planets-and-prose

[planets-and-prose]

"i don't comment on ao3 because i don't wanna be annoying or weird" skill issue + you greatly underestimate the power dynamic here, writing multi paragraph comments is like feeding a bunch of deeply insane and possibly starved ducks at the park and watch them go completely mad over having received a piece of bread

[planets-and-prose]

When a fic doesn’t fit my head canons but it’s well-written

[planets-and-prose]

Re-sharing this post I found on Twitter for people looking for alternatives to NaNo. I haven't tried any of these sites but they might be worth looking into.

[planets-and-prose]

btw roleplaying various characters with your friends is the singular most healing thing in the world. playing with toys for adults

[planets-and-prose]

add me to your writeblr taglist

right now. if you see this on your dash, add me. if you don’t have a taglist, make one and add me to it.

i know it can feel pushy to tag people in your writing (trust me, i know) but we are a community that thrives on sharing. i promise i will always be delighted to read and boost your work, even if it’s a genre you don’t see me post about much.

consider this explicit permission to tag me whenever you post your writing. even if i don’t follow you, even if you’re seeing this as a reblog from someone else. add me to your taglist.

[planets-and-prose]

[planets-and-prose]

Badly Summarized WIP Poll

So @the-grim-and-sanguine tagged me in this, their post is here pls vote on it~ (Also honorable mention to @k-v-briarwood's post, which I think is linked on Concerned's post)

To make this more challenging I'm doing this for all WIPs linked in my masterlist + the one i'm currently working on but haven't posted about bc I'm a doof

Open tag, since I'm still learning who wants tag games, and also @maddstermind @chayscribbles and uhhhhh yeah whoever else

[planets-and-prose]

Marco's Unconventional Guide to the Supernatural snippet masterlist

Refer to this page for all your MUGTTS reading needs lol

Basically the entire story, aside from a few subplots, is here in order! It's not the entire novel, but it's close enough that it's easy to follow even without all of the context of subplot character dynamics and whatnot. More explicit scenes are either censored or nixed entirely to prevent getting flagged here on Tumblr. If you're interested in the spice, keep an eye out and I'll update the main intro post when MUGTTS is signed and has a publish date!

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[planets-and-prose]

OC in 15 Tag Game

(up to 15 lines of dialogue to characterize your OC)

Thank you @maddstermind and @cee-grice for the tags!

Gentle tagging: @planets-and-prose @the-grim-and-sanguine @maddstermind (pingpong) @cee-grice (pingpong) @sentfromwolves @blind-the-winds @nettleandthorne @stridingseer @loopyhoopywrites

I'm going with Iarsou for this one, because his dialogue feeds my soul. Books 1 and 2 are here. Book 3 is still heavily in the works so nothing from that one or book 4.

Book 1

"So. You almost kill me again, and now you're here, interrupting my bath time."

"It's an interesting feeling, bleeding out. I'm sure you've never had the displeasure of experiencing it."

"Micah, look at me. You're going to be fine, alright?"

"I guess it's time to rescue him."

"It's not my blood, I swear."

"I'll show you whipped when I beat you in front of your own men."

"Yes, I try to not make a habit of doing that."

"Tree must hate you. Stay on the ground; I haven't fallen off it once in the three hundred or so odd years I've been on Earth."

"I'm no insatiable human man."

"Well, we're in this together, aren't we? We're a team now, and I think we make quite a good one."

"What happened to you was vile and reprehensible, and you were a child, Micah. You are not to blame for any of it."

"For our personal record, I do want to spend time with you, alright?"

"Did you just fucking stab me?"

"Well it definitely wasn't his swordsmanship that gave him his rank."

"I would keep those opinions to yourself, Micah. You're adding sparks to a barren land, and it's sure to go up flames if you keep testing your luck."

Book 2

"And what should my death matter to a dead man?"

"Had Lucifer succeeded the first time, we wouldn't need to try again. Let me go, Uriel. I won't be held here against my will."

"I've decided I do, in fact, care about your war."

"And why should we trust you to accurately predict this war? After everything?"

"No matter which way it goes, it'll be a success for me. Death or liberation, isn't that the goal?"

