#there's juice flowing in there now! i have drawing ideas!! huzzah!!

[welcometogrouchland]

for the drawing requests luz dressing up as eda for halloween if u feel like it xoxox

I ABSOLUTELY FEEL LIKE IT this was such a delightful request omg. Featuring some bonus clawthorne/Noceda family doodles because they come as a set. Do Not Separate Them

[ID: three images of digital fanart for the owl house. first image shows Luz dressed up as Eda's season 1 design, with her hair slicked back. she's posed mid-twirl, holding her dress in one hand, saying "surprise! I'm you. What do you think?". Next to her is a cartoony doodle of an emotional looking Eda.

The next image is a doodle of Luz and Eda dressed up as each other, looking at each other happily from a side view, labeled "they're matching".

Third image is a sketch page of Luz, Eda, Hunter and Lilith. It features a grinning Luz leaning on hunter saying "hey there sibling! How's my best brother doing?". She's labeled as "being a shit". Hunter looks unimpressed but has a thought bubble that says "sibling..." with a heart. Eda and Lilith are smiling, dressed as Luz and Hunter respectively. Eda says "remind you of anyone?" End ID]

#the owl house #toh #luz noceda #eda clawthorne #hunter toh #lilith clawthorne #i forgot to add in mentions/ideas of halloween but it's fine. you get the gist #that image of luz dressed up as eda at the top was. genuinely so difficult for me to draw i redraw it more times than i care to admit #like scrap it and start over #but like. it was good for me it was character building and i think it turned out cute anyway #hhh i always feel the need to cut down my toh image descriptions because i got used to doing very detailed ones for podcast fanart #cause it was more normalized there and ppl generally had more patience for a lot of words in an image id #and i get so nervous that my lengthy descriptions put ppl off rbing my stuff #(NOT that it matters i am much less insecure in my need for online validation than i used to be- #-i simply wish ppl would take a chance on posts with length-ier ids. it's an accessibility measure and all that) #(but hey I'm not your dad and don't control what u do or don't do) #anyway NO I didn't forget abt me asking for reqs i just need to finish up the second one and that was enough to get my brain working again #there's juice flowing in there now! i have drawing ideas!! huzzah!! #which is all i actually wanted from this specific bout of drawing reqs was just a creative jumpstart #sorry if this is a bit sketchy- that's all i was really up for when i made this lol. i think it's cute and that's goof enough #anyway yeah I'm gonna go read before sleeping now byyyeeee <3

[milleralexanderauthor]

Let’s talk about cartography and how it can be useful to you as a writer. 

Cartography is the process of map-making. You may have picked up a book in the past and noticed a map in the first few pages, ala Tolkien or Le Guin.

 These reference images help the reader get a better image of the layout and scope of the world of a novel. We’re not gonna talk about that today. What I want to talk about is how cartography can help you, the author, develop an in-depth world. 

First of all, under what circumstances should you spend your time on this? If you’re writing, say, a contemporary novel set in New Jersy, you probably don’t have to worry about this. The genres that benefit from this type of planning are:

-Science Fiction

-Fantasy

There are probably exceptions to this rule, but these two genres require a certain amount of worldbuilding. Worldbuilding is the process in which you develop the system, rules, and landscape your novel takes place in. In some instances, a novel may fall into these two genres but be set in a familiar setting. The landscape in these instances is still something I think you should give some degree of thought to. Consider how the landscape has changed or will change based on the parameters of your story. 

An example of this is Panem from The Hunger Games. 

Panem exists in a dystopian world in which the country of the United States has not only been divided, but rising sea levels have changed the coastline. This is an example of a familiar landscape that has changed because of the events of a novel or the rules of the world in which it exists. Even if you’re not starting a world from scratch, take into consideration what might alter your world.

Let’s say you are writing a novel set in a different world. Do you need to make a map?

Of course, you don’t NEED to do anything. I’m not your dad, I can’t tell you what to do. Do I think it’s incredibly helpful? YES.

Why? It will give you the same benefits it will give a reader. A more in-depth layout of the world you’re creating. 

If your characters are staying in the same place throughout the duration of the book, maybe creating a full map of the entire planet isn’t necessary. But maybe making a map of the city could help you. What does you’re city look like? What is the architecture like? What is the economy of your city like? What in the landscape influences that? 

