#writeblr asks

[ink-flavored]

65 Question OC Polycule Ask Game

Do you have a bunch of OCs in a polycule? Do you have the burning desire to answer questions about them? Look no further for an excuse to talk about it!   There are footnotes under the cut to explain some potentially unfamiliar terminology. Remember to send an ask to the person you reblog it from to make sure everyone gets to play!

How many members are in the polycule? How are they related to each other? Feel free to draw a flow chart.

Did the relationship start polyamorous, or was it a monogamous relationship that eventually opened?

If it started monogamous, how did the process of opening the relationship go?

Are there any mono-poly1 relationships in the polycule?

What “shape” is the polycule? A triad, a “V”, a straight line of metamours2, or incomprehensible?

Where do each of the members land on the “solo poly” to “entwined” spectrum?3

Where do each of the members land on the “free agent” to “community oriented” spectrum?4

How did each member realize they were polyamorous? Did they always know, or was there some sort of epiphany?

Do any of the current members practice hierarchical polyamory5? Who are the primary partners?

If the polycule is hierarchical, what differs in the boundaries set for primary vs secondary partners? Tertiary partners?

Have any of the members been in a hierarchical polycule before?

Have any of the members been in a non-hierarchical polycule before?

Do any of the members have a preference between hierarchical and non-hierarchical polyamory?

What’s the craziest polycule drama they’ve experienced so far?

Have any of the members been the unicorn6 of a relationship?

Have any of the members been unicorn hunters7 in the past? Were they successful?

How does each member like to engage with their metamours? Do they want to meet every potential addition, or do they not care at all?

What are their “vetoes” for potential metamours? Do they have any at all?

Which of the members want to live with their partner(s), and which prefer to live alone?

How do each of the members deal with jealousy? How intense is the feeling?

How intense does each member feel compersion8 toward their partners and metamours?

Who has the strongest communication skills in the group? Who has the weakest?

Who does the most scheduling out of all the members?

How do they deal with feelings of loneliness if their partner(s) are spending time with their other partner(s)?

Does the polycule ever have get-togethers or dates where everyone is present? What are they like?

Of the members who live together, what are the household dynamics like? How do they split chores, manage finances, etc.?

Of the members who live together, do they all sleep in one bed too? All separate bedrooms? Something in-between?

What are their sexual dynamics like? Is group sex frequent, or is it purely one-on-one?

Do boundaries shift depending on which partners are involved in sex or romance?

What kind of boundaries exist outside of a romantic dynamic? Are friends-with-benefits considered metamours? Hook-ups?

Are any of the polycule members aromantic? How does that influence their relationship boundaries and their relationship to polyamory in general?

Are any of the polycule members asexual? How does that influence their relationship boundaries and their relationship to polyamory in general?

Do any of the polycule members consider their relationship(s) to be queerplatonic? How does that influence their relationship boundaries and their relationship to polyamory in general?

How have their members’ respective family relationships influenced their polyamorous dynamics?

Were any of the members raised in a polyamorous family?

Are any of the polycule members parents? How many kids do they have?

If there aren’t any kids yet, will there ever be?

How would the polycule deal with one member wanting kids, but another member never wanting kids?

If the relationship opened up after children were already in the picture, how was the change explained to them? Was it explained at all?

Do all members of the polycule raise children together, or are there designated “parent” members?

How does being in a polyamorous relationship influence how boundaries are taught to their kids?

How do the kids feel about their parent(s) being polyamorous? Are they supportive, indifferent, or actively opposed?

Have cultural dynamics played a part in how the polycule operates?

Are any of the members keeping their polyamory a secret? Why?

For mono-poly relationships, how does the monogamous partner see and experience their relationship with a polyamorous person? Their relationships with their metamours?

How did any monogamous partners deal with the idea of opening up a previously closed relationship? Was it a difficult change?

Did any monogamous partners discover they were polyamorous after the relationship opened up? How did they find out?

Do any monogamous partners still struggle to cope with polyamory? What gets them through the hard times?

Were any monogamous partners completely fine with polyamory from the beginning?

How do the polyamorous halves of the mono-poly relationships feel about dating a monogamous person? Is it a unique struggle or smooth sailing?

Do the mono-poly relationships have different boundaries than the poly-poly-poly-poly-etc. relationships?

How well do the metamours get along? Do they even know each other?

Do any of the metamours dislike each other? How does that impact their shared partner(s)?

Do any of the metamours hang out when their shared partner(s) aren’t around?

Do any of the metamours have specific dynamics and/or boundaries with each other? Why?

How do the members feel about marriage? Do they live in a society that recognizes polyamorous marriage at all? If marriage isn’t an option, what about legal protections?

