Latest Posts by charm-writes - Page 3

woo cool powers for the gang!!

this project looks so good so far!! I do have to ask what are everyones affinities (all the main ros i mean)?

thank u so much for the nice words ! of course,

Martin: Fire with sub-affinity lightning and Dark with sub-affinity shadows.

Demetra: Air with sub-affinity wind and Dark with sub-affinity manipulation.

Evander: Void with sub-affinity speed.

Harley: Air with sub-affinity sound and Light.

Echo: Void with sub-affinity abyss and Dark, which is a very rare and powerful combo.

Dominic: Water and Earth with sub-affinity nature.

🥺I love echo, your honour. Pls may I have some crumbs about her? Can't wait for my shy MC to be absolutely smitten by her 🙂

awwww thats so cute !!! i also cant wait for yall to meet her + all the ROs <33

Here's some Echo crumbs 🤲

She should technically wear glasses, but she never does, not even contacts.

Even though she's very shy, she's never had problems with making friends; people seem to always approach her, usually 'cause they think she looks cool or attractive (but mostly both).

She found out about Magici from a random dude who randomly ran up to her and asked for an autograph (and prolly a kiss) 'cause he thought she was Cara, a contestant from Magici's first season with a huge fanbase. Her reaction was just "Who? From what?", totally clueless about it lmfao.

She has an unhealthy obsession with brie.

She really really loves reading romance webtoons, her favourite is Insol's Law.

She is Croatian and English.

She has like 500 hobbies; crocheting, playing bass, knitting, writing, painting, etc etc... The list is never ending and she somehow manages to do all that consistently.

She has the most random dream jobs ever, like she'll have a week-long phase where all she does is research how to become a train conductor.

Her affinity combo means she can become basically invisible when it's dark, though not for long.

She makes an amazing burek, her cheese one is scrumptious.

THE DEMO/[Google Forum.]

|The world around you has gone quiet as snow covers it with a white blanket, singing it to sleep. Your palm tingle, and your dazed eyes twinkle with the reflected light of grains of flickering purple. It seeps through your fingertips and enlighten the darkness engulfing you.

Fate has chosen. A Witch. That's who you are.|

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Trigger warning: This game is written with a mature audience in mind, for containing mention/depiction of death, blood, violence, abuse, childhood trauma and sexual themes.

STIGMA: A DRAGONFLY is an Interactive Fiction game set in a high fantasy world. A setting that's inspired by African and Asian cultures. heavily north african.

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SYPONISIS:

You were made to feel like a monster your entire life. How could it ever be fair?

You were aware of it since your childhood. How could you not when you were sent to an Academy just to explore your identity as a Witch, a mutated human or a Mystic. Maybe both or neither.

How was it? knowing you. That you were one of many, but none at the same time.

You ran away that day. Never looking back for once. You ran as fast as your feet could take you, and it haunts you to this day. It is a race with time, with nightmares and sufferings. It was a race you could never win.

But then... You were back. Because who dares defy them.

That very cursed fate of yours acquired you an audience with The Crown. You returned to them with your own two feets.

The Crown has spoken.

A single sentence, knowledge. A fact that was so simply stated you were pinned to your spot. A gold coated letter and a luxurious pretty title changed everything in your life. Forever.

A request? No. An order. Is it a curse? Or an opportunity?

Choose, Witch.

FEATURES:

ꕥ ​Customise your MC: You're given the chance to customis​​e your Character from [Name, Appearance, personality, skills to purpose]. Includes:

Customizable personality system: Your Witch can be sarcastic with a sharp tongue, stoic with a soft heart, playful but secretive or as cold as a winter storm.

What type of witch are you: This feature allows you to wear the world as a ring on your small finger. To be their darkest nightmare? Or maybe, the sacrificial sheep, or are you the wolf in sheep's clothing? Play it your way.

Witch's Skill System: From Intelligence, Agility, Vigour to Perception. These skills open up many different doors, outcomes, and options for your witch. And whether it succeeds or fails, it may tell you about secrets you did not take into account.

