ajkiranwrites
Original Work Primary Blog. Sideblog for fanfics @stickdoodlefriend Come yell at me! | 18+
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Latest Posts by ajkiranwrites
readings: essays, articles & short stories pt. 2
the winter of civilisation
fruits we'll never taste, languages we'll never hear: the need for needless complexity
emily dickinson and the creative solitude of space
the lost art of looking at nature
the bowl, the ram and the folded map: navigating the complicated world
ada limón on preparing the body for a reopened world
before it was 'bittersweet', nostalgia was seen as a parasite
why alien languages could be far stranger than we imagine
the fig leaf, benjamin shane evans
cat pianos, sound-houses, and other imaginary musical instruments
of shark moves, shell shocks, and trash landings on the moon
as bright as a feather — ostriches, home dyeing, and the global plume trade
getting ahead, jonas karlsson
do these florida dolphins have a language?
the form of a demon and the heart of a person: kitagawa utamaro's prints of yamauba and kintarō (ca. 1800)
who needs ai text-generation when there's erasmus of rotterdam
when memories from fiction become part of who you are
how do transgender people remember their earlier selves?
EVERYONE(!) I’m blazing this post because at this pace we might barely hit 1,000,000 signatures—or just fall short. PLEASE reblog this post, no matter where you are from, so we can reach as many EU citizens as possible and end this horrible practice!
oh shit, it's 3/21/23, 32123, palindrome day
male entitlement in academic spaces is so boring. can’t tell you how many times i’ve been in a class and a girl gives a short, insightful analysis, and then a dude raises his hand and says “jumping off of that…” then says literally the same thing she said but longer and worse.
Spread the word.
The last days of the petition against conversion therapy are FASCINATING to watch. I have been following it pretty closely for almost a year now, and the progress was, above all, steady. There was this jump when some algorithm in Finland picked it up, but even that was local.
And now, everyone is panicking.
Which really shows.
These past three or four days, multiple countries have reached the threshold. Even more notably, the number of signatures in total, the ones that we need to get one million of, are growing rapidly. There are only 400'000 signatures missing. Two days ago, it was closer to 600'000.
You can see the progress here:
Consider joining the fun by making everyone around you sign it!
if you've been hearing less about gaza lately, it's because most of the journalists are dead. hassan eslayeh, who was murdered yesterday in his hospital bed by israel, had 351 videos archived on tiktokgenocide.com (an online archive of israeli atrocities i recommend you browse). this single journalist alone had contributed 351 videos. the same database lists that 252 journalists have been killed in gaza since october 7th. the cpj's archive of journalists killed is 178. they have a more conservative and less accurate estimate since they have less information on those media workers who work with local outlets.
regardless of the exact number, the number of journalists killed is so high that it is markedly affecting the footage and documentation we have coming out of gaza now. let me prove it to you: 70 people were killed today, May 14th 2025. did you know that?
autochthonous (adjective)
autochthonous (adjective)
Cats getting caught doing crimes
How a Character’s Anger Can Show Up Quietly
Anger doesn’t always slam doors. Sometimes it simmers. Sometimes it cuts.
╰ They go still. Not calm... still. Like something is pulling tight inside them.
╰ They smile, but their eyes? Cold. Flat. Done.
╰ Their voice gets quieter, not louder. Controlled. Measured. Weaponized.
╰ They ask questions they already know the answers to, just to watch someone squirm.
╰ Their words are clipped. Polite. But razor-sharp.
╰ They laugh once. Without humor. You know the one.
╰ They leave the room without explanation, and when they come back? Different energy. Ice where fire was.
Vibes for Softly Tortured Characters
For the ones who make you want to wrap them in a blanket and also scream “JUST TALK TO SOMEONE.”
Always looks like they didn’t sleep (because they didn’t)
Talks like they’re about to say something else, but never does
Constantly touches their sleeves/jewelry/lip, like if they’re not holding something, they’ll fall apart
Laughs too easily, but it never quite reaches their eyes
Over-apologizes for things no one noticed
Craves affection but flinches when they get it
Body language = trying to take up as little space as possible
Flashes of unexpected rage, like pressure finally cracking glass
Always says “I’m fine” in a tone that screams “Please ask again”
Cries alone, then wipes their face like it’s a secret
Feels safest in chaos because stillness feels like waiting for pain
Thinks being loved means being a burden
Cannot remember the last time they were truly, fully relaxed
Keeps people at arm’s length, but is the first to drop everything if someone else needs help
Treats their own joy like it's a luxury they didn’t earn
📢📢📢
Moral Dilemmas That Will Mess Up Your Character
» They witness a crime but helping the victim means exposing a secret that could ruin someone they love.