What do any monogamous members think about their polyamorous partner potentially marrying someone else (either in addition to or instead of them)?

How does the polycule celebrate anniversaries?

How does the polycule celebrate birthdays?

If one of the members gets sick, who takes care of them? Is there a rotation of caretakers lining up, or designated partner(s)?

Has anyone experienced a particularly messy break-up while in the polycule? How did everyone handle it?

Which of the members, if any, would be happy in a monogamous relationship if having a polycule wasn’t possible? Would any rather be single than monogamous?

How insecure was each member when starting their polyamorous journey? In what ways?

How did each member overcome their insecurities about relationships? Have they at all?

Wild card! Ask anything you can imagine!

[1] Mono-poly: a relationship that contains both a monogamous and polyamorous person; the monogamous person is only dating one polyamorous partner, but that partner might have other partners in addition to their monogamous partner.

[2] Metamour: the members of a polycule who are dating the same person or people, but aren’t dating each other.

[3] Solo: presents to the world as single at first glance; may not want to live with any partner, or if they do, they may not choose to share finances or property.

Entwined: prefers relationships that are more entwined practically, financially, or both; values sharing living space, spending time in close proximity, sharing financial or household obligations, etc.; may see themselves as part of a unit, a single family that shares responsibilities together and approaches life together.

Definitions taken from “More Than Two” by Franklin Veaux and Eve Rickert

[4] Free Agent: values personal autonomy highly, places importance on the ability to make their own decisions, and presents to the world as able to act without requiring permission from others; places responsibility for decision-making, and for bearing the consequences, on each person individually.

Community Oriented: focuses on the interconnectedness of their relationships and their community; decisions are made with an eye toward how they might fit with the others.

Definitions taken from “More Than Two” by Franklin Veaux and Eve Rickert

[5] Hierarchical Polyamory: a kind of polyamory in which the members of the polycule are split into “primary” partners, “secondary” partners, “tertiary” partners, and so on. The higher “ranked” members are given more priority when it comes to spending time together, living arrangements, major life decisions, and overall have more control over the state of the polycule than the lower ranked members. This is in contrast to non-hierarchical polyamory, in which there is no ranking system, all relationships are treated with equal weight, and decisions are made as a group. There is no one proper way to practice polyamory, and both methods can be fulfilling for people who have different needs for their relationships.

[6] Unicorn: stereotypically, a young bisexual woman that is equally attracted to both primary members of a hierarchical polycule or a recently opened monogamous relationship, agrees to give both members equal attention, and agrees to have no additional partners. Referred to as “unicorns” because these strict requirements for a dynamic are basically impossible to find.

[7] Unicorn Hunter(s): stereotypically, the primary members of a hierarchical polycule or a recently opened monogamous relationship who relentlessly search for a “unicorn” to perfect their ideal polyamorous dynamic. Often have very strict requirements of their unicorn, which is why they’re constantly hunting for someone who can fulfill them.

[8] Compersion: the opposite of jealousy; the feeling of joy experienced when seeing your partner happy with their other partner(s).

#writeblr #writing community #writblr games #writeblr asks #writeblr tag games #ask game #polyamory #polycule #polyamorous character #OC game #oc ask game #long post #annika talks

[tabswrites]

Random WIP Ask Game

Inspired by random objects around my room! (Idk, it just seems like most of them have a theme and I’m lazy).

1. 🦎 LIZARD: Who is your most untrustworthy OC? Why?

2. 🛏️ BED: What do your OCs dream about?

3. 💍 JEWELRY: What are considered luxury items in the world of your WIP?

4. 🐈 CAT: Does the world of your WIP have any superstitions or folklore?

5. 📓 NOTEBOOK: Share 7 lines from a WIP of your choice!

6. 🪩 MIRROR: Which OC is most like you?

7. 👠 SHOES: What is transportation like in the world of your WIP?

8. 🧢 CLOTHING: What is your MC currently wearing in the most recent scene of your WIP?

9. 🔥 CANDLE: Describe the main conflict in your WIP.

10. 📚 BOOKCASE: Share a paragraph from your WIP.

11. 🌈 RAINBOW SLOTH: Wild card! Share one thing about your WIP that you have been waiting to be asked about!

12. 🎧 HEADPHONES: Share a song that inspired your WIP.

13. 🌸 PERFUME: Describe the setting of your WIP using the five senses.

14. 💎 GEMSTONES: Share a line in your writing that you really love!

15.💡LAMP: Talk about a scene you are working on—is it easy or difficult? Why?

#writeblr ask game #ask game #wip ask game #writeblr #writeblr asks #writing community

[aquadestinyswriting]

Ayyyy, Aqua! :D Happy STS! So I'm making my way through Titan Modern AU, and . . . actually, take two questions on it. 8)

I have legitimately looked everywhere, and I am severely curious. :') Have you thought of a title for this one, or is its title literally just Titan Modern AU?

