#e girl factory

[wonderfulwonderrful]

M Y T O T O W O L F F M A S T E R L I S T

Season of Love (5/?)

+18 | Toto x reader fem!teamprincipal

Summary: One night on a pier in Monaco, while admiring the sea under the night skies, you told Toto, "I came to the conclusion that love is simply not meant for me." That was the answer to a question you have been asking yourself for the longest time. But what if he proved you wrong. Genre: Romance, comedy, and some good drama. Author's note: This is a multichapter Toto Wolff x team principal reader fic set along a season of F1. It's a very immersive story full of drivers, team dynamics, races, mystery, and love. You own the Williams team, but no one knows who you truly are. Masterlist Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5

Grand Prix Elite Academy (2/10)

+18 | professor!Toto x reader fem!futuredriver, sewiss, carlos x reader

Summary: Your life turns 360 degrees after receiving your acceptance letter for the Grand Prix Elite Academy, the most exclusive and prestigious Formula One college designed to shape the future drivers of the motorsport world. You will try to navigate your new life among the Monaco elites, survive the campus dynamics and rivalries between the university faculties, and try to win this year's cup to beat an undefeated Mercedes while trying to befriend your eclectic driver classmates, join the wild Red Bull parties, have a couple of make-outs under the racing circuit benches, lose your v-card and get over that stupid crush you have on professor Toto. Will you make it alive to graduation? Drive to Greatness! Genre: Romance, smut, and comedy. Author's note: This is a Formula One college AU fanfiction set in an elite academy in Monaco, where the F1 Teams are Faculties, their Team Principals are professors, the FIA is the college board, and all the grid drivers are your classmates. You are accepted under a scholarship program that supports young, talented girls, having lots to catch on to after years of putting your racing dreams on hold and becoming the new girl in class, which is always challenging, especially when all of you share one campus. Masterlist Chapter 1 / Chapter 2

I'll Be Home for Christmas

+18 | Toto x reader

Summary: Toto asked you in between ravenous kisses if you truly wanted him, even with his busy schedule, fast-paced life, countless nights miles away, and his dominant trait, the one you love to be submissive to, by saying yes you didn't expect it to be this hard! This particular season felt eternal, and you only desire to have him back, wrapped as the world's most alluring Christmas gift on your bed if possible. Genre: Romance and smut. Author's note: This is a one-shot mild BDSM dom!Toto x sub!reader set during Christmas break. It's full of sexytimes ;) Enjoy!

Sparks Fly +18 | daddykink!Toto x reader

Summary: Toto is ready to leave shitty 2023 behind and start the new year the best way possible, and you don't want to spend another New Year's Eve all alone. It's like destiny, and the universe conspired to bring you together. Genre: Smut. Author's note: This is a one-shot daddykink!Toto x reader set during New Year's Eve. I hope your 2024 is full of abundance, health, and great things for all of you!

The Lonely Hearts Party

Fluff | Toto x reader fem!merc!employee

Summary: You have been receiving the most gorgeous flowers at your desk every Wednesday morning for weeks now as a mysterious admirer seems to be in love with you. The entire factory, your besties at work, and you all wonder who he is. Could it be the one you truly wish for? Genre: Fluff and romance. Author's note: This is a Toto x Reader fanfic set at the Brackley Headquarters on Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day to all of you! Send you lots of love.

F O L L O W M E F O R M O R E C O N T E N T!

#toto wolff x reader #toto wolff x you #toto wolff fic #toto wolff fanfic #toto wolff x y/n #toto wolff fanfiction #toto wolff #f1 fanfiction #f1 fanfic #mercedes fanfic #formula 1 fic #toto wolff imagine #f1 imagine #f1 x female reader #toto wolff smut #f1 x reader #toto wolff fic rec #f1 x you #f1 x y/n #f1 x oc #torger Wolff #Merc fic #mercedes amg petronas #mercedes fanfics #toto wolff blurb #f1 blurb

[heisenberg-simp257]

Hey! It’s June 3rd! My birthday and i was wondering if you could do Heisenberg and his and reader’s kids to work together to celebrate and suprise reader on her birthday. Like Karl have like somewhat deep conversations with kids on what to get reader or make for her.

Also happy pride month everyone!!

Happy Belated Birthday! Better late than never, so I hope you enjoy!💖

Also, I’m going to use kids from another story I wrote...so the oldest is a girl named Anneliese and younger twin boys named Felix and Konrad.

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

The Happiest of Birthdays!

Heisenberg isn't going to let your birthday just be an ordinary day. Thankfully, he's got some help this time around in order to ensure things go perfectly.

From the outside, it might look like the embodiment of Hell. A snowy landscape, cold and uninviting factory in which people go in but never come out, and not to mention the lycans prowling about. Not exactly someone's idea of a pleasant place to be.

However, for five people, it was home.

The walls weren't cold, and the inside was warm. It was a place of safety where three young children were born. It was just a place where you could live and grow with the man you loved. You've been here for years with Heisenberg, long enough to have a seven-year-old daughter named Anneliese and four-year-old twin boys named Felix and Konrad.

His seven-year-old daughter, Anneliese, looked a lot like you, h/c hair and just your overall face. Anneliese also had your attitude and was very well-behaved and kind. However, she had his stormy gray eyes. She was definitely his “favorite” and was the main reason he wanted another kid because she was so good.

He wasn’t expecting two kids in one go.

Felix and Konrad, who were around four-years old, looked just like him except Konrad had your e/c eyes. While they were your sons as well, they were exact replicas of him in terms of attitude.

It made sense that they were little shits sometimes.

It was also that time of year, the early months of summer, when your birthday was coming up once again.

And Heisenberg was NOT going to forget this time.

He was never one to be big on birthdays, so for the first couple years when you guys were still getting to know each other, it was never brought up so he didn't really think about. Then, when you guys had children, life was just too insane and chaotic to think about birthdays. And he also had the village and the other lords to worry about, so you let it all slide.

However, this time he was determined to make your day special, and he had three little helpers.

"Where the hell did you learn to bake?" Heisenberg questioned his daughter, who happily volunteered to make you something.

Right now, he had his children stuffed into one of his small workshops to conspire with him. (And knowing he might get in trouble, he made sure anything dangerous was properly hidden.) You were invited to have tea at Donna's, so you were out of the building. The idea of you in that doll infested house made him want to vomit, but at least you wouldn't know about anything he was plotting for your birthday.

"The kitchen." Anneliese responded with the pride of a seven-year-old. That answer was good enough for him.

When it came to birthdays, he never knew what to do. He never celebrated his own, so Heisenberg was unsure of what you would expect. He also never asked because he wanted it to be a surprise. Thankfully, the creativity of his children was helping him big time.

"We want to help!" The boys shouted with child-like enthusiasm. Heisenberg shushed them quickly, knowing that loud sounds would likely piss off the soldats that were lurking around.

And he was not in the mood to deal with them right now.

"Not in the kitchen. I already have that job." Anneliese stated and the boys pouted, Konrad looking ready to throw a tantrum.

