strange-soliloquies

[strange-soliloquies]

Rage, Grief & Other Quiet Explosions

(Emotional meltdowns that don’t look like meltdowns, but absolutely are)

 The “Smiling Too Much” Grief Your character’s entire world is on fire, and they’re asking if anyone wants more wine. That’s not denial, it’s an effort to hold the damn pieces together. Smile like a glue gun. Watch them crack.

The “Not Crying At the Funeral” Breakdown They don't shed a tear. They organize everything. Perfect speech. Perfect outfit. But a week later, they scream into the laundry basket over a missing sock. That’s the moment. That’s the eulogy.

 The “Silent Dinner Table” Fight No yelling. No slamming doors. Just chewing. Clinking silverware. The kind of silence that tastes like metal. Let the reader feel the air shrink.

 The “Polite but Dead Inside” Apology They say “Sorry” because it’s expected, not because they’re ready. Their voice doesn’t crack. Their eyes don’t meet yours. This isn’t healing. This is a peace treaty with no peace.

The “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” Detour The one where they ask about your day mid-sob. Redirect. Deflect. “Let’s not talk about me.” That’s rage choked by shame. Write it like it’s shoving itself into a smaller box.

 The “Obsessively Productive” Meltdown New projects. New hobbies. Suddenly they’re running marathons, baking sourdough, fixing the garage door. Because if they sit still for one second, they’ll break. Keep the camera on them when they finally sit.

The “Unsent Letters” Grief They write it all down. Every damn emotion. Then burn it. Or delete it. Or hide it in a shoebox under their bed. It’s not for closure. It’s to let the ghosts know they were seen.

The “I’m Fine” That Echoes Delivered too fast. Too sharp. You could bounce a quarter off it. “I’m fine” isn’t fine. It’s the dam cracking. Listen to the echo. Let another character hear the hollowness.

The “Hyper-Logical Rant” Rage They argue with spreadsheets. With perfect bullet points. Cold rage—like ice, not fire. “I’m not mad, I’m just saying…” But that’s a lie. They’re volcanic under that clipboard.

 The “Laughing in the Middle of the Breakdown” Moment That bitter, hysterical laugh. The kind that sounds more like sobbing with teeth. Let it come at the worst time. Let it shock even them. That’s emotion refusing to stay boxed in.

[strange-soliloquies]

How to Make the Ultimate Playlist for Your Novel 🎧✨

Writing a novel is all about vibes, and what better way to get in the zone than by crafting a playlist that captures every moment, every emotion, and every heart-flipping scene? Whether you’re in the middle of writing or just dreaming about your characters, having a playlist can seriously bring your story to life.

Figure Out the Mood of Your Novel 🎶

Every novel has an overall mood - you know, that feeling that sticks with you after reading a chapter. Is your book sweet and romantic, or is it packed with suspense and action? Maybe it’s nostalgic and bittersweet. Whatever the mood is, your playlist should reflect that.

Imagine if your book was a movie, what kind of songs would play during the opening scene? Is it more of a soft, acoustic vibe with someone staring out of a rainy window? Or is it blasting pop-punk as your characters road-trip down the highway?

Pro Tip, Pick a theme song for your novel. This is the one track that feels like it could be the heart of your book. Every time you hear it, you’ll be transported straight into your world. 🎧✨

Find Songs for Your Main Characters 💖

Let’s be real, every character deserves their own theme song. You know your characters better than anyone, what would their personal soundtrack be? Is your main character a hopeless romantic who blasts Taylor Swift on repeat? Or are they more of an, Billie Eilish (Ps:I Love Billie) kind of person? Find songs that capture their personality, their struggles, and their growth throughout the novel.

Character A (The Dreamer): Their playlist is full of soft, dreamy ballads like “Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard. Character B (The Brooding Love Interest): They’d totally vibe with something like “Sweater Weather” by The Neighbourhood

Match Songs to Key Scenes 🎬

Think about it, When your characters finally have that emotional, heart-wrenching argument, what song plays in the background of your mind? When they share their first kiss, is it something soft and sweet, or fiery and passionate? The right song can totally enhance the mood of your scenes, even if you’re just listening while you write.