If your characters are going on a Tolkien level journey across your world, you probably need to consider the landscape. Mapping is a good visual way of doing this. It’s also really fun, in my opinion.

“But Miller,” you may be saying. “Why would I go to all that effort if my characters don’t even go to most of these places?”

That’s worldbuilding for you. You will come up with a TON of details over this process that will never make it into your novel. However, the more detail YOU have in your brain, the more detailed your world will feel. 

“Okay, sure.” I hear you say. “But I’m a terrible artist!”

Me too. I’m not saying that the draft of the map you make has to be in your book. In fact, I encourage against that. If you think a visual aid will help your reader gain something or would just be a fun perk, you can refine it or hire a professional cartographer (yes, they exist) when your book is closer to publication. If you’re at that point, I’m not talking to you. I’m encouraging map making as a world building exercise to those of you who are trying to flesh out your worlds before you even commit anything to page. 

It can be an intimidating task, creating a whole world from scratch. I’m happy to tell you that it doesn’t have to be hard.

The first step is to consider the scope of your map. Like I said, only create what you feel you may use. Does your character never leave their home town? Do a map of the town? Does the country your story takes place in come into play during your book? Do a map of the country. Does your character make a grand journey across the world? Make the world. My RECOMMENDATION is to make at least the country your novel takes place in. You probably won’t use every location, but less is not always more. 

Then, consider the context. Are cities in your world trade centers? What are their major imports and exports? What type of climate does your world have? What is the political climate like? Are there physical boundaries that cut one part of your world off from another? These are things to keep in mind before you start making your map because the landscape of a world could have a profound impact on the daily lives of its residents. 

Next, we need to outline. I find countries or continents to be the easiest to do, and you’ll probably see why. Coastlines are honestly really easy to do. This is probably the part you’re freaking out about but worry not. There are some easy methods to get natural-looking coastlines and borders.

A prefer traditional paper and pencil art, so we’ll start with that. By all means, if you just wanna go crazy and come up with something all on your own, I won’t stop you. However, some of you may be intimidated by the idea of just DRAWING A WHOLE COUNTRY FROM NOTHING. There are a couple of things you can do if this is you.

Look at some reference pictures. 

Look at an atlas or a globe. Find borders and coastlines that look cool or fit into some of the ideas for your world and copy ‘em. To some people, this doesn’t feel “creative”. Someone will always look at your map and tell you that it looks like Russia or Italy, so don’t stress too much about it. 

BEANS. 

This will sound weird, but a tried and true method to get nice looking coastlines is to just dump a few handfuls of dry beans or rice onto a piece of paper and move them around until you like the look of it. Then you trace out the masses of beans until you got yourself a country, huzzah!

If you’re working in photoshop, a method I’ve seen used is to import a few images of different countries into it and move and transform them around until you you have a brand new landmass you like, then trace around that. 

Next, we need to fill the world with stuff. This sounds simple, but keep in mind that things don’t happen in a vacuum. 

If you’re building a forest or farmland, consider where a water source would be. 

If you’re adding a lake or rivers, consider how it would flow to the ocean with the force of gravity, starting in mountain ranges.

If you have mountains, consider how shifting tectonic plates would form them. You have to at least know the rules before you can break them. Your world has to make some type of sense and, if it doesn’t, you need to explain why. 

Take a look at the styles of maps to get an idea of how to indicate this on your map. Some maps take a very simplified approach to denoting landmarks, some are very complex. It’s up to you.

Once you know where your forests, mountains, and lakes will be, you can place your cities. 

Your cities should be placed in locations on your map that make sense. Is your city’s major export fish? Put it by the ocean. Is the climate cold? Put it at a higher elevation. Is your city isolated? What type of physical barriers could illustrate this? 

If you didn’t take any of these things into consideration before this exercise, you have now. Let’s say you have a protagonist who needs to get from one town to another, but you need to spice up the journey a little. You made this map, you look at it, there’s a river in between the towns. BOOM! Now your protagonist needs to cross a rushing icy river. Mini conflict, a setback. All because you considered the landscape of your environment.

Obviously, this works on a lot of different scales. How long will it take your protagonist to get from point a to point b? What stands in their way? How do the features of the landscape impact the world as a whole? Now you know. 

Finally, slap some labels on that bad boy. 

