koisuko

[koisuko]

Fantasy Royal Hierarchy & Government Explained for Dummies

👑 The Royal Hierarchy:

High King/High Queen: The ultimate ruler of all the lands. Addressed as “Your Majesty.” They oversee multiple kingdoms and have the final say in all matters.

King/Queen: The rulers of individual kingdoms. Addressed as “Your Majesty.” They manage their own territories, make laws, and lead their armies into epic battles.

Prince/Princess: The children of the king and queen. Addressed as “Your Highness.” They’re next in line for the throne and often have their own mini-kingdoms to practice ruling.

Duke/Duchess: High-ranking nobles who control large regions within the kingdom. Addressed as “Your Grace.” They’re like the regional managers, handling local governance and military affairs.

Marquess/Marchioness: Nobles who oversee border territories. Addressed as “Lord” or “Lady.” They’re responsible for defending the kingdom’s edges and often have a mix of military and administrative duties.

Earl/Countess: Nobles who manage smaller regions within the kingdom. Addressed as “Lord” or “Lady.” They’re like the middle managers, ensuring everything runs smoothly in their areas.

Viscount/Viscountess: Nobles who assist earls and countesses. Addressed as “Lord” or “Lady.” They’re like the assistant managers, helping with local governance and administration.

Baron/Baroness: The lowest rank of nobility. Addressed as “Lord” or “Lady.” They control small areas of land and are responsible for local justice and order.

Lord/Lady: A general title for nobility. Addressed as “Lord” or “Lady.” Lords and ladies can hold various ranks and responsibilities within the kingdom.

Government Structure:

🏛️ The Council: A group of high-ranking nobles and advisors who help the king or queen make important decisions. Think of them as the board of directors.

🧙 The Wizard: The royal advisor with magical powers. They provide wisdom, cast spells, and sometimes meddle in politics.

⚔️ The Knight Commander: The head of the royal army. They lead the knights and soldiers into battle and ensure the kingdom’s defense.

📜 The Chancellor: The head of the kingdom’s finances and administration. They manage the treasury, collect taxes, and oversee the kingdom’s bureaucracy.

🎭 The Bard: The kingdom’s storyteller and historian. They spread news, sing songs of heroism, and keep the royal family’s image sparkling.

Other Classes:

🌳 Elves: Graceful and wise, elves often serve as advisors, scholars, or elite warriors. They have a deep connection to nature and magic, making them invaluable in both court and battlefield.

🌾 Peasants: The backbone of the kingdom. They work the land, pay taxes, and sometimes get caught up in the schemes of the nobility. Despite their humble status, they can be heroes in their own right.

💀 Necromancers: Masters of death magic. They can raise the dead, drain life energy, and command undead minions. Often feared and misunderstood, they can be powerful allies or dangerous enemies.

📚 Scholars: Also known as sages, librarians, or loremasters. Scholars are the kingdom’s intellectuals, possessing encyclopedic knowledge. They study ancient texts, advise on matters of history and magic, and often uncover secrets that can turn the tide of events.

⚔️ Heroes: Brave individuals who embark on epic quests. They can come from any class—knights, peasants, elves, or even necromancers. Heroes are defined by their courage, skill, and willingness to face danger for the greater good.

🙏 Priests/Priestesses: Spiritual leaders who serve the gods and goddesses of the realm. They perform rituals, offer guidance, and sometimes wield divine magic. Addressed as “Father,” “Mother,” or “Your Holiness”.

🐉 Dragons: Sometimes pets, sometimes pests. Always epic. They can be guardians of treasure, wise advisors, or terrifying foes.

Servants and Other Castle Inhabitants:

Steward: Manages the household and estate. Addressed as “Master Steward.”

Chamberlain: Oversees the private chambers and personal needs of the lord or lady. Addressed as “Master Chamberlain.”

Marshal: In charge of the stables and the training of knights. Addressed as “Master Marshal.”

Cook: Prepares meals for the household. Addressed as “Master/Mistress Cook.”

Maid: Responsible for cleaning and maintaining the castle. Addressed as “Mistress Maid.”

Squire: A young noble training to become a knight. Addressed as “Squire.”

Falconer: Takes care of the hunting birds. Addressed as “Master Falconer.”

Gardener: Maintains the castle gardens. Addressed as “Master/Mistress Gardener.”

Where They Dwell:

🏰 Castle: A fortified structure built for defense and residence. It includes towers, walls, a keep, and often a moat. The castle is the main residence of the king or queen and their court.

🏛️ Court: The royal household and the place where the king or queen holds court. It includes the throne room, great hall, and various chambers for the nobles and advisors.

🏡 Manor: The residence of a noble, usually a lord or lady. It’s less fortified than a castle and focuses more on comfort and domestic life.

Pro Tips:

Royal Drama: Expect lots of intrigue, secret plots, and power struggles. It’s like a medieval reality show.

Magic: Always a wildcard. It can solve problems or create new ones.

Quests: Royals love sending heroes on epic quests. It’s their way of handling problems without getting their hands dirty.

---

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[koisuko]

Helloooo!

I know it’s been a million years since I posted anything. I promise I am, in fact, working on any requests I receive, as well as other projects.

Currently, I’m working on another request for shy reader and Johnny! I’m glad to see there are so many people who enjoy sweet johnny with shy beans. It’s definitely fun to write, and it’s going great so far so I’m pretty proud.

It’s almost complete, I just need to finish up the conclusion for it.

The reason I take so long to complete these is because I have a horrendous attention span. Because of this, I tend to take a lot of breaks from certain posts and start new ones to refresh my mind and practice the best I can, as well as lay out the ideas i have on the table. I don’t want to half ass my work, so forcing myself to complete it as fast as I can for the sake of a writing schedule is a terrible idea for me. I really wish I could post more frequently, but sometimes I just end up feeling too focused on one post that it burns me out.

