childotkw

[childotkw]

Can we hear a bit about your original stories? I just started writing one and it is So Hard just to come up with the characters and their environment so I wanted to hear how you came up with those if you didn’t mind

Very interesting question! For me, a lot of my ideas come from wisps of inspiration from tropes or other concepts.

Characters and worlds and environment go through some pretty intensive edits in my head, so the roots aren't always obvious - and often I smash together multiple ideas, carving and chopping and smoothing things out until I have something workable that gets me excited.

(Buckle up, this post might be a long one)

Coming up with a concept

I'm not sure how it might work for other people, but I am constantly on the look out for inspiration for stories - asking myself 'what if this happened?', 'how cool would it be if this person had to do this thing?', or 'how could this trope work in a different genre?'.

Keeping myself open to these kinds of outlandish and sometimes hilarious thoughts means I've trained my brain to constantly churn up interesting concepts and ideas. Some barely have life breathed into them before I'm moving on. Others cling to me and live in my head for years.

The point is, be on the hunt for interesting ideas, and let your imagination have room to run free. Don't get boxed into an idea in its infancy. Let it grow crazily, let it get wild, before you break out the pruning tools. You're human. Let your mind have fun. Let your imagination explode.

Coming up with a character/s

So when I'm thinking of a character to inhabit my crazy new concept, I tend to go for vibe before anything else. I ask myself things like:

What kind of character do I really want to play with? Good, bad, morally grey? Cool, morally grey it is.

What species do I want? A god, a human, some fantasy creature? Human.

What type of human? A fighter, or more cerebral? Both? How 'bout a strategist? Okay that works.

And I go from there. I basically build a vague construct before worrying about things like physical description, name, age, gender, sex, etc. Those come later, once I've got a vibe I find interesting for a main character. Then comes the fun part.

Bringing concept and character together

For this to work, I've gotta figure out how these two elements to interact. To do that, I ask myself a whole bunch of questions.

How does my shiny new character fit in this world? Are they a grand figure or are they a nobody? What do I want them to do? What challenge would be interesting to watch them overcome? What can only they do? Why should my audience care about this random little guy?

This is normally where plot comes to me in fits and bursts, and once I have an idea on the overarching aspects, I start hammering out the finer details. This is where I really let my imagination out to play. I go wild, spinning off in multiple different directions, chewing on ideas and concepts and finding what works best for me.

Here you can also start developing things like other characters, relationships, dynamics, worldbuilding (e.g., currency, religion, factions, hierarchy, magic, science, how the bloody postal system works, etc.).

An example (through a conversation I regularly have with myself)

So, here's an example of an idea I've been playing with the last week.

Coming up with a concept

Okay! I've been inspired by the Old Guard, so I want to explore immortality and the idea of humanity and what life actually means. But how do I make this concept even cooler? What would make being immortal hard to conceal in a modern world?

How about instead of a modern world it's a futuristic society where everything is captured on some form of phone / camera / recording - and that makes dying and coming back to life extremely difficult to get away with. Where it's getting harder and harder to be able to cover their tracks, where falling through the cracks of society is damn near impossible with instant identification and other such measures.

Nice, nice. What else? How does the immortality work?

From the moment of their first death, the person now has increased healing and cannot age; though they can physically change (i.e., gain or lose weight and muscles, grow their hair and whatnot). Injuries heal at a rate relative to the seriousness of it - even amputations.

How does amputation work though? What if they lose their head? Does a new body grow or does the body grow a new head?

I'll have to iron this out but maybe it depends on the largest body piece? So the body would regrow the head, but if the body was completely blown apart, then whatever piece was biggest would become the 'main' one that the rest of the body would regenerate from?

What causes the immortality?

(I have an idea but wanna keep it a secret for now 😉)

So how does this world work then? It's futuristic - but how futuristic?

I'm thinking we've just achieved space travel. There's a colony on the moon and one being developed on Mars. We're spacefaring but it's not quite to the level of say, Star Wars or Star Trek. No aliens yet either! We've also got rudimentary robots running around, but they're machines more than fully autonomous. Basically, it's that time just before a massive technological leap in human history. We're on the verge of realising a lot of 'sci-fi' technologies.

