Latest Posts by an-awkward-ghost - Page 3
"Don't put numbers into your stories." Jeezus.
Guide: Keeping Numbers & Number-Related Details Straight in Your Story
I was midway through my answer when I realized this would be a good opportunity for a quick guide.
About That Post...
Honestly, I think the OP was probably a bit of a tongue-in-cheek, hyperbolic rant from a writer who had a frustrating review or critique. The problem is, a lot of people seem to be taking it as genuine/good advice, and that really concerns me.
Obviously, it's fine to be vague about dates, ages, distances, or anything else if that's what you want to do. But don't leave numbers out because you're not willing to do the work to keep your story's details straight. Doing the work to figure that stuff out and keep it straight is part of your job as a serious writer.
Hey, Buddy! Let's Do Some Research!
Look, I get it... when you're excited about a story idea, you just want to go wild and start writing. But if your story uses real world people, events, locations, items, or other elements--or heavily relies on them as inspiration--you need to sit down and do some research.
This doesn't mean you have to choose exact dates for your story if you don't want to. But if your story is loosely set in the 1880s (or inspired by an 1880s setting,) you'd better have a good idea of what did and did not exist in the 1880s so you can be sure you're not using a 1914 fashion trend or 1700s slang.
And, doing research doesn't mean you have to research every single element of your story before you start writing. You can stop and research as you go. In the middle of my writing session tonight, I spent 15 minutes researching what kind of pine tree would grow near the coast in my WIP's inspiration setting. And even though that location will never be named in my story, I care about my writing enough to take the time to make sure my details are accurate.
WQA’s Guide to Internet Research Researching an Historical Topic Writing About Difficult to Research Topics
Timelines: A Writer's Best Friend
Whether or not you choose to be specific about dates in your story, I strongly advocate the use of a story timeline, even if you're not usually a "planner." Having a detailed story timeline (that includes important back story events) helps ensure that you don't mix up dates, lose track of how much time has passed between events, or create overlapping events.
There are loads of different ways you can create a timeline, and no way is better than any other. You can jot important dates and events down on post-its, use an app, draw out a timeline on a piece of paper, create something in Word... whatever you want to do is great! Here are some different timeline styles I've used. Some of these are timelines from actual WIPs.
Standard Line Timeline
Calendar Timeline (You can print these out at Time and Date...)
Basic Scene List & Timeline
Complex Scene List & Timeline (This one is based on Save the Cat!)
Color-Coded Timeline
And, if you're like me and you have trouble keeping character ages straight throughout important back story events, I give you...
The Color-Coded Character Age Chart
And, honestly, that's how you keep numbers and number-related details straight in your story. Research and timelines. It's just that simple!
So, don't be afraid to include numbers or number-related details in your story if you want them there. :)
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Hey did you know I keep a google drive folder with linguistics and language books that I try to update regularly
Hello, My MC is nonbinary. I'm lost on a title of address for them, like Miss Mister Sir Ma'am. My story is a fantasy setting so using Mx feels out of place. They're not royalty or have any occupational title that I can use, later in the story they begin to be addressed as Healer, but other than that I can't think of a way to have other characters address them. Some people address them just by name, or as 'friend MC' but I can't apply it to everyone depending on the characters in question, specifically those of different social class. I don't want to turn sir or miss into gender neutral words because I have other trans characters and I don't want to address them in a way other than their preferred pronouns. Do I just make up a gender neutral word?
Making up a gender neutral word is totally acceptable!
I think that Mx (pronounced Mix or Mixter) would not be any more out of place than Miss or Mister, but it's okay to use something else. I know in Dragon Age they have different terms for different ranks, and plenty of fantasy novels and video games etc, all have different terminology for that sort of thing.
I think making up your own is really powerful, and probably the best route.
You might also be interested in this list of gender neutral titles from the nonbinary wiki, or this list from Gender Queeries.
- mod nat
OMG OMG LOOK!!!!!
When i tell you I screamed
🥰
Im very late for the trend but i finally finished it
ATTENTION RESIDENT EVIL ARTISTS
(honestly any artist who makes fanart)
An online shopping website known as Society6 has taken not only my art, but a gigantic collection of artworks from other people and are selling them as prints, clothing, clocks, etc.
I barely scrapped the surface of what was on there, but I know the artworks I did see being sold were originally from tumblr. (I unfortunately can't remember the names of the artists.)
I highly recommend if you've made Resident Evil 8 art at any point to go on this website and see if your work, or someone's work you recognise is on there.
PLEASE BOOST THIS SO PEOPLE CAN BE NOTIFIED
As someone who has never faced something like this before please let me know what I AND OTHERS can do to get their art taken down.
BTW this doesn't just apply to Lady Dimitrescu - there is stolen art for almost every character in the game.
