Writing Prompt - Blog Posts

Go read the reblogs, there’s so many gems in there and I couldn’t pick a thread to share. ✨

The Viewers

Danny and Tucker move in together for college in Gotham

Tucker decided to make tiktoks just for fun, he could teach people about technology and help give tips.

He didn't realize that his viewers could see Danny in the background in some clips.

Danny being Danny was never caught doing something normal instead it was always something weird.

~

Tucker: "So you just switch this piece here-"

Danny in the background more than half his body in the fridge, the fridge is very noticeably growling

Tucker who is so used to it, it doesn't even register in his mind that it's not normal.

~

Tucker fan-boying about the new Wayne tech

His viewers looking behind him at Danny

Danny running around fighting his food which is also growling & flying

~

Tucker modifying his tech for the viewers

Danny's voice in the distance: "Bye Tuck, I need to go soup this guy real quick!"

Viewers: "Cannibalism?!"

~

Tucker: "Ah yes a very normal video!"

His viewers watching Danny:

~

Just an Idea

Please, someone help me. I am invested. I desire to write this, but I don’t know enough about the lore of either fandom to properly string this along. My need is desperate, and I cannot do anything to satiate it-

In Arkham they don't allow outside media in fear of the rouges getting any ideas. This leads to them treating the staff like their own personal TV show, this leads to a level of parasocial obsession that can often be detrimental (See Harley Quinn as a notable example). So when DR. Jazz Fenton comes in with subtle hinting of government conspiracies and a 'i've seen worse' attitude they are INVESTED. Meany of them are staying just for the show, their plans can wait they NEED to know this woman's backstory.

"hey it's been awfully quiet"

"Yeah, new hire at Arkham, it happens sometimes"

*3 months later*

"sooo"

"yeah something's definitely up"

Dear Expectations, You are always there when I need you the least. You make a simple task feel immensely impossible. You run my fingers raw while writing a paper, my mind to exhaustion to be absolute perfection, and my body to sleep deprivation in search of a grade no less than what I need to pass. In the search of a way around you, I stand in your shadow, unable to overtake the panic that you make arise in my chest, the pounding that never ceases until after the deadline has passed or my grade sealed in the grave that you have been helping me dig. your shadow isn't big enough to keep me inside, it is not bog enough to harbor the panic and the anxiety that you bring with you wherever you go. Following you like two hungry watch dogs, waiting for me to fall to the ground, to feast upon what is left.  While you are there to bring me up when I have to do my best, you bring an illusion of a silver lining making this seem worth it in the slightest sense. For the reward of praise is too much to ask from you when all you deal in deceit and terror.

With no love

“…what the actual fuck- PUT IT BACK!” Alex exclaimed, hands flying everywhere around them. They‘d done enough things today that could make them criminals back in her hometown, and the same was probably true here, alternate universe or timeline or whatever! Honestly, Alex was getting really tired of this job already, and the Lieutenant wasn’t making any of it easier.

“Pft-“ The maniac in question cawed, spinning the bloody sword with a crazed giddiness. It made the other uneasy. “Why would I do that, mi amiga, when he’s already dead?” The bloodied silver of the blade was pointed right in Alex’s face, almost grazing the very tip of her nose. The girl shrieked, falling backwards onto the dusty, rocky ground.

“D-don’t point it at me!” She choked out rather squeakily, glaring daggers as the other cackles.

“Alright, alright, I will!” Phoenix waved a hand as she responded, spinning the sword one more time. Soon enough, she tossed it over her head. They heard it whistling flying through the air for a moment, until a shriek of pain echoed it. The blonde’s almost bat-like ears fell a bit, clawed hands grabbing Alex’s as they fell into a run. “Rápida, to the avian city!”

“To the what?!”

“Luego; I’ll explain after my shortcut!”

“That doesn’t-“ Her frustration was silenced by her own shriek as she was dragged head first into a portal. The golden glow disoriented everything, ears buzzing and ringing in tune with every single sensation of the universe. It was like being pulled like taffy and torn apart, only put back together by tape; All for a god damn shortcut! They should’ve kept that sword, so Alex could chop that cocky, careless head off it’s immortal pedestal.

Oh, right. Immortal.

God damn this job.

“Where did you get a sword?!”

“Found it.”

“Where?!”

“Dead body.”

Potential Sonadow Halloween Prompt!

(Or just Sonic, doesn’t have to be exclusively sonadow)

Not sure if anyone has done this, but yall ever seen those fun Halloween movies or show specials where the characters are cursed to become whatever they’re dressed up as, and then they have to figure out how to break the curse before the sun rises or before midnight, or they’re stuck as that forever? Picture that kind of thing but with the Sonic crew!

While it could be any costume, obviously the ones I have in mind are Sonic as werehog and Shadow as a vampire. Because who doesn’t love a good vampire and werehog 😌

And if you wanna make things *really* interesting… Sonic and Shadow sacrifice their chance to lose the curse to save everyone else from their curses. This leads to them having to figure out their new lives of being a permanent vampire and werehog (or whatever you want them to be) together :)

Alastor: Husker darling... I don't seem to understand.... H... How can you let yourself...

Husk: And I thought I've known you long enough and yet you still surprise me... For once you actually shut up...

Alastor: You seem to take this too lightly my dear...

Husk: To be fair, this ain't my first time being in this situation...

Alastor: Yes... And I hoped it never had to repeat itself...

Based on a scene from my AO3 fanfic, "A Strange Yet Familiar Sensation"

Sometimes through pain, there's comfort in them...

@rosediamondqueen

@sallychoasaura

@ratatatattatatatta

don't know if you are still doing requests but can i request a selkie husk au

An AU dealing with mythological creatures?

HELL YES

I kinda had half thought process and half winging it...

A Selkie from what I've read are creatures that are seals when out in the sea, and humans when on land. The way they transform is actually by shedding their "skin".