Big Fight Scene? Go for something intense, like “Control” by Halsey.

The Breakup Scene? You can’t go wrong with a tear-jerker like “Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo.

Add Your Personal Favorites 🎧

This playlist is your baby, so don’t forget to throw in some of your personal faves. If a song speaks to you, even if it doesn’t seem to fit perfectly at first glance, add it anyway. Sometimes, the most random songs end up being the ones that make the most sense as you write. Plus, having your favorite songs on the playlist will keep you inspired and motivated to dive into your story.

Don’t feel pressured to make the “perfect” playlist from the start. It’s a process. You’ll probably discover new songs that fit your novel as you go, and that’s totally fine.

[strange-soliloquies]

The Causal Chain And Why Your Story Needs It

The most obnoxious thing my writing teacher taught me every story needed, that I absolutely loathed studying in the moment and that only later, after months of resisting and fighting realized she was right, was something called the causal chain.

Simply put, the causal chain is the linked cause-and-effect that must logically connect every event, reaction, and beat that takes place in your story to the ones before and after.

The Causal Chain is exhausting to go through. It is infuriating when someone points out that an event or a character beat comes out of nowhere, unmoored from events around it.

It is profoundly necessary to learn and include because a cause-and-effect chain is what allows readers to follow your story logically which means they can start anticipating what happens next, which is what is required for a writer to be able to build suspense and cognitively engage the audience, to surprise them, and to not infuriate them with random coincidences that hurt or help the characters in order to clumsily advance the author's goals.

By all means, write your story as you want to write it in the first draft, and don't worry about this principle too much. This is an editing tool, not a first draft tool. But one of the first things you should do when retroactively begin preparing your story to be read by others is going step by step through each event and confirming that a previous event leads to it and that subsequent events are impacted by it on the page.

[strange-soliloquies]

12 Emotional Wounds in Fiction Storys

Betraying a Loved One. Your character made a choice, and it backfired, badly. They betrayed someone close to them, maybe on purpose, maybe by accident. Now, the guilt’s eating them alive. They might try to fix things, but can they even make up for what they did?

Guilt Over a Past Mistake. They made a mistake, one that cost someone else. Maybe it was reckless, maybe it was a dumb decision, but now it haunts them. They can’t stop thinking about it, and no matter how hard they try to make things right, the past keeps pulling them back.

Survivor’s Guilt. Imagine surviving something awful, an accident, a disaster, but someone else didn’t make it. Now your character is stuck asking, “Why me? Why am I still here?” They push people away, convinced they don’t deserve to be happy or even alive.

Feeling Powerless. Your character is trapped, maybe in an abusive home, a toxic relationship, or just in life itself. They feel stuck, with no control over their own future.

Being Wrongly Accused. They didn’t do it. But no one believes them. Your character has been falsely accused of something serious, maybe even a crime and now they’re fighting to clear their name. It’s not just about proving their innocence, though. They’re also battling the pain of being abandoned by people who were supposed to stand by them.

Public Humiliation. They’ve just been humiliated in front of everyone, maybe it’s a video gone viral, or they were betrayed by someone they trusted. Now, they can’t even look people in the eye.

Living in Someone’s Shadow. No matter what they do, it’s never enough. Someone else, a sibling, a friend, a partner, always shines brighter. They feel stuck in that person’s shadow, invisible and overlooked.

Abandoning a Dream. They had big dreams, but somewhere along the way, life got in the way, and now they’ve given up. Maybe it was because of fear or circumstances beyond their control, but the loss of that dream has left them feeling empty.

Childhood Trauma. Something happened to them when they were young, something painful that still affects them today. Whether it was abuse, neglect, or a significant loss, the trauma follows them into adulthood, shaping how they see themselves and the world.

Being an Outsider. They’ve never felt like they fit in, whether because of their background, their personality, or something else. They long for acceptance but fear they’ll never find it.

Struggling with Addiction. They’re caught in a destructive cycle, whether it’s with substances, behaviors, or even people. The shame and struggle to break free from addiction are real and raw.

