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Found Family/Team as Family Prompts

Older mentor/team leader and the new, younger team member

1. "I wish I'd met you earlier." "Earlier? Any earlier and you'd be in diapers, kid."

2. "You alright?" "Alright? That was awesome!" "… I miss having this much enthusiasm."

3. "You weren't raised to kneel, kid. And don't dishonor yourself by turning the other cheek. Get up."

4. "Can I have a hug?" "… C'mere. You alright?"

5. "Why do you hate me?" "I don't hate you. I hate having to drag more people into this fight--no matter who."

6. "Hey, uh… There's an issue involving the new kid, and I was told to get you…" *alarmed* "What issue?" "The, uh… The arm stuck in the vending machine kind?" "… Yeah, I'll be there in a second."

7. "Why did you tell me to leave?" "What happened is nothing I haven't seen before, and nothing you should ever see."

8. "An eye for an eye makes the world go blind." "Then maybe these fuckers should stop going for the eyes of my people."

9. "Oi. You got any allergies?" "Are you making me a lunchbox?" "It's called rationing. Do you?"

10. "How'd you get that scar?" "Mauled by a dog." "And that one?" "Knife." "And the one on your face? Must've happened in a fight with some assassin, right? Were you defending some secret intel? Or protecting someone-" "I tripped up the stairs."

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a guide to white canes for sighted authors/artists

happy white cane safety day everyone!

most people who don’t use white canes themselves tend to not understand how they work, and so, when portraying blind characters who use them, tend to get it very wrong. so, i thought i’d write up a small informative post about white canes, how they’re designed, and how they’re used.

most of these misconceptions seem to be based around the mistake of thinking a white cane and a cane meant for mobility are more similar than they actually are. which makes sense - most people know at least one person who uses a cane for mobility, while relatively few people interact with the blind. so, because they’re both canes, they must be the same, right? the answer: nope.

purpose

mobility canes are meant to provide additional support for people who, for whatever reason, have difficulty walking without more support.

meanwhile, the main purposes of a white cane are to:

detect obstacles

give the user detailed info about the texture of the ground

detect ledges, steps, and curbs

identify them as blind to the people around them

these things and the things mobility canes are meant to do, beyond the incredibly general “Help user get around”, don’t really overlap at all. so of course, they’re different to suit their different uses.

design

first things first: canes for the blind don’t come in any other colors, they’re always white. thus white cane is synonymous with cane for the blind - it is a color meant to identify the user as a person with a vision disability.

one thing about white canes is, because they are not meant to support weight, they don’t need to be particularly strong. it’s not like you could easily grab one and break it, of course, but they simply do not need to be the same kind of solid and sturdy that a mobility cane is.

strength isn’t a priority here. thus, their design is based around convenience instead.

white canes are hollow, making them more lightweight. also, most of them fold up so it’s easier to hold them while sitting down. if i’m on the train or the bus, i typically fold down the top section, and when i’m in class, i fold it up, pull the loop over to hold it together, and keep it by my feet.

[image: a white cane partially folded]

another thing about white canes is that they’re long. generally, they’re meant to reach to around a little bit under your shoulder. for example, im 5'3"/160cm tall, and my cane is 4'5"/132cm long. that’s a huge portion of my height!

[image: a person holding a white cane in an inactive position, while to their left is a person walking white holding a white cane.]

looooooooong

one more thing! tips.

white canes have removable tips, and this is pretty important for several reasons.

the tip of a cane will get VERY dirty. personally, when i get home, i remove the tip before i use my cane indoors; this helps keep dirty and water off my floor!

and because white canes are used by either dragging or tapping them across the ground, the tip wears down. tips can be bought separately, meaning you don’t need to replace your cane entirely every time it’s worn down too much.

and that opens up some possibility for different tips!

