#avatar advice

[stories-of-the-past]

The only advice Aang doesn’t take is Yangchen’s

Something that struck my while re-watching Aang’s discussions with the four past Avatar’s is that when he take’s Ozai’s bending away he is technically following all of their last words of advice except, ironically, his fellow Air Nomad Avatar.  

Roku: You must be decisive.  Aang is so firmly committed to not kill Ozai in cold blood that he pulls himself out of the Avatar State.  The Lion Turtle also warns him that in order to successfully bend another’s energy “your own spirit must be unbendable.”  Aang was firm and committed to his decision to find another way.

Kyoshi: Only justice will bring peace.  Justice isn’t inherently a death sentence.  Justice means consequences for one’s action in a punishment proportional to the crime.  Ozai did need to be punished after all of the pain and suffering he inflicted on countless people and threatening the balance of the world itself.  And he was.  All things considered, what is a more fitting punishment for someone as self-absorbed and power hungry as Ozai:  Dying in battle, going down in history as such a powerful warrior that it took the Avatar (channeling every past Avatar) to best him or having to live out the rest of his natural life without his status and bending (the two things he valued most) and watching as all that his cruelty and imperialism created was systematically dismantled?  Also a point I can’t take credit for this interpretation and don’t remember where I read it from but fully agree with: making the choice he does Aang proves that the Air Nomad culture and values were not destroyed.  Going back to the crimes of Ozai’s forefathers, Sozin’s legacy is proven to have failed to truly eradicate the Air Nomads and ultimately it is their philosophy of peace that wins the day over rage and violence.

Kuruk: You must actively shape your own destiny and the destiny of the world.  Similar to the point about decisiveness- Aang makes his own choice.  He doesn’t passively accept what literally everyone is telling him the only possible outcome is.  Instead, even as he seeks advice he insists on his own autonomy, recognizing that whatever action he takes will change the course of the world and its destiny.  He very much took an active role in deciding how that battle ended and what came after.

Now finally we have Yangchen.  While, in context, yes all of the Avatars felt they were telling Aang to kill Ozai they all choose phasing that as illustrated above is actually open to wider interpretation and still holds true with what Aang actually does.  Yang Chen is perhaps the most direct in her advice:  Selfless duty calls you to sacrifice your own spiritual needs and do whatever it takes to protect the world.  The one thing Aang does not do is compromise his own spiritual beliefs and identity.  He finds a way that upholds his responsibility as Avatar to restore the balance, prevents the destruction of the Earth Kingdom, and mete out justice for past crimes all while still honoring the beliefs he was raised on and holds so dear.

#Avatar The Last Airbender #aang #sozin's comet #atla #avatar advice #avatar roku #avatar kyoshi #avatar kuruk #avatar yangchen

[bakedbeanchan]

Love advice so garbage he doesn't even follow it himself

#baked bean originals #what's his fucking damage #was he trying to set aang up #aang #sokka #suki #yue #sukka #uhh whats the ship name for sokka and yue #i love how he gives aang some of worst advice ever and aang just follows it #excuse the terrible alt text I don't know what i'm doing #gifs #atla #avatar the last airbender

[littlegayteaboy]

reposting separately (& slightly updated) from this post about Zuko as this one pretty dude on instagram :D

reference: atlasalexander16 on instagram

#💖tysm to everyone on the discord giving me advice lol 🥲 #my art #click for quality #zuko #atla #avatar: the last airbender #atla fanart #avatar #zuko fanart #zukka #tea arts🍵

[byoldervine]

The Trick To Writing Filler

(TL;DR at the bottom)

Filler is when you spend a chapter padding the length of your story between plot-related events. Filler chapters have little to no impact on the overarching plot and can be self-contained, and thus in TV shows filler episodes are often reran the most as people unfamiliar with the show can casually watch without being confused without the knowledge of prior plot beats

So with the chapter being largely self-contained and acting outside of the plot, what do you use to make the filler chapter engaging? I’m going to use filler episodes from Avatar: The Last Airbender to provide examples

1. Worldbuilding. Zuko Alone depicts Zuko’s travels taking him through an Earth Kingdom village and becoming acquainted to the family that allows him to stay with them, especially their young son. He learns about what the Fire Nation’s impact on this village has been; destroyed houses, families torn apart, constant robbery and other abuses of power and injustices. And even after Zuko defends the villagers and his new friend, he’s venomously cast out from the village by even the little boy because he outed himself as a firebender. This episode explored the impact of the war on the people of the Earth Kingdom, the victims of war that have no involvement in it and no way of defending themselves from it

