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a-writers-rambles · 3 years

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wait are there writers who draft in times new roman

are you guys ok

#i’m true neutral #which means i always use the default font because i don’t change it #which would be neutral evil #but i use google docs so the default is arial #and that’s lawful evil #which am i???#maybe i should start putting all my drafts in comic sans

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a-writers-rambles · 4 years

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Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies

TITLE: Rocks Falls, Everyone Dies AUTHOR: Beelieve FANDOM: The Witcher (TV) RATING: Teen and Up Audiences CHAPTERS: 1 of 1 SUMMARY:

There’s another cough. It’s louder this time, and deeper still, and Geralt turns his head, trying to peer into the rubble. He opens his mouth, but Jaskier’s name sticks in his throat, his tongue still coated with dust. Grit crunches between his molars as he swallows.

“J’sk’r?”

He hears the shifting of rocks, and the scratch of silk against craggy stone. It’s quickly followed by a mumbled groan of pain. The noise is weak, but so oddly close that Geralt flinches at the sound. Without thinking, he stretches his hand out, the sleeve of his tunic scraping along the floor until his fingertips brush against warm flesh.

“Jaskier?” he tries again, more urgently.

[Read more on AO3]

#fic rec

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a-writers-rambles · 4 years

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Do you have any info on sirens? I was going to do some writing involving sirens. Doing research a lot of sites describe them as women who lure by song. Can they be male? do they lure people in other ways like maybe by simply talking?

Noekken, by Theodor S. Kittelsen, 1904

Sirens are a narrow category of a much wider genre of mythical beings, the water spirits.

As depicted by Theodor Kittelsen in the art above, the Neck, Noekken, or Nakki, is a water spirit that also lured unsuspecting humans into a watery grave, mainly through enchanting music. This wasn’t the only way of luring people into the water, though, as there are variants on this myth. The Brook Horse was a spirit that wandered around brooks and convinced people to get onto it’s back, once mounted, the horse plunged itself into the water of the brook, taking whoever was on it’s back with it. This usually targeted children, as these were mostly tales to scare children into behaving.

The German Nixie was an example of the generic mermaid, much like a siren of Greek mythology. The females took the form of a human, with the lower-half of a fish, and lured people into drowning with a haunting song. The males, however, could shapeshift into any form they like. (Shapeshifting was a recurring theme among water spirits, the Neck was capable of changing form as well.)

It is important to use these resources as guidelines. You don’t have to abide by tropes, you can use them in ways no others have. A merman who tricks people into the water with his silver tongue? So be it! There are no rules as to what is allowed to be written. By putting your own twist on otherwise generic fantasy tropes, your writing will be memorable and unique.

I hope that helps.

- The Artificer

#writing resources

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a-writers-rambles · 4 years

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Archery information for writers that no one asked for but probably some of you need and I like talking about archery, so here it is.

when you put an arrow on the string, the verb is called “nocking” i.e. eyes glued on the target, he nocked the arrow

also the part of the arrow that gets put onto the string is called the nock. depending on the type of arrow this can be a piece of plastic glued into the arrow, or with wood or bamboo arrows it can be carved into the shaft of the arrow itself

you do not close an eye when aiming or shooting; you see better with both eyes open.

everyone has a dominant eye that more naturally your brain focuses with. that determines whether you are right or left handed when shooting, and doesn’t necessarily correlate to whether the person is right or left handed in anything else

so if you’re writing a character who has difficulty seeing out of one eye, take that into account when they are shooting

if they are right eye dominant, they hold the bow with their left hand and draw the string with their right. if they are left eye dominant, they hold the bow with their right hand and draw the string with their left

if they shoot left, the quiver sits on their left side/hip/thigh. shoot right - right side quiver.

there are several different ways to draw, if you are writing something historical or in a specific region, then do research on that style of archery. but for a generic place to start that is a more universal way of drawing a bow, here are some things to include

the chin stays down. raising your chin will fuck up your aim

the pointer finger on your draw hand rests on the side of your chin/jaw, and the string of the bow will touch the tip of the archer’s nose

weight is on the balls of your feet, leaning slightly forward off your heels

if it is an older bow/barebow, there is not usually a place for the arrow to rest on the bow. this means the arrow rests on the archer’s hand. if they are not wearing a glove on that hand, the fletchings (that’s the feathers on the arrow) will more than likely slice their hand when firing. this scars.