Living with Chronic Illness. They’re living with a chronic illness or disability, and it’s not just the physical challenges that weigh them down, it’s the emotional toll, too. Maybe they feel isolated, or like they’re a burden to others.

[strange-soliloquies]

Spring (Week 1) - Day 3

Today was my first visit to the forest. We are still early in the season so the sun shone freely through the branches, lighting up the bright green buds of new leaves. It was lovely.

I entered the forest from a dirt track that lead directly from the main road. It looked as if that particular path is well-maintained. I think the villagers use it often. As I made my way deeper into the forest, I noticed other paths, some maintained and some quite wild, branching from the main trail. On one of these side paths, I swear I saw a unicorn! I almost could not believe it as they are supposed to be quite rare. I froze in my tracks and gave my eyes a quick rub to make sure I was not hallucinating. It stared back for a moment before swishing its tail and stepping into the trees.

A short while later, I spotted some of the berries I was searching for on a side trail. The path was partially blocked by thorny bushes, but I was able to push through. I gathered a small handful, but noticed even more further along the trail. I wanted to grab extra to keep for storage so I continued along the path to the next berry bush. That is when I noticed the webs strung alongside the trail. The trees were choked with them. The thought of meeting some eight-legged friends made me a bit queasy. (Despite Thorne's teachings that all creatures have a place, I was never able to overcome my discomfort with spiders.) I hurriedly gathered my berries and dashed back to the safety of the main trail.

I plan to make a second excursion into the wood tomorrow to look for more reagents. I have noticed that many of the reagents look very similar to the cousin species in my homeland; however, many of them are subtly different. I would like to collect more information on the local variations.

[strange-soliloquies]

Spring (Week 1) - Day 2

While foraging at the loch today, I had another incredible adventure! I was revisiting the locations I noted in my log yesterday, collecting some extra reagents. I got completely carried away marking new areas to explore and didn't realize the day had slipped away. The sun was low in the sky as I retraced my steps, and I knew I wouldn't make it back to the beach before the sun set.

Just as the sun dipped below the tree line, I noticed a churning in the waters nearby. To my shock, a ship rose from the depths. A whole ship! Covered in algae and barnacles! A voice hailed me from the deck. At first I couldn't see who was calling, but I finally spotted a wispy figure. His form was almost lost to the mist that was now rising from the loch.

After exchanging some pleasantries, I noticed that there were more spirits gathering on the deck. They seemed quite jolly and curious as to what business I had at the loch at such a late hour. Finally, the first spirit invited me on board, suggesting it would be much faster to sail to the beach rather than walk.

"The offer is much appreciated, but I have a rule about getting on ships with spirits I've only just met," I said.

They seemed to think that was very funny, but also acknowledged the wisdom of the decision. After a few parting words, I continued on my trek as the ship sailed away.

I noticed that the ship stayed within view during the remainder of my stay. Were they perhaps watching to make sure I made it to the beach safely? Or were there other motivations to their actions?

[strange-soliloquies]

Spring (Week 1) - Day 1

Things are starting to come together! I finished tidying the cottage today. The weather was lovely so I opened all the windows to air the place out. After washing and hanging the linens on the line, I was able to tackle all of the clutter around the cottage. I have no idea what some of these items are even for! I wish Elowen was here so I could ask her...

While I was sweeping out the last of the dust and cobwebs, there was a polite knock at my door. It was my first patient! Standing on the steps was a man with an impressive moustache. He was nervously clutching a cloth cap and apologized for interrupting me as I was getting settled. He introduced himself as Roderic Highwind and asked if I could see him about an "embarrassing matter". I assured him that no apology was necessary and invited him inside.

After hesitantly showing me his "rather unsightly blemish", it was clear that Mr. Highwind has contracted Toad Nose. It's quite an advanced infection too. I think the poor man has been waiting a while to be seen.

I sent him home with a promise that I would have him fixed up by the end of the week. Toad Nose isn't a very complicated ailment. Thorne could cure it with her eyes closed and her hands behind her back.