» They could save someone’s life… but only by hurting someone else.
» They’re offered everything they’ve ever wanted, by the worst person they know.
» They have to lie to protect someone, but the lie costs someone else dearly.
» They can bring justice, but only by breaking a promise.
» They’re given power, but to keep it, they have to become what they hate.
» They have the chance to take revenge, and it would be so easy. So satisfying.
» They’re the only one who knows the truth, but telling it would destroy someone’s faith.
» They could protect the many, by sacrificing the one. And the one matters to them.
» They promised not to get involved, but walking away would haunt them forever.
» They were wrong and admitting it now will shatter their credibility.
» They’re asked to forgive, and they know the person doesn’t deserve it.
» They have to pick a side, but both sides are flawed. Both will cost them something.
» They want to help, but they’re not sure it’s their place.
» They said they’d never become their parent and now they’re staring in the mirror, wondering if they already have.
» They catch their friend doing something terrible, but they owe them everything.
» They can’t tell if they’re protecting someone, or controlling them.
» They get what they want, but someone else suffers for it.
» They promised to keep a secret, but now someone innocent is getting hurt.
» They fall in love and realize it compromises everything they believe in.
thank you Canada 🇨🇦
20 Lies Your Character Believes
(These can shape their behavior, choices, and arcs... until they’re forced to confront them.)
✧ I’m hard to love.
✧ If I don’t succeed, I’m worthless.
✧ People only stick around if I earn them.
✧ If I show weakness, I’ll be left behind.
✧ Everyone eventually leaves.
✧ I’m just like my father/mother—and that’s a bad thing.
✧ I’m too broken to fix.
✧ Happiness isn’t meant for people like me.
✧ The worst thing I ever did defines me forever.
✧ If I’m not useful, I’m disposable.
✧ My anger is dangerous. I have to bury it.
✧ If people really knew me, they’d leave.
✧ I don’t deserve forgiveness.
✧ Love is weakness.
✧ Control is safety.
✧ I can fix everyone else but not myself.
✧ I owe it to them to suffer.
✧ If I rest, I’ll fall apart.
✧ Hope is a trap.
✧ This is the best version of me they’ll ever get.
i wish i could remember who made the recommendation to "make a list of all the different ways someone could feel about a topic in your fictional setting and then make each of them a character" because it is a great technique and is also extremely fun
Uh hard disagree with this. Medical Student Damian Wayne would be so fucking fascinating to explore (based on his character archetype, growth and also his unusual skillset), followed by Doctor Damian Wayne (ER doc/trauma surgeon is where my money's at):
Firstly, Damian balancing the corruption of Gotham and navigating the system of medical care and the evilness/cruelties embedded and going after those is fascinating. He could solve medical cases in a House MD style fashion (without the pills) AND find organ thieves or provide evidence for serial killers to the Batfam.
Secondly, the comics themselves would be a great exploration of whether this means the Gotham Project ultimately fails to make meaningful change and whether Thomas and Leslie's less violent and community-focused treatment was a better strategy.
Thirdly, a discussion about personal freedom in the face of "destiny" and obligations to vigilantism, and also the conflict of whether Damian would want to return or not, especially because this life is all he's known.
Fourthly, I want to see Dami struggle with obeying laws that violate moral principles and balance his own way of doing things with a team he's forced to operate alongside.
the big three questions of media analysis: what the author wanted to say, what they actually said, and what they didn’t know they were saying
Planette: Mars
hello fellow non-Black tumblr users. welcome to my saw trap. if you'd like to leave, please name one (1) Black woman author who is not Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, bell hooks, Octavia Butler, or N.K. Jemisin. bonus points if she's published a book in the last five years.
10/10 dad joke
- Silas Denver Melvin @sweatermuppet, Grit Poetry Collection
With more and more Ao3 authors restricting their works to the archive (due to AI scraping), they're going to be losing guest interaction. And probably generally feeling down because. You know. AI is stealing their hard work.
