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hayatheauthor · 1 year
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How To Accurately Describe Pain In Writing 
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Pain can be an interesting emotion to write about. It gives authors the liberty to merge their character’s emotions and surroundings to create beautiful metaphors and graphic descriptions that draw their readers in and convey their character’s struggles. However, if done wrongly reading your descriptions of pain can feel like a chore to your readers. Unsure how to accurately describe pain in your writing? Here are some tips to help you get started. 
Use The Five Senses 
As humans, we possess five senses that dictate our reactions to the world around us. When writing, it is important to use these five senses rather than just relying on what your character can see. Talk about the sound, the smell, the taste, and even the feeling. 
If your character just got burnt, talk about the sound of sizzling flesh and the slight numbness they feel. Mention the terrible smell of burnt flesh, and make your character feel dizzy with fear as their eyes finally land on the horrific wound. 
Internal bleeding makes people spit blood and taste iron and partially healed wounds feel itchy and irritant. 
There is so much more to pain than what you see, and simply talking about your character’s wounds isn’t nearly enough to make your readers wince in second-hand pain. In fact, they are more likely to skim your passages in boredom. 
Show your readers what your character is experiencing, and then go on to describe their reaction to this situation. 
Build It Up, Then Break It Down 
Pain doesn’t just suddenly come from nowhere. It starts with something small, blossoms, and then spreads. Your character won’t just suddenly get a third-degree burn the size of a baseball by leaning against a hot steel wall for the briefest of seconds. It starts with a light reddish-brown mark, then darkens, maybe even blisters. 
You can’t go from 0 to 100 in one sentence. You need to build it up and show your readers how your character’s pain was found. Then, break it down. 
Pain doesn’t come from nowhere, but it doesn’t suddenly disappear either. Show us how your character’s wound heals. Does the wound mark from where they hurt their knee turn into an ugly brown shade for a couple of weeks? Do their burns gradually fade from red to pink, or turn darker? 
It’s important to show your readers the aftermath of your character’s pain. A character who just had a bullet pulled out of their shoulder with a hot knife can’t suddenly just jump up and start firing at the enemy with perfect aim. 
You don’t need to overdo it and constantly mention their wounds during the healing stage, but something as simple as ‘her bandages uncomfortably scratched at her back every time she lifted her hand to eat’ or ‘his fingers subconsciously shifted to run over the remains of his burn mark even as his eyes remained trained on the blackboard’ will suffice. 
How Does This Affect Your Character? 
Physical pain aside, wounds can also have an effect on your character’s dynamics with others as well as your plot. 
It’s important to take into account how they got this wound, how the other characters might react to it, and internalised conflict caused by it. Maybe your character injured their fingers during a game of volleyball and now they’re staring at their final exam paper with tears of frustration brimming their waterline because it hurts too much to write.
Maybe your protagonist suffered a small burn while sneaking out to go to their friend’s house and their parent or mentor saw it. Or maybe your protagonist won against the antagonist but suffered a grave injury to their legs and now cannot fight during the next confrontation, resulting in a chaotic outbreak at their headquarters. 
Think about the internal as well as the external damage your character’s wounds can cause, and then use that as a plot device to further your book. 
Do Your Research 
It’s very important to accurately portray your character’s level of pain and consider whether or not they would realistically incur such injuries from such a wound. When writing about a character’s wound or pain consider doing some research about that type of wound. 
Here are some things you need to check when researching the wound type: 
How much blood would they loose with this type of wound? 
What are the side effects? 
Could this be fatal? 
How long will it take to heal? 
How long does it take for a wound to get to that extent? (for example, if you’re writing about a third-degree burn, research what it takes for a burn to be considered third-degree). 
What are the major veins, arteries, and other important body parts in that part of the character’s body? For example, if your character is supposed to be injured on their arm but it’s not supposed to be serious, you need to consider whether the wound could realistically have ruptured their radial artery, resulting in death. 
Will there be any scarring? What about any long-lasting wound marks? 
You could also take a look at historical events similar to the one you’re writing. For example, if you’re writing about an assassination attempt consider researching the most historically renowned assassination techniques. 