More importantly, tho, how much did you have to change to make the world of Fangthane's Folly fit the modern day? (And what did you end up keeping? I notice there's magic and dwarves, but how different are these bits compared to their DnD roots?)

Hope this ask finds you well! :D o/

Hi Jax, this is technically a day late, but not really because time zones are a thing :P. I am very well, thank you. I am enjoying the fact that the words seem to be flowing quite easily for the time being and taking advantage of that to write a lot for all my ongoing series and creating new ones. Thanks very much for the questions, I have a lot to talk about with this AU :D. Answers are under a cut because the second one is going to get quite long.

Question 1

I don't currently have an actual title for this one yet. I have a tendency to title WIPs towards the end of writing them and this one is no exception. I have some vague ideas, but I'm not too concerned about it just yet. Especially since there's a high possibility that this one is going to throw some major curveballs my way once I get into the thick of the plot that might well change the kind of title I want to give it.

Question 2

Ah, the dwarves are technically not a thing for this one. Everyone is more or less human, unless it's directly stated otherwise. The reason Fangthanian women can have beards at all is down to a slight genetic quirk which means they are pre-disposed to much higher testosterone levels than average. The Throffite community, in particular, is very insular and tend to inter-marry within themselves due to a history of discrimination against them.

As to how I changed the setting to fit with the modern aesthetic:

I've modelled Fangthane city a little bit after towns like Fort William, since the location of Fangthane in Allansia has a relatively similar geography to that of the Scottish Highlands. So Fangthane city is no longer built into the mountain, but is a city that was built very close to the mountain (which is now called Ben Oir). Extrapolating from there, and taking into account the maps that exist of Allansia, it was a a matter of figuring out how and why there would be outposts for the kingdom that are so far away from the capital. In that case, an old empire made a lot of sense, and taking into account the relative time period this AU is set in (roughly the 90s to early 2000s), it also made sense that said empire had been disbanded, but that communities deriving from it still exist (hence why Stonebridge and Firetop are still mainly natively Fangthanian). So, yeah, culturally speaking Fangthane is basically the UK transplanted into Allansia at this point.

I wanted some of the history of Toreguarde to remain intact because there are plot things related to that that will pop up later in the story. The city was almost destroyed, officially, by what is considered to have been a terrorist organisation that was working on behalf of another state and/or one of the ruling council of Toreguarde of the time who went just teeny bit mad with power (Greydown was an absolute ass in canon, and is in this AU too).

As the setting, rather purposefully, appears to be lacking in magic, no mentions are made of demons, portals or the breaking of reality, even by those who were present at the time. The remaining Heroes still exist, but I'm working out what their exact roles in all that were. Egrim is still a priest, so that's him covered. Alexis, upon talking to Dru about it, was probably a sniper that was a part of the military forces of Toreguarde at the time, while Selene was probably some sort of science-y nerd person brought in to help explain some of the weirder stuff that went on that was kind of acknowledged and then later given plausible and sensible scientific explanations. She just happened to be somewhat decent at this diplomacy lark when communication with the reinforcements from Fangthane started going south, hence her current role in the story. She probably worked quite closely with Ivan, who I have yet to figure out the details of, with regards to that. I also need to figure out what Fai did and what happened to him...

I am doing a lot of this worldbuilding and adjusting Fantasy canon on the fly, to be quite honest, so not a lot of it is set in stone just yet. However, I have given some thought to the Throffite community both in Fangthane and in Toreguarde and some of their history and culture, drawing a lot on what I established about Throffism in the fantasy canon and doing some major research into the irl history of such things to make sure that anything I write about it is handled as sensitively as possible. I have also written copious notes on the hows and whys of the fractious relationship between Fangthane and Toreguarde that would fit in with more modern (Western, as that is what I'm familiar with) political norms.

#writeblr asks #storyteller saturday #answered ask #aquadestinyswriting #titan fighting fantasy #titan fighting fantasy modern au

[thesorcerersapprentice]

Thank you to the fabulous @that-cyber-writer for tagging me in this Writing Questions Tag Game! D.M. Foyle, as @that-cyber-writer is also known, is working on a nail-biting crime thriller entitled Tangled Wires starring Raz, a brilliant hacker on the run from the Russian mob. Interested? Go check out Tangled Wires and all of Foyle's projects here! I'm tagging (no pressure!): @inkovert @outpost51 @aquadestinyswriting @merlina87 @sarah-sandwich @lucianinsanity @winterandwords @threeking @avrablake @the-finch-address @thawinoakenshield @the-down-upside-finch @lunarmoment @sodaliteskull @kingkendrick7 @harps-for-days @cee-grice @tate-lin @rubywrite @poppy-in-the-woods @hippiewrites @the-down-upside-finch @lexiklecksi @linaket and anyone else who'd like to participate!