"I already got a job for you two." Heisenberg said quickly to avoid any fights or tears. They looked at him eagerly, so he had to think quickly.

"I bet your mother would love a handmade gift from you both." He said with a smirk, knowing that crafts were the best way to entertain the four-year-olds.

"What about a puppy?" Felix said.

"Absolutely not." Heisenberg responded quickly, which resulted in another pout.

Once ideas were put into place, Heisenberg moved the kids into the living space. He had some ideas on how to decorate, but he put his children to work first as any responsible parent would do. Felix and Konrad began to make cards for you as Heisenberg worked on his own gift. Anneliese began her work in the kitchen (which worried her father slightly), and he was relying heavily on her expertise, which didn't say much considering she was only seven. That said, she still could probably bake better than him, and he was not about to crawl on his knees to get something made from Lady Dimitrescu.

Then he really would vomit.

"Done!" He heard his daughter say about an hour later. He figured that making something like a cake would take longer, but what did he know. His boys were almost done as well he noticed while walking by.

"Let's see what you...got..." Heisenberg's voice trailed off when he came into the kitchen and noticed the masterpiece his daughter made for you.

It was supposed to be a cake, but whatever he was looking at was definitely NOT edible. That's what happens when you leave a child in charge of baking.

The undercooked doughy round mess he was looking at had frosting that was distributed unevenly, and "Happy birthday mom!" was written sloppily on top of it. Heisenberg internally winced, thinking he probably should've been supervising, but hey, you'd probably find this cute.

"Do you like it?" She asked, bouncing on her toys. He had to lie.

"It's amazing, princess." Heisenberg praised while picking up his daughter and kissing her head, making her laugh. He placed her down and shooed her out to make a card for you with her brothers, who just finished theirs.

They showed him with glee, and he couldn't deny how cute they actually were, so he knew you'd love them.

"Alright you two, help me decorate." Heisenberg ordered after ruffling their hair. They cheered and Anneliese finished quickly so she wouldn't be left out. As the living room brightened up a bit with balloons and so forth (that the Duke was happy to sell to him), he realized how piss poor this was gonna probably be in comparison to what you were used to. But when all was done, he was still impressed with his work.

"When your mother gets home, what do you say?" He quizzed the children as they sat on the couch.

"Happy birthday!" They all exclaimed with the enthusiasm of children and he nodded.

"Alright you little gremlins, go do something as I work." Heisenberg said as they rushed off. With them keeping busy, he was able to use his powers to finishing making his gift for you. Smiling to himself, he hoped you would appreciate it.

And then, the hour arrived when you came home.

"Happy birthday mommy!" The shouts of your children probably could be heard throughout the whole village as your legs were tackled by your brood.

"Goodness me...were you guys waiting all day?" You asked, giving them hugs. They all nodded before dragging you to the living room, not even minding the stuff you had in your arms that Donna gave you as a gift.

But your mind was blown as you saw the decorations.

"Well...someone remembered my birthday." You said teasingly when you noticed Heisenberg walk into the room. He already had that look on his face that told you not to start shit. But despite that, he took the load from your arms and set in on a side table before giving you a kiss.

"Happy birthday Y/N." He said in that stoic tone of his before moving to have you guys sit on the couch.

"You did all this?" You asked, amazed. Heisenberg was never one to care about this kind of stuff. He shrugged.

"I had help." He admitted, and on cue, the three kids rushed back into the room (you never even noticed them leaving) with their hands full. Suddenly, your vision was blocked.

"We made you cards!"

"I baked you a cake!"

"Dad even made you something!"

You gently pushed them back, smiling at their enthusiasm. With the patient of a good mother, you thumbed through each card and praised your daughter for a job well done (but Heisenberg could tell that you were just as concerned as he was. He could tell baking lessons were in his daughter's future.) However, you were quick to notice that last statement.

"You made me a present?" You asked him with an arched brow. Heisenberg glared at Konrad, who was the kid that spilt the beans.

"You little shit..." He growled, but his son just giggled. Konrad knew his dad well enough to notice the hollow aggression.

But you slapped his shoulder for cursing.

"Yes...I made you something." He sighed in defeat before getting up to retrieve said something. Meanwhile, Anneliese sat beside you while Konrad climbed into your lap. Felix took his father's seat. When Heisenberg returned, he scooped the four-year-old up with one arm in order to sit down once more. In his other hand, he gave you a small box.

You shifted Konrad around in order to properly open the box. As you did so, Heisenberg glanced at the wall while holding his other son tightly for a bit of comfort. He was nervous and embarrassed right now. Once you finally had the gift exposed, he heard you gasp a bit.

"I love it..." You said with a smile, which made relief flood through his body.

Heisenberg had managed to make you a picture frame, decorated with little sculptures of your favorite animals. And the inside contained a picture of the whole family that he managed to find in a drawer somewhere. Coming from him, it was an absolutely loving gesture.

"I-It was nothing...but you're welcome." He said while moving a hand to rub the back of his neck. You moved your son better in your lap to scootch over and hug him a bit. He blushed, especially when his other kids decided to join in on the hug.

"H-Hey...this day is about you, so let's move on." Heisenberg said while shifting the children off and standing up. You just laughed before complying, his beet red face making you give in.

"Of course."

The evening went on smoothly with a small celebration in honor of you. Heisenberg was thankful for your kids making it cheerful because he knew he probably looked confused or embarrassed half the time (it didn't help that you kept bringing up how much you loved him for doing this.) Eventually, the time came that Anneliese begged you guys to try her cake. As parents, you guys weren't able to get out of this or else. Heisenberg was just hoping that neither of you get food poisoning.

Soon, the children were ushered off to bed and he had you all to himself.

"I actually got one more gift for you...if you want it." He said with a suggestive grin as you guys went to the bedroom. You smirked at him.

"Can I expect this every year?" You asked and he grinned more.

"You can expect it every night." He responded and you moved to slap his chest, making him chuckle.

"You know what I mean." You said, grinning once more and he shrugged.

"Depends." He responded simply, taking his hat off. You watched him as he sat on the bed.

"On what?"

"How much Anneliese improves her baking skills."

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

Happy birthday Anon! From Author-Chan to you!🎊🎊

#resident evil #resident evil village #resident evil imagines #resident evil village imagines #karl heisenberg #karl heisenberg imagine #karl heisenberg x reader

[themculibrary]

Peggy/Natasha Masterlist

A Minor Distraction (ao3) - orphan_account E, 3k

Summary: Rumors about an organization experimenting with the super soldier serum bring Peggy Carter to Russia, where she meets a young factory worker named Natalia.

Better Together (ao3) - rearranged (her_ghost) E, 5k

Summary: Peggy adjusted to life in the 21st century because she had no other option. One trip across space-time was an anomaly, or so she thought.

When she was yanked into an alternate universe by a being with incredible power to help fight against a multiversal threat, Peggy realized the idea of finding a way back to her time might be an achievable goal.

The Watcher told Peggy that her world, and that time, needed their Captain Carter. He showed her why with a few detours on the way home.

