hallowgracie - Tumblr blog

[hallowgracie]

i took elvish in school and i fucking hated it. the teacher was like 700 years old and he'd like take us on field trips to sit on the banks of babbling brooks and watch the fall of sunlight through the leaves. my friends in spanish class were like conjugating verbs and shit and meanwhile i was in an old-growth forest being overcome with awe at the sight of a majestic stag. like uhh yeah mr autumnheart when are we gonna learn like any grammar "listen to the murmur of the wind in the treetops, and you shall find the grammar you seek" like fuck dude your pedagogy leaves much to be desired

[hallowgracie]

writer culture is creating a sunshine character and then making them go through so much trauma that they're unrecognisable

[hallowgracie]

I dreamt about him last night. I was covered in blood and he washed my hair and held me

[hallowgracie]

No character is going to live unscathed.

We writers seem to be an expert at getting our darlings bashed up, beaten and abused (sometimes to the point of insanity). That' great, and let's make sure we are doing it right.

Cuts and Scrapes

The area will immediately begin to swell up.

Blood rushes to accelerate the healing process, and that makes the skin around the wound look red and swollen, and it will feel warm (though not hot).

Most wounds wouldn't bleed too much, unless it's a head injury.

Try to give indications of how severe the wound is.

How wide is the injury? How far does it stretch across the character's body? Can bone be seen? Is blood seeping into their clothes or pooling underneath them?

Is it a clean slice, or is it torn open? Have parts of the flesh been pulled away?

How much does the wound frighten the injured character?

Bruises

When the injury is first sustained, it will look swollen and red.

Over time, the bruise will darken to a shade of blue, purple, or black.

After that, it will gradually turn yellow or green. Then it will turn brown and eventually fade away.

The word choice matters!

Describing a bruise as a "contusion" creates a violent connotation, while "blemish" doesn't sound so harsh.

Describing bruises as "discolored" or "shadows" comes with a more melancholy connotation.

How They Feel

An injury from blunt trauma, such as a bruise, is going to feel dull, and like it's throbbing.

It will feel stiff and firm from the swelling, and it may sting if touched.

As the bruise ages, it may feel tender and sore, but only when pressure is applied or the area is moved.

A wound from a sharp object, however, is likely to feel hot, tingly, or numb.

The pain may be delayed, but after the initial rush of adrenaline wears off, the pain from this type of injury will be fairly constant.

Scrapes tend to feel hot and itchy, and the scab from a nasty scrape can cover a wide area. It will also get itchier as it heals, motivating the character to pick at it and delay healing.

Healing Duration

The time it takes an injury to heal is going to depend on the severity of the injury.

As a general rule, however:

Bruises take about 2 weeks Scrapes take about 1 week

Minor cuts take about 2 weeks

Surgical incisions and sutured wounds take about 4-6 weeks

A bad wound that doesn't get stitches could take up to 3 months

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[hallowgracie]

I think you should rename Luna Frey January, it's cute and unique

I do really like that name. . . January Frey does have a ring to it. . .

January Persephone Frey is such a witch name too

[hallowgracie]

The Anouir Institute is located on an island beyond the iconic arches of the Dragonsgate Bridge, one of many dotting the long coastline of Ventura Sound. The island once belonged to the Anouir family, a now-extant lineage of witches who were known for their impressive command of alchemy and the creation of legendary magical artifacts. The mansion they once lived in is now where the Anouir Institute holds their classes as a premier academy for the magical arts. 

The Anouir family mansion was converted into a school by the last Anouir to live on the island, as he vowed to never have children and to let the family name die out. The reason why, he never stated, but some wonder if the reason has to do with the prominence of hurricanes around the island. After all, it is known that nature will lash out if its magic is misused. One wonders what blood lies in the secret passages and rumored labyrinth beneath the school that led to such a violent backlash from the very world?

The hurricanes have become less frequent over the last two-hundred years, as the Anouir family fades further into obscurity.