✦ What is your absolute all-time favourite idea you’ve ever had?

The one that inspired the novel I'm writing right now, The Sorcerer's Apprentice! Initially, I just wanted to explore the relationship between two individuals at completely polar opposite moments in life: one, an elderly character, preparing to die and looking back; and the other, a youthful character, just beginning to come into their own, in early adulthood, still figuring out who they are and what they believe in, facing forward. It would be a lie to say that the novel isn't still very much built around this dynamic, between the elderly sorcerer Valeriano and his young apprentice, Altaluna. But it's grown from the original idea to incorporate issues and topics I hadn't expected; climate change, environmental disaster, colonialism and neocolonialism, the body as a machine, contemporary theories of perception, abusive family dynamics, and more. These topics and their associated plot/world ideas are likewise what makes The Sorcerer's Apprentice my favourite written piece to date. It's like the more I dig, the more I enjoy what I'm doing. If the first idea was compelling but lukewarm, the accumulation of ideas that has ensued as I attempt to do the initial idea justice has taken it to the next level.

✦ Is there a question you’ve been asked that really stands out to you and that you still think about sometimes?

Not that I can think of off the top of my head! Sorry :S I wish I did.

✦ What is your favourite part of being a writer? What parts could you take or leave?

The trouble is, you can't have any of it without all of it, so this is a bit of a trick question, to which I don't really have a clear answer. I love it all. I hate it all. I struggle every step of the way. And I have the time of my life, always.

✦ What is your greatest motivation to write/create?

It's changed over the years! As a child, I just liked exercising my imagination. In my teens and early twenties, I wrote to escape or to envision the life I wanted, the person I wanted to be, and how I wanted to be perceived by others. Now, my greatest motivation is rage. I am one very pissed-off adult lol I suppose the difference is also that now I actually have something to say, something I feel is worth saying. And I feel that very strongly, which helps me get over the bad days at the desk where no words are coming or where I doubt my capacity to write at all. Because it doesn't matter. This -the message of my novel- has value to me. It's more important than my small personal feelings of insecurity or ups and downs. So I'll find a way. That's my motivation. It's not really that I want to write, it's that I have to. It's that I can't live in a world where this isn't said ~ and where it isn't said the way I'd like to say it.

✦ What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever read or been given as a writer?

The best advice I ever received was from a world-renowned author in his 90s who told me that it (writing) never gets any easier, so basically, your choices are either quit or keep going with the knowledge that it's never going to magically turn into a picnic, no matter how much experience/talent you have. I also got some lovely advice a couple years ago from (I think?) Anne Lamott in her writer's memoir Bird By Bird. In one of the chapters, she mentions that if you lack inspiration, you can always write to get your own back, aka. you can always write as a way to avenge yourself. And that just flipped a switch in my brain. I don't think I'd be writing The Sorcerer's Apprentice without that little seed she planted.

✦ What do you wish you knew when you were first starting out writing?

Nobody knows what they're doing. You'll never be more prepared than you are right this minute. But also, you have to live a little before you can know what you want to say ~ the same way you have to live a little to figure out who you are. Writing is organic. It grows with you. You have to let yourself grow, so the writing can follow.

✦ What is your favourite story you’ve written to completion? Link it if you’d like and can!

I don't have a favourite completed story to share, so I'm sharing a link to my current WIP, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, a fantasy novel exploring the interplay between colonialism, capitalism, and environmental catastrophe through the fraught relationship between a mysterious sorcerer and his protogé.

✦ Which of your characters would you say has the most controversial mindset? Why do you say so, and how do you personally feel about their ideals?

Valeriano, the antagonist of The Sorcerer's Apprentice, is the only character I've ever written whose views are absolutely despicable in almost every way. I'd be very concerned if my readers don't find his mindset controversial. The man is sexist, racist, and classist; he discriminates against any LGBTQ+ classification that isn't his own (biphobia, anti-lesbian, etc.), he's morally perverse, and he bristles with a sense of in-born superiority. In short, he represents the polar opposite of my own personal views and ideals.

✦ If you, when you first started writing, met you now, what would younger you think?

A younger me would definitely not recognise me, let alone understand why I'm writing what I'm writing. And that's how it should be! I'm glad little me enjoyed a time when all that mattered were unicorns and fairies, and the world was bright, open, and good. I wouldn't take that away from little me for all the world, not for anything. Plus, I have the lingering feeling that little me would be proud of me anyway. Even if she doesn't quite get it. She'd trust me and my choices. We'd be different, but we'd be cool, you know?