Carter (ao3) - crackdkettle G, 1k

Summary: An AU in which Peggy is the Winter Soldier, and she and Natasha have a remarkably uncomplicated relationship over the years.

Co-Captains (ao3) - orphan_account T, 4k

Summary: This is starting to move beyond normal co-captain behavior.

Coming and Going (ao3) - Anonymous M, 3k

Summary: Natasha tilts her head to allow Eileen access to her neck and, god, Peggy can’t help staring at her, just a little, hair mussed, vivid red lipstick smeared slightly, she looks like… She’s looking right at Peggy.

Right. The mission. The signal.

Disposition (ao3) - Anonymous E, 2k

Summary: Natasha and Peggy learn more about the other than they expected when they go undercover at a retreat for couples.

i break wild roses (ao3) - halfmoonsevenstars M, 7k

Summary: It’s August 1950 and Peggy Carter, Director of SHIELD, is back in New York for the week, wrangling diplomats and soothing fractured bureaucratic egos by day. By night, Peggy goes out for drinks and dancing with Angie, but it’s a beautiful Russian girl she brings back to the hotel room.

(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons (ao3) - Eustacia Vye (eustaciavye) E, 6k

Summary: I love you for sentimental reasons. I hope you do believe me, I'll give you my heart.

I may never go home but at least I have you (ao3) - ziazippy5379 T, 1k

Summary: Peggy finds a woman in strange clothes in the alley behind her apartment.

Match Made (ao3) - fluffharpy E, 16k

Summary: "What about you?" Peggy asked over a disposable cup of tea, the exasperation in her tone for once not coming from the fact that there was something subtly unnatural about trying to drink hot liquid out of a plastic lid. Her gaze locked on Natasha Romanoff seated across the table from her, full of righteous challenge. "Who are you dating?"

The look Natasha gave being called on her game, skeptical and just a bit petulant, was gratifying.

"If you're so eager to find me a date," Peggy said, imperious, "then you'll have to find one for yourself as well."

peggynat (ao3) - slayyybestie N/R, 3k

Summary: tumblr requests for peggynat fic

Remember When (We Used To Be) (ao3) - flipflop_diva T, 1k

Summary: Peggy stared, her heart thudding in her chest, her hand that was still holding the gun shaking. Those green eyes. Those beautiful green eyes. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t. It was impossible.

“Natalia,” she whispered

“Who the hell is Natalia?”

show me how to fight for now (ao3) - hallowed (AMRainer) T, 1k

Summary: there's nothing as intimate as dancing ; and Natalia knows exactly which steps to take.

undercover in our overcoats (ao3) - Dayadhvam T, 5k

Summary: Prague, 1968. Neither Agent Carter nor the Black Widow would have called it anything like love.

what you can't bear to lose (ao3) - Melime T, 7k

Summary: A mission gone wrong leaves Peggy and Nat buried under the debris of an exploded building, and although they are rescued, the danger of the situation forces them to confront their feelings for each other.

#themculibrary #marvel #mcu #masterlists #peggy carter #natasha romanoff #femslash #f/f #peggynat #peggynat masterlist

[workingclasshistory]

On this day, 13 March 1945, two working class sisters, Vera and Libera Arduino, were executed in Italy by fascists alongside their father, a houseguest and some neighbours. Factory workers around the region sent delegations to the funeral, and stopped work while it was ongoing. One girl raised a red flag on the roof of her factory, while an electrician disconnected wiring to prevent the fascists calling for backup. The sisters had been active in the anti-fascist women's resistance group, the Gruppi di difesa della donna e per l'assistenza ai combattenti della libertà (Gddd). We are producing a podcast miniseries in conversion with former resistance partisans in Italy. Listen first and support our work on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/workingclasshistory https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/2229303283921476/?type=3

[bestfictionalplant]

Bracket reveal

Text version under cut!

The tourney is split into 4 32 brackets, and the winners of each will go to the semi finals! I'll make a different post about HOW the tourney will run, and this will serve as a pinned post for round 1 :)

Bracket 1, Side 1

Peppino (Vampire Survivors) vs Winged Strawberry (Celeste)

Herb (Monster Hunter) vs Triffids (Day of the Triffids)

Gigi (Xiaolin Showdown) vs Silent Princess (The Legend of Zelda)

Breath of Evil (Wings of Fire) vs Thorn Thallid (Magic the Gathering)

Audrey II (Little Shop of Horrors) vs Farewell Flower (Mistborn)

Togemon (Digimon) vs Silverwood Tree (Witch Hat Atelier)

Golden Apple Tree (Greek Mythology) vs Potbelly (My Singing Monsters)

Sculk (Minecraft) vs MocDonald (One Piece)

Bracket 1, Side 2

Vida (The Promised Neverland) vs Glaze Lily (Genshin Impact)

Dr Brewer's Clone (Goosebumps) vs The Spring (Friends at the Table)

Kite Eating Tree (Peanuts) vs Zotoh Zhaan (Farscape)

Wheel Tree (His Dark Materials) vs Mushtree (I Was a Teenage Exocolonist)

Medusoid Mycelium (A Series of Unfortunate Events) vs Radial (Ooblets)

Chikorita (Pokemon) vs Blast Cone (League of Legends)

Gooloog (AAAHH!!! Real Monsters) vs Venus (Bug Fables)

The Thorian (Mass Effect) vs Yggdrasil (Norse Mythology)

Bracket 2, Side 1

Deku Tree (The Legend of Zelda) vs Blood Blossoms (Danny Phantom)

Hotblonde37159 (Angel: The Series) vs Vash the Stampede (Trigun)

Kinoko (Don't Hurt Me, My Healer) vs Wolfsbane (The Vampire Diaries)

Plant (Monster Rancher) vs Flower of Life (Mesopotamian Mythology)

Truffula Tree (The Lorax) vs Slurperon Enchantress (Internet Scam)

The Brain Tree (Neopets) vs Ginseng Baby (Scarlet Hollow)

Chompy (Bug Fables) vs Whispy Woods (Kirby)

Clavu (Overlord) vs Ivern (League of Legends)

Bracket 2, Side 2

Bulbasaur (Pokemon) vs The Trees of Valinor (Lord of the Rings)

Leslie (The Amazing World of Gumball) vs Hayzee Dayzee (Paper Mario)

Piranha Plant (Mario) vs Specimen 34/The Blessed Eternal (Wolf 359)

Potted Plant (Wander Over Yonder) vs Morbuzakh (Bionicle)

Jabe & the Trees of Cheem (Doctor Who) vs Black Mercy (DC)

Mr Plant (The World of Mr Plant) vs Feculant Gnarlmaw (Warhammer 40k)

Tree Rex (Skylanders) vs Flowey (Undertale)

Sundrop Flower (Tangled) vs Venus McFlytrap (Monster High)

Bracket 3, Side 1

Pinchley (Long Gone Gulch) vs Frank the Plant (Harley Quinn: the Animated Series)

The Venus (Hello From the Hallowoods) vs Nirnroot (The Elder Scrolls)

