tickingsealantern
lurker account with extra steps. don't expect me to actually post anything
31 posts
Latest Posts by tickingsealantern
my OCs are sooo cool you guys don't know what you're missing. if you could see the show i'm watching in my head rn you'd go so crazy i'm telling u
ⓘ You can Bite your Friends.
Vivipary - when seeds sprout while still being attached to its mother fruit
original by clairetablizo
Small fantasy worldbuilding elements you might want to think about:
A currency that isn’t gold-standard/having gold be as valuable as tin
A currency that runs entirely on a perishable resource, like cocoa beans
A clock that isn’t 24-hours
More or less than four seasons/seasons other than the ones we know
Fantastical weather patterns like irregular cloud formations, iridescent rain
Multiple moons/no moon
Planetary rings
A northern lights effect, but near the equator
Roads that aren’t brown or grey/black, like San Juan’s blue bricks
Jewelry beyond precious gems and metals
Marriage signifiers other than wedding bands
The husband taking the wife's name / newlyweds inventing a new surname upon marriage
No concept of virginity or bastardry
More than 2 genders/no concept of gender
Monotheism, but not creationism
Gods that don’t look like people
Domesticated pets that aren’t re-skinned dogs and cats
Some normalized supernatural element that has nothing to do with the plot
Magical communication that isn’t Fantasy Zoom
“Books” that aren’t bound or scrolls
A nonverbal means of communicating, like sign language
A race of people who are obligate carnivores/ vegetarians/ vegans/ pescatarians (not religious, biological imperative)
I’ve done about half of these myself in one WIP or another and a little detail here or there goes a long way in reminding the audience that this isn’t Kansas anymore.
Vegans of tumblr, listen up. Harvesting agave in the quantities required so you dont have to eat honey is killing mexican long-nosed bats. They feed off the nectar and pollinate the plants. They need the agave. You want to help the environment? Go back to honey. Your liver and thyroid will thank you, as well. Agave is 90% fructose, which can cause a host of issues. Bye.
My mom sent this to me and i’m howling
Writing Notes: Fight Scene
How to Write a Convincing Fight Scene
In practice, writing a realistic fight scene for your novel is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do.
That’s because fight scenes can be boring to read.
A movie allows the audience to take a passive stance and have the action wash over them.
In contrast, reading a fight scene requires the audience to activate their imagination.
The audience must participate in constructing the fight scene from your clues and seeing it play out in their mind’s eye.
That’s a lot more difficult than getting it fed to you visually.
Below are strategies for writing fight scenes.
Fight Scenes Should Move the Story Forward
The very first rule for fight writing (and writing any scene in general) is to ensure that it moves the story forward.
Say “no” to gratuitous fight scenes that only show off fancy moves or writing skills.
Here’s the easiest way to find out if your fight scene moves the story:
Delete it.
Now, read the scene before and the scene after.
Can you still make sense of what happened?
If the fight caused some type of transition in your story, keep it in.
And remember: Not all transitions are physical. Some are mental.
You don’t always have to discuss the physical aftermath.
You can also explore the mental fallout after a fight.
This can be how the fight moves the story forward.
Fight Scenes Should Improve Characterization
Because reading a fight scene can get boring quickly, it’s important that you focus on more than the bare-knuckle action.
Use fights as a way to explore your character(s) and provide more insight on the following:
Why does the character make the choices that they make in the fight?
How does each choice reinforce their characterization?
How does each choice impact their internal and/ or external goals?
Is this conflict getting the character closer or further away from their goals? How?
What are the stakes for each character? What do they stand to win/lose?
What type of fighter is the character? What are their physical or mental abilities? (Remember that not every protagonist will be a trained assassin, so they’re prone to make sloppy mistakes during a fight.)
Use the fight scene to reveal necessary information about the characters.
Be sure to give the reader a glimpse into the character’s soul and not just into their fighting skills.
Fight Scenes Shouldn't Slow the Pace
In movies and especially in real life, fights go by quickly.
But in literature, fight scenes can slow the pace.
That’s because you have to write all of the details and the reader has to reconstruct the scene in their minds.
However, if you employ certain literary devices into your narrative, you can actually create a taut fight scene.
Here are some tips:
Write in shorter sentences. Shorter sentences are easier to digest. It also speeds up the pace of a story.