Now this is where my winging part came in, Husk was actually wounded and was force to retreat to land and wait for his injuries to heal. Now I had to research as much as my resources allowed me, and if a human were able to take the Selkie's skin then they are basically forced to marriage to that human. Let's just say Alastor, while his initial plan was to expand his hunting amongst seals, he doesn't mind catching himself a mythical creature as well.

Husk now bounded to Alastor (while reluctant and aggressive at first) has to be a devoted "husband", to which Alastor loves to play around the concept.

Ack, I need to draw this more often... BECAUSE THIS IS RADIOHUSK MATERIAL FOR ENEMIES TO LOVERS 💖💖💖

I hope you liked it nonetheless ^^

Well, I ended up writing a little something for myself for this prompt which has now spawned an entire fic... Please enjoy chapter 1, posted below! The rest of the fic will be up over the next week or so and can be found here on ao3.

-----

And Always, My Love

The first time Rook kissed Lucanis, it was unexpected. She’d put one hand on his cheek and leaned over, landing a sloppy kiss on his cheekbone, just below his eye. They were both drunk, as were Neve and Bellara. The four of them had been trading stories over a bottle of wine. One bottle turned into two, and two quickly progressed to three, and three… begot a kiss.

Lucanis hoped he wasn’t blushing. Bellara laughed and pointed, reiterating the obvious: Rook was very drunk, and Lucanis was very surprised. Neve glared daggers. Lucanis wasn’t entirely certain why. They’d flirted, sure, but nothing was spoken for at this point. Spite roared in his brain.

TELL. HER. SHE NEEDS. TO. KNOW.

Lucanis met Rook’s gaze, enraptured by her shining green eyes, and not for the first time. Some invisible force behind her gaze tugged at his breastbone, and he watched Rook’s eyes widen as he leaned in. Her lips parted, and she gasped softly, drawing his gaze downward. Mierda. He wanted to kiss her. Badly.

Lucanis’ eyes flicked back up to Rook’s and the intensity of her gaze struck him to stillness. Did she want to kiss him too? The way her gaze roved over him, searching and hungry, made him believe so.

Now. Tell her. NOW.

Lucanis opened his mouth, but in the same moment, the reason he could not tell her anything walked through the door.

“Drinking without me?” Davrin asked, his voice as smooth as silk and as deep as the ocean dared dwell. Rook shot up immediately, the spell between them shattering into a million pieces, and flittering off into nothingness like the end of a shooting star. It blazed hot, when you could see it, but it was intangible once the moment had passed.

She fluttered over to Davrin, her long curly hair bouncing with every step. Lucanis grimaced as his friend lifted Rook up, spinning her around before kissing her forehead once he’d placed her back on the ground. They were a good match. Lucanis pretended he was happy for them.

We could KILL him. Easy. POISON in soup.

No.

You COOK. You ASSASSINATE.

No!

What if there was. A CONTRACT.

“Oh, shut up…” Lucanis murmured with a sigh before rubbing his forehead.

“That’s rather rude,” Neve quipped. Lucanis raised his head, confused. Neve continued to glare daggers at him. “All Rook asked was if you wanted another drink.”

Lucanis flicked his gaze over to Rook. The concern in her eyes made her look suspiciously sober, but the way she wavered at Davrin’s side, prompting the other man to loop a steadying arm around her shoulders, betrayed her intoxication.

“My apologies, I wasn’t talking to you, Rook. Spite was…” Lucanis searched for the right words, not willing to allow his friends to be privy to Spite’s foolish suggestion. Finally, he settled on,  “…being rather loud.”

Rook grinned, an adorable, lopsided twist of her lips in her drunken state. “Well, maybe Spite needs another drink.”

YES.

“No,” Lucanis said firmly, and resisted another sigh. Resolutely ignoring Spite’s protests inside his head he continued, “On the contrary, I think Spite and I have had a bit too much to drink. I will take my leave.”

“Noooooo Lucaaaaanis,” Bellara whined drunkenly. “You can’t leave yet.”

Lucanis rose to his feet and took a second to let the world right itself before he stepped away from the chairs in the library. He called on all his discipline and dexterity to look less intoxicated than he felt and avoid tangling his legs on the table that sat between them, strewn with glasses and empty bottles of wine.

“I’m sorry, Bellara. I’ve had enough for one night.”

“Ooookay but just wait,” Bellara said cheerfully and shot up from her chair. She stumbled over to him, likely intending to give him a goodbye hug, but accidently launched herself into his side when she tripped on the low table he’d so painstakingly avoided. Lucanis caught her without too much trouble, but he staggered a bit, just barely managing to keep his feet under them both.

“Sorry, whoa-“ Bellara said, wobbling all over again the instant Lucanis righted her into a standing position. This time Davrin stepped forward, taking her other arm. She let out a peal of laughter and Rook’s infectious giggles joined Bellara’s, the humor of Bellara’s disequilibrium obviously enhanced by the alcohol bubbling through their veins. Rook’s laughter was a beautiful sound; Lucanis couldn’t help but stare. The way Rook’s whole face lit up with joy, her eyes scrunched into adorable crescents, cheeks round and rosy… Mierda. He couldn’t keep thinking these things.

“I should be going,” Lucanis said, leaving Bellara in Davrin’s capable hands. He bid his goodbyes and made a quick exit from the library, managing to stay upright without too much effort. He just had to make it to his quarters. The walk wasn’t long. This he could do. Spending time with Rook… especially Rook and Davrin… that was something he was going to need to work on.

TELL HER.

He couldn’t. It was better this way. Rook deserved better.

But. You CARE. About her.

That didn’t matter. He didn’t deserve Rook. He’d only entangle her in his mess.

WHAT. MESS.

Lucanis scoffed. The Crows. The Ossuary. The mess that was a demon inside his head.

But I CARE too. About Rook.

