rshillsblog

[rshillsblog]

Me: not EVERY character in this story needs a tragic or upsetting backstory…

Me: ….

Me: ok this one can have a little bit of tragedy, as a treat

[rshillsblog]

— Paul Guest, from “1987.”

[rshillsblog]

— Arabelle Sicardi, from “The Year in Ugliness.”

[rshillsblog]

comedies that turn into tragedies when the fucked up stuff played for jokes suddenly gets treated with the severity and realness that it would get in real life are genuinely my weakness and hit so much harder than tragedies that start off with the sad stuff.

[rshillsblog]

Writing Legend and Folklore

                Unlike mythology, legends are more rooted in historical events and may even have recorded, proven details. Your legend will likely feature real humans as characters experiencing something that happened in a real place in your world. The fun things about legends is that often the truth of the past has been twisted and changed over time. While it’s important for you as the writer to know the absolute truth about your history, your characters may never learn the truth behind the legend, or may trade slightly different alternate stories.

                Legends reflect the values or fears of a society. Much of Folklore comes from parents intending to shield their children from danger—whether going out at night and getting snatched by the boogeyman, or wandering too close to the rapids and being dragged in by a dangerous Kelpie. So start with a real value or danger, and begin to embellish.

                Maybe in your world society really values compassion. A tale may start out with someone hoarding resources and ignoring those in need which then manifests a shadow monster that gobbles both them and their riches right up! Name the monster, and you have a campfire-worthy folk tale for your characters to tell late into the night.

                Or, if your legend has no moral or lesson, it may feature something unexplainable that happened to real people. Stories you hear of disappearing cities or villages come from this place—people witnessing something or experiencing something they can’t explain, and creating a story to explain it anyway.

                The original teller of this story, or the original source, should be difficult if not impossible to track down, to make sure it remains shrouded in mystery.

                Does your world feature any legends or folktales? Let me know!

[rshillsblog]

to you, it's a shitty sentence. to some random bitch 500 miles away, it's a fire line that'll haunt them for the next 17 years.

you don't know how impactful your writing is because it's been in your brain for far too long now. you've stared at it for hours and repeated "this sucks" over and over again to the point that you killed your capacity to feel anything about your work.

but trust me, once you get your shit out there, someone's gonna go over that paragraph you hate and go "jesus fucking christ" and put the book down to have an existential crisis.

[rshillsblog]

Disney vs. DeSantis is so funny because it's like. Neither side even wanted to get into this. Here's how it's supposed to go: Politician does something stupid. Corporation disavows politician after public pressure. Politician disavows the disavowing. Nothing changes for either party.

But then the Florida governor got stars in his eyes. He saw an opportunity to bolster his standing before the presidential primary. He wanted to be the one who took on The Mouse and won. So in retaliation he decides he's going to tear down the decades-old agreement Disney has to govern Disney World's district.

And just like that, Disney's batshit insane legal department turns towards Florida like the Eye of Sauron spotting the ring at Mount Doom. They smell potential lost profit. They smell blood.

Disney will use any and every strategy they've accumulated over the last century of lobbying congress and DeSantis can't back down lest he admit Mickey Mouse kicked his ass. He lost control of Disney World's district even more than he already had. Now he's getting sued.

This all started because Disney was pressured into backtracking their political contributions to Florida and disavowing the Don't Say Gay law. Now they're fighting for something they actually care about: their profit margin. Disney is not an ally to queer people and they're an enemy to progressives, but damn am I rooting for them to keep humiliating the greater evil for the time being. This is high comedy.

[rshillsblog]

[rshillsblog]

mary oliver

[rshillsblog]

“I’m chronically ill, not drug seeking! I don’t want to be mistaken for an addict trying to get opiates in the emergency room!”

I totally understand not wanting to be mistreated, bullied, and denied treatment, or being misdiagnosed with a disorder you don’t have (in this case, substance use disorder). It shouldn’t happen, period.

The problem is when chronically ill people act like they’re better than addicts just because they themselves are going to the ER for a “real” reason. (If you don’t do that then I’m not talking about you)

Have you considered that the addicts and “drug seekers” shouldn’t be treated that way also? They too are seeking medical treatment for a disorder and/or withdrawal. Everybody deserves adequate treatment, yes, even if they are doing so because they are addicted to a substance.