Customizable appearance: Customise your Witchfrom head to toe, includes but is not limited to; height, unique features, tattoos.

The Witch's purpose: You're playing a dangerous game, but you're not who started it. What purpose do you have to survive it all?

ꕥ​ Face the consequences of your choices: Be careful, or don't. In both cases, the decision is in your hands, and the consequences are yours to bear. So what path will you draw for yourself?

ꕥ​ Romance one of four different ROs: Two mysterious strangers, a florist or maybe someone you never wished to see again.

​ꕥ​Influence others' fates as much as they do yours: Develop your relationship with others. Or use them to achieve your motive. Your decisions and every step you take affects those around you as much as it affects you. Would you care?​

ꕥThe wise Elders are ambiguous: Explore this world and find the secrets it holds and behold.

ꕥ​Take in a little apprentice to succeed you.

ꕥVengeance. Deceit. Betrayal. Treason: It is blood for blood? How will you face the world that burned you alive?

ꕥYou don't fit anywhere, or maybe it's that you belong everywhere: Choose on your own, Humans or Mystics. Which side will you support?

[ROMANCES][MORE DETAILS IN GAME PROFILE]

RAEL GOVIATT: [M]

 [Isn't it curious? Do you want to flip and see the other face of the coin?]

TRAITS:  Mischievous, Ambitious, Brilliant and Patient.

ABOUT: People say Rael have a bit of a dual personality. His friendly but mysterious persona makes them lower their guard around him. Though, he never shows or tells the real attention behind anything he does, even if it looks foolish to others.

Rael appears to be always amused by something. He flashes a disarming winning smile that lightens his whole face but his untelling eyes.

[You are killing me, and you are keeping me from dying.]

ANWAR HAYFAR. [F/M]

[Eternal chaos and internal chaos are distinct from each other. But I seem to attract both.]

TRAIT:  Reserved, Tolerant, Idealistic and Secretive.

ABOUT: Quiet and unassuming. Anwar is a think before you act, type of person. They prefer to live in peace and away from politics or petty matters of the wealthy. But they are not that simple, as this florist may throw their guise and strike if pricked from the wrong side.

[And if a hundred loved you, they will only love you a drop compared to my ocean.]

HELIA [REDACTED] [F/M]

[Quit. Broke. Died. And made it through it all.]

TRAITS:  Observant, Practical, Indifferent and Stubborn.

ABOUT: Helia's cold and indifferent appearance can be deceptive, despite being part of his truth.

A common first impression of Helia is a mixture of intimidation, intrigue and a sense of stability. They have an imposing aura and the kind of demeanour that demands attention in every room, with otherworldly elegance and grace.

[It's the same rain I loved that drowned me.]

YASIR [REDACTED] [M]

[Either find a way or be prepared to bleed and make one.]

TRAIT:  Charming, Ambitious, Assertive and Inquisitive.

ABOUT:  Yasir is a calculating and cool-headed person. And while Yasir can be materialistic, his love for money is not sacred, but it is definitely up there on his values list.

Yasir is authoritative and demanding, especially of his subjects. He also prefers to rule with an iron hand, which may surprise people who have not seen him in action.

[I have passed by many eyes but I only got lost in yours.]

[REDACTED][REDACTED] [POSSIBLE SECRET RO]

ME TOO

I WANT TO EAT THIS ENTIRE GAME OMNOMNOM/POS

AJSDFKLA I love the energy in both of these asks thank you so much for the kind words and apologies for your (semi)friendly neighborhood friends-to-lovers chaos gremlin😔

Would Evander show mc photos of Jiji if they asked nicely? How about playing the piano for mc?

heh Evander doesn't need to be asked to talk about Jiji (or anything, for that matter); the whole cast of Magici has prolly already seen him a thousand times.