“It doesn’t matter,” Lucanis murmured to himself as much as to Spite. “She made her choice. And it was the right one. We… we are the wrong choice.”

LUCANIS IS. STUPID.

Lucanis rolled his eyes. “Whatever,” he muttered under his breath, staggering up the steps to the elevated courtyard. When he reached the top step, Lucanis sighed in relief, only to lose his footing instantly, his boot slipping on a particularly smooth stone.

Luckily, a pair of lithe but strong hands wrapped around his arm, saving him from a rather unfortunate fall onto the stone walkway.

“Careful darling.”

Lucanis sighed. “Neve.”

Neve looped her arm around his and helped him towards the dining hall at the far end of the courtyard, where his quarters lay. “We all had a bit too much to drink. Just wanted to make sure you made it back okay.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” Lucanis told her, shaking his head and then regretting it, as the world seemed to spin a little to the left.

“No, but I wanted to,” Neve replied, her voice light and hopeful. Lucanis frowned. This was a mess too. He’d started something flirty with Neve and he’d intended it to remain casual. It seemed she may want more than that.

“You deserve better, you know? She doesn’t get to demand your affections, not after she’s chosen someone else,” Neve said, turning up her nose as if the notion itself was distasteful to her. Lucanis and Spite both bristled, defending Rook immediately.

“She demands nothing.” He couldn’t tame the sharpness from his tongue, and it shamed him. While he did not deserve Rook, he had enough scraps of self-worth left to know how pathetic he must sound, defending her to Neve.

“Well then, how do you explain tonight?”

“I have… lingering feelings. That isn’t Rook’s fault.”

“Still,” Neve said, pausing outside of the dining hall before letting go of his arm. “Perhaps it’s time to find a new focus for your attentions.”

Lucanis’ frown deepened. He should have known this was coming. He’d never intended for anything serious between them, and he regretted if he’d given her the wrong idea. He tried to put her off.

“Look, Neve-“

“I’m not asking for you to fall in love with me, darling.” Neve interrupted. Slipping her fingers beneath his chin she caressed his jaw, drawing his eyes to hers. “But I think you could use a distraction.”

Lucanis raised an eyebrow, his apprehension fading as Neve presented him with a more familiar, easier option.

“A distraction?” He leaned in, coming nose to nose with Neve. Her brown eyes were half lidded as she stared at his lips. Her breath ghosted across his skin. It prickled in anticipation, and he waited, wondering what her next move would be.

After what seemed like an eternity, Neve spoke. “If you want to kiss me, you’d better hurry up.”

Without thinking, Lucanis crashed his lips against hers. Their kisses were rough and hungry, both desperate for a taste of the other. Lucanis wrapped one arm around her waist and the other he threaded into her hair, pulling at the soft brown strands, angling her mouth where he wished. She kissed him back fiercely, nipping his bottom lip and scrapping her fingernails pleasantly down the side of his neck. Pulling on her hair, he tipped her head back so he could kiss her neck. Rook’s skin was sof-

The hapless thought jarred him back to reality, and Lucanis pulled away abruptly.

LUCANIS. IS. STUPID.

Yes. Yes, he was.

“I-“ Neve started, looking rather flustered.

“Not tonight,” Lucanis cut her off, silencing any further questions with a shake of his head, and a thin lie. “I’m too drunk.”

Neve narrowed her eyes, obviously not entirely satisfied with his feeble excuse for such a sudden change in behavior. Her scrutiny was intense, but Lucanis was a Crow, and Caterina’s grandson. Learning to lie and resist interrogation had been both part of his training, and essential to escaping his grandmother’s wrath growing up. Silence came easily for him, drunk or not.

“Alright,” Neve said eventually, though the quirk of her lips told him she still retained her suspicions. “Rest well.”

Lucanis bid her farewell and staggered through the door of the dining hall, making his way to the pantry and promptly collapsing face down onto his bed.

What was he going to do with himself?

WHY. Are WE WRONG?

Lucanis sighed.

“We just are, Spite. We just are,” he mumbled into his pillow drunkenly, unwilling to delve any further into it. His mind was a mess, and not in the usual way. Lucanis squeezed his eyes shut tight. For the first time in a long time, he wanted to sleep. A brief reprieve from all this thinking… would be welcome.

As he drifted off, Lucanis murmured, “Don’t tell her while I’m sleeping. Please.”

He felt Spite slip towards unconsciousness with him for a change.

I WON’T BETRAY LUCANIS.

Lucanis was grateful. And then he slept.

Romance Prompt Questions:

✨ First Times ✨

To spark some positive fandom enthusiasm, I thought I'd try creating a ~fun little ask prompt~, so here goes!

Send an ask with "The first time..." and fill in the rest with whatever you like - then receive snippets, headcanons, or a mix of both!

This can be serious ("the first time character A confided something in character B" / "the first time character B thought about kissing character A" / "the first time they dealt with loss together") or entirely silly ("the first time character A heard character B snoring" / "the first time character A's uniform was horribly out of place in front of character B" / "the first time they laughed so hard they cried together").

I encourage all writers and non-writers alike to participate however they wish! This isn't about creating mesmerizing prose, but about sharing in each others' love of the Characters™.

Romance Prompt Questions:

✨ First Times ✨

To spark some positive fandom enthusiasm, I thought I'd try creating a ~fun little ask prompt~, so here goes!

Send an ask with "The first time..." and fill in the rest with whatever you like - then receive snippets, headcanons, or a mix of both!

This can be serious ("the first time character A confided something in character B" / "the first time character B thought about kissing character A" / "the first time they dealt with loss together") or entirely silly ("the first time character A heard character B snoring" / "the first time character A's uniform was horribly out of place in front of character B" / "the first time they laughed so hard they cried together").

I encourage all writers and non-writers alike to participate however they wish! This isn't about creating mesmerizing prose, but about sharing in each others' love of the Characters™.