[image: white cane tips, from left to right: a standard tip, a teardrop tip, a metal tip, and a roller tip.]

standard tips are the ordinary kind, and come with the cane.

teardrop/marshmallow tips (different names for the same thing)  are fatter. the thing is, white canes dragging across the ground will get caught in a LOT of things. listen. when my cane gets stuck in a crack in the sidewalk, the inevitable thing is that it gets jammed into my thigh and a giant bruise forms. because of their shape, marshmallow/teardrop tips get caught less often.

metal tips are very narrow and made of metal. they’ll make a louder sound when tapped, and they last way longer than nylon tips. using them outside is guaranteed to get caught even more frequently than a standard tip, but they’re quite useful in large indoor areas like a mall or a school.

roller tips are basically like a ball - they roll straight over cracks and stuff, and are the least likely to get caught. they’re also the most expensive type to get.

use

there’s several ways to use a white cane.

these two methods are the most common, and both serve the purpose of letting the user know about obstacles in their path and notifying them of curbs and steps. in both cases, the cane is swiped from 2in/5cm out from their shoulder on one side, to 2in/5cm out from the other:

method 1: tap a point on the ground out from one side and to the other repeatedly. this involves lifting the cane off the ground.

method 2: swipe the cane out from one side to the other without lifting it, keeping it in constant contact with the ground.

when standing, typically the user will hold the cane upright to take up less space and decrease the likelihood of tripping someone. so yeah they’re not gonna just keep it out stretched.

end

that’s pretty much it! if you have any questions, feel free to ask, and please tell me if my word choice is unclear/there’s some place that’s too confusing.

all of this information is stuff i learned while being trained to use a cane, as well as my experience using one.

websites where you can get more info about blindness:

National Federation of the Blind

American Foundation for the Blind

[elkgsaeed]

Why am I taking so long to write this book.........

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Week 1 update! I wrote 4 chapters of a WIP that has 11 chapters posted and finished the story, so I'm marking these 5 boxes off!

It was last updated 12 August 2024, so I'm going to post it on 14 Feb to get that 6 months deal, even though all my other WIPs would meet that goal. The fic I finished is technically a rewrite of a really old fic so I marked the top middle box off as well. I got a burst of energy to write bc this story haunts me fr lol

Hi friends, I'm going to be doing this challenge this month 😂

I'm going to do it like a bingo and 1 fic can and will hit multiple boxes bc I've only like 4 or 5 wips

[elkgsaeed]

Hi friends, I'm going to be doing this challenge this month 😂

I'm going to do it like a bingo and 1 fic can and will hit multiple boxes bc I've only like 4 or 5 wips

[elkgsaeed]

Anyone ever feel the motivation sucked from them after getting feedback?

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some fucking resources for all ur writing fuckin needs

* body language masterlist

* a translator that doesn’t eat ass like google translate does

* a reverse dictionary for when ur brain freezes

* 550 words to say instead of fuckin said

* 638 character traits for when ur brain freezes again

* some more body language help

(hope this helps some ppl)

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If your plot feels flat, STUDY it! Your story might be lacking...

Stakes - What would happen if the protagonist failed? Would it really be such a bad thing if it happened?

Thematic relevance - Do the events of the story speak to a greater emotional or moral message? Is the conflict resolved in a way that befits the theme?

Urgency - How much time does the protagonist have to complete their goal? Are there multiple factors complicating the situation?

Drive - What motivates the protagonist? Are they an active player in the story, or are they repeatedly getting pushed around by external forces? Could you swap them out for a different character with no impact on the plot? On the flip side, do the other characters have sensible motivations of their own?

Yield - Is there foreshadowing? Do the protagonist's choices have unforeseen consequences down the road? Do they use knowledge or clues from the beginning, to help them in the end? Do they learn things about the other characters that weren't immediately obvious?

[elkgsaeed]

writers' resources

sick of using "very _____" ? : https://www.losethevery.com/

want to simplify your writing ? : https://hemingwayapp.com/

writing buddies / motivation ? : https://nanowrimo.org

word you're looking for but don't know ? : https://www.onelook.com/thesaurus/

need a fantasy name ? : https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/

need a fantasy name ? : https://nameberry.com/

want a name with meaning ? : https://www.behindthename.com/

who wants a map maker! : https://inkarnate.com/

story building / dnd ? : https://www.worldanvil.com/

need some minimalistic writing time ? : https://zenpen.io/

running out of ideas ? : https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/

setting a goal ? how about 3 pages / day ? : https://new.750words.com/

what food did they eat ? : https://www.foodtimeline.org/

questions on diversity within writing ? : https://writingwithcolor.tumblr.com/

now what was that colour called ? : https://ingridsundberg.com/2014/02/04/the-color-thesaurus/

want more? : https://www.tumblr.com/blog/lyralit :]

[elkgsaeed]

anything but just "I love you"

I want to love you.