Food Fight (Skylanders) vs Paopu Fruit (Kingdom Hearts)

Phillogenous esk Piemondum (Rod Albright Alien Adventures) vs Plant (Wall E)

Tannot Root (Farscape) vs The Broccoloids (The Powerpuff Girls)

Rockbud (The Stormlight Archive) vs Sylvan Hound (Guild Wars 2)

Eldridge Johnson-Mayer (The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy) vs Hyacinth/Hyacinthus (Greek Mythology)

Selas Flower (Kingkiller Chronicle) vs Treant (Disgaea)

Bracket 3, Side 2

Dragonflame Cacti (Wings of Fire) vs Sunflower (Plants vs Zombies)

The Bioplant (The Rising of the Shield Hero) vs Turnip Boy (Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion)

Shambling Mound (Dungeons and Dragons) vs Mandrake (Shin Megami Tensei/Persona)

Cowplant (The Sims) vs Ebony Queen's Apple (Limbus Company)

Devil Fruits (One Piece) vs Donkey-Cabbage (Enchanted Forest Chronicles)

Oaktopus (My Singing Monsters) vs Field Dungeon (Rune Factory 4)

Mushroom Tree (Stardew Valley) vs Jumpkin (Cassette Beasts)

Undergrowth (Danny Phantom) vs Karzahni (Bionicle)

Bracket 4, Side 1

Dreamstalk (Kirby) vs Myconid (Balders Gate 3)

Stingbulb (Fablehaven) vs Treebeard (Lord of the Rings)

Stray Cat (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure) vs Peashooter (Plants vs Zombies)

Giant Turnip (Codename: Kids Next Door) vs Treasure Mushroom (Guild Wars 2)

Tree of Wisdom (Sonic the Hedgehog) vs Fire Flower (Mario)

Stump (The Angry Beavers) vs Groot (Marvel)

Maise (Oneshot) vs Konohana Tree (Okami)

Red Weed (War of the Worlds) vs Pod Plant (Fortnite)

Bracket 4, Side 2

Plantera (Terraria) vs The Grass Snake (Friends at the Table)

Breathweed (Warhammer 40k) vs Campestri (Dungeons and Dragons)

Neo Alraune (Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle) vs Kringlefucker (Homestuck)

Slimefoot the Stowaway (Magic: The Gathering) vs Gatfruit Tree (Space Station 13/14)

Sex Pollen Plant (Fanfiction) vs The Rumor Weed (VeggieTales: Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed)

Dr Madley Radish (Papa Louie) vs Vervain (The Vampire Diaries)

Yatevon (OCTAHEDRON: Transfixed Edition) vs Echo Flower (Undertale)

Wither Rose (Minecraft) vs Hydramon (Digimon)

#poll bracket

[wileys-russo]

What your favorite book? I need some new book recommendations!!!

I recently updated my Good Reads so here’s a whole ass list!

All boys aren’t blue - George Johnson

The girl with the dragon tattoo series - Stieg Larsson

All the light we cannot see - Anthony Doer

Little fires everywhere - Celeste Ng

Sharp Objects - Gillian Flynn

Dark Places - Gillian Flynn

Gone girl - Gillian Flynn

Conversations with friends - Sally Rooney

My government means to kill me - Rasheed Newson

The lesbianas guide to catholic school - Sonora Reyes

The vanishing half - Britt bennet

You need to know - Nicole Moriarty

Nine perfect strangers - Liane Moriarty

Truly, madly, guilty - Liane Moriarty

Apples never fall - Liane Moriarty

Big little lies - Liane Moriarty

The girl in the green dress - Jeni Haynes (MAJOR trigger warning)

The perks of being a wallflower - Stephen Chbosky

Women don’t owe you pretty - Florence Given

A slow fire burning - Paula Hawkins

The girl on the train - Paula Hawkins

I’m glad my mom died - Jennette Mccurdy

We were liars - E Lockhart

To the lighthouse - Virginia Wolfe

A room of one’s own - Virgina Wolfe

The good son - Jacquelyn Mitchard

The bell jar - Sylvia Plath

Watching women and girls - Danielle Pendar

A little life - Hanya Yanagihara (also a trigger warning!)

The prettiest horse in the glue factory- Corey White (also a trigger warning)

#answered asks

[st-el-la-luna]

Okay but like, what's with fandoms and their recent obsession with "purifying" themselves and the content in them?

It's one thing if a content creator is outed as a pedophile or a racist or a xenophobe.

What I'm talking about is this newfound hatred towards dark fics and dark subject matter in general. It's like people don't understand that it's fiction. Fiction is not reality. Even if the writing is disgusting or amoral, it's not real. And you don't have to read it.

People have been writing weird shit for ages. So how come we only ever see these purity enforcers attacking fic writers or fan artists in fandoms?

Like, in the COD fandom I've seen a bunch of people getting hounded for posting or consuming dark content, I've also gotten a couple messages about it. And, like, hey buddy? Who really cares.

Fiction and reality are two separate things.

Also, why are you attacking me, a 20 year old who lives with their mom and writes for their ten consultant followers and not, oh, I don't know...

Stephen King, who has that whole underage sewer orgy scene in It.

Or the e creators of call of duty for creating literal propaganda. Because, hey besties, yes, that's what COD is. Propaganda. They want you to see it and be like, "yay, guns and the military!" And that's the thing about fiction. It's allowed.

The issue at hand is, in my mind, an issue of deeper reading comprehension or complex thoughts. And a lack of understanding of catharsis.

No one is saying these things are good. But these things exist in the world, like it or not. And in my mind, it's better to portray them in fiction than not at all. Because at least in portraying it awareness can be spread.

And again, if you don't like something, if it triggers you, just don't read it. It's simple. Like if you're watching a movie and can't stand blood so you cover your eyes not to see. You aren't going to go after the director are you? No. You're going to take steps to protect yourself against content you don't want to see or consume.

I think it's an issue of separating fan works from "real" works. Those who say fan art isn't real art or fanfiction isn't real writing. So perhaps in those people's minds, fan works, not being "real" means that they shouldn't portray things we see in reality.

All this to say here's a non-definitive list of novels with dark/disturbing content that these people would want to oppose:

It by Stephen King: The kids having an orgy in the sewers, child abuse, sexual abuse

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov: pseudo-incest, hebephilia

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Attwood: Women being stripped of rights, education, loss of bodily autonomy, forced breeders (at the hands of a government)

The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

The Road by Cormac McCarthy: People keeping other people for food, people keeping women as breeding stock (at the hands of bandits in a post-apocalyptic world)

Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews: child neglect, child abuse, forced isolation, incest, rape

1984 by George Orwell: totalitarianism, government surveillance, insignificance and weakness of the individual

The Stand by Stephen King: sex, rape, ableism, abuse of handicapped people, violence and killing

Maus by Art Spiegelman: depiction of violence, concentration camps, Nazis, Nazi imagery, dehumanization, starvation, mass murder

Frankenstein by Marry Shelley: human experimentation, grave robbing, necromancy, technical necrophilia, murder, revenge, suicide

In the Miso Soup by Ryū Murakami: pedo/hebephilic relations, sex industry, murder

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy: graphic depictions of violence, use of slurs, child abuse, infanticide (? Been a while since I read it so I might be misremembering), pedophilia, rape, sexual assault and violence

Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica: cannibalism, forced breeding, objectification, slave trade, people being bred and sold for meat

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess: sadism, sexual violence

The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum: captivity, torture, torture at the hands of children, violence, sexual violence, based on a true story

Lord of The Flies by William Golding: shows the truth of human nature, dissolution of society and it's rules, violence as a basal instinct

The 120 Days of Sodom by Marquis de Sade: sex, sexual violence, rape, sex trade, pedophilia, incest, abuse, literally just the whole book

Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh: mental illness, drug use/addiction, infant death

American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis: violence, gore, rape, murder, torture, misogyny, sadism

A lot of these books, though considered scary and disturbing and gross, are also seen as classics.