Mix action with dialogue. Don’t just write long descriptions of what’s happening. Also, share the verbal exchange between your characters.
Don’t focus too much on what’s going on inside the character’s mind. Introspection happens before and after a fight, not during.
Keep the fight short. Fights should never go on for pages (unless you’re discussing an epic battle between armies, and not individuals).
Hit ’Em With All the Senses
One of the best ways to get visceral when describing a fight is to activate every sense possible.
This includes sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell.
Think of how you can use these five descriptors in your writing to immediately transport the reader to the scene.
Sight
Perhaps the most obvious.
You’ll describe exactly what the characters are seeing and what the reader should pay attention to in the scene.
Hearing
Is a little more delicate.
A fight scene is a perfect time to introduce onomatopoeia into your narrative.
Onomatopoeia - a word that sounds like what it is describing.
Try using more subtle examples, such as:
Boom, Clang, Clap, Clatter, Click, Crack, Creak, Crunk, Fizzle, Gargle, Groan, Grunt, Gurgle, Hiss, Howl, Hum, Knock, Plod, Rattle, Roar, Rustle, Sizzle, Smack, Splash, Splatter, Squeal, Tap, Thud, Thumb, Whine, Whisper
Taste
Be careful with going abstract here.
Instead of using phrases like, “he could taste fear in the air,”
go for something more concrete like, “blood mixed with strawberry lip gloss was a strange taste.”
Touch
Perhaps one of the easiest senses to convey.
Describe how the characters feel and interact with each other physically.
Smell
You often see or hear a fight, but can you smell it?
In person, what would the fight smell like? Probably sweat.
Consider other scents, such as the ambient aroma in the scene.
Example: If the fight takes place in a car garage, there may be the lingering scent of motor oil and tire rubber.
Don’t be afraid to add that into the scene to introduce a different dimension.
When Writing a Fight Scene, Edit, Edit, Edit
A good story is an edited one.
The same rule applies to fight scenes.
A sloppy fight scene can slow the pace of your story and/or confuse the reader.
When editing your fight scene, keep the following in mind:
Don’t include a blow by blow of what happens in the fight. After your initial draft, remove non-essential details that can slow down reading.
Delete flowery language. Extra words drag the pace. Remove every single word that you can.
Consolidate characters to reduce reader confusion and frustration.
Source ⚜ Fight Scenes (Part 2) ⚜ Words for your Fight Scenes Word Lists: Fight ⚜ Poking/Hitting ⚜ Panting ⚜ Running ⚜ Pain
Writing Resources PDFs
NEED HELP WRITING? (a masterlist)
I have likely not added many that I've reblogged to this list. Please feel free to roam my blog and/or ask/message me to add something you'd like to see on this list!
Synonym Lists
Look by @writers-potion
Descriptors
Voices by @saraswritingtipps
Show, Don't Tell by @lyralit
Tips & Tricks
5 Tips for Creating Intimidating Antagonists by @writingwithfolklore
How To (Realistically) Make a Habit of Writing by @byoldervine
Let's Talk About Misdirection by @deception-united
Tips to Improve Character Voice by @tanaor
Stephen King's Top 20 Rules for Writers posted by @toocoolformedschool
Fun Things to Add to a Fight Scene (Hand to Hand Edition) by @illarian-rambling
Questions I Ask My Beta Readers by @burntoutdaydreamer
Skip Google for Research by @s-n-arly
Breaking Writing Rules Right: Don't Write Direct Dialogue by @septemberercfawkes
Databases/Resources
International Clothing
Advice/Uplifting
Too Ashamed of Writing To Write by @writingquestionsanswered
"Said" is Beautiful by @blue-eyed-author
Things Real People Do in Dialogue (For Your Next Story)
Okay, let’s be real—dialogue can make or break a scene. You want your characters to sound natural, like actual humans talking, not robots reading a script. So, how do you write dialogue that feels real without it turning into a mess of awkward pauses and “ums”? Here’s a little cheat sheet of what real people actually do when they talk (and you can totally steal these for your next story):
1. People Interrupt Each Other All the Time In real conversations, nobody waits for the perfect moment to speak. We interrupt, cut each other off, and finish each other's sentences. Throw in some overlaps or interruptions in your dialogue to make it feel more dynamic and less like a rehearsed play.
