REVERSE TROPE WRITING PROMPTS

okay, hear me out: EPIC x P.J.O! A.U where Odysseus is Sally.

Sally is Odysseus’s reincarnation that then ends up gaining their memories back of being Odysseus bc idk another Big Prophecy / World Ending Event Happens lol

Along w/ others issues that arise from this unfortunate incident like body starting to change into a androgynous fusion of their past self n current self, extreme mental grappling of who they now know they were, being roped into the usual Quest Bullshit etc, Salldysseus is also having to deal with the massive inconvenience that Poseidon is their lover rn !!!

Don’t get them wrong, Sally- Odysseus- whoever they r now still loves and adores Percy feeling a bit sad knowing Telemachus wud of prob also loved him as a sibling absolutely, always, but,,, y’know, it’s still a lot 2 process that, The God they pissed off and then tortured is smitten 4 them, atleast they have been,,, their very hesitant to think he still will once he finds out what’s happened,,,

(Ody’ surprising doesn’t hold much to any anger 2wards Poseidon anymore. What happened, happened in that unfortunate life, no need to bring all the hatred and suffering over to this one,,, also, u betcha Salldysseus was beet red after thinking about all the memories they’ve shared w/ The Sea God, specifically the more. Steamy ones,,, also u betcha Sally made that poor Fish Boi crumble as she tugged his hair furiously while riding him :)))

...My sibling in Christ if you don't open up a Google Doc and start fucking WRITING—! YO! TELL THEM TO START WRITING!

...At a certain point after remembering Sally cups Poseidon's face in their hands, let's their thumb caress the scar across his eye and says, "I remember...I remember the day I gave this to you, on the cost of an island I used to call home" and Poseidon is confused for a moment before it slowly begins to dawn on him—

I’ve been very busy with school, but no matter how busy I am, I will always have time for my bedtime stories (danmei novels). Lately, I’ve been reading this very good Palace Intrigue novel.

And hear this, I’m not that fond of palace intrigue. Not that I hate it… it’s just not a genre I’d first look at when I’m looking for something to read. Palace Intrigue tend to be either too complicated and serious with the mysteries and scheming, completely neglecting the romance aspect (the reason why I even read danmei and not no CP works), OR they are just not serious and complicated enough and everything seems like fun and games.

Palace Intrigue needs to be at a very specific sweet spot for me to enjoy it. This is why although I’ve read many such novels under the genre, the ones I really like and can even remember the title of are just two—Si Tian Guan and I Rely on Beauty to Stabilize the Country (though I have not yet finished both because of certain reasons)

But now, I can finally add a third one to that list: 可是他长得美啊 (lit. But He Looks Beautiful Ah)

The romance and the intrigue aspects are perfectly balanced, and I guess it has a lot to do with how the romance itself is also full of intrigue—and not a political or a love-hate type of intrigue, but simply… on what it’s really like to love someone.

The novel realistically explores what it’s like to love someone whose morals and principles you may not always agree with.

I initially thought the novel was going to have a typical Yandere Top x Submissive Bottom kind of pairing… But it doesn’t. Instead, it challenges this Yandere Top archetype and shows how it won’t work at all in a real loving relationship, and it does this without being puritan over it.

The protagonist Jingzhe would stop the male lead Rong Jiu from doing extreme acts, but at the same time he tries to understand why the latter would do such a thing. He doesn’t try to “heal” Rong Jiu, but instead he coaxes him to a middle point that they agree on. They argue a lot over this, but that just shows how much they care for each other.

There were instances where Rong Jiu tried to force Jingzhe to the dark side, but Jingzhe never once gave in. Then, slowly, little by little, Rong Jiu learns to restrain himself and understand what Jingzhe values, while Jingzhe also understands Rong Jiu and makes him feel more secure in their relationship.

Instead of either getting converted to the other’s side, they learn to meet each other in the middle.

And I like that.

little ones, handle with care <3

Can you recommend contemporary setting danmei with heart-touching romance? I mean any heart-touching danmei that take place in our regular every day world and not sci-fi/fantasy/xianxia/wuxia/ABO/historical ancient/rebirth/transmigration.

Sorry for being fussy, it's just so hard to find interesting danmei since i've been stuck in reading slump.

Hello!

To me, the kind of romance that really touches my heart are usually the ones that help the characters grow out of their insecurities or move on from their trauma, so there is some level of angst in the background. If you are looking for something else, let me know and I'll be happy to recommend something different!