If your working on paper, it’s a good idea to do this ALL in pencil first and leave some space for labels. This will make referencing where things are and what they’re called easier. Get creative with it, use crazy fonts. It just needs to be LEGIBLE for your own sanity. Trust me. 

Honestly, doing this at some point in the worldbuilding process has done worlds of good for me. It really gets your creative juices flowing and it’s just another step to a well-rounded world. You can skip it if you’re not a visual person, but I definitely am and I’m sure some of you are, too. 

I just want to reiterate, this is for YOUR benefit only. No one else has to see it, its reference for you. However, if you want to add a map into your published works, consider talking to a professional artist/cartographer unless you, like, are one. Then I’m not sure why you read this much of my post. 

Thanks for reading! I post a wide variety of content on my blog every Friday including writing advice and book updates. Stop by and say hi!

-Miller

[thesides]

♔ ROMAN SANDERS ↬ POSITIVITY 

“he was the royal heart of gold.”

A Prince’s Royal Declaration.

I can’t do it. I can’t be what I want to be.

My Lady, Lord, or Non-Binary Royal, that simply isn’t true. I know I live in a world where castles cascade the mountains and knights defend every person. I know that, in your land, it may be as if though you are shackled. It’s like someone has put a curse on you - perhaps that annoying Dragon Witch. But, have no fear!

Every curse has a magic spell to remove such. And in your land, every negative thought can be fixed with a positive one. The ideas that exist in your land is love, passion, loyalty, and trust. These things are more powerful than any magic my kingdom has.

At times, you may think that you lack those very things. It might seem like nobody loves you, that everyone will betray you, and that you’ll never go anywhere- but my dear royal, never believe in those lies!

I will fight with every fiber of my being, every day and every night, against those lies. Even if that Dragon Witch is against me, I will fight, so if to make you happy, so if to make you see the truth.

My grandeur lover… you are everything and more.

You can climb those castles of happiness, fight those beasts of might. You can power through the depths of the night, to finish that quest you’ve been attended. You can romance your way with your special words or actions. You can gain those companionships and that friendship circle of trust. You can make wonderful works of art - of literature, of editing, of speaking, of being. You can do anything, my charming noble.

Don’t ever let anyone shackle your Creativity.

I am here to help you, my love.

You are always free.

A Prince’s Noble Tips.

What can I do about it?

So glad you asked, you dashing looking royal! Whenever you feel as though you cannot make it, I have asked the greatest of scribes to write down the most helpful tips and tools!

[Writer’s/Artist’s/Editor’s] Block

Oh, I have heard of this monstrosity! Thomas gets it all the time, but nothing to fear! Here are a few tips about what to do!

⭑A Musical Never Hurt Anyone!

⭒ Ah, I love singing~! But, I have found that singing does help those juices get flowing! What we don’t think, we speak - And singing lets you put so much emotion into it. What do you sing? Well, anything! Perhaps a song about overcoming an obstacle? Just sing, and soon you’ll find lyrics coming out into a full-fledged story/art/edit!

⭑My Kingdom~!

⭒ Get a fellow royal to discuss your idea or anything with! Even if your idea is as simple as, ‘I want Roman to get the princess,’ your friends will often ask questions! Like, ‘Where is the Princess?’ ‘Who is the Princess?’ ‘What is Roman wearing?’ ‘Make sure it’s a good outfit, because a prince has got to slay~!!’

⭒ Live in a secluded forest or a far village? No worries, you can always come to me with your ideas~!

⭑BURN BABY BURN!

⭒I absolutely love candles! While ours are lit by magical dragon-breath, you can have yours with simple fire! When I smell something miraculous, I often times come up with fascinating ideas! A vanilla cupcake candle? Ooh, what if I did a baking competition with Logan? [Of course, I’d win, but the thought is still out there!] Don’t like the smell of seashells? Then write an epic about travel over the sea, or draw someone terrified about it! Perhaps a young boy’s father is a sailor, and the boy tries to overcome his fear of the sea? That would be miraculous to see/read!

⭑Storytime!

⭒ Ooh, I love this one! The historian of my kingdom always throws a fit whenever I arrive, but hang with me! Remember that boring old hike in the forest? Well, let’s stretch the honest truth a bit more! That boring old hike was interrupted by you spotting a mysterious footprint in the ground.  And then- HUZZAH, A DRAGON WITCH! Hi-Ya, Hi-Ya, TAKE THAT YOU IMBECILE! There’s more sword where that came from- ...oops, I got a bit into character there. Take a memory and make a story/art/edit from it! Change everything, but use what you have!