2. They Don’t Always Say What They Mean Real people are masters of dodging. They’ll say one thing but mean something totally different (hello, passive-aggressive banter). Or they’ll just avoid the question entirely. Let your characters be vague, sarcastic, or just plain evasive sometimes—it makes their conversations feel more layered.
3. People Trail Off... We don’t always finish our sentences. Sometimes we just... stop talking because we assume the other person gets what we’re trying to say. Use that in your dialogue! Let a sentence trail off into nothing. It adds realism and shows the comfort (or awkwardness) between characters.
4. Repeating Words Is Normal In real life, people repeat words when they’re excited, nervous, or trying to make a point. It’s not a sign of bad writing—it’s how we talk. Let your characters get a little repetitive now and then. It adds a rhythm to their speech that feels more genuine.
5. Fillers Are Your Friends People say "um," "uh," "like," "you know," all the time. Not every character needs to sound polished or poetic. Sprinkle in some filler words where it makes sense, especially if the character is nervous or thinking on their feet.
6. Not Everyone Speaks in Complete Sentences Sometimes, people just throw out fragments instead of complete sentences, especially when emotions are high. Short, choppy dialogue can convey tension or excitement. Instead of saying “I really think we need to talk about this,” try “We need to talk. Now.”
7. Body Language Is Part of the Conversation Real people don’t just communicate with words; they use facial expressions, gestures, and body language. When your characters are talking, think about what they’re doing—are they fidgeting? Smiling? Crossing their arms? Those little actions can add a lot of subtext to the dialogue without needing extra words.
8. Awkward Silences Are Golden People don’t talk non-stop. Sometimes, they stop mid-conversation to think, or because things just got weird. Don’t be afraid to add a beat of awkward silence, a long pause, or a meaningful look between characters. It can say more than words.
9. People Talk Over Themselves When They're Nervous When we’re anxious, we tend to talk too fast, go back to rephrase what we just said, or add unnecessary details. If your character’s nervous, let them ramble a bit or correct themselves. It’s a great way to show their internal state through dialogue.
10. Inside Jokes and Shared History Real people have history. Sometimes they reference something that happened off-page, or they share an inside joke only they get. This makes your dialogue feel lived-in and shows that your characters have a life beyond the scene. Throw in a callback to something earlier, or a joke only two characters understand.
11. No One Explains Everything People leave stuff out. We assume the person we’re talking to knows what we’re talking about, so we skip over background details. Instead of having your character explain everything for the reader’s benefit, let some things go unsaid. It’ll feel more natural—and trust your reader to keep up!
12. Characters Have Different Voices Real people don’t all talk the same way. Your characters shouldn’t either! Pay attention to their unique quirks—does one character use slang? Does another speak more formally? Maybe someone’s always cutting people off while another is super polite. Give them different voices and patterns of speech so their dialogue feels authentic to them.
13. People Change the Subject In real life, conversations don’t always stay on track. People get sidetracked, jump to random topics, or avoid certain subjects altogether. If your characters are uncomfortable or trying to dodge a question, let them awkwardly change the subject or ramble to fill the space.
14. Reactions Aren’t Always Immediate People don’t always respond right away. They pause, they think, they hesitate. Sometimes they don’t know what to say, and that delay can speak volumes. Give your characters a moment to process before they respond—it’ll make the conversation feel more natural.
Important note: Please don’t use all of these tips in one dialogue at once.
20 Ways to Show Extreme Fear in Your Writing
As I dive into researching signs of fear for my horror WIP, I wanted to share some of the most compelling and visceral reactions I’ve come across. Whether you’re writing a chilling scene or crafting a character’s panic, these 20 signs of fear can help bring tension and realism to your story.