My list:

有名 木更木更 – In Name Only

网恋翻车指南 酱子贝 – Guide on How to Fail at Online Dating

粉黛 七世有幸 – Concealed and Blended: Fendai

FOG【电竞】 漫漫何其多 – FOG

心眼 北南 – The Eye of the Mind

我只喜欢你的人设 稚楚 – I Only Like Your Made-up Persona

楚天以南 大风不是木偶 – Under Clear Skies

燎原 不问三九 – Wildfire

(I'm copying & pasting some text I wrote in other posts on this blog)

有名 木更木更 – In Name Only

[actors/celebrities, fake relationship, mature characters] – Two award-winning actors fake a relationship to quash a scandalous rumor, and gradually get to know the real person behind the other’s accomplished career and polished public persona. The tone of the story veers is mostly sweet and funny, with a splash of angst that they conquer together. It’s really comforting and relaxing to read about the love story of “mature men” in their early 30s who know how to communicate productively, take care of the people they like, and really accept and empathize with each other’s imperfections.

网恋翻车指南 酱子贝 – Guide on How to Fail at Online Dating

[online gaming, college-setting, cat-fishing, mistaken identities] – Jing Huan poses as a girl in an online game to catfish the famous player who tricked and hurt his cousin. Meanwhile, Xiang Huaizhi notices photos from the "girl" who keeps flirting with him in an online game can only be sent by one underclassmen at his school. There is plenty of comedy in Jing Huan’s effort to pose as a girl online, and also plenty of hurt when the truth and deception are laid to bare, but overall this is a sweet college romance with just dash (or maybe a spoonful?) of angst and plenty of humour. (PSA: No knowledge of gaming is needed (I don’t have any) to follow the story.)

粉黛 七世有幸 – Concealed and Blended: Fendai

[entertainment industry, actor x makeup artist] – I really like this novel because it presents acting and art as skills that the characters must practice and develop; the main characters are not geniuses who can take their careers for granted. The gong is a makeup artist, who considers himself straight but cross-dresses as a branding gimmick to advance his career. The shou is a retired E-sports player-turned-idol actor, who is secretly gay and has no real passion for performance. The novel starts off with funny interactions between “straight pretending to be queer” vs “gay pretending to be straight.” Eventually, they develop a deep bond after collaborating on a series of projects, and help each other discover their true career aspirations.

FOG【电竞】 漫漫何其多 – FOG

[E-sports, (sort-of?) reconciliation] – (it’s a fictional game so no prior gaming knowledge needed). Yu Sui brought Shi Luo into the industry, but within the year, he broke up the team, went to an elite club in Europe, and sold Shi Luo to a different club in China. What will Shi Luo do when Yu Sui comes back? As an E-Sports novel, FOG does a great job of portraying the camaraderie between teammates and the youthful passion of the players, while also touching on the cynical and exploitative side of the industry. There is an extremely sad and infuriating backstory that explains why the main couple had to be separated for two years (it’s not their fault), but their relationship is otherwise very sweet.

心眼 北南 – The Eye of the Mind

[unsure about translation status][reconciliation, (eventual) step brothers, hurt/comfort, slice-of-life ] -- Liang Cheng enters Qiao Yuanlin’s life three times, as a stranger who saves his life at 13, as the mysterious tenant renting his grandmother’s extra room when he was 16, and as his step-mother’s adopted son six years later. However, there is another hidden thread connecting their histories together. In many ways, this is a coming-of-age story for Qiao Yuanlin, who is born with a serious congenital heart defect that has permeated every aspect of his life, but he still manages to grow up with a very realistic blend of good nature, naivete, and bratty-ness. He has to cope with his heart condition and his parents' divorce in adolescence, and later develop his own identity and values as a young adult and professional. This novel also has the most satisfying illness-comfort-recovery arc I have ever read thanks to Qiao Yuanlin’s heart (and of course Liang Cheng is his doctor).

我只喜欢你的人设 稚楚 – I Only Like Your Made-up Persona

[Official licensed and fully published in English as "Rose and Renaissance")] [entertainment industry] -- Xia Xiqing is a professional artist who also draws fan art for Zhou Ziheng, the nation's most beloved young actor. The best part of this story is the clash of "personas": Zhou Ziheng (gong) is a serious and hardworking star actor and college student; while Xiqing (shou) is a rebellious art school grad who was a bit of a playboy in his past. After an accidental encounter, Zhou Ziheng immediately dislikes Xia Xiqing, but they unexpectedly become neighbours and also star on a reality show together. Then, they get to know the real person behind each other's superficial persona, develop a deep bond, and even help Xiqing heal from his childhood trauma.

More...

There two are very popular stories I read partially, and I hope to revisit and finish them someday. They have very compelling romantic arcs, but the main story lines are more heavy and less "fairytale":

楚天以南 大风不是木偶 – Under Clear Skies :: on a site visit to a rural village, young professor Tang Heng meets his ex-boyfriend from grad school, whose life has taken a turn completely unlike his own. It's a story that digs deep into inequalities, privileges, family dynamics, and abuses of power, and love that survives despite all that.