Excited to see you doing these too! How about 19 for crosslo

Thank you so much for this ask! Sorry for the delay, but life has been so busy. I had the most fun writing this and I did take a little liberty with what it means to be "underwater" but I hope you enjoy! There is a little bit of spiciness in this one, so I'm putting the full text below the cut :)

Falling for You

Kiss Roulette Prompt 19: A kiss underwater

Pairing: Crosshair x oc (Arlo)

“Look, Cross!” Arlo called, wiping the sweat from her brow with one hand while extending the other out before her, pointing to the clearing at the end of the long jungle trail.

Crosshair shook his head, little droplets of sweat flying from his brow as he did so. Picking the hottest day of the year to go on a hike through the jungle on the far side of lower Pabu hadn’t been the finest idea, but it seemed it had all been worth it to Arlo, as she continued to point emphatically into the clearing before her, a broad smile on her face.

Stepping up to meet her, he peered beyond the thicket of tropical trees and bushes and was pleasantly surprised by the oasis that awaited him. There was a large pool of water in the middle of the clearing, fed by a beautiful waterfall, skittering over the rocks a few meters above the pool and cascading down into the clear green-blue water below.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Arlo observed, already wandering across the clearing to the water’s edge, where she promptly sat down and removed her hiking shoes. Crosshair padded up behind her, folding his arms over his chest and regarding her dubiously.

“What are you doing?” he questioned, raising an eyebrow as she pulled the hairband from her golden locks next, allowing her hair to cascade down her back, and then she stood.

“I’m going for a swim of course,” Arlo replied evenly, pulling her shirt over her head. “If I spend a minute more in this heat, I’m going to melt.”

Crosshair stared openly as she threw her shirt to the ground and made quick work of the buttons on her pants. To his surprise, she didn’t stop there. Next came her bra, and then her underwear, until she was standing before him completely naked, without a hint of self-consciousness whatsoever.

He must have worn his shock on his face, because Arlo gave him a suggestive wink before wading into the water. Crosshair watched her with interest. Though they’d been together for years, she never ceased to catch him off guard from time to time. Arlo was a confident woman, but this was bold, even for her.

Huffing a short chuckle, he watched as she continued to make her way towards the center of the pool. When the water reached her waist, she turned back towards him and regarded him with a saccharine smile on her face.

“Care to join me, love?” she asked, eyes wide with false innocence as her hands boasted temptation, drawing his gaze from her face to her chest as she played with her hair, the long golden strands having fallen over her shoulders.

“It looks cold,” Crosshair grouched, even as he set his pack on the ground, fighting the smirk that warred with his scowl for dominance upon his lips.

“Hmmm,” Arlo murmured, flicking her hair back over her shoulders. “I find it rather refreshing.”

“Indeed,” Crosshair drawled, kicking off his boots as he pulled his shirt over his head. Arlo merely giggled softly, dragging her fingers playfully through the water at her hips, watching him with a heated satisfaction in her eyes. Crosshair allowed himself to smirk then, happy to know she liked what she saw.

After he finished divesting himself of his clothes, he followed her path into the middle of the pool. When he reached for her, Arlo stepped back but caught his hand in hers. Tugging on it gently, she led him across the water towards the waterfall.

She looked like something out of a dream, a water nymph, leading him towards what could only be both his pleasure and his doom. Crosshair was enchanted and couldn’t help the smile and laugh she pulled from his lips as she placed her free hand into the waterfall’s path, grinning and giggling as the water splashed across it.

“It feels nice,” she assured him as she backed under the silvery falls, tipping her head back as the cool water slid down her face and neck before trailing down the rest of her body. Crosshair eagerly stepped into the waterfall with her, letting out a sigh of satisfaction as she finally allowed him to hold her.

With his hands encircling her waist, he stepped forward, until her body was pressed against his. The warmth of her skin was a delicious contrast to the coolness of the water running over his body.

“Kiss me,” she murmured. Or at least that’s what Crosshair thought she was going to say. His lips were already on hers, and she kissed him back eagerly, falling into his embrace.

Why?

Summary: Although he is a man of few words, Crosshair is rather curious. Arlo loves answering his questions.

For @summer-of-bad-batch Prompts: Injured (Week 2 Main Prompt) and Forget I Asked (Week 3 Alternate Prompt)

Fandom: The Bad Batch

Pairing: Crosshair x Original Female Character

Rating: T

Word Count: ~5,100

I was finally able to get something posted for Summer of Bad Batch! Yay! I combined a couple of the prompts, as they both worked well for this fic. This fic belongs to a longer series for Crosshair and my OC, Arlo. A link to the other fics in the series can be found here in my series, Cross My Heart and Help Me Heal.

If you're reading this...

go write three sentences on your current writing project.

When the prophecy was given your first thought was to action you thought of ways to prevent it to remove the child to get rid of them. But then you looked at your a wife and you realized, you couldn’t no matter what you couldn’t break her heart like that. So you turned to the soothsayer, blind and deaf, yet knowing, seeing, and hearing and said.

“Thank you. You may go.”

Then you began preparing

you're far from the first king to receive the prophecy that your new born child would cause your death. Where your story diverges is when instead of tossing the kid to the wolves, you are driven to be a kind & nurturing father.

Gregor the Overlander

Specifically Boots

Prompt: You see your younger sibling getting abducted at the park. Panicked, you rush to save them only for the abductor to reveal that they’re not abducting your sibling—your sibling is the world’s Chosen One and they’re here to train them.

Woah

You’re the most recognised and internationally praised superhero, but you don’t fight any crime. Instead, you use your powers over stone and metal to repair the damage caused by the catastrophic fights other heroes get into.

Ways to get to know your characters:

These are just some ways I do t, feel free to add your own tips!