so if you’re wanting to describe someone observing and archer’s hands (hands are hot, don’t @ me) they would see a silver scar about halfway between the pointer finger knuckle and palm of the person’s hand. (turn your hand vertical and trace down the length of your pointer toward your thumb and stop next to the knuckle. that spot there.)

most archers wear something to protect their fingers on the hand that draws the bow. even with that, they have callouses. without it, a lot of callouses, scars, and blisters.

most common draw uses three fingers on the string: pointer, middle, ring. the arrow sits between the pointer and middle. just like where the draw point is, this is not universal and do research if you’re doing something culturally important.

barebow means that the bow is bare of any instruments. no sight, no weights, etc. the most basic/traditional form of bow

a recurve bow is anything where the tips of the bow curve back around forward, away from the archer

a compound is what you think of as a modern hunting bow, and is recognisable by having wheels at the ends and three strings

arrows have three fletchings that form a triangle, the point faces the archer so that the flat of the arrow will pass the flat of the bow on release. the arrow sits on the side of the bow facing the archer

archers with a larger/raised chest will sometimes where a chest protect so that the string does not catch when firing (this is regardless of gender, i know several cis-men who need it as well)

string can also catch on the forearm that is holding the bow and creates bruises and welts if you don’t wear a protector. modern ones are small plastic and cover just the spot, with elastic holding it in place. traditional ones are leather and wrap all the way around, lacing up on the back of your arm like a corset.

there is literally so much more, but i feel like this is plenty to get you started, and as always, feel free to drop an ask in my box if you need something more!

#writing reference

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a-writers-rambles · 4 years

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[image id: a messy, textured painting of two people in a bed in a dark room. one is sleeping, while the other sits up, looking towards a door in the opposite corner. the door appears slightly open, with light coming through from beyond. text on the image reads “Elias Bouchard’s Home for Ex-Fear-God-Avatars and other newly human entities: Chapter Two.” end id]

*oblivion npc voice* Good Evening

chapter two of my wish fulfillment fic in which the original elias hangs out with michael and helen post canon is up on ao3

#hey #hey go read this #is rly good so far #i cant wait for more #tma #fic rec

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a-writers-rambles · 4 years

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Writing a Blind or Visually Impaired Character

A Multi-Step Guide Written by a Visually Impaired Writer and Blogger

I’m hoping this blog will over time develop its own following, and when it does people will inevitably see my bio and notice what I included: I’m visually impaired.

Yes, a visually impaired writer, and I’ve written with two blind characters before so I have some practice in the field.

So, inevitably, someone is going to ask how to write a blind character.

Or, at least, I hope you’ll ask someone who’s actually blind or visually impaired about writing a blind character before you get too involved with your new WIP.

I started writing this guide two hours ago and it’s gotten away from me. It make it a more manageable read, I’m going to separate it into X many parts, and each part will be linked.

Part One: Crafting the Blind Character

https://mimzy-writing-online.tumblr.com/post/185123396964/writing-a-blind-or-visually-impaired-character

Part Two: Writing the Blind Character, including narrative choice, visual description, verbal description, social interaction

https://mimzy-writing-online.tumblr.com/post/185125198184/writing-blind-or-visually-impaired-characters

Part Three: Tropes and Cliches to Avoid

https://mimzy-writing-online.tumblr.com/post/185124340794/writing-blind-and-visually-impaired-characters

Part Four: What Your Blind Character Needs to Survive and Not Die

[Not written yet, but this is the reserved spot for it]

Part Five: Small Aspects of being Blind You Never Thought Of

https://mimzy-writing-online.tumblr.com/post/185134862519/writing-a-blind-of-visually-impaired-character

Part Six: Should You Cure Your Character’s Blindness? (Short Answer: No)

https://mimzy-writing-online.tumblr.com/post/185125880559/writing-a-blind-or-visually-impaired-character