燎原 不问三九 – Wildfire :: A tattoo artist begins a relationship with his blind younger brother's optometrist. The main draw of the relationship is that both characters older (mid-30s) so they are more mature, but that also comes with a different set of challenges.

For today's recommendations, I left out

angst-heavy romances that break your heart but somehow you (or the characters) still want it to work out

super-light stories that are sweet and fluffy or funny all the way through

stories that are completely untranslated

But if those types sound interesting to you, I'm happy to recommend some!

I hope you find something you can enjoy! 😊

Writing Character Accents in Fiction

Hey there, thanks for the question! I speak English as a second language; most English speakers I encounter aren’t native (yes, including fictional people); thus, this is a concern I’ve explored personally when I write. 

I think the core principle regarding accent writing is this: it shouldn’t be distracting. 

For the same reasons why Stephen King prescribes the basic dialogue tag “said” rather than fancier alternatives like “whispered”, “shouted” or “screeched”, dialogue must be first and foremost easy to read. It must flow like a real conversation – the pace and tone are a lot more important than how specific words are being pronounced by the character. 

Focus on what effect the accent has:

Using adjectives to describe their voice in general. Different types of English (American, British, Australian, etc.) will give off a different vibe, also partly dependent on how your character speaks in general:

Lilting: Having a smooth rise and falling quality; sing-song like. Welsh accent is often described as singing. 

Posh: from a high social class. This is the term generally used to describe the upper-class British accent.

Nasal: this happens when the sound goes through somebody’s nose when they’re speaking. North American accents are more nasal than, say, British pronunciations. 

Brash: harsh, loud, indicative of sounding a little rude. 

Slur: speaking indistinctly; words merging into one another.

Using metaphors.

Her voice was cotton and fluffy clouds. 

When he spoke, the ‘r’s scratched the insides of his throat. 

Mentioning their accent with a brief example(s). 

“Would you like to drink some wine?” she said, though her Indian accent gave extra vibration to her ‘w’s and ‘r’s, making the words sound more like ‘vould you like to drrrink some vine’.

“I want some chocolate.” His syllables were choppy and ‘l’s rather flat, saying ‘cho-ko-lit’. 

Some Tips:

Don’t phonically spell out everything. Perhaps give a few examples in the beginning, but stick to standard English spellings. 

Pay attention to word choice, slang, and colloquialisms. 

An Australian person would say “tram”, not “trolley; “runners” instead of “sneakers”

A Canadian may refer to a “fire hall” – what Americans call a firehouse or fire station

If your character comes from a non-Enligsh background:

Use vocabulary from other languages. 

“What time was the exam, ah? Two o’clock? Jiayou!” → putting “ah” or “la” at the end of sentences + Jiayou means “break a leg” in Singlish. 

“I can’t believe that 4-year-olds have their own SNS accounts now.” → “SNS” is short for “social networking service”, a term used to refer to social media in Korea. This would a subtle difference – even though it isn’t technically Korean at all!

Transpose grammar from different languages. 

For example, in French, plural nouns take plural adjectives (whereas in English, you would speak of ‘white cars’, not ‘whites cars’).

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* . ───

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how do you go on to drawing character interactions without them looking stiff or awkward?? whenever u draw characters like hugging and stuff they always feel so warm and natural n like they have weight!

FIRST THINGS FIRST: if you want characters to feel like they have weight, they gotta have balance.

The second thing is to use references!! Use a mirror or photos when you can, but I often use duckduckgo and just google stock images. I don't use pinterest, but I suppose that works. I find it way more helpful to look at lots of images of the same pose at all different angles than to try to reference one specific image.

10 World-Building Aspects You Probably Overlooked

When crafting a fictional world, it's easy to focus on the big picture—epic battles, grand landscapes, and memorable characters. However, it’s also important to flesh out your world-building to create a ‘real’ world. Some aspects to consider when world-building are: 

Local Cuisine

Consider the types of food your characters eat and how it reflects their culture, geography, and economy. Unique dishes can reveal societal values and local ingredients.

Currency & Trade

Explore the forms of currency used and the trade systems in place. This can include bartering, precious metals, or unique items as currency, influencing economic interactions.

Timekeeping Practices

Different cultures may have their own methods for measuring time, whether it's a unique calendar system, seasons, or celestial events, affecting daily life and traditions.

Cultural Taboos

Consider the unspoken rules and taboos that govern behavior in your world. These can drive conflict and character motivations, adding depth to societal interactions.

Local Flora and Fauna

Unique plants and animals can shape the environment and influence the culture, whether through medicine, food sources, or as part of local mythology.

Rituals and Festivals

Incorporate unique rituals or festivals that celebrate historical events, seasonal changes, or important life milestones, providing insight into cultural values and traditions.

