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I'm the luckiest #litnerd in the world thanks to @bad_americano --he spoils me on every possible level. #paradiselost #milton #gustavedore #19thcenturybooks (at San Marcos, California)

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Celebrating my best writing week in a couple years. Now that I'm working on the second quarter of this book, everything is starting to flow together, which means I don't have to stop writing and make decisions every paragraph #wordcount #wordgoals #killyourinternaleditor

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Awesomeness

Biology

Biology

Creating a Race (2)

Creating Animals (2)

Disease (2)

Ecosystems (2)

Evolution (and Space)

Flora and Fauna

Genetics

Inventing Species

List of Legendary Creatures

Night Vision/Color Vision

People

Constructed Language (Conlang)

Basics/Phonology (2) (3)

Conlang

Conlang Guide

Conlang vs. English

Creating a Language (Revised)

Culture + Language

Curse Words

How to Create Your Own Language

How to Create a Language

IPA Pronunciation

Making Up Words

Culture Guides

7 Deadly Sins

Alien Cultures (2)

Alternative Medieval

Avoiding Cultural Appropriation

Avoiding Medieval Fantasy (2)

Avoiding One-Note Worlds

Avoiding Utopia

Change (2)

Class/Caste System (2)

Culture

Designing Intellectual Movements

Everything (2) (3)

Fantasy

Gender-Equal Societies

Historical Background for Ideas (2)

History

Matriarchy (2)

Nationalism

Nations

Slavery

Static World

Structure

Wandering Peoples

Economy

Basic Economics

Capitalism

Currency (2) (3)

Current Global Economies

Economic Systems

Economics (1500-1800 AD)

Economics and Government

Economics for Dummies

Economy

Inflation

International Trade (2)

Marxist Communism

Medieval Economics

Schools of Economic Thought

Socialism (2)

Types of Economic Systems

World Economy (2)

Everyday Life

Art

Ceremonies

Clothing

Clothing Terminology (2) (3) (4)

Clothing Reference

Demographics

Disease

Drugs

Education (2)

Fame and Infamy

Family

Food (2)

Food Timeline

Immigration/Emigration

Literature

Marriage

Months

Music

Sex

Slang

Stories

Travel

Government

Collective/Traditionalist Societies

Creating a Government

Diplomacy

Empire (2)

Fancy Latin Names for Government

History and Politics

International Relations (2)

Justice System

Lawlessness

Non-monarchical (2) (3)

Oppressive Government

Political Ideologies

Propaganda

Republic

Rise and Fall of Civilizations

Secret Societies

Shapeshifter Society

Totalitarianism, Atmosphere Necessary For

Tribal Society

Types of Government

Utopia

Writing Politics

Keep reading

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First road trip moment. We're on our way.

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More fabulous advice from Chuck about writing what you want to write, what you need to write. An excerpt:

You can’t write to please everyone else — in part because EVERYONE ELSE comprises this monster blob of competing desires, and also in part because what EVERYONE ELSE wants is unknowable and unpredictable. But what I want? I know what I want. And what I want is to write the book that lives inside my arteries and capillaries, the book that flows through me sure as blood. All I gotta do is chew open my fingertips and type the tale onto the page and it’s mine. I own it. That red is my red, those streaks are my streaks. All the fingerprints belong to me.

All your fingerprints belong to you, too.

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This is half of my new writing room! Yes, after all these years working from the garage, I have a private place to write. Spent the last week playing around with the setup, but the EPIC bookshelf (and most important feature of the room) isn't pictured yet because it is tragically empty until I bolt it to the wall. Here's to intuition, focus, and finishing the first draft by Xmas.

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Oh gawds. So beautiful.

Cretan Bronze Mitra (belly guard), Late 7th Century BC

This would have attached to the bottom of a warrior’s cuirass, hanging down over the stomach area for protection.

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Love someone who is kinder to you than you are to yourself.