Physical Reactions
Hyperventilating — sucking in air but never feeling like it’s enough
Chest tightens — feels like a weight or hands pressing down
Limbs shaking violently, knees buckling
Complete loss of muscle control — collapsing or unable to stand
Cold sweat soaking through clothes
Heart hammering so hard they feel it in their throat or head
Tunnel vision — the world narrowing down to one terrifying focal point
Ringing in the ears or sudden deafness, like the world drops away
Dizziness / feeling faint / vision blurring
Dry mouth — unable to speak or even scream
Uncontrollable Behavior
Screaming / sobbing / gasping — involuntary vocal outbursts
Panic run — bolting without thinking, tripping over everything
Clawing at their own skin / chest / throat — like trying to escape their body
Begging / pleading out loud even if no one’s there
Repeating words or phrases — “No, no, no” / “This isn’t happening”
Hiding instinctively — diving under tables, closets, or corners
Desperate grabbing — reaching for someone, anything solid
Loss of bladder or bowel control (for extreme terror)
Total mental shutdown — frozen, slack-jawed, staring blankly
Memory blackout — later can’t recall what happened during the worst moment
Other Words for "Look" + With meanings | List for writers
Many people create lists of synonyms for the word 'said,' but what about the word 'look'? Here are some synonyms that I enjoy using in my writing, along with their meanings for your reference. While all these words relate to 'look,' they each carry distinct meanings and nuances, so I thought it would be helpful to provide meanings for each one.
Gaze - To look steadily and intently, especially in admiration or thought.
Glance - A brief or hurried look.
Peek - A quick and typically secretive look.
Peer - To look with difficulty or concentration.
Scan - To look over quickly but thoroughly.
Observe - To watch carefully and attentively.
Inspect - To look at closely in order to assess condition or quality.
Stare - To look fixedly or vacantly at someone or something.
Glimpse - To see or perceive briefly or partially.
Eye - To look or stare at intently.
Peruse - To read or examine something with great care.
Scrutinize - To examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
Behold - To see or observe a thing or person, especially a remarkable one.
Witness - To see something happen, typically a significant event.
Spot - To see, notice, or recognize someone or something.
Contemplate - To look thoughtfully for a long time at.
Sight - To suddenly or unexpectedly see something or someone.
Ogle - To stare at in a lecherous manner.
Leer - To look or gaze in an unpleasant, malicious way.
Gawk - To stare openly and stupidly.
Gape - To stare with one's mouth open wide, in amazement.
Squint - To look with eyes partially closed.
Regard - To consider or think of in a specified way.
Admire - To regard with pleasure, wonder, and approval.
Skim - To look through quickly to gain superficial knowledge.
Reconnoiter - To make a military observation of a region.
Flick - To look or move the eyes quickly.
Rake - To look through something rapidly and unsystematically.
Glare - To look angrily or fiercely.
Peep - To look quickly and secretly through an opening.
Focus - To concentrate one's visual effort on.
Discover - To find or realize something not clear before.
Spot-check - To examine something briefly or at random.
Devour - To look over with eager enthusiasm.
Examine - To inspect in detail to determine condition.
Feast one's eyes - To look at something with great enjoyment.
Catch sight of - To suddenly or unexpectedly see.
Clap eyes on - To suddenly see someone or something.
Set eyes on - To look at, especially for the first time.
Take a dekko - Colloquial for taking a look.
Leer at - To look or gaze in a suggestive manner.
Rubberneck - To stare at something in a foolish way.
Make out - To manage to see or read with difficulty.
Lay eyes on - To see or look at.
Pore over - To look at or read something intently.
Ogle at - To look at in a lecherous or predatory way.
Pry - To look or inquire into something in a determined manner.
Dart - To look quickly or furtively.
Drink in - To look at with great enjoyment or fascination.
Bask in - To look at or enjoy something for a period of time.
a list of 100+ buildings to put in your fantasy town
academy
adventurer's guild
alchemist
apiary
apothecary
aquarium
armory
art gallery
bakery
bank
barber
barracks
bathhouse
blacksmith
boathouse
book store
bookbinder
botanical garden
brothel
butcher
carpenter
cartographer
casino
castle
cobbler
coffee shop
council chamber
court house
crypt for the noble family
dentist
distillery
docks
dovecot
dyer
embassy
farmer's market
fighting pit
fishmonger
fortune teller
gallows
gatehouse
general store
graveyard
greenhouses
guard post
guildhall
gymnasium
haberdashery
haunted house
hedge maze
herbalist
hospice
hospital
house for sale
inn
jail
jeweller
kindergarten
leatherworker
library
locksmith
mail courier
manor house
market
mayor's house
monastery
morgue
museum
music shop
observatory
orchard
orphanage
outhouse
paper maker
pawnshop
pet shop
potion shop
potter
printmaker
quest board
residence
restricted zone
sawmill
school
scribe
sewer entrance
sheriff's office
shrine
silversmith
spa
speakeasy
spice merchant
sports stadium
stables
street market
tailor
tannery
tavern
tax collector
tea house
temple
textile shop
theatre
thieves guild
thrift store
tinker's workshop
town crier post
town square
townhall
toy store
trinket shop
warehouse
watchtower
water mill
weaver
well
windmill
wishing well
wizard tower
sometimes you need dialogue tags and don't want to use the same four
Hi dearest tumblr writers here is some tips you have no choice in using now.