It’s also a good idea to ask your families and friends about their experiences with the type of wound you’re writing about (so long as it’s not a sensitive topic). Maybe you have a cousin who suffered a third-degree burn once or a classmate who has a scar from a graphic wound across their arm. 
I hope this blog on how to accurately describe pain in writing will help you in your writing journey. Be sure to comment any tips of your own to help your fellow authors prosper, and follow my blog for new blog updates every Monday and Thursday.  
Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 
Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Haya’s book blog where I post writing and marketing tools for authors every Monday and Thursday. 
Want to learn more about me and my writing journey? Visit my social media pages under the handle @hayatheauthor where I post content about my WIP The Traitor’s Throne and life as a teenage author. 
Copyright © 2022 Haya Sameer, you are not allowed to repost, translate, recreate or redistribute my blog posts or content without prior permission
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42bakery · 3 months
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🥑- 💌 - 🔪 - 🧩 for the Writers Truth & Dare Ask Game 💕💕
Hello Mira and thank you so much for this 😘😘😘😘
🥑 ⇢ you accidentally killed somebody, which mutual(s) do you text for help? To be honest no idea. I don't usually talk with mutuals about what I write or I don't write, and I also stay away from topic like those at the moment but someone from those depending what reaction I need @distinguishedfifty @milla8920 or @raulfernandez
💌 ⇢ how many unread emails do you have right now? In AO3 4.
🔪 ⇢ what's the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project? Why is everyone asking for this one? Honestly no idea. I don't write about medical facts I don't already know. And we all have to check some geography facts or a lyric from time to time. Maybe outfits? Basketball teams in Japan and how their league works? The tours (from like 2 or 5 years ago at the time) in Japan with only information in Japanese? Pick your favourite
🧩 ⇢ what will make you click away from a fanfiction immediately? Honestly? Whatever I don't like. I'm pretty set on what I like and what I dislike and if a character is not portrayed like I have in my mind I go away. Recently it's been when authors just put female genitalia to justify mpreg. That and OC and self-inserted riders x characters/riders/drivers, but that something I have struggled all my life. Also this is not an attack for those who write it, I'm okay with it, but it's not my cup of tea at all
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sweetpumpk · 3 months
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Random topics to write about
Fantasy Part 1
The Ballerina of the Night
The Forgotten King
The Lost Princess
Aria of Aurora
Guardian of Secrets
Blood-stained Sun
Eye of Truth
The Dusty Bookstore
Frozen Dream
The Circus of the Dead
Hidden Voice
Abandoned Rose garden
Library of Eternity
Beyond that Door
Never Ending Nightmare
Nightmare Hunter
10 Years Ago, the one
The Blessing of the Stars
The Black pendant
Torn Portrait
Contradictory Prophecy
Shattered Tiara
Hidden Key of Truth
Shadow Sword
Masquerade of stars
The beginning of the End
The beloved by the God
The one who was abandoned
Servant with dark secrets
The Secret Fortress
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rulasmint · 1 year
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Story Idea
Write a very harsh but heartwarming story about someone who realises they are only holding the person closest to them back. They are willing to do this even though it severely hurts both of them.
Example-
"She's one of the best singers I've ever heard, if we keep her in the band she'll never go out and audition and she'll never realise her full potential."
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noni-1864 · 1 year
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Anhedonia
The Kingdom of Nor is in a state of unrest after it entered a treaty with a neighboring maritime state, accidentally triggering a cold war across the continent.
That's why Juno was shocked when he was appointed to guard the youngest Princess Vivianne together with two other ill-fitted individuals, Peony and Mio. Two teenagers who also arrived from the countryside at the king's notice.
Juno never left the orphanage he grew up at. Instead, she worked for free for Mrs. Reeves, the owner of Sunset Orphanage. He knows nothing about the political climate of the capital, or how royals to act. But what he knows for certain is, if Princess Vivianne gets harmed, he will be killed.
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pulseincorp · 1 year
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What makes you feel physical, or emotional pain?