Things I Wish I Had Learned Sooner | Nikita Gill  (via alittlebitoflace)

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Tarot Asks

The Fool: Something you've always wanted to try

The Magician: Something you're very good at

The High Priestess: One thing you wish you knew

The Empress: A woman you really admire

The Emperor: A man you really admire

The Hierophant: Something you believe in

The Lovers: A person who makes you very happy

The Chariot: A prize or award you've won

Strength: Something you struggle with

The Hermit: Favourite way to spend a day alone

The Wheel Of Fortune: Something you wish you could change

Justice: A decision you wish you could do over

The Hanged Man: A time when you wished someone would listen to you

Death: Someone you really miss

Temperance: Your ideal day

The Devil: Who you talk to when you're dealing with big issues

The Tower: Something that changed your life

The Star: Someone you consider perfect

The Moon: Something you fear

The Sun: Your happiest memory

Judgement: Your favourite song(s)

The World: Your dream job

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This is what happens every time.

Find more bookish illustrations by Tom Gauld here.

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Part of why 13 is sacred to witches!

August 13th. Celebration in honor of Our Lady Diana.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aradia-or-the-Gospel-of-the-Witches-Italian-Witchcraft/204197756422097

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Castello Maniace, Ortigia (x)

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The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.

F. Scott Fitzgerald, author (via historical-nonfiction)

Yes!

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So very, very useful!

In Which Diversity Isn't a Myth

Ok. I’m tired of the typical vampire, werewolf and fairy.I’m also tired of the occidental-centrism in mythology. Hence, this list. 

I tried to included as many cultural variants as I could find and think of. (Unfortunately, I was restricted by language. Some Russian creatures looked very interesting but I don’t speak Russian…) Please, add creatures from your culture when reblogguing (if not already present). It took me a while to gather all those sites but I know it could be more expansive. I intend on periodically editing this list. 

Of note: I did not include specific legendary creatures (Merlin, Pegasus, ect), gods/goddesses/deities and heroes.

Dragons

The Chinese Dragon

The Japanese Dragon

The Korean Dragon

The Vietnamese Dragon

The Greek Dragon

The Indian Dragon

The Polish Dragon

The Austrian Dragon

The British Dragon

The Ancient Dragon (Egypt, Babylon and Sumer)

The Spanish Basque Dragon

Of the Cockatrice (creature with the body of a dragon)

Alphabetical List of Dragons Across Myths (Great way to start)

Little creatures (without wings)

The Legend of the Leprechauns, The Leprechaun

Chanaque /Alux (the equivalent of leprechauns in Aztec/Mayan folklore)

Elves

Elves in Mythology and Fantasy

Elves in Germanic Mythology

Kabeiroi or Cabeiri (Dwarf-like minor gods in Greek mythology)

Norse Dwarves

The Myth of Loki and the Dwarves

Ten Types of Goblins

Goblins

Tengu: Japanese Goblins

Gnomes 

More on Gnomes

Pooka: an Irish phantom

Creatures with wings (except dragons)

Fairies

All sorts of Cultural Fairies

Fairies in Old French Mythology 

A Fairy List

Bendith Y Mamau (Welsh fairies)

Welsh Fairies

Peri (Persian fairies)

Yü Nü (Chinese fairies)

The Celtic Pixie

Angels in Judaism

Angels in Christianity

Hierarchy of Angels

Angels in Islam

Irish Sylph

Garuda (Bird-like creature in Hindu and Buddhist myths)

Bean Nighe (a Scottish fairy; the equivalent of a banshee in Celtic mythology)

Harpies

Spirited Creatures

Druids

Jinn (Genies in Arabic folklore)

Types of Djinns

Aisha Qandisha and Djinn in Moroccan Folklore

Oni (demons in Japanese folklore)

Nymphs

Spirits in Asturian Mythology

Valkyries

Lesovik

Boggarts: The British Poltergeist

Phantom black dogs (the Grim)

Demons in Babylonian and Assyrian Mythology (list)

Demons in the Americas (list)

European Demons (list)

Middle-East and Asia Demons (list)

Judeo-Christian Demons (list)

Nephilim, more on Nephilim

Mahaha (a demon in Inuit mythology)

Flying Head (a demon in Iroquois mythology)

Ghosts

Toyol (a dead baby ghost in Malay folklore)

Malay Ghosts

Yuki-onna (a ghost in Japanese folklore)

The Pontianak (a ghost in Malay mythology)

Funayurei (a ghost in Japanese folklore)

Zagaz (ghosts in Moroccan folklore)

Japanese Ghosts

Mexican Ghosts

Horse-like mythical creatures

Chinese Unicorns

Unicorns

The Kelpie (Could have also fitted in the sea creatures category)