Google sheets. Just google sheets. Make a sheet for your story and create categories to fill on your character's traits. Very simple example:

2. Making Pinterest boards. Listen maybe I'm biased because I'm on Pinterest more than I'm on Tumblr and it gives me the most intense nostalgia of any website/app ever, but it may be my most helpful tactic. This works in plenty of ways. Making a board for one story's character designs and making individual categories for each character in that board. Making individual board for each character's design, aesthetic, personality, whatever. No example but I think you get it.

3. I might sound like you lame ass ELA teacher from 9th grade or whatever when I say this, but plot mountains are really helpful. Now I don't mean the plot plot for all you, "I just start writing and am as surprised as my characters when everything goes to shit." writers like me, I'm talking about an internal plot. To explain, there is an external plot (exposition, rising action, climax, etc.) and internal plot (character development,) making external plot mountains isn't helpful for me because I want freedom in my writing. I know where it starts and sometimes where it stops and that's good enough, but writing the development of a character is good to outline just for the foreshadowing and because CHARACTER FLAWS ARE FUCKING IMPORTANT. (Cue the one post about eating mayo packets)

4. Mark their birthdays in your calendar. Like google calendar or whatever the fuck you use. Anyway, dedicate their birthday to just getting to know them. Make a wish list of presents they'd like, or a slideshow about the party activities they'd like, or a pinterest board about what their party theme would be. It's fun, I swear.

5. Make lists of a bunch of stuff. Their flaws, their strengths, their favourite thing, their pet peeves, their favourite people, their pets, their little quirks they have, etc.

6. Physical objects. Make them, buy them, or just stuff you already have. Make a little box of things they'd like or have. Treat them like a friend. A real person. It'll inspire you to write or draw more and you can come up with little backstories on the items.

7. Give them a catchphrase. Even if they never say it, it's cute. I like them. Most people do, I think.

I have 7+ other cas challenges to start but i'm lazy

SWEET FEBRUARY a prompt list

hey guys! i did this sweet prompt list to maybe isnpire some of you into the valentine's day breeze, even tho i myself dont have this "holiday" on my country lol

you can use the list for whatever you like: sims, lookbooks, poses, photoshoots, blenders, anything! you dont even need to do all days or follow the order, just do what speaks to you! its purpose is to bring inspiration for you to create!!

have fun and tag me!!!!!!!!!! #SweetFebruarySims

For Future Reference.

words for your fight scenes

Breathe

draw, expire, heave, inhale, puff, suffocate

Catch

intercept, tackle

Climb

arise, ascension, mount, scale, surface

Cut

amputate, ax/axe, bisect, chisel, cleave, crop, cut up, dent, dissect, engrave, etch, fell, hack, lacerate, mangle, molt, mutilate, notch, peel, scar, scratch, shave, shred, slash, slit, trim, whittle

Dispose

boot, chuck, disposal, dispose of, do away with, elimination, kick out, rejection, scrap, throw away, void

Drop

alight, crash, decline, descent, dive, droop, duck, fall, flop, fumble, go under, keel over, light, percolate, plumb, plunge, sag, settle, sink, slump, stoop, submerge, suspend, thud/thump, tumble, wilt

Hide

ambush, bury, camouflage, conceal, cover, cover-up, cringe, disguise, dissimulate, embed, ensconce, envelop, isolation, lurk, masquerade, palliate, screen, seclusion, sequester, shrink, shut off/shut out, sneak, withhold

Hit

applaud, bang, baste, batter, beat, blindside, boot, buffet, bunt, chip, clash, clip, clout, collide, concussion, crash, cuff, deflect, drive, flail, glance, hammer, jab, jostle, knock, lick, nail, peck, plaudits, pound, punch, rap, scourge, slap, smack, sock, strike, swipe, tap, thud/thump, tip, whack, whip

Hold forcefully

apprehend, cage, clasp, clinch, confinement, constriction, cramp, detain, embrace, enslave, fetters, grasp, gripe, hold, incarcerate, overpower, press, shackle, snatch, strangle, throttle, wrestle

NOTE

The above are concepts classified according to subject and usage. It not only helps writers and thinkers to organize their ideas but leads them from those very ideas to the words that can best express them.

It was, in part, created to turn an idea into a specific word. By linking together the main entries that share similar concepts, the index makes possible creative semantic connections between words in our language, stimulating thought and broadening vocabulary.

Source ⚜ Writing Basics & Refreshers ⚜ On Vocabulary Notes: Fight Scenes (pt. 1) (pt. 2) Word Lists: Fight ⚜ Pain

@livyamel

You can write that fainting competition now where your opponent is Dante!

The Anatomy of Passing Out: When, Why, and How to Write It

Passing out, or syncope, is a loss of consciousness that can play a pivotal role in storytelling, adding drama, suspense, or emotional weight to a scene. Whether it’s due to injury, fear, or exhaustion, the act of fainting can instantly shift the stakes in your story.

But how do you write it convincingly? How do you ensure it’s not overly dramatic or medically inaccurate? In this guide, I’ll walk you through the causes, stages, and aftermath of passing out. By the end, you’ll be able to craft a vivid, realistic fainting scene that enhances your narrative without feeling clichéd or contrived.

2. Common Causes of Passing Out

Characters faint for a variety of reasons, and understanding the common causes can help you decide when and why your character might lose consciousness. Below are the major categories that can lead to fainting, each with their own narrative implications.

Physical Causes

Blood Loss: A sudden drop in blood volume from a wound can cause fainting as the body struggles to maintain circulation and oxygen delivery to the brain.

Dehydration: When the body doesn’t have enough fluids, blood pressure can plummet, leading to dizziness and fainting.

Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension): Characters with chronic low blood pressure may faint after standing up too quickly, due to insufficient blood reaching the brain.

Intense Pain: The body can shut down in response to severe pain, leading to fainting as a protective mechanism.

Heatstroke: Extreme heat can cause the body to overheat, resulting in dehydration and loss of consciousness.