"Oh, I had it blessed at the monastery. I had planned to kill myself, but cowardice runs through me deeply, it seems."

"Godspede you, Raphael. Don't you die on me, either."

"If you think I'm about to watch everyone I care about die before I do, you're sorely mistaken, Uriel."

"Nothing is right about this, anyway."

"We have a war to win, come."

"Two of us, alone together. Aside from Metatron, we're the last of Raphael's apprentices, and, all things considered, it's only fair to ask: care to Ascend?"

"I'll chase every path to its end, hunt down every Gabriel— every Seraph —in every universe, and I'll find him again."

"If I succeed, I'll see you again. If not, then... I suppose I'll know what the cradle of eternity feels like, as I wanted originally."

[planets-and-prose]

Get To Know Me

I was tagged by @the-grim-and-sanguine so here we are, his post is here!

Last Song I Listened To: Wait For Me from Hadestown is currently playing :)

Last Thing I Watched: Uhhhhhh I watched some Let's Plays, probably Markiplier's Lethal Company let's play. It's hard to tell since I listen to a lot of things but don't fully watch them.

Last Book I Read: Honestly do excerpts count? I haven't read a physical book in a minute. Honestly it'd be something boring like my Japanese test guides or a book I was helping one of my kid clients read.

Things I'm Currently Obsessed With: Meal prepping at the moment, and also I feel a video game obsession beginning, will I get back into something on the Switch? Genshin? Apex? No one knows, least of all me.

Spicy/Savory/Sweet: Sweet almost ALWAYS. I have a major sweet tooth :)

Relationship Status: I'm engaged to the gremlin who tagged me

This is an open tag here but I'd love for some of the Moon and Seraph Discord peeps to answer!

[planets-and-prose]

Cont Ed Story One's first Real Chapter is up!

[planets-and-prose]

I love the expression "Worms come to collect their due" and I don't know why that stuck out to me, but it did--I adore it!!

~ M+S Words into Potions Event ~

Totally not a banner I just made

I am doing Moon + Seraph's Words into Potions challenge in March! Decided it was a good excuse as any to complete the first draft of my romantasy project(and to also give it a name 😅).

Title: To Hear a Lovebird(may or may not be a placeholder 👀)

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Adventure

Summary: Prunhilt Helisende, an elven farmer living quietly in a dark forest, is forced to travel with a mercenary after they were both seen together by a group of foreign bounty hunters. Just interacting with the charismatic but mysterious Stigbyrr has put a price over her head, and now she has to travel with him until he can find some way to get her back home safely without the elusive bounty hunters noticing. Along the way, the pair find out more about each other that may effect the already blossoming romance between them, or pull them even closer.

I just started writing this and I have not talked about it much, so I have no links besides a small snippet to share.

Also, have this excerpt.

He brought the mug to his lips again, but stilled at the sight of two figures approaching him. Dietrich the tavern keeper, and the pretty lady who played the waldzither only a few moments ago. “Stigbyrr, this is Prunhilt Helisende. Prune, this is Stigbyrr, the mercenary I told you about,” Dietrich turned to Stig after introducing him. “She has a potential job for you.” Prune stared at him for a few moments before turning away, looking down at the table instead. She explained her problem, but Stig was only half-focused on her strange accent. He instead looked at her dark umber hair that was braided to the side, shorter strands framing her sun-tanned skin. Like most of her kind, she had black eyes. Even the sclera was the same inky shade of black, but in the dim lamplight he could see the faintest shade of red. I’m staring, he thought, and quickly shut his gaping mouth and focused on the lady before him. What was she saying? A beast, in the woods? “What kind of beast?” He asked. Her eyes widened just before she averted her gaze again. “I—I don’t know. It only kills at night, and has sharp claws that fester the wound. Worms come to collect their due faster than I’ve ever seen,” She replied. Most creatures of these woods are relatively harmless, as long as whoever is traveling through them respect the Forest Folk who inhabit them. He traced the rim of his cup as he thought. I couldn’t imagine why a farmer who was born and raised here was suddenly having trouble. “Interesting. I’m not knowledgeable in the beast of these lands, but if it’s a nocturnal creature, then it has to have a den somewhere that it sleeps in during the day. Have many caves in this forest?” She shrugged, appearing unsure. “I suppose we do, but I don’t go wandering unless I have a destination in mind. Exploring is a good way to become a sprite’s plaything.” “Oh,” he nodded, “I know all too well. The Forest Folk where I come from are as cold and unforgiving as the weather.” He tilted his head. “And…are you sure this isn’t just some fairy you accidentally ticked off?” She laughed and shook her head, and Stig swore he never heard a sound so pretty. “No. I dare say we have different experiences when it comes to the Forest folk. Any farmer who resides in this forest has to respect the creatures who have lived here long before them if they wish to dwell in it. I swear I have done nothing to anger a forest spirit.” He sighed and sat back in his chair. A job that will require me to get my hands bloody, but a job nonetheless.“Well, I suppose I won’t know what it is until I kill it, yes? I think it would be safer to look for it in the morning, so you’ll just have to risk another night with it lurking around. I must also ask about my payment.”