Coming up with characters

Who are our main characters?

I was thinking of using Helen of Troy, since she's a mythological / historical figure that I've always found really interesting! So instead of her dying way back in the day, she actually became immortal during the Trojan War and has been enduring through the last 3500ish years as best she can.

The other main character I was planning on focussing the story around was Aethiolas - Helen's (disputed) son and former Prince of Sparta. I thought it'd be cool to explore an immortal mother and son dynamic, where almost 4000 years of sorrow and bitterness have tangled their relationship into something complex and...heartbreaking.

So what are they both like?

Helen has turned towards pacifism, whereas Aethiolas is and always will be a warrior. Helen is a leader - usually calm and collected and capable of commanding respect. Aethiolas, for the longest time, acted as her second in command and is quite a confident person. While Helen might long for the past, Aethiolas looks to the future with excitement and fascination.

Helen's group have become more observers, whereas Aethiolas takes an active role in shaping history - joining causes that speak to him and seeking to bring positive change into the world.

Aethiolas is viewed as reckless and dangerous to their way of life, killing humans who threaten him without hesitation; whereas he views his mother and the others as too rigid and afraid of change, and far too morally righteous and superior. A common argument between them would include lines like -- "Just because we can't die, mother, doesn't mean we should allow ourselves to be killed."

Helen views their immortality as a punishment. Aethiolas views it as a gift. But there is still love and loyalty between them. Despite everything, Helen is Aethiolas' mother, and he cares for her. And she for him.

Bringing concept and character together

How do these characters fit in with the world now?

Well, Helen is in charge of their group of immortals; whereas Aethiolas has become more of a 'lone wolf'. While he and his mother have had a falling out, and they fundamentally disagree on the use of violence and interacting with the world, Aethiolas still acts as the group's sword and shield. He doesn't live with them but he protects them from threats and they rely on him when issues crop up that do require swift action. There's some hypocrisy there, and it is one of the major points of conflict between them.

The story would likely kick off with several new immortals being born - and in a rather public and difficult to cover up manner. This has the risk of dragging all of the immortals into the spotlight, and prompts them to have to quickly decide whether living in the shadows is even possible any more.

--- -- --- -- ---

This became very long and rambling, but this is essentially how I create ideas from scratch. I'm super tired atm so it might not be super coherent! But if anything particular jumps out at you or you want me to focus in on something, please let me know!

#skitter-kitter #personal #writing tips

[childotkw]

Every time you update the Naruto crossover with Regulus running around in the Clan War era, I drop everything to read it.

It's so good! I adore how Regulus is getting so many marriage proposals that he misses because that's a cultural difference for him so he doesn't notice, and how the Uchiha are beating back suitors with a stick in the background!

Haha thank you! I'm glad you enjoy it - it's certainly come a long way since the first few posts!

And Regulus just constantly has a ring of Uchiha around him like this:

#anonymous #HP #naruto #regulus black

[childotkw]

Related to another ask you got: do you think you’ll write a time travel story about the Golden Trio? (After you complete all your ongoing projects; or even before idk)

Ehh, I won't say no but I also can't see it happening any time soon.

While I enjoy Ron and Hermione, I tend to fixate on a very select few characters in a fandom, and they've never made my brain sit up and pay attention the way Harry or Tom do. It would have to be a pretty specific story idea for me to incorporate them fully and cleanly into it.

#anonymous #HP #harry potter #ron weasley #hermione granger

[childotkw]

Ever thought about the idea of Harry, Ron and Hermione starting their work as Aurors, trying to avoid the whole conflict between Dumbledore and Riddle (or the Light and the Dark side) but still getting caught up in it?

I'd probably spin it as a time travel-esque story where Harry, Ron and Hermione (intentionally or not) end up back during the first war with Voldemort, or perhaps when he's still first rising to power.

They wouldn't be aurors, not with their lack of papers and backstories and the general distrust people would have towards each other back then meaning they wouldn't get passed the first level of screening without setting off alarms.