~ ~ ~

I have identified the ingredients needed for a Balm of Smoothing. Lucky for me they are quite easy to locate this time of year. I am going to pay a visit to the local forest and loch. Maybe I will be able to forage some extra ingredients to help build my stock. You can never have too many reagents lying around!

~ ~ ~

The loch outside the village is beautiful. It's so vast that you can barely see the shore across the way. In some areas, the furthest shoreline vanishes entirely! The lakes in my homeland weren't nearly as impressive. The crystalline water almost seems to radiate its own light. It winked at me through the trees long before I reached the first pebbled beach.

~ ~ ~

I found the most curious thing once I reached the beach: the largest helmet I have ever seen! It seemed deliberately placed, perched atop a large boulder. The size could only mean that a giant has been in the area. I wonder where they have gone?

~ ~ ~

It is now evening, and I have returned to the cottage. I had quite the adventure at the loch this afternoon. The shoreline steadily rose as I picked my way around the loch. I had been hearing the tell-tale call of the Smooth-croak, one of the necessary ingredients for the balm. I finally spotted one squatting in the mud and let my excitement overtake me. I hadn't noticed how close I was to the edge where the earth dropped steeply toward the lake. I managed to scoop the frog into the wet sack I had prepared, but I slipped in my haste and almost fell headfirst right down the incline. I managed to catch myself at the edge, thankfully. However, in the shoal at the foot of the incline I noticed a strange shape half buried in the sand.

I couldn't resist the temptation. Using the shrubs and roots on the incline, I was able to control my slide until I splashed into the water. This close I could see that the shape in the sand was actually a box! Convinced that I had found treasure, I began to clear the surrounding sand, which is when I noticed the skeletal arms clinging to the box! In my panic, I dropped it back into the sand. The impact shook the arms free and broke open the lid.

When I had recovered, I took a peek inside to see what this poor soul was clinging to in its final moments. With the box half buried in sand, I hadn't noticed that there was a gaping hole in the bottom. Whatever was inside must have fallen out long ago. Instead I found a Dentist Crab nestled in the corner of the box. He must have taken shelter inside at some point. The gel these little guys excrete is a very useful reagent so I have brought him home with me.

I did return the box to its owner and petitioned the nature spirits to accept the return of the poor body to the earth. I hope that covering it in sand will prevent it from being disturbed any further.

I plan to return to the lake tomorrow to gather some extra ingredients. I took note of several useful plant and animal components in my log that I know will come in handy in the future.

[strange-soliloquies]

Prologue

Dearest Thorne,

After days of travel, I have finally arrived at the cottage in High Rannoc! My first stop was to visit the village head (Mina) to notify her of my arrival. She was wonderful and invited me to a late lunch to welcome me. The village is so charming, and Mina was kind enough to fill me in on local businesses, customs, and events.

Afterwards, she had one of the locals escort me to Elowen's cottage. Or rather my cottage now, I suppose. It was left in a bit of a state, but I have everything I need to get settled. It will be downright cozy after a bit of tidying. As promised, I will keep an eye out for any information regarding where Elowen has gotten to. Though the cottage was in some disarray, there was no signs of struggle. I can only assume that she left of her own accord.

I am still incredibly nervous to be on my own, but I am feeling more confident now that I am here. The lands around the village are beautiful. It will be such a delight to get out and explore.

I really cannot express how much I appreciate your recommendation, Thorne. I will strive to remember everything you taught me over the years and make you proud. Will write again soon when I am properly settled!

Much love,

Umbra xx

[strange-soliloquies]

The extra cones and rods in your eyes make it easy to identify fake photos and videos. One day when you’re testifying in court, you notice one of the jurors is “fake”

[strange-soliloquies]

Do you have any tips on how to create a villain?

Hi :)

How to create a villain

A good villain is ultimately what makes a hero heroic and is therefore a very important part of your story.