© 2024 The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. All rights reserved.

#writeblr #writeblr community #writeblr tag and ask games #writers of tumblr #writers on tumblr #original fiction #wip #writing community #writblr community #writing #writeblr ask game #writeblr asks #writeblr ask games #writeblr tag game #writerblr tag games

[romanceandshenanigans]

Writer Q&A Game

Thanks to @clairelsonao3 for tagging me!

1. What motivates you to write?

I'm not exactly sure tbh. It almost feels like a compulsion. There are days where I simply do not feel good in my body if I haven't written anything. Then there are others where I can't bring myself to write because I'm too tired or too distracted from life. Honestly the second I get a clear head and enough time to myself, I'll start writing.

2. A line/short snippet of your writing that you are most proud/happy of. If not maybe share a line of someone else's work you love (just please credit them)

This isn't from my WIP, but from a fanfic I wrote a while ago. I want to try to find a way to incorporate it into something. Not sure where though.

“I know this seems like it’s coming out of nowhere,” he said, “but promise it’s not. I’ve had a long time to think about it.  A few years, actually. I guess, I just didn’t realize how deep I was in it until about five minutes ago.”

She kept silent, but the simple fact she hadn’t told him to get out gave him the confidence to keep going. . 

“I meant it when I said I’m crazy about you. I like that you take your sugar with a drop of coffee.  I like how you sing to yourself when you’re happy.  I like that you never seem to get cold.  I like that you never lose your head under fire, but still need me to get rid of spiders. I like that you can laugh at yourself.  I like that you can laugh at me. Hell, I like that you’re perfectly willing to slap my face if the situation calls for it.

I like so many things about you Liz, and that’s just the stuff I found out on accident.  I can only imagine the stuff I’d learn if I started loving you on purpose."

3. Which OC makes you smile every time you think/talk about them and what are they like?

I really do enjoy writing Finn. The boy just makes my smile.

Close second is another OC which I wrote for fanfic who I want to save and put someplace else, Lucy. She's my softest girl who has a lot of love to give. Might figure out a way to put her in this regency setting somewhere, but who knows.

4. What process of writing do you enjoy the most?

The first draft spree. The moment when you get an idea and you have write it down as quickly as possible. It's rough and definitely will need some editing, but that rush cannot be topped. It just feels satisfying to exorcise even the smallest of scenes out of my body.

5. What part of writing do you think you are the best at? (Yes stroke your own ego it's okay)

Dialogue, hands down. It's at least the part I've gotten the most compliments on.

6. What is something in the writeblr community is most enjoyable?

I've only just started to dip my toe in, but I really do love answering asks. I like seeing other writer's process and knowing I'm not alone. It's just fun!

7. A writing tool/device you use that helps you with writing? (It could be speech to text, a writing program etc)

I've been using Scrivener and it's really helped me keep everything organized. I have a very conspiracy board way of drafting, so having all my random snippets in one place really helps.

8. A piece of worldbuilding that you like in your own story? (It could be the magic system, a particular place in the story, a law etc)

Not sure world building is my strong suit for this current WIP. I suppose I'm enjoying expanding the world of the theatre, but I admittedly need to do more research.

9. What piece of advice would you say to encourage others to write if they are having a rough patch?

Write anyway. It doesn't have to be the scene that's giving you trouble. It doesn't even have to be for the piece you're trying to focus on, just don't get out of the habit of writing. Once you lose that momentum, it takes a long time to get it back.

10. Tag some people whose works you love/have been your biggest supporters

Gotta give a shout out to @clairelsonao3 for being so welcoming in my introduction to the writeblr community. And @janec23, for being one of the few specifically romance writers to reach out.

But I really can't begin to thank all the people who have followed me from my fanfic blog over to this one. It really means so much to know people are interested in reading anything I put out there.

@flapjacques, @jo-harrington, @can-of-pringles, @handahbear, @auroramagpie, @justanothersadperson93, @sad-cat-hours, @ghostface001, @theowlwhocameback, @mattmurdocksscars, @roruna, @everything-intertwined, @sweetjedi, @arcanerazil, @vibratingbonesbis, @delirious0pandemonium, @llovelykenobi, @geek-girl7, @mixedupanddown

Know that I love and appreciate you all.

I'm also going to leave this an OPEN tag to anyone who wants to do this, and especially invite everyone who I have tagged above. (and

#tag game #writeblr #wip: untitled regency romance #writeblr asks #about the author #writeblr tag game

[athenswrites]

Hi Athens! Happy 2024! ✨ If your characters were to make New Year's resolutions, what would they be?

