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vividly-creative · 7 months
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Are Animals Becoming Extinct in Fantasy Novels?
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Recently, I read this post titled “Animals have been taken off in novels since 1835. Is fiction undergoing its own extinction event?” which talks about a study that found that since 1835, the use of wild animals in fiction has dropped drastically.
Many are blaming this “slow extinction” on modern societies disconnect to nature. After all, not everyone spends their days outside, so they might not notice mice, birds, or even the insects at their feet. If they do not think about animals in their daily life, why would they think about them while writing?
That is the theory, at least.
It is worthwhile pointing out what several other writers and readers are; there are plenty of animals in children’s fiction. That is true, but what about young adult to adult fantasy? Since that is what I personally write, that is what I wanted to talk about.
Just going off what books I think of first, it seems like often in fantasy novels, the only prey animals (like deer, squirrels, or rabbits) that we see are after nearly always during or after they are hunted. Then there is the complete lack of mosquitos, leaches, biting ants, and other annoying creatures.
Sometimes, there is a mention of the sound of birds singing, but rarely ever are there any details of the birds or what they are doing. Where are the ducks and swans on the lakes? Where are the birds building nests?
Now you may be going “What is the point? Why should I care?” and I get that, but by eliminating these creatures, your novels could be losing a sense of realism.
For example, in Stephen Kings The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon — which I argue is a light fantasy story, not a horror story — has a girl is lost in the woods and stalked by a creature. Interestingly, even most survival books fail to mention animals apart from for food, but Stephen King did not do that. He had deer, water bugs skittering across ponds, and even wasps that attack the main character. This added a sense of reality to the novel. It was not just a forest with some trees and plants, it was a forest filled with life, and that can be dangerous for anyone, let alone a young girl.
So, go ahead, raise the mood with your characters. If they are miserable, make them more so by having the mosquitos bite at them day and night or have them step in a anthill. If they are happy, they could watch a mother bird feeding its young or a swan rubbing necks with its partner.
Adding more hints of nature could not only amplify the mood, but it could also make your forests seem more real.
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vividly-creative · 7 months
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How to Write Any Type of Character
I get a lot of questions asking how to write different types of characters… how to write someone who’s good, how to write someone who’s evil, how to write someone who’s good but turns evil, how to write someone with PTSD, how to write someone from France, how to write someone who is quiet and shy, how to write someone who’s deaf, how to write a six-year old…
The answer to all of these questions is the same: do some research. :)
As writers, a big part of our job is to do the legwork required to write the things we want to write. Even just a few decades ago, that meant going to the library and making lots of phone calls, but today we have an amazing wealth of information right at our fingertips through search engines like Google. There is almost nothing you can’t learn about by doing a Google search.
Here are some search terms to help you find what you’re looking for:
- “what are the qualities of a ___________ person?” - “what are the characteristics of a person with __________?” - “what causes someone to be ____________?” - “why are some people ___________?” - “what are the effects of having ___________?” - “what are the effects of being __________?” - “what are the signs of someone with ____________?” - “what are the signs of someone who is __________?” - “what is it like to be __________?” - “what is it like to live with __________?” - “what is it like to live in _________?” - “facts about ________?” - “what challenges do people who are __________ face?” - “what are kids like at age _____?” - “what are _____ year olds like?” Try plugging the characteristics of the person you want to write about into some of these search terms and see what comes up. Try not to be overwhelmed by the number of results. Just start scanning through the list for anything that looks promising. Right-click and open until you have several possibilities to sift through. Then start a document where you can take notes. Also: when you’re writing about people who are good, bad, shy, obnoxious, etc., it helps to consider what underlying situation makes them that way, whether it was something in their past, a personality disorder, mental illness, etc. Often, you can research whatever that is to add to the depth of your portrayal.
Other helpful resources:
- look for blogs written by people with the traits you want to write about. For example, you could look for a blog written by someone who lives in France or someone who’s living with PTSD. Tumblr is a good source.
