Latest Posts by skelwrites - Page 7

I hope every writer who sees this writes LOADS the next few months. Like freetime opens up, no writers block, the ability to focus, etc etc you're able to write loads & make lots of progress <3

World-Building Tools and Resources List

If a link has a ⭐ beside it, it means that it is a resource that I personally use regularly, or have used in the past. Most often, this will be links to programs or other like resources.

If a link has a 💖 next to it, that means that I really like the content of the link. Most often, this will be for links to media, such as videos.

Please note that I have not tried everything on this list.

APPS AND PROGRAMS

⭐Fantasia Archive (Free)

Tennessine Flag Maker (Free)

Fantasy Calendar (Free limited version, subscription full version)

Bubisco (Free limited version, paid full version)

Campfire (Free limited version, subscription full version)

World Anvil (Free limited version, subscription full version)

Legend Keeper (Free trial, subscription full version)

One Stop for Writers (Free trial, subscription full version)

Inkarnate (Free limited version, subscription full version) - suggested by @trager-bombs

WORLD BUILDING QUESTIONS

Reedsy

Ellen Brock Editing

SFWA

GENERATORS:

World Maps:

Donjon’s Fantasy Map Generator

Mewo2’s Fantasy Map Generator

💖Azgaar’s Fantasy Map Generator

City/Village Maps:

💖Watabou’s City Map Generator

💖Watabou’s Village Generator

Eigengrau’s Town Generator

💖Probabletrain’s Modern City Map Generator

Street/Neighborhood Maps:

💖Watabou’s Neighborhood Generator

Location Details Generator:

Rangen’s Country Generator

Rangen’s City Generator

Donjon’s Fantasy Calendar Generator

Rangen’s Laws Generator

Springhole’s Random Holiday Generator

Springhole’s Landmarks Generator

Arkimedz’s Star Map Generator

Donjon’s Demographic Generator

Springhole’s Plant Generator

Languages:

Vulgar Language Generator

Madequa’s Glyph Generator

Money:

RanGen Currency Generator

Springhole Currency Generator

MAP MAKING

Cartographers Guild (Map Tutorials)

⭐Wonderdraft (Map Maker. Paid )

MISC

Dan Koboldt (a blog about getting the science right in Fantasy and Sci-Fi)

💖Food Timeline (shows what what people ate in history)

💖Orbis: helps estimate travel time based on distance and travel type

YOUTUBE

Ask a Mortician: Has videos about historical death customs

English Heritage: The Victorian Way: A series all about Victorian life

💖Modern History TV: Medieval Life

Tasting History: Historical Recipes

Hands on History: Viking history mixed with advertisements for their tours

Grimfrost: Viking history mixed with product advertisements

The Welsh Viking: Viking history

The British Museum: History told through artifacts

A tutorial on a (bit cheating) way of creating fictional maps.

Open your editing software (RECOMMENDING Krita, since it's free and it's very good).

Step 1: Google "X country silhouette" and copy it.

Paste it onto the canvas.

Step 2: Separate the silhouette from the background you copied with it! You can do that by using magic wand selection tool or by making a gradient map with black on 49,9% and transparent on 50% on the slider.

Step 3: Repeat several times with numerous countries and/or islands, cities, municipalities, communes, continents et cetera.

Step 4: Combine, mesh, stretch, rotate, mirror - go ham, make it work.

Step 5: Erase and add.

Step 6: Have your map outline ready, copy/paste it several times in the same doc on different layers and edit in different ways like biomes, kingdoms, mountains and other.

Step Mountains+: To figure out mountains, make another layer on the doc and do something like this:

-and then in every polygon you add an arrow.

Where arrows meet or transfer onto continents, add mountains.

Color the sea with a couple layers of depth and you're done :D

worried that thing you put in your art or writing or game or music is too self-indulgent, too self-referential, too niche for anyone but yourself? fear not! you can do whatever you want forever. and you should.

some people like gritty realism. me? I like that slippery, slippery unhinged fantasy. low viscosity make-believe. well-oiled bullshit. lubed-up whimsy.