Also they definitely have a Powerpoint presentation ready that they just whip out at random times and force people to listen to.

it's prolly named sum like

"Jiji the Great, The First: Discovering the Enigmatic Charms of My Feline Companion" (he thinks it's hilarious)

And if MC asks really really nicely, he'll play for them. Also if you catch them while they're playing that's a cheat code, 'cause he doesn't really enjoy playing in front of people; he prefers MC listening to him without him knowing so he doesn't mess up.

“You can either let this journey crush you, or let it transform you into someone stronger.”

A scene from the newly-released, New-York-Times-bestselling (?!) book Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor, art by 最后的L and water effects by me! 🤗

Honestly, Zachary Ying is a book I didn’t think I’d have the strength to write. The concept is very wild and wacky, yes—the First Emperor of China possessing a young Chinese American boy’s AR gaming headset and compelling him on a journey across China to heist magical artifacts—but writing the story required me to dig deep into my complicated relationship with my heritage.

When I immigrated to Canada in 6th grade, I spent a year as the only Asian kid in the school of a small town. In that one year, I became self-conscious of all sorts of things that didn’t seem to matter before: the way I looked, the way I spoke, the clothes I wore, the media I liked. The white kids wouldn’t insult me outright, but they’d ask me questions that made me embarrassed of my differences from them. I felt backward, alien. The feelings of isolation and rejection I experienced took me many, many years to unpack. It’s been a long journey, learning to love myself again, and I drew much strength from stories in Chinese history to do so.

However, as the years passed, I’ve also watched in horror as the government of China became increasingly authoritarian, cracking down on dissent and committing genocidal atrocities against minority ethnic groups, of which I belong to one myself. Being Chinese has become so painfully political. Pride in Chinese culture is no longer as simple as that, but could accidentally play into the Chinese government’s use of traditional culture as propaganda. Yet on another hand, there’s the necessity of demystifying and defending Chinese culture to combat anti-Chinese racism. Many diaspora like myself are caught in the crosshairs, struggling to find the balance. But what I firmly believe is that traditional Chinese culture and history don’t belong to the Chinese government. It belongs to the Chinese people, both native and diaspora. If we distance ourselves from our heritage specifically because of the Chinese government, that’s letting them win, validating their claim to be the one true representative of Chinese culture when that is absolutely not the case.

Through Zack’s journey in this book, I wanted to engage with the complexities of Chinese identity, but I also want to have fun. This book remains a love letter to my 12-year-old self, taking inspiration from everything I love—anime, video games, sci-fi, and of course, Chinese history and myths. You’ll find appearances by real figures from said history and myths, wielding magic inspired by their legends, along with many famous Chinese artifacts.

If any of that sounds fun to you too, especially if you like Percy Jackson or Yugioh, I really think you’d like this book as well 😩✌🏼 You can find out where to get it at ZacharyYing.com!

Wifey’s MagnifiqueNoir was featured in this article as one of the top 10 Black science fiction/fantasy works Netflix should consider adapting! You can read it here!

I Am Black Sci-Fi

10 Black Science Fiction/ Fantasy Works That Need A Netflix Adaptation | I Am Black Sci-Fi

I Am Black Sci-Fi is a media organization founded in 1999 and focuses on celebrating the fandom and many contributions of Black people to sc

HAVING FUN and ENJOYING the process of writing is so important. Whether you strive to work professionally or write just for the hell of it, remember why you started in the first place. It all comes down to love honestly

made a short little if to experiment with sugarcube's CSS. its about you and your ex and has different endings based on different choices you make and how you decide to remember the relationship

also it takes place during halloween and its nowhere near halloween and i love halloween and i also dont care. it's called "for the life of me" and I think it's cute </3 I'm absolutely LOVING the UI after using choicescript for so long

i'll make an official post soon but here's a little sneak peek for now (it'll be 17+!)

i'll get back to Cyprus soon I promise lol

Nature will only heal when y'all stop using Character AI chats and just go rp with your friends

writing is 40% writing actual content and 60% 'write later'

this IF game is like...one of my biggest inspos , idk how i didnt find it sooner im so hyped to meet Xinyi qwq

God of the Red Mountain Directory

[This is a placeholder until I finish the proper topic post.]