- look on YouTube for videos, vlgos, and documentaries made by and about people with the qualities you want to write about. For example, you could search for “documentaries about being deaf” and see what comes up.
- look for helpful info graphics using Google Image Search. For example, you could search “facts about narcissism” and see what comes up.
- if you have access to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Curiosity Stream, and others, you can also look for documentaries there that cover the subjects you’re interested in.
- lots of people write guides about different types of people, and often these are geared toward writers. You can try searching your keywords in tumblr directly, or you can search Google: “ptsd guide tumblr” or “writing ptsd tumblr”
- go to the library… really! Libraries are still tremendous sources of information and librarians are trained to help you find the information you’re looking for.
- here’s my character development tag! Helpful blogs:
@writingwithcolor - resources for writing about People of Color @rainbowwriting - resources for writing about people who are LGBTQA+ Reference for Writers - general resources; character development tag @fuckyeahcharacterdevelopment - tons of character development resources @fantasticalwriting - fantasy writing resources @clevergirlhelps - tons of amazing writing resources Disability in KidLit - information and resources about disability in MG & YA YA Pride - lots of LGBT information and resources @howtofightwrite - creating realistic fight scenes and related characters
Best of luck to you! Whatever kind of person you’re trying to write, I promise you have it in you to portray this character in a way that is respectful and authentic! <3
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vividly-creative · 7 months
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*opens word doc covered in blood* it doesn’t have to be good. it just has to be done.
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vividly-creative · 7 months
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Draw what a fully sentient organism that evolved from a plant might look like.
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vividly-creative · 7 months
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Some "Did you know"s about AO3 tags from a tag wrangler volunteer
It takes 3 unique identifiable users (no anons, no unidentified orphans) for a fandom-specific freeform tag to be canonized.
Relationship tags are primarily alphabetized by last name.
If you see that something like "- Freeform" or "- Character" has been added automatically to a tag you used, it means it exists in another category already.
If you use a tag that is marked as a subtag of another tag, it will show up in the search for the metatag as well - so if you tag "Hybrid TommyInnit (Video Blogging RPF)" it will automatically show up in "Hybrids"!
Many larger fandoms have tags show up in odd places because certain fandoms are used as holding bins. For example you may see MCYT tags in 30 Day SMP | Free Trial SMP as we use it as our collective bin for tags we can't do anything with.
You don't have to use the canonical tag for something if you don't want to. You can tag "BadBoyHalo" and it will still show up under "Darryl Noveschosch | BadBoyHalo" as tag wranglers connect tags together.
You can report issues with tags by submitting a support ticket using the "Technical Support & Feedback" button on the bottom of any AO3 page.
The Wrangling Guidelines are publicly available to read here!
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vividly-creative · 7 months
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Showing people our writing makes me feel like a cat presenting someone a dead mouse.