⭑The Curse Hasn’t Lifted?

⭒ Have no fear! If you ever need something to kick in for your absolutely beautiful creativity, come to me! I had a scribe write down so many ideas, and I wouldn’t be opposed to handing them out to you loveable and loyal royal!

A Beast’s Insults

Ah… yes, I’ve had my own fair share of beats and monsters yelling out insults left and right. Yet, none of those sting as much as my villagers of the kingdom insulting me behind my back. It hurts, more than it should… But a Prince can’t be brought down by measly insults! Which is why I’ve gotten a long list of quests you can attempt to lower that anxiety! (…Not Virgil, but your own anxiety)

⭑Allergies Are Horrible, But Nature Is Not

⭒When I find myself torn apart by an insult, a quick walk in the deep Fairy Forests often allow me to realize their insults hold no power of me. Perhaps its the fairy dust or magic spells lying around the forest… But while you might be a bit far from the Fairy Forest, any old woods would help. The tranquility of just nature really is one to calm the nerves!

⭑The Royal Parliament Decrees…

⭒Often times, even the wonderful wilderness of my Kingdom fail to help me. That’s when I leave the beautiful land I have and go back to the Mindscape. There I have all the friends I could ever want. Logan’s objective words ease my mind, Patton’s hugs help my heart, and Virgil calms me down with techniques. Sometimes, all someone needs is to be listened to. Talking with someone or your fellow royals can especially help!

⭑Epic Fail Compilations Of All My Enemies!

⭒Oh, I do love the techno nymphs that create all these fascinating machines! Whenever I feel down, they usually recommend me a video or two. Ones that include fail compilations or some cute cat videos, they never cease to make me happy once more! The insults soon fade away when I see there’s so much more happiness in this beautiful land!

⭑Still Being Attacked By The Ogres of Procrast Nation?

⭒ No fear! You are beautiful and amazing, in both personality and looks, my dear royal. You have always been such a constant support of my own world, and it is my time to send my support to you! All those insults are lies, my love. Do not believe in them - For I have now declared them false~!

A Prince’s Parting Letter.

I don’t think any of what you said is true… I’m horrible at everything.

You may be at a time in your glorious story where you are facing some conflicts. Every exciting story has one, but for the main character, it’s often times a whole sequence of agony. Yet, don’t fall into despair! There is a reason that “And they lived happily ever after,” exists!

Your story is one of greatness, and that means there will be a happy ending. While it may not appear to you in your magic mirror in this moment, I have heard from several known witches that happiness will come to you!

If you are alone, I will gather my friends around you. If you are in despair, I will be there to fight off those demons. If you are just sad… I will save you from the evil Dragon Witch’s curse!

Remember… villains will always strike you down.

But stand back up, and strike them harder.

And if you need a helping hand in your quest….

I will be at your side.

                                                Your Lovely Prince,

[royal subjects (like this post to join!!): @leesacrakon @fairy-cat-friend @awesomelissawho @lamp-calm-sanders @thisimmortalnerd @ssides @monkeygirl2455 @lukeisfluffy @pirate-patton @preyed-llama @longlivethecarcrashstars @undertale-trash217 @thepusheenqueen @importantrunawaystudentstuff @adreamoverlife @powerfulwoman03  @thetrashyloser @random-sanders @thegeekgirl42 @consultinghuntertimelady @patton--here @frisk-is-flowerfallen @musicphanpie-b @cecilia-blaze @phantomstudies @doctorwhitttaker @morticiaadams1 @bookworm411 @violetflowerprincess @galacticallynonbinary @super-writer-gal @purplepatton @cinnamonrollpatton @amazable01 @sanders-sides-enthusiast @pinkglitterandbruises @neetrash @magicalwolfgirllupus @spookyghostio @getlostinthedark @vathpro @preciousbeaan @fander-phangirl @half-blood-geek @litplants @flowerbubb @virgillikespurple @just-someone-in-flannel @rosetylerx10doctor @dudlebuggs @simplelittlestar @stevie-is-a-nerd @mythicalquill @pumakittycat @pattoncakesvirgil @de-is-me @the-baddest-bitch-in-slytherin ]

#fanedits #sanders sides #my edits #Roman #aesthetic #positivity sanders