“You’re so quiet, what’s wrong?” I’m creating my own fantasy world to escape from reality so shut up.

Pirate Terms and Phrases

-> Pirate Lingo

-> A Pirate's Glossary

Batten Down The Hatches - tie everything down and put stuff away for a coming storm.

Brig - a prison on a ship.

Bring a Spring Upon 'er - turn the ship in a different direction

Broadside - the most vulnerable angle of a ship that runs the length of the boat.

Cutlass - a thick, heavy and rather short sword blade.

Dance with Jack Ketch - to hang; death at the hands of the law (Jack Ketch was a famed English executioner).

Davy Jones's Locker - a mythical place at the bottom of the ocean where drowned sailors are said to go.

Dead Men Tell No Tales - the reason given for leaving no survivors.

Flogging - severe beating of a person.

Gangplank - removable ramp between the pier and ship.

Give No Quarter - show no mercy.

Jack - flag flown at the front of the ship to show nationality.

Jolly Roger - black pirate flag with a white skull and crossbones.

Keelhaul - a punishment where someone is dragged under the ship. They are cut by the planks and barnacles on the bottom of the ship.

Landlubber - an inexperienced or clumsy person who doesn't have any sailing skills.

Letters of Marque - government-issued letters allowing privateers the right to piracy of another ship during wartime.

Man-O-War - a pirate ship that is decked out and prepared for battle.

Maroon - to leave someone stranded on a. deserted island with no supplies, typically a punishment for any crew members who disrespected the captain.

Mutiny - a situation in which the crew chooses a new captain, sometimes by forcibly removing the old one.

No Prey, No Pay - a common pirate law that meant crew members were not paid, but rather received a share of whatever loot was taken.

Old Salt - experienced pirate or sailor.

Pillage - to steal/rob a place using violence.

Powder Monkeys - men that performed the most dangerous work on the ship. They were treated harshly, rarely paid, and were expendable.

Privateer - government-appointed pirates.

Run A Shot Across the Bow - fire a warning shot at another boat's Captain.

Scurvy - a disease caused by Vitamin C Deficiency.

Sea Legs - when a sailor adjusts his balance from riding on a boat for a long time.

Strike Colors - lower a ship's flag to indicate surrender.

Weigh Anchor and Hoist the Mizzen - an order to the crew to pull up the anchor and get the ship sailing.

If you like what I do and want to support me, please consider buying me a coffee! I also offer editing services and other writing advice on my Ko-fi! Become a member to receive exclusive content, early access, and prioritized writing prompt requests.

trying to find more songs for the playlist like a hunter and gatherer

Shipping fictional characters isn’t representative of your moral values. It’s representative of your particular psychic damage and the themes and motifs that haunt you. Hope this helps.

WTW PRESENTS OUR 41ST EVENT!

WelcomeToWriteblr brings you another prompt event, this one themed around the planets of our solar system! Like our last prompt event, this month is a redux of an older event that we’d once again like to bring to the community! 

From MAY 25TH TO MAY 31ST create something in response to that day’s prompt and post it. You’re welcome to do absolutely anything for the prompt of the day, whether it be a drawing, an excerpt, a playlist, or a moodboard. This event is aimed to get everyone involved and we will accept all submissions! 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Tag your posts as #WTWEVENT and #WTWCOMMUNITY

Format your posts like this: WTW PLANET PROMPTS - PLANET NAME: CHOSEN PROMPT

Wait for your post to be added to the queue. 

NSFW content will not be posted to the blog. 

OPTIONAL: Join our discord server if you would like to ensure your post makes it onto the blog! Tumblr’s tagging system can be unreliable and we want to make sure everyone’s creations are shared! Please note, you must be 15 OR OLDER to enter our server! 