I think I can love you?

Let me love you.

I loved you.

I would love you.

I can try to love you.

I used to know how to love you (I don't anymore)

I still love you.

Do you love me?

Can you try to love me?

I can't stop loving you.

Let me try to love you.

I think I can love you.

I think I can try (to love you).

Do you still love me?

Did you ever love me?

I don't think I could ever love you.

Don't let me love you.

I gave up (loving you).

You made me love you.

I've always loved you (but I can't anymore).

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slowly wondering what to fill this blog with.

i dont like writing tips bc i feel like im not someone to be giving tips lol i could tell you how i do things, but i wouldn't call it a tip

i'm not great at researching so i dont think i would make posts about how to write detailed scenes.

prompts maybe? i could make a collection of them i suppose.

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◦˚~ ANIMATED STARS DIVIDERS by enchanthings ~˚◦

Info: these were all drawn & animated by me. please reblog/like if use!

[elkgsaeed]

◦˚~ SPACE DIVIDERS ( colourful ) by enchanthings ~˚◦

Info: these were all drawn & edited by me. please reblog/like if use!

[elkgsaeed]

Show, don’t tell

"Show, don’t tell" means letting readers experience a story through actions, senses, and dialogue instead of outright explaining things. Here are some practical tips to achieve that:

1. Use Sensory Details

Tell: "The room was cold."

Show: "Her breath puffed in faint clouds, and she shivered as frost clung to the edges of the window."

Tell: "He was scared."

Show: "His hands trembled, and his heart thudded so loudly he was sure they could hear it too."

2. Focus on Actions

Tell: "She was angry."

Show: "She slammed the mug onto the counter, coffee sloshing over the rim as her jaw clenched."

Tell: "He was exhausted."

Show: "He stumbled through the door, collapsing onto the couch without even bothering to remove his shoes."

3. Use Dialogue

What characters say and how they say it can reveal their emotions, intentions, or traits.

Tell: "She was worried about the storm."

Show: "Do you think it'll reach us?" she asked, her voice tight, her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt.

4. Show Internal Conflict Through Thoughts or Reactions

Tell: "He was jealous of his friend."

Show: "As his friend held up the trophy, he forced a smile, swallowing the bitter lump rising in his throat."

5. Describe the Environment to Reflect Mood

Use the setting to mirror or hint at emotions or themes.

Tell: "The town was eerie."

Show: "Empty streets stretched into the mist, and the only sound was the faint creak of a weathered sign swinging in the wind."

6. Let Readers Infer Through Context

Give enough clues for the reader to piece things together without spelling it out.

Tell: "The man was a thief."

Show: "He moved through the crowd, fingers brushing pockets, his hand darting away with a glint of gold."

7. Use Subtext in Interactions

What’s left unsaid can reveal as much as what’s spoken.

Tell: "They were uncomfortable around each other."

Show: "He avoided her eyes, pretending to study the painting on the wall. She smoothed her dress for the third time, her fingers fumbling with the hem."

8. Compare to Relatable Experiences

Use metaphors, similes, or comparisons to make an emotion or situation vivid.

Tell: "The mountain was huge."

Show: "The mountain loomed above them, its peak disappearing into the clouds, as if it pierced the heavens."

Practice Example:

Tell: "The village had been destroyed by the fire."

Show: "Charred beams jutted from the rubble like broken ribs, the acrid smell of ash lingering in the air. A child's shoe lay half-buried in the soot, its leather curled from the heat."

[elkgsaeed]

Wait noo cuz my MC has a name with the same letter 😭

what if i change one of my main character's names rn

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what if i change one of my main character's names rn

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"How do you write such realistic dialogue-" I TALK TO MYSELF. I TALK TO MYSELF AND I PRETEND I AM THE ONE SAYING THE LINE. LIKE SANITY IS SLOWLY SLIPPING FROM BETWEEN MY FINGERS WITH EVERY MEASLY WORD THEY TYPE OUT. THAT IS HOW.