I'll answer this one for a few of my NYTF characters!

Piers: Rework and streamline the legislative processes in their state, without having to rewrite the entire constitution

Grady: Increase 10+ year retention rates within the Special Operations division of the Royal Guard

Dubois: Go one whole year without an attempt on his life

#nytf #athens answers #writeblr asks #writeblr #writing #oc #oc question #rene dubois #piers hall #grady yensey

[sarandipitywrites]

Happy no pressure Worldbuilding Wednesday! Are there any unwritten societal customs (e.g., removing hats indoors, handshaking as a greeting) in your setting?

Happy WBW, Horde!

Food in Kallixten is prepared with the intent to eat it with your hands - most dishes are served with a side of bread or some other kind of 'scooping' food, and most households don't have cutlery for eating (knives and spoons are meant for prepping and serving, not for eating). In major cities, especially the capital of Rookport, most restaurants and public houses do have cutlery to help foreign visitors feel more comfortable, but requesting or bringing your own cutlery while visiting in a more rural area would be considered a faux pas. Refusing to use one's hands to eat (especially after being corrected by one's hosts) could be taken as an insult to the cook - the food must be pretty bad if you don't even want to touch it, after all. In the same vein, it's considered a misstep not to wash your hands before a meal. Not because it's insulting; just because it's seen as unsanitary.

Thank you for the ask! 💜

#writeblr #writeblr asks #wbw #worldbuilding Wednesday #saran answers #the art of empty space #ahordeofwasps

[girlfromthecrypt]

Who's your favorite antagonist that you've written out of your veritable Rogue's Gallery?

Oof. That is a tough one. I took this as an invitation to nerd out btw. It took some contemplation, but I've reached a conclusion:

My first choice is Jewel from Earthbound. They are, for all intents and purposes, awful. They don't view humans as people. Jewel basically sees everyone they've encountered on Earth thus far as beneath them. However, and I know this is only hinted at in the story itself, they weren't always like this. They had children in their home dimension, and when their world was destroyed, said children were lost to the Devourer. When Jewel was thrown to Earth and realized they were the sole survivor---alone on a foreign planet, their spawn dead and all their loved ones eradicated---they lost their mind.

Jewel is delusional. They cling to the false hope that their dimension is not yet gone, even though they know they're lying to themselves. They have willingly detached themselves from reality because the truth is too much to bear for them. It doesn't help that they never once considered to accept the help of or make genuine connections with the humans. Unlike Eva, who got taken in by her savior Nettie and experienced love, care and friendship, Jewel only ever uses Earth's residents as tools. They manipulate and coerce humans into doing their bidding, and a good part of their attraction to Eva stems from her being in a similar situation as them.

Jewel recognizes Eva as an equal. Well, maybe not an equal, but a conceivable ally. She's special, she gets them, they think. They have a connection to her, and only her. In the beginning, they have some hope that Eva might join them, and they would have been very glad for it. Of course, Eva ends up using that supressed desire for connection against Jewel. That, and their eventual death, make them sort of a tragic figure in my eyes. Don't get me wrong, Jewel deserved to suffer the consequences of their own actions, but while I was writing them, mad and perverted and cruel though they were, I found myself feeling quite strongly for them.

I loved writing Jewel almost as much as writing Eva, which is a lot. Their madness runs deep, but I do think they're a layered and multifaceted character.

...and did I mention they're really hot?

#writeblr #writeblr asks #my ocs #original characters #villain character #writer thoughts #creative writing #writer things #nosleep author #horror writing #amwriting #original writing #original fiction #writers on tumblr #dark fiction #alien oc #alien original character #original species #love my mutuals

[tabswrites]

I see some new URLs floating around in my notifications and I don’t want to leave anyone out, so please interact with this if you would like me to send you asks, whether they fall on the specific days or not!

#it’s so hard to keep track haha #writeblr asks

[aquadestinyswriting]

I would love just like, a little thesaurus of words/places/names from your work and their meanings and stuff. I don't know how else to explain it, like where you came up with the names and for words that are for your story, how you named things. Does...does this make any sense?

Hi Sparrow, this is such an interesting ask. I do get what you're going for with it and I'll be happy to answer for the stuff that isn't canon to the Titan Fighting Fantasy franchise or D&D, though I will point out where words or phrases are literally just direct translations of Scottish Gaelic. I will also point out where I wasn't the creator of the name or phrase, because I'm not going to do Dru or my husband dirty like that. Speaking of, tagging in @druidx because she might have more nuanced answers to give for some of these.

Places

Ok so let's start with the easier list of the lot shall we?