Relevant Links:

GotRM Demo Link | CoG Forum | My Kofi | Discord

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Character / Story Tags:

Min He | Kaski | Qiu | An | Xinyi |

Go Ro | Hiemi | Spider | Chun |

All RO asks | World building |

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Maintenance:

Writing Updates | Demo Updates | Latest Update

✧ Magici: Worldstar is a contemporary fantasy romantic drama IF, a first part to the Magici series.✧ Reblogs / asks are crazy appreciated !!

MAGICI: WORLDSTAR INTRO POST

[DEMO COMING SOON.]

A flyer falls at your feet.

Ever wanted to become the best mage in the world? Ever wanted to become famous while at it?

Well, according to this flyer, by applying for this magic academy-turned-talent show, you can.

A chance to develop your magic affinities, get a free higher education from a renowned academy, meet people from all over the world, win the grand prize of 300 000 kubos , AND become mindblowingly famous?

Sign-me-up.

Friends, mentors, rivals, lovers? In the end, the top only has space for one.

Will you be the one standing there?

But more importantly, what will you do to get there?

Find the answers to these questions and more in the third season of:

Magici: Worldstar - Where dreams become Magic.

A ✧ Spellbound ✧ Entertainment© Production

APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED. CATCH US ON CHANNEL 4!

In a world where magic is alive and widespread, you're one of the few lucky ones who can say they have actual powers instead of the weak energy most people possess. That's because you've had your Awakening, the extraordinary event in which that fragile energy becomes magic.

Unfortunately, Magic Academies are expensive and hard to get into, so you've never had the resources to truly hone your powers.

That changes when you find out that one of the most famous and respected magic academies in the world, Magici Academy, is letting anyone* apply.

How? By joining the famous magic talent show, Magici: Worldstar, you get a free education at the Academy. The catch? Every week, you risk being eliminated**, effectively shattering the dream of a lifetime.

Will you excel, or will you be eliminated, perhaps by the viewers or because you weren't on par with your fellow contestants?

*(See full requirements at MagiciWorldstar.com)

**Continued enrolment subject to Academy approval.

KEEP READING FOR FEATURES AND ROS.

Fully design your MC: pick your magic affinity, tv persona, gender identity, sexuality, name, fashion style, personal goals, body mods, and many more!

Will you focus on honing your magic, getting your grades up, winning the talent show, or simply charming the viewers?

Will you learn to control your powers, or succumb in this new and stressful environment?

Affect how the viewers, teachers, teammates, judges, and fellow students perceive you.

Affect how well your team does in the talent show, as well as the relationships between your teammates

Possibly win a talent show and get crazy rich and famous

Become the viewers' sweetheart... or a pain in the ass ^^

Play matchmaker with your class-/teammates ❤︎

❤︎ Romantic Options:

Martin: He comes from a long lineage of strong mages. Always the family's black sheep, he seeks to make his family proud and finally show them he's worthy of his last name. A gentle but intimidating giant, he doesn't want to get too close to his fellow contestants, can you break down his walls?

Tropes: Stoic, Slow-Burn, Forced Proximity, Roommates, Afraid to Commit, Idiots in Love

Demetra: This one is a mystery. Your brother's best friend, whom you've seen walking around your home since you were a teenager; however, she never made an effort to get to know you. When you see her at the Academy, you realise you know nothing about who she is. She says her only motivation to be on the show is knowledge, but will you show her she can find something other than that?