PROMPT LIST 

Day 1 - Mercury - Locations or Travel 

Day 2 - Venus - Politics 

Day 3 - Earth - Nature 

Day 4 - Mars - War or Conflict 

Day 5 - Jupiter - Religion or Commerce 

Day 6 - Saturn - Luxury or Cuisine 

Day 7 - Uranus - History or Science 

Day 8 - Neptune - Lore or Mythology 

Day 9 - Pluto - Death 

GO BEYOND THE STARS, JOIN OUR SERVER HERE! (discord.gg/earlgrey)

↪ 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝 + 𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚎𝚝 --- a notion template

»»—————————-　𓆩❤︎𓆪　—————————-««

Hello, my sprites!

I've been super busy lately with organizing my characters, and as I was working, I had the idea to make a notion template based on my own masterlist. The template includes a general masterlist page and a character sheet template. There are two versions available with different fonts for legibility vs. aesthetic.

Please reblog if you use this!

VERSION 01 Default

VERSION 02 Fancy

FEATURES: Applies to both.

Menu: Two toggle lists, one for extra documents (such as relationship info, family dynamics, etc.) and one for links (such as pinterest, spotify, world anvil, etc.) Legend: Color-coded tiers to show progress on character toggles. Pages Database: A table + gallery view of expanded character pages. To Do: A to-do list for things relating to your characters. Character Toggles: Organized by world/universe/planet, then race, and finally name. This section is so you can easily see a list of your characters + quick details all on one page, rather than in a laggy, 30-page google doc or folders within folders. Customization: I have provided links to the font generators, brackets, and image websites I used so that you may change the page to your liking.

HOW TO USE: - Once opened in notion, click into the sidebar on the left side. - Click the three dots directly beside the current page - Hit 'duplicate' - All done!

Once again, please reblog if you use this, and I hope you enjoy it!

»»—————————-　𓆩❤︎𓆪　—————————-««

~ Of Fables & Feathers,

🕊️ Locke J. Haven

🌊

Total Solar Eclipse l April 2024 l U.S. & Canada

Cr. Deran Hall l Rami Ammoun(236) l GabeWasylko l OThingstodo l ZachHolderWx l Joshua Intini l Alfredo Juárez l KuzcoKhanda

writers writing: pacing must be an intentional element of mood and style; grammar and punctuation has to be on point; wording needs to be perfect.!!

writers texting: im.,, silly. i put the punctuation whereever my heart desires........ must not sound upright or passive aggressive.,,,,

Savannah Brown, from Closer Baby Closer; “My god, girlhood ripened”

[Text ID: “Oh I only want to write / about tomorrow / Tomorrow / I’ll be wiser and scarier / and so much harder to trick oh / it will be the best / and only day of my life”]

the feminine urge to become fluent in every language on earth so I can read literature in poetry in their native tongues to get the full effect

i love writing but i also hate writing. does that make any sense

favourite selfship dynamic ever has GOT to be "this is an objectively evil character But What If I Was Their Favourite" . literally SO fucking real . and i AM their favourite . they told me so and they would never lie to me. sorry that they lied TO YOU but they wouldnt do that to me. im just built different

loeildeos

Learning languages is SO FUN right up until you need to learn conjugation and then suddenly it turns sour real fucking fast

Twilight vibe 🤍

genuine question for writers: what are your non-words hobbies? (i.e. not reading)

calling all authors!!

i have just stumbled upon the most beautiful public document i have ever laid eyes on. this also goes for anyone whose pastimes include any sort of character creation. may i present, the HOLY GRAIL:

https://www.fbiic.gov/public/2008/nov/Naming_practice_guide_UK_2006.pdf

this wonderful 88-page piece has step by step breakdowns of how names work in different cultures! i needed to know how to name a Muslim character it has already helped me SO MUCH and i’ve known about it for all of 15 minutes!! i am thoroughly amazed and i just needed to share with you guys 

USEFUL WEBSITES FOR WRITERS

Writing With Color: Helps with writing about culture, ethnicity, and religion. Overall, it gives advice on how to write about diversity.