Psychological Causes

Emotional Trauma or Shock: Intense fear, grief, or surprise can trigger a fainting episode, as the brain becomes overwhelmed.

Panic Attacks: The hyperventilation and increased heart rate associated with anxiety attacks can deprive the brain of oxygen, causing a character to faint.

Fear-Induced Fainting (Vasovagal Syncope): This occurs when a character is so afraid that their body’s fight-or-flight response leads to fainting.

Environmental Causes

Lack of Oxygen: Situations like suffocation, high altitudes, or enclosed spaces with poor ventilation can deprive the brain of oxygen and cause fainting.

Poisoning or Toxins: Certain chemicals or gasses (e.g., carbon monoxide) can interfere with the body’s ability to transport oxygen, leading to unconsciousness.

3. The Stages of Passing Out

To write a realistic fainting scene, it’s important to understand the stages of syncope. Fainting is usually a process, and characters will likely experience several key warning signs before they fully lose consciousness.

Pre-Syncope (The Warning Signs)

Before losing consciousness, a character will typically go through a pre-syncope phase. This period can last anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, and it’s full of physical indicators that something is wrong.

Light-Headedness and Dizziness: A feeling that the world is spinning, which can be exacerbated by movement.

Blurred or Tunnel Vision: The character may notice their vision narrowing or going dark at the edges.

Ringing in the Ears: Often accompanied by a feeling of pressure or muffled hearing.

Weakness in Limbs: The character may feel unsteady, like their legs can’t support them.

Sweating and Nausea: A sudden onset of cold sweats, clamminess, and nausea is common.

Rapid Heartbeat (Tachycardia): The heart races as it tries to maintain blood flow to the brain.

Syncope (The Loss of Consciousness)

When the character faints, the actual loss of consciousness happens quickly, often within seconds of the pre-syncope signs.

The Body Going Limp: The character will crumple to the ground, usually without the ability to break their fall.

Breathing: Breathing continues, but it may be shallow and rapid.

Pulse: While fainting, the heart rate can either slow down dramatically or remain rapid, depending on the cause.

Duration: Most fainting episodes last from a few seconds to a minute or two. Prolonged unconsciousness may indicate a more serious issue.

Post-Syncope (The Recovery)

After a character regains consciousness, they’ll typically feel groggy and disoriented. This phase can last several minutes.

Disorientation: The character may not immediately remember where they are or what happened.

Lingering Dizziness: Standing up too quickly after fainting can trigger another fainting spell.

Nausea and Headache: After waking up, the character might feel sick or develop a headache.

Weakness: Even after regaining consciousness, the body might feel weak or shaky for several hours.

4. The Physical Effects of Fainting

Fainting isn’t just about losing consciousness—there are physical consequences too. Depending on the circumstances, your character may suffer additional injuries from falling, especially if they hit something on the way down.

Impact on the Body

Falling Injuries: When someone faints, they usually drop straight to the ground, often hitting their head or body in the process. Characters may suffer cuts, bruises, or even broken bones.

Head Injuries: Falling and hitting their head on the floor or a nearby object can lead to concussions or more severe trauma.

Scrapes and Bruises: If your character faints on a rough surface or near furniture, they may sustain scrapes, bruises, or other minor injuries.

Physical Vulnerability

Uncontrolled Fall: The character’s body crumples or falls in a heap. Without the ability to brace themselves, they are at risk for further injuries.

Exposed While Unconscious: While fainted, the character is vulnerable to their surroundings. This could lead to danger in the form of attackers, environmental hazards, or secondary injuries from their immediate environment.

Signs to Look For While Unconscious

Shallow Breathing: The character's breathing will typically become shallow or irregular while they’re unconscious.

Pale or Flushed Skin: Depending on the cause of fainting, a character’s skin may become very pale or flushed.

Twitching or Muscle Spasms: In some cases, fainting can be accompanied by brief muscle spasms or jerking movements.

5. Writing Different Types of Fainting

There are different types of fainting, and each can serve a distinct narrative purpose. The way a character faints can help enhance the scene's tension or emotion.

Sudden Collapse

In this case, the character blacks out without any warning. This type of fainting is often caused by sudden physical trauma or exhaustion.

No Warning: The character simply drops, startling both themselves and those around them.

Used in High-Tension Scenes: For example, a character fighting in a battle may suddenly collapse from blood loss, raising the stakes instantly.

Slow and Gradual Fainting

This happens when a character feels themselves fading, usually due to emotional stress or exhaustion.

Internal Monologue: The character might have time to realize something is wrong and reflect on what’s happening before they lose consciousness.

Adds Suspense: The reader is aware that the character is fading but may not know when they’ll drop.

Dramatic Fainting

Some stories call for a more theatrical faint, especially in genres like historical fiction or period dramas.

Exaggerated Swooning: A character might faint from shock or fear, clutching their chest or forehead before collapsing.

Evokes a Specific Tone: This type of fainting works well for dramatic, soap-opera-like scenes where the fainting is part of the tension.

6. Aftermath: How Characters Feel After Waking Up

When your character wakes up from fainting, they’re not going to bounce back immediately. There are often lingering effects that last for minutes—or even hours.

Physical Recovery

Dizziness and Nausea: Characters might feel off-balance or sick to their stomach when they first come around.

Headaches: A headache is a common symptom post-fainting, especially if the character hits their head.

Body Aches: Muscle weakness or stiffness may persist, especially if the character fainted for a long period or in an awkward position.

Emotional and Mental Impact

Confusion: The character may not remember why they fainted or what happened leading up to the event.

Embarrassment: Depending on the situation, fainting can be humiliating, especially if it happened in front of others.

Fear: Characters who faint from emotional shock might be afraid of fainting again or of the situation that caused it.

7. Writing Tips: Making It Believable

Writing a fainting scene can be tricky. If not handled properly, it can come across as melodramatic or unrealistic. Here are some key tips to ensure your fainting scenes are both believable and impactful.