Why do we need a villain?

opposite of the story’s hero

their goals and motivations oppose those of the hero

the hero is reacting to the actions of the villain

showcases the hero’s weaknesses

the character of the villain should be one of your priorities while planning the story

Types of villains

human villains

fantasy villains (with magical abilities, superpowers, etc.)

animal villains (e.g., Jungle Book)

abstract villains (an idea, a society, a corporation, etc.)

if you make your villain more abstract, it can have advantages, but it also makes it harder for your readers to relate to them and understand them

if you have an abstract villain, think about using human representations of that villain for your readers to project their feelings and thoughts onto

more specific types of villains:

likeable villain

unsympathetic villain

unpredictable villain

Characteristics of a villain

There are many different types of villains, but they also share a few similar characteristics:

own beliefs and morals – What do they believe in? What is morally correct for them? Do they see themself as bad/evil? How far will they go? Do they make exceptions for some people or do they not care at all? Maybe they want to do the right thing, but they go about it the wrong way.

goals and motivation – goals are things they want to have or want to accomplish, but motivation is even more important, it explains why they want or need their goal to be fulfilled, you need to invest time into giving your villain a (at least for them) plausible reason for what they are doing

connection to the hero – the hero reacts to the villain’s actions, maybe their fates are intertwined, maybe the hero’s actions in the past led to them becoming the villain, the villain is interrupting and then furthering the hero’s character development the same way the hero is doing to the villain’s development

worthy opponent – being especially powerful, clever, a specialist in something the hero is not, seemingly unbeatable until the end

compelling backstory – people are usually not born bad, it’s something they’ve become over time, it explains the motivation, probably not just one defining moment, if you want one event that changed them, then also think about the reactions from others to that event or what happened afterwards that made them turn evil

similar characteristic to the hero – think about where it went wrong, where did they turn to the dark side? Like I said before, a tragic event does not automatically lead someone to become a villain. Losing their parents young for example can turn them either into the villain or the hero, decide why they turned in that direction that they did

More tips:

Make your villain interesting

your reader should love to hate, but also hate to love them in a way

give them their own character arc and show development

make them special the same way your hero is special

give them a magnetic personality

don’t make them too predictable or the readers will lose their fear of them

Humanise your villains

not born evil, maybe they were corrupted

nothing more frightening than seeing yourself in a villain

give them positive qualities

make the readers sometimes sympathise with them

give them moments of relatability

your readers should be interested in the villain, but not necessarily root for them (only if that’s your true intention), because it could undermine your hero’s actions and motivation

Make them lose

If your story doesn’t end with evil ruling over the world, you need to know how to make the villains lose:

give them weaknesses

let them be a slave to their own moral code

let them have fatal character flaws that in the end the basically defeat themself

give them a worthy ending, something appropriate for a great opponent

Good luck creating believable villains!

- Jana

[strange-soliloquies]

i've been really struggling with figuring out what i want to write. i have ideas for full length stories + characters i want to put in those stories, but i don't really have time for plotting out a whole novel atm. (but i've been keeping notes on my ideas!)

i've thought about writing some vignettes for my ttrpg characters (and have a couple in progress rn), but i'm having a hard time finding my words. it's like when i sit down to write, everything in my brain just blanks out. i'm sure it'll get easier the more i do it, but i wasn't anticipating this kind of difficulty with just getting started. i thought i'd struggle with finding ideas, not that i'd struggle with complete brain shut-down while looking for A Word. 💀

i came across something recently that may be a game-changer tho! it's a solo journaling rpg called afterlife archive. it was created by moodymakeshifter here on tumblr. i didn't know this genre of game existed, but it seems like a really good way to get the creative juices flowing. i've been developing a character for the game + thinking about how i want to write the case files. i thought it might be fun to turn this into a creative writing exercise + maybe share my investigator + short write-ups of her cases? thinking it might kick my brain into gear to do something like this + it would be fun.

i'll give it a try + see how it goes!

[strange-soliloquies]

hiya! i need some tips on how to get ideas for a fanfiction. i have a few different ideas for scenarios and fun chapters, but i don't know how to come up with a full plot. do you have any tips on plot making? thank you so much! your blog is so helpful ❤

Hi :)

I will try to do some kind of checklist for you to develop a plot out of your ideas.