But I could see them becoming their own version of vigilantes or something. The three of them have a year of running and living rough under their belts, they're all riddled with some form of PTSD, and they're more determined than ever to take out the horcruxes and end Voldemort once and for all.

Only problem is - the three of them have never been subtle. They attract attention from both the Light and Dark sides pretty quickly. They're hard to track, mysterious, and dangerous; and that makes them intriguing.

Harry, Ron and Hermione have to deal with the increasing pressure from all around them, as well as hunting down the horcruxes that aren't all in the same spots they remember from their time.

It would likely eventually get to the point where Harry - because of course it's him - yeets himself into the spotlight to keep the very unwelcome attention of Voldemort and Dumbledore on him rather than Ron and Hermione.

Harry is out there, metaphorically dancing with giant feather fans to distract their allies and enemies alike, while his friends work in the shadows to complete their goal.

It's...messy.

#anonymous #HP #harry potter #hermione granger #ron weasley

[childotkw]

a snippet of the uzumaki geeking out about regulus's runes with izuna standing on guard bc no one is going to steal his cousin away on his watch

"Remarkable," Uzumaki Katsumi murmured, leaning in far too fucking close to peer over Regulus' shoulder.

Izuna glared at the brazen man, eyeing the decreasing distance between the Uzumaki's chest and Regulus' arm with furious consideration.

"You write like a seal master," the red haired menace continued, voice edged with appreciation. "Are you sure you have not trained with one of my clan?"

Regulus smiled, that endearingly small flick of his lips, but he seemed blind to the glint of hunger the Uzumaki regarded him with. That every gods damned Uzumaki seemed to regard him with.

Izuna had hated the visiting delegation since the lot of them had rocked up at Konoha's gates a week ago.

He understood the importance of solidifying their relations with the infamous - terrifying, ancient, dangerous - clan. He understood why this visit symbolised and how already the ripples of a great future were being made here. He understood that keeping up appearances was necessary.

What he didn't understand was why every blasted Uzumaki in the village seemed to want to marry his friend.

Izuna had thought Tobirama was the one he would have to keep an eye on.

"That's kind of you to say," Regulus replied, his strange accent flaring up now that he was actually speaking their language rather than using his translation 'spell'. "I'm used to writing with different equipment though, so it has been an...interesting learning curve for me."

"All the more impressive then," Uzumaki said, flashing a bright smile that crinkled the corners of his blazing blue eyes. "I would be honoured to offer some tutoring, if you would like to expand your skills."

Izuna's sharingan flared to life as he spluttered in offence.

Regulus didn't even blink at the salacious offer.

#anonymous #HP #naruto #regulus black #uchiha izuna

[childotkw]

Remember that scene in HP, when Harry, Ron & Hermione are standing before McGonagall and she's like "Why is it ALWAYS you three??"? Well, I just imagined it with Regulus, Izuna & Tobirama standing before Madara xDDD How would this scene go with our favorite troublemaking shinobi-wizard combo?

Madara comes to dread any mention of Izuna-Tobirama-Regulus because it's an instant headache. For the longest time, he had dreamed of Hashirama and their little brothers getting along - but now that the reality is here, he hates it.

They are a nightmare, and Regulus - the one he thought was reasonable and responsible - is somehow the worst of the lot.

--- -- --- -- ---

"Say that to me again...but slower."

Madara watched the three of them through squinted eyes, digging his fingers into his temple as if that would somehow elevate the massive fucking headache he was suffering.

Tobirama, who Madara had always thought was rational if cold, opened his mouth to deliver no doubt a scathing comment on Madara's intelligence that would have ended in the office on fire - when Regulus' elbow slammed into his side.

Hashirama's brother didn't flinch, but he took the hint and shut up.

Small mercies. Madara actually liked his most recent office.

"We would like to go on a trip," Regulus said smoothly. His dark eyes blinked earnestly at Madara. He might have fallen for it if he hadn't see the sheer bullshit Regulus was able to spin when someone gave him an inch.

"Where?" Madara asked, already dreading the answer.

"Kumo," Izuna piped up, his voice obnoxiously chipper.

