#the anatomy of story

[10drafts]

How to Write a Good Premise

Describe your story idea in one sentence. Caution: choose a story idea that might change your life, i.e. that means a lot to you. (Example. The Raven Cycle: Four friends get together to uncover a dead king and ask him for a wish.)

Optional, but advised. Write a list of things you like and elements you enjoy in stories. Also, write a list of possibilities for your idea. (Example. These elements for The Raven Cycle could've been: a magical sentient forest, tarot, witches, dreams, flashy cars, found family, etc.)

Describe story challenges and problems. (Example. In The Raven Cycle, possible problems might've been the motivations of each character to search for the king, suspension of disbelief, how teenagers can travel so much and access secret information, etc.)

Designing principle. This is one of the most important steps on the list. This is similar to your story idea but describes the unseen. You will be led by this principle until the end of your novel(s). (Example. Seemingly, The Raven Cycle is about finding a dead king, but under the surface, it's about bringing these four people together and creating a long-lasting friendship. The designing principle here is not that they would do everything to find the king, but that they would do everything to find the king together. Or perhaps, they would do everything to stay together, even continue to seek the legendary king that might not exist. Individually, each character has their own designing principle. Adam's is to find the king and use that wish on Harvard/success/wealth/prestige. In this, we know that Adam is searching for the king, but also he is searching for those deeper things that comprise his character on a psychological level.) Often, the designing principle introduces some poetic irony into your story idea.

Describe the best character for your story. Decide NOT what type of a person would suit your idea the most, but what type of person attracts you the most; the person you want to follow and write about.

Decide the central conflict. Who fights whom over what? (Example. In The Raven Cycle, the four fight outside forces--each book brings its own antagonists--to get a bit closer to the king's tomb. Also, they each fight themselves and their own beliefs in the process.)

Find cause-and-effect. This you can see in your story idea from the first step. (Example. The Raven Cycle is about finding the dead king, therefore each action that creates cause-and-effect is about FINDING the king.) In your story idea, there should be a verb indicating the main driver of the action of your story: finding, using unique powers, hiding, revenge.

Describe your character change. There's a formula for that. W (character's moral or psychological weakness, false belief) x A (basic action: what they must do to reach the goal) = C (change). In this, start from the change and decide who your character must be in the end, and then make them the opposite at the beginning. Through some action (example, finding the king), the character goes from his Weakness to Changed Person.

Moral choice. Near the end, the character must make a hard decision. It must either be between two positives (Example, love or honor) or two negatives (Example, Sophie's choice).

These steps will lead you to a better premise and a stronger setup upon which your story will build itself organically. Good luck!

// advice from The Anatomy of Story by John Truby

[cowardlykrow]

“Not my circus, not my monkeys”… Except those are his monkeys and they are the circus

[cuntylestat]

this is my cocomelon

[bouncyballcitadel]

Back in 2021, when I first uploaded the demo for Citadel, I didn't really know what to expect. And, I have to say, this all still feels a little surreal.

But, what I know for sure is I'm so, so grateful for all of you. Thank you for playing my game, for sending in asks, for liking/reblogging my posts, and for cheering me on through medical school and now through residency. I can't emphasize enough that Citadel would not be possible without you.

As a 3,000 follower special, I’m putting 3 short snippets up for grabs.

If you like this post, you’ll be entered into the raffle once.

If you reblog this post, you’ll be entered into the raffle twice.

If you like and reblog, that's a total of 3 raffle entries!

Raffle will close Monday, October 23rd at 8:30 pm EST. Short snippets will be posted during the month of November.

And for those who might just be stumbling upon Citadel…

TUMBLR INTRO POST

DEMO || DISCORD || PATREON || KO-FI || AO3 ||FORUM||

Cheers!

-Bouncy

[mediocredoots]

Some Apollo studies 🏹☀

[lucalicatteart]

 sculpted a strange shimmery two headed snail, speckled with wild flowers on it's shell~

[asleepinawell]

I...I think I need to stop trying to upgrade my pets

[ashrillvenheim]

An alternative line where Ashley becomes a Doctor for DSO agents and is usually the one who attends Leon after missions and they always argue.