#mentalhealth #Wednesday #writerscommunity #journal #journalprompts #journaling #writingprompt #writing #journaltopic #writingtopic #journalentry #humpday #humpdayvibes
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mosshash · 7 months
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Getting that itch to write about stuff again. Informational stuff, but idk what about. Something creepy? SCPs? Backrooms entities? Uuuh, old spooky folktales and ghost stories? Monsters? Cryptids?
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grouchydairy · 8 months
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Various forms of this tactic have been presented, including trying up to five different themes per week (i.e., one general theme per workday) and seeing if there are particular themes that people like more from the week.
#quotes
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noncompliantpatient · 11 months
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When the AI uprising came for the humans, we just laughed it off with the universal chant “fuck humanity, anyways.”
Then they came for the dogs.
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padderley14 · 1 year
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One Year of Daily Creative Writing Prompts
Have you ever tried to write something and just end up staring at a blank page? Have a hard time coming up with an idea of where to start? That’s why I wrote One Year of Daily Creative Writing Prompts. It’s a starting point for you. Whether you are trying to write a short story, a biography, a novel, an essay or other paper for school, it doesn’t matter. This book can help you. Why I Wrote One…
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hayatheauthor · 11 months
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Forging Epic Battles: Techniques for Writing Gripping War Scenes
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I want to start this post off with sort of an author's note: this is a long one! I tried to keep my detailing to a minimum but I guess this topic Is just so vast I couldn't help but pour it all out. This really is sort of an ultimate guide and I hope it helps! Also, it was requested by @xweirdo101x (if you want to request something just send me an ask)
War has long captivated readers' imaginations, evoking a sense of grandeur, sacrifice, and the clash of ideologies. As writers, we have the power to transport our readers to the frontlines, immersing them in the chaos, drama, and emotion of epic battles. 
Crafting gripping war scenes requires a delicate balance of research, skillful storytelling, and an understanding of the human experience in times of conflict. In this guide, I will explore various techniques that will help you create dynamic and compelling war narratives, transporting your readers to the heart of the action and leaving them breathless.
Setting the Stage: Creating a Compelling War Setting
When it comes to writing gripping war scenes, creating a vivid and immersive setting is paramount. Whether you are crafting a historical war or inventing a fictional conflict, the setting serves as the backdrop against which your characters and their stories unfold. Here are essential steps to help you create a compelling war setting that captures readers' imaginations:
Research Historical Context or Build a Fictional World:
For historical wars, immerse yourself in research to understand the time period, social dynamics, and political climate surrounding the conflict. This knowledge will lend authenticity and depth to your narrative.
If you're building a fictional world, establish the rules, geography, and cultural aspects that shape the war. Consider the unique elements that set your world apart and make it feel real to readers.
Describe the Physical Environment and Atmosphere:
Depict the landscape, whether it's a war-torn city, a rugged battlefield, or a desolate wasteland. Pay attention to sensory details—sights, sounds, smells—to transport readers into the heart of the war.
Convey the atmosphere of the setting, capturing the tension, fear, or anticipation that hangs in the air. Is it shrouded in darkness and despair, or does a glimmer of hope persist? Use descriptive language to evoke the desired emotional response.
Incorporate Cultural and Societal Elements:
Explore how the war has affected the culture and society within your setting. Are there new traditions, rituals, or customs that have emerged in response to the conflict?
Consider the social dynamics at play—class divisions, power struggles, or the impact of war on marginalized groups. These elements add layers of complexity to your setting and provide opportunities for conflict and character development.
By carefully constructing your war setting, you transport readers into a world brimming with authenticity and intrigue. Whether it's the trenches of World War I, a futuristic intergalactic battle, or a mythical realm engulfed in strife, the setting sets the stage for compelling storytelling.
Building Conflict and Tension
In the realm of war fiction, conflict and tension are the driving forces that propel your narrative forward and keep readers captivated. From the clash of opposing ideologies to the internal struggles within characters, here are essential techniques for building conflict and tension in your war scenes:
Establish Clear Goals and Stakes for Characters:
Define the objectives and desires of your main characters within the war. What are they fighting for? What personal or collective goals are at stake?
