masterblog-of-writing

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Ophelia. It’s Leo. It’s Me.

I know.

NIX (2024) - Blue Lane Studios

Folkloric water demons, girlhood, and the terrible ache of temptation, portrayed in a beautiful and unique short film written and directed by Lila Howard.

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Ruth leaned down and whispered in her ear, "You're an old bee charmer, Idgie Threadegood, that's what you are..."

Idgie smiled back at her and looked up into the clear blue sky that reflected in her eyes, and she was as happy as anyone who is in love in the summertime can be.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe - Fannie Flag

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) - Jon Avnet

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can we all agree that pressing foreheads together is an underrated act of affection??

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Sweet little heaven is prancing down, a pair of little black eyes

Canta y no llores. Sing, don’t cry.

Summer in the City of Roses (2021) - Michelle Ruiz Keil

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Ophelia. It's Leo. It's Me.

I know.

NIX (2024) - Blue Lane Studios

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fanfiction writers when a character is remotely non-human

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too many stories about turning yourself into a monster as a metaphor for pretending to be something you aren't and losing yourself in the process. not enough stories about turning yourself into a monster as a metaphor for choosing to openly embrace yourself even if it's strange to other people

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Writing a character with albinism by an albino :)

So let’s start off with the basics, shall we?

What is albinism? Albinism is a genetic mutation in which the person with this condition suffers from a lack of melanin, or pigment-the thing that gives you your hair color, your skin color and your eye color. There are 2 different types of albinism: oculacutaneus albinism (OCA) and ocular albinism (OA) I will explain these two types down below.

OCA albinism: This is the more common form of albinism. It affects the body as a whole, causing the individual to have a lack in pigment. So this means that the person’s hair is white/platinum blonde, their skin is very pale and their eyes color varies from pale blue, grey or purple. Although looks are not the only thing altered by OCA albinism. With the appearance comes visual impairments, nystagmus and exetropia. I’ll discuss those later.

OA albinism:

OA albinism is the mutation of this condition in which the individual still suffers from the issues with the eyes, They appear like the average person, still having pigment in their eyes, skin and hair, but still possessing the visual downside of this condition.

How poor is an individual’s eyesight?

Oftentimes, the people with albinism’s eyesight usually varies from 20/200 to completely blind. They are always visually impaired, meaning their vision is 20/200 or worse.

Nystagmus:

Nystagmus is an involuntary muscle movement in one’s eye, often causing their eyes to appear as if they are ‘dancing’ or ‘wiggling’. The person still sees the same, although they appear to not be looking at one specific thing. The ‘wiggling’ often speeds up due to lack of sleep or overstraining of the eye.

Exetropia:

This is the weakness of a muscle in the eye, often causing the person’s eye to drift out to the far left/right, often making them appear as if they are looking in two desperate ways. The person can still see straight ahead, their eyes cannot focus as well.

White canes:

People with albinism often carry around a white cane to alert people on the streets or in public areas of their visual impairment. The cane is a long, white stick with a red bottom, and a rolling ‘marshmallow’ at the bottom.

Sun damage:

Along with no melanin, this often results in high sensitivity to light. The skin can become highly sunburned very easily, so people with albinism oftentimes use a lot of sunscreen, wear hats and sunglasses outside, or even inside.

Stereotype to avoid:

The ‘Magic albino” myth

Oftentimes albino people are seen as ‘mythical’ in other countries, mainly in Africa. They are hunted for limbs, bones, teeth and their eyes because they are believed to contain ‘mystical properties’ to them that cure sicknesses and are often used in ‘potions’.

2. Albinos having red eyes

People with albinism do not in fact have red eyes. The red is often seen as a result of light being directly shone into them, causing the back of their eye to appear due to the translucency of the eye. We do not have red or pink eyes.

One last thing I should mention-Not all people with albinism like the word ‘albino.’ I just use it because it’s shorter and personally I’m fine with it. Some people are not though. Using ‘person with albinism’ can sometimes feel less degrading than ‘albino’ because it’s like you are putting the disability before the person. Just a little tip ^^

That’s all!! Let me know if there’s something I should add!

@mudwingprince

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wish there were more well written characters with albinism tbh. ones that don’t have red eyes or magic powers. i might just write my own story atp because there’s no good albino rep and ik it’s just me bitching atp but like people put so much time into researching other conditions and then with albinism it’s just like ‘oh yeah no pigment and red eyes’ like im probably just being annoying but it gets frustrating to be like ‘oh a pwa in media!’ and then it turns out its a walking stereotype

i feel like i can’t say that cause albinism isn’t a common enough or well known condition, but idk

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Albinism

Albinism is a disease that causes a defect in the normal synthesis or transport of melanin. There are a couple different types, but the main distinction is the difference between oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) and ocular albinism.

Oculocutaneous Albinism

OCA is caused by an autosomal recessive mutation. There are seven different mutations that can cause albinism, though OCA1 to 4 are the common ones (with OCA2 being the most common). All of these different mutations affect the melanin pathway (the chemical reaction steps to turn phenylalanine into melanin).