“Yes, it’s a bit horrifying but I am very proud of it”
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vividly-creative · 7 months
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Meet Cutes/Uglies Masterpost
Meet Cutes
Meet Uglies
Meet ugly College AU
Meet Cutes/Uglies: Public Transport Edition
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vividly-creative · 7 months
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vividly-creative · 7 months
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vividly-creative · 7 months
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Jk & Jimin🏝️
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vividly-creative · 7 months
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AU Masterpost
List of AUs
Acting AU
Drama Club Enemies to Lovers
Bodyguard AU
Bodyguard AUs
Bodyguard Dialogue Prompts
Bookstore/Library AU
Bookstore AUs
How to create an atmosphere: Library
Celebrity/Rich AU
Fan x Celebrity Prompts
Road to fame ideas
Gossip Girl/Rich AUs
Coffee Shop AU
Coffee Prompts
Coffee Shop AUs
Coffee Shop Prompts
How to create an atmosphere: Coffee Shop
Flower Shop AU
Flower Shop AUs
Firefighter/Police AU
Firefighter/Police AUs
Friends with Benefits AU
Friends with Benefits to Lovers Prompts
Enemies to Friends with Benefits Prompts
Ghost AU
Human x Ghost Prompts
Human/Ghost Dialogue Prompts
Haunted Objects
Inconvenient things a ghost could do
Guardian Angel AU
Guardian Angel Prompts
Historic AU
Victorian AU Prompts
Historic Prompts - 1800s Ball Prompts
Hospital/Doctors AU
Patient and Doctor Prompts
Lawyer AU
Lawyer AUs
Rival Lawyers
Lifeguard AU
Lifeguard AUs
Mafia AU
How to write the Mafia
Mafia Prompts
Magic/Magical Creatures AU
Magic
Magical Creatures Part I
Magical Creatures Part II
Hogwarts Prompts
Mermaid AU
Mermaid Prompts
Turning into a mermaid
Musician AU
Band AU Prompts
Enemies to Lovers: Band Edition
Rockstar AUs
Eurovision AU
Neighbors AU
Neighbor AUs Part I
Neighbor AU Part II
Neighbors to lovers prompts
Outer Space
Space Horror Prompts
Pirate AU
Pirate Prompts
(Post-)Apocalypse AU
Causes for the apocalypse
Last day on earth
Post-apocalyptic romance prompts
Roommates AU
Roommates Prompts
Roommates AUs
Roommates to Lovers - Spending time together
Roommates to Lovers Prompts
Royalty AU
Royalty Scenarios
Royalty Dialogue
Modern Royalty AUs
Princess x Loyal Companion
Prince/ss x Commoner
Princess x Knight
First Meeting
Forbidden love
Fake Dating
Arranged Marriage (Prompts + how to, Events)
Royal Arranged Marriage Dialogue Prompts
Royalty forced married to actual lovers prompts
Royal x Royal Ball Dancing
How to write modern royalty
A Queen’s Assassination Plot
Reasons for closing off borders
School/College AU
Boarding School Prompts
College/University AUs
Meet ugly College AU
Polar Opposite Students Prompts
Professor x TA Prompts
Teacher x Teacher Prompts
How to write a college party
Soulmates AU
Soulmate AUs
Multiple Soulmates Prompts
Dark Soulmates AUs
Sports AU
Dancer Prompts
Sport Romance Prompts
Spy/Assassins AU
Assassins Banter Dialogue
Assassin x Target Prompts
Spy Prompts
Evil organization of assassins
Vampire AU
Vampire Prompts
Vampire Dialogue
Werewolf AU
Werewolf Prompts Part I
Werewolf Prompts Part II
Human x Werewolf Prompts
Workplace/Office AU
Colleague AUs
Co-workers - Hate to love Part I
Co-workers - Hate to love Part II
Matchmaking at Work Prompts
Secret Dating at Work Prompts
More:
Groundhog Day Prompts
If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! And check out my Instagram! 🥰
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vividly-creative · 7 months
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How are you guys doing?
Are you writing? Drawing?
Are we doing the artist thing?
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vividly-creative · 7 months
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Store got updated! Calendars and lunar calendars are coming real soon with preords open if you want to get one early. Preords come with a little extra secret thing too ;u;
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vividly-creative · 7 months
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vividly-creative · 7 months
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Algun writeblr latino??
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vividly-creative · 7 months
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Hey, i have a character who can feel other people's emotion. Could u think of any disadvantages and advantages he'd be facing ?
Supernatural Empathy Ideas
Advantages
being able to feel if someone is lying to them
being happy by experiencing someone else's joy
being able to help other people by knowing their true feelings
being able to relate to people easier
being able to get social cues much better
making their decisions based on everyone's true feelings, making it possible for everyone to be content
Disadvantages
sudden mood swing because of different people's emotions
feeling overwhelmed with other people's emotions
not being able to shut it down even for a moment
becoming apathetic because of feeling so many emotions all the time
experiencing compassion fatigue
being highly sensitive in general
not being able to recognize their own emotions, mixing their emotions with other people's emotions
- Jana
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vividly-creative · 7 months
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