It's not the fault of the author or the media they create, but that of the consumer.

You can find it icky and gross after reading or watching such things. Most of the time you're supposed to. That's a good thing, it means you're human. These things make you think and feel and emphasize.

To control what can and cannot be written is censorship. To control how certain things are portrayed is censorship.

Be aware of the media that's out there, because these disturbing things are real issues out there. And if you can't stomach it, don't consume it.

Simple.

#el's musings #call of duty #fanfiction #purity culture #dark content

[tiktaalic]

best encapsulation of taylor swift doing sexuality for dolls is. a lot of the tour outfits actually. but my point is. the midnights leotard imo a gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous piece of clothing i love the color of it i love the lines to it i think it's a wonderful wardrobe piece but i don't think she's like. hot in it. but there are legions (some) gay women and men who are like. This outfit makes me want to fuck her so bad it makes me look stupid this is the hottest the form of a woman has ever looked. this is the good girl faith in a tight little skirt aspect. of taylor swift. that is very normal and at level and makes her Just Some Guy. and is why i understand with 100% clarity of vision why people are like. you stan? and for THAT? . because. its a woman. its a factory build of a normal woman who is trying to look sexy. and since it is a factor build of a normal woman who is trying to look sexy it's very. nothing. and in her day to day she is a factory build of a normal woman who shops at target. which is also very. nothing. however. Sometimes. taylor swift goes I am crazy I am insane i run all of my relationships like the navy I am 5'11 and have upper arm strength and bring a real I need everyone to do what i say vibe. and its like. wait a minute. there's a personality in there. and it's of a crazy woman. tell me more. about this inner world, taylor swift, who is doing a pastiche of daydream james dean look in your eyes. what i am trying to say. the point i am endlessly circling. lover leotard not hot. intro to the man she does while she happens to be wearing th e lover leotard. hot. but it's a trick. it's a trick she is pulling on me and me only. with her wiles. while the trick that is being played on everyone else. is the leotard

#t swift #etxt

[jamesbracket]

The matchups have arrived!

This tournament includes 96 characters named James, Jim, Jimmy, and Jay (with some others too), and they will all be competing in 6 brackets of 16, and the winners of those will be participating in two semifinals, and the winners of the semifinals will fight each other in the final finals! (Basically, it’s just how I did it on @blue-character-brawl, but with the amount of participants cut in half.)

Here are the matchups:

Bracket 1

Jim Hopper (Stranger Things) VS. Jim Halpert (The Office)

James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Marvel) VS. James “Bucky” Barnes (Marvel)

James Bonde (Moriarty the Patriot) VS. James Blond (Super Mario Brothers Super Show)

Jim Rockford (The Rockford Files) VS. James Bond (James Bond)

Jimmy Carter (Real Life) VS. James Madison (Hamilton)

James Byrd (@byrdsfly) VS. James Byrd (Spyro the Dragon)

JayMoji (Real Life) VS. James Phryllas (Real Life)

Jimmy Z (Wild Kratts) VS. Jimmy T (WarioWare)

Bracket 2

James Baxter (Adventure Time) VS. James (Adventure Time)

Jamestown, Virginia (Real Life) VS. James Webb Telescope (Real Life)

Jim Henson (Real Life) VS. Jim Davis (Real Life)

Jimmy Olsen (DC Comics) VS. Jim Gordon (DC Comics)

Jay Gatsby (The Great Gatsby) VS. James Henry Trotter (James and the Giant Peach)

Jimmy Neutron (Jimmy Neutron) VS. Shimmy Jimmy (Phineas and Ferb)

James McCloud (Star Fox) VS. Jay Elbird (Ace Attorney)

James (Wii Sports) VS. James (Papa Louie)

Bracket 3

Captain James Hook (Peter Pan) VS. James Norrington (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Jim Hawkins (Treasure Island) VS. Jimmy Hopkins (Bully)

Jamie Waring (Black Swan) VS. James Flint (Black Sails)

Jamie McCrimmon (Doctor Who) VS. King James IV (Doctor Who)

Dr. James Possible (Kim Possible) VS. Jimmy Pesto Jr. (Bob’s Burgers)

Prince James (Once Upon a Time) VS. James (Princess and the Frog)

jim teacher (This TikTok) VS. Nagasaki James (Noonbit Man)

James March (American Horror Story) VS. James Vane (The Picture of Dorian Gray)

Bracket 4

James (Pokémon) VS. James T. Kirk (Star Trek)

James the Red Engine (Thomas and Friends) VS. James P. Sullivan (Monsters, Inc.)

Jamie Fraser (Outlander) VS. James Sunderland (Silent Hill 2)

James Ironwood (RWBY) VS. Private Jimmy (Red vs Blue)

James Rallison (Real Life) VS. James Huckle (The Search for Santa Paws)

Jay Walker (Ninjago) VS. Jimmy McGill (Better Call Saul)

Jaime Lannister (Game of Thrones) VS. Jimmy Novak (Supernatural)

Jem Carstairs (The Infernal Devices) VS. James Herondale (The Last Hours)

Bracket 5

James Wilson (House MD) VS. Jamie Tartt (Ted Lasso)

Jim Lake Jr. (Trollhunters) VS. James Hunter (Animal Ark)

James (The Walking Dead) VS. Jimmy (Scott Pilgrim)

James-Roman Grilfalinas (@artificialkids-2k23-official) VS. Jimmy Lightning (Peggle)

Jamie Wellerstein (The Last Five Years) VS. Jamie Winter (Midsomer Murders)

James Holden (The Expanse) VS. James Ford (Lost)

James Garrett (Zoey 101) VS. James Amber (Life is Strange)

Jay Merrick (Marble Hornets) VS. Meanie Jim (Junie B. Jones)

Bracket 6

Jim Moriarty (Sherlock Holmes) VS. James Maguire (Derry Girls)

James Black (Detective Conan) VS. James Gunn (Real Life)

James the Cat (James the Cat) VS. Jimmy the Robot (The Aquabats)

Jimmy King (Emmerdale) VS. Jim Johnman (Monster Factory)

Jame Palrose (Terror Island) VS. Jimmy (Johnny the Homicidal Maniac)

James Diamond (Big Time Rush) VS. James Herriot (All Creatures Great and Small)

James West (The Wild Wild West) VS. James Maxwell (We Happy Few)

Jimmy Campbell (Bandstand) VS. James E. Negatus (Yonderland)

Round 1 of Brackets 1 and 2 will be going up on Saturday, May 20!

