Writing Exercises #30

If you’re not in a group and you want to learn how to write characters in that group respectfully and realistically

1. Read media by people in the group. Fiction, nonfiction, blog posts – anything from “how my day went today” to 300-page epic adventure novels to history pamphlets. (By people in the group, not just about them. This is important.)

2. Google “How not to write a [the group] character” because the odds are that at least a few people in the group have written blog entries rattling off all their least favorite tropes representing their demographic. I’ve seen lesbians writing about how not to write lesbians, Asians talking about offensively-written Asians, etc. Refraining from writing the overused, negative, one-dimensional tropes listed in posts like this is probably a good start.

okay since we’re sharing porn on the dash, here’s my contribution

hange

minors dni!

You ever write something and you think, “I’ve used this exact sentence structure/phrasing/convention approximately eight million times before but goddammit I’m going to do it again?”

That’s about where I’m at right now.

Another Halloween themed post.

Part I: Superstitions

GHOSTS AND SPIRITS

Iron and Ghosts

The Early Ghost

Guide to Ghosts

Ghosts

Gravestone Symbolism

10 Little Known Mysterious Ghost Types

Ghost Types

The Different Types of Ghosts

Haunted Places

Cemetery Folklore

Writing a Ghost Story

Tips for Writing Ghost Stories

Ghost Cliches

Horror Cliches

ZOMBIES

The Science of Zombies

Zombie Biology

Zombie Sociology

Zombie Myths

Stage II and Stage III Zombies (pictures)

Vampires vs Zombies

Undead Creatures

Zombies

Guide on Zombies

SHAPE SHIFTERS AND HOMINIDS

Werewolves and other were-beasts

The Shape Shifting Process

Shape Shifters

Hominids of the World

Werewolf Myths

Science of Werewolves

Werewolf Behavior

Werewolves vs Vampires vs Zombies

Werewolf Anatomy

Wolf Body Language

Lycanthropy

Werewolf Myths and Truths

History of the Werewolf Legend

SEA CREATURES

The Mermaid

Sea Creatures

Books About Mermaids and Sea Folklore

Sea Creatures: Books

YA Mermaid Novels

Best Mermaid Books

Awesome Mermaid Books

Mermaid Anatomy

A Dissection of Mermaid Anatomy

VAMPIRES

African Vampires

Writing the A-Typical Vampire

So You Want to Write a Vampire Novel

Avoiding Vampire Cliches

Vampire Cliches

Vampire Burial

Vampire Mythology

Vampire Biology

Vampire Virology

Vampire Sociology

Vampires in Folklore and Literature

AVIAN CREATURES

Underused Bird Mythologies

FAIRIES AND FAE

Types of Faeries A-Z

A Guide to Fairies

Other Names for Fairies

Books About Faery

Best YA Fairy Books

Best YA Fantasy Series About the Fae

ANGELS AND DEMONS

A Glory of Angels

Angels and Demons Resource Post

Do You Give Angels Flaws or Not?

Unusual Angels

More:

Creating Creepy Creatures

Mythology Meme

Master Post of World Mythology, Creatures, and Folklore

Figures of Norse Mythology

Those Who Haunt the Earth

Writing Horror, Paranormal, and Supernatural

Genre: YA Supernatural

List of Mythical Creatures

Mythological Creature Picture Spam

How to Make Your Supernatural Characters Unique

Supernatural Theme Story

Myths and Urban Legends Masterpost

Original Gods, Goddesses, and Myths

World Building Basics: Myths and Legends

Mythical Creatures and Beings

Symbols by Word

Mythology Meme

Writing Paranormal Characters into the Real World

Writing Prompt #297: Hook, Line and Sinker

It only took fifty two seconds for sixteen people to disappear into thin air.

Writing Prompt #234: Write This Story

The apothecary had been there for as long as anyone could remember.

“The walls looked ready to take their secrets to the grave”

☛ GET INSIDE YOUR CHARACTER'S HEAD! aka The Excessively Detailed Headcanon Meme

Ask a question, any question! Because I have nothing better to do than to answer your questions. … No, really. I don’t. D:

1: What does their bedroom look like?

2: Do they have any daily rituals?

3: Do they exercise, and if so, what do they do? How often?

4: What would they do if they needed to make dinner but the kitchen was busy?

5: Cleanliness habits (personal, workspace, etc.)

6: Eating habits and sample daily menu?

7: Favorite way to waste time? Feelings surrounding wasting time?

8: Favorite indulgence and feelings surrounding indulging

9: Makeup?

10: Neuroses? Do they recognize them as such?

11: Intellectual pursuits?

12: Favorite book genre?

13: Sexual Orientation? And, regardless of own orientation, thoughts on sexual orientation in general?

14: Physical abnormalities? (Both visible and not, including injuries/disabilities, long-term illnesses, food-intolerances, etc.)

15: Biggest and smallest short term goal?

16: Biggest and smallest long term goal?

17: Preferred mode of dress and rituals surrounding dress

18: Favorite beverage?

19: What do they think about before falling asleep at night?