Fanfiction Club: The Rules
This idea came to me when I woke up first thing this morning.
oh you’re a writer? how’s doing everything you can to avoid writing going?
mutuals whenever i like your posts please remember that i am twirling my hair and giggling and saying “ohmigod really?? thats soooo cool”
“I have a frightening thought,” she says, eyes on the city skyline. “We’re getting so old, one day we won’t be able to return home.”
And I have a frightening thought, I think to myself, eyes fogged over. We’re getting so old and yet home hasn’t left me yet.
Hey I saw your tips for drawing muslims but do you have any for writing them?
hello hello, thanks for the ask!
WRITING MUSLIM CHARACTERS
stereotypes to avoid
– the “oppressed hijabi” trope
listen, most of us wear hijab because we want to. because we grew up around it. because it’s as natural as wearing a shirt. please stop acting as though we all despise our hijab and our religion
– the “misunderstanding parents” trope
why are all muslim parents emotionally or physically abusive in fiction? i personally have an amazing relationship with my parents. also not all muslim parents are trying to suck the joy out of their children’s lives. they’re just trying to keep their kids safe. also this trope usually gets pretty racist because the reason they don’t understand their child is because they’re “not from here” and “don’t get how things are done” so yknow, avoid that.
– the “abusive dad” trope
listen. i’m fully aware that abusive parents are horrible and something that people should be made aware of, but when every muslim dad in fiction is abusive, that’s just islamophobia. just. give us good relationships with our family!!!
– the “silent mom” trope
how come muslim mothers in fiction have no lines? have no voice? they’re just silent products of a household there to cook and clean. what is that all about?? please. just stop
– the “White Boy Romance” trope
oh, all muslims know where i’m going with this Do. Not. Have. A. Hijabi. Take. Off. Her. Hijab. For. A. White. Boy. please. don’t have her take it off, period. but especially not for romance. actually, if your narrative involves a muslim girl stepping away from her religion and taking off her hijab and realizing she’s happier this way, throw the whole story away. i’m sorry, but if you’re not muslim, this isn’t something for you to write about. this is not your story to write, and writing it will be extremely islamophobic. avoid a typical romance. muslim romances do not occur the way western romances do. either you gotta be okay with that and write it properly, or you should do your best to avoid it altogether.
THINGS TO DO
– let them have friends!! let them have muslim friends!! especially if they live in an area that has a high muslim population.
– let them talk about things that aren’t their religion. listen, my muslim friends and i talk about religion occasionally, but i can assure you, more of our conversation revolves around the hot boy of the week or about whatever shows we’re watching. and in terms of non-muslim friends, religion isn’t a point of tension. we respect and celebrate our differences, and that’s it. we talk about it sometimes, but we don’t argue about it
– make it clear that we’re muslim without just saying it. have us take a step aside to pray. have a character compliment our hijabs. have us fast in ramadan (or make up fasts in the winter). have us eat halal meat. say bismillah before we eat. say alhamdulillah after sneezing or when we’re thankful. subhanallah when we see something beautiful
– we’re not nuns. we find people attractive. we discuss it. it’s not a big deal
– make sure we have a personality that doesn’t revolve around our religion. yes, our religion can be a huge aspect of our identity and life, but no, it’s not the only thing. make them obsessed with a show. give them nervous habits. what do they collect? are they introverted? you tell me!
– avoid intimately close friendships with the opposite gender. casual acquaintances is fine, but this is something i would personally avoid writing if possible
– research what is haram. i’ll give you a basic list:
- pork
- meat that isn’t halal
- gelatin (unless it’s plant gelatin or from a halal store)
- missing prayers
- sex before or outside of marriage
- cheating in any way
- abuse towards your family (yes, this may come as a shock to some, but it’s actually prohibited by islam)
- drinking
- drugs
do more research, of course, but this is a basic list.
i think that about covers it: don’t stereotype us, make sure it’s noticeable that we’re muslims, give us personalities, and make sure we’re avoiding haram stuff
before anyone comes at me: i’m aware that there are muslims who don’t follow the rules and who do haram things and who don’t like their religion and don’t have stable family relationships etc, etc. BUT when that is our only representation in media, it’s islamophobic. show us good muslims, who like their religion, whose religion is their identity, who don’t feel like their religion is causing them to lose out. because we exist.
Okay so my girlfriend just wrote heartquakes instead of earthquakes and that’s the cutest thing I’ve seen all day omg
My mood for the last week
@/alwaysuncanny on Instagram, but with a twist
🥺
Catgirl Ichinyase my beloved
Person A: I ship (insert a Canon ship)
Person B: Oh cool, I don't ship that but I do ship this (insert non Canon ship).
