jumps. 

4. Neck Hyperextension (Hangman’s Fracture)

This injury will fracture the C2 vertebra and can lead to spinal cord damage, paralysis or sudden death. This isn’t a light injury your character can come back from, so I would suggest using it only when you’re aiming for death.

5. Pierced Lung

A punctured lung will lead to a pneumothorax where air escapes into the chest cavity, collapsing the lung. Characters with this injury may have difficulty breathing, chest pain, and a cough that produces frothy blood (all the dramatics you need). 

6. Severe Concussion

A severe concussion will lead to confusion, vomiting, immobility and memory loss. More dangerously, brain swelling, internal bleeding and damaged brain tissue. Plus, it has a long recovery period. 

7. Shattered Pelvis

If you need something severe that restricts mobility but also causes severe pain then this is perfect! Involves signs of shock, internal bleeding, numbness, swelling—really a lot of things. Can occur if OC falls from a high place, hit repeatedly, car accident, etc.  

8. Internal Bleeding from Blunt Force Trauma

I like using this when you need something subtle since it doesn't show immediate symptoms. Over time, they will feel weak, cold, nauseous, and intense pain. Perfect if you want that 'everyone made it out then suddenly someone collapses' moment. 

9. Intestinal Perforation

A sharp blow or penetrating wound can cause a tear in the intestines, leaking bacteria into the body cavity, then peritonitis. It can go from small stomach pain to near death pretty quickly. Without prompt medical care, sepsis can set in, causing organ failure and death.

10. Cut to the Jugular

If you need something more visibly dramatic then go with the classic cut to the jugular. A warm rush of blood will pour out, and blood would spurt with every heartbeat. Causes panic, choking, and internal bleeding too. All the blood and gore you need. 

This is a quick, brief list of ideas to provide writers inspiration. Since it is a shorter blog, I have not covered the injuries in detail. Remember the worse the injury the more likely your character is to die (so be realistic folks). Happy writing! :)

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!

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Other Words for "Look" + With meanings | List for writers

Many people create lists of synonyms for the word 'said,' but what about the word 'look'? Here are some synonyms that I enjoy using in my writing, along with their meanings for your reference. While all these words relate to 'look,' they each carry distinct meanings and nuances, so I thought it would be helpful to provide meanings for each one.

Gaze - To look steadily and intently, especially in admiration or thought.

Glance - A brief or hurried look.

Peek - A quick and typically secretive look.

Peer - To look with difficulty or concentration.

Scan - To look over quickly but thoroughly.

Observe - To watch carefully and attentively.

Inspect - To look at closely in order to assess condition or quality.

Stare - To look fixedly or vacantly at someone or something.

Glimpse - To see or perceive briefly or partially.

Eye - To look or stare at intently.

Peruse - To read or examine something with great care.

Scrutinize - To examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.

Behold - To see or observe a thing or person, especially a remarkable one.

Witness - To see something happen, typically a significant event.

Spot - To see, notice, or recognize someone or something.

Contemplate - To look thoughtfully for a long time at.

Sight - To suddenly or unexpectedly see something or someone.

Ogle - To stare at in a lecherous manner.

Leer - To look or gaze in an unpleasant, malicious way.

Gawk - To stare openly and stupidly.

Gape - To stare with one's mouth open wide, in amazement.

Squint - To look with eyes partially closed.

Regard - To consider or think of in a specified way.

Admire - To regard with pleasure, wonder, and approval.

Skim - To look through quickly to gain superficial knowledge.

Reconnoiter - To make a military observation of a region.

Flick - To look or move the eyes quickly.

Rake - To look through something rapidly and unsystematically.

Glare - To look angrily or fiercely.

Peep - To look quickly and secretly through an opening.

Focus - To concentrate one's visual effort on.

Discover - To find or realize something not clear before.

Spot-check - To examine something briefly or at random.

Devour - To look over with eager enthusiasm.

Examine - To inspect in detail to determine condition.

Feast one's eyes - To look at something with great enjoyment.

Catch sight of - To suddenly or unexpectedly see.

Clap eyes on - To suddenly see someone or something.

Set eyes on - To look at, especially for the first time.

Take a dekko - Colloquial for taking a look.

Leer at - To look or gaze in a suggestive manner.

Rubberneck - To stare at something in a foolish way.

