One Of The Best Fics I've Ever Read, One That Had Me Addicted To My Phone And Crying, Wasn't Even Prose.

Black sexuality representation we want to see

@sapphosigns asked:

Greetings =) I was wondering if any Black mods and followers would be up to sharing your thoughts/feelings on portrayals of Black characters sexuality- given that a lot of portrayals hypersexualise or fetishize. What would you want to see/feel is more balanced given the way black people are treated in media at large? (thank you for doing what you do with this blog)

Here is my opinion on things that should be more represented in relationships involving Black characters, concerning their sexuality:

More queer relationships.

Black gay men or women

Bisexual characters

Aromantic or asexual characters too

Even though we tend to be more closeted depending on how theses identities are viewed in our communities (generally for religious motives), Black people aren’t “more straight” than White people for example.

Healthy and light-hearted relationships

Relationship not rooted in trauma or violence.

Going with that, more tenderness and romanticism too, with the funny-awkward moments that go with it.

Weird love declarations, embarrassing but lovingly awkward sexual situations.

Healthy family dynamics

I also want to add that it extends to family dynamics.

Black characters having a present partner for their children or having both their parents together (to be careful with the Absent Black Father trope).

More relationships involving two Black characters

More relationships involving two Black characters!! Lots of relationships involving a Black character involve a White lover. While this is okay, Black love could be a bit more depicted outside the romance genre (I’m thinking fantasy and science-fiction, or Young Adult).

More interracial relationships not involving a white partner.

These relationships can be harder to find in literature, due to the prevalence of the White lover.

There’s an amazing french graphic novel titled Amours croisées by Laura Nsafou and Camélia Blandeau which depicts Yari, a Black girl living in Paris, falling in love with Hide, who has East-Asian origins and mostly… is polyamourous. The graphic novel is about discovering different ways to love, including inside your own relationship. The drawing style and the plot are really soft. That’s an example of what can be done to depict our relationships in a caring way.

-Mod Lydie

Black followers, please add the BIPOC queer representation you want to see!

a comic about different types of storytellers

-: “Look, I’m obsessively hating over you, but it’s nothing more” Enemies to lovers prompts-:

(tw: suggestive)

By @me-writes-prompts

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the most despicable person on this whole earth…” “Sweetheart, I know I’m your favorite. No need to pretend.”

When their enemy comes to save them instead of their friends and they start falling in love with them>>>>>>

^^“Look, I don’t need your help with this.” “You clearly do. And before you interrupt, I advise you keep shut if you actually want me to do something to help you.”

Gazing at them softly without intending to

“I hate you so much, like, I can’t stop wanting to punch you at the thought of you-.” “I think what you’re describing is symptoms of obsessions. Are you obsessed with me [name]?” “What?! No, absolutely not. It’s normal to think about your enemy all the time because you want to fight them. Right?” HEAVY SILENCE.

“Listen, I would rather dig my own grave than marry them. You see how much I dread it?” “Uh huh, you said this before kissing them last time.” “Shut up. That was only one time. God.” “One time is too many in your case. Don’t you think?”

“This is too close. You’re too close.” “Well, it wasn’t exactly my idea to hide in this closet, now was it?”

Accidentally ending up in the same apartment as roommates and slowly realizing that they are both not so bad after all

^^when one has nightmares, the other one offers cuddles

“Wow, um wow.” They say while they check they check them out. “What?” “You look horrible.”(liar) “Did you mean hot?” “Yeah.” They reply as they get distracted by the other pulling them close by their waist. (OMGGGGGG THIS)

“You make me want to com-.” “Oh, do I now, love? I didn’t know you desired me that way.” They say with a smirk. “No! I meant combust, you idiot!” *blushes*

A look into 2024 Internet in the Stranger Things universe or,

Do you ever think about how in the Stranger Things universe, there is probably a ton of talks online about what happened in Hawkins during the 80s because I do

Non-binary Masc Pride Flag

Nonbinary Masc: designating masculinity in non-binary people; people whose gender identity is not binary and gender expression (presentation) is masculine; nby individuals who are masc. of center.