Person A and Person B:
So I have a request 👉👈 How would Darla and Mc's first kiss would be (Take your time doing this, I can wait patiently😊)
Written by @an-awkward-ghost
The last thing you had ever imagined was to do magical training with Darla, of all people
She had been growing on you lately. Both of you had tried to be less snappy, and Darla was actually fun to be around when she wasn’t firing off insults as if she were a machine gun. She was fiercely protective and surprisingly patient once you got on her good side. She had taken the whole fairytale world in stride, slightly shocked and skeptical at first but rolling with it afterwards.
You hadn’t planned for her to discover it, honestly. She had been at the wrong place at the wrong time, and it had only been thanks to Lucas’ quick thinking that everyone had made it out alive. Who knew the Pied Piper of Hamelin would be such a bad guy? You had been hoping he would be different from the story, like Ezra, but he turned out to be even worse.
And now, here you are, practicing for the plan Nora and Arin had hashed out an hour ago, trying and failing to learn to play something to counter the Pied Piper’s own brainwashing melody.
For that matter — who knew Darla was so good with the flute? As the only one who knew how to play it, but also the only one without magic, she had taken it upon herself to teach the rest. Everyone had already left for the day, so it was only you and her now.
You, too stubborn to leave without at least accomplishing one note right, and her, too passionate about her task to deny you an extra lesson.
It could be going better, though…
“Do you even have air in your lungs, Beth? I swear I can’t hear a thing—”
“I am blowing!”
“Remember that it’s like you’re smiling. A little smile. You’re good with that, right? We don’t want an ‘o’ shape unless we need a low pitch.”
Darla’s eyes are fixed on your lips, analyzing the shape. It’s distracting. You know she only does it in the professional sense, but at some point over the lessons, you’d found that your breath stuttered every time she did it, smile widening more than intended for blowing out the flute, cheeks darkening.
“Let’s take a short break,” the brown-haired girl finally announces, turning away, and the tension in your chest you hadn’t acknowledged until now instantly disappears.
I’m a mess, you think, frustration creeping into the lukewarm feeling you get every time Darla looks at you.
“Sorry.”
“No problem, Beth, I know how learning an instrument can be.”
“But isn’t flute supposed to be easy?”
She shrugs. It’s a calm little thing, just a slight, elegant movement of her shoulders. Once again, you’re in awe of how patient she is. You would have stormed off a while ago.
“Any skill has its ups and downs, even the ones that are supposed to be easy. And hey, even that varies from person to person. Don’t feel down about it. I’m sure you’ll have it down by the end of the week.”
“Great advice as always, Darla.”
She smirks that smirk you used to hate, coated with confidence and typical Popular Girl Satisfaction™. “You know it.” And then her expression softens as she turns to look at her flute, twirling it slightly with a reverence that has you mesmerized. “I can’t wait to see you all work magic with these, or the look the Pied Piper’s gonna get.”
“It’s difficult. I don’t know how to explain it... Um. Well, it’s like the music keeps bouncing off any spell I try to combine it with. Like they aren’t compatible or something.”
“Nora explained that to me. That’s why she’s going to enchant the flutes instead, right? Once she gets the necessary materials?”
“Yeah… it’ll make things easier, too. We usually use incantations — they are way easier than just trying to image the spell. Hey, maybe that’s why it keeps bouncing off? But then again, I can’t exactly say the spell when I’m blowing…”
Darla frowns, looking up from the flute. “Who knows? All of this is too complicated for me. I’d rather stick to what I know… speaking of which, let’s try one more time. You’re going to hit the note, I’m sure of it.”
“Uh…”
The instrument feels heavy on your hands. You rise it towards your lips, clumsily placing your fingers the way Darla had instructed you before, but pause just before blowing, noticing the way Darla’s eyes focus on your lips as if magnetized.
“I…”
“C’mon, Beth.”
Shouldn’t her focus be on your hands…? She must know how much she’s distracting you, doesn’t she?
“It’s just… well…”
Her eyes flick upwards to your eyes, curious. “Yes?”
She has to know. There’s no way she can be this oblivious, right?
Your mouth opens and then closes, at a loss for words. The seconds tick by in the background like a restless pulse, and you lose whatever bravado you had managed to gather.
“Maybe I should just call it a day.”
Darla looks a bit surprised at that. There’s a pause as she looks at you, her expression impassive for all of two seconds before a soft, amused smile breaks through, eyes as alluring as a dark bottle of wine. The change is so instant it leaves you stunned; she’d been slightly distant throughout the lessons, more concentrated on the technique than friendly banter, but now she had seemingly abandoned that.
“Is something distracting you, Elizabeth?” She asks, voice soft and composed, and a shiver runs down your spine at the sound. The fact that she doesn’t use your nickname and how it makes her every word so much more intense means she’s probably aware of the effect she has on you…
And the realization sets the butterflies in your stomach alight.
