thedrystage-writing - Tumblr blog

[thedrystage-writing]

Advice for writing relationships

Ship Dynamics

How to create quick chemistry

How to write a polyamorous relationship

How to write a wedding

How to write found family

How to write forbidden love

Introducing partner(s) to family

Honeymoon

Date gone wrong

Fluffy Kiss Scene

Love Language - Showing, not telling

Love Language - Showing you care

Affections without touching

Giving the reader butterflies with your characters

Reasons a couple would divorce on good terms

Reasons for breaking up while still loving each other

Relationship Problems

Relationship Changes

Milestones in a relationship

Platonic activities for friends

Settings for conversations

How to write a love-hate relationship

How to write enemies to lovers

How to write lovers to enemies to lovers

How to write academic rivals to lovers

How to write age difference

Reasons a couple would divorce on good terms

Reasons for having a crush on someone

Ways a wedding could go wrong

Arranged matrimony for royalty

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! And check out my Instagram! 🥰

[thedrystage-writing]

when internet people are like “i love gothic literature but i hate anything that discusses incest, sexual violence, oppression, misogyny, abuse, torture, gore, murder, or death”

[thedrystage-writing]

now that I am thinking of it the “strong female character” discourse perpetual motion machine has honestly done terrible damage to how people write female characters, especially in YA books, because it encouraged people to write individual characters in terms of things that were generally wanted or needed among female characters.

so reader A wants women who are independent, so I’ll make my protagonist independent. reader B wants women who are strong, so she’s also strong. Reader C wants women who are feminine, so she’s feminine, but reader D wants women who are not traditionally feminine, so she isn’t too feminine, and reader E wants women who don’t need a man, so we’re going to avoid focusing on romance, but reader F wants women who are sexually independent, so we’re still going to have her be sexually active and explicitly not give a shit about her virginity, and it keeps going and keeps going.

and what you end up with is a bunch of characters that exhibit a limited range of qualities because few people want to write women that strongly contradict *any* of the things people want from female characters, because we’ve been reading it like every single female character has to individually model what a Good Female Character should be like, and the majority of YA protagonists are vaguely the same level of feminine, independent, vulnerable, skilled, clever, and sexual, and it’s actually suffocating

[thedrystage-writing]

Scrivener 3 – a neurodivergence-friendly tutorial series (Masterlist)

If you find my Scrivener stuff useful, please consider supporting me via KoFi! This allows me to make more and keep it available for everyone. I love sharing my stuff freely and don't want to paywall anything, but I also have to eat – every contribution helps and is greatly appreciated!

This is the Masterlist for my (Zaharya's) ADHD-friendly Scrivener 3 tutorial series. It will be continuously updated, i.e. future tutorials will be added here! New tutorials are not guaranteed to be linked/mentioned in previous tutorial posts. Make sure to check here if you're looking for something new! If you cannot find what you're looking for, feel free to send an ask, or message me either on Tumblr or Discord.

Important note: All my tutorials are based on Scrivener for MacOS! Though minor, there are some differences between Scrivener 3 for Windows vs for MacOS, so you may notice a few small discrepancies if you use Scrivener with Windows. There are some tutorials that specifically aim to work around these differences! Further, all tutorials are based on my own personal workflow, and all screenshots are from my personal files, so please don't distribute those elsewhere. My workflow is not universal (duh), and if you use certain features differently that doesn't mean one of us is doing it wrong. You do you! Lastly, the Main Tutorial originated on Discord (with an escalated impromptu explanation for @tackytigerfic – everyone say thank you Tacky), which is probably noticeable in how it's written – I am not changing that, since many people have insisted that this was exactly what made it easier to follow than the official Scrivener tutorial.

I am not affiliated with Scrivener! (Though if you ask me, I bloody well should be, I'd deserve that commission.)

List of Tutorials

Quick Start Tutorial Intended for newbies

How to create a first project

Brief overview of Scrivener's core features

Main Tutorial

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Intended for everyone – newbies as well as experienced users!

How to create a first project, incl. a brief overview of available templates

Explanation of Scrivener's core and major features in detail

Examples/ideas for how to use these features

Extended Tutorial

Part 1 | Part 2 Intended for everyone Recommended after Main Tutorial (direct continuation)

Covers previously omitted details about the Editor

Covers extended features such as Revision mode, Project Goals, and Writing Statistics

A few things that are "good to know" such as how to copy-paste with HTML formatting, or what placeholders are

Covers fun features such as Linguistic Focus and Name Generator

Compile Tutorial

Part 1 | Part 2 Intended for experienced users who are near completing a project (or ambitious/hyperfocused newbies, of course) Recommended after Main and Extended Tutorial (advanced continuation)

Basic tutorial for compiling a project to different formats

Customisation by assigning different section layouts – incl. explanations of root-structures and section types

Customisation by editing an existing Format, or creating a new Format

Scrivener to AO3 – Updated Export Format (with download link) Part 1

How to create an Export Format that automatically adds AO3-friendly HTML code

Download link for a Format as described, from my Google Drive

Scrivener to AO3 – Extended Export Format (with download link) Part 2

Continuation of the updated export format to enable more complex formatting such as bold, underlined, centered, or block quoted text

Download link for a Format as described, from my Google Drive

Scrivener 3 – Assorted "How To" Tutorials (in progress) Recommended after Main Tutorial

How to create a Table of Contents

How to enable dark mode

How to easily import your projects from Google Docs / Word

General Masterpost | KoFi

[thedrystage-writing]

So... I found this and now it keeps coming to mind. You hear about "life-changing writing advice" all the time and usually its really not—but honestly this is it man.