2. Character exploration. In The Beach, we learn more about Mai, Ty Lee, Azula and Zuko and how their own traumas and personal upbringings have impacted their personalities. For Zuko this is part of a turning point for him, but for the girls it’s more to understand why they are the people we’ve gotten to know over the seasons, especially Ty Lee and Mai. The episode also serves to showcase how Azula and Zuko are so out of place being just normal teenagers; Azula has no idea how to talk to her peers and no identity outside being Princess Azula of the Fire Nation, while Zuko’s hotheadedness and jealousy issues lead him to lash out and be far too confrontational and controlling for his own good. This episode isn’t really used to develop these characters, or at least not the girls, but instead explains and showcases their behaviours and the reasons behind them

3. Character development. Going back to The Beach, Zuko does indeed receive development rather than just character exploration like the girls do; he comes to understand that he’s not just angry at the world or angry in general, but angry with himself. This is a notable turning point for Zuko’s redemption arc, because he now understands fully that he truly regrets betraying Iroh and sacrificing his new start in life in favour of returning to the Fire Nation. He might not yet be fully decided on turning his back on Ozai, but without this moment I don’t know if he’d have gotten there, or at least not as quickly as he did

4. Relationship development. Sokka’s Master has a C plot of Aang, Katara and Toph all being rather bored and lost without Sokka’s presence. The A plot exploring Sokka’s feelings of inadequacy and uselessness in comparison to such powerful and formidable bending masters being contrasted with the Gaang unable to function without him already speaks volumes about their dynamics, but looking deeper into the C plot also shows how much value Sokka really does bring to the team; structure, planning, humour, a quick wit, strategic moves. The Gaang always supported Sokka and never seemed to view him as expendable outside of the occasional teasing, but having it acknowledged so clearly and plainly that they can feel a little aimless and flat without Sokka and being so delighted when he returns really shows us the kind of value Sokka brings to this team and brings us and the characters to further appreciate it

5. Downtime. The Ember Island Players depicts the characters taking a break to watch a comedic play based on their wacky adventures, only to be largely underwhelmed and displeased by how they’re portrayed. There are no stakes to this episode and barely any plot, just the Gaang taking a breather as they react to a bad play. This chance to relax and watch something inconsequential is just as important to the viewers as we’ve got the show’s finale in the next four episodes, which will be very plot-driven and intense. The Ember Island Players also has the additional viewer bonus of recapping the events of the show right before it all ends, giving the viewers time to reflect on the journey they’ve gone on with these characters. In order for the stakes to feel high and the tension to rise, there has to be downtime where there are low stakes and low tension; if things are intense all the time, the moments that are supposed to feel super intense will just feel average in comparison. Resetting that intensity right before such a big event while still acknowledging the looming threat coming soon will feel like the calm before the storm and allow your audience to soak it all up like the characters are

Wow, did I just go through all that without talking about Tales of Ba Sing Se? I’ll save that for another post if people are interested in more

TL;DR - filler provides a moment to breathe, reset the intensity levels the audience are experiencing and take a chance to step away from the external conflict (the overarching plot) in favour of worldbuilding and the characters within your setting. Small moments can amount to something big, and can help make large scale decisions or plot twists feel more build-up and in-character

#filler #worldbuilding #character development #avatar the last airbender #atla #writing #writers #writeblr #bookblr #book #writers on tumblr #writerscommunity #writers of tumblr #writer #how to write #on writing #creative writing #write #writers and poets #female writers #queer writers #writblr #writer things #writing tips #writerscreed #writing advice #writing life #writer stuff #writersnetwork #writer problems

[theplottingapp]

Look in all seriousness you can't redeem a character without showing them being pathetic, deep loser energy. There are no cool redemption arcs. They have to be in the trenches. They have to hate themselves for the mistakes they made. They have to apologize and take whatever is given be it forgiveness or a punch to the jaw. ONLY then will the redemption arc be actually good because it will be cathartic. And then they get to see the good things, they get to be touched gently and held while they sleep.

These things can overlap, even into a circle but without the pathetic loser boy saga your redemption arc will feel hollow.

#redemption arcs #writing #vegas theerapanyakul #kylo ren #anakin skywalker #klaus mikaelson #elijah mikaelson #dameon targeryan #writeblr #am writing #writers on tumblr #writing advice #writing tip #desiblr #writing help #avatar the last airbender #zuko

[hyacinths-in-a-storm]

This is how the comics should’ve gone.

#in my mind azula got therapy and became zuko’s advisor #except it’s basically her bullying zuko all the time #but he can’t say shit because she actually has useful advice from time to time #zuko #azula #fire siblings #atla #avatar the last airbender

[demaparbat-hp]

Zuko was a child when he met Agni. Then, the spirits started coming to him. Eyes hidden in the hallways, voices pleading for help, for recognition, for remembrance.