Please stop over using: said, say, yell, whispered, in your stories. Its atrocious,
(Edit)
I know I phrased it that you were "over using" said. (I was making a joke) I'm not going to bully you for using it. I provided this list for those who *want* it. Personally *I* do not frequently use "said" BECAUSE *I* like to show more emotion in my dialog. Again I am not going to say your writing is good or bad based on the tag on your dialog. This list is for those who WANT to use it.
Use these instead
Neutral
Announced
Commented
Divulged(Make known)
Explained
Called
Began
Told
Reported
Observed
Remarked(Say something as a comment;mention 2. Regard with attention;notice)
Noted
Continued
Conferred(Grant or bestow 2. Have discussion;exchange opinions)
Replying
Replied
Retorted(Say something in answer to a remark, usually in a sharp, angry, or witty manner)
Answered
Responded
Suggesting
Advised
Appealed
Asserted
Beckoned(Make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage someone to come near)
Urged
Promised
Inclined
Implored(Beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something)
Implied
Hinted
Persuaded
Touted(Attempt to sell, typically by pestering in an aggressive or bold way)
Proposed
Teasing or Flirting
Grinned
Quipped (Make a witty remark)
Teased
Taunted
Purred
Mocked
Mimicked
Provoked (Stimulate or give rise to in someone)
Joked
Lied
Imitated
Making a Sound
Breathed
Choked
Croaked
Drawled(Speak in a slow, lazy way with prolonged vowel sounds)
Echoed
Grunted
Keened (Wail in grief for a dead person)
Moaned
Mumbled
Murmured
Painted
Sang
Stifled
Sniveled(Cry and sniff in a feeble or fretful way)
Snorted
Whimpered
Whined
Uttered
Bawled
Howled
Whispered
Accusing
Accused
Articulated
Postulated(Suggest or assume the existence or fact truth or a basis for a reasoning, discussion, or belief)
Angry
Barked
Bellowed (Emit a deep, loud roar, typically in pain or anger)
Bossed
Carped (Complain or find fault continually about trivial matters)
Censured (Express severe disapproval)
Commended
Criticized
Demanded
Raged
Ordered
Reprimanded
Scoffed (Speak to someone or about something in a scornful derision or mocking way)
Scolded
Seethed (Bubble up as a result or being boiled)
Snapped
Screamed
Snarled
Told off
Thundered
Roared
Yelled
Chided (Scold or rebuke)
Leered (Look or gaze in an unpleasant, malicious, or lascivious way)
Condemned
Rebuked (Express sharp disapproval or criticism of someone because of their behavior or actions)
Admonished (Warn or reprimand firmly)
Chastised (Rebuke or reprimand severely)
Berated (Scold or criticize angrily)
Interrupting
Interjected
Interrupted
Chimed in
Comforting
Soothed
Comforted
Reassured
Consoled
Empathized
Asking a Question
Sought
Inquired
Doubted
Hypothesized
Guessed
Supposed
Suggested
Lilted (Speak, sing, or sound with a lilt)
Wondered
Probed(Physically explore or examine)
Beseeched(Ask someone urgently and fervently;implore)
Acceptance
Accepted
Acknowledged
Admitted
Affirmed
Agreed
Justified
Settled
Verified
Concurred
Condoned(accept and allow behavior usually thought as offensive)
Cocky or Snarky
Grinned
Taunted
Purred
Jabbered(Talk rapidly and excitedly with little sense)
Fear
Shrieked
Screamed
Swore
Quaked
Shivered