So! Now is a great time to stop by your favorite authors/stories and drop them some comments! They really appreciate it!
ok im going to #seriouspost for a second here. I don't think Harry Potter is a manifesto. I think it was a flawed passion project that millennials latched onto because of the fantasy of sticking it to their mean teachers and arbitrarily categorizing themselves (hogwarts houses; it's the thinking millennial's astrology). I think the fact that the series got popular when and how it did was very much a product of its time.
I don't think Harry Potter is the biggest symbol of JKR's bigotry. I think the most flagrant sign of that was how she responded to critics. I watched her become radicalized in real time. I watched how she doubled down on her racism when she was called out for the ways she promoted her tragically mid fantastic beasts movies. I watched her chase marginalized teenagers with a double digit follower count off of twitter for daring to criticize her thought process, and no one with any kind of power standing against her because she was the one who was paying them. This isn't to say Harry Potter is without flaws. This is to say she really didn't give a shit about that. Getting rich and powerful is a hell of a drug, and she had enough sycophants that she had no reason to care about what her critics were saying.
She was convinced that she was a martyr; a voice for the unheard; a leader for the ages, so of course her detractors were the bad guys. And I think we should take this to heart. We should see this as an example of how easy it is to get radicalized; if you think of yourself as a paragon of virtue, you are going to think that whatever you see as good and right is an objective fact. Most people don't know this, but the majority of terfs start out as trans allies. You are not immune to propaganda! You are not immune to falling into dangerous ideologies!!!
This is why the most important thing you can do as an activist is to listen. Do NOT think you're above being wrong; do NOT develop a god complex; do NOT form an identity out of being right all the time. Involve yourselves in the groups you claim to speak for. Listen to trans women; share resources that help trans women; familiarize yourself with the diversity of experiences that trans people have and the struggles they face.
No, none of you are as bad as JKR because you don't have her money or her power. You will likely never have the capacity for harm she does. But check yourselves. Do not affirm yourselves into thinking you always have the moral high ground. Watch yourselves; humble yourselves; check yourselves for signs of cult behavior and internalized prejudice. You are always learning. You will always be learning. Do not allow yourselves to get a power trip from brushing off marginalized voices.
Body Language Cheat Sheet For Writers
╰ Facial expressions
These are your micro-signals, like the blinking neon signs of the soul. But they’re small, quick, and often lie harder than words.
Raised eyebrows — This can mean surprise or disbelief, sure. But it can also be a full-on, silent “Are you serious right now?” when someone’s being ridiculous. Or even curiosity when someone’s too emotionally repressed to askthe damn question.
Furrowed brow — That face people make when they’re doing long division in their head or trying to emotionally process a compliment. It’s thinking, yes—but also confusion, deep frustration, or quiet simmering rage.
Smiling — Can be happiness… or total fake-it-till-you-make-it energy. Some smiles are stiff. Some don’t reach the eyes. Show that.
Frowning — Sure, sadness. But also: disappointment, judgment, or the universal “I’m about to say something blunt, brace yourself.”
Lip biting — It’s not just nervousness, it’s pressure. Self-control. Anticipation. It’s the thing people do when they want to say something and decide, at the last second, not to.
╰ Eye movement
The window to the soul? Yeah. But also the window to when someone’s lying, flirting, or deeply trying not to cry in public.
Eye contact — Confidence or challenge. Eye contact can be gentle, curious, sharp like a blade. Sometimes it’s desperate: “Please understand me.”
Avoiding eye contact — Not always guilt. Sometimes it’s protectiveness. Sometimes it’s “I’m afraid if I look at you, you’ll see everything I’m trying to hide.”
Narrowed eyes — Calculating. Suspicious. The look someone gives when their brain’s saying “hmmm...” and it’s not a good hmm.
Wide eyes — Surprise, yes. But also sudden fear. The oh-God-it’s-happening look. Or when someone just found out they’re not as in control as they thought.
Eye roll — Classic. But try using it with tension, like when someone’s annoyed and trying very hard not to lose it in public.
╰ Gestures
This is where characters’ emotions go when their mouths are lying.
Crossing arms — Not just defensive. Sometimes it’s comfort. A self-hug. A barrier when the conversation is getting too personal.
Fidgeting — This is nervous energy with nowhere to go. Watch fingers tapping, rings spinning, sleeves tugged. It says: I’m not okay, but I’m trying not to show it.
Pointing — It’s a stab in the air. Aggressive, usually. But sometimes a desperate plea: Look. Understand this.