#jamesbracket #bracket #competition #tournament

[historicity-was-already-taken]

Hello!! I've come here with a humble request. I'm currently writing a thesis on how the situation of Jewish women and men differed during Holocaust and I've found your speech: 'Girls with Guns, Woman Commanders, and Unheeded Warnings: Women and the Holocaust' to be an amazing starting point. Could you direct me to the sources you used when preparing it? (sincere apologies if this has been answered before, and thank you!!) Have a great day ✿✿✿

First of all, thank you SO MUCH for your kind words about that piece. For anyone who doesn't know which piece we're referring to, it's this one.

So just so we're all on the same page, I'm going to approach this question like you're an upper level undergrad History major and I'm the graduate teaching assistant in charge of guiding you through this research planning process. So, before I start to give you names and titles, I'm going to pose some questions for you to consider: which European Jews are you writing about? Eastern European? Western European? Southern European? Ashkenazic? Sephardic? Polish? Greek? Dutch? Religious? Hasidic? Secular? Factory-owning class? Working class? Because gendered experiences of and responses to the Holocaust will also be shaped by nationality, religiosity, class, and region.

When you've chosen your region/niche/group, I'd recommend starting at least 100 years before the Holocaust. Like, when I was writing about German Jewish female refugees in Shanghai for my MA thesis, to understand their behavior and responses, I had to start in the 1800s to get a better idea of the historical experience, trajectory, and socialization of German Jewish women.

The post you're referring to was more about memory and its silences than it was about a specific group, so the sources for that are extremely general. Since you're still determining your scope, I'm going to give you some names of historians whose bibliographies you should explore yesterday:

-Marion Kaplan -Paula Hyman -Dalia Ofer -Zoe Waxman -Joan Ringelheim -Carol Rittner -Lenore Weitzman

And some titles to help you grasp the basics, presented in no particular order:

Between Dignity and Despair: Jewish Life in Nazi Germany by Marion Kaplan

Writing the Holocaust: Identity, Testimony, Representation by Zoe Waxman

Different Voices: Women and the Holocaust edited by Carol Rittner

Women in the Holocaust edited by Dalia Ofer and Lenore J. Weitzman

Gender and Jewish History edited by Marion Kaplan and Deborah Dash Moore

Sexual Violence Against Jewish Women During the Holocaust edited by Sonja M. Hedgepeth and Rochelle G. Saidel [this one is rough; only use it if you are 800% sure this is the lens you want to use]

Gender and Assimilation in Modern Jewish History: The Roles and Representation of Women by Paula E. Hyman [no relation, though she is my grand-adviser]

Women in the Holocaust: A Feminist History by Zoe Waxman

I have a pretty good working knowledge of Modern Jewish European historiography, with a focus on gender, ~1700-Holocaust, so once you've narrowed your scope, let me know if I can provide additional titles/help/whatever.

#history #historiography #holocaust history #holocaust historiography #modern jewish history #jewish women #jewish historiography #resources

[thatseventiesbitch]

A while ago I found a good deal on some That '70s Show scripts, and I impulsively bought them! See below for a detailed breakdown of what is different between the table read script and what actually aired.

Next up: S2xE22 "Jackie Moves On" (note that it is episode 221 on the script 👀... production order vs airing order). There were a lot of changes/re-writes in this episode! See below for details.

The Production Schedule for the week:

(Just thought this ^ was fascinating!)

First difference: the entire cold open! I wonder why it was re-written. 🧐

In the episode that aired, the cold open starts with Eric and Donna entering the basement together, and the rest of the gang (except Jackie) is already there. They jump into the same conversation about how Jackie isn't doing well, but with different dialogue.

The scenes are extremely similar and end up in the same place - with Fez's ninja warrior fantasy. The Eric/Donna fan in me loves the little moment between them that's written here & wishes it stayed, though! Eric loves the way Donna smells after a bath, *lol*. (This is a continued characterization! He made similar comments to her in That Disco Episode in season 1...)

The next scene, in the Forman kitchen, is slightly different too. Eric and Laurie's banter is different:

And the kids discuss what they will do for dinner that night while Red and Kitty are at Frenchie's. Red's mom's necklace isn't brought up at all in this scene (unlike in the actual episode)! He just mentions breaking out the nice jewelry.

Red & Kitty's next scene, when they head out to dinner, is different. I like Red's little fantasy at the beginning, where he seems to be talking to himself in the mirror and imagining how their evening out will go. 🤣

Hyde and Laurie's next scene is slightly different, too. It's not pictured here, I'm just going to summarize it. Hyde remarks that his dinner of frank and beans was good and hearty, but that Laurie only ate a few bites of toast and some water. They exchange slightly different burns, but it leads to the same moment: Eric coming in and Hyde and Laurie teaming up to burn him.

Next up is Fez's scene in the restaurant with Jackie (also different!). Here are the changed parts:

The next scene (not pictured), with the 4 guys in the basement, is slightly different as well but wasn't noteworthy enough to screenshot. The scene ended up in the same place - Eric inadvertently reveals his childhood summer camp nickname (Dr. Pee Pee) and when Kelso burns him, he reveals Kelso's (Big Chief Brown Bottom). 😆

Red and Kitty's next scene (not pictured) is pretty similar: they're back from dinner but Kitty is upset Red keeps bringing up his mother's necklace (they call it a turtle pendant in this draft of the script). She eventually reveals she pawned it, and she doesn't feel bad because she used it for groceries. Red exits and she immediately tells Eric she actually feels very bad. Eric asks if she had a lot of wine at dinner and she says more than she should've, *lol*.

Jackie and Donna's scene on the front porch is almost identical - including Jackie's fantasy about turning into the blueberry girl from Charlie And The Chocolate Factory - until this part:

The next scene is with the guys & Laurie in the basement - again, very similar, but some slight changes. I laughed out loud at a few of these cut lines!

Red & Kitty's last scene (not pictured) is very similar to the final version. Kitty apologizes to him, Red forgives her, and they both discuss how they did what they had to do to make ends meet as a family but that thankfully things are much better now. The scene ends with them deciding to go back to the pawn shop and reclaim their stuff *lol*

The final scene with the gang on the driveway is again different! Jackie shows up and she's back to her normal self, but she doesn't pull Fez aside for their little chat. There's also another cut Eric/Donna moment 😭 And a little Jackie/Hyde/(Kelso) one, methinks 👀

The credits are the same - Eric is napping on the couch and Laurie puts his hand in warm water and says "Sweet dreams, Dr. Pee Pee."

