lets-collect-art-refs

[lets-collect-art-refs]

41 HOURS LEFT! We’re coming BACK to KICKSTARTER JUST ONCE in 2023 with my SOLD-OUT tutorials books - the ONLY WAY to get them is to join the mialing list, open for just the NEXT 41 HOURS THIS MONTH! Join by sending “Add Me, Lorenzo!” to EtheringtonBooks@yahoo.com in the NEXT 41 HOURS!

Joined any of our mailing lists before? You’re already on it!

These books are NOT available ANYWHERE in shops or online outside of Kickstarter!

Lorenzo!

[lets-collect-art-refs]

Support me on PATREON or Ko-fi 💕

[lets-collect-art-refs]

I updated an old shoe tutorial I did and changed it a bit for the better.

This is just a basic break down, but it still helps me a lot when drawing shoes.

[lets-collect-art-refs]

Wing and feather tutorials by Brenda Lyons.

[lets-collect-art-refs]

WORDS TO USE INSTEAD OF: LAUGH / LAUGHED / LAUGHING

Do you ever find yourself over-using the verb “laugh” (or “laughed” or “laughing”) in your writing? Try using these words instead:

giggle / giggled / giggling

chuckle / chuckled / chuckling

snicker / snickered / snickering

cackle / cackled / cackling

guffaw / guffawed / guffawing

grin / grinned / grinning

titter / tittered / tittering

snort / snorted / snorting

chortle / chortled / chortling

howl / howled / howling

roar / roared / roaring

cachinnate / cachinnated / cachinnating

snigger / sniggered / sniggering

mock / mocked / mocking

crack up / cracked up / cracking up

bust a gut / busted a gut / busting a gut

in stitches / in stitches / in stitches

burst into laughter / burst into laughter / bursting into laughter

die of laughter / died of laughter / dying of laughter

split one’s sides / split one’s sides / splitting one’s sides

(NOTE: Keep in mind that all of these words have slightly different meanings and are associated with different emotions/scenarios.)

[lets-collect-art-refs]

Asking the real questions

[lets-collect-art-refs]

Writing a Blind or Visually Impaired Character

A Multi-Step Guide Written by a Visually Impaired Writer and Blogger

I’m hoping this blog will over time develop its own following, and when it does people will inevitably see my bio and notice what I included: I’m visually impaired.

Yes, a visually impaired writer, and I’ve written with two blind characters before so I have some practice in the field.

So, inevitably, someone is going to ask how to write a blind character.

Or, at least, I hope you’ll ask someone who’s actually blind or visually impaired about writing a blind character before you get too involved with your new WIP.

All parts will be tagged #blindcharacter in my blog, and I will add links to every post as I finish each part. Follow my blog for more writing advice.

Note, this post updates fairly often and old versions are still floating around out there. The most current version of this post is pinned to my blog with any new guides or links you might of missed.

As of 24 January 2021, this is the most extensive and screen reader friendly version of this post.

Part One: Crafting the Blind Character

In which I tell you how to begin making a blind character who is more than a cardboard cutout

Part Two: Narrative Choice, Visual Description, Verbal Description, Social Interaction

In which I give you a basic rundown on how to write from the perspective of a character who can’t see and still make the narration descriptive

Part Three: Tropes and Clichés to Avoid

Your blind readers will thank you for not being the 5000th person to do this and manage to actually finish your story. (Do you have any idea how many stories I’ve noped out of within two chapters because of these clichés? A Lot.)

-New- Part Four: Canes, Guide Dogs, and O&M

Everything I can tell you about 1) how to learn how to use a cane 2) how a cane works 3) how to describe what your character experiences with their cane 4) everything I know on guide dogs

Part Five: Small Aspects of being Blind You Never Thought Of

5 January 2021 Edit: This link has been fixed to correspond with the correct post

Or, really, very normal everyday things for blind people, the inclusion of which will make your characters more real and authentic. It’s the tiny details.

Part Six: Should You Cure Your Character’s Blindness? (Short Answer: No)

There’s no way to write a cure for your blind character that doesn’t make blind readers hate you. Sorry. We came here to finally experience a relatable character who experiences the world like us, but none of us are getting cured so seeing this character we learned to love become something alien from us in the end feels like a slap in the face

Why I’m Blind and What I See -NEW-

I thought I’d finally make a post explaining the complicated situation about my vision. Includes an explanation of visual snow and exotropia, two of the three causes for my vision issues.

Writing Blind Characters Falling in Love, an Advice Post:

Someone asked what being blind and falling in love have to do with each other. Honestly, blindness changes your perspective on everything and it makes an impact on every relationship you have. This includes some things that you definitely do not want your character’s love interest to be/do.

Writing Blind Jokes (Should You Do It?)

You know those flow charts of “should you do x?” going around? It’s like that, but screen reader friendly. Should you write blind jokes. It’s pretty complicated and there are a lot of possible scenarios and details to consider.

Advice for Writing Toph Beifong -NEW-

In this I discuss what I would like to see done in fanfiction with Toph’s character after ten years of reading Avatar the Last Airbender fanfiction

A small essay addressing the frequently asked question on giving your blind character a superpower to help them “see.”

It’s became a popular question, so to make the answer easier/faster for everyone to access, I wrote what will usually be my initial answer. Below there are a few links to some notable past questions on this subject.

Mourning My Vision, it’s More than Depression. 

A small personal essay addressing the nuances of the mourning period you experience with a new disability. The mourning period is mentioned in other guides, but this is more detailed.

Dealing with Heightened Senses, a video by Molly Burke with additional commentary by me

While Molly talks about the myths and truths about heightened senses, I talk about the correlation with blindness and neuro-divergency and how co-morbid disorders/disabilities might affect sensory processing.

Satirical Commentary on the phrase “that blank look in their eyes” used too often in fiction to identify a blind character

a:tla, I’m looking at you (and my eyes aren’t blank)

I Found a Lost Piece of Blindness History

My grandmother told me about her blind aunt and how she sent letters. It led me to speculate about all the O&M things people develop on their own but never get a chance to pass onto other blind people. Technology and techniques are lost in history and reinvented, including the white cane ad guide dogs.

Includes a little history on the introduction of guide dogs into the 20th century

The Following are Answered Anon Questions

Making Your Blog More Accessible

Making Links Accessible to Screen Readers

Reblogging to Add an Image Description to Someone Else’s Image

Why I Write Image Descriptions

Writing Blind Characters

Advice for a Character Who was Born Blind

Over-Protective Parents of a Blind Character, Why They’re Over-Protective and How to Avoid Crossing a Line

A Blind Character in Victorian Era Historical Fiction

Is It Bad Not to Have Guide Dogs in a Fantasy/Historical Setting Without Guide Dogs (short answer: it’s not bad)

Someone Asked About My Thoughts on a Medusa-like Character Blinding Herself to Avoid Hurting Anyone

-New- Characters Who Have Recently Gone Blind and Avoiding Inspiration Porn

Talking about Popular Blind Characters In Media

Does Daredevil’s Echolocation Negate His Blindness

Someone Else was Asked How to Write Daredevil Fanfiction

Blind Characters with Superpowers/Fighting Styles

World Setting where the General Population has a Superpower

Superpowers that don’t involve sight, Five questions to ask yourself if this superpower is a bad idea or a good one

-New- Your character would not use a cane as a weapon, it’s a bad idea

D&D/Roleplaying Blind Characters

-New- Animal Familiars Acting as Service Animals and Advice for Communicating with Your DM

-New- Portraying Older Blind Characters + Causes for Vision Loss with Old Age

[lets-collect-art-refs]

here’s a small character design philosophy that i wanted to share. i try implementing it when i can, wanted to give a simple explanation for it.

[lets-collect-art-refs]

one character design thing id recommend is don’t be afraid to explore drawing different body types epically when drawing exaggerated proportions. it can do a lot for simple designs and can create some fun characters

[lets-collect-art-refs]

some composition notes i guess

[lets-collect-art-refs]

Would it be alright to ask how you draw eyes or at least if you have tips on how you make them so expressive?? I was wondering because I have a nasty habit of giving characters deadpan expressions.

disclaimer: im a fool with 2 brain cells

[lets-collect-art-refs]

davis’ guide to simple low effort ways to draw braids/locs/twists. especially because i like to draw every small thing

[lets-collect-art-refs]

Here’s a little Art Tip about a very specific part of the body. Pop a squat and see how it looks on you.

[lets-collect-art-refs]

Skin.

Writing with Color has received several asks on this topic.

Everything from “how do I describe my character’s skin tone without being offensive?” and “what’s the problem with comparing my character to chocolate and coffee?”

I’m hoping to address all these and likewise questions in this guide on describing POCs’ skin color, from light, dark and all that’s in between.

The Food Thing: So what’s the big deal?

So exactly what is the problem with comparing a POC’s skin tone to cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar and other sweets and goods? Well, there’s several potential problems you come across when you pull out the old Hershey’s bar comparison for your dark-skinned character, even if offense is not your intention.

Keep reading

[lets-collect-art-refs]

also seriously if a character isn’t white, i promise your only descriptive options aren’t food words and varying degrees of tan. it’s okay to say brown. pale brown! light brown! golden brown! medium brown! dark brown! deep brown! so many kinds of brown!

BROWN BROWN BROWN BROWN BROWN

[lets-collect-art-refs]

Shoulder Girdle Construction Notes by NemoNova

[lets-collect-art-refs]

Here's a little bit of what I mean with "you have to be comfortable not knowing things about the world"

Good worldbuilding rewards you for asking questions about it, and it makes you want to keep reading just to see the answers to those questions. This means that there are SUPPOSED to be loose ends. You have to give the reader part of the picture and make them curious about the rest.

For example:

"Well, there are thirteen provinces," said Elbdil Leaf-dangle the elf wizard, pointing to a map, "two in the far south, Pheegia and Zepher, three to the west..."

This is a lot of information, but it's not really memorable or interesting. Provinces? We have those in real life.

"Well, Demonic Kudzu Blast is a spell completely outlawed by the Wizard Council," said Elbdil Leaf-dangle the elf wizard, "one of only 42 horticulture spells in that category. That should give you an idea of how dangerous it is. Even Eldritch Corn, the spell responsible for the Corn Maze Event of 769, is only in the Highly Restricted category."

I would want to keep reading this just to find out what some of the other banned spells are.