Tropes: Rivals to Lovers, Brother's Best Friend, Idiots in Love, Everyone Can See It

Evander: Evander is a gifted individual with a big talent for magic, but he's lazy. The definition of "He's smart but he doesn't apply himself", he could care less about being on the academy. Their family has managed to force convince them to be on the show, the fame and money a big incentive. What they secretly hope is that he'll come home as a new person and grow up. You won't fix them, but you can sure seduce them. ;)

Tropes: First Love, Fish Out of Water, Oblivious to Love, Pining

Harley: A social butterfly, it seems somehow she's already friends with everyone at the Academy. Growing up around musicians made her love for music grow, as well as awaken her powers. She joined the show to make important connections and to get her name out there both as a talented musician and a powerful mage. Will you be just another friend for her or will you become her muse? 𝄞

Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Soft Love, Roommates, Idiots In love, Mutual Pining

Echo: Echo is extremely shy and often lost in her own thoughts. Her unique powers make her an intimidating rival and a strong teammate. However, she joined the show for a specific reason: she seeks to learn more about her unusual affinity. Other than that she hasn't really been interested in getting to know anyone. Maybe you'll be the exception and get to know the real Echo. ❤︎

Tropes: Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Idiots In Love, Strangers to Lovers, Hesitant, Crush on MC

Dominic: He is one of the judges at Magici: Worldstar, as well as a professor at the Academy. He is just another judge, and you're just another contestant. Nothing to see here. :)

Tropes: Forbidden Love, Fell In Love with The Wrong Person, Lovers in Denial

possible flings 👀 Other contestants:

Bleon: They already have a reputation as a prankster around the Academy, having competed in Magici: Worldstar's first season. Loved by the student body, hated by the professors, but you'll be sure to like this menace.

Bruno: A shy but friendly presence in your team, he looks forward to getting to know you. After a quick conversation, you already know he aspires to become a respected landscape engineer by perfecting his ability to build and shape landscapes.

Brynn: She aspires to become a Nature Guardian, and to preserve harmony between humans and nature. It is slightly interesting then, that she seems to dislike you the moment she sets her eyes on you.

Chianti: He holds a little secret. Well, not anymore, 'cause I'm about to tell you. He's just had his Awakening, a mere few months before his admission to the show. Will you help him develop his affinities or turn the other way, until he gets eliminated?

Nora: After losing her father to a magic-related incident, she understands that even the strongest healers can't save themselves. She dreams of becoming a mage healer, but also a Guardian, thanks to her rare affinity combination.

Rahim: A disciplined and focused mage, no one in his family has had an Awakening. He hopes he'll be able to get far in the show or to at least stay long enough to develop his powers.

[DEMO COMING SOON... STAY TUNED]

hmu w questions if you have any!

{ WIP Introduction } The Romance of the Demigods

Content warnings (for full novel) : fantasy violence, potential er*tic elements

THE QUEEN OF THE EARTH and THE KING OF THE SKY--the capricious Fae-gods have had dominion over the land of Brennenhaugh since time immemorial, from their thrones in the far Erye. The Old Way has long struggled against the encroaching fist of the worshipers of the SONNELIC HOST, the gods that number among the sun and stars.

The conversion of the aging king of Brennenhaugh to the New Faith heralds the death of the tenuous peace between Man and Fae. Practitioners of the Old Magic are tried as witches. Weapons of iron are forged with Fae blood. The commonfolk cower beneath the gauntlet of the Paladins of the Host. And the Fae and their gods watch on from above, around, and below...

Kesh is one-of-a-kind, and it fucking sucks. Born of an unprecedented union between human and Fae, she is destined (or, more accurately, cursed) to wander--when she's not outrunning the furious storms of an insulted god, she's ducking the Paladins of the Host, who would like very much to put an abomination like her to the sword. Luckily enough, with the blood of the Erye warming her cheeks, she changes appearance like breathing, and enjoys a life of mostly-pleasant rambling, roving, and romancing. Free to soak in existence and all of its adventures. Nothing quite heralds adventure, however, like a princess in dire need of help. And, hell, maybe healing the rift between Man and Fae will stop everyone wanting to see her dead...