-New- Writing Blind Characters Falling in Love, an Advice Post:

https://mimzy-writing-online.tumblr.com/post/186276022234/writing-blind-characters-falling-in-love-an

-New- Writing Blind Jokes (Should You Do It?)

https://mimzy-writing-online.tumblr.com/post/187906205649/writing-a-blindvisually-impaired-character-blind

-New- A small essay addressing the frequently asked question on giving your blind character a superpower to help them “see.”

https://mimzy-writing-online.tumblr.com/post/187913512454/blind-characters-and-superpowers

-New- Mourning My Vision, it’s More than Depression. A small personal essay addressing the nuances of the mourning period you experience with a new disability. The mourning period is mentioned in other guides, but this is more detailed.

https://mimzy-writing-online.tumblr.com/post/188649694569/mourning-my-vision-its-more-than-depression

All parts will be tagged #blindcharacter in my blog, and I will add links to every post as I finish each part. Follow my blog for more writing advice.

#!! v useful #resources

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a-writers-rambles · 4 years

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me, to my housemates, one of whom is a thermal engineer: if someone had hypothermia, is the best way to warm them up ‘spoon them’, or ‘cuddle chest to chest’? I feel like it could be either – spooning is the classic warming position, and you warm up the colder part, but spoon the front and you insulate the skin with the largest temperature delta

housemates: [fervent, serious debate]

me, after a couple of minutes: to be clear, this is for a final fantasy 7 fanfiction scene where my character got really cold, the stakes aren’t high in getting this completely right.

housemate: does the hypothermia exist sheerly as an excuse for the cuddling?

me: that is the only reason hypothermia exists in fanfiction.

#good to know

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a-writers-rambles · 4 years

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how you write your fanfics: an alignment chart