The campus consists of the Big House where the classes and meals are served, the extensive gardens, and the dormitories. There are the general dormitories, which has been remodeled and built upwards recently into a skyscraper. Then there is the pavilion known as the Coven Center, where the coven houses are located. Once a student joins a coven, they have the option of taking a room in the coven houses, similar to fraternities, sororities, and other societies in American colleges and universities. 

Another area of interest is in the ruins of previous versions of the Anouir Estate, which were destroyed by the ever-present hurricanes. Students often explore it, and administration will turn a blind eye, as it is a good test for students to apply their magical skills practically. There are rumors that hidden in these ruins are entrances to the secret labs and labyrinth that hold the greatest artifacts ever made by the Anouir family, a source of great power. Many have tried to excavate and find them—but none have succeeded. 

It’s generally considered a safe, good school to send young witches to study at. Or it was. 

Twenty-four years ago, there were a string of murders of several powerful young students. No one ever discovered who killed them, or why. The only hints lie in the one survivor of the bloodshed—Julien Frey.

And he has his own reasons for keeping quiet.

[hallowgracie]

I have come to realize Luna Frey’s parents just. . . would NOT name her that. And even if they did, they would not be calling her that name, especially her dad and Horus.

I’m still deciding on a name, and these are the front-liners:

Chandra (nickname, Chani): Name of a moon goddess, Chandra started picking up in the 70s as an American name, with Chani as an appropriate nickname given the rise of Dune in 1965

Rhiannon: After the Stevie Nicks song of the same name, but also after the Celtic goddess associated with the moon and horses, and popular in Wiccan circles

January: She will NOT be a January baby but the name sticks out for its hippie associations, and the duality implied by January as the 1st month, for new beginnings. There’s also a nickname from the god January is named for, Janus, god of doorways which is very significant to the MC’s arc, and sounds like Janis after Joplin

Other names that are considered: Aries (her star sign), Persephone (current middle name), or Luscine/Luscina with the nickname of Lucie (another moon goddess) and of course, Serena in full anachronism after Sailor Moon and Selene.

I want the name to fit the vaguely historical inspirations and make sense for the character’s history and family. She’s an important character and I want to make sure her name represents her perfectly.

[hallowgracie]

Swan’s Writing Update

— Project

  — Grimm (I don't think I've ever done a WIP intro so that's just a link to the general tag

— Comments

  — In the original draft there was this very important scene between Lia, the main character, receiving the first phone call from her brother in years which was not only the original catalyst, but also helped set up character dynamics early on. But for some reason I cut it??? This drafts attempts to fix that mistake and reintroduce the phone call.

— Excerpt

[hallowgracie]

You blink languidly, and all you see is light. When you fell asleep, that information evades your mind. All you see is light and whiteness, and you don’t know where you are, or what you’re supposed to do. You remember a long dream, fields of daffodils and dewy meadows, and a voice deep and haunting like a nightmare.

The Deity of Dreams has awoken.

It's the year 2524, and you're a defeated God/Goddess/Deity in a place and time where your kind is rarely needed anymore. After being locked away and thought to be dead for nearly a millennia, you wake up.

Features

Customize your God/Goddess/Deity of dreams.

Retrieve (or not) your now metaphorical throne, stolen by your killer, the God of War and Discord.

Explore and survive in a futuristic and very posthuman world. A world so much different from the one you were pried from.

Blend among mortals, pretend to be one of them— whether you embrace that side of you or not is up to you.

Get your power back after a thousand years of slumber.

Romance or befriend a cast of six characters.

Poly options: Dawn/Bruno, Eris/Dawn, A/Seth, Bruno/Seth.

Characters

Dawn (she/her) • THE REBEL

A rebel and a hacker. Possibly the sole reason you’re awake today, too. She hates deities but seems desperate to get rid of the God of War, even if that involves working with you.

Bruno Lee (he/him) • THE HISTORIAN

Bruno may call himself a historian, a curious old soul in search of unveiling the secrets of the past. But given the fact that he's the only other being locked away with you, there must be more to him.

Vex (they/them) • THE CYBORG

Vex—who also goes by V—is a law enforcer who seems to be more metal than flesh. They represent the crude reality that time has moved on without you. Though V claims they're loyal to their God of War, they've been roped along to help their little sister Dawn.