[planets-and-prose]

�� ERADICATE : Book 3 of Meliora [[a wip intro for @moon-and-seraph's WORDS INTO POTIONS March event]]

♠ Genre: Collapsing Post-Utopian, Mystery ♣ Series Summary: A mysterious benefactor invites citizens of Eminence, built on the remains of London, to participate in a game. The reward? Information on the darkness of the city and a chance to escape. All they have to do is prove they are worthy. ♦ Etc: writing tag || playlist

My goal this month is to actually finish the outline for this and NOT abandon it to simply start replanning the entire series from book 1 again. And somewhere between this and SW, hopefully write 4 chapters/about 10k.

Main Cast

♥ Ayn Starling: 19, lit student + ballerina, playlist ♥ Catoir Altair: 20, librarian, goes by the name "Fletcher Oswin", playlist ♥ Jonas Quinn: 20, hairdresser + gang leader, playlist

Snippet

Sender: The Program Manager Subject: Invitation to a Game

Message: My fellow citizens:

The illustrious city of Eminence stands as a beacon of success and security. Top class schools, an expanding array of businesses, and a world renowned medical team. Many find themselves drawn to it for these reasons.

I, like you, like many before, have dropped all that I was to make a fresh start in this New World ‘Eden’. And I, like you, like many before, find myself content to continue to make a living.

We do not dream of leaving.

What I am here to tell you is that it is not a problem of desire: You cannot leave.

As a fellow citizen of Eminence, it is my duty to entrust this secret to the curious few. Thus, I offer up Meliora, a game in which the willing participate, but only the fortunate will make it through.

I will not say much on the nature of this game -- not all of you will believe me. Meliora is a chance for you to obtain information on what those hungry for the truth will want more than anything: An answer to the riddle of Eminence.

Should you choose to accept my first invitation, I ask that you join the others at the little doors six days before the approaching ides. Expect to arrive in time for high tea.

There will be no consequences if you reject this offer. You will soon forget this message and continue on in blissful ignorance.

Choosing to participate proves to me that you are worthy of a way out.

I hope you will make the right decision.

Respectfully, The Program Manager

[planets-and-prose]

And, finally, one from Dragonfly Wings! (No TDATS because that one is in scrivener and I was using notebooks today).

Ilse loved the attic, usually. It had the feather mattress she shared with her siblings, the cloth doll she still hugged at night, the window with the best view of the distant mountains, and the house's only mirror. She loved it a lot less when Mama made her put on her good dress—the one that squished her arms and didn't swoosh when she spun—and sit on a stool to have her hair brushed. Mama pulled the prickly brush through her hair with strong, even strokes, muttering every time she had to stop and remove another piece of hay. Ilse fought not to flinch with every stroke. She generally braided her hair at bedtime, yanked her fingers through it after baths, and otherwise left it alone. Brushing hurt every bit as much as when Greta had been a baby and decided to climb up Ilse by grabbing fistfuls of hair. But if she let on, Mama might realize she didn't usually brush it and make her do this every morning. "There," Mama announced proudly almost an hour later, "Don't you look pretty all done up?" Ilse raised her eyes to the mirror. She did look pretty. Her red lips stood out like an apple against her pale skin, and her usually wild dark hair was held back under a lacy kerchief, with only a few locks escaping to curl over her shoulders. She looked...like a real person. Like an ordinary girl ready for the most important night of her life. But she still felt like herself, and that ruined the illusion. The kerchief itched almost as badly as the hay, and the knot under her hair felt like a blade against her neck. The stain on her lips was sticky, and every time she forgot to watch herself she would open and close her mouth to feel the odd sensation of it. Her hands, never still except for the bugs, tugged at the dress that was tickling her belly, then twisted a lock of hair around her finger, then flapped around like bird wings. "None of that now," Mama took her hands gently and pinned them to her sides, waiting until Ilse's fingers went limp to release her.