The Centaur

The Female Centaur

Hippocamps (sea horses in Greek mythology)

Horse-like creatures (a list)

Karkadann, more on the Karkadann (a persian unicorn)

Ceffyl Dwfr (fairy-like water horse creatures in Cymric mythology)

Undead creatures

The Melanesian Vampire 

The Ewe Myth : Vampires

The Germanic Alp

The Indonesian Vampire

Asanbosam and Sasabonsam (Vampires from West Africa)

The Aswang: The Filipino Vampire

Folklore Vampires Versus Literary Vampires

Callicantzaros: The Greek Vampire

Vampires in Malaysia

Loogaroo/Socouyant: The Haitian Vampire

Incubi and Sucubi Across Cultures

Varacolaci: The Romanian Vampire

Brahmaparusha: The Indian Vampire

Genesis of the Word “Vampire”

The Ghoul in Middle East Mythology

Slavic Vampires

Vampires A-Z

The Medical Truth Behind the Vampire Myths

Zombies in Haitian Culture

Shape-shifters and half-human creatures (except mermaids) 

Satyrs (half-man, half-goat)

Sirens in Greek Mythology (half-woman and half-bird creatures)

The Original Werewolf in Greek Mythology

Werewolves Across Cultures

Werewolf Syndrome: A Medical Explanation to the Myth

Nagas Across Cultures

The Kumiho (half fox and half woman creatures)

The Sphinx

Criosphinx

Scorpion Men (warriors from Babylonian mythology)

Pooka: an Irish changelings

Domovoi (a shape-shifter in Russian folklore)

Aatxe (Basque mythology; red bull that can shift in a human)

Yech (Native American folklore)

Ijiraat (shapeshifters in Inuit mythology)

Sea creatures

Selkies (Norse mermaids)

Mermaids in many cultures

More about mermaids

Mermen

The Kraken (a sea monster)

Nuckelavee (a Scottish elf who mainly lives in the sea)

Lamiak (sea nymphs in Basque mythology)

Bunyip (sea monster in Aboriginal mythology)

Apkallu/abgal (Sumerian mermen)

An assemblage of myths and legends on water and water creatures

Slavic Water Creatures

The Encantado (water spirits in Ancient Amazon River mythology)

Zin (water spirit in Nigerian folklore)

Qallupilluk (sea creatures in Inuit mythology)

Monsters That Don’t Fit in Any Other Category

Aigamuxa, more details on Aigamuxa

Amphisabaena

Abere

Bonnacon

Myrmidons (ant warriors)

Troll, More on Trolls

Golems 

Golems in Judaism

Giants: The Mystery and the Myth (50 min long documentary)

Inupasugjuk (giants in Inuit mythology)

Fomorians (an Irish divine race of giants)

The Minotaur

The Manticore, The Manticore and The Leucrouta

The Ogre

The Orthus (two-headed serpent-tailed dog)

The Windigo

The Windigo Psychosis

Rakshasa (humanoids in Hindu and Buddhist mythology)

Yakshas (warriors in Hindu mythology)

Taqriaqsuit (“Shadow people” in Inuit mythology)

References on Folklore and Mythology Across the Globe

Creatures of Irish Folklore 

Folklore and Fairytales

An Overview of Persian Folklore

Filipino Folklore

Myths, Creatures and Folklore

Alaska Folklore

Spanish (Spain) Mythology

Mythical Archive

Mythology Dictionary

List of Medieval and Ancient Monsters

Native American Animals of Myth and Legends

Native American Myths

Bestiary of Ancient Greek Mythology

Mythology, Legend, Folklore and Ghosts

Angels and Demons

List of Sea Creatures

Yoruba Mythology

Ghosts Around the World, Ghosts From A to Z

Strange (Fantastic) Animals of Ancient Egypt

Egyptian Mythology

Creatures from West Africa

On the Legendary Creatures of Africa

Myths, Creatures and Folklore

References on writing a myth or mythical creatures

Writing a MYTHology in your novel?

How to Write a Myth

10 Steps to Creating Realistic Fantasy Creatures

Creating Fantasy Creatures or Alien Species

Legendary Creature Generator

Book Recommendations With Underrated Mythical Creatures

(I have stumbled upon web sites that believed some of these mythical creatures exist today… Especially dragons, in fact. I just had to share the love and scepticism.)