Make out - To manage to see or read with difficulty.

Lay eyes on - To see or look at.

Pore over - To look at or read something intently.

Ogle at - To look at in a lecherous or predatory way.

Pry - To look or inquire into something in a determined manner.

Dart - To look quickly or furtively.

Drink in - To look at with great enjoyment or fascination.

Bask in - To look at or enjoy something for a period of time.

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OBVIOUSLY nobody should ever be abused and abuse is bad and abusers should not be coddled. I went through abuse myself, I know this

that being said. I don't think being a victim of abuse gives you the right to go around telling people that they remind you of your abuser for reasons they cannot control. it is unkind, unfair, and incredibly manipulative to treat other people this way. I don't care if it is because your abuser was an addict, or had a particular religious background, or had a particular disorder, or something else entirely. you cannot hold an entire group of people responsible for what happened to you

you are not morally obligated to spend time with people who remind you of your abuser. but you are morally obligated to treat other people with dignity and respect

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Stephen stole my jacket so he could sleep.

Pardon me while I begin to sob.

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These things are fun, thanks for tagging me lol

The quiz basically gave me my favorite thing to write, so that's really neat.

I'll tag @nyxl0x and @the-martyrfication-of-the-matron (so sorry if you dislike being tagged) ❤️

Consider yourself tagged if you are reading this:

Make this picrew of yourself

Take this uquiz (How Fandom Would See You If You Were A Fictional Character)

Thank you for the tag @machiavellli !

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WHATS NRFTI WHAT DOES IT STAND FOR? also what's the general plot please i must know

No Rest For The Innocent,

An original science fiction story written by a team of eight people - first created in 2014. The prequel story is currently being rewritten and is almost completed, titled Colored Comas.

With a story similar to series like The Maze Runner, built entirely on the hopes to get readers to craft together theories, find the secrets, and unravel the story alongside the main character - Adam.

With a main cast made up entirely by a group of writers and youtubers, their lives are constantly filled with creativity and storytelling - putting out stories and other forms of content for their fan bases.

Seems innocent enough, right? Creating scripts, stories and roleplay, having fun with friends.

What, though, are you supposed to do when those same stories suddenly take on a life of their own?

Sleep is usually held as peace, relaxation. Perhaps, even an escape for some. The ability to settle down and unwind after long days, a comfort.

However, for some? Its the opposite, its avoided and feared - no escape, no peace, no comfort.

Instead, finding themselves forced to live the stories they create. Forced to act, transported into those worlds with no escape - a nightmare.

No matter how fun or playful the creation had been, there is no peace in having your autonomy ripped away from you. Eventually, forcefully stuck in a cycle of creating and living within it - you can't stay awake forever. You can't escape it.

The terror in being forced to live out scenarios you did not create. Things you could have never prepared for, never expected.

Waking up the next day, carrying physical scars from what was assumed to be a lucid dream.

Forced to navigate attempts to understand what was happening, why it was happening, desperately grasping towards any hope of an answer. That dull ache in the back of your neck.

The feeling of knowing more, something just barely out of reach, unable to reach it. Digging through fuzzed memories, unsure if those foggy feelings are real.

The stress, tension, and damage these experiences will do to even the most stable or secure groups of people. Perhaps, downfalls and rifts.

Leaving,

No Rest For The Innocent.

Clip from WARZONE, an upcoming release.

-

A tree near the edge creaked, leaves and branches ruffled and strained, shadows among the wood slipped in and out of view. Glimpses of long blue and black limbs, squishing and dragging around the tree, sending shivers down Adams back - stomach pulling and twisting. Beginning to wonder if this was a dream, recalling falling asleep, that made sense to him. A vivid, lucid, and very weird dream. It had to be, nothing made sense. He took another step back, eyes locked onto the place he saw those slithering limbs. Standing in a grass clearing, trees surrounding it in a circle shape, a stream of water splitting the area. The colors looked artificial, the grass crunched like plastic, the sun behaved as a decoration - the way it lit up the area only provided suspense, the light moved and dimmed seemingly for dramatic effect rather than being true sunlight. Everything felt so real, it was hard to convince himself that it was a dream, tightness in his throat and a forming headache. Lucid dreaming, he thought - repeating that in his head, over and over. -

Follow the blog! @colored-comas 🤍

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•《 Voices ! 🗯 》

NRFTI character voice claims! Contains most characters but definitely not everyone, let us know if we should make another part! 🤍

This is also up on YouTube, but we decided to bring the video here too. Our personal favorite is Syrus, tell us who your favorite is?