Amara/Aiden/Asher Moonless (she/her he/him or they/them) • THE LOST ONE

Your memory fades and wavers but you remember A (how could you not). You know they're not the same person you were oh so close to so many centuries ago, but their similarities are eerily noticeable.

Estelle ‘Eris’ Lawrence (she/her) • THE CELEBRITY

Also known as The Voice, Eris is an actress, singer and model. She's every teenager’s daydream, the vivid representation of rags to riches. And, according to Dawn, a valuable ally to have by your side.

Seth (he/him) • THE GOD OF WAR

Your killer and enemy. You knew him once, or so you thought. All that your relationship with him got you was a sword through your chest.

DEMO

[hallowgracie]

Where Luna Danaan and her daughter are like the moon, Soleil Danaan is the shining sun. Full of life, brimming with energy, her charisma is contagious and nearly everyone she meets is swept under her spell. She is the personification of the changing times, a liberated woman with a fashionable wardrobe and an exciting career that leads her to travel all over Vertumnus. When she comes to visit her twin sister and her niece, she always brings back stories of her many adventures as a magical artifact consultant. 

Soleil has always been popular, ever since she was a student at the Anouir Institute. Her peers loved her, her professors held her in high regard. She was a shining star, and everyone expected great things from her. Soleil has never been one to crumble under pressure, and instead excelled. 

One should remember that while you can feel the warmth of the sun, it as just as distant as the moon—and is in fact, farther away. Luna Danaan knows this very well, for it was during their time at Anouir that the sisters became somewhat estranged. It started with the Headmistress Elsinore’s private lessons for Soleil, or maybe it was Soleil’s pledge to the Arcane Spiral coven in which she left Luna behind. The rift only grew beyond repair during the first summer of the Mage Wars, when Soleil isolated herself in her room and broke up with her boyfriend.

Ever since, Soleil has been a rising sun, a natural-born leader. The exact kind of person that the mysterious sorceress known as the Empress of the Sun of the infamous Astarte Coven needs to be. The exact sort of person who could harness the power of the apocalypse to rebirth the world, with herself as its godlike ruler. 

No one believes that such a kind, sentimental woman could do such a thing. Luna knows all too well what Soleil is capable of, even if no one believes her. Still, Luna Danaan wants to believe that her sister can be saved and the cycle does not have to continue. The question is, does Soleil want to end the tragedy? Or is the power of a cursed bloodline too alluring to ever let go? 

[hallowgracie]

Horus Beltane is perhaps one of the greatest witches and mages who ever lived. Gifted in the art of divination, he is a pioneer oracle assigned by the Covenant in preventing the impending apocalypse, ordained by prophecy and hailed by the environmental disasters. As smoke rolls like water in the streets of Ventura Sound, more of the most powerful mages of Vertumnus turn to him with answers.

What he tells them is shrouded in the cryptic speech traditionally associated with prophets and oracles, those who are burdened by a vision of the future. Little do they know that he knows more than he’s ever let on as to the true origin of the apocalypse and the nature of its resolution. Then again, Horus has always known how to keep a secret.

He learned how to keep a secret at his mother’s knee, following his father down the corridors of the great Beltane mansion in the hills of the Arcane Lights part of Ventura Sound. First they were the secrets of wonder, the secrets of an ancient witching legacy, a promise of all he would become and all he would stand to inherit. 

Then they were the secrets of friendship, harmless little things that helped something small and fragile bloom. A fear, a hidden talent, an insecurity, a shared joke, a quiet place that blocked out the rest of the world and the last place he saw her smile before she died. 

After Valor LaGuardia’s death, the secrets only grew, and they weren’t so harmless or wondrous anymore. 

Perhaps the greatest of these secrets was the confession of a girl in silver hair, hands stained in blood over the recently-revived corpse of the one they called a friend. A crime against magic, against nature, against the circle of life was committed there. And yet Horus did not act against it. 

No harm seemed to come of it for a long time. But as the disasters were born and so was the little girl of his close friends’, he learned the terrible truth. The rekindling of a life ended too soon came with far too high a price. To correct the mistake, Horus would take one more secret to his grave—what really happened to Julien Frey on the night of his second death. 