So, in conclusion - almost every scene in this table read draft script was different from what actually aired in the episode. The general spirit of the scene was always the same, but a lot of lines were changed from this script to what ultimately aired. I wonder why that was! And I wonder how that worked, logistically. It appears they did the Table Read on Monday and shot the episode on Friday (some scenes earlier, actually, because of pre-shoots). That's not a lot of time for the cast to re-learn all of their lines! Show biz, baby.

Stay tuned for more That '70s Show original script reviews with me, your host, @thatseventiesbitch 😀

Other Scripts I've Posted:

S2xE20 "Kiss of Death" S2xE26 "Moon Over Point Place" S5xE21 "Trampled Under Foot" S7xE8 "Angie"

#That 70s Show #That '70s Show #T70S #Behind the Scenes #T70S Behind The Scenes #T70S Scripts #S2xE22 #Jackie Moves On #Eric Forman #Donna Pinciotti #Steven Hyde #Hyde #Michael Kelso #Kelso #Fez #Jackie Burkhart #Red Forman #Kitty Forman #Eric and Donna #Eric x Donna #otp: mom and dad #Jackie and Kelso #Jackie x Kelso #Jackie and Hyde #Jackie x Hyde #Zenmasters #Red and Kitty #Red x Kitty

[tmbgareok]

listening to every tmbg album in order at work, so I listened to factory showroom for the first time. Hitting me with S E X X Y and then like one song later How Can I Sing Like A Girl had a funny effect on me. I dont know if it was your intent but Factory Showroom might be your most transgender album

(Flippancy aside, HCISLAG hit close to home for me in a good way...I love singing but I wanna have more control over my voice so I can well. you know)

.

[lyralit]

50 books to read in a lifetime.

The Magician's Nephew, C.S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis

The Horse and His Boy, C.S. Lewis

Prince Caspian, C.S. Lewis

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C.S. Lewis

The Silver Chair, C.S. Lewis

The Last Battle, C.S. Lewis

Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery

Anne of Avonlea, L.M. Montgomery

Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, V.E. Schwab

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll

Charlotte's Web, E.B. White

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl

James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, J.K. Rowling

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

The Giver, Lois Lowry

Ghost Boys, Jewell Parker Rhodes

The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman

Macbeth, William Shakespeare

Ready Player One, Ernest Cline

These Violent Delights, Chloe Gong

Our Violent Ends, Chloe Gong

Holes, Louis Sachar

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Benjamin Alire Saénz

Life of Pi, Yann Martel

Le Petit Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Little Women, Louisa May Alcott

The Secret History, Donna Tartt

The Mysterious Benedict Society, Tristan Lee Stewart

Les Trois Mousquetaires, Alexandre Dumas

The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas

Winnie-the-Pooh, A.A. Milne

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum

Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers

A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine Miller

The Fault in Our Stars, John Green

Looking for Alaska, John Green

Genuine Fraud, E. Lockhart

Scythe, Neil Shusterman

The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern

Le Horla, Guy de Maupassant

Percy Jackson and the Lighting Thief, Rick Riordan

To all the Boys I've Loved Before, Jenny Han

The Summer I Turned Pretty, Jenny Han

If We Were Villains, M.L. Rio

Dracula, Bram Stoker

Le Tour du Monde en Quatre-Vingts Jours, Jules Verne

side note: all of these are in different genres with different age groups and levels of appropriate-ness. some are older and may contain controversial subjects. I speak for none of the authors: I liked the book, and that's it.

tag and comment your favourite books to be added to the list!

#just some of my favourites~ #books #bookblr #lyralit #John green #c s lewis #book recommendations #book recs #book list #books to read

[just-an-enby-lemon]

All the Snicket name choices could be sorta explained by the Snicket familly weird tradition of naming their kids in alphabetical order.

That means that when Jacob and E. Snicket were expecting their first son they had to choose a boy's name starting with the letter J (and since is taboo for most jewish comunities to name a child over someone who is still living Jacob was out of question). So if you want a commom but not super common boy name with J is not that much of a reach they choose a french name without being French.

Same goes for Kit. They wanted a girl's name with K and Katherine is as classic as it goes. Till this point it just appear they like classic names that aren't too weird but also not too common either.

But than we have Lemony and my hc is that the parents were having to many missions/trouble with the twins that they didn't sit beforehand to choose a name. So suddently they had a baby in the dairy factory and maybe they went to a hospital afterwards (hopefully) or even just home but someone asked the name of the baby and they went FUUUCK and had to come up with a name on spot. It had to be a L name. And in their panicky state E looked at the twins and Jacques was drinking a pink lemonade and she though "Lemon' and pointed to Jacob that noded and answered "Lemony". After that until the moment of their deaths they would look very embarrassed to all the Luccas and Liams and all the diferent ways of creating Leos (not at Lukes though cause Luke is too common).

#snicket family #is it? can it be? #snicket fluff? #are they allowed to have a funny cute time? #e snicket #jacob snicket #kit snicket #jacques snicket #lemony snicket #aoue #a series of unfortunate events #a series of unfortunate name choices

[davidfarland]

Haunting Your Character with a Ghost (or Wound)

In storytelling, a character’s ghost is a past, significant (and often traumatic) event that shaped his worldview in a thematic way. It prepares the character arc and works as a motivator. Choose the appropriate ghost for your character and learn how to reveal it to the audience. (article written by @septembercfawkes​ )

It’s finally the month of Halloween! And if you are like me, you’ve been chomping at the bit to get those spooky Halloween decorations up (or . . . maybe like me . . . you already cheated and started putting them up last month). In any case, talking about your character’s haunting ghost or bleeding, holey wound seems like the perfect topic to kick off a writerly October (and a great way to prep for NaNoWriMo November).

What do I mean by “ghost”? Am I saying that your character has a ghost following him around?

Not literally.

But . . . in a sense, yes, figuratively.

In writing, a “ghost” is a past, significant (and often traumatic) event that shaped his worldview in a thematic way. It’s almost always the most important part of your character’s backstory.

Examples of Characters' Ghosts

In Get Out, Chris is haunted by the night he didn't phone for help when his mother didn't come home from work--which indirectly led to her death.

In Frozen, Elsa is haunted by the fact she accidentally froze Anna when they were children.

In I, Robot, Del is haunted by the reality that a robot saved him over a 12-year-old girl.

In Finding Nemo, Marlin is haunted by the barracuda attack that killed his family (except Nemo).

In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Willy Wonka is haunted by his father burning his Halloween candy (see, told you I was in a Halloween mood).

If this concept sounds vaguely familiar to you, you’ve probably been introduced to it by another term. The ghost is also often called the “wound.” Same concept, different terms. Because it’s October, we are going with “ghost” today.

Regardless, the important thing to remember here, is that the ghost isn’t a person or some other supernatural entity, it’s an event (or in some cases, a string of events). It’s often a critical component of character arc (even if the ghost doesn’t actually manifest on the page) and therefore theme, so let’s get out our Ouija boards and channel the spirits—er, I mean, delve deeper into ghosts!

Spooking Your Character with a Ghost

Most protagonists will start the story with a flaw, weakness, or misbelief that they must overcome by the end. This is what creates a positive change arc (we’ll talk about other arcs in a bit).

