etriantechwriting

[etriantechwriting]

sometimes you need dialogue tags and don't want to use the same four

[etriantechwriting]

OFFERING REDUCED MUSIC COMMISSIONS!!

$30 for a 0-2 minute song!

$60 for 2-3!

$90 for 3+ minutes!

Hello, I'm Joan! I am a musician with both self training and classical training influences and just about two decades under my belt.

I got my start playing live instruments, many of which I consider myself excellent at now, and made the transition into digital music production about 9 years ago! I still live record as well.

MUSIC I CAN MAKE FOR YOU:

Theme songs for OCs!

Theme songs for DND sessions!

Theme songs for just about any story or idea you have!

Background/AFK/Intro & Outro music for streamers and youtubers!8-16 bit retro sounds for game projects!

Battle songs! Calm lofi! From breakcore and triphop to even classical!

And everything in-between!

Here is my KOFI for any support.

You can message me for any questions!

Anything helps! I am struggling to afford bills and food.

[etriantechwriting]

TOOL: OC QUESTIONS GENERATOR

a neat little generator that gives you a random question for your ocs! find it here // support me on ko-fi

>> FEATURES

over 600 different questions, covering every aspect of character building

easy to use, no unnecessary distractions, just a very straightforward generator

content warnings on the page itself, as well as in the first screenshot

>> NOTES

please send me a dm if there’s a content warning missing, i’ll add it to the page immediately!

if you have any ideas for questions, feel free to let me know and if they’re not on the list already, i’ll add them!

feel free to use this tool for personal projects or tell your friends about it, as long as you don’t try to steal the code of the page or claim the generator as your own :)

i do not take credit for all the questions in this generator, i’ve gathered them at some point from both my own brain as well as stuff online

likes are always welcome, reblogs much appreciated!

[etriantechwriting]

[etriantechwriting]

OC prompts

Write about your oc using any of the below prompts, feel free to mix and match.

Write an excerpt from your wip, answer as your oc, write a short essay ect. Anything goes!

Mention us @the-end-society with oc prompt and the prompts used for a reblog.

We want to know all the random details and all the secret facts! Hopefully this helps with developing your oc.

Sweet summer child

Death on two legs

sarcasm bottled

oblivious and free

What made you run

Where will you go

This heart will never recover

Lessons on life

How did this start

Whats your plan

regret

grief

Satirical Chaos

Train tracks

Who you used to be

The mirror lies

Boiling point

Dreams and nightmares

Details and omissions

Fears

[etriantechwriting]

This is one of 3 polls that will be available this week, inviting you to participate in determining which topics are most relevant to you!

All of these are pieces of ongoing series that I’m working on developing, so they will be made eventually, so don’t worry if your choice doesn’t come up first.

If you have requests for which articles you’d like to see next, any request included with a donation on Ko-Fi is bumped to the top of my list, and of course Patron requests are always considered first when I’m making the schedule!

Part of this particular “Guides to Writing” series is a segment where I answer questions directly from my inbox or the comments of this post so please submit any you have regardless of the results and I will include them in the article.

[etriantechwriting]

Reblog if I can go on your page and write stupid things in your ask box whenever I'd like to.

[etriantechwriting]

on the contrary, cero

tsuchinoko

[etriantechwriting]

fantasy prompts

(feel free to use<3)

"you did WHAT-" "I CAN EXPLAIN-" "you opened a portal??!?"

"They're dead. All of them- they, they are dead!"

"what's happening to me?"

touching a mirror and it plops you into a parallel universe

^ "welcome, your majesty." and they all kneel infront of you. "uhmmn, you must be mistaken-? I, uh, what's, wh- who am I???"

A collapses in B's arms, tugging at their shoulder, "I- I saved every-" and they cough up blood. B trembles as they hug A, kisses their head, "You saved em all, sweetie. God, I love you."

"I would either save my people or shred yours to the ground."