[hallowgracie]

With shining silvery-blonde hair and deep brown eyes, and an elegant wardrobe reminiscent of Stevie Nicks, Luna Danaan is like the moon, cold and mysterious to most. One of the premier alchemists in Ventura Sound, Luna Danaan is the expert in designing and brewing potions that can fulfill almost any need. Many come to the downstairs office of her candy-colored house on the misty hills of Ventura Sound to commission her services. 

Among the glimmering crystal potions bottles, there is a photograph on her desk of a young man with reddish-brown hair, hazel eyes, and a prominent scar working its way up his neck, out from under his shirt. With circles under his eyes and a dullness to their depths that doesn’t quite match his fearless grin, his countenance is a peculiar one. Luna Danaan avoids most questions about the man in the picture, preferring to remind clients of the commission. If one happens to catch a glimpse of her daughter, they suddenly understand. 

Luna Danaan has walked the line between life and death, achieving what no mage has before or since. It was she who rekindled a life cut too short, forging an unbreakable connection between them. And it was she who restored the balance when the debt she incurred came for their daughter. 

She has a great many secrets she can never tell her own little Luna. Secrets that Horus Beltane will help her keep, even if he disagrees, only to be discussed over tea, lilacs, and the moonlight by Julien Frey’s grave. 

[hallowgracie]

Adapting Your Own Work: Revisiting the Daughters of Fire and Rain

The Daughters of Fire and Rain was one of the first original projects I worked on back in 2019, a novel focusing on dragon princess magical girls. Given that this story is the one most companies like WebNovel and such try to go after, I wanted to revisit it and see if I can make the concept work.

So I'm basically starting over from the main concept onward. It's been an interesting process, especially in developing a new cast of characters.

Some of the old characters like Jinn and Kira are being brought back, while there are others like Elodie and Aideen who are essentially donating character traits and backstories to the new characters.

Layla D'Lacey is the new main character, essentially replacing Elodie Durand. The reason I needed a new main character was to just have a clean slate with this story, but she takes from Elodie in her POV, her love of Sanrio, and also takes from Aideen in her popularity and general character traits. But there's a lot of new material there too with Layla, like her fashion interest and how that ties her into others and her unique vulnerability emotionally and her sense of honesty.

It's been interesting to analyze the roles these characters play to see who is truly necessary and who isn't. I'll be curious when this is over how it compares to the version of the story currently available on Wattpad.

[hallowgracie]

Using Names to Convey Setting

In House of Apocalypse, the high fantasy world of Vertumnus takes inspiration from California around the years 1968-1974, particularly in technology and aesthetics. It's been interesting working with the challenges of an era that is not really used to make high fantasy worlds and working around them.

However, since readers aren't really primed for this kind of setting, I think there has to be a lot of work on my end to make the transition as easy as possible.

One of the ways I'm trying to do that is through the use of names. While some characters like the elves, elite witches, and those of elvish descent purposefully have names that are not fitting into California in 1973, a good number of characters probably should, as well as settings.

For example, the city where Luna Frey lives, which is mixed between San Francisco and LA, is called Ventura Sound, which takes from the famous irl Ventura Boulevard.

For certain characters like the werewolves, I'm deciding how much to California-ize the names still. In the original project a lot of the wolves like Dorian were transferred from, they were in Michigan and were of French descent for specific story and lore purposes.

However, since that project ended up getting absorbed into House of Apocalypse, I'm re-assessing if that will still be the case here.

Names are a really easy way to invoke the time and place inspirations from the real world. However, it's been interesting mixing that with the desire to make all meaningful names, even when that doesn't fit the setting. . . .

[hallowgracie]

[hallowgracie]

You're creative writing professors didn't like that you wrote fantasy? That seems strange

It would, especially given how they wanted us to read literary works but refused to actually read our works in that literary capacity. And I was not the only one who suffered from this, as the vast majority in my classes wrote fantasy, which they dismissed as stupid popular wish fulfillment with no intellectual merit.

[hallowgracie]

Late 60s early 70s medieval revival Part 2