The ghost is the event where that flaw, weakness, or misbelief originated.

Often the character (like all of us) started with a—more or less—innocent view of life.

Then BAM! Something unforeseen, something significant, something traumatic happened.

The robot let a 12-year-old die. A barracuda killed his family. His father tossed the candy corn, suckers—and worst of all—chocolate into the fire!

Life is not what he thought.

As the character tries to make sense of what happened, as he tries to cope with the trauma, he comes to a conclusion about life—the wrong conclusion.

Del will never trust robots.

Marlin believes danger is ever present—he must be over-protective.

Willy Wonka decides family isn’t important.

Each of these characters must overcome this flaw, weakness, or—perhaps most accurately said—misbelief about life to become a better, more whole person, who has a chance to beat the antagonistic force.

In a sense, the ghost is where the need for a character arc took place.

Quick Key Features of a Character’s Ghost

The ghost almost always happens in the past.

In fact, it is almost always the most important (or only pertinent) element of your character’s backstory. On rare occasions, the ghost may take place within the novel itself, which you may find in an origin story. If so, as K. M. Weiland points out in her book Creating Character Arcs, it’s usually part of the first act.

The ghost is an event . . . or a string of connected events.

It’s most common for a ghost to be a single moment—Chris’s mom not coming home and dying, or Elsa freezing her little sister. But it can also be a series of events. In Harry Potter, Severus Snape’s ghost is a series of events that cover his relationships with Lily and James. Despite how different the events may appear on the surface, they are all ultimately connected into one single haunting ghost story.

Ghosts are most often tied to protagonists, but any character can have a ghost.

. . . as evidenced by my examples. In fact, some argue that every character has a ghost, because every person has his or her worldviews shaped by significant events. The catch is, in a story, we won’t know or cover every ghost (nor does the writer need to develop and know every character’s ghost).

Ghosts often lead to poor coping mechanisms.

In The Structure of Story by Ross Hartmann, Hartmann points out that Marlin’s trauma from the barracuda attack led him to constantly cope by being over-protective. Likewise, Elsa’s trauma leads her to cope by isolating herself.

Frequently, ghosts are very dramatic—a death, an accident, abuse—but they don’t have to be.

Something like your sibling becoming famous (which happens to Tahani in The Good Place) or your dad burning your candy can be enough to shift a worldview. It can even be something seemingly positive, such as a child receiving praise for getting straight A’s . . . which leads her to the misbelief she’s only valuable if she’s smart.

The ghost can be almost anything—it just needs to be something that significantly changes your character’s worldview in a thematic way.

Motivating Your Character with a Ghost

At the most basic level, the ghost acts as a motivator.

It’s why Elsa isolates herself and hides her powers. And it's why Kuzco in The Emperor’s New Groove is selfish (he was constantly spoiled as a child). It’s also why Katniss is so driven to survive (she nearly starved to death when her dad died and had to be saved by Peeta’s burned bread).

The ghost explains to the audience why this character behaves this way, and gives the character a reason to behave that way.

Positive and Negative Impacts of Ghosts

Most often, the ghost will have a negative impact on the character, but it’s possible it can lead to positive outcomes. Tahani’s famous sister leads her to be charitable ( . . . though admittedly, for the wrong reasons). In Zootopia, everyone tells Judy a bunny can’t be a cop, which motivates her even more to become one. And Fox Mulder is motivated to work the X-Files because of his sister’s abduction.

So, a negative ghost can motivate the character to do something positive, just as a seemingly positive ghost can motivate a character to do something negative. In my earlier example of a child getting straight A’s, the child may now decide to start cheating in order to continue getting straight A’s.

There are a lot of different ways the ghost and its impact can manifest, so to keep it simple, remember this: It's the motivator of the dominant worldview and quality of the character.

Selecting the Appropriate Ghost for Your Character’s Arc

The majority of stories feature a positive change-arc protagonist. This means that most often, the ghost will be an event that led to a flawed worldview, which gave the character an unhealthy coping mechanism. This is what the character needs to arc out of.

But wait—there are three other types of basic arcs. What about their ghosts?

Depending on what kind of arc you are writing, the character’s ghost may be a little different.

Ghosts for Positive Steadfast Character Arcs (Flat Arcs)

If the character has a positive steadfast arc (also known as a “flat arc”), the character will hold—more or less—the same accurate worldview at the beginning of the story as she does at the end of the story. Fox Mulder is a good example of this. From the beginning of The X-Files, he believes the truth is out there, and he upholds that worldview despite everyone trying to get him to abandon it. Other popular examples of this arc include Job from the Old Testament, Diana in Wonder Woman, and Ella in Disney’s live-action Cinderella.

In such cases, the ghost is usually whatever led the character to adhere to that accurate belief in the first place. Samantha’s alien abduction is what cemented Mulder to the (accurate) belief that the government is covering up the truth. For Ella, her mother encouraging her to be kind while on her deathbed is what cemented Ella to believing in the power of kindness.

Ghosts for Negative Change Character Arcs

In a negative change arc, the character starts with an accurate worldview. But then they come to adopt a moral flaw, weakness, or misbelief. This is the opposite of the positive change arc. Anakin Skywalker in Revenge of the Sith is a famous example. If you wanted to include a ghost for your negative change character, it would be similar to the positive steadfast ghost. It would be an event that gave him the positive belief system he has in the beginning.

Ghosts for Negative Steadfast Character Arcs

In a negative steadfast arc, the character will start with a flaw, weakness, or misbelief. But they will refuse to arc out of it, and therefore remain negative. Estella in Cruella and Javert in Les Mis are good examples. If you wanted to give your character a ghost, it would be similar to the positive change arc ghost. It would be an event that gave him the negative belief system he has in the beginning.

In theory, anyway—all of these “rules” can and have been broken, and you will run into variations from time to time.

But to keep it simple, remember this. The ghost is the reason your character starts with whatever worldview she has at the story’s beginning.

When and How to Reveal Your Character’s Ghost

Since the ghost is usually in backstory, it can be difficult to know how or when to reveal it to the audience. Writing instructors constantly advise others to write stories in the present, but this event happened in the past.

There are a few options:

Reveal the ghost in dialogue

One character opens up to another character and tells her ghost story. Or, alternatively, someone else tells her ghost story to another character.

Recount the ghost in narration

The viewpoint character can briefly summarize his ghost in the prose.

Relive the ghost in a flashback

Many instructors discourage flashbacks, and for good reason. But if anything deserves to be in a flashback, it’s the ghost story. In fact, if you pay attention, most all flashbacks you encounter will be ghost stories. If your character's ghost is worthy of dramatization, consider carefully writing a flashback.

Render the ghost in a prologue

This approach is more popular in film than in books. I would recommend only using this on rare occasions. In any case, sometimes a story will start with the ghost, then jump to the "present" in chapter one.

While not every story will include a ghost, haunting your character with one can add depth and authenticity. It will also explain their behaviors, reinforce their motives, and contribute to theme.

Happy haunting!

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