Help!

I have some animal companions for you! They are all animals my band of traveling artists, The Elements, encountered on the road and adopted, either because they were left behind by someone or because they have disadvantages that would have made surviving out in the wild hard for them.  The first one is Milton, named after the poet that wrote Paradise Lost. He’s something called an ‘epitaf’, which is a small rodent-like creature, but with a pointed beak instead of a snout. An epitaf has the ability to ‘read’ wishes, so if a hungry predator comes near them, they can feel their hunger and hide. They are extremely quick climbers and usually live in and around trees. However, Milton is albino, so he stands out quite a bit. Now he inhabits Tungsten’s top hat. 

Then there is Guiseppe, a simple sheepdog that was the victim of a levitation spell gone wrong. When the Elements found him, he was up in the air and almost strangled by the cord that bound him to a tree. He usually wears a weighted harness to keep him on the ground, but during performances The Elements sometimes gives him a basket to collect money and let him float at knee height. 

The third animal is a wren called Valentine. A wren is basically a very small dragon. They live up in Northern Scotland and are about the size of a cat. They are not usually domestic animals, but Silver has tamed this one and it enjoys sleeping in his lap. The scales and wings of a wren change colour according to the temperature/seasons. However, Valentine’s scales are extremely sensitive. If he lays next to a fire, he gets brighter green, while running an ice cube over his paws will leave white trails. 

Last but not least, there is Ginny (her actual name is Sigal). She is a so-called cliffdiver. Cliffdivers resemble horses, but instead of manes they have scales that run along their neck and over their foreheads, forming patterns around their eyes. Their bellies are also scaled. They are extremely fast and can speed up and slow down in a matter of seconds, the scales on their stomachs protecting them against pebbles and other matter flying up around their hooves. They live mostly in Norweay, where they tend to galop to the end of fjords and stop suddenly (making them look like they will jump off and earning them the name of cliffdiver). Because of their speed, cliffdivers are often used as warhorses. So was Ginny, who was left behind when she was wounded, turning her right eye blind.  

If you guys have any cool animal companions/creatures/monsters/cool plants in your wips, you should come tell me about them. I want to know. Reblog. Comment. Message me. Send an ask. Idc I just want to KNOW

For Imanol, who wants to leave, but only in theory 

Waterwegen [1/7] [2/7]  [3/7]  [4/7] 

Yes! Thanks! I love these children. Well, the protagonist, Tungsten, he’s the sweetest guy. He has just joined this band of traveling magicians and artists (the Elements), and he’s trying so hard to fit in. His biggest wish is quite simple: he wants to belong somewhere. But the antagonist, Espen, has his eyes set on the Elements. I don’t want to spoil how and why, yet! Espen isn’t brutal, but the end surely justefies the means to him. And he really believes in this end. By threatening the Elements, he forces Tungsten to help him spy on the very people Tungsten would love to call his friends. Poor Tungsten is going to feel pretty guilty for a while.    

does anyone want to come tell me about their wip or their ocs? im procrastinating hard here lads

Please do tag me! It’s the one way I don’t feel annoying for talking about my work.

tag me!

hey, if you see this:

could you please reblog this if you’re okay with being tagged in tag games? 

Exploring rural forests

- Bring a flashlight. Bring an extra battery. Bring another battery. Bring your headphones. Do not bring a camera.

- Set out after rain. It cleans the air.

- If a tree falls in your peripheral, it's a warning. Be careful, you only get one.

- If a tree falls right in front of you, something is out to kill you, and something wants to protect you.

- Those hooves you hear? Don't go looking, it's not a deer.

- You might get the urge to take your shoes off. Allow yourself to give in, if you are feeling reckless. However, no matter how familiar the ground seems, don't let it touch your ankles. Make sure you remember your name. Not all trees are born from seeds.

- The man with the dog does have eyes. He just shares them.

- If you come across a field with cows, check the height of the grass. Does it grow above your knees? Make haste. Do not dwell on the question what the cows have eaten instead.

- You might hear your own steps echoed in the bushes. Looking will not help you. There is nothing there to see.

- It's not thunder, it's moaning. You are lucky their pain is keeping them occupied.

- If you visit the abandoned house, don't close the door behind you.

- You can rest on a fallen trunk, but do not eat. You can lay your bag on a picknick bench, but remain standing.

- The carved signs are not meant for you.

- Horses do not step in puddles for they fear they will break a leg. Horses do not step in puddles for they fear they will be dragged under.

- The shadow is not that big, it's just closer than you think.

- The rolling fields look wonderful. Don't stay for the sunset.

I don’t know either of these cities, but let’s help out a fellow writer!