Tagging @ettawritesnstudies because autistic changeling (but let me know if you don't want that!)

[planets-and-prose]

Summary: As many of those who've attended one know, college campuses are some sort of insular world of their own. They're tiny communities, full of burnout, existential crisis...and, well, in the case of a mid-sized private college known for its environmental studies and biology programs, there are...things beyond human understanding.

In a series of short stories, follow five individuals in various stages of their own journeys as they band together to keep their community safe from any forces that choose to harm it, and attempt to better understand this new world that they've been thrust into. And...also, try to maybe not die in the process. That's important too.

Genre: NA...Urban Fantasy

Themes: Found Family (if I ever don't put that, please assume I've been replaced), the American college system, stages of life, personal growth, marginalization, lgbt+ relationships, community.

General Triggers: mentions of discrimination, probable violence, definite body horror (transformations specifically), general trauma, language, more will be added as discovered and all excerpts will be tagged appropriately.

Characters:

Dr. Semira Adams, a sweet 46 year old Southern environmental studies professor/monster hunter specializing in the...unique biological features of the surrounding forest and how it's shifting to adapt to them.

Briar Rackham, a 28 year old TA and graduate student for Dr. Adams. They're a model grad student--straight A's, volunteering with nature camps for kids in the nearby cities, working on an excellent dissertation, LGBTQ+ rights advocate...and a recently turned werewolf.

Also: Worldbuilding re: werewolves!

Achaemenes (Kay), a 24 year old super-super-super senior in pre-med who's delaying his studies as long as humanly possible. Because graduation means there's no excuse to keep away from his hometown, a tiny rural community that's a well-hidden cult, half-populated by fae.

Also: Worldbuilding re: fey!

Dawn Solace, a...well, her body is 21 but her actual age is 39. So let's go with 39-year-old vampire who continues to work with music and theater at this college that she now calls her home.

Also: Worldbuilding re: vampires!

Masumi Yoshida, a 26-year-old whose whole life is a lie. According to her family, she's working on two very intense double majors and holding down an excellent internship on the side. In reality, she works at the chain burger joint on campus, telling her coworkers that she had to drop out due to a family tragedy and is just saving to enroll next semester when that's the last thing on her mind.

Deborah McCaen, a 20 year old junior, dual majoring in history and anthropology, with a focus on oral tradition and mythology. After being homeschooled her whole life, she moved away to college and found a love in understanding the "demonic creatures" told of in the fantasy books she wasn't allowed to read as a child.

Writing:

Full chapters available here on AO3!

[planets-and-prose]

We have officially got everything linked, including what is basically the prologue to my first book of continuing ed!

Tagging @k-v-briarwood

Please let me know if anyone wants to be added to taglist etc!

Summary: As many of those who've attended one know, college campuses are some sort of insular world of their own. They're tiny communities, full of burnout, existential crisis...and, well, in the case of a mid-sized private college known for its environmental studies and biology programs, there are...things beyond human understanding.

In a series of short stories, follow five individuals in various stages of their own journeys as they band together to keep their community safe from any forces that choose to harm it, and attempt to better understand this new world that they've been thrust into. And...also, try to maybe not die in the process. That's important too.

Genre: NA...Urban Fantasy

Themes: Found Family (if I ever don't put that, please assume I've been replaced), the American college system, stages of life, personal growth, marginalization, lgbt+ relationships, community.

General Triggers: mentions of discrimination, probable violence, definite body horror (transformations specifically), general trauma, language, more will be added as discovered and all excerpts will be tagged appropriately.