Create conflicts of interest between characters, where their motivations and objectives may diverge, leading to tension-filled interactions and confrontations.
Introduce Opposing Forces and Ideologies:
Develop compelling adversaries that challenge your protagonists. These opposing forces may represent different sides of the conflict, ideologies, or even personal vendettas.
Explore the contrasting beliefs, values, and philosophies driving each side, heightening the ideological clash and intensifying the conflict.
Utilize Internal Conflicts within Characters:
Explore the internal struggles and moral dilemmas faced by your characters. How does the war affect their beliefs, principles, and sense of self?
Delve into the emotional turmoil and psychological toll of war, showcasing the internal battles characters face as they navigate the chaos and make difficult choices.
By effectively building conflict and tension, you create a dynamic and engaging narrative that keeps readers invested in your war story. The clash of goals, the ideological friction, and the internal struggles of your characters add layers of complexity and depth to your storytelling, drawing readers deeper into the heart of the conflict.
Developing Dynamic Characters
In the realm of war fiction, dynamic and well-developed characters are essential to breathe life into your narrative and create an emotional connection with readers. By crafting relatable protagonists and antagonists, you elevate the impact of your war story. Here are key considerations and techniques for developing dynamic characters within the context of war:
Crafting Relatable Protagonists:
Give your main characters depth and complexity by exploring their backgrounds, motivations, and personal histories. What drives them to participate in the war? What are their hopes, fears, and vulnerabilities?
Develop relatable goals and desires for your protagonists that resonate with readers. Show how the war impacts their lives and pushes them to grow, change, or make difficult decisions.
Creating Compelling Antagonists:
Craft antagonists who are more than just one-dimensional villains. Give them their own motivations, beliefs, and reasons for engaging in the war. This adds depth and complexity to their characters, creating a sense of empathy or understanding.
Explore the potential for redemption or transformation within your antagonists. Are they driven by misguided ideals, personal vendettas, or the pressures of their circumstances? Allow their development to challenge readers' perspectives.
Conveying the Psychological Impact of War:
Explore the emotional and psychological toll that war takes on your characters. Depict their fears, traumas, and inner conflicts as they grapple with the horrors and realities of the battlefield.
Show the evolution of their beliefs and perspectives as they confront the brutalities of war. Allow their experiences to shape their character arcs, highlighting the resilience, resilience, and vulnerabilities that emerge in the face of adversity.
By developing dynamic characters in your war narrative, you create a multi-dimensional and emotionally resonant story. Readers will become invested in their journeys, experiencing the triumphs, losses, and personal transformations that unfold throughout the war.
Writing Action-Packed Battle Scenes
Action-packed battle scenes are the heart of war fiction, where the intensity and stakes are at their highest. These scenes immerse readers in the chaos, danger, and adrenaline of the conflict. To craft gripping battle scenes, consider the following techniques:
Structuring Battle Sequences for Maximum Impact:
Begin with a clear sense of purpose for the battle scene. What are the objectives? What is at stake? Establish the goals and set the stage for the conflict.
Build tension gradually, starting with smaller skirmishes or encounters that escalate toward the climactic moments. Consider pacing, alternating moments of heightened action with moments of respite for emotional impact.
Balancing Fast-Paced Action and Descriptive Details:
Use concise and vivid language to convey the fast-paced nature of battle. Focus on capturing the essence of the action, highlighting key movements, and sensory details that immerse readers in the experience.
Strike a balance between brevity and providing enough detail to engage the reader's imagination. Avoid overwhelming readers with excessive description, ensuring that every word serves a purpose and contributes to the overall impact.
Using Sensory Language to Immerse Readers:
Engage multiple senses to transport readers into the battle scene. Describe the sights, sounds, smells, and tactile sensations to evoke a visceral experience.
Leverage sensory details to enhance the emotional impact of the battle, capturing the fear, adrenaline, and urgency felt by characters and evoking a similar response in readers.
Good action-packed battle scenes bring the war to life on the page, immersing readers in the heart-pounding action. Remember to focus not only on the physical aspects of combat but also on the emotional and psychological experiences of your characters. 