"Kumo?" Madara repeated, dropping his hand to the desk so it thunked loudly against the wood. "Kumo - as in Kumo, who we are currently on the verge of war with? Kumo, who would love to shed Konoha's blood? Kumo, who -"

"Yes."

Madara shot to his feet, glaring at Tobirama for cutting him off. The bastard didn't even twitch. "Don't interrupt me."

"Say something interesting and maybe I won't," Tobirama shot back.

#anonymous #HP #naruto #regulus black #uchiha izuna #uchiha madara #senju tobirama

[childotkw]

After reading all about 'Fractured Hearts', I am already falling in love with it. Do you think I might be able to read it in 2024?

At my current snail pace of writing? Probably not 😅 but one day for sure!

#anonymous #HP #consuming shadows #fractured hearts #harry potter #tom riddle #tomarry

[childotkw]

have you ever read The rise of a dark lord? it’s a really good darkharry!

I have not but I'm always down for a dark!Harry story!

#anonymous #HP #harry potter #fic rec

[childotkw]

Its so funny that the wizarding world has no idea what to do with the wild card that is regulus and izuna, and then tobirama is there like : how dare you go on a life changing field trip without me?🤨

Tobirama: you ABANDON tobi? you abandon him like he is garbage?

Izuna: what the fuck??? why are you talking like this??

Tobirama: oh! oh! jail for both of you!

Regulus: pls for the love of merlin stop - it was an accident

Tobirama: jail for both of you for one thousand years!

#anonymous #HP #naruto #regulus black #uchiha izuna #senju tobirama #he doesnt take it well

[childotkw]

what were tobirama and regulus doing miles outside konoha when the earthquake happened???

Hunting Zetsu. The two dumbasses thought to exclude Izuna because he's already been targeted by Zetsu once and they, mistakenly, think this would protect him.

Jokes on them though, because Izuna has never handled being sidelined well.

#anonymous #HP #naruto #regulus black #uchiha izuna #senju tobirama

[childotkw]

If in your 'Hadrian time travel' au, Hadrian's death is as absurd as being hit by a meteor while walking down the street, the fact that a star of the wizarding world is lost in such a way would be a truly bizarre and monumental event in history...

And of course, Tom Bloody Riddle's reaction would probably be like, "i tried to save you from every bloody thing, but you end up getting killed by a meteor?" (Meteor is just one example. He could also get hit by a bludger while playing quidditch)

What really drives me deeper into the story is the idea of Hadrian being caught in a duel between Riddle and Dumbledore, and thus meeting his demise. Here, the Dark Lady could also replace Dumbledore.

However, if such a thing were to happen and they manage to bring Hadrian back, I imagine Riddle would try to manipulate Hadrian's life as if he were a leech, controlling him. Or perhaps he would make an offer: "Either you'll live with me or you'll create a Horcrux?"

Oh I was definitely leaning more towards the whole Dumbledore v Riddle scenario, myself. Maximum angst.

But you're right in that Riddle time travelling back would be wwaayy more possessive and obsessed with keeping Hadrian 'safe'. It would be a difficult balance between him trying to keep him safe, and trying to recreate moments and conversations, to respect Hadrian's boundaries so as to 'ultimately' win him over again without making him hate him.

Either way, it wouldn't be the smoothest ride for any of them.

#anonymous #HP #consuming shadows #harry potter #tom riddle #tomarry

[childotkw]

Just had an amazingly sad idea for an AU of CS - a bad ending time travel fix-it one where Hadrian dies (whether in the third task or afterwards because of the compulsion) but it’s Raina who goes back to the very beginning.

Raina, who knows everything.

Raina, who saw everything.

Raina, who wants to protect a boy who, at this time, is an emotionally distant acquaintance rather than a friend.

It’s weeks before the Tournament is set to be announced, and she’s faced with the bitter realisation that she can either stop Hadrian from becoming the Beauxbatons’ champion and save him from a laundry list of injuries and trauma and being dragged into a decades long war, but deprive him of the emotional growth he so desperately needed…

Or she can let things play out as they did originally, and this time influence things so that Hadrian could emerge largely unscathed.