Characters:

Dr. Semira Adams, a sweet 46 year old Southern environmental studies professor/monster hunter specializing in the...unique biological features of the surrounding forest and how it's shifting to adapt to them.

Briar Rackham, a 28 year old TA and graduate student for Dr. Adams. They're a model grad student--straight A's, volunteering with nature camps for kids in the nearby cities, working on an excellent dissertation, LGBTQ+ rights advocate...and a recently turned werewolf.

Also: Worldbuilding re: werewolves!

Achaemenes (Kay), a 24 year old super-super-super senior in pre-med who's delaying his studies as long as humanly possible. Because graduation means there's no excuse to keep away from his hometown, a tiny rural community that's a well-hidden cult, half-populated by fae.

Also: Worldbuilding re: fey!

Dawn Solace, a...well, her body is 21 but her actual age is 39. So let's go with 39-year-old vampire who continues to work with music and theater at this college that she now calls her home.

Also: Worldbuilding re: vampires!

Masumi Yoshida, a 26-year-old whose whole life is a lie. According to her family, she's working on two very intense double majors and holding down an excellent internship on the side. In reality, she works at the chain burger joint on campus, telling her coworkers that she had to drop out due to a family tragedy and is just saving to enroll next semester when that's the last thing on her mind.

Deborah McCaen, a 20 year old junior, dual majoring in history and anthropology, with a focus on oral tradition and mythology. After being homeschooled her whole life, she moved away to college and found a love in understanding the "demonic creatures" told of in the fantasy books she wasn't allowed to read as a child.

Writing:

Full chapters available here on AO3!

[planets-and-prose]

Meet My OC's: Deborah

Picrew linked here, and as always, more info under the cut!

Physical Description: Deborah is about 5'2" and very pale. She has auburn hair that's kind of in a shaggy, overgrown bob because she cut off her super long hair by herself and it didn't turn out AMAZING but she doesn't care that much anyway so it lives. She wears kind of bulky clothes, slowly leaning a little more butch but "acceptably" so, jeans and flannels vibes. Green eyes, wears glasses, and has hearing aids because she has quite a bit of hearing loss (since she was young). Is more heavyset, definitely the least athletic type build out of all of them.

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planets-and-prose

Summary: As many of those who've attended one know, college campuses are some sort of insular world of their own. They're tiny communities, full of burnout, existential crisis...and, well, in the case of a mid-sized private college known for its environmental studies and biology programs, there are...things beyond human understanding.

In a series of short stories, follow five individuals in various stages of their own journeys as they band together to keep their community safe from any forces that choose to harm it, and attempt to better understand this new world that they've been thrust into. And...also, try to maybe not die in the process. That's important too.

Genre: NA...Urban Fantasy

Themes: Found Family (if I ever don't put that, please assume I've been replaced), the American college system, stages of life, personal growth, marginalization, lgbt+ relationships, community.

General Triggers: mentions of discrimination, probable violence, definite body horror (transformations specifically), general trauma, language, more will be added as discovered and all excerpts will be tagged appropriately.

Characters:

Dr. Semira Adams, a sweet 46 year old Southern environmental studies professor/monster hunter specializing in the...unique biological features of the surrounding forest and how it's shifting to adapt to them.

Briar Rackham, a 28 year old TA and graduate student for Dr. Adams. They're a model grad student--straight A's, volunteering with nature camps for kids in the nearby cities, working on an excellent dissertation, LGBTQ+ rights advocate...and a recently turned werewolf.

Also: Worldbuilding re: werewolves!

Achaemenes (Kay),a 24 year old super-super-super senior in pre-med who's delaying his studies as long as humanly possible. Because graduation means there's no excuse to keep away from his hometown, a tiny rural community that's a well-hidden cult, half-populated by fae.

Also: Worldbuilding re: fey!

Dawn Solace, a...well, her body is 21 but her actual age is 39. So let's go with 39-year-old vampire who continues to work with music and theater at this college that she now calls her home.

Also: Worldbuilding re: vampires!