Nysa, the so-called 'Moon-Kissed Princess', has always excelled at finding third options. When pressed between 'wed the Hierophant of the Sonnelic Host' and 'be assassinated', she chooses instead to flee the once-safety of the palace. Her aim is clear--she must seek the Fae-gods and beg their assistance in the fight for the Old Way, and for her kingdom. She finds the way forward in infamous shapeshifting Demifae, one who claims to know the way to the Aiamede, the fabled domain of the Queen of the Earth. For all that her wits have kept her alive, she has little clue just how close she marches to the arms of the Hierophant...

Eve has known one thing her entire life--she owes her existence to the clergy of the Host. Taken in by the clerics, she has devoted years of training mind and body in service of the Heavenly Bodies. Serving as a paladin is her life's purpose--or so she tells herself. Despite her total immersion in the Sonnelic faith, she can't dispel the gnawing feeling that a spiritual truth exists that the clergy of the Host cannot teach her. When she stumbles into the path of a nearly-assassinated princess, a Demifae that shouldn't exist, and a mysterious former clergyman who shares the strange dreams that have plagued her, Eve sees a path to the truth of the world, and the truth of her nature--though she would rather it come in any other form. Everything she has known no longer seems so simple...

The Sonnelic Host holds the kingdom hostage. Something watches from the Stars. Man and Fae are closer to war than ever before.

Hearts are pulled into the orbit of oblivion, the Heavens fall to the Earth, and somewhere, a Mother yearns for her lost Child.

The key to truth and peace lies in the hands and the blood of those who walk between the worlds.

And no one knows this neck of the woods like Kesh.

THE ROMANCE OF THE DEMIGODS is a New Adult high fantasy romance saga featuring a lively cast of idiots who can't stop falling in love with each other.

THEMES

The joys and pains of romantic love; belonging; self-understanding; multiracial/multicultural identity; organized religion vs. personal faith/spirituality; interpersonal cycles of love and discord & togetherness and separation; passion & devotion (spiritual, romantic); sapphic sexuality & carnality

STATUS

Drafting...

CAST

(non-exhaustive, more TBA? if i'm not lazy about drawing)

Kesh Akesheen fyr Edevanza

“Demifae” to some, “Kesh” to others, the shapeshifter makes a habit of wandering, avoiding iron, and falling in love with just about everyone... except for Eve, the most recent paladin to try and put a sword through her. Tied together by circumstance, Kesh is ready to fight or flee at a moment's notice. She has to admit, though, that as dangerous as it is to lend her magic to a New Faith paladin... it's nothing like she's ever experienced before.

Evening Star "Eve" Aurelim

A paladin of the Sonnelic Host, haunted by disorienting dreams of giant, burning lights, and darkness that stretches to infinity. When she's forced by circumstance into borrowing the magic of the wicked Demifae, the doubts surrounding her faith and her place in the world become all too real. In all of her flailing and questioning, Eve fears more than anything that her true nature will draw her closer and closer to those whom she abhors most.

Nysean "Nysa" of the Royal House au Lloergen, Crown Princess of Brennenhaugh

Nysa is far from accustomed to traveling the open road--and even more unfamiliar with fleeing from the clergy who swore to serve her kingdom. After throwing her lot in with the infamous Demifae, she's plunged into a torrent of adventure and feelings the likes of which she could scarce imagine. As much as she yearns to return to her true love, Nysa must find the court of the Queen of the Earth before she and her allies are caught by the Church of the Host. For the Church will surely take their due--her hand, or her head.

Irial au Ghrianach

An enigmatic former clergyman of the Host, Irial seeks peace in the kingdom of Brennenhaugh above all else. When his ominous dreams draw him to a Princess, a Paladin, and a Demifae, Irial finds that there is much yet to learn about the world outside the Church, and there are yet many roads to peace.

Taglist: @aalinaaaaaa @sarahlizziewrites @thecrookedwriterspath @inkspellangel @crystal-librarian @wip-nook @writeblrsupport

Tag, DM, reply, or fill out this google form to be added or removed from the taglist! Current taglist visible in my pinned <3

found out that there’s a book centered around a daughter of Chang’e, and i wanted to play around with designs a bit

I couldn’t resist making mood boards for the Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology. I loved everything about these books so much.