Image ID: [purple background with white text. Text reads “derailing my post or comments maliciously misinterpreting my post will result in a block. End ID.]

[rshillsblog]

Introduction

Creating a convincing villain or antagonist is a crucial element of any good story. A cunning and manipulative character can add depth and complexity to the plot, as well as make the protagonist's journey more challenging. In this blog post, we will explore some tips on how to write a cunning and manipulative character that will leave a lasting impact on your readers.

Establish a Motive for the Character

One of the key elements of writing a cunning and manipulative character is to establish their motive. A well-written villain is not just evil for the sake of being evil, but rather has a reason or motive for their actions. This motive can be anything from revenge, power, or a deep-seated psychological issue. By establishing a clear motive, you can create a more complex and believable character that will keep your readers engaged.

Make the Character Charismatic

Another important aspect of writing a cunning and manipulative character is to make them charismatic. A character that can charm and persuade others can be much more dangerous than one that relies solely on force or intimidation. To make your character charismatic, consider giving them a silver tongue, a charming smile, or a magnetic personality. By making the character appealing, you can create a more compelling antagonist that will keep your readers on the edge of their seats.

Show, Don't Tell

Finally, it is important to show rather than tell when it comes to writing a cunning and manipulative character. Instead of having the character simply state their intentions or manipulate others off-screen, show their actions and interactions with other characters. By showing the character's actions, you can create a much more immersive and engaging story that will keep your readers invested in the plot.

Conclusion

In conclusion, writing a cunning and manipulative character can be a challenging but rewarding process. By establishing a motive, making the character charismatic, and showing rather than telling, you can create a complex and believable antagonist that will leave a lasting impact on your readers. So go forth and create a villain that will keep your readers up at night!

[rshillsblog]

something charmingly twentieth century about this

[rshillsblog]

Creating Memorable Side Characters

                Not everyone gets to be the star of the show. Side characters fill out your world and add context to your main character’s journey. Often they are the parents, friends, or coworkers of your main character and as important of a role they play in the MCs life, it’s easy to forget they exist until we need them next.

                While they shouldn’t take the main stage, creating memorable side characters gives them a sense of realism and importance. They can provide motivation, inspiration, or a little bit of support when the MC needs it next, which will all land harder if we care about them as people. So here’s a few ways to do it:

Give them a little arc.

While the journey of the main character is why we’re reading your story, they aren’t the only people who can change. Allowing your side characters some development across the story, even in small ways, can add a layer of depth and intrigue to them. This can look like going from “dad hates all of MC’s friends” to “dad houses and feeds all the friends when they need it most”.

2. Give them a space

Unmemorable characters are treated more like tools to the narrative than people. If your side character shows up wherever they are needed at any given time, they’ve become a plot convenience rather than a person. Give them a place to exist—they hang out in the library, they can be found at the café down the street, they’re three phone calls and a flare in the sky away. Give them a reliable place that’s just theirs.

3. Give them a point of interest

While your side characters aren’t going to be as fully developed as your MCs, you can pretty easily give them some intrigue and the hint of a broader life by giving them a specific point of interest. Maybe the friend is in the photography club, the parents go out to drag shows on the weekend, the coworker always has a new crochet scarf to bring to work, etc. Just make sure it doesn't stand in alone for further character development.

                What are some examples of memorable side characters you can think of?

[rshillsblog]

I've seen this before, but it's been years and it just came across my Twitter in its dying days. The words are from a favorite author of mine, Maggie Stiefvater, and they are the words I most need to hear when it comes to dealing with chronic pain and illness. I didn't need this the first time I saw it, six years ago. I need it now. Maybe you do, too.

[rshillsblog]

Where’s the media coverage? 😡

[rshillsblog]

[rshillsblog]

You should feel proud of your writing.

You shouldn't cringe when you reread your own writing. Cringe culture, especially in writing, is so overrated. Love your writing. Remind yourself what made you so passionate about your WIPs to start with.

You'll be surprised how much more motivated you feel to write when you allow yourself to space to actually be proud of and love what you're doing.