Name Generator: As the name says, it helps you build names for your characters. Very useful if you cannot think of names for your characters!

KathySteinemann: The 'archive.pdf' section helps you with synonyms in case you struggle to find the right word for your sentences (also to avoid using redundant words).

Spwickstrom: Similar to the previous one, this one provides grammar tips. Extremely helpful when finding phrases, verbs, conjunctions, adjectives, and so on.

Servicescape: The perfect website if you're experiencing writer's block. It provides writing prompts. It helps you spark creativity when it comes to writing.

reblog to help other writers !!

got told at lunch "you feel like Tumblr Incarnate" and i had to tell them i've been here for 13 years and counting. i was here three years before dashcon happened. i saw the mishapocalypse. i survived the gigapause. i've been here longer than the shoelaces post. i've been here since it was hipsters versus fandom and i played both sides extensively by overdoing the sepia filters on everything and making my own flashing galaxy gif edits for my fandom posts. i'm every tumblr. it's all in me

HOW TO GIVE PERSONALITY TO A CHARACTER

Giving personality to a character is an essential part of character development in storytelling, whether you're writing a novel, screenplay, or creating a character for a role-playing game. Here are some steps and considerations to help you give personality to your character:

Understand Their Backstory:

Start by creating a detailed backstory for your character. Where were they born? What were their childhood experiences like? What significant events have shaped their life? Understanding their past can help you determine their motivations, fears, and desires.

2. Define Their Goals and Motivations:

Characters often become more interesting when they have clear goals and motivations. What does your character want? It could be something tangible like a job or a romantic relationship, or it could be an abstract desire like happiness or freedom.

3. Determine Their Strengths and Weaknesses:

No one is perfect, and characters should reflect this. Identify your character's strengths and weaknesses. This can include physical abilities, intellectual skills, and personality traits. Flaws can make characters relatable and three-dimensional.

4. Consider Their Personality Traits:

Think about your character's personality traits. Are they introverted or extroverted? Shy or outgoing? Kind or selfish? Create a list of traits that describe their character. You can use personality frameworks like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or the Big Five Personality Traits as a starting point.

5. Give Them Quirks and Habits:

Quirks and habits can make a character memorable. Do they have a specific way of speaking, a unique fashion style, or an unusual hobby? These details can help bring your character to life.

6. Explore Their Relationships:

Characters don't exist in isolation. Consider how your character interacts with others. What are their relationships like with family, friends, and enemies? These relationships can reveal a lot about their personality.

7. Show, Don't Tell:

Instead of explicitly telling the audience about your character's personality, show it through their actions, dialogue, and decisions. Let the reader or viewer infer their traits based on their behavior.

8. Create Internal Conflict:

Characters with internal conflicts are often more engaging. What inner struggles does your character face? These can be related to their goals, values, or past experiences.

9. Use Character Arcs:

Consider how your character will change or grow throughout the story. Character development is often about how a character evolves in response to the events and challenges they face.

10. Seek Inspiration:

Draw inspiration from real people, other fictional characters, or even historical figures. Study how people with similar traits and backgrounds behave to inform your character's actions and reactions.

11. Write Dialogue and Inner Monologues:

Writing dialogue and inner monologues from your character's perspective can help you get inside their head and understand their thought processes and emotions.

12. Consider the Setting:

The setting of your story can influence your character's personality. For example, a character who grows up in a war-torn environment may have a different personality than one raised in a peaceful, affluent society.

13. Revise and Refine:

Don't be afraid to revise and refine your character as you write and develop your story. Characters can evolve and change as the narrative unfolds.

Remember that well-developed characters are dynamic and multi-faceted. They should feel like real people with strengths, weaknesses, and complexities. As you write and develop your character, put yourself in their shoes and think about how they would react to various situations. This will help you create a compelling and believable personality for your character.