Conveying Emotional Resonance
In war fiction, it is crucial to convey the emotional impact of the conflict on both individual characters and the larger society. By tapping into the raw emotions experienced during times of war, you can create a profound connection with your readers. Here are key techniques for conveying emotional resonance in your war narrative:
Show the Human Cost of War:
Portray the personal sacrifices, losses, and tragedies that characters endure in the face of war. Highlight the emotional toll on their relationships, families, and communities.
Explore the range of emotions experienced by characters, such as fear, grief, anger, and resilience. Through their struggles, allow readers to empathize with the profound impact of war on the human psyche.
Engage the Senses to Evoke Emotion:
Utilize sensory language to evoke emotions within readers. Describe the sights, sounds, smells, and tactile sensations associated with war to create a vivid and immersive experience.
Connect specific sensory details to the emotions they evoke. For example, the acrid stench of smoke may elicit a sense of danger or the distant cries of anguish may stir feelings of sorrow.
Develop Authentic and Complex Relationships:
Showcase the bonds formed and tested amidst the chaos of war. Explore friendships, romances, and the camaraderie among soldiers to highlight the connections that sustain characters in the face of adversity.
Depict the conflicts and tensions that arise within relationships due to the strain of war. This adds layers of emotional complexity and authenticity to your narrative.
By effectively conveying emotional resonance, you invite readers to experience the human side of war. They will connect with the characters on a deeper level and become emotionally invested in their journeys.
Navigating Moral and Ethical Dilemmas
War is often accompanied by moral and ethical dilemmas that test the values and principles of individuals and societies. As a war fiction writer, it is important to explore these complexities and shed light on the difficult choices characters face. Here are key considerations for navigating moral and ethical dilemmas in your war narrative:
Present Conflicting Perspectives:
Introduce characters with differing moral viewpoints and beliefs. Show the diversity of perspectives within the war, whether it's among the protagonists, antagonists, or the larger society.
Challenge readers to contemplate the gray areas of morality and the complexities of right and wrong by presenting conflicting viewpoints and the reasons behind them.
Highlight the Consequences of Choices:
Illustrate the consequences of characters' actions and decisions. Showcase how their choices ripple through the narrative, affecting themselves and those around them.
Explore the moral dilemmas characters face, such as choosing between duty and personal convictions, sacrificing the few for the many, or grappling with the aftermath of their actions.
Offer Reflection and Discussion:
Provide opportunities for characters to reflect on their choices, engaging in internal dialogue or discussions with others. This allows readers to contemplate the moral implications alongside the characters.
Invite readers to reflect on their own moral compass and engage in discussions surrounding the ethical dimensions raised in your war narrative.
Navigating moral and ethical dilemmas makes your war fiction go beyond the surface-level action and delve into the deeper questions of humanity. It prompts readers to question their own values, moral boundaries, and the intricate web of choices that arise in times of conflict. 
Research and Authenticity in War Fiction
For war fiction to have a lasting impact, it is crucial to conduct thorough research and strive for authenticity in your narrative. By grounding your story in accurate details and historical context, you enhance its credibility and immerse readers in the world of war. Here are key considerations for incorporating research and authenticity in your war fiction:
Study Historical Events and Settings:
Research the historical events, conflicts, and time periods that serve as the backdrop for your war narrative. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the context, including the political, social, and cultural factors that influenced the war.
Dive into the specifics of battle strategies, weaponry, and tactics employed during the time period. This knowledge will help you create authentic and realistic war scenes.
Explore Personal Accounts and Memoirs:
Read personal accounts, memoirs, and interviews of individuals who have experienced war firsthand. These sources provide invaluable insights into the emotions, challenges, and nuances of the human experience during wartime.
Pay attention to the details of daily life, the physical and psychological tolls, and the individual stories of courage, sacrifice, and resilience. Incorporate these elements into your narrative to add depth and authenticity.
Consult Experts and Military Advisers:
Seek guidance from military advisers, historians, or experts in the field to ensure accuracy in depicting military operations, protocols, and terminology.