"can you stop-" "SHE JUST DIED-" "-freaking out?" "SHE DIED?? AND YOU WANT ME TO- *she groans and wakes up, from the dead* OKAY NO. THAT DIDNT. HOW DID SHE??? SHE WAS JUST DEAD.??" ".... if you could just.. shut up pls?"

"I can't do this without you...," resting your forehead against their and they let their magic run through you. Speaking so much words than actual words will.

you kiss your lover, hard, passionate and afraid you may not see them again. you part, hand them a necklace, "This talisman.. It has my blood, j-just in case.."

"Promise me that you'll come back."

"you'll die. you can't do this, you can't get yourself killed. i won't let you."

A cautiously asks, "so you can shape-shift?" B shrugs and turns into A--B as A is naked. "OKAY HOLY SHIT, YOU CAN-" "sorry, heheh."

touching your lover and realising they've been lying to you all along

^ "You're not human.. you're not a being, you're not alive, what are you-" they hardly smile, eyes saddening, "I'm sorry, love." and you realise they're dead. they've been, for some time.

[etriantechwriting]

Writer's Guide: Hand to Hand Combat

Your character is unarmed and all they have left to fight with is their bare hands. If they hope for the enemy to catch their hands, you will have to write an effective scene. So how can we write a good hand to hand combat scene?

Most Common Moves

Now, I'm not going to list 30+ martial arts moves. Most of your characters will not be masters of kung fu or mixed martial arts. Most people who get into fights are novices.

Punch: a punch is probably to go to strike. Try not punch anybody in the face because one, they will expect it and two, it will hurt your hand. If you can aim for the soft parts of an opponent, kidneys or gut.

Kick: Kicking isn't pretty but it is effective. A good swift kick to the back of somebody's knee will fold them like a lawnchair.

Go for the groin: Man or woman getting kicked in the nether regions is no picnic. A good swift kick with your foot or your knee can incapacitate your opponent. Its not the most honourable of moves but it works.

An Elbow strike is effective: The elbow is your strongest point of attack. Drive it in to a windpipe or a gut and you can but yourself valuable time to retreat or stall your opponent from answering back.

Eyes: they are weak points. Jab somebody in the eyes with a thumb and they will stop in their tracks.

Throat: You can end any fight by going straight for the throat either grasping it in a headlock or jabbing it with a fist which can collapse the windpipe.

Bite: If you are unable to snack your opponent, use your teeth. The human bite is perhaps not as strong as a hyena's but it is strong enough to shorten your opponent by a finger or two.

How to Escape from Grips and Holds

Pinned from behind with your arms pinned: You have to stop your opponent from getting to a headlock. Move your hips to one side and strike backwards toward the groin or gut. This should weaken the hold of your opponent. Once the grip is loosened, turn toward your opponent and snack them into the nose with the heel of your hand.

Held from behind: Bend forward as far as you can making it more difficult for your opponent to lift you. Jab with your elbows back into your opponent's chest or face. Turn toward your opponent once the grip loosens and strike at the face or the groin again to subdue your opponent.

Headlock: If your opponent has you in a headlock, DON'T STRUGGLE. You could break your own neck. Turn into your opponent's side as close as possible. With your hand that is furthest away, hit your opponent into the groin or gut.

Pinned down on the ground: Most likely your opponent is using their own hands and weight to keep you down. If you can move your knees, try to jab them in the side or the groin to unbalanced them.

Things to Remember

1. The whole 6-10 minute bout only happens in films or controlled sporting events. Fights are usually over within a few minutes. (when writing effective fights, keep the pace short.)

2. Girls are vicious. I've worked in nightclubs and broke up a fair few fights. Boys will knock the shit out of each other but girls will tear shreds out of each other. I have known grown men to break up fights between guys but nobody wants to break up a catfight.

3. One wants the fight to end quickly. If you keep slugging at each other, you'll get tired pretty fast. Have your character try end the fight as soon as possible.