20: Childhood illnesses? Any interesting stories behind them

21: Turn-ons? Turn-offs?

22: Given a blank piece of paper, a pencil, and nothing to do, what would happen?

23: How organized are they? How does this organization or disorganization manifest in their everyday life?

24: Is there one subject of study that they excel at? Or do they even care about intellectual pursuits at all?

25: How do they see themselves 5 years from today?

26: Do they have any plans for the future? Any contingency plans if things don’t work out?

27: What is their biggest regret?

28: Who do they see as their best friend? Their worst enemy?

29: Reaction to sudden extrapersonal disaster (e.g. The house is on fire! What do they do?)

30: Reaction to sudden intrapersonal disaster (e.g. close family member suddenly dies)

31: Most prized possession?

32: Thoughts on material possessions in general?

33: Concept of home and family?

34: Thoughts on privacy? (Are they a private person, or are they prone to ‘TMI’?)

35: What activities do they enjoy, but consider to be a waste of time?

36: What makes them feel guilty?

37: Are they more analytical or more emotional in their decision-making?

38: What recharges them when they’re feeling drained?

39: Would you say that they have a superiority-complex? Inferiority-complex? Neither?

40: How misanthropic are they?

41: Hobbies?

42: How far did they get in formal education? What are their views on formal education vs self-education?

43: Religion?

44: Superstitions or views on the occult?

45: Do they express their thoughts through words or deeds?

46: If they were to fall in love, who (or what) is their ideal?

47: How do they express love?

48: If this person were to get into a fist fight, what is their fighting style like?

49: Is this person afraid of dying? Why or why not?

Worldbuilding: Food and Drink

When building a world, sometimes food and drink can be overlooked in the worldbuilding process.  It can sometimes just be assumed what the characters are eating.  But not all taverns and restaurants serve the same things, especially if they are different locations.  What different classes eat will vary as well.  So it is important to work out a menu for your culture.  Especially when trying to figure out what just made your character ill. In this post, I have compiled a list of questions pertaining to food and drink.  While it was exhausting to put together, the list itself is not exhaustive.  The intent of the questions is to get you thinking about your characters’ diets, and possibly the diet of all the other cultures you may have created.

Be as detailed as possible, answer questions not listed, and above all, have fun!

The questions compiled are inspired, taken, modified, or edited from three forums on the NaNoWriMo website: Respond, Answer, Ask 2016 Worldbuilding, Respond, Answer, Ask, 2016 Fantasy, and Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions.

What is the common breakfast meal?

What is the common lunch meal?

What is the common dinner meal?

Does it differ from class to class?

Are there any more meals in the day? Second breakfast?  Elevensies? Chocolate time?  Midnight snack?

What times do the meals take place?

Is there any take out form of meal? What restaurants sell fast food?  How do they package the food?  Do they charge more because of packaging?

What does the typical restaurant/tavern sell? What are some popular restaurants/taverns?  What is the favorite hang out place?

What can be found at a bar?

What kinds of alcoholic drinks are available?

What kind of drinks do they have with their meal? Just water?  Or perhaps a sip of wine?

What kind of drinks do they have without meals? Perhaps it is improper to have tea with breakfast.  Perhaps milk is best drunk alone.

What role does food and drink play? Are they for sustenance only?  Are they a status of wealth?

What are some popular dishes or recipes?

What are some favorite snacks? Jerky? Dried fruit?  Chocolate?  Some food not found on Earth?

What foods are seasonal?

What is considered dessert?

What kind of seasonings are used? Which ones are popular?  Which ones are coveted because it is hard to get them?

How is food and drink stored?

Do diets vary by place or species? Do elves and humans living together eat the same thing?  Or do they have a separate diet?  Why?

What food is common?

What food is consider a delicacy?

What foods have to be prepared in a certain way so they are not poisonous? Blowfish not cooked properly can poisonous.  The pits of apricots and apple seeds are lethal if too many are eaten.  What foods must be prepared or eaten with care?

What are some foods that would only be seen on a rich person’s table?

What are some foods that would only be seen on a poor person’s table?

What are some foods that would sold on the street? Corndogs?  Scorpion on a stick?  Fried frog?

Does the community hold potlucks?  What would be brought to a potluck?

What are some dining etiquettes? Burping at the table is a compliment to the chef.  It is impolite to not thank the host for the food before eating.  No elbows are allowed on the table.

Is it improper to eat with someone outside of their class?

What kind of dishes are used at the table?

What are some things no one should do at the table?

Are there foods for the road?

What are some common poisons? Everyone knows it’s poisonous.  And it can be found anywhere.

What are some lesser known poisons? Exotic poisons.  Poisons from different lands.  Poisons that assassins may use in the king’s cup.

Most effective poisons? What is consider most effective?  Poisons where the victim is clearly poisoned, with foam coming from the mouth?  Or poisons where the victim slips into a deep sleep and no one knows what happened until they discover the victim won’t wake up?

How is drinking water collected?

What are the most common crops?

Does magic play in a part in agriculture?

What is the most common animal to be hunted?

Is fishing an available option?

My ability to proofread increases by 1000% after I hit “Submit”.