Video was edited and created by @siren--squid

Much love and appreciation for him for spending several hours putting this whole thing together in a day!!

[ reblogs are appreciated 🩶 ]

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such a profound sense of delight when I realize that a piece of media is matching my freak to the very letter. there are creators out there who are my exact kind of sicko and we are reaching out to each other as if across the cosmos.

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20 Flirty Remarks to Build Romantic Tension Without Being Overbearing

Feeling stuck trying to give your characters a good flirty one-liner that doesn't sound cringe/overdone? Here are 20 ideas/dialogue prompts for you (that I may or may not have stolen from my own books): 

“I must warn you: you have a dangerous effect on my heart rate.” / "You have no idea what you're doing to my heart right now."

"If I said I wasn’t thinking about you, I’d be lying. And I’m a terrible liar."

"You know, I could get lost in those eyes, but I'd probably trip over my words trying to find my way back." (could also double as description/inner monologue).

“I can’t tell if you’re really charming or if I’m just easily charmed.”

“You have a knack for making me forget what I was going to say. It’s kind of impressive/infuriating.”

“I think you owe me a drink. When I saw you, I dropped mine.”

“I’ve been trying to find the perfect excuse to hang out, but I keep forgetting everything when I’m around you.”

“I bet you get away with a lot of trouble with that smile.”

“You must be a magician because every time you walk in, everyone else disappears.” (The right character could pull it off I swear)

"I’ve been trying to think of something clever to say, but all my brain can come up with is how much I want to (kiss) you."

"I saw that little glance—you’re not as sneaky as you think."

"How do you manage to make even the most mundane things sound exciting?"

"You do this cute thing with your hands when you’re nervous, you know?"

“One more word, and I might just have to kiss you.”

"Finally, there's that pretty smile of yours. I've been waiting for it all day."

"You keep staring—should I be flattered?" / "Keep looking at me like that and I might start thinking you have a crush on me."

"Do you have any idea how fun it is to watch you try to keep a straight face?"

"I’m pretty sure you could charm the socks off anyone, but I’d like to keep mine on for now."

"If laughter is the best medicine, then I’m pretty sure you’re my favorite doctor."

"Is it bad that I kind of like the way you’re trying to mess with me?"

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors! Instagram Tiktok

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Friendly reminder than the surgeries that 95% of all infants born with intersex traits receive to "correct" their bodies often leave them sterilized and unable to reproduce. Reproductive justice should always include intersex people but it never fucking does.

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When your Character...

Gets into: A Fight ⚜ ...Another Fight ⚜ ...Yet Another Fight

Hates Someone ⚜ Kisses Someone ⚜ Falls in Love

Calls Someone they Love ⚜ Dies / Cheats Death ⚜ Drowns

is...

A Child ⚜ Interacting with a Baby/Child ⚜ A Genius ⚜ A Lawyer

Beautiful ⚜ Dangerous ⚜ Drunk ⚜ Injured ⚜ Shy

needs...

A Magical Item ⚜ An Aphrodisiac ⚜ A Fictional Poison

To be Killed Off ⚜ To Become Likable ⚜ To Clean a Wound

To Find the Right Word, but Can't ⚜ To Say No ⚜ A Drink

loves...

Astronomy ⚜ Baking ⚜ Cooking ⚜ Cocktails ⚜ Food ⚜ Oils

Dancing ⚜ Fashion ⚜ Gems ⚜ Mythology ⚜ Numbers

Roses ⚜ Sweets ⚜ To Fight ⚜ Wine ⚜ Wine-Tasting ⚜ Yoga

has/experiences...

Allergies ⚜ Amnesia ⚜ Bereavement ⚜ Bites & Stings ⚜ Bruises

Caffeine ⚜ CO Poisoning ⚜ Color Blindness ⚜ Food Poisoning

Injuries ⚜ Jet Lag ⚜ Mutism ⚜ Pain ⚜ Poisoning

More Pain & Violence ⚜ Viruses ⚜ Wounds

[these are just quick references. more research may be needed to write your story...]