Toreguard(e): This one was created by my husband as the starting town for all of the D&D campaign adventures that I write about. I've asked my husband if it has an actual literal meaning and he's told me that it doesn't, but it was inspired by Norse words from the viking times. As an aside, 'Tor' does have a meaning, which is literally just 'hill'. So the name can probably be roughly translated to 'Hill Guardian' or something of the sort.

Kar'ak Ungor: The original name of the mountain of Wyrmholme (which is in itself relatively self-explanatory, i.e. wyrm/dragon home). This was taken from the Warhammer Fantasy dwarven language of Khazalid. 'Kar' literally just means 'big stone', which is what a mountain is. The signifier -ak is technically not the correct use of the language as it's used for concepts and not places, but it rolls off the tongue better than Kar'az to me. Besides, this is a different world, so I can do what I like :P . As for Ungor, that was taken from Khazalid as well. It directly translates as 'cavern', but I use it to also mean 'red' in Titan. So the direct translation of the name is 'Red/Cavernous Mountain'

Kar Kherril: The name of this dwarven hold was inspired by Khazalid, but not taken directly from it. It's also a shortened form of the full name since a lot of people can't pronounce the full one, which I've decided is probably Kar'ak Kherrilimir, which would translate directly as 'Mountain of Kherillim's Children'. As an aside; Kherillim is the Titan Fighting Fantasy canon dwarven name for Throff, so I tend to use both names dependent on the context.

Phrases and Words

cridhe-dàime: This was taken directly from Scottish Gaelic and it technically actually translates to 'heart-dame' but I use the second half as 'kin' since I typically use it in the context of Meredith and Elowyn quite specifically, and it rolls off the tongue better than 'piuthar', which is the Scottish Gaelic word for sister. The masculine equivalent would be cridhe-bràthair.

Moradhir: Ok, so part of this one is taken from Moradin (which is the D&D god of the dwarves), but I added the suffix '-hir' in to denote the people who worship Moradin. I'm not sure where I might have got that from, in all honesty. I think I was just trying out different sounds until I got one that sounded 'right'.

I'll link to the Language page of the Wiki for the various words and phrases Dru came up with, as quite as few of them are to do with swearing, and some of the translations are a bit too much for Tumblr directly. That and, if I put them all here, that would make the post 'colour of the sky' long, which no one wants in text form.

Most of the rest of these are basically taken directly from Scottish Gaelic, or Scots but I sprinkle them around my writing.

Hen: This is a Scots word that I use all the time irl. I think it's equivalent to 'hun', which is short for 'honey', which is used as a pet name of sorts in some English-speaking countries. This Scots version, though, is generally used as a sort of pet name for female friends and is pretty universally used as a term of endearment (at least, in my experience).

Ken: Old English and still a modern Scots word for 'know'

Mo Ghoal: Scottish Gaelic for 'my love'

Fear Goalach: Scottish Gaelic for 'beloved man'

Bairn/Wean: Scots words for small children

Those are the main ones I can think of off the top of my head. If you have questions about any others you've come across and you want clarification, let me know.

#writeblr asks #answered ask #worldbuilding #conlang... kind of #titan fighting fantasy

[cabbojage]

Hiya, it's Sunday and that means you get an ask! Courtesy of Athena's ask-a-thon, here's your question.

Have you ever explored a character's religious beliefs? Does this ever come into play with the story?

thanks 4 the ask! :D

yesss definitely. CLOCKED OUT has a buuunch of religious themes and religion is one of the main focuses of the project! (i mean, i gUess things are a bit different when the god you’re worshipping (the clockmaker) is technically considered “dead”—but it’s not as though that’s stopped people’s beliefs)

lola, the protagonist of clocked out, was raised by a very religious family—they’d go to church every sunday, say grace before dinner, etcetc, but she’s more of a skeptic. lola doesn’t get the big deal behind worshipping a dead clockmaker—especially since all of her prayers have gone unanswered. her beliefs definitely get tested as the story goes on… lets just say she relearns what divinity is and starts to believe in miracles

#asks #writeblr #writeblr asks #clocked out

[thesorcerersapprentice]

Hi friend, happy worldbuilding wednesday. What is the political structure of your setting? If you have multiple structures, how is the relationship between them?

Hi, @aquadestinyswriting! Thanks for sending this ask my way. If you aren't familiar with the amazing Aqua yet and/or you love the Titan Fighting Fantasy universe, I enthusiastically recommend checking out her Writeblr Masterpost for a complete overview of all her projects!