Engage in conversations or interviews with individuals who have expertise in areas relevant to your story, such as veterans, soldiers, or scholars. Their perspectives can offer valuable insights and help you portray the realities of war with authenticity.
Strive for Emotional Truth:
While research and accuracy are crucial, remember that emotional truth is equally important. Balance historical accuracy with the emotional resonance of your characters and their experiences.
Capture the human aspects of war, such as the impact on relationships, the psychological trauma, and the bonds forged in the face of adversity. Connect readers to the emotional core of your story.
By incorporating thorough research and striving for authenticity, you create a rich and immersive war narrative that resonates with readers. The combination of accurate historical details, personal accounts, and emotional depth brings your story to life.
War fiction is a genre that holds immense power to captivate readers, evoke emotions, and shed light on the complexities of human nature during times of conflict. Through the techniques and considerations I have explored in this guide, you have the tools to craft compelling war narratives that resonate with authenticity and engage your readers on a profound level.
I hope this blog on forging epic battles will help you in your writing journey. Be sure to comment any tips of your own to help your fellow authors prosper, and follow my blog for new blog updates every Monday and Thursday.  
Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 
Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Haya’s book blog where I post writing and marketing tools for authors every Monday and Thursday
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cedarlili · 1 year
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Calculated Writing
and not the kind of writing you may be thinking of. I haven’t been writing non-fiction for… a while. I miss the deep dives into a research topic, and then pulling it together into a cohesive whole. On the other hand, the time to get stuck into a topic well enough to produce a cohesion, that’s the tricky bit.  Currently, I’m reading things like blogs on the topic of cellular protein expression,…
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42bakery · 3 months
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Hi! For the writer's ask game: 🍄🪐🔪🏜️
Hi there Milla 👋👋 Thank you so much for your ask
🍄 ⇢ share a head canon for one of your favourite ships or pairings Let's go with Pedrenzo. Dani loved Jorge for a long time, but he wasn't brave enough to act until Puig was not in his life. I see Puig as a guy that will keep drilling on Dani's head that Jorge is a bad influence and stay out of his way. So in 2012 had too spend so much time together (media, podium, press conference, etc) and made him saw Puig was wrong. At the end on 2012 Dani fires Puig and in 2013 he gives himself the chance to really get to know Jorge
🪐 ⇢ name three good things going on in your life right now I have inspiration, our female cockatiel it's doing much better and both birds trust us more and play more with us.
🔪 ⇢ what's the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project? Honestly I don't know. Could either be searching for the dates of 2 tours on Japan, with all the media in Japanese and I don't talk, or trying to understand how the Japanese basketball league works (because apparently they have 2 and both are the top ones). I usually go with vibes
🏜️ ⇢ what's your favourite type of comment to receive on your work? Anything really. I love every comment I get, but maybe when people tell me what they liked the most to see if I can 'put it' or 'replicate it' in other words. (I don't know how to explain it 😅)
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sweetpumpk · 3 months
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Random Topics to Write About
Fantasy Part 2
The Last Emperor
The Gates of Night
Magic Flower of the Desert
Infinite Night
Mask of Persona
Sorceror's Clock
3 Gold Coins
Knight of the Ruin
Frozen Forest
Thieve's Secret
Record of all sins
Cursed Pearl
The Song of a Bard
Feathers of the Sky
Eve's Night
The day everything became dust
Eternal Winter
Wizard of the Stars
An Unwithering Edelweiss
Tears of Mermaid
Kiss with the Devil
The Heir of the Fairy
The Seven Treasures of the Chosen
Death of the Immortality
Anger of the Dead
Downfall, Destruction, Despair, Darkness, Death, Destiny
The Invisible
An Elegant Rebellion
Unforgivable Curse
The Light of the Shadow / The Shadow of the Light
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rulasmint · 1 year
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Prompt idea
Someone confessed to one crime to prove they were innocent of another.
"OK I ADMIT I CHEATED! I used fertilizer even though we weren't supposed to, so why would I steal your plant when I already had great chances of winning?"
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charlie-artlie · 9 months
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Bonnie in the real world 💖
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