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A List of "Beautiful" Words: Blue

for your next poem/story

Aquamarine - a pale blue to light greenish blue

Azure - the blue color of the clear sky

Berylline blue - like beryl especially in color

Cerulean - resembling the blue of the sky

Cerulescent - having a light blue color

Cyanosis - a bluish or purplish discoloration (as of skin) due to deficient oxygenation of the blood

Indigo - a deep reddish blue

Navy - a dark grayish purplish blue

Oxford blue - a blackish purple that is bluer and darker than average eggplant and bluer and deeper than Burgundy

Pavonine - of the color peacock

Peacock blue - a moderate greenish blue

Robin's-egg blue - a variable color averaging a light greenish blue that is bluer and paler than average turquoise or average turquoise blue and bluer and deeper than average aqua blue

Sapphire - a deep purplish-blue color

Turquoise - a light greenish blue

Ultramarine - a vivid blue

More: Lists of Beautiful Words ⚜ More: Word Lists

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Words to describe blood without saying crimson or blood?

Blood—the fluid that circulates in the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins of a vertebrate animal carrying nourishment and oxygen to and bringing away waste products from all parts of the body

Arterial - relating to or being the bright red blood present in most arteries that has been oxygenated in lungs or gills

Body fluid - a fluid or fluid secretion (such as blood, lymph, saliva, semen, or urine) of the body

Carmine - a vivid red

Cerise - a moderate red

Claret - a dark purplish red

Clot - a coagulated mass produced by clotting of blood

Cruor - obsolete: the clotted portion of coagulated blood

Ensanguine - to make bloody; crimson

Geranium - a vivid or strong red

Gore - blood, especially: clotted blood

Hematic - of, relating to, or containing blood

Hematoid - resembling blood

Hemoglobin - an iron-containing respiratory pigment of vertebrate red blood cells that consists of a globin composed of four subunits each of which is linked to a heme molecule, that functions in oxygen transport to the tissues after conversion to oxygenated form in the gills or lungs, and that assists in carbon dioxide transport back to the gills or lungs after surrender of its oxygen

Hemoid - resembling blood

Ichor - a thin watery or blood-tinged discharge

Incarnadine - bloodred

Juices - the natural fluids of an animal body

Maroon - a dark red

Plasma - the fluid part of blood, lymph, or milk as distinguished from suspended material

Puce - a dark red

Ruddle - red ocher (i.e., a red earthy hematite used as a pigment)

Russet - a reddish brown

Sanguine - bloodred; consisting of or relating to blood

Scarlet - any of various bright reds

Vermilion - any of various red pigments

More: Word Lists ⚜ Blood ⚜ Exsanguination ⚜ On Blood

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Hey! Can we please have some exes to lovers dialogue prompts? (I mean a list)

Thank you so much!!

Exes to Lovers Dialogue

-> feel free to edit as you see fit.

"You never really moved on, did you?"

"I hate that you still know exactly how to get under my skin."

"So, you just disappeared. Like what we had didn't mean anything to you."

"If you didn't care, then why did you keep my things?"

"We both know that walking away didn't make this any easier."

"I see you're still wearing the necklace I gave you."

"I thought I was over you... until I saw you again."

"Do you ever think about what might have happened if we had tried a little harder?"

"It was easier to be mad at you than to admit I still loved you."

"You're the last person I should want to be with, but I can't seem to stay away."

"I've changed since then and so have you."

"We were toxic together back then, but that doesn't mean we can't make it work now."

"You still know exactly how to make me laugh and I hate that."

"We weren't right for each other back then but maybe we could be now."

"I never thought we'd end up here again, but I'm glad we did."

"I forgot how good it feels to be close to you like this."

"I know we said we wouldn't fall back into old habits, but I'm okay with it, as long as you are."

"Being with you again feels like coming home."

"I'm not letting you go this time. Not again."

"I was scared that loving you again would hurt, but I'd rather face the risk than live without you."

If you like what I do and want to support me, please consider buying me a coffee! I also offer editing services and other writing advice on my Ko-fi! Become a member to receive exclusive content, early access, and prioritized writing prompt requests.

I also have a Patreon! Become a member to gain access to a Member's Only Community where you can chat and message other members and myself. Also gain access to my personal writing, which includes completed short stories, chapters from novels in progress, as well as completed scenes.