Heyooo!

If anyone here lives in Bangkok or Budapest, I’ve got short stories set in those cities but have never been to either and would love some outside wisdom! I’ve done lots of research, but assume I’m still making mistakes and want to get them shiny and factually correct before I start trying to publish.

I was unable to consult outside resources while the stories were still being handed in for workshop, but as they are both done their trips through academia, I’d love to make sure I’m getting all the details right.

1. Barefoot

Set in Bangkok

Protagonist is from Bangkok

Logline: A plan to steal a bag goes horribly wrong for two young brothers.

5763 words // 21 double spaced pages

POV: 1st person, present tense

Content warning: Violence/death (somewhat graphic), suicidal ideation (mild)

2. Dramatis Personae

Set in Budapest

Protagonist is a Canadian tourist

If you have travelled to Budapest but not lived there, that would still be helpful

Logline: An actress ends up stranded in a foreign country after she’s dumped and pick-pocketed while backpacking with her boyfriend.

6429 words // 25 double spaced pages

POV: 2nd person, present tense

Content warning: violence (mild), sexual assault (non-graphic, mentioned only briefly, happened before the story), strong language

Message me (or DM me on twitter @shaelinbishop if you prefer) if you have intimate knowledge of one of these cities and are willing to help a gal out! Both stories have been heavily revised and critiqued already, so I am not looking for proofreading, line editing, or content editing–only a fact check on setting. I’ll specifically mark places in the documents where I have questions or details I’m unsure of, but am open to corrections on any aspect. This should only require one read through and no longer than an hour (if that) so please don’t feel like you need to spend a lot of time on this or anything.

Also, please let me know if you have anymore questions about content warnings in the stories. I can block out sections for you if you like. 

I would be happy to offer a line edit + critique on a chapter or short story in exchange! 

Thank you guys so much!

I would like to publicly announce that on top of my WIP, I am writing a play now. And I don’t have a single clue as to what I am doing.

Thanks so much! For the compliment and the playlist ^^. The songs are just perfect! ’Flesh and bone‘ is actually one of my favorite songs, so seeing that one here made me smile. (Also: it’s true, isn’t it? If you ever want an OC aesthetic moodboard, drop by ;)).

I don't know if you are still doing the mini playlists? I've got Tungsten. He's sweet, nervous and shy, but once he sets his mind to something, he'll do it, trembling fingers and all. He wishes above all to have a group of people where he feels he belongs. He hopes to find that in a band of traveling magicians/artists he has joined. He always wears a tophat, in which his pet (Milton) lives. He dislikes heritage and does not want to leave anything behind. He's bisexual. Thanks so much!!!

awww he sounds adorable!! (also, love your url)

mini playlist:

1. blue lips, regina spektor

2. flesh and bone, keaton henson

3. unsteady, x ambassadors

4. echo, jason walker

5. not about angels, birdy

how to stay motivated as a writer

Reread your old writing, especially those scenes you’re most proud of

Write something silly. It doesn’t need to be logical, consistent or included in your story. Write something dumb

Compare your old writing to your new writing. Seeing how much you’ve improved can be very motivating

Explore different storylines, those type of storylines that would never make it into your story, but you’d still like to play around with. Create AUs!

Choose one of your least favorite scenes and rewrite it

Act out your scenes

Read old comments from people praising your work

Create a playlist that reminds you of your wip

Team up with a friend, write AUs for each other's characters

Create playlists for your characters

Draw your ocs/make memes of your ocs

Draw/make memes of your friend's ocs

Don’t push yourself to get back into writing the thing that made you stop writing in the first place, try writing something else!

Write what you wanna write, no matter how cliché it might be. If you want to write it, write it

Take a break, focus on another hobby of yours. Consume other pieces of media, take a walk to clear your head

You don’t have to write in chronological order if it isn’t working for you! Sometimes a scene you aren’t interested in writing can become interesting after you’ve explored other scenes in the story

Read bad reviews of books or TV-shows. You’ll unlock appreciation and motivation for your own writing

Create a new storyline, or a new character! Anything that helps bring something fresh into your story. Could even be a completely new wip!

Not writing every day doesn’t make you a bad writer. Take a break if you feel like you need one

Remind yourself to have fun. Start writing and don’t focus all your attention on following “the rules.” You can get into the nitty-gritty when you’ve familiarized yourself with writing as an art. Or don’t. It’s fiction, you make your own rules

Go to sleep, or take a nap. Sleep deprivation and writing does not go hand in hand

Listen to music that reminds you of your characters/wip

Remember why you started. Know that you deserve to tell the story you want to tell regardless of the skill you possess