Flag adapted from @pridebois [id: 4 stripes of yellow, white, blue, and pastel black. end id.]

Different Ways to Describe Brown Eyes

-> feel free to edit and adjust pronouns as you see fit.

Her eyes were the color of honey, irises swirling like the sweet nectar.

His eyes—the color of an intoxicating champagne—beckoned her over with nothing more than a wink and a smile.

They had eyes like mud, perfectly matched with the frown that permanently stained their face.

Her eyes were as bright as the raging sun and the color of dancing flames.

They wore blue eyeshadow to contrast their dark brown eyes.

Her eyes were as beautiful as the leaves of trees in autumn.

His eyes were nearly black, like a void that held a lifetime of secrets.

Dirt. She had eyes like dirt. They were almost as dirty as her personality.

Their eyes reminded her of old brick libraries and vintage books.

She had the kind of eyes that made thieves wonder why they bothered to steal pieces of art.

His eyes made her think of the sandcastles she used to build as a kid.

Their eyes were the same color as the old oak tree their great-great-grandfather planted in the backyard.

His eyes were the same color as the bottle of liquor in his hand.

They had a smile like spring, but their eyes were autumn with a hint of passing summer.

Her dark eyes were flaked with gold.

His brown eyes had tragedy weaved behind his irises.

Brown, copper eyes that paired with the dry blood stuck to their face watched him as he stalked across the tiled floor.

You started a scam religion for a quick buck. You begin to panic when your fake god was actually a real forgotten one awakened from new worshippers, declared you it's high priest, and granted you the power of healing.

Height difference - Dialogue

"Can you stop putting everything on the top shelves?!"

"It's not my fault you're vertically challenged." "What did you just say?"

"You do realise I'm in the best position to punch you in the guts, right?"

"You're like a kitten, small and cute." "Say that again and I'll kill you."

"You're the only one who can fit in there."

"Hey, skyscraper, you're blocking my sun."

"I'll kick your shins if you don't immediately lean down."

"I'm not sleeping in your bed, it hurts when my legs dangle over the edge, you know?"

"Why don't you like my hugs?" "Because you always almost suffocate me! Stop squishing me like a plushie and then we can talk."

Writing Strong Opening Lines

This is the kind of information your first line should provide:

the name of the character (the speicifcity creates and illusion of reality from the get-go)

Notify that something bad is about to happen.

Provide a feeling of motion (it doesn’t neccessarily have to be the character moving)

Talk about a (small) disturbance to the character’s everyday life.

Types of Novel Openings

Action (in medias res)

Jump into the story with no delay - have something interesting happening.

“They threw me off the hay truck about noon."

2. Dialogue

Show conflict between the characters speaking.

“Isn’t it true you ahve a motive to lie?” / “Excuse me?”

3. Raw Emotion

Make readers sympathize with the MC, who is experiencing a strong, universal emotion (like sadness, anger, etc.).

“I do not look. I don’t ask where. I don’t because Annie’s mother died seven months ago. I stand motionless in the line, looking just like everyone else except for the hot tears that have begun to sting my eyes.”

4. Look-back Hook

Suggest that there is a not-to-be-missed story that’s about to be told

“The terror, which would not end for another twenty-eight years — if it ever did end — beganm, so far as I can tell, with a boat made from a sheet of newsppaer gloating down a gutter swollen with rain”

5. Attitude

When using first-person narration, show some attitude and unique voice.

“If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.”

6. Prologues - entice the reader to move to chapter 1

Action Prologue: Start off with some big scene, often involving death

Framing a story - give the reader the view of a character about to look back and tell the story.

The teaser - present a scene at the beginning that will happen later on in the book

If you like my blog, buy me a coffee! ☕

Reference: <Write Great Fiction: Plot and Structure (techniques and exercises for craftin a plot that grips readers from start to finish)> by James Scott Bell

What if I look inside myself and I don’t find any gems? What if I’m just a rock? WHISPER OF THE HEART / 耳をすませば (1995)