Understand the Cause

First and foremost, ensure that the cause of fainting makes sense in the context of your story. Characters shouldn’t pass out randomly—there should always be a logical reason for it.

Foreshadow the Fainting: If your character is losing blood, suffering from dehydration, or undergoing extreme emotional stress, give subtle clues that they might pass out. Show their discomfort building before they collapse.

Avoid Overuse: Fainting should be reserved for moments of high stakes or significant plot shifts. Using it too often diminishes its impact.

Balance Realism with Drama

While you want your fainting scene to be dramatic, don’t overdo it. Excessively long or theatrical collapses can feel unrealistic.

Keep It Short: Fainting typically happens fast. Avoid dragging the loss of consciousness out for too long, as it can slow down the pacing of your story.

Don’t Always Save the Character in Time: In some cases, let the character hit the ground. This adds realism, especially if they’re fainting due to an injury or traumatic event.

Consider the Aftermath

Make sure to give attention to what happens after the character faints. This part is often overlooked, but it’s important for maintaining realism and continuity.

Lingering Effects: Mention the character’s disorientation, dizziness, or confusion upon waking up. It’s rare for someone to bounce back immediately after fainting.

Reactions of Others: If other characters are present, how do they react? Are they alarmed? Do they rush to help, or are they unsure how to respond?

Avoid Overly Romanticized Fainting

In some genres, fainting is used as a dramatic or romantic plot device, but this can feel outdated and unrealistic. Try to focus on the genuine physical or emotional toll fainting takes on a character.

Stay Away from Clichés: Avoid having your character faint simply to be saved by a love interest. If there’s a romantic element, make sure it’s woven naturally into the plot rather than feeling forced.

8. Common Misconceptions About Fainting

Fainting is often misrepresented in fiction, with exaggerated symptoms or unrealistic recoveries. Here are some common myths about fainting, and the truth behind them.

Myth 1: Fainting Always Comes Without Warning

While some fainting episodes are sudden, most people experience warning signs (lightheadedness, blurred vision) before passing out. This gives the character a chance to notice something is wrong before losing consciousness.

Myth 2: Fainting Is Dramatic and Slow

In reality, fainting happens quickly—usually within a few seconds of the first warning signs. Characters won’t have time for long speeches or dramatic gestures before collapsing.

Myth 3: Characters Instantly Bounce Back

Many stories show characters waking up and being perfectly fine after fainting, but this is rarely the case. Fainting usually leaves people disoriented, weak, or even nauseous for several minutes afterward.

Myth 4: Fainting Is Harmless

In some cases, fainting can indicate a serious medical issue, like heart problems or severe dehydration. If your character is fainting frequently, it should be addressed in the story as a sign of something more severe.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

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"And... what do I do with the other two wishes?" the genie asks, looking... uncomfortable?

You thumb through the book in your hand, watching the genie flicker like stop motion as you look between her and the book's pages. The deal is done. You close the book and set it aside.

"Well, you could just give them to the next person, right?"

"No, each person gets three. You, the next person, the next. They can't have four or five."

"But I can have just one, right?"

"Honestly... I don't know? From what I know it's more transitory; you can have one wish under the premise that you will eventually have your second and third."

There are things you could wish for. Maybe you could apply the same principle to writing. Or you could as for a nice honey and lemon drink, something to just get the wishes out of the way. But something inside you just... doesn't want that.

"What about you?" you find yourself asking, eyes lowered to the ground. Ashamed? "Does it... does it ever get tiring?"

She heaves a sigh. "If you're thinking about wishing for my freedom, hoping to leverage a friend out of the deal, I prefer to remain in my genie state. (And they patched that bug years ago.)"

"Of course they did," you muse, not giving that part too much thought. You were asking a different question. "But what I meant was, the magic. Do you ever get tired?"

She's quiet for a moment. "What do you mean?" she asks, voice a little whisperier than before.

"Is that a yes?"

Quiet.

"You could - you could stay here. Or everywhere. Wherever. You don't have to not be a genie, you just don't have to grant wishes for a while either. I'm still thinking of my last two wishes." Your heart is beating way harder than you feel is justified. You pick up the book again and open it to some page in the beginning middle, staring down the words until your racing heart slows down.

You close the book to find the genie lost in thought.

She looks at you with a half smile. "I gave you that power, you know. I'm something of exempt from the time-pausing."

You redden a bit. "Sorry."

"It gave me time to think," she says.

You both stand there for a minute.

"And did you-"

"Keep your wishes," she blurts. "Don't use them."

You're both trembling, you because of what you might have just done, her probably for similar reasons.

"Do you want a hug?"

She engulfs you in a huge embrace, still shaking like a leaf. "I'll be back one day," she says.

Then the hug ends, and she turns and goes. Out the door and gone.

You retire to the couch to scrunch up in a corner and process everything that just happened. Time would pass, and...

Well, you had work in the morning. You pick up a book. No matter what you read, it all comes out reminding you of her.

She'd be back one day.

"YOU HAVE THREE WISHES," the genie says grandly. "Oh no, that's fine I don't need all three. I just wanted one." The genie raises an eyebrow. "So what is your 'one' wish?" "I wish for time to stop every time I pick up and read a book—and start again when I put it down, so I always have time to read."

writing questionnaire I stole :) (siblings)

found this post by @willtheweaver and wanted to fill in with my own characters! it was a tag game but I'm still new enough to having a tumblr account that I'm not sure who to tag. anyone can steal this.

(two sets of siblings, Evan/Austin and Jack/James/Jude/Julian):

Who looks more like their dad? Evan

probably James.

Who looks more like their mom? Evan

either Jude or Julian.

Who eats the most? Austin probably

Jude used to eat a lot, but then he got a girlfriend and went on this fitness kick. (as if his body wasn't good enough. It was.) Julian probably eats the normalest amount Jack goes in spurts but can eat a ton. James kinda is similar but less on again, off again - he just shovels it down.