#i used to be neutral good #ive moved to chaotic good

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a-writers-rambles · 4 years

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words to use instead of

as

while

when,

whilst

even as

just as

just when

simultaneously as

so long as

at the moment that

at the same time that at the time that

in the act of

in the process of

on the point of

during the time that

at the same time as

during the time

throughout the time

in the time

during which

during which time

for the period that

at the same time

meanwhile

at the time

as long as

exactly when

at the very moment that

at the very time that after

as soon as

immediately when

immediately after

instantly when once

looked

glanced

gazed

stared

gaped

peered

focused

peeped

peeked

took a look

taken a look

watched

considered

saw

seen

observed

viewed

regarded

marked

checked out

glimpsed

spotted

eyed

took in

taken

in ogled

eyeballed

beheld

beholden

before

ahead

back

previously

since

sooner

afore

aforetime

ante

antecedently

anteriorly

before present

ere

fore

former

formerly

forward

gone

gone by

heretofore

in advance

in days of yore

in front

in old days

in the past

past

precendently

smiled

beam

grin

laugh

smirk

simper

be gracious

express friendliness

express tenderness

look amused

look delighted

look happy

look pleased

touch

brush

caress

feel

handle

hit

kiss

lick

pat

reach

rub

strike

stroke

tap

abut

adjoin

border

communicate

contact

converge

dab

examine

finger

fondle

frisk

glance

graze

grope

inspect

join

line

manipulate

march

massage

meet

neighbor

osculate

palm

palpate

partake

paw

percuss

pet

probe

push

scrutinize

sip

smooth

suck

sweep

tag

taste

thumb

tickle

tip

toy

verge

be in contact

butt on

come together

feel up

impinge upon

lay a finger on

exhaled

breathe

emit

give off

let out

discharge

eject

emanate

evaporate

expel

issue

respire

steam

vaporize

nodded

acknowledge

bend

bow

greet

respond

salute

acquiesce

agree

approve

assent

passionate

ardent

dramatic

eager

eloquent

emotional

expressive

fervent

fierce

fiery

forceful

heartfelt

heated

impassioned

intense

poignant

spirited

strong

vehement

violent

zealous

affecting

animated

blazing

burning

deep

fervid

flaming

frenzied

glowing

headlong

high-powered

high-pressure

hot

hotblooded

impetuous

impulsive

inspiring

melodramatic

moving

precipitate

quickened

steamed up

stimulated

stirring

thrilling

warm

wild

but

although

however

nevertheless

on the other hand

still

though

yet

gasped

choke

snort

whoop

blow

convulse

gulp

heave

inhale

inspire

pant

puff

respire

sniffle

wheeze

catch one’s breath

fight for breath

frowned

glare

glower

grimace

pout

gloom

lower

sulk

cloud up

do a slow burn

give a dirty look

give the evil eye

knit brows

look black

look daggers

look stern

movement

act

action

change

development

evolution

exercise

flow

migration

move

operation

progress

shift

advance

agitation

alteration

swirled

boil

churn

roil

twirl

whirl

agitate

coil

crimp

crisp

curl

eddy

purl

roll

snake

surge

swoosh

whirlpool

whorl

wriggle

#resources

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a-writers-rambles · 4 years

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I did that thing where I was checking out a wip I haven’t touched in a long while, and before I knew it I was really sucked in and just reading it and enjoying it, and then it just fucking ended abruptly during a good scene and I nearly started screaming, and then I remembered it’s my own fucking wip and that means I have to be the one to fix this and finish it and I really really nearly started screaming and just asdfghjkl

#ugfhjfhh i need to get back to writing stuff

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a-writers-rambles · 4 years

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I would hope that by now I'm used to weird. After all, I've caused my fair share of weird. Shutting up Emilie after her brother does something dumb. Turning up Arlene's music after a rough transformation. Accidentally drowning out everyone else's voice when Jackie talks to me. I shouldn't have been surprised when we got the new kid. We were free, but they thought it best that we would be kept in a safe house. A place for us to lie low until He forgot about us. We knew He would just move onto some other kids. We definitely didn't expect a gangly kid with a mop of blind hair to take up residence.

He didn't seem too special. We had our fair share of visitors with 'nonspecial' powers. We had Zizzy, who could zoom in, Tiny, who literally just made lights, and Koal, who could disconnect parts of himself. They helped get us out that day. Pay was like them. He kept to himself. He shrunk back into the shadows, and never talked. We'd picked up enough ASL from Simon to try to talk with him. He never responded. We could swear he whispered sometimes, but even I couldn't make it loud enough to hear. We didn't know what he could do. Not until a few weeks ago.

The lights had gone out. We immediately checked the phone lines. Everything still worked. Just no power. Tiny wasn't here, so we were effectively blind. Sitting ducks. Selena started to freak out, and backed into a corner. Jackson and I made our way over to her when we all heard a cracking noice. It was somewhere between a bone breaking and knuckles cracking. Pay was standing in the middle of the room. His knuckles and his neck were glowing various shades of blue and green. He twisted, and slowly his back shone pinks and reds. He smiled, probably the first time we'd ever seen, and sat down with his back to us. Selena's breathing slowed, and she pulled slightly from our touch. She reached out and felt along his spine and shoulders.

"Glowy. And warm. Thank you Pat."

He answered croakily. "Thank ya miss."

"I-I don't like the dark much anymore."

"I could tell, no offense." In the pink light, she grinned. We ended up sitting in the light and talking about whatever came up until the lights came back on, and Emilie joined us. The lights didn't go away until we saw him the next morning. He wore a smile, and gave us a friendly wave. A notepad was passed across the table, with a small, neat 'Good morning' printed on it. He was gonna fit in perfectly.

#dude i really like how u write #and this story seems hella cool #not my writing

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a-writers-rambles · 4 years

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#hah #yeah

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a-writers-rambles · 4 years

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My fic: Geralt feels the breeze's fingers teasing his hair. Spring calls to him from the verdant meadow, begging him to sink greedy hands into the glut of grass, to feel the hymn of the earth beneath him. I am here, she sings. Lay with me. He turns, a planet in celestial dance with the sun; helpless in faithful orbit, bathed holy in the halo of morning.

A nice comment: I like your writing!