I've been going back and forth on this one for as long as I've been writing The Sorcerer's Apprentice, which is a long, long time, lol. Initially, I'd intended for the main characters to be senior royals within a monarchical society. However, I've recently discarded this idea and simply made them VIPs. The reasoning behind this change is that having Altaluna, the sorcerer's apprentice, fight for a position that ultimately upholds the status quo, and therefore, further perpetuates all the wrongs sustained by this system (which Altaluna has also suffered under), makes no sense for her as a character, makes me personally less likely to root for her, and weakens the underlying themes I'm trying to highlight within the novel itself. However, I still have a hereditary monarchy in the story, as this system perfectly encapsulates the idea that some people are born 'superior' to others and therefore have a 'divine right' to rule, conquer, exploit, and harass the rest of the world; an idea The Sorcerer's Apprentice aims to challenge.

#writeblr #writeblr community #writblr #writers on tumblr #writers of tumblr #wip #writing community #writblr community #wtw community #wtw #tag games #ask games #writeblr tag & ask games #writeblr asks #writeblr ask games #Worldbuilding Wednesday #wbw asks

[phoenixradiant]

Rise and Tulip for the Ask game?

Thanks for the ask! Correct me if I'm wrong, but I assume you meant Rose and Tulip.

Rose: What is your OC's favourite form of self-care?

Cellic and Lettic: Breaking things. When they're home, they set up sacks filled with flour and pummel them, and they also both enjoy chopping wood.

Keidor: He doesn't take time for himself, like ever, but if he were to, he enjoys a good book and especially loves board games.

King Milbough and Lutian: They both enjoy wordplay, and taking mere moments to exchange quips can brighten their days significantly.

Maiph: Despite her training as herbalist and surgeon, Maiph hates being dirty, so a good bath always relaxes her.

Magrom: Everything he does is self-indulgent. Frankly he would be in a better state of mind if he didn't care about himself so much. Favorite though would probably be conning people. Other than being a noble, he'd get along great with Kelsier from Mistborn.

Tulip: If you could say/do one thing to your OC, what would you say/do?

Cellic: Before the story I'd tell him to hold on to his memories of beautiful things, especially when he stops believing in them. After the story I'd tell him that I look up to him and want to be like him. I think that would make him smile.

Lettic: I'd tell him that people try to love him, even if he can't see it.

Keidor: I think I'd tell him that he's borne the burdens of a king well, but that with the time he has left, it's time to look to himself and his family.

King Milbough: I'd tell him he's not a coward, that his pain does not make him weak.

Lutian: I'd tell her I'm sorry she has to grow up so fast.

Maiph: Honestly I'm a little conflicted on this one, because I want to give her advice, but the advice I can give is only anything other than insanity because I happen to know her future. I also want to give her a hug, but if that was the only thing I could do and we never met again, that would only make her issues worse. I think if I got Cellic or her aunt Thaccia to give her a hug, though, that'd help a lot. Someone who is always there when she needs them. Her uncle Koter is also an option, but he's not really the hugging type, so...

She just needs a hug.

Magrom: Honestly I think if Kar and I came face to face, and I knew there could only be one exchange between us, I'd slap him. And not a gentle slap either.

#writeblr #writing #kelovir #epic fantasy #fantasy #cellic thricebrant #magrom karven #writeblr asks #oc asks

[sugar-phoenix]

Happy WBW! What does your world sound like? If I closed my eyes, what would I hear?

Happy WBW!

Honestly, If you were in the forest you'd probably hear silence peppered by the many noises of crickets and birds chirping. The darker the forest gets, however, the quieter it gets.

In the castle you wouldn't hear much except for servants bustling around. It's not very inhabited. Down in the kitchens you'd hear the usual clink clanking of chefs cooking.

So I guess, mostly quiet with some general sounds relative to where you are, lol.

#writeblr #wbw #wbw asks #asks #writeblr asks

[sarandipitywrites]

Happy Storyteller Saturday! How do your characters feel about giving gifts? What about receiving gifts? What would be the best gift they could get?

happy STS, Winter! i'll answer for Lienzo from The Art of Empty Space for this:

Lienzo's relationship with gifts and giving is... complicated. He gives physical objects, his time, and his effort to the people around him frequently, but he doesn't really get enjoyment from it. It's more of a compulsion; he needs the people in his life to remember that he's useful, so they'll continue to want him around (that they might want him even when he isn't useful doesn't really occur to him). He's not good at receiving gifts because of this: because his gifts are, at their core, transactional, he expects other people to act the same way. In his mind, gifts (even acts of unexpected kindness) come with an implicit price tag, and he's been known to decline gifts and offers of assistance because he believed he wouldn't be able to pay the price when it inevitably came due. This makes him tricky to shop for, but the best gift for him would be something to help alleviate one of his (many) worries, without tripping his "but what do you want in return" alarms. Framing the gift as being repayment to him for something usually does the trick.

thanks for the ask! 💜

#writeblr #sts #storyteller saturday #writeblr asks #saran answers #the art of empty space