There’s little she wouldn’t do for Hadrian at this point - even if this current version of him looks at her with cool eyes and empty, if charming, smiles.

(And perhaps, she isn’t the only one who came back. Perhaps another person who loved Hadrian has returned too, determined to save him. Perhaps Raina has an ally - though she and Riddle have different opinions on what constitutes as ‘saving’ Hadrian)

#HP #consuming shadows #had a thought #decided to share it lmao

[childotkw]

i was scrolling through your tags and found the ays(aml) au, and holy fuck, it's brilliant. god, the tension between reg and voldemort sounds so terribly interesting - there's so much potential there. idk if you'll ever end up writing it, but you're an actual genius for coming up with the idea, it's so damn intriguing.

Oh, that AU is one of my favourites! I just love the idea of Regulus, armed with all of the knowledge of the future, waging a one-man war against Voldemort while everyone else is freaking the fuck out.

He's a classic case of "the ends justify the means" in this one, and pulls some utter dick moves against others to get himself closer to his goal - to the point where even those closest to him are now worried that he's heading towards complete self-destruction.

And Voldemort himself?

Well, he's getting a crash course into why the Black family have been such an undisputed power house in both Britain and the world.

He thought he knew their madness from Orion and Walburga? From Bellatrix?

He's seen nothing. The hell that Regulus is prepared to rain down on him is otherworldly in its intensity. The devotion Regulus puts towards his downfall, towards killing him...it's exquisite. Flattering.

Voldemort wants to see just how far Regulus is willing to go to succeed.

If, like Tom Riddle, Regulus Black would tear himself and the world apart just to win.

(He is.)

#anonymous #HP #all your secrets (all my lies) #regulus black #tom riddle #ays(aml)

[childotkw]

How’s the next chapter of CS coming along? X

uuuuuhhhhhhh...it's going?

#anonymous #HP #consuming shadows #harry potter #tom riddle #my time management skills are...weak #but i'm trying!

[childotkw]

Shifting Shadows is actually my favorite AU of yours! I *adore* Raina and I love your Hadrian and Tom too, so it's the best of all worlds.

Oh stop it you!

Raina is a queen no matter what AU but in Shifting Shadows she is Thriving. Literally manipulating the Dark Lord because "you want to fuck my husband so bad it makes you stupid".

She's having the time of her life due to Hadrian's prettiness. 10/10 best husband.

#anonymous #HP #Shifting Shadows AU #harry potter #raina séverin #tom riddle #tomarry

[childotkw]

Some people think tomarrymort isn't really enemies to lover but prey x predator?????? And basically young Tom will never noticed Harry because he is basic apparently and "just a guy". I wholeheartedly disagree but I want to know what you think?

(ps: it's just how some people treat harry in tomarry fandom is making me sad.)

I think anyone who looks at Harry and ever considers him prey has grossly misunderstood his character and how utterly terrifying he is, was, can, and will always be to Tom in particular.

Don't get me wrong, the power imbalance and gap in skills can be compelling to play with, but Harry was made a threat to Tom by Fate.

Tom himself dictated that this boy would be his equal, and any equal to Voldemort could never be considered anything less than another predator.

#anonymous #HP #personal opinion #harry potter #tom riddle #tomarry #the only way harry's getting consumed by tom is if he's consuming him right back

[childotkw]

It would be funny if ybtm(ibty)!Harry, being the "lord of death", would be able to find out everything about their dead loved ones by touching a people.

just imagine how he scares Leopolda accidentally and very often by giving details about her And Klaus' dead parents.

How he drives Orion into an ecstatic frenzy by talking about his grandfather Corvus Black.

How he once scares Benedict and Cynthia by mentioning a few things about Nathan's biological mother.

And Harry himself does not notice and does not understand what he is saying, he thinks that he is saying something self-evident and well-known to everyone.

It's a cute little ability, - "gift" from death.

Harry, once he figures it out: oh...oh i dont like this at all

Death, sipping a martini as It watches from the ether: oh yay we're coming up to his scheduled mental breakdown, how exciting

#anonymous #HP #ybtm(ibty) #harry potter #death