I'm going to try it.

[thedrystage-writing]

if yall want good info on how drugs work as a writer - particularly if you arent someone who dabbles in illicit substances - bluelight forums is an excellent resource. its meant to be for harm reduction but its community sourced info with hundreds of people posting their personal experiences and tips to be safe. i personally love using it to research for writing anything that i havent tried.

[thedrystage-writing]

Did I daydream this, or was there a website for writers with like. A ridiculous quantity of descriptive aid. Like I remember clicking on " inside a cinema " or something like that. Then, BAM. Here's a list of smell and sounds. I can't remember it for the life of me, but if someone else can, help a bitch out <3

[thedrystage-writing]

Things almost every author needs to research

How bodies decompose

Wilderness survival skills

Mob mentality

Other cultures

What it takes for a human to die in a given situation

Common tropes in your genre

Average weather for your setting

[thedrystage-writing]

hey writers! OneLook Thesaurus lets you find that word you can’t think of but can describe! go check it out!

[thedrystage-writing]

I've come to a realization. When people, including myself, use the phrase, "I'm too old now" to pass up on opportunities, it doesn't mean just one thing. It doesn't just mean too old or too broken. "I'm too old." is an often overlooked excuse to not do something and usually there's a deeper meaning behind it.

I've realized I use it because now I'm in too much debt to enjoy a spending spree or to enjoy an activity that would cost a lot of money. I've graduated college, I work, now my life revolves around juggling work and home life and home life can't be as expensive as it used to be.

I use the phrase because in society's standards I'm not young anymore. I'm 31 years old now and people who are 21-27 get to enjoy certain things without being judged for their age. I get "oh wow, you're old" from people only 10 years younger than me. It's pretty debilitating emotionally, especially when you see your identity phasing out of the world. All the references, songs, movies, actors, general interests, everything I've enjoyed as a youth to young adult is slowly being pushed aside and referred to as "classic". Speaking with people now-a-days is like playing catch-up; especially if you don't use common social media platforms, which I don't.

Saying, "I'm too old now." also encompasses a fear of rejection. Thoughts like, "Nobody will expect me to do anything like that now at my age." "I will be judged." "That activity is for young people." plague my mind and those thoughts are heartbreaking. I'm not that much older than most young adults, but the age difference to a younger individual is much larger than how you see it in your 30s. I don't FEEL old, I still feel very young! But I do notice that now I only seem to really click with people my own age based on what I mentioned already: being able to relate. Relating to 20 somethings is difficult for me, so it's harder to want to be involved.

Another reason someone might say, "I'm too old now." is because it's hard to navigate the world freely when you've settled. Whether it's being settled in relationships, jobs, house, location, financial situation, friendships, etc. Settling can make people feel stuck, unable to adventure, unable to feel like they can live their lives as openly as a young adult can. Partnerships can keep people from a social life. Having a house can be a big commitment monetarily, keeping people settled and frugal with money which limits what they do for fun. Money in general is a huge factor as you get older if you're not careful with it while you're young. Money troubles force people to settle.

And lastly, a very common reason someone might say, "I'm too old now" is because the body breaks down, and while 30 isn't "old", my body has broken down so much in just a few short years. I have chronic back pain now that has landed me in the ER multiple times, and now I can't lift heavy objects or be as athletic. PCOS affects my weight 10x more now than it did when I was in my 20s. My metabolism is shot from my youth when I had an eating disorder trying to get and stay skinny. My mental health is an every day battle more so than when it was when I was younger. Having more life experiences can be draining, especially for people dealing with health or mental health issues. You experience more grief as you get older which is fucking hell. Life experiences affect your body and your health, so being broken down by 30 is common, but it's so ignored that people don't even think about it. I wish someone would have told me just exactly how the body would break down by this age, I might have taken better care of myself.

Now I know that this post is the more negative sides of getting old, but that's because the original idea behind this post was hopefully getting everybody to keep in mind all of the possible reasons behind someone telling you they're "too old" to do something even if they're just in their late 20's or in their 30's, 40's, whatever. Maybe instead of brushing aside the individual, talk to them, or listen to them.

[thedrystage-writing]

So I’ve noticed a bunch of medical errors in fics I read, so I decided to post this handy guide to some of the most common errors and some background on basic medical things.

ps- they are not medical treatment or first aid advice. I’m not actually a doctor. yet. but I am certified in first aid. this is just so your writing can be more realistic.

other parts can be found here

[thedrystage-writing]

Resources For Writing Deaf, Mute, or Blind Characters

 Despite the fact that I am not deaf, mute, or blind myself, one of the most common questions I receive is how to portray characters with these disabilities in fiction.