Trembled
Warned
Cautioned
Shuddered
Stammered
Fretted (Be constantly or visibly worried or anxious)
Hesitated
Stuttered
Quavered (Shake or tremble in speaking, typically through nervousness or emotion)
Happy
Babbled
Beamed
Blurted
Bursted
Cheered
Chortled (Laugh in a breathy, gleeful way;chuckle)
Chuckled
Crooned (Hum or sing in a soft, low voice, especially in a sentimental manner)
Crowed (Gloating;saying something in a triumphant manner)
Exclaimed
Giggled
Laughed
Rejoiced
Sad
Wailed
Cried
Sobbed
Yelped
Agonized (Undergo great mental anguish through worrying about something)
Blubbered (Sob noiselessly and uncontrollably)
Groaned
Mourned
Puled (Cry querulously or weakly)
Cried
Wept
Grieved
Lamented (Mourn someone's death)
"She said with (a)(tone)" Is also a better option than just "she said". Or mix and match
Casual
Chiding
Courteous
Curious
Dry
Flirtatious
Level
Rasping
Small
Panicky
Soothing
Condescending
Perpetually tired/angry/excited
Controlled grin
Fond look
Gloomy sigh
Note of relief
Sad smile
Sense of guilt
Sigh of irritation
Forced smirk
Wry smile
Crooked smile
Conviction
Determination
Rage
Firm persistence
Pleasure
Quiet empathy
Simple directness
Astonishment
Still emotion
Also here are some better adjectives for words you are banned from using too
“Good”
Exceptional
Adequate
Splendid
Superb
Admirable
Favorable
Marvelous
Satisfactory
Reputable
Worthy
Respectable
Pure
Uncorrupted
Efficient
Dependable
Merciful
Considerate
Mannerly
Proper
Decorous
Satisfactory
“Okay”
Satisfactory
Approved
Acceptable
Passable
Tolerable
Sustainable
“Nice”
Lovely
Beautiful
Favorable
Adequate
Kind
Friendly
Attractive
Polite
Helpful
Inviting
Nifty
Delightful
Pleasant
Admirable
Pretty
“Bad”
Atrocious
Awful
Cheap
Rough
Unacceptable
Cruddy
Defective
Incorrect
Inadequate
Raunchy
Inferior
Poor
“With anger”
Acidly
Angrily
Crossly
Irritably
Loudly
Roughly
Tartly
Tightly
Smugly
Sternly
Hotly
“With sadness”
Depressingly
Gently
Sadly
Softly
Desperately
“Not caring”
Absently
Complacently
Dryly
“With arrogance”
Sarcastically
Condescendingly
Smugly
“With neutrality”
Naturally
Calmly
Approvingly
“With care”
Understandingly
Empathetically
Carefully
Hesitantly
Cautiously
Quietly
Uncertainly
That is my peace, thank you
Body Language
When someone is...
Sad
Face/Body:
Avoidant/reduced eye contact
Drooping eyelids
Downcast eyes
Frowning
Raised inner ends of eyebrows
Dropped or furrowed eyebrows
Quivering lip/biting lip
Wrinkled nose
Voice:
Soft pitch
Low lone
Pauses/hesitant speech
Quiet/breathy
Slow speech
Voice cracks/breaking voice
Gestures/Posture:
Slouching/lowered head
Rigid/tense posture
Half formed/slow movement
Fidgeting or clasped hands
Sniffing or heavy swallows
Self soothing gestures (running hands over the arms, hand over heart, holding face in palms, etc)
When your Character...
Gets into: A Fight ⚜ ...Another Fight ⚜ ...Yet Another Fight
Hates Someone ⚜ Kisses Someone ⚜ Falls in Love
Calls Someone they Love ⚜ Dies / Cheats Death ⚜ Drowns
is...
A Ballerina ⚜ A Child ⚜ Interacting with a Child ⚜ A Cheerleader
A Cowboy ⚜ A Genius ⚜ A Lawyer ⚜ A Pirate ⚜ A Spy
A Wheelchair User ⚜ A Zombie ⚜ Beautiful ⚜ Dangerous ⚜ Drunk
Funny ⚜ In a Coma ⚜ In a Secret Society ⚜ Injured ⚜ Shy
needs...