I get phases where I write a shit ton, pouring out post after post daily or weekly, and I’m just flooded with ideas that I hyper focus on. Then there are phases where I don’t really want to write anything, and I sort of just stare at the words on the screen with a blank mind. I’ll be honest, I used to just force what I can out and not put the most effort into it, which is why some of my posts are great while others make me cringe to read because I know for a fact I can do better.

I’d also like to mention that I am a gamer. I game often and tend to get super absorbed into the games that I enjoy. Cough cough, Warframe at the moment, cough cough.

To sum up this post, the requests are almost done and I am taking my time on them to create it the best I can and to the best of my writing abilities! I am also a slow writer because of this, wanting to make it the best I can, and I tend to get distracted with other ideas. I love you guys, and I appreciate everything you comment/request. It always makes me kick my feet and giggle when I see how excited you get about what I write. Take care of yourself, I look forward to write more!

[koisuko]

How to pull off "show not tell"

“Show, not tell” is a common advice that both emerging and emerged writers (lol) hear quite often. But most of us don’t really understand what it completely means, until really later.

Personally, I took the advice by heart. But I had the definition wrong. I thought the advice meant that you don’t write “he was angry” but rather “he frowned”, “he glared” or something like that. And it’s kinda right. But kinda. And you can really mess it up when you only half-know what it means—believe me, my first couple of novels were a mess.

So, you might ask what “show, not tell” even means—what it actually means. And I’m here to tell you everything I know about it.

***

What is “show, not tell”

Well, it’s actually a quite recent writing tool in the industry. I don’t really know how and where the term originated—and I’m too lazy to actually Google it—so I won’t get to that.

I’ve heard and read about this term a lot—right from the time I’ve begun writing. It’s quite famous. In fact, it’s a prerequisite these days. Many beginning writers would have heard this criticism that their prose doesn’t really show, it just tells. It’s filled with telling. You should show, not tell.

So, what does this “show, not tell” even mean? The advice is quite self-explanatory, you see. It’s when you show your characters doing or feeling something rather than just telling your readers what happened. So, on one aspect, it refrains you from narrating your story.

And by narrating your story, I mean the parts where the characters are not moving in real-time, but the writer is narrating what had happened. For example,

And we crossed the seas. The journey wasn’t long, but those days we had nothing to do. We were bored the heck out of our brains. Those days felt like an eternity. Until today, when we finally found what we were looking for—a piece of land in the middle of the Pacific. The Hirohoto Islands.

You don’t do this. It’s okay when a character is telling the story to another character. But a narrator should refrain from doing this.

According to this advice, you actually show scenes of the journey—maybe show that the MC was fiddling with stuff all day long, people were drinking booze or something day and night, and some just stared into the blue oceans day in and day out, until this one guy saw a green dot far away. In fact, whatever I just said can be used quite literally, if you don’t wanna go into the details of the scenes. Yeah, you can even go into more details and maybe write a little chapter filled with such scenes.

But, well, as you could have guessed, it’s on a macro-level. The advice can also be used on a micro-level.

For example, you don’t write,

I was angry at Sara. But she didn’t care.

Instead, you write,

I wanted to kill Sara on the spot. I wanted to choke her, I wanted to stab a knife in her chest. But Sara—the damn audacity! She just stood there, simply staring at me like nothing happened just now, like she never said anything to rage me up like this. She didn’t care about me, did she? She never cared.

The second one is filled with anger. And the dejection that the narrator feels, knowing that Sara doesn’t care about him anyway.

On micro-level, there are two actually two ways to imply this advice. And this is something that I had to figure out on my own—no one told me that there were two ways to do this, no article mentions this.

One way is to use visuals, the other monologues.

***

Visuals

Let me explain. When you see the movie, you don’t witness the inner monologues or thoughts of your narrators. You just experience the way the actors act—the way their gazes shift, their body movement changes, and all that. That’s using visuals. For example, read this scene where the character is just betrayed,

Her fists clenched hard. Her arms were trembling. And her eyes… They tried hard to fight back those tears. But the dam could break any moment now.

You get the feeling that the character was betrayed in some way, and that she was both angry and dejected at the situation. She wanted to cry. She wanted to punch.

But I never wrote,

She was so angry at them. She wanted to cry, but she controlled herself.

The second one doesn’t give us the same form of feeling as the first one. The first one obviously reads better, and everyone would prefer that.

***

Monologues

This is something that’s unique to the art of prose. It’s only in prose that you can witness the inner monologues of the characters, and use them to tell a story. Films, comics, and other visual media don’t do this.

And yes, that’s what I mean when I say monologues. Use these monologues to show what the characters feel, and how they react.

For example, let’s take the previous example where the character has just been betrayed,

She couldn’t believe this. Was this for real? Was this… really happening? Really?

How could someone do something like this? And… And to her? What had she done to be betrayed like this?

Again, you hear what the characters are feeling. You understand their tone. And you emphasize with them this way.

***

Visuals or Monologues - How to choose

Now, you might be wondering that if you can use the “show, not tell” in two ways, how do you choose which one to use and which one not, especially in a particular scene?

Well, for that, read the two examples above again—the ones about the betrayed character. Take about a minute to scroll up, c’mon.

You’d understand that on a subconscious level, there’s something oddly different between the two. It’s as if none of the two really give a complete picture of the scene. You get one aspect from the visuals, one from the monologue. But you don’t really get that the character is actually betrayed until I tell you that before you read the examples.

That’s the problem with using one over the other—you often miss out something or the other. In some scenes, maybe where you use stronger action verbs, the visuals might be enough, while in some scenes, visuals won’t really matter, but rather, the monologue will.

But in most scenes, you’d need to mix the two types. Read this,

She couldn’t believe this. Was this for real? Was this… really happening? Really?

Her fists clenched hard. Her arms were trembling. And her eyes… They tried hard to fight back those tears. But the dam could break any moment now.

How could someone do something like this? And… And to her? What had she done to be betrayed like this?

I simply mixed the two—both visuals and monologues. And now, the prose tells the whole story. It can stand on its own, without me telling the context. It feels complete.

