saraliliwrites

[saraliliwrites]

I envy writers.

As an artist I can give you a snapshot into a world.

But a writer.

A writer can take you there.

They can weave together words and create a portal to anywhere. You can visit those places instead of looking out a window and wishing to be a part of it.

I envy writers.

[saraliliwrites]

aliens are real btw but i don’t really know what their deal is

[saraliliwrites]

A picture a friend sent me from Erewhon

[saraliliwrites]

malls are dying because they don't have blacksmith, apothecary, alehouse or peddler's

[saraliliwrites]

The Emperor’s New Groove + Letterboxd Reviews

[saraliliwrites]

in spring we write scenes where the grief still lingers but the windows are open and something new is growing anyway

[saraliliwrites]

Writing Notes: Magic System

A Quick Guide to Crafting Your Own Magic System

The comforting tug of the familiar can often draw writers into the domain of tried-and-tested magic systems.

While there's a reason these archetypes endure, speculative fiction thrives on innovation.

So here are some guidelines and questions to ponder as you craft your unique magical framework:

Analyze Existing Systems: What makes them tick? Is it the laws, the setting, the cultural context? How can you take a known concept and turn it on its head? For instance, if elemental magic is overdone, what about a system based on abstract concepts like time, sound, or dreams?

Mix and Match: Combine disparate systems. Perhaps in your world, astrology-based magic is combined with bio-magic, where celestial signs grant specific biological enhancements.

Internal Consistency: Ensure that the rules of your magic system are internally consistent. If you're coming up with something new, like Brian McClellan with his “godglass,” consider the broader implications. How would such a system affect economics, politics, or social dynamics?

Ask 'What if?': Let your imagination roam by posing hypothetical questions. What if magic was a tangible, finite resource? Or perhaps it's a virus, and only those infected can wield its power?

Balance: Whichever route you choose, remember that each magical ability should come with its own set of limitations, costs, or ethical dilemmas. This not only adds depth but also avoids the pitfall of making your characters too powerful to face any real challenges.

Above all, let creativity be your guiding star.

Embrace the known, but never be afraid to venture into the uncharted, for therein lies the magic that readers will remember.

Source

[saraliliwrites]

write about the kind of love that ruins the harvest. lovers with hands like sickles. wine-dark mouths. the orchard rotting from sweetness. a kiss that turns the honey sour and the sky to bruise.

[saraliliwrites]

schrödinger's flirting. i mean it as much as you do

[saraliliwrites]

congrats! you wrote 3 words today. that’s 3 more than the guy who died in 1784. you’re doing great.

[saraliliwrites]

[saraliliwrites]

Cats will be like "I know a place" and then take you to their FULL food bowl and act like its empty.

[saraliliwrites]

I control the narrative, I whisper to myself like a lunatic while the characters in the story I'm writing are not following my orders.

[saraliliwrites]

Why ask AI when you can question ancient beings we're unable to comprehend?

[saraliliwrites]

[saraliliwrites]

absolutely love abusing the power that comes with 3rd person limited pov and just ignoring things and being vague sometimes. does the character know all the details? no? then I don't have to either.

[saraliliwrites]

Putting your work out there is so weird.

Because I want to scream "look at this cool thing I made" but I also feel compelled to follow it up with a whisper of "I put my heart, soul and everything I am into it. Please don't smash it in front of me."