4. Nobody emerges from fights unscathed. Even winners may come out with black eyes, broken noses or at very least a broken lip. If you punch someone, you will likely bruise your knuckles if not split them.

5. If your character is fighting to survive, they don't have to stick to etiquette. They will have to do anything to survive even if it means doing something unpleasant like fishhooking or hairpulling.

[etriantechwriting]

Resources For Writing Sketchy Topics

Medicine

A Study In Physical Injury

Comas

Medical Facts And Tips For Your Writing Needs

Broken Bones

Burns

Unconsciousness & Head Trauma

Blood Loss

Stab Wounds

Pain & Shock

All About Mechanical Injuries (Injuries Caused By Violence)

Writing Specific Characters

Portraying a kleptomaniac.

Playing a character with cancer.

How to portray a power driven character.

Playing the manipulative character.

Portraying a character with borderline personality disorder.

Playing a character with Orthorexia Nervosa.

Writing a character who lost someone important.

Playing the bullies.

Portraying the drug dealer.

Playing a rebellious character.

How to portray a sociopath.

How to write characters with PTSD.

Playing characters with memory loss.

Playing a pyromaniac.

How to write a mute character.

How to write a character with an OCD.

How to play a stoner.

Playing a character with an eating disorder.

Portraying a character who is anti-social.

Portraying a character who is depressed.

How to portray someone with dyslexia.

How to portray a character with bipolar disorder.

Portraying a character with severe depression.

How to play a serial killer.

Writing insane characters.

Playing a character under the influence of marijuana.

Tips on writing a drug addict.

How to write a character with HPD.

Writing a character with Nymphomania.

Writing a character with schizophrenia.

Writing a character with Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Writing a character with depression.

Writing a character who suffers from night terrors.

Writing a character with paranoid personality disorder.

How to play a victim of rape.

How to play a mentally ill/insane character.

Writing a character who self-harms.

Writing a character who is high on amphetamines.

How to play the stalker.

How to portray a character high on cocaine.

Playing a character with ADHD.

How to play a sexual assault victim.

Writing a compulsive gambler.

Playing a character who is faking a disorder.

Playing a prisoner.

Portraying an emotionally detached character.

How to play a character with social anxiety.

Portraying a character who is high.

Portraying characters who have secrets.

Portraying a recovering alcoholic.

Portraying a sex addict.

How to play someone creepy.

Portraying sexually/emotionally abused characters.

Playing a character under the influence of drugs.

Playing a character who struggles with Bulimia.

Illegal Activity

Examining Mob Mentality

How Street Gangs Work

Domestic Abuse

Torture

Assault

Murder

Terrorism

Internet Fraud

Cyberwarfare

Computer Viruses

Corporate Crime

Political Corruption

Drug Trafficking

Human Trafficking

Sex Trafficking

Illegal Immigration

Contemporary Slavery 

Black Market Prices & Profits

AK-47 prices on the black market

Bribes

Computer Hackers and Online Fraud

Contract Killing

Exotic Animals

Fake Diplomas

Fake ID Cards, Passports and Other Identity Documents

Human Smuggling Fees

Human Traffickers Prices

Kidney and Organ Trafficking Prices

Prostitution Prices

Cocaine Prices

Ecstasy Pills Prices

Heroin Prices

Marijuana Prices

Meth Prices

Earnings From Illegal Jobs

Countries In Order Of Largest To Smallest Risk

Forensics

arson

Asphyxia

Blood Analysis

Book Review

Cause & Manner of Death

Chemistry/Physics

Computers/Cell Phones/Electronics

Cool & Odd-Mostly Odd

Corpse Identification

Corpse Location

Crime and Science Radio

crime lab

Crime Scene

Cults and Religions

DNA

Document Examination

Fingerprints/Patterned Evidence

Firearms Analysis

Forensic Anthropology

Forensic Art

Forensic Dentistry

Forensic History

Forensic Psychiatry

General Forensics

Guest Blogger

High Tech Forensics

Interesting Cases

Interesting Places

Interviews

Medical History

Medical Issues

Misc

Multiple Murderers

On This Day

Poisons & Drugs

Police Procedure

Q&A

serial killers

Space Program

Stupid Criminals

Theft

Time of Death

Toxicology

Trauma

[etriantechwriting]