How to come up with plot

Getting inspiration

use writing prompts (x) (plus do writing games) (x,x,x)

choose a specific genre or trope (x,x)

take your favourite song and write the story to it

look up inspirational pictures

take a phrase out of a story and turn it into something else

take a popular story and retell it in your style

Develop the story

start with the 5 W’s

who are the characters?

where does it take place?

when does it take place?

what happened before and what will happen?

why did it happen/will it happen?

so the things you need to think about are:

characters (x,x)

setting

timeline

the end goal your characters are striving for

conflict (what is standing between them and their goal?)

detours (subplots)

character development (how does the journey to achieve their goal change the characters?)

plot twists (x)

the solution (how does it end?)

Here is also a basic overview of what you need before starting a story, this can also help you with creating a plot.

Good luck!

- Jana

[strange-soliloquies]

October Prompts 🎃

Word prompts to use for doodling or writing

ruffled hair

apple scent

full of colors

walks in the forest

autumnal

falling leaves

chestnuts

umbrellas

ravens

Oktoberfest

pumpkin spice

cornfields

black cat

spooky

first wine

flying kites

whispers

picking apples

ghosts

sweater weather

acorns

pile of leaves

harvest

fog

Jack-o-lanterns

campfire

witches

samhain

stormy days

seance

trick-or-treat

[strange-soliloquies]

hello there! how does one outline a fanfic in general? i'm having a hard time trying to make sure that my ideas won't get lost and that i have a guide,,

Hi :)

How to outline a story

@creativepromptsforwriting on IG | do not repost!

There are many different ways how to outline a story. You should try out a few to see which ones work best for you.

Draw your structure

You can use a pre-existing writing structure and then fill out each point of that structure with your own ideas. Examples for a structure could be:

the Hero's Journey

Freytag's Pyramid

You can also use a piece of paper and write down different plot points that you want to have in your story. That could include things like:

settings

conversations

revelations

realizations

drama

Write all of them down and then try to put them in order. Afterwards you play a game of connect the dots. You can use actually lines that you draw from one event to the next. That way you can see the basic structure of your story and you also see where you need to come up with more plot points to fill out the gaps and to get from point A to point B.

You can also use sticky notes to be able to switch your scenes around. And you can color-code them, which I love to do. (Red for whole scenes, green for conversations, blue for revelations, etc.)

OneNote (or similar apps)

You can use the Microsoft app OneNot to create a notebook for your story and then create new tabs for each chapter with extra tabs for a summary of your story, the characters, a timeline, and one for random snippets (for example).

You can synchronize it with your phone and write down stuff, whenever you think about it (I like to do that while taking the train).

Pro-tip

Whichever way you go, I would recommend to create yourself one space that is just a place to dump your ideas. Whenever you have a random thought for your story, write it down there. Doesn't matter if it's a plot point you thought of, or a dialogue you want your characters to have, but you're unsure where it fits.

So everytime you want to write something for the story, you're trying to come up with new ideas, you have a creative block, you can just go to that space/document/whatever and browse it, to see what random ideas you had and if one of them would fit now.

I hope this helps and good luck!

- Jana

[strange-soliloquies]

You are wandering down yet another bleak side street on the ground level of Mircalla. Dilapidated buildings line the way with an occasional slightly-less-derelict shop or pub to break up the monotony. The evening is wearing on, and you hear a round of laughter and song from what seems to be a particularly popular spot. You decide to pass on the rowdy establishment, seeking somewhere quieter to spend a bit of your coin and your time. Your eye is drawn to a small shop a few doors down. White and purple candles float behind the front glass, and a sign hanging over the door bears the mark of an eye. The linework of the symbol glows brightly in the dim light, inviting you to take a closer look. You try the door and find it unlocked.

The inside of the shop smells pleasantly of herbs and citrus. Shelves and cabinets line the walls, packed with odd bits and bobs. Bottles full of mystery substances, large books with cracked spines, crystal balls, decks of cards, and many, many tea cups. Candles cover every free surface, giving the room a cozy glow. In the center of the room, a low table occupies most of the floor space. At the opposite side of the table sits a young fetchling woman. She's idly smoothing the embroidered tablecloth on the table. Noticing your presence, she looks up with a smile.