Who has been in the weirdest situations? You'd think it would be Austin, but it's actually Evan 110%

Jack, by nature of Protagonist Syndrome, but James gets a lot of it too

Who sleeps the most? Austin :)

Between Jack and James, Jack thinks it's James. James has a healthy sleep schedule. Julian sleeps the most.

Who has the most stable romantic life? ...Austin? though to be fair Evan's mostly a mess in general, not in romance specifically

Jack, because he's a brick wall of not understanding. Stable, sure, but I'd call James healthiest as far as romantic life goes. Jude has had a girlfriend for longest but the way he approaches romance doesn't feel quite stable somehow.

What is the worst habit of each? Evan: Catastrophizing Austin: Trying new things (without stopping to think)

Jack: Protagonist SyndromeTM (Wants to do it alone, no matter what the "it" is. Saving the world or struggling through homework. He's gonna be the one to take care of it.) Jude: Comparing things to Twilight James: Getting himself into trouble :) or giving people rocks. Julian: Feigning indifference, making fun of his brothers (mostly accidentally)

Who is the most dramatic? Austin. Which isn't to say Evan's not a drama queen, because he is.

Jack. Baby of the family, rip. Julian went through a phase but he will deny it to his dying breath.

Who has the weirdest phase? Another one of those you'd think it would be Austin but it's Evan. I guess I should explain the phase, but I'll come back to that.

While Julian had A Phase, Jude's was actually the weirdest. He was super into Twilight. Still is, actually.

Who is the best cook in the family? Austin's the best cook on accident, Evan's the more reliable cook.

Julian is the best cook. James is the most creative (in a way that he makes always work out somehow). Jack gets by, and Jude is better than Jack.

What is their best memory together? For Evan, it's when they defeated that dragon back in 8th grade and he realized he was free to spend time with Austin again instead of being ashamed. For Austin, it's a memory of Evan's smile.

All four of them, it was probably the Christmas Santa showed up and gave them a sleigh ride. Julian was convinced it was Dad or Grandpa. Except Dad showed up and the whole family went out together, and they ended the journey at their grandparents' house, where both Grandma and Grandpa were settling in for the night. Jude had spent some time believing Julian but was very excited when Julian was wrong and Santa actually was real. Jack and James were pretty little and had no concept of what Julian and Jude were talking about. They were in it for the bright red sleigh with jingle bells and snow under the nighttime street lamps and getting to stay up past their bedtime.

What is their worst memory together? The Incident where Austin nearly died in an alleyway, Evan spent three days trapped in an unfamiliar and traumatizing landscape trying to recover Austin, and then Evan killed Austin when he found him. (He did survive but that was hecka traumatic and their relationship has never been the same again.)

A bad miscommunication that

What is their dream trip together? The seaside, probably in Ireland

The boys always wanted to go to that place where you can break apart rocks with Viking axes. It's unclear how the four of them came to know of such a place and it's unclear if such a place even exists.

Would you rather: not be able to shower or change clothes? Evan and Austin: Not shower.

Jack: Not shower Jude: Change clothes, I've GOTTA shower for my girl James: Change clothes. I wanna shower Julian: Meh whatever's more convenient for whatever I have going on that day. (That's not an answer. His answer would probably be not shower, since it's easier to look like you take care of yourself if you wear a different outfit every day.)

Who’s older? Evan and Austin change back and forth on that. Neither of them really knows. Austin may be years younger than Evan by some manners of measuring, but I don't think that should count because they're the same age. (At one point they had the same birthday, but over the years I think Austin's birthday drifted apart from Evan's. Not sure in which direction and at any rate they're uh. still the same age.)

Jack/James/Jude/Julian, that order. When Jack was three, James was five, Jude was twelve, and Julian was seventeen.

Describe each other in three words: Austin (as described by Evan): Crazy magic idiot Evan (as described by Austin): Strong idiot magic

These ones will be the three words the other three brothers could agree upon: Jack: Baby (werewolf) (no you can't say werewolf) (why not?) (Mom said not to!) (come on he's more than just a werewolf) (can I say Tourette's?) (dude shut up) (Julian I'm going to put autistic on yours) (okay fine not werewolf what else then?) (young?) (we already said baby) (oh yeah) cool (dragon) (dude that's not even true) (yeah but wouldn't it be cool if he was a dragon?) (Jude come on!) (actually no I think Jude's right) (no guys. I vote no. let's be real.) (Julian come onnnn) (he's not a dragon!) (yeah but what IF-) (how about annoying) (no that would be you, dork) (shut up man he can be annoying too) tired (yeah he does get tired like. a lot.) Jude: (Twilight!) (yeah but a person can't be Twilight) (I don't know if Jack could be a dragon Jude could be Twilight) (that's not fair) (fiiiiiiine) (girlfriend?) (no Jack that doesn't describe him. that's just something he has.) Teenage mutant ninja James: (Annoying) (hey he's not annoying!) (well you're both annoying) (that's no fair, he's only annoying to you) (so what?) crazy sneaky climbing Julian: obnoxious older brother

Who is their role model? Zab

Jack's is James. James's is Steve from Blue's Clues. Jude's is Jacob from Twilight, which is a bit worrying. Julian says he doesn't have a role model. He does, and it's his great-grandpa on his mom's side, who is a war veteran.

Who usually has the worst ideas? Oh, definitely Austin. But.

Jude hits the "a little confused but he got the spirit" vibes, often with very bad ideas coming from good-meaning intentions. Jack is reckless. James goes with the flow, altering said flow when he needs, but good at it.

Who is the “certified bug killer”? Evan

Julian. Jack will do it, though was squeamish about it for a while. James catches them with his bare hands to let them outside, even if they bite or have stingers or pincers. Jude will grab a broom and try to sweep it outside until his mom yells at him to just grab a cup and scoop it up.