Open palms — Vulnerability. Honesty. Or a gesture that says, “I have nothing left to hide.”
Hand on chin — Not just thinking. It’s stalling. It’s delaying. It’s “I’m about to say something that might get me in trouble.”
╰ Posture and movement
These are your vibes. How someone occupies space says everything.
Slumped shoulders — Exhaustion. Defeat. Or someone trying to take up less space because they feel small.
Upright posture — Not always confidence. Sometimes it’s forced. Sometimes it’s a character trying really, really hard to look like they’re fine.
Pacing — Inner chaos externalized. Thinking so loudly it needs movement. Waiting for something. Running from your own thoughts.
Tapping foot — Tension. Irritation. Sometimes a buildup to an explosion.
Leaning in — Intimacy. Interest. Or subtle manipulation. (You matter to me. I’m listening. Let’s get closer.)
╰ Touch
This is intimacy in all its forms, comforting, protective, romantic, or invasive.
Hugging — Doesn’t always mean closeness. Could be a goodbye. Could be an apology they can’t say out loud. Could be awkward as hell.
Handshake — Stiff or crushing or slippery. How someone shakes hands says more than their words do.
Back patting — Casual warmth. Bro culture. Awkward emotional support when someone doesn’t know how to comfort but wants to try.
Clenched fists — Holding something in. Rage, tears, restraint. Fists mean tension that needs somewhere to go.
Hair tuck — Sure, flirtation or nerves. But also a subtle shield. A way to hide. A habit from childhood when someone didn’t want to be seen.
╰ Mirroring:
If two characters start syncing their body language, something is happening. Empathy. Chemistry. Shared grief. If someone shifts their body when the other does? Take notice. Other human bits that say everything without words...
Nodding — Not just yes. Could be an “I hear you,” even if they don’t agree. Could be the “keep going” nod. Could be patronizing if done too slow.
Crossed legs — Chill. Casual. Or closed-off, depending on context. Especially if their arms are crossed too.
Finger tapping — Time is ticking. Brain is pacing. Something’s coming.
Hand to chest — Sincerity, yes. But also shock. Or grounding—a subconscious attempt to stay present when everything feels like too much.
Tilting the head — Curiosity. Playfulness. Or someone listening so hard they forget to hide it.
Temple rub — “I can’t deal.” Could be physical pain. Could be stress. Could be emotional overload in disguise.
Chin stroking — Your classic “I’m judging you politely.” Often used in arguments between characters pretending to be calm.
Hands behind the back — Authority. Control. Or rigid fear masked as control.
Leaning body — This is the body betraying the brain. A tilt toward someone means they care—even if their words are cold.
Nail biting — Classic anxiety. But also habit. Something learned. Sometimes people bite because that’s how they self-soothe.
Squinting — Focusing. Doubting. Suspicion without confrontation.
Shifting weight — Uncomfortable. Unsure. Someone who wants to leave but doesn’t.
Covering the mouth — Guilt. Hesitation. The “should I say this?” moment before something big drops.
Body language is more honest than dialogue. If you really want to show your character’s internal world, don’t just give them lines. Give them a hand that won’t stop shaking. Give them a foot that won’t stop bouncing. Give them a mouth that smiles when their eyes don’t. And if you’re not sure what your character would do in a moment of fear, or love, or heartbreak, try acting it out yourself. Seriously. Get weird. Feel what your body does. Then write that down.
a writing competition i was going to participate in again this year has announced that they now allow AI generated content to be submitted
their reasoning being that "we couldn't ban it even if we wanted to, every writer already uses it anyway"
"Every writer"?
come on
i hate it when i cant even write a poem about something because its too obvious. like in the airbnb i was at i guess it used to be a kids room cause you could see the imprint of one little glow in the dark star that had been missed and painted over in landlord white. like that's a poem already what's the point
btw the katy perry/bezos' girlfriend/other four irrelevant billionaires 10 minute space stunt was not the first all female expedition no matter how much they try to market it as such. the first all female mission was in 1963 with soviet cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova, Irina Solovyova and Valentina Ponomaryova - all three of which were working class and had to pass incredibly hard exams to be chosen from 400 potential candidates. just in case we started falling for the propaganda machine again
now say it with me: authors/artists dont owe you moral purity. an author/artist job is not to hold you by the hand & tell you exactly what is Good™ & what is Bad™. you should be able to think for yourself