Beautiful covers compared to their equally beautiful alternative covers

New Sketch-a-Wish for October’s Patreon vote! Featuring Xingyin and the Venerable Four Dragons from Daughter Of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan!

This request ironically was an amalgamation of the two previous DOTMG fanarts I’ve done, so I decided to take it down a different route for styling (a mix of my illustration and papercraft design). I had a super fun time creating this piece, very chaotic and clean!

And perfect timing, since the sequel Heart of the Sun Warrior comes out next week!! I was able to get a beautiful arc of this several weeks back, but my eyes and hands have been abysmally scrapped for free time to make any progress in a small pile of arcs I’ve received this year. 😭 I’m pretty much waiting for the audiobook at this point, my ears are ready!! Only a few more days! I’m so excited to revisit this world!

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!

chinese hanfu by 山海记

I am literally begging you to read The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

chinese hanfu by 绛悠堂

sketch dump sunday

…ig…. Tagged by @technicangels 

Two of my A Mage Reborn MCs that i’ve been trying to finish for days now god help me

Wayhaven sketches of my detectives w Felix and Morgan

GOTRM ROs i drew ages ago and never quite finished

lil doodle of my Smoke and Velvet MC w his mother and yes i got sad while drawing it

and lastly and old ass drawing of my Diaspora MC and Sang that i figured should maybe see the light of the day but don’t look too hard

Tagging but don’t feel obligated to do it too or i will cry @nieryen, @nandivina and @lonedeewolfe 

Words to Describe Hair

Image: Words to Describe Hair: Afro | Curly | Straight | Look | Texture | Style | Color 

Photo credits: Alex Nemo Hanse

This began as a guide to describing Afro / curly hair but of course, I got carried away. From look and texture of hair, colors and various styles, this guide serves as a thesaurus of sorts for hair, as well as pointers for use in your writing.

Please check under the read more for an accessible version of these lists

Culturally Significant Hair Coverings:

Know the meaning behind head wear and why it’s worn, when and by whom, such as a Native Nation’s headdress, before bestowing a character with it.

Head Coverings Resources:

More on various head coverings.

See here for more Islamic Veils. 

See here for more on the Nigerian gele.

See here on African American Headwraps. 

View our hijab and headscarves tags for discussion on these topics.

Afro - Curly - Straightened

There are many varieties of braids, twists & Afro hair styles; have some more!

African/Black Hair: Natural, Braids and Locks

African Hair: Braiding Styles 10 African Types

Describing Black (Afro) hair:

Appropriative Hairstyles: Keep in mind that Afro styles should be kept to those in the African Diaspora, such as dreadlocks, cornrows + certain and many braided styles. 

Also, “locs” is a more favored term over “dreadlocks” for many people.

Tread carefully describing Afro hair as “wild” “unkempt” “untamed” or any words implying it’s unclean or requires controlling.

“Nappy” and “wooly” are generally words to stay away from, the first having heavy negative connotations for many and the latter, though used in the Holy Bible, is generally not acceptable anymore and comes off as dehumanizing due to Animal connotations.

There are mixed feelings on calling Black hair “kinky.” I’m personally not opposed to the word in itself and usage depends on the person’s race (I’m more comfortable with a Black person using it vs. a Non-Black person) as well as their tone and context (if it’s used in a neutral or positive tone vs. negatively/with disdain). Get feedback on your usage, or simply forgo it.

See our tags “Black Hair” and “Natural Hair” for more discussion on describing Black hair.

Texture - Look - Styles

Hair Colors and Style

Writing Tips & Things to Keep in Mind:

Combination Words: Try combining words to illustrate look of hair. A character with springy coils that dance across her shoulders with every movement, the man with thick silvery hair slicked back into a ponytail…

Mind Perspective: Depending on POV, a character might not know exactly what cornrows or a coiffure style is, at least in name, and it might make more sense if they described the hairdo instead. More defining terms might come from a more knowing source or the wearer themselves. One book I read described a girl’s afro puff as “thick hair pulled up into a cute, curly, poufy thing on top of her head and tied with a yellow ribbon.”