As such, I’ve compiled the resources I’ve accumulated (from real life Deaf, mute, or blind people) into a handy masterlist.

Deaf Characters:

Deaf characters masterpost

Deaf dialogue thread

Dialogue with signing characters (also applies to mute characters.)

A Deaf author’s advice on deaf characters

Dialogue between Deaf characters

“The Month I Suddenly Went Deaf”

What It’s Like Going Deaf In Your Thirties

9 Women Share What It Feels Like To Lose Your Hearing

What It’s Like Being a Deaf Teenager (video)

Parenting With Sign Language (video)

Deaf Teen Talks About Losing His Hearing To Meningitis (video)

Things Not To Say To A Deaf Person (video)

Deaf Kids Shining in High School (video)

I recently discovered the youtube channel of the amazing Jessica Kellgren-Fozard, a vintage-loving, lesbian, happily married queen, who talks about her deafness in many of her videos.  I can’t recommend her enough.

Black Deaf Culture Through the Lens of Black Deaf History

Black Deaf History

Video: How to Sign in BASL (Black American Sign Language)

Mute Characters

Life as a Mute

My Silent Summer:  Life as a Mute

What It’s Like Being Mute

21 People Reveal What It’s Really Like To Be Mute

I am a 20 year old Mute, ask me anything at all!

Blind Characters:

Things Not To Say To A Blind Person (video)

What It’s Like to Go Blind (video)

The 33 Worst Mistakes Writers Make About Blind Characters.

@referenceforwriters masterpost of resources for writing/playing blind characters.

The youtube channel of the wonderful Tommy Edison, a man blind from birth with great insight into the depiction of blind people and their lives.

As does Molly Burke, “a typical sushi and makeup loving millennial girl who just so happens to be blind.”

And Alyssa Irene, who talks about her experience going blind and life as a blind person.

An Absolute Write thread on the depiction of blind characters, with lots of different viewpoints and some great tips.

And finally, this short, handy masterpost of resources for writing blind characters.

Characters Who Are Blind in One Eye

4 Ways Life Looks Shockingly Different With One Eye

Learning to Live With One Eye

Adapting to the Loss of an Eye

Adapting to Eye Loss and Monocular Vision

Monocular Depth Perception

Deaf-Blind Characters

What Is It Like To Be Deafblind?

Going Deaf and Blind in a City of Noise and Lights

Deaf and Blind by 30

Sarita is Blind, Deaf, and Employed (video)

Deaf and Blind:  Being Me (video)

Born Deaf and Blind, This Eritrean American Graduated Harvard Law School (video)

A Day of a Deaf Blind Person

Lesser Known Things About Being Deafblind

How the Deaf-Blind Communicate

Early Interactions With Children Who Are Deaf-Blind

Raising a DeafBlind Baby

If you have any more resources to add, let me know!  I’ll be adding to this post as I find more resources.

I hope this helps, and happy writing!  <3

[thedrystage-writing]

crash

[thedrystage-writing]

obsessed. also makes sense when you remember than butterflies drink blood

[thedrystage-writing]

It’s Not a Plot Hole, It’s Foreshadowing

vs.

It’s Not a Plot Hole, It’s Just Something That They Opted Not to Spoon-feed You Because It Would Be Obvious If You Thought About It For 20 Seconds

vs.

It May Be a Plot Hole, But It Still Works In Terms of the Story’s Themes and Character Logic

vs.

Okay, It Is a Plot Hole, What Are You Going to Do, Cry about It?

[thedrystage-writing]

The basics of swordfighting for writers

#1. Types of swords

Cavalry swords, two-handed swords, and cutlasses - these swords are used commonly for hacking and slashing - so they are swung in arcs or from side to side, not thrust forward.

Rapiers and small swords are one-handed weapons that are thin and light, but often quite long. They are used for thrusting and slicing, but as you can imagine they aren’t much use in actual battle, but commonly used for sparring.

The third type is a mixture of the two - but less commonly found.

#2. Terminology

Fainting/Feinting - A false attack intended to create an opening for the real attack.

Parrying - When a swordsman uses his blade to deflect his opponent’s blade when he is being attacked.

Advance - A short forward movement

Fuller - A groove down the side of the sword to release suction when stabbed into a person’s body.

Hilt - The base of the sword near your hands that isn’t the blade

Pivot - Turning 180 degrees while keeping a foot planted

False edge - the “back” of the sword that isn’t sharp and what you don’t usually fight with.

#3. Common myths

A secret move that leads to victory - There is rarely such a “secret” move. Like chess, swordfighting is won through strategy and careful thinking, as well as physical prowess, not sEcRetT mOveS.

The Dramatic PauseTM - Nope, doesn’t happen in real life. No one actually glares at each other in the middle of a swordfighting match when their priority should be, yknow, surviving.

#4. The Learning Curve of swordfighting

Unlike an ordinary learning curve where you slowly get better at something, in swordfighting, an untrained novice is much better than someone practising for a few months. This is