Masumi Yoshida,a 26-year-old whose whole life is a lie. According to her family, she's working on two very intense double majors and holding down an excellent internship on the side. In reality, she works at the chain burger joint on campus, telling her coworkers that she had to drop out due to a family tragedy and is just saving to enroll next semester when that's the last thing on her mind.

Deborah McCaen,a 20 year old junior, dual majoring in history and anthropology, with a focus on oral tradition and mythology. After being homeschooled her whole life, she moved away to college and found a love in understanding the "demonic creatures" told of in the fantasy books she wasn't allowed to read as a child.

Writing:

To be added as more is posted!

#continuing ed sots#wip intro#new wip#paranormal#supernatural#supernatural elements#werewolves#no vampires yet#yet#fey#fae#urban fantasy#fantasy#continuing ed: sots… See all

planets-and-prose

Last Line Tag

I was tagged by @the-down-upside-finch (their post is here)! So here this is! :)

Half of [Briar] wanted to help Dr. Adams and make sure their favorite professor, basically their surrogate mom, made it back safe, and the other half wanted to run home, go back to bed, and hope this was all an awful, fucked-up dream.

No tags for now, basically an open tag, bc I have like two more of these that I'll do throughout the evening! :)

#tag game#continuing ed sots#thank you for the tag!!#oc: briar

planets-and-prose

Meet My OC's: Dr. Semira Adams

Full Name: Semira Naomi Adams (Maiden Name Baker)

Age: 46

Gender: Cis Female

Sexuality: Heterosexual (yes I know, I finally made a straight OC)

Occupation: Tenured wildlife biology professor/researcher by day, monster hunter by night.

#oc: semira#oc: dr adams#ya bitch cannot decide on a tag#continuing ed sots#continuing education#meet my ocs#oc questions… See all

planets-and-prose

Continuing Education: Vampires

Basic Info: Vampires are undead creatures who are mostly human, but whose bodies function essentially like someone in a coma’s would. They can transmit vampirism to other individuals as well.

Creation: Vampires are made by one vampire sharing blood with another. In rare, occasional cases, saliva can do it, but this has only been recorded in highly immunocompromised or immunosuppressed individuals. For this to work, saliva would have to enter the bloodstream directly during a bite.

#continuing ed sots#my worldbuilding#worldbuilding#my ocs

planets-and-prose

Meet My OC's: Deborah

Full Name: Deborah Esther McCaen

Age: 20

Gender: Female. But said with all the confidence of that person raised super sheltered who just learned about gender being a spectrum. (Spoiler: a they will sneak into the pronoun list at some point in this story. Not at all based on real experiences--)

Sexuality: Straight. But, again, said with the confidence level of someone who has never understood what sexual attraction is much less how it might apply to someone of the same gender. (Spoiler: this too will change lmao)

Occupation: Student, studying a fun little history/anthropology double major, focusing on oral tradition and myths. And who maybe reads a bit too much about cryptids.

Physical Description: Deborah is about 5'2" and very pale. She has auburn hair that's kind of in a shaggy, overgrown bob because she cut off her super long hair by herself and it didn't turn out AMAZING but she doesn't care that much anyway so it lives. She wears kind of bulky clothes, slowly leaning a little more butch but "acceptably" so, jeans and flannels vibes. Green eyes, wears glasses, and has hearing aids because she has quite a bit of hearing loss (since she was young). Is more heavyset, definitely the least athletic type build out of all of them.

Personality: Deborah makes the word "awkward" seem put together and smooth. She was homeschooled and oh boy it shows. She does not know about most social norms and was INCREDIBLY sheltered from anyone outside her church, so like...making friends? Normal conversation? Not really. She also definitely has a touch of the 'tism, and that manifests in both struggles reading social cues and not quite realizing that when people ask "what type of stuff do you like?" that a 30 minute rant about Mothman is not perhaps the most socially acceptable response. But she takes promises and bonds seriously, a stayover from the religion she was raised in, and is loyal to a fault to the people who give her time of day.

Other Important Stuff: My lovely little disclaimer here. I don't mean any disrespect to the way that I'm portraying the LDS faith, I'm just portraying some experiences that people who had adverse experiences with the church might have had, particularly as a queer person. I know a great number of individuals who find a lot of comfort in the church, but as someone who did not, I want to tell that story too.