“Well?”
There’s no sense in beating around the bush. Darla may be patient once one manages to get into her good side, but you know her well enough to know she appreciates direct answers more than anything else.
“You.”
She hums, leaning slightly forward, hand coming up to grasp your chin. Her hold is delicate, but firm.
“We can’t have that. You need to concentrate if we want to have any chance against the Pied Piper.” She slides the flute out of your grasp, leaving it on a table nearby without sparing it so much as a glance. Her eyes are locked on yours.
“T-this may be counterproductive…”
She stops.
“Don’t you want this?”
“I do!” You blurt out, fast. Too fast. Darla chuckles lowly, not pulling away but not advancing either. “What about you?”
The blush that spreads over her cheeks is answer enough.
“You really were using the lessons as an excuse to stare at my lips, huh?”
“N-no!” She grows still, all the suave energy she was exuding before fading like a dream. “Well, just a little bit, but mouth shape is important to play the flute—”
“A-ha! So you were!”
“Wha—hey! Didn’t you just hear what I just—?”
“That’s not important right now.”
She actually frowns, not truly offended but still irked you dismiss her just like that, but you don’t give her a chance to actually voice her thoughts. You tilt your head upwards, feeling the way her breath stutters, and lean forward.
Slow, so she’ll back away if she wants, but she doesn’t even hesitate.
Kissing Darla is like kissing an inferno—she’s intense, pushing you back until you hit the wall, her hand on your hair cushioning the impact. She kisses you as if you were to disappear from her hands in a puff of smoke, as if you were a receding tide and the setting sun, and she only had this second to capture the shape of your lips, to capture your existence in her mind. It’s almost dizzying, but you surrender to it completely anyway, your arms snaking around her waist and pulling her closer.
The only reason you even pull away is because your lungs demand air. Darla blinks, probably expecting a longer kiss.
“Too much?”
“I just… give me a second…”
She smiles against your lips when you pull her down a second time after you catch your breath, and this time it’s sweeter, gentler, more like a soft petal.
When you finally part, she sighs and melts against you.
“Will you try to focus more, now?” She whispers.
You give her an incredulous look. “After that? No way.”
“C’mon, Beth. You need to save the world.” She laughs, and you roll your eyes.
“Maybe I will stop getting so distracted if I had more time to get used to this. More demonstrations would help, certainly.”
“Certainly.”
You are, officially, on cloud nine.
I meant to make this meme ages ago when pride month was still on but yeah gé (pronounced gay) is the Irish for a goose.
Random mansion generator
The Procgen Mansion Generator produces large three-dee dwellings to toy with your imagination, offering various architectural styles and other options. Each mansion even comes with floorplans:
https://boingboing.net/2019/07/12/random-mansion-generator.html
Reblog if you are a fic writer who welcomes moodboards, playlists, remixes, art and any other type of gift based on your stories.
As an artist ( who does collages) this is what I love to do. Would love to do more.
Thanks for the tag, @shootingstarwithagrudge!
I guess I’m... an elf librarian? 😂😂
Tagging anyone who sees this and wants to do it :)
Picrew Chain!
But this time, you have to design yourself as a fantasy character!
( Here's me as an awesome fairy :D )
And here's the link
@finleycannotdraw @mysockmonkey @spicygrass @heyheyheybutlikeromantically
Thanks for the tag, @violettduchess!
deep violet or blood red? sunshine or moonlight? 80s music or 90s music? orchids or dahlias? garnet or ruby? moths or butterflies? aphrodite or athena? grapefruit or pomegranate? angel’s halo or devil’s horns? sirens or banshees? lorde or florence + the machine? the birth of venus or the starry night?
Tagging anyone who sees this and wants to do it :)
I was tagged by @metsienkuiske to this get to know me tag game, thank you so much! ☺️
deep violet or blood red? sunshine or moonlight? 80s music or 90s music? orchids or dahlias? garnet or ruby? moths or butterflies? aphrodite or athena? grapefruit or pomegranate? angel’s halo or devil’s horns? sirens or banshees? lorde or florence + the machine? the birth of venus or the starry night?
I tag @mixingpumpkins @wingardium-lucy-osa @finnishermit and @aprilfeldspar ✨
I call upon the fan fic writing gods to bless you with the perseverance to finish one of your unfinished drafts.
May your fingers dance along the letters upon your device with ease, may the devil of distraction stay far from you, and may your work not need much editing.
I pass this blessing upon every fan fic writer out there.
Oh yes, the struggle is real.
Hi um
I just wanted to see something, people tell me that demi is just straight with standards and its not a valid thing and Im just trying to be queer
So