A Magical Item ⚜ An Aphrodisiac ⚜ A Fictional Poison
A Coping Strategy ⚜ A Drink ⚜ A Medicinal Herb ⚜ A Mentor
Money ⚜ A Persuasion Tactic ⚜ A Quirk ⚜ To be Killed Off
To Become Likable ⚜ To Clean a Wound ⚜ To Self-Reflect
To Find the Right Word, but Can't ⚜ To Say No ⚜ To Swear
loves...
Astronomy ⚜ Baking ⚜ Cooking ⚜ Cocktails ⚜ Food ⚜ Oils
Dancing ⚜ Fashion ⚜ Gems ⚜ Herbal Remedies ⚜ Honey
Mushrooms ⚜ Mythology ⚜ Numbers ⚜ Perfumes
Roses ⚜ Sweets ⚜ To Argue ⚜ To Insult ⚜ To Kiss
To Make False Claims ⚜ Wine ⚜ Wine-Tasting ⚜ Yoga
has/experiences...
Allergies ⚜ Amnesia ⚜ Bereavement ⚜ Bites & Stings
Bruises ⚜ Caffeine ⚜ CO Poisoning ⚜ Color Blindness
Facial Hair ⚜ Fainting ⚜ Fevers ⚜ Food Allergies
Food Poisoning ⚜ Fractures ⚜ Frostbite ⚜ Hypothermia
Injuries ⚜ Jet Lag ⚜ Kidnapping ⚜ Manipulation ⚜ Mutism
Pain ⚜ Paranoia ⚜ Poisoning ⚜ More Pain & Violence
Scars ⚜ Trauma ⚜ Viruses ⚜ Wounds
[these are just quick references. more research may be needed to write your story...]
Writing Resources PDFs
10 Non-Lethal Injuries to Add Pain to Your Writing
New Part: 10 Lethal Injury Ideas
If you need a simple way to make your characters feel pain, here are some ideas:
1. Sprained Ankle
A common injury that can severely limit mobility. This is useful because your characters will have to experience a mild struggle and adapt their plans to their new lack of mobiliy. Perfect to add tension to a chase scene.
2. Rib Contusion
A painful bruise on the ribs can make breathing difficult, helping you sneak in those ragged wheezes during a fight scene. Could also be used for something sport-related! It's impactful enough to leave a lingering pain but not enough to hinder their overall movement.
3. Concussions
This common brain injury can lead to confusion, dizziness, and mood swings, affecting a character’s judgment heavily. It can also cause mild amnesia.
I enjoy using concussions when you need another character to subtly take over the fight/scene, it's an easy way to switch POVs. You could also use it if you need a 'cute' recovery moment with A and B.
4. Fractured Finger
A broken finger can complicate tasks that require fine motor skills. This would be perfect for characters like artists, writers, etc. Or, a fighter who brushes it off as nothing till they try to throw a punch and are hit with pain.
5. Road Rash
Road rash is an abrasion caused by friction. Aka scraping skin. The raw, painful sting resulting from a fall can be a quick but effective way to add pain to your writing. Tip: it's great if you need a mild injury for a child.
6. Shoulder Dislocation
This injury can be excruciating and often leads to an inability to use one arm, forcing characters to confront their limitations while adding urgency to their situation. Good for torture scenes.
7. Deep Laceration
A deep laceration is a cut that requires stitches. As someone who got stitches as a kid, they really aren't that bad! A 2-3 inch wound (in length) provides just enough pain and blood to add that dramatic flair to your writing while not severely deterring your character.
This is also a great wound to look back on since it often scars. Note: the deeper and wider the cut the worse your character's condition. Don't give them a 5 inch deep gash and call that mild.
8. Burns
Whether from fire, chemicals, or hot surfaces, burns can cause intense suffering and lingering trauma. Like the previous injury, the lasting physical and emotional trauma of a burn is a great wound for characters to look back on.
If you want to explore writing burns, read here.
9. Pulled Muscle
This can create ongoing pain and restrict movement, offering a window to force your character to lean on another. Note: I personally use muscle related injuries when I want to focus more on the pain and sprains to focus on a lack of mobility.
10. Tendonitis
Inflammation of a tendon can cause chronic pain and limit a character's ability to perform tasks they usually take for granted. When exploring tendonitis make sure you research well as this can easily turn into a more severe injury.