See, visuals and monologues are not two ways to “show, not tell” technique, but rather, are two tools that complement each other. Yeah, you can always use one instead of both, but you don’t need to choose one over the other—choose both. Or rather, choose none, if you think that helps the scene better.

***

A common mistake to avoid

Some writers often make this mistake that you should try avoiding. This mistake is really hard to notice, sometimes, but with practice, maybe you can learn how to solve it.

And that mistake is that you often show and tell. For example,

She was angry. She glared at him, her fists clenched hard, like she’d just punch him in the face and get this crap done with.

It’s two sentences. Notice this—the first sentence clearly tells you that the character is angry. And then the second one shows it.

This way, you’re repeating the action twice. The reader would make one mental image in their head when they read the first sentence, and then you make it up for them, in which case, they’d need to adjust that image. That’s not how you make your prose flow.

Never repeat action. An action that happens once in the prose should be mentioned once. The later sentences can expand on it, but not mention the action again. Repeating actions happen a lot in “show, not tell”, and sometimes, it’s not so easy to point it out.

***

Solution

I’ve recently got a hold on this “show, not tell” advice too, to be honest. And as someone who’s recently cleared its basics, I’d admit it—it’s tough to just go and start implementing it.

Therefore, in my current WIP—in which I’m really making sure I follow this rule—I’ve developed a technique that might work for you too, for someone who’s just started out.

Don’t care about this rule in the first draft. You can tell as much as you want in your first draft—go for it. In fact, that’s what I’ve been doing currently too.

But when you’re done with the draft, mark all the places where you think you’ve told and not shown, and then when you’re writing the second draft, just replace all the telling parts with the showing parts. Simply replace them all, and rewrite.

It’s that simple, really.

Even if you’re far into your project and now feel you’ve not really stuck with the advice and messed up, don’t scrap the whole project. I’ve always scrapped projects because sometimes I felt I messed up quite hard, and that’s why I’d advise you not to. In your case, simply go for a re-read, mark the ­telling phrases, and re-write them. You’re done.

***

Conclusion

I hope this article will help you guys. I also wanted to talk about why you should follow this advice of “show, not tell”, why the readers today love it, and when to actually break this rule to tell stuff to the readers. But I thought that it’d deviate this article too much, so I stuck to the basics. I might talk about the other stuff in some other article.

Anyway, see you around!

[koisuko]

How I learned to write smarter, not harder

(aka, how to write when you're hella ADHD lol)

A reader commented on my current long fic asking how I write so well. I replied with an essay of my honestly pretty non-standard writing advice (that they probably didn't actually want lol) Now I'm gonna share it with you guys and hopefully there's a few of you out there who will benefit from my past mistakes and find some useful advice in here. XD Since I started doing this stuff, which are all pretty easy changes to absorb into your process if you want to try them, I now almost never get writer's block.

The text of the original reply is indented, and I've added some additional commentary to expand upon and clarify some of the concepts.

As for writing well, I usually attribute it to the fact that I spent roughly four years in my late teens/early 20s writing text roleplay with a friend for hours every single day. Aside from the constant practice that provided, having a live audience immediately reacting to everything I wrote made me think a lot about how to make as many sentences as possible have maximum impact so that I could get that kind of fun reaction. (Which is another reason why comments like yours are so valuable to fanfic writers! <3) The other factors that have improved my writing are thus: 1. Writing nonlinearly. I used to write a whole story in order, from the first sentence onward. If there was a part I was excited to write, I slogged through everything to get there, thinking that it would be my reward once I finished everything that led up to that. It never worked. XD It was miserable. By the time I got to the part I wanted to write, I had beaten the scene to death in my head imagining all the ways I could write it, and it a) no longer interested me and b) could not live up to my expectations because I couldn't remember all my ideas I'd had for writing it. The scene came out mediocre and so did everything leading up to it. Since then, I learned through working on VN writing (I co-own a game studio and we have some visual novels that I write for) that I don't have to write linearly. If I'm inspired to write a scene, I just write it immediately. It usually comes out pretty good even in a first draft! But then I also have it for if I get more ideas for that scene later, and I can just edit them in. The scenes come out MUCH stronger because of this. And you know what else I discovered? Those scenes I slogged through before weren't scenes I had no inspiration for, I just didn't have any inspiration for them in that moment! I can't tell you how many times there was a scene I had no interest in writing, and then a week later I'd get struck by the perfect inspiration for it! Those are scenes I would have done a very mediocre job on, and now they can be some of the most powerful scenes because I gave them time to marinate. Inspiration isn't always linear, so writing doesn't have to be either!

Some people are the type that joyfully write linearly. I have a friend like this--she picks up the characters and just continues playing out the next scene. Her story progresses through the entire day-by-day lives of the characters; it never timeskips more than a few hours. She started writing and posting just eight months ago, she's about an eighth of the way through her planned fic timeline, and the content she has so far posted to AO3 for it is already 450,000 words long. But most of us are normal humans. We're not, for the most part, wired to create linearly. We consume linearly, we experience linearly, so we assume we must also create linearly. But actually, a lot of us really suffer from trying to force ourselves to create this way, and we might not even realize it. If you're the kind of person who thinks you need to carrot-on-a-stick yourself into writing by saving the fun part for when you finally write everything that happens before it: Stop. You're probably not a linear writer. You're making yourself suffer for no reason and your writing is probably suffering for it. At least give nonlinear writing a try before you assume you can't write if you're not baiting or forcing yourself into it!! Remember: Writing is fun. You do this because it's fun, because it's your hobby. If you're miserable 80% of the time you're doing it, you're probably doing it wrong!