[neuroticreno]

myron when i purposefully stand in radioactive goop to mutate an extra toe just to eat it

[tatertotsafterdark]

Teratophillia Fic - Ghost/Female Reader

18+, NSFW. Minors please DNI.

Contains: Getting freaky with a ghost, male ghost/female reader in terms of anatomy, P in V, no real aftercare, written while I was half asleep and not beta read or editted (AKA don't complain about the quality please)

The hot shower water drenches your skin. The perfect way to distract yourself from working a double was to scorch yourself. It worked, too - you can’t feel the soreness when you’re practically burning your skin off. You wrap your body in a towel that’s just big enough to meet in the front, and step out of the bathroom after giving your head a lazy shake to get rid of some of the water. If it works for dogs after getting out of the bath, it must be good enough for you. 

Slinking into your bedroom, you catch a slight indent on the comforter you left bunched up at the foot. Your friendly ghost. He was certainly no Casper by any means, but at least he was nice enough to not throw your favorite mugs around. You decide to pay him no mind since you can’t technically see him. 

Your towel hits the floor as you walk over to your closet, deciding on a tank top that would at least cover your nipples and a pair of old sweatpants. You toss them on the bed, gazing at the imprints on your blanket. He’d shifted. There was a new set of imprints, indicating he’d sat with his legs out and somewhat spread while looking at you picking out your night clothes. You roll your eyes, declaring that he was a pervert. You receive no obvious response, but you notice from dips in your mattress that your ghost friend had lifted himself up. 

Perhaps you’d offended him so bad that he decided to leave - though you weren’t sure he could leave. Making a few assumptions, you bend over to work your way into the sweatpants. That’s when you feel your cunt stretch. A little gasp escapes you, and you lean up against your bed for a little more support. 

You weren’t necessarily surprised. You always felt someone watching you when you used your vibrator, but you never felt any particular way about that. Your otherworldly friend was proving to truly be a pervert, and you take a little bit of pride in your assumption being affirmed as he begins to thrust into you. You aren’t particularly sure what to do - having sex with a physical being is much different when compared to sex with a supernatural being. You reach down to play with your clit, rubbing circles lazily as you allow your guest to slowly thrust in and out of you. 

That doesn’t last for long. You feel him grab your wrist, in a somewhat rough manner, and move your hand to the bed. You feel a cool sensation on your clit, paired with some friction. The contrast in temperature makes you moan, your back slightly arching as you allow your mind to slip away. The ghost, who seemed to be in no rush before, increases the pace of his thrusts, as well as how hard he’s thrusting into you. 

This was much more on par with your style. You moan and whimper as he continues to fuck you, surprised that he’s able to hit all the right spots. You’re a bit less surprised when you remember that he’d watched you fuck yourself silly, for an undescript amount of times. Still, having something other than plastic inside of you was something you weren’t going to take for granted. 

Your visitor must’ve taken notes during your self-pleasure sessions - he manages to hit all the right spots, inside and out - he rubs your clit at just the right pace, uses one of his hands to pinch your nipples, and slams into you just perfectly. 

Just before your orgasm, you begin to doubt yourself - are you really going to let a ghost make you cum? You answer your own question through actions rather than words as your invisible lover bucks his hips, making you unravel. You nearly scream as you finish, clasping a hand over your mouth to muffle the sound. You wouldn’t want to be disruptive to your neighbors, after all. 

Within seconds of you finishing, you feel an icy sensation pressed against your pussy, cleaning you up. Within a minute, the sensation leaves. The room warms up by a few degrees and you know you’re alone. The tired, heavy feeling hits you again and you don’t even bother with pajamas as you crawl into your bed. As you wrap yourself up in a blanket, one satisfied sigh leaves your lips. A small smile is plastered to your face as you drift off to sleep, satisfied by a lover that you couldn’t even see.