POC & Hair Colors: People of Color’s hair comes in all shades and textures. There are Black people with naturally blond and loosely-textured to straight hair, East Asian people with red hair, and so on. Keep that in mind when coding characters if you tend to rely on hair color alone to denote a character is white vs. a Person of Color.

Related Tropes: There are tropes and discussion related to People of Color, colored hair, and light-colored hair and features. 

Check out these posts on the topic: The East Asian Women + Colored Hair Trope - Black Characters & “Wild” Hair Colors - POC w/ Supernatural Colorful Features. - ‘Uncommon’ Features & POC Characters

~Mod Colette

Read more for accessible versions of the lists:

Lees verder

Reminder that whatever you’re writing, you shouldn’t give up because no one else can put the puzzle together the same way you can. It’s unique to you, so stop comparing yourselves to others. That completely eliminates the whole purpose. 

The Origami Princess

(Hello and welcome back to @flashfictionfridayofficial​! This prompt was a nice jumping point to actually get around to writing this lil story lol)

There. All settled?

Uh-huh. Can you tell the story about the Origami Princess again?

The Origami Princess? Alright.

Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there was a princess who lived alone in a tower. Now, for the most part, she was a very normal princess. Even her circumstances for being in the tower were normal, as it was a long-standing tradition upheld by generations of princesses before her. But this princess had a special gift she kept hidden away: she could breath life into the origami she created. She spent her time in the tower creating a menagerie of paper animals to keep her company while she waited for her 20th birthday.

But little did the princess know that her life was about to change one stormy night.

Keep reading

where’s that post about how dangerous it is that people are forgetting fiction is sometimes meant to be uncomfortable and upsetting and sad. i need to pull it up again with regard to survival games specifically because people will really walk into a story where they know in advance “people are going to die and it’s going to feel awful because they won’t always deserve it” and then get mad when people die even if they don’t deserve it and call it bad writing 

illustrated this comic for insider, recounting abdul-azeez sulaiman's journey from being tricked into doing construction at the world cup to becoming an advocate for worker's rights. you can read the full thing here

Writers' Resolutions

A bunch of resolutions for writers and people who want to try writing this year. It's in no way something you must do, these are just ideas how you can set out to improve your writing in the new year.

Try something new

Try to write something you have never written before.

Write something silly, write something serious, write in a different genre, try to write characters that you haven't explored yet.

Write consistently

Writing consistently will not only give you exercise to become a better writer, it can also keep your voice as a writer consistent.

If you have a first draft, write it down quickly and without big breaks inbetween.

Don't wait for inspiration

Waiting for inspiration to come can take forever. So don't wait for inspiration: search for it.

Make writing into a habit that comes natural to you every day, look up writing prompts, read a book you like, get yourself into the mood to write and do it!

Do your research

As a writer, you need to know about a lot of different things.

You can do research by reading books, listening to podcasts, watching movies, talking to other people, etc.

Take this year to learn something new and then tell your reader all about it.

Edit that draft

We all have that one story we wrote a while ago and then stopped at the first draft.

Take it and reread it and then rewrite it. You have a new perspective on it now and maybe this will be the year you turn your idea into a book.

Set yourself a goal

This explicitly doesn't have to be a goal about how many words or pages you write.

Your goal can be to finish something, to edit something, to write a few sentences every day, to share more of your writing or to publish something.

Don't compare

Try not to compare your writing with that of someone else.

Writing is about finding your own voice and telling a story that only you can tell. Also: other people's accomplishes don't diminish your own!

Write!

Whatever the outcome of your writing may be and whatever you want to do with it, if you want to publish it, if you want to share it with friends, or if you want to keep it to yourself: just start writing!

Do what you love to do.

To all my lovely writers, I wish you a great year, may everything work out in your favour!

- Jana

people have got to learn the difference between I didnt like it and It was bad