2. Rereading my own work. I used to hate reading my own work. I wouldn't even edit it usually. I would write it and slap it online and try not to look at it again. XD Writing nonlinearly forced me to start rereading because I needed to make sure scenes connected together naturally and it also made it easier to get into the headspace of the story to keep writing and fill in the blanks and get new inspiration. Doing this built the editing process into my writing process--I would read a scene to get back in the headspace, dislike what I had written, and just clean it up on the fly. I still never ever sit down to 'edit' my work. I just reread it to prep for writing and it ends up editing itself. Many many scenes in this fic I have read probably a dozen times or more! (And now, I can actually reread my own work for enjoyment!) Another thing I found from doing this that it became easy to see patterns and themes in my work and strengthen them. Foreshadowing became easy. Setting up for jokes or plot points became easy. I didn't have to plan out my story in advance or write an outline, because the scenes themselves because a sort of living outline on their own. (Yes, despite all the foreshadowing and recurring thematic elements and secret hidden meanings sprinkled throughout this story, it actually never had an outline or a plan for any of that. It's all a natural byproduct of writing nonlinearly and rereading.)

Unpopular writing opinion time: You don't need to make a detailed outline.

Some people thrive on having an outline and planning out every detail before they sit down to write. But I know for a lot of us, we don't know how to write an outline or how to use it once we've written it. The idea of making one is daunting, and the advice that it's the only way to write or beat writer's block is demoralizing. So let me explain how I approach "outlining" which isn't really outlining at all.

I write in a Notion table, where every scene is a separate table entry and the scene is written in the page inside that entry. I do this because it makes writing nonlinearly VASTLY more intuitive and straightforward than writing in a single document. (If you're familiar with Notion, this probably makes perfect sense to you. If you're not, imagine something a little like a more contained Google Sheets, but every row has a title cell that opens into a unique Google Doc when you click on it. And it's not as slow and clunky as the Google suite lol) When I sit down to begin a new fic idea, I make a quick entry in the table for every scene I already know I'll want or need, with the entries titled with a couple words or a sentence that describes what will be in that scene so I'll remember it later. Basically, it's the most absolute bare-bones skeleton of what I vaguely know will probably happen in the story.

Then I start writing, wherever I want in the list. As I write, ideas for new scenes and new connections and themes will emerge over time, and I'll just slot them in between the original entries wherever they naturally fit, rearranging as necessary, so that I won't forget about them later when I'm ready to write them. As an example, my current long fic started with a list of roughly 35 scenes that I knew I wanted or needed, for a fic that will probably be around 100k words (which I didn't know at the time haha). As of this writing, it has expanded to 129 scenes. And since I write them directly in the page entries for the table, the fic is actually its own outline, without any additional effort on my part. As I said in the comment reply--a living outline!

This also made it easier to let go of the notion that I had to write something exactly right the first time. (People always say you should do this, but how many of us do? It's harder than it sounds! I didn't want to commit to editing later! I didn't want to reread my work! XD) I know I'm going to edit it naturally anyway, so I can feel okay giving myself permission to just write it approximately right and I can fix it later. And what I found from that was that sometimes what I believed was kind of meh when I wrote it was actually totally fine when I read it later! Sometimes the internal critic is actually wrong. 3. Marinating in the headspace of the story. For the first two months I worked on [fic], I did not consume any media other than [fandom the fic is in]. I didn't watch, read, or play anything else. Not even mobile games. (And there wasn't really much fan content for [fandom] to consume either. Still isn't, really. XD) This basically forced me to treat writing my story as my only source of entertainment, and kept me from getting distracted or inspired to write other ideas and abandon this one.

As an aside, I don't think this is a necessary step for writing, but if you really want to be productive in a short burst, I do highly recommend going on a media consumption hiatus. Not forever, obviously! Consuming media is a valuable tool for new inspiration, and reading other's work (both good and bad, as long as you think critically to identify the differences!) is an invaluable resource for improving your writing.

When I write, I usually lay down, close my eyes, and play the scene I'm interested in writing in my head. I even take a ten-minute nap now and then during this process. (I find being in a state of partial drowsiness, but not outright sleepiness, makes writing easier and better. Sleep helps the brain process and make connections!) Then I roll over to the laptop next to me and type up whatever I felt like worked for the scene. This may mean I write half a sentence at a time between intervals of closed-eye-time XD

People always say if you're stuck, you need to outline.

What they actually mean by that (whether they realize it or not) is that if you're stuck, you need to brainstorm. You need to marinate. You don't need to plan what you're doing, you just need to give yourself time to think about it!

What's another framing for brainstorming for your fic? Fantasizing about it! Planning is work, but fantasizing isn't.

You're already fantasizing about it, right? That's why you're writing it. Just direct that effort toward the scenes you're trying to write next! Close your eyes, lay back, and fantasize what the characters do and how they react.

And then quickly note down your inspirations so you don't forget, haha.

And if a scene is so boring to you that even fantasizing about it sucks--it's probably a bad scene.

If it's boring to write, it's going to be boring to read. Ask yourself why you wanted that scene. Is it even necessary? Can you cut it? Can you replace it with a different scene that serves the same purpose but approaches the problem from a different angle? If you can't remove the troublesome scene, what can you change about it that would make it interesting or exciting for you to write?

And I can't write sitting up to save my damn life. It's like my brain just stops working if I have to sit in a chair and stare at a computer screen. I need to be able to lie down, even if I don't use it! Talking walks and swinging in a hammock are also fantastic places to get scene ideas worked out, because the rhythmic motion also helps our brain process. It's just a little harder to work on a laptop in those scenarios. XD

In conclusion: Writing nonlinearly is an amazing tool for kicking writer's block to the curb. There's almost always some scene you'll want to write. If there isn't, you need to re-read or marinate.

Or you need to use the bathroom, eat something, or sleep. XD Seriously, if you're that stuck, assess your current physical condition. You might just be unable to focus because you're uncomfortable and you haven't realized it yet.

Anyway! I hope that was helpful, or at least interesting! XD Sorry again for the text wall. (I think this is the longest comment reply I've ever written!)

And same to you guys on tumblr--I hope this was helpful or at least interesting. XD Reblogs appreciated if so! (Maybe it'll help someone else!)

[koisuko]

A Note for New Writers

                When I started this blog, one of my goals was to compile advice that I hadn’t really seen online anywhere. Stuff a little bit beyond the foundations I was already very familiar with. I took university courses and different approaches to writing combined with my own experience and lessons from the mentors and teachers around me, and began to write it all down to share with you.

                The idea was never that you would start writing your first character with Character is Plot say. However, I noticed there are a lot of new, beginner, or learning writers on here, and there’s a great value in really nailing the foundations, so here marks the start of a short series of foundational advice for you new writers (or for writers who have been around the block and may need a refresher. I know I do!)

                I see a lot of new writers in the tags looking down on yourselves or your ability. Stuff like, ‘why can’t I seem to do this’ or ‘if only I could actually follow this advice’. My posts were never meant to make you feel like you aren’t good enough. It was written with over a decade of experience behind it. It takes time to build those instincts in knowing what to do. Unfortunately you can’t just build writing skill by reading and collecting articles—they can be a guide, but they aren’t meant to instantly come naturally to you “if only you were a good writer.”

No one can automatically learn how to write just from reading some advice because writing skill isn’t about the knowing, it’s about the practicing.

                And it takes a hell of a lot of practice.

                Writing is mostly intuition—we practice certain skills to get them to a place where we can just do them without really thinking about it. It’s kind of like when you were learning to type, and you had to constantly remind yourself to put periods at the ends of your sentences. Then, over time and a million reminders, you started to just do it on instinct without really thinking about it.

                It’s muscle memory, it’s trying again and again, it’s a lot of struggling and tears and feedback and more tears and a million and one false starts and unfinished drafts and finished drafts that are really bad and lost contests and rejections. I have been through it all. I’m still going through it all. Only recently have I been published—it took me over a decade of practice to get there. Oh, and in the same month one of my pieces was published, another was rejected.

                That’s how it goes. It’s not some switch that will one day flick where you’re ‘good enough’. And the timeline isn’t so set. While I was working on building up skill, I was also working on building up confidence. In the right publications, with enough confidence, I probably could’ve been published years ago. In the right place, and if you’re brave enough to submit, you probably could too.

                It’s about who sees it, very rarely does it really depend on how ‘good’ it is (and you can tell from all the published work that can’t possibly be better than your unpublished work, right?)

                TL;DR, writing isn’t about the knowing, it’s about time, patience, and practice. If you’re reading advice and don’t feel good enough to execute on it, just take a little bit more time and get a hundred thousand more words under your belt. One day, it will just become intuition.

You will get there.

[koisuko]

I saw the ask with the Lin Kuei brothers having an older sister, could you do one with them having a younger sister?

heyo! I actually have done this already, I hope you like it <3

[koisuko]

Tw: horror, mentions of gore, unfinished work just a snippet, gn reader, no use of y/n, unestablished relationship

Never go in the dark.

No matter the situation, nor the circumstances, never go into the dark. The songs they sing may tempt you, and the cries may tug at your human sense of empathy, but it's a trap. Don't be a hero, don't be stupid.

Once you wonder to far into the depths of the night, its too late for you. They hypnotize you to lure you away from the safety of your kin, only to tear you to shreds like scissors to paper.

Quite a sight really, yet the darkness is kind enough to shield the eyes of others from the horrors within — the only inkling left behind are patches of fresh blood stained into the white winter snow by morning.

No one had seen how these creatures looked. Most had assumed they were just figureless, nothing but stark white eyes peaking from the curtains of night. Waiting. All left clueless, except one. "They hud these lang bony fingers, except they were black. Everythin' was." he paused with a look of horror as he recounts the events. "Their eyes hud nae lids an' they hud stretched smiles... it wis a fuckin' nightmare." You shook your head in disbelief. What could possibly cause him to do something so foolish? "How did they even get you in there Soap?" Prying was mandatory right now, with these creatures being almost entirely unknown, including their methods. He hesitated, avoiding eye contact with everyone in the room as he whispered, "They pretended tae be yo-" he shook his head, "mah mother." This checked out in your mind, they get into your head like a parasite and make you see things that no one else can. Often, it would be the shape of someone you love, one way or another. He looked up frantically, his eyes almost watering with emotion, "I thought she wis in trouble, she wis screamin' an' hud pairts of her..." he trailed off, swallowing hard with a sick look on his face, "she wasn't entirely whole." Soap held his head in his hands and took in a sharp breath, the wound on his side festering at the sudden movement, "I can still hear them in ma heid, callin' me fur help."

A/N: This is just a random idea that I had and decided to write, only a snippet. Let me know if y’all like this idea! Been at that weird stage where I want to write, but have a hard time starting and a hard time finishing it. It’s an off and on issue with me, so when I disappear that’s what happens. Comment if y’all like it!

[koisuko]

apologies to anyone who ever thought i was cool and reached out to me only to discover i am just a weird little hermit who can't carry on a conversation to save my life

[koisuko]

Ghost Drabble:

Tw: none, cursing, gn reader

You and Ghost are down bad for each other, absolutely infatuated in fact. But just like any other couple, you two have a quirk that brings you closer — your banter.

Absolutely fowl, insulting each other as if hatred boiled beneath your skin and a breakup was imminent. None of you took it personally, and usually played along with the act like any other. Friends found it hilarious, and strangers would shy away in awkward silence.

People who didn’t know you, would assume the relationship was toxic and unbearable. In reality, Simon was the softest man behind closed doors and would do anything to make you happy.

“Eat up you slag,” he grunts out as he hands you a plate of your favorite food.

“Thanks dickhead,” you reply, happily digging in to the delicious meal.

And of course it’s made perfectly, just how you like it to a T. He’d gift you cards and flowers, bring you the world if you asked; you’d do the same in a heartbeat.

Even on missions together, the comms would light up with bickers through static. Sometimes, even having a competition on who did the best job during your assigned objectives. Naturally, you’d win every time, but only because you picked Price as the judge — he’ll never resist those damn puppy eyes.

AN: apologies for the absence! I’ve been playing a lot of warframe so it’s kept me occupied, along with life things. Having a bit of a depression episode so it’s blocking my ideas. I’ll be back soon!

[koisuko]

Another poll! (Totally for pure science)

I’ll do another one with Kortac fellas when needed

[koisuko]

Imagine:

You and Ghost are a happily married couple…sort of.

Tw: mentions of murder, potential gore, gn reader, toxic relationship, dead dove?, mentions of infidelity, mostly ooc, the names are from a random generator!!

Newly weds, happy and sappy and all that bullshit. Bullshit is all it was to Ghost. You and Ghost were compatible, sure, but sometimes you two become so close it’s borderline obsession. Ghost loves you, as much as you love him, and that terrifies him. To escape this unfortunate feeling, as Ghost puts it, he seeks out others to use and dispose. Something, anything to dull the fear he unwittingly feels deep down. Feelings he barely understands, feelings he’d rather drink himself to death numbing than speak about. Anyone with a brain could see how toxic the duo was, and would likely go to the edge of the earth to convince you two to separate. The both of you were too consumed by one another to leave, and too possessive to even think about letting each other see someone else.

Simon knew you felt the same way. He knew in the way you desperately tried hiding love marks imprinted on your skin. The way you stayed out late some nights under the guise of an “overtime” shift. How you seemed too tired to be intimate. How you shared yourself with someone other than him. His blood nearly boiled at the thought. You were his, and he would do anything to keep it that way. All the little giveaways you both did, unknowingly mirroring each other’s behavior like clones.

Anything was an understatement, evident in the huffs of exertion and long dragging sounds against wet soil. Under the cover of the darkened forest, Simon heaved the black trash bag behind him. Each step caking his boots in mud, masking the evidence of his actions that stained the leather surface. Anyone would likely turn a blind eye, if it weren't for the red liquid trickling down from a torn hole in the plastic. Behind him, trailed along a cloud of guilt and regret, and the stench of death. That gloomy overcast likely to dissipate with the body under the dirt, out of sight, out of mind.

It wasn’t until he noticed a distant figure, somewhat hunched, and headed towards the very spot he had chosen. The silhouette was unsteady and seemed to struggle with the heavy object trailing behind them. Ghost wasted no time in taking cover, slinking into the shadows without a sound. He watched, and waited, patiently, for the prime moment to strike. No witnesses, no regrets. It wasn’t until the person became more clear, and a familiar, “shit,” followed the thud of what appeared to be a body bag. None other than his significant other, carrying a bag just like him, to the same spot picked by him.

“Christ, what the fuck are you doing here?” His gruff voice caused you to jump, whipping around to meet his weathered skull mask face to face. “Me? What are you doing here?” Your attempt to appear confident in your confrontation was sabotaged by the heavy pants leaving your lips. Ghost gave you a scrutinizing squint, leaning to the side slightly to look over your shoulder at the bag on the ground. A normal black trash bag with blood, clumps of hair, and other questionable substances adhering dirt to the plastic. His nose scrunched at the awful odor, much worse than the bag he carried, and much more gruesome looking. “Who is that?” Despite the obvious evidence, and human shape inside the bag, you pulled an act of obliviousness to his question. “What? Who’s who?” Unamused, and slightly irritated, he grabbed his own bag and tossed it at your feet, “Brandon Dorsey, sound familiar?” Your eyes locked with the bag in front of you, remembering the night you slept with him solely to ‘get even’ with Simon. You scoffed, making a feeble attempt to drag yours towards him, “Olivia Marterson, ring any bells?” A smirk played on your lips at his lack of emotion given the circumstance, not a care in the world for the dead beneath him.

Ghost examined the body bag you dropped at his feet, its densely saturated exterior leaving little to the imagination on what was inside. Unlike yours, his bag was more neatly cased with very few stains marring the outside, aside from the blood dripping heavily from the corner — the plastic likely nicked by a tool in the bed of his truck, and a mess he’d unfortunately have to clean later. His bag was much smaller in size than yours, strangely so, and no shape at all to indicate the contents. “Something wrong?” You asked, hoping that maybe your actions somehow irked him, or made him second guess cheating on you. Instead, those deep brown eyes gave nothing away, trailing back up to meet yours, “sloppy work, you should be more careful.” Simon spoke in a deadpan voice, but something about his statement almost felt concerned.

Eventually, the two of you managed to dig a hole in the dirt big enough for both bags to fit side by side. Simon had to help you carry yours over, while you trailed behind him with a look of both defeat and slight irritation. “Thanks,” you’d grumble out, appreciative of him despite your anger. You heaved and grunted, kicking your boot into the back of the shovel and tossing dirt on the bags. By this time, your skin was glossed with sweat, and heart thumping against your ribcage. Finally, the evidence was hidden six feet under, and the smell gone with it. The shovel you used was now anchored into the ground and used as a rest for your exhaustion. “That’s the best hole I’ve ever dug up,” you chimed triumphantly, having puffed out your chest with pride. You glanced over at Ghost beside you, his figure stiff and brooding. “By the way,” you started, “how did you get your bag so small? Mine refused to fold any type of way once the rigor mortis set in.” He turned to walk away, not before answering your question, “butchered, fits better in my truck that way.”

[koisuko]

Hello!

I'd like to request one of the MK1 boys, with a reader (gn) who's pampered and a bit spoiled. They seem like a brat, but in bed, they're actually super obedient and sensitive. Like, they'd begin crying if they thought they did something to annoy their partner.

You can make it as SFW or NSFW as you want, I don't really have a preference. Thank you! ^^

Npnp! Hopefully you like it ❤️ (doing Kenshi because I love him)

Tw: 18+ nsfw, mdni, blind Kenshi, crying, gn reader, brat reader, sub reader, soft dom Kenshi

Kenshi would roll his eyes if there were some in his sockets. Currently, you sat in front of him, whining about an earring somehow lost during a night out. When you asked him for a replacement pair, he declined, in the most delicate way possible. Yet, that didn’t stop you from feeling a bit frustrated. “That was my favorite pair!” You’d pop out your bottom lip to pout, crossing your arms in a pathetic attempt to persuade him but to no avail.

As of late, you’ve been brattier than ever. He had no idea the cause, or how to get you to tone it down a notch. It wasn’t until a potential culprit reared its head. You two hadn’t been intimate in a while, most of his time being consumed by his job. When he did return home, you’d be fast asleep, or he’d be dead tired from hours on his feet. Kenshi considered your frustration both sexually, and in general with him. It made sense however, with the groans after your advances would be rejected out of sleep deprivation. The way you’d eye him constantly, the lip bites not going unnoticed.

One night, he decided it would be the perfect time to get more intimate. His hands gently caressing the small of your back, lifting your shirt slightly to drag his fingers along your skin. His soft fluttery kisses on your face and lips become slower and longer until it was a full on make out session. Being blind, he appreciated the way you felt, your skin so soft and supple. The way you smelt, like honey and vanilla. And the way you sound, your soft moans and mewls under his touch.

It didn’t take long to get into it together. Kenshi layed flat on his back, his hands gripped onto your hips and waiting patiently. He could feel the heat of your core just inches from his tip. Kenshi wanted you to take your time, and set your own pace as this was all about you. Eventually, you managed to slowly set yourself down, whimpering from the feeling of his cock filling you to the brim. You stopped abruptly when Kenshi hissed, gripping onto the flesh of your hips tightly. “W-what’s wrong, did I hurt you?” Before you realized, tears stung at your eyes and trickled down your cheeks. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to- I just-“ you whispered in a delicate and vulnerable tone. Kenshi chuckled, shushing you with a kiss to your lips, “don’t be sorry, I’m just sensitive that’s all.” His clarification settled your nerves just a little, but it didn’t stop the tears from dripping off your chin and splashing on his abs beneath you. His muscles twitched at the sudden sensation, and his thumb instinctually wiped your remaining tears. Safe to say, that didn’t stop the two of you from finishing what you started.

[koisuko]

What bi han reaction being to watching weird cartoon with you eg adventure time,smiling friends

Tw: none, fluffy mostly, no use of y/n, gn reader

Bi-han would likely not understand the appeal of them. He doesn’t strike me as someone with much of a sense of humor, so while you giggle on the couch at your favorite scene, he’s sort of just sitting there with his arms crossed and a raised brow.

He wouldn’t watch those shows on his own, he would only do so if asked by you. Even then, he leads a busy life and an aggressive regimen, so getting him to settle down for an episode or two is nearly impossible.

It takes a bit of explaining for him to understand the jokes, especially with smiling friends. He finds the characters unnerving in a sense, and it’s not something he’s used to, though he’d never admit that out loud.

Eventually the shows would grow on him, and he’d become more willing to watch them with you during his free time. He more so likes the way they make you feel, over the actual plot of the show itself. He’d find himself drawn to adventure time more, seeing a bit of himself in some of the characters.

Bihan didn’t have much of a childhood, due to the strictness of his father. The weight of the oldest sibling and being next in line as a grandmaster was shoved onto his shoulders, his childhood mostly consisting of preparing for such a role. The shows bring out an inner child he never knew he had, bringing him a sense of comfort and enjoyment.

Sometimes, on rare occasions, you may even find him on the couch watching it without you. Although you’d scold him just a little for watching episodes ahead of you. Secretly, you felt a warmth in you at his undivided attention to the characters on screen.

[koisuko]

tw: gn reader, angst (another unfinished draft, i added some more just for context sake)

"He's a fuckin' liar, Kate." - Price

There was always a nagging feeling, a silent whisper at the back of your mind that where you are now — you don't belong. You always felt strange, felt unsure and uneasy even, calling Shepherd your father. You rarely ever mentioned it unless it was necessary, for both privacy and personal reasons, as it always seemed to draw unwanted fascination. Even Shepherd would avoid the topic, causing those who find out to become wide eyed and confused, mentioning things like no resemblance and lack of emotional interaction. You always had a target on your back from your fathers affairs, aiming to cut him where it hurts and use his weakness against him.

Naturally, you enrolled in the military at a young age. You were forced into vigorous training regimens and weirdly particular tests growing up, under the guidance of Shepherd, who deemed it as 'essential for the future'. An odd statement, you thought, but chalked it up as just an over protective father preparing his child for what the military holds. It took little time for you to be recruited for Task Force 141, your lifetime of training paid off in proving yourself worthy. Price saw a bit of himself in you, often offering praise with a pat on the back after a successful mission.

Very few suspected anything, and no one really questioned the validity of your connection with Shepherd. At first, you didn’t either. It wasn’t until small details began clicking in your head, each puzzle piece creating a bigger picture. There is no resemblance between the two of you, not a single feature seemed to match. The way his title as “father” felt odd, and the various subtle shifts in his body and demeanor around curtain topic.

Confronting him in the ways you knew best, he never seemed to budge. So instead, you took matters into your own hands. Past curfew, you snuck into his office and riffled through his drawers. Illegal? Sure, but answers is all you needed. In a particular drawer was a file that seemed out of place, as if purposefully hidden there. Inside the folder was various papers with information you never could have imagined.

You realized, while reading the documents as quickly as possible, that you were in fact adopted. Not a normal adoption, no, one done by force. Your parents were “terminated” in favor of using you as a human experiment. Experiments to create a “better soldier”. Your parents..your real parents, were murdered in cold blood by someone you believed to be your father.

[koisuko]

Could you do one with MK1 Kuai Liang and female reader going skinny dipping together?

Tw: fem reader, mdni, nudity, somewhat established relationship, no use of y/n, only nudity nothing else really

Time and time again, dates with Kuai Liang consisted of more traditional ideas. Walks on the trails of the forest, watching the sunset above the horizon, or having tea in the floral gardens. It was all very sweet, but you desperately craved adventure - something often overlooked by a traditional man such as him. You thought about the idea of a hike, or maybe a horse ride, but even those sounded too bland. Then the idea of skinny dipping came to your mind. It was perfect, you thought, both out of your comfort zone and intimate. You remember seeing hot springs on one of your strolls through the woods, perfect this time of year.

Was it a good idea? Sure, in your mind it was, the problem was getting Kuai on board with it. “Can he even swim?” You muttered, your hands busying themselves with bags of oolong tea. Your plan was to soothe his mood with the hot beverage, then bring up the date one way or another. The worst that could happen is a no, in which there’s always other things to bring up, yet you still felt nervous about his potential reaction.

Right on cue, Kuai glides through the doorway of the temple’s kitchen, his skin glistening with the sweat of training with new students. He makes his way straight to you, gingerly wrapping his arms around your waist from behind and resting his head on your shoulder. With a sigh, he nuzzles his head further into the crook of your neck. “I missed you today, my flame,” he whispered, his voice muffled by his lips on your skin. “Me too, love,” just as he released you, you turned around with the tray of tea, “I thought we could have some tea together.”

The steaming liquid seared your lips, hissing in response and giggling at your mistake. Kuai knows you, maybe too well. He knows when there is something on your mind. You seemed away, your eyes vacant and deep in thought. A hand on yours broke you away from your gaze with the tea cup, “is something troubling you?” Concern was written on his features, with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. It’s now or never, you thought. “I’m fine, I just..” you paused for a moment, contemplating how to word it the best way without completely embarrassing yourself. A blush began forming on your cheeks before you finally spoke, “would you like to um..go swimming tonight at the hot springs?” You may have left out the nude part, but that’s not a big detail..right? “Sounds relaxing, I would love to.”

It was beautiful, the moonlight bouncing off the ripples on the surface of the hot springs. A blanket of condensation settled just over the surrounding area, creating a warm atmosphere to contrast the chill of the night air. Crickets chirped, and distant owls sang their songs, a backdrop to a romantic night. The two of you settled on a nearby rock, overlooking the scene just as you both arrived. Kuai Liang seemed to busy himself with admiring the view of the stars above. With that, you took the opportunity to undress - completely, and slink into the warmth of the water. You tentatively reached out a hand towards him, praying he didn’t see the slight shiver of nervousness in your gesture.

To your surprise, he obliged rather quickly. Within a few minutes, he was beside you, his muscle relaxing under the heat. You had a clear view of his entire body beneath the water. It was a glorious sight, so much so you could see stars already. The droplets trickled down his perfectly sculpted arms, cascading down the contours of his biceps and broad shoulders. The pristine beads seemed to trace the carvings of his scars, and hug the lines of the tattoo you adore. Eventually, your eyes trailed up to meet his deep brown pools already looking at you. His gaze mirrored your own, admiring the way the water cupped your breasts, and watching the droplets with jealousy as they kiss places he wishes his lips were.

Beneath the canvas of stars, the two of you sat in silence for only moments, yet it felt like an eternity, taking in every detail of one another. Before finally, you two inch closer. He placed a gentle hand on your cheek, caressing the soft skin before dipping down to capture your lips in his. Passion in the beauty of nature, the time and place all but forgotten.

[koisuko]

𝗄𝗈h'𝗌 𝖼𝗎𝗋𝗋𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗄𝗌

Veins of Valor

chapter 1, chapter 2 (WIP) Mk1 Earthrealmers x gn!reader

Set to take place in an apocalyptic alternate universe of Mortal Kombat 1. Reader and their best friend Keres travel through the ruins of their once beloved home city, all normalcy stripped from the roots and mangled by chaos. All the while, reader struggles to decipher the meaning behind the nightmares haunting their sleep, and the faces they find so familiar yet stranger in their waking life.

MORE COMING SOON...

[koisuko]

Its canon that bi han is mean to everyone now imagine he starts liking reader and is usually mean to her but now that he has a crush on her he flirtingly teases her and kuai or johnny witnesses the scene as is like " what was that.." bi hans like what??? And they're like "dude your totally flirted with her??"

Weee I love soft Bihan, doing a headcanon sort of style if that’s ok! (Even though I usually like the small text, gonna use the normal text for this one)

Tw: soft Bi-han, fem reader, no use of y/n

Despite Bi-han’s demeaning nature, you actually loved to be around him. Something about him just seemed so, gentle. Anyone would look at you as if you grew a second head if you told them this.

It took a while, of course, to get him to actually enjoy your presence; not that you knew this. You were pretty oblivious to his advances, assuming it was just his blunt nature making your heart race. The only sign you actually picked up on, was that he stopped forcing you to leave. You thought he just tolerated you, much like his brother Tomas, but it was more than that.

You had just finished a vigorous training session, beads of sweat formed at your brow. With a huff, you stood to wipe your forehead with the back of your hand. Just as you thought to go relax, have some tea, the sound of approaching footsteps caught your attention. None other than Bi-han himself, walking alongside his brother Kuai Liang. Presumably, they had come here to speak with Liu Kang.

Despite the reasoning for their visit, you walked over with a skip in your step and smiling from ear to ear. “Bi-han!” You called out, a bright eyed grin on your face. A barely noticeable shift occurred in him, his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly, and his eyes softened subtly. What didn’t go unnoticed, was the pace he took when approaching you. Kuai Liang’s keen eye observed Bi-Hans stride become quicker and wider. He was rushing to greet you.

The two of you stood looking at each other for a moment, before your gaze averted to the floor. His eyes were intense, and not as frozen as they used to be. “W-what brings you here?” You asked, more so murmuring in his general direction than speaking.

Eventually, Kuai Liang managed to catch up, standing beside his brother. He didn’t mean to ease drop, but curiosity got the better of him. As you two conversed, he could see the way his brother visibly changed around you. For the first time, Kuai Liang watched his brother melt.

“You look beautiful,” Bi-han blurted out, playing it off with his usual stoic expression. Both you and Kuai Liang were taken aback by this compliment. Your face bursted into a series of red shades, “y-yo-“ you cleared your throat, “you look great too!”

As the conversation ended, Bi-han waved you off with a nod and watched your retreating form with a gaze of longing. Kuai Liang, his face still wide eyed and stunned by his brother’s sudden change, turned to look at Bi-han. “I’ve never seen you flirt, brother, she must be special.” He smirked. Bi-han grunted, his scowl returning once again, “come, let us speak with Liu Kang.”