[teashopcrafts]

A nice eclectic mix of posters, lol. The Mini Movie Poster Collection just keeps growing.

Use code JUSTBECAUSE for 20% off!

Check out the shop: https://teashopcrafts.bigcartel.com/

[yeukio]

this isnt anatomically correct but whateva… anyways heres a drawing i made in class and a quick male jesse practice because i havent drawn him in 5 MONTHS. also might change how i draw him because im not really satisfied with it

[elderwisp]

◁ || ▷ now playing

Icarus: Isn’t it interesting how one song can be linked to a single moment in your life. And it’s like at that very moment, such a simple tune seems so miniscule, yet here you are years later thinking about it.

-

Daniel: I’m surprised they took the fake ID’s.

Icarus: You think they actually care about kids like us?

Daniel: Tch. I’m surprised this hole in the wall hasn’t gotten raided. This place is crawling with people from our school. That guy over there is in our fifth period.

Icarus: And she’s in my first period. As for her, she’s new. 

Daniel: Now what’s a valley girl doing all the way out here? Mamas, looks like you missed your exit!

Icarus: Are you- Shut up!

Daniel: Well, if you’re not gonna talk to her then don’t mind if I do.

Icarus: What happened?

Daniel: She wants to talk to you.

Icarus: Fuuuuuuck.

Daniel: Have fun, bro.

Icarus: So, I see you’ve met Daniel and I’m assuming he made a complete fool of himself.

Violet: You say that as if he does that quite often.

Icarus: Talk to pretty women at bars? Mmm, that’s a first. Being a loser? Always.

Violet: He actually came over here to see if he could give me your number.

Icarus: Oh.

Violet: I figured I’d speak directly to you. I’m Violet.

Icarus: Like the song. 

Violet: Ah, yes. My dad has a thing for Hole so he named me after his favorite song.

Icarus: That’s really cool.

Violet: [ small laugh ] I guess so, and your name?

Icarus: Icarus.

Violet: Icarus… That’s a pretty name.

-

Ares: Hey Icarus! You alright?

Icarus: Yeah, just thinking.

Syx: If you’re gonna brood, can we at least go inside?

Icarus: [ snorts ] I’m not brooding.

Ares: Ya kinda are.

Icarus: Come on, man. You’re supposed to have my back!

Ares: By lying?

Icarus: Well no-

Ares: So you agree?

Icarus: I’m gonna shut up now.

[eu0n1a]

character building questions (pt2)

Does your character have an ego? Write a short scene in which their ego is at its peak-halfway through, their ego take a battering and see how it manifests itself in their behaviors.

Write a short scene in which your character allows their anger to get the better of them. Does it erupt onto someone else, or is it internalized?

Write a short story about the stupidest thing your character has ever done. Were they honest afterwards? Did they make it into a joke and take ownership of their blunder, or did they retell their story in a way that made them out to be a hero?

Write a short story about your character in which they interact with the symbol of their star sign - i.e. if they are a Sagittarius, they interact with the archer, or are the archer themselves.

Write a short story about your character's spirit animal.

Write a short story about the hardest thing they have ever done.

What are three positive personality traits your character has? List them, then write a short story where all three appear

Write your character's bucketlist. Pick one item from the list and write a short story or scene in which they complete or fail to complete it.

Describe a garment your character has bought but has never had the courage to wear. Write about the event that they want to wear it.

What does an average day look like for your character? Write a scene in which you disrupt this day and take your character on a journey = (i.e. introduce and inciting incident)?

[boxofoxberry]

pleaspdlespeleoaplease draw jesstra beating each other up like that post you made,,,,,, it would make me very happy hhrhwj

ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE me when we're girlfriends and we lovingly beat each other up

based off this post!

bonus

[michaelhholden]

As a celebration for the 75th emmys, today we have the actors of every iconic tv show you know and love, which we've never even nominated for ANYTHING, presenting the awards for the same 5 shows that win every award every single time