Some writers will understand

[etriantechwriting]

Current mood

[etriantechwriting]

THINGS WHICH MAKE WRITERS ANXIOUS:

not writing

writing

people reading their stories

people not reading their stories

[etriantechwriting]

writing sci-fi

“Hey, how is it that we’ve all managed faster-than-light interstellar travel and it’s relatively commonplace?”

“Don’t you know?”

“I never really paid attention in school.”

“Oh, well, it’s simple, really. All it takes is—”

[LOUD TRAIN NOISES]

“Wow! Really? That’s incredible! What an amazing technology. Thank you for telling me this.”

[etriantechwriting]

[etriantechwriting]

how to make a story file

As I am preparing for Camp NaNo*, I have been working on my story file. It occurred to me this might not be common or popular practice. “Story File” is a name I gave it and maybe some of y’all have a different name with the same contents. 

*There’s still time to apply to join my Camp NaNo cabin!

My Story File contains everything about my story that doesn’t go in the outline.

It’s broken up into major categories and specific templates. So without further ado, here is how I structure my Story File. 

Intro

Title

Logline

Synopsis

Genre

Estimated Total Length (word count)

Draft Length Goal (word count)

Character Bank

Main characters and brief, one-sentence descriptions with ages

Themes and Character Development

Central Question

The Yes/No question that is being asked through the whole story

Should have objective qualities, rather than subjective

i.e. “Will they fall in love?” (subjective) vs. “Will they leave their partners and become a couple?” (objective)

Thematic Questions

These are the internal conflict questions that reside in your character(s) and your story

ex. “Can there really be a successful government?”

ex. “Does grief excuse bad actions?”

Themes at a Glance

Words or phrases that relate to the themes of the story

ex. person vs. nature

ex. isolation

ex. grief

ex. first love

Motivation / Stasis State / Final State

for each main character, you should write a sentence or two pertaining to these three things

Motivation: What is the drive behind this character and their past, present, and future actions? What part of their background makes them the way that they are? What are they looking for? What do they want out of this/a situation?

Stasis State: What are they like before the inciting incident? What problems and questions do they have?

Final State: What has changed about them and their outlook? What questions have they resolved? What has happened to their internal conflict?

Relationships

I usually make a little web of the MCs and their relationship to one another. One for the stasis and one for final.

Stasis: How do these characters see each other? How do they act toward the other? (All before the inciting incident)

Final: How do these characters see each other now? How has their idea of one another shifted? 

Even if a character dies before the end, include the most recent relationship status in the Final web.

ex. this is how I organize it, using the Draw feature of Google Docs

Character Bank

This is just a very preliminary character bank. If you prefer a more in-depth one, check out my 6 Box Method.

Per (relevant/important) character:

Name

Nickname/preferred name

Age

Field/Occupation

Personality

Personal History

Education/Occupation History

Extra Notes:

Worldbuilding Bank

(Check out my worldbuilding posts on Categories Pt. 1 and 2 for better context)

Seasons and Climate

Languages

Other Cultural Pockets

Folklore and Legends

Fine Arts

Dress and Modesty

Classes

Jobs

Currency and Economics

Shopping

Agriculture and Livestock

Imports and Exports

Literature, Pop Culture, and Entertainment

Food and Water

Holidays and Festivals

Family and Parenting

Relationships

Housing

Religion and Beliefs

Government

Health and Medicine

Technology and Communication

Death

Transportation

Plants, Animals, and Human-environment Interaction

Education

Beauty Standards

Gender and Sexuality

—————————

I hope this helps y’all and supplements what you’re probably already doing. I know it’s helped me tons to have everything in a central place.

Best of luck!