My reply: THAmK u my fren!! What a kind softe beast u are. Blease have at my jam, jam for u

#wow i relate

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a-writers-rambles · 4 years

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i have this writing style i like to call “uncertain.” it’s where the narrator isn’t really sure what they’re talking about either

#i wanna write something like this lmao #prompts

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a-writers-rambles · 4 years

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#yeah

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a-writers-rambles · 4 years

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So

my most recent obsession and muse, something that has not had a new focus for a while (since DBH) is The Witcher! I watched the Netflix show, fell in love, and I’m delving into the other parts of the world. I’ve read the first book an I’m halfway through the second, I’m playing the third game and watching playthroughs of the other two :) There’s so much lore and so many characters and everything is so exciting and I want to write for it! So, the point of this post - feel free to send in prompts for it! Or just feel free to hop into my ask box to generally discuss it!

#the witcher #witcher #fanfic #geralt #yennefer #ciri #cirilla fiona elen riannon #jaskier #dandelion #geraskier #gerlion #geraskefer #eskel #lambert #vesemir

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a-writers-rambles · 4 years

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a list of quirks for characters to make them a little more interesting

doesn’t like to wear shoes

always has a piece of sugarfree gum in their mouth

has a collection of cartoon dvds

walks everywhere they go

only wears pastel colors

won’t go anywhere without three hairbands on their wrist

refuses to wear any shoes except red converse

has a crippling fear of something mundane like mushrooms

has a dream notebook filled with every dream they can remember

has a really loud sneeze and goes into sneeze fits

only wears vintage clothing

has damaged hair from messing with it too much

super good at advanced math but can’t do addition for shit

believes in the supernatural, like ghosts

likes to go on midnight shopping trips and run through stores

gets too emotionally attached

loves dogs and has three of them

has hallucinations, but not scary ones

works at a fast food establishment in their free time

always carries a musical instrument with them

always carries a sketchbook with them

likes to name inanimate objects

strictly against drug use

excessively polite

excessively indecisive

can recite the first 200 digits of pi

can only play clocks by coldplay on the piano and plays it 24/7

gets itchy skin when anxious

has to move things around in a certain pattern before going to sleep

worries that if they do one thing wrong they’ll die

obsessed with puzzles

obsessed with rpg videogames

texts with one thumb

always has red painted nails

an amazing runner with super toned legs

has a beautiful voice

has restless legs, especially at night

has terrible performance anxiety

doesn’t like to turn assignments in because they’re afraid they’ll fail

loves science but is really bad at it

can/can’t make friends easily

likes to lie in fields and stare at the stars

believes that wishes can come true

falls deeply in love

bruises super easily

beautiful/horrible handwriting

ambidextrous

only likes nintendo games

only drinks sparkling water

doesn’t watch tv/listen to music

goes to concerts every week

likes slam poetry

likes to study in coffee shops/libraries

doesn’t understand politics but tries nonetheless

wears the same sweatshirt every day

collects sweatshirts

works three part time jobs

crazy intelligent but super shy

likes to memorize phone numbers instead of writing them down

loves to calculate probability

gets homesick very easily

wants to leave home very badly

trips a lot

can’t dance but tries anyway

brushes their teeth seven times a day

incredibly honest to a sometimes brash extent

only draws with mechanical pencils

only writes with pens

collects pens from hotels

wants to believe in heaven but can’t

watches a ton of anime

makes people cute nicknames

makes people origami

uses origami as a coping mechanism

owns a ton of t-shirts from hot topic, but has never been inside

makes all their own food

vegetarian/vegan/pescatarian

eats rice krispies every morning

does everything “for the aesthetic”

watches kids shows

goes to a private school

short term memory loss

loves disney movies

makes lists of random things in their free time

only eats foods with a spoon

only likes to wear skirts

never has their hair down

dyes their hair every two weeks

likes to collect pokemon cards

gets obsessed with games really easily

gives up too easily

gets their heart broken too often

has a mysterious disease

has a big social media following

tries too hard to be popular

likes to draw everything and everyone

can eat a whole lemon

listens to “edgy” music all the time

#resources #im clearing out my drafts sorry

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