This is a quick, brief list of ideas to provide writers inspiration. Since it is a shorter blog, I have not covered the injuries in detail. This is inspiration, not a thorough guide. Happy writing! :)
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STOP DOING THIS IN INJURY FICS!!
Bleeding:
Blood is warm. if blood is cold, you’re really fucking feverish or the person is dead. it’s only sticky after it coagulates.
It smells! like iron, obv, but very metallic. heavy blood loss has a really potent smell, someone will notice.
Unless in a state of shock or fight-flight mode, a character will know they’re bleeding. stop with the ‘i didn’t even feel it’ yeah you did. drowsiness, confusion, pale complexion, nausea, clumsiness, and memory loss are symptoms to include.
blood flow ebbs. sometimes it’s really gushin’, other times it’s a trickle. could be the same wound at different points.
it’s slow. use this to your advantage! more sad writer times hehehe.
Stab wounds:
I have been mildly impaled with rebar on an occasion, so let me explain from experience. being stabbed is bizarre af. your body is soft. you can squish it, feel it jiggle when you move. whatever just stabbed you? not jiggly. it feels stiff and numb after the pain fades. often, stab wounds lead to nerve damage. hands, arms, feet, neck, all have more motor nerve clusters than the torso. fingers may go numb or useless if a tendon is nicked.
also, bleeding takes FOREVER to stop, as mentioned above.
if the wound has an exit wound, like a bullet clean through or a spear through the whole limb, DONT REMOVE THE OBJECT. character will die. leave it, bandage around it. could be a good opportunity for some touchy touchy :)
whump writers - good opportunity for caretaker angst and fluff w/ trying to manhandle whumpee into a good position to access both sites
Concussion:
despite the amnesia and confusion, people ain’t that articulate. even if they’re mumbling about how much they love (person) - if that’s ur trope - or a secret, it’s gonna make no sense. garbled nonsense, no full sentences, just a coupla words here and there.
if the concussion is mild, they’re gonna feel fine. until….bam! out like a light. kinda funny to witness, but also a good time for some caretaking fluff.
Fever:
you die at 110F. no 'oh no his fever is 120F!! ahhh!“ no his fever is 0F because he’s fucking dead. you lose consciousness around 103, sometimes less if it’s a child. brain damage occurs at over 104.
ACTUAL SYMPTOMS:
sluggishness
seizures (severe)
inability to speak clearly
feeling chilly/shivering
nausea
pain
delirium
symptoms increase as fever rises. slow build that secret sickness! feverish people can be irritable, maybe a bit of sass followed by some hurt/comfort. never hurt anybody.
ALSO about fevers - they absolutely can cause hallucinations. Sometimes these alter memory and future memory processing. they're scary shit guys.
fevers are a big deal! bad shit can happen! milk that till its dry (chill out) and get some good hurt/comfort whumpee shit.
keep writing u sadistic nerds xox love you
ALSO I FORGOT LEMME ADD ON:
YOU DIE AT 85F
sorry I forgot. at that point for a sustained period of time you're too cold to survive.
pt 2
the thing is that childhood doesn't just end when you turn 18 or when you turn 21. it's going to end dozens of times over. your childhood pet will die. actors you loved in movies you watched as a kid will die. your grandparents will die, and then your parents will die. it's going to end dozens and dozens of times and all you can do is let it. all you can do is stand in the middle of the grocery store and stare at freezers full of microwave pizza because you've suddenly been seized by the memory of what it felt like to have a pizza party on the last day of school before summer break. which is another ending in and of itself
my hottest take
for no reason whatsoever here’s a reminder that if you consider yourself a leftist/punk/abolitionist/anarchist/radical in any sort of way and get called into jury duty, you are to become the most square person on earth during the jury questionnaire!!!
don’t be that guy who says fuck the police in the jury questionnaire! that just gets you sent home! if you want to generate change, interact with the case and use your jury vote for good! ESPECIALLY if it’s a high profile case!
spin this wheel for a prefix, and then spin this wheel for a suffix
as a bonus you can spin this wheel to find ur role in the clan (note: spin twice if you get apprentice)
“There are no female aliens in our game because we don’t know how to make a female version of this alien” You know that alien you just designed? That male alien? Give it a female voice actor and have characters refer to it as she. That’s it. That’s literally all you have to do
Make her shorter if you must
Make her BIGGER if you aren’t a coward