Language Nuances

Explore dialects, slang, or even the use of sign language that reflects the culture and social dynamics, enriching dialogue and interactions between characters.

Architecture and Housing Styles

The design and materials of buildings can reflect climate, resources, and cultural values. Unique architectural features can tell a story about the society that built them.

Social Hierarchies and Classes

Examine how social structures affect character relationships and interactions. Class distinctions can influence everything from daily life to political power.

Environmental Impact

Consider how the natural environment shapes societal behaviours, resource usage, and conflicts. Climate and geography can drive migration patterns and societal development.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors! Instagram Tiktok

There's an up-and-coming Tech Giant, called Fenton Works, and Batman is determined to prove that the company is a front for a villain.

Danny, after his parents turned from Ghost hunting to being the first official Ghost Anthropologists, decided to repurpose some of their weapons.

And, well, there was a contest being run by Wayne Enterprises; whoever can design a robot that will help the environment got prize money and a grant.

Danny, in all his mechanical engineering prowess, was bored. So he designed a thing. Repurposed the Fenton Guns into a cute robotic tortoise that would clean the beach.

It spiraled from there, and now Fenton Works is the leading name in green technology that's cleaning up the Earth bit by bit. Sea Dragon robots that clean oil and trash from the ocean; beach tortoises that clean the sand and beach and deposit their hoard of trash into designated receptacles that Danny uses as material to make more robots; Cryptid "stalker" robots with long legs that delicately patrol forests to perform "fuel management" and clear out the underbrush to help manage wildfires; moving gargoyle robots that sit on top of skyscrapers to help clean the air with huge sail-like wings, etc.

Basically, Danny pulls a Doctor Elisabet Sobeck, but with less world ending and more actually helping. (Not that the world ending was Elisabet's fault, of course, but different franchise)

And due to the number of times aliens try to attack and rogues send their own robots to attack people, naturally Danny installed self-defense protocols, along with one single golden rule written into the very OS of every single robot; Save Humans Whatever the Cost.

Problem is, Batman has never seen robots like this not be used for evil purposes, and he knows that their power source (a closely guarded Fenton Works secret) is some sort of liquid that glows green.

He really only knows of one liquid that glows green.

So he's determined to find everything he can about Fenton Works, because there's no way that Daniel Fenton isn't actually a villain in the making.

Danny's just thrilled for the chance to work with Wayne Enterprises.

How to avoid White Room Syndrome

by Writerthreads on Instagram

A common problem writers face is "white room syndrome"—when scenes feel like they’re happening in an empty white room. To avoid this, it's important to describe settings in a way that makes them feel real and alive, without overloading readers with too much detail. Here are a few tips below to help!

Focus on a few key details

You don’t need to describe everything in the scene—just pick a couple of specific, memorable details to bring the setting to life. Maybe it’s the creaky floorboards in an old house, the musty smell of a forgotten attic, or the soft hum of a refrigerator in a small kitchen. These little details help anchor the scene and give readers something to picture, without dragging the action with heaps of descriptions.

Engage the senses

Instead of just focusing on what characters can see, try to incorporate all five senses—what do they hear, smell, feel, or even taste? Describe the smell of fresh bread from a nearby bakery, or the damp chill of a foggy morning. This adds a lot of depth and make the location feel more real and imaginable.

Mix descriptions with actions

Have characters interact with the environment. How do your characters move through the space? Are they brushing their hands over a dusty bookshelf, shuffling through fallen leaves, or squeezing through a crowded subway car? Instead of dumping a paragraph of description, mix it in with the action or dialogue.

Use the setting to reflect a mood or theme

Sometimes, the setting can do more than just provide a backdrop—it can reinforce the mood of a scene or even reflect a theme in the story. A stormy night might enhance tension, while a warm, sunny day might highlight a moment of peace. The environment can add an extra layer to what’s happening symbolically.

Here's an example of writing a description that hopefully feels alive and realistic, without dragging the action:

The bookstore was tucked between two brick buildings, its faded sign creaking with every gust of wind. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of worn paper and dust, mingling with the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee from a corner café down the street. The wooden floorboards groaned as Ella wandered between the shelves, her fingertips brushing the spines of forgotten novels. Somewhere in the back, the soft sound of jazz crackled from an ancient radio.

Hope these tips help in your writing!

Okay okay okay.. but listen. What if Shen Yuan had a harsher System and was forced to convincingly play Shen Qingqiu, making Luo Binghe detest his existence, but when Luo Binghe returns from the abyss to enact his revenge and has Shen Qingqiu on trial at Huan Hua, unfortunately for everyone (and fortunately for us), they drug Shen Qingqiu with truth serum and accidentally spiral Shen Yuan into fanboy rampage of epic proportions about how great Luo Binghe is.