"Welcome! No need to be shy; come in and make yourself comfortable!"

She gestures toward the cushion on the floor at your feet. Her black eyes shine with a strange light as she gives you an appraising look.

"Let me guess... You're new in town. Perhaps looking for some quiet entertainment. The pub was a bit too crowded for your taste, eh?"

She laughs lightly at your surprise.

"Well, I am an oracle. Discerning things about my clients is sort of my thing. And you have a fine air about you! Your aura is positively radiant. Good things are coming your way, I can tell! Shall we see what your future holds?"

She rises from her cushion and begins rummaging through the items on a nearby shelf.

"Perhaps a bit of tasseomancy to start? Maybe a palm reading? Or would you prefer to jump straight into the nitty-gritty with a bit of cartomancy? You won't find a better card reader anywhere on the continent, I can guarantee! Where would you like to start?"

Her brow furrows at your response. She nervously adjusts her shawl.

"Well... It's true that I do perform some more... otherworldy services on occasion. A séance wouldn't be completely out of the question. If you were one of my regulars. Which you're not.

No, no amount of money will persuade me, I'm afraid. Communing with the dead is... unpleasant. You don't know what you're asking for. Let's stick with a more lively means of divination."

She removes a deck of cards from an ornate wooden box and returns to her cushion. Using a black ribbon, she ties her white hair into a ponytail, then proceeds to shuffle and lay out the cards in a complex pattern across the table.

"This is the exotic tarrow deck; the only one in existence, to my knowledge. Let's see what it can tell us about your fate."

The candles flicker and dim as she slowly reveals the first card.

[strange-soliloquies]

oh shit, i got out one of my ancient flash drives to see if any of my past writings still existed, and i found a few stories i was working on ages ago! thought it'd be fun to share some snippets for old times' sake. maybe it'll also give me something to look back + reflect on once i've got some new writing under my belt.

these were from a creative writing exercise where i was writing about a fella who was constantly hassled by the recently deceased. i think my main focus was to develop my skill at writing horror imagery. i had all these ideas for horror short stories that i didn't end up writing. i found a file on my flash drive with my list of story ideas though. maybe i'll end up writing some of them after all!

[strange-soliloquies]

Hey, I need a bit of advice. I'm kindof new to writing, and I know that there's a lot of stuff that goes into writing before you start the story, such as building the characters etc. Do you have like a basic overview of the things that should definitely be done before I try to write things out into a story? Also, what is a character arc and how do I write one? I hope this ask makes sense.

Hi!

There is so much going into a story. But this is not the format to analyse every little detail of it and you also just wanted a basic overview before you start, so here it is.

Basic overview: How to write a story?

Theme

What kind of story do you want to tell?

What do you want to write about?

What genre do you want to write in?

What is your target audience?

Is there a message you want to convey?

Specific issues you want to highlight?

What narrator do you want to tell the story?

 Structure

Before you start you need a rough idea on where to start and where to end

Beginning

Who is there in the beginning and where are they?

Ending

Who is still left and where do they end up?

Bear in mind that a story doesn’t need a happy ending, it just needs a satisfying one

Middle part (you don’t need to know this in detail)

you just need a few scenes to make a timeline

you need to kind of know how to get from the beginning to the end

you will need ups and downs and twists

Some major plot points for the middle part

Places/stops

Plot twists

When and how does the MC meet the other characters?

Key scenes to further the plot

A few scenes you already know you want to have in the story

Characters

How to create a character? (Tips for creating and developing characters)

Who is your MC?

How many MCs do you have?

How many important characters do you need?

Character arc – your character can’t stand still; they need some kind of drive or problem that is a change to what their life was before

You have to send them on a journey, they have to overcome things you threw in their way

At the end of the story something has to have changed for them

 This is just some basic stuff, so if you or anyone else wants some part of this a little bit more detailed let me know.

- Jana