Zuko could see Agni. He could see the broken remains of a Great Spirit and the empty smiles of amnesiac ghosts.

And they could see him in return.

#atla #zuko #avatar the last airbender #atla fanart #atla art #atla fanfic #prince zuko #New Gods AU #zuko fanart #zuko art #lu ten #uncle iroh #Eventual ZK #zutara #zutara au #zutara fanfiction #zuko fanfic #agni #Spirit Touched! Zuko #Agni is a character in this don't yell at me #This was such a blast to write. I honestly love this AU so much and can't wait to see what you guys think of it #Bit of a warning tho #It's pretty heavy #Deals with depression and mental health issues and...stuff #Word of advice! The first chapter truly comes to life after a second read. #The cover is a panel from a comic I'm working on~ #Which is the reason it took me so long to post this tbh. Wasn't sure if I wanted to tease The Perfect Prince or leave it as a surprise. #But here we are and there it is. So. #The Perfect Prince #Listen. Lu Ten is the most wholesome turtleduck ever and if anything happens to him I'll murder everyone in this fansite and then myself.

[muffinlance]

Wait wait wait BLIND ZUKO?!?!?! Why is this the first time hearing about it??????????? This obviously a major error on my part…but I am little confused…what is a sensitivity reader? are they like a beta reader, but someone who belongs to the blind community(is even calling it a community OK I don’t know how else to refer to it😅)? someone to make sure that what your writing is accurate??? Please educate me!!!

Basically that, yep. Sensitivity readers are a reasonably common practice in Serious Face fiction (...among writers and publishers who care about getting things right), but definitely not common in fanfiction, so it's no surprise if you haven't heard the term before--they're people from whatever group who are good at helping writers spot and correct when they're using harmful tropes related to the group(s) they're a part of (and offering suggestions to make things read more authentically).

Since people tend to spin off AUs of my fics (which is awesome and continues up be encouraged), I am putting in an effort to not totally screw up the Blind Zuko rep. Of all fandoms, Avatar should absolutely be a place blind fans can find themselves represented in and welcomed by.

On a related note, insert PSA here encouraging all Avatar artists and rebloggers of Avatar art to write alt text/image IDs. They're quick to write and they mean the world to the people who need them. Do it for Toph.

#on an equally related note I only reblog art that has ids. so if you want to get reblogged you know what to do. #my sensitivity reader is on Tumblr and regularly posts excellent writing advice so I'm very excited to be working with them #but I haven't actually cleared with them whether they want their name publicly associated with this #So no name for now #Fingers crossed for nothing huge on the outline level #Though I'm fully expecting a million little issues on the chapter by chapter level #Blind Zuko #avatar the last airbender #atla

[itscuntingseason]

zuko: just be confident katara! boys like that

toph: how the fuck would you know what boys like?

zuko: cause i'm a BOY toph, i'm a real live boy

aang: oh yeah like pinocchio

#text #atla #avatar the last airbender #toph #katara #zuko #aang #derry girls #shitpost #quote from derry girls btw #just imagine zuko is helping katara with boy advice idk #idk like even though zuko isn't the only guy in the friend group i just feel like he's the James in comparison to derry girls

[glorious-destruction]

credit to knightbooks.52643 on ig

#writing #writeblr #writer #writer struggles #writer life #novel #book #literature #manuscript #writing advice #atla #zuko #avatar #writing help #writing motivation

[writingtot]

sometimes i realize how rampant misogyny is in the atla fandom and i just have to take a step back and reconsider my opinions

#why am i so easily convinced to hate katara and azula but not sokka and zuko hmm… #interesting… #some other fans could use this advice :) #atla #avatar the last airbender #avatar: the last airbender #katara #azula #zuko #sokka

[robertaramos2]

Love advice based on the Zutara relationship:

Stick with someone who respects and acknowledges your worth.

Stay with someone who helps you when you need it.

Be with someone who protects you.

Stay with someone who strives to be a better person for you.

Be with someone who tries to understand you.

Stay with someone who supports your decisions and needs.

Be with someone who supports you in your toughest times, being a true friend.

Kind of obvious, but be with someone you have strong chemistry with.

Stay with someone who encourages you.

Stay with someone who jumps in front of a lightning bolt to save you.

Look for a relationship where differences strengthen the bond, where balance prevails.

#zutara #avatar zuko #zuko x katara #avatar #the legend of aang #couple #love advice #katara

[lady-fey]

The Two Types of Redemption

Aka, why Avatar’s story works when so many others don’t.

There are two main paths to redemption: a shift in perspective and a shift in personality. The first is quite common and works very well for a character arc. The second is incredibly rare and should only be used if you’re going to heavily focus on it. Unfortunately, the ‘personality shift’ path seems to be the go-to and, while there is absolutely nothing wrong with this type of story, it requires a ton of work to make it feel earned. Work that is often hand waved away.

To start, let’s define these paths.

A shift in perspective: your character is already a fundamentally ‘good’ person. They just have a messed up view of the world, likely due to their upbringing. During the story, their world view will be challenged, forcing them to realize that they’re on the ‘wrong’ side. The classic example of this is someone raised bigoted and then going to college or moving to a city and turning out accepting after being exposed to people of other races, sexualities, and so on.

A shift in personality: there is something fundamentally wrong with your character. The reasons for this are many and I’m not going to list them out, but they probably know that their behavior is unacceptable. They probably don’t think of themselves as being on the ‘right’ side or, if they do, it’s because they refuse to consider another perspective. During the story, they will have to do an incredible amount of work on themselves to try and completely change the way their brain is wired. The classic example of this is someone who goes through years and years of therapy.

Now I’m gonna talk about Zuko and Azula from Avatar because they’re extremely well-known characters, so most people on this site can read this without getting spoiled like they might with a lesser known property.

The reason why Zuko from Avatar has such a compelling story is that he’s a case of redemption through a shift in perspective. His personality doesn’t actually change. When we flash back to who he was as a child, it’s the same person that he ends up being as an adult. A loving, kind, honor-driven man who wants to be on the ‘right’ side. His only flaw is that he’s been raised in the Fire Nation, which means that his head is full of lies. Once he’s forced to interact with people on the other side of the war, he realizes that they’re not what he’s been told. This rocks him to his core and he struggles with it, but ultimately ends up giving up everything to be true to himself. To fight for honor.

His sister, Azula, never gets redeemed, but imagine if we put her in Zuko’s place and tried to tell the same story. It wouldn’t work because Azula delights in hurting others, something Zuko viewed as an unfortunate necessity of war. She views ruling as a way to gain power while Zuko views it as a burden taken on from duty to his people. To redeem Azula, you can’t just pop her in the Earth kingdom and make her see things from the other side. She actually does that and all that she sees is a great way to spy! Her redemption cannot be a passive one like Zuko’s was. It has to be an active focus of the story and would need her to want to seek help or have it forced on her.

Of course, there is a spectrum here, but the general principle that you can't lump all redemption stories together is an idea that often goes undiscussed, leading to characters like Azula getting treated like Zuko and it bothers me so you get a tumblr post about it!

As always, feel free to send me asks!

#writing advice #character development #character arcs #redemption arc #avatar the last airbender

[ele-sme]

Avatar incorrect quotes pt 14?

Noccoro edition! (I miss my nocorro era)

Spider: my boyfriend is too tall, i can't kiss him everytime i want.

Tuk: kick him in the stomach so he bends over.

Lo'ak: yes kick him, but in the balls.

Kiri: dumb his ass

Neteyam: OR ask me to bend over

Spider: I like the other options a little more

Neteyam:

Neteyam: stay away from me and my balls

#ahhh yes nocorro #i missed nocorro #poor Neteyam if Spider follows Lo'ak advice #neteyam white voice #just kidding #or maybe not- #tiny nocorro #avatar incorrect quotes #incorrect nocorro quotes #avatar2 #avatar #miles spider socorro #neteyam #kiri #lo'ak sully #tuk #tuk sully #tuktirey #tuk tuk #avatar spider #nocorro hint #i am in my nocorro era omg #i need more nocorro fics in my life #nocorro #neteyam te suli tsyeyk'itan/miles “spider” socorro

[eemolu]

the winter solstice episode of atla is crazy. aang rocks up to the fire temple and he's like heyyy roku i'm twelve and need help! i don't know how to learn all the elements and the spirit world is a mystery to me etc. and roku goes yeah fine shut up. if you don't figure all that out by the summer the world will LITERALLY EXPLODE. obviously aang is like dude no way what if i can't do this and roku's response is yeah you can :) ok the glowy light is going away i have to jet bye <3 dude WHAT that was the least helpful you possibly could have been to that child. nice job elevating the stakes of the show and providing narrative tension but god you could have tried to be nicer to the baby standing in front of you asking for help

#atla #avatar the last airbender #aang #avatar roku #atla rewatch #the way that people are constantly being like ok aang you got this #after providing the most LACKLUSTER advice of all time #please help this child he's literally in the sixth grade #mine

[firemaition]

mai and azula are so much closer in the show i love it

#like when she stopped her from burning that guy she was sparring #and when she gave her advice #atla mai #mai atla #atla #avatar and the last airbender #live action avatar #atla azula #maizula