OCA1 is caused by a mutation in the tyrosinase gene, which causes a lack of an enzyme in the melanin production pathway. There are actually two types of OCA1, with one having no tyrosinase, and the other having reduced tyrosinase. OCA1 is the most extreme form of albinism, which gives a person very pale skin, white hair, and light eyes.

The OCA2 gene (located on chromosome 15) encodes for the P protein, which is a transporter of a melanin precursor. This gene also has a large role in the color of iris a person will have. Those with OCA2 will have light skin, lighter brown or blond hair, and light colored eyes.

So basically, someone with a defect in either one of the transporters or enzymes of the pathway will not be able to have their melanocytes produce normal melanin. This leads to pale skin, white hair, and light-colored eyes (but it is a spectrum depending on the exact type).

Ocular Albinism

Ocular albinism is an X-linked mutation (a portion of the X chromosome is mutated). This means it affects males more than females. It causes loss of pigmentation in the iris. OA1 is the most common, and is associated with uncontrolled eye movements. OA2 is associated with color and night blindness. There is also a third type that is associated with deafness, but sometimes that also happens with OA1.

A fun fact: there is a type of albinism that only affects non-human animals called leucism. This leads to a partial loss of pigmentation that affects the hair, scales, feathers, and skin of the animal, but not the eyes. You can see this in white lions that have normally-colored eyes and noses.

Albinism and Eyesight

Now onto the role melanin plays in eye function. Albino people have poor eyesight as a result of their melanin deficiencies. But why? We're going to have to go into some eye stuff to answer this question.

So your retina has two parts: temporal and nasal (two halves, one closer to your temple and one closer to your nose). The input from each half is processed with the opposite half from the other eye. I have another post that explains this better. So, the optic nerves meet at the optic chiasm, with some fibers staying on the same side, and other fibers crossing over. Mammals with forward-facing eyes have larger temporal retina than mammals with lateral-facing eyes (like a guinea pig). About half of the optic fibers also remain uncrossed at the chiasm because of this.

Most people with albinism have almost all of their fibers cross at the chiasm, which is essentially a misrouting of very important sensory information. The eye structure is also changed with albinism, as most albino people have poorly formed fovea (the depression in the center of the retina where vision is the sharpest). They also have more blood supply than normal to the foveal area (it is supposed to be avascular). The retinal macula is usually poorly developed and there is a reduction in cone density (what allows you to see color).

Stereovision is also impaired, which is the ability to discern three-dimensional information about objects using the difference between the inputs from each eye. Those with albinism are also more likely to have nystagmus (involuntary eye movement) and strabismus (crossed eyes).

Albinism and Hearing

Now, onto the ear. The eye and ear are very intimately connected. The ear lets the eye know where to look for threats. This means that the visual and auditory spaces within the brain interact. Fun fact: when blind people are asked to localize sounds, the visual cortex is more engaged than the auditory cortex. Albino animals have fewer binaural cells, and more difficulty visually locating the source of sounds. A lot of the stuff related to this goes beyond the scope of what I want to explain here, but just understand that melanin is important for the development of both the auditory and visual systems of the brain.

Albinism and Immune Function

Finally, I want to discuss the immune system. Melanocytes are important cells for immune function, and release a lot of immune-promoting factors. For some reason, a lot of people think of those with albinism as having weak immune systems or being sickly. If you'll notice what I said earlier about the cause of albinism, it is a lack of transporters or enzymes in the melanin pathway. Not the lack of melanocytes. People with albinism still have these cells, it is only their ability to produce melanin that is impaired.

However, there are immune conditions that affect melanocytes, such as Chediak-Higashi syndrome. This is an autosomal recessive disorder that affects lysosomal trafficking proteins, and causes lysosomal function to be impaired. People with this disease will have frequent infections, platelet function impairment, as well as albinism. This means that albinism does not cause immune deficiency, but is a symptom of conditions that also affect the immune system.

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Hey you all know about that fungus that possesses ants to make them climb on the tip of grass blades in hopes of getting eaten by a cow, so that the fungus can continue its life cycle in the cow's guts? Because I think that's the kind of thing that's wrong with cave divers.

We don't know what's down there. We don't know what's gotten into their heads that makes them so determined to physically, personally go down there to find out. But I wouldn't entirely dismiss the possibility that whatever has gotten into them is very invested in getting eaten by whatever is down there.

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Last hour..

Short animation I did during my free time

some progress + first sketch

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There are two types of writers:

1. 'It's fiction, it doesn't need to make sense!'

2. 'I didn't account for the rotation of the planet and how that affects the constalations while my characters stargazed at different times of year, I have failed as a writer, and this entire thing is trash'

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Writing Mermaids

A list of resources on how to write mermaids, since I enjoy writing stories about mermaids.

How to Write Mermaids Provides tips and suggestions for creating a mermaid’s physical appearance, culture, and magical abilities. Provides suggestions for creating a mermaid’s motivations and conflicts in relation to their world and the human world.

Guide to Mermaids Provides tips and suggestions for designing a mermaid’s tail, describing a mermaid’s swimming abilities, choosing where a mermaid lives, and creating a mermaid’s civilization or culture. Many of the links provided do not work, but the post itself contains helpful information.

Writing Notes: Mermaids & Sirens Provides interesting information on mermaids and sirens, along with examples.

Wikipedia: Mermaid The Wikipedia entry on mermaids. Provides a starting place of information on mermaids, including their history and origins, myths and folklore from different parts of the world, and examples from literature and other popular media.

TV Tropes: Our Mermaids Are Different A TV Tropes entry on mermaids. Includes several examples of mermaids featured in different types of popular media.

TV Tropes: Mer Tropes A TV Tropes entry that provides a list of the different tropes about merfolk.

Fandom Wiki: Mermaids The Fandom Wiki entry on the mermaids featured in the Pirates of the Caribbean films.

Becoming Mermaids An article that explains the history and origins of mermaids, with examples of different types of mermaids in myths and folklore from around the world. From the American Museum of Natural History website.

Fantastically Wrong: The Murderous, Sometimes Sexy History of the Mermaid An article that explains the history and origins of mermaids, with references from books.

8 Fun Facts About Mermaids A blog post with a list of interesting facts about mermaids. Many of the links provided do not work, but the post itself contains interesting information.

The Anatomy of a Mermaid A detailed discussion on the anatomy of a mermaid. Includes images.

Different Kinds of Mermaids A list of ideas for different types of mermaids.

Goodreads: Mermaid Books The Goodreads page with lists of books featuring mermaids.

Goodreads: YA Mermaid Books A Goodreads list of young adult books that feature mermaids.

19 Mermaid Movies to Watch to Feel like a Little Mermaid A list of mermaid-themed movies from Teen Vogue.

I recommend using these resources as a way to brainstorm your own ideas, or as a starting point for research (i.e., researching things like marine species, the ocean, or folklore and legends). It’s always a good idea to continue your research by checking reputable sources! However, these resources can be used for inspiration or to give you an idea of where to start in your own research.

If you’re stuck on what to name your mermaid characters, you can check out the resources I shared in Names for Mermaids & Mermen.

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I’m a writer, poet, and editor. I share writing resources that I’ve collected over the years and found helpful for my own writing. If you like my blog, follow me for more resources to help with your writing process! ♡

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Writing Resources List

I use my blog to share writing resources that I’ve collected over the years. I’ve recently gotten some new followers, so I thought I would make a list of many of these resources for easy reference.  

(However, this is not a complete list of all the resources I’ve posted. For more writing resources, feel free to check out my blog.)

Encouragement for Writers

Writer’s Block & Procrastination

Writing Your Story’s Plot

How to Write a Scene

Choosing a Setting for Your Story

Character Arc & Character Development

Character Traits

How to Write Heroes & Villains

Elemental Magic & Superpowers

Writing Magic Systems

Fantasy Writing & World-Building

Writing Fight Scenes

Swords and Bows

Writing Mermaids

Writing Relationships & Romance

Romance & Relationship Prompts

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I’m a writer, poet, and editor. I share writing resources that I’ve collected over the years and found helpful for my own writing. If you like my blog, follow me for more resources! ♡

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How I improved my writing style... without actually writing.

Intro : It's just a clickbait title to talk about theory and side techniques - before actually practicing, of course.

LINGUISTIC ISN'T GRAMMAR - AND IT'S BETTER TO KNOW ABOUT BOTH. It's useful for writing impactful dialogue and giving your characters depth. Your characters' language should (ideally) take into account: their social position (rich or poor), the locality (local expressions?) and sometimes their age (different cultural references). And this is best transcribed with linguistic knowledge. In short: linguistics is descriptive, grammar is prescriptive.

The areas of linguistic analysis are syntax (rules governing the structure of sentences),  semantics (meaning),  morphology (structure of words), phonetics (speech sounds and equivalent gestures in sign languages), phonology (the abstract sound system of a particular language, and analogous systems of sign languages), and pragmatics (how the context of use contributes to meaning). (Linguistics, Wikipedia)

Literary theory isn't as boring as it sounds. Learn more about internal criteria of the text (figure of speech, style, aesthetic...) and external criteria of the text (the author's persona and responsability, the role of the reader and what is left to interpretation...). I refer you to the French Wikipedia page, which you can translate directly via your browser in case you need more information. (Make sure you translate the page not switch language, because the content isn't the same).

Listening to Youtube Video about the analysis of film sequences and/or scenario. Remember when I told you to read historical fiction to learn how to describe a castle properly ? Same vibe.

Novel adaptations of movies. = when the movie exists before the book, and not the other way around. e.g : The Shape of Water ; Pan's Labyrinth. In line with tip n°3, it allows us to see how emotions, scenes and descriptions have been translated into writing - and thus to better visualize concepts that may have been abstract.

Read books about authors' writing experiences. e.g : Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. Everyone's different, but they can provide some insightful tips not only on the act of writing itself, but on the environment conducive to writing, planning… Comparing completely different authors' experience could also be fun (this video of King and Martin is actually one of my fav)

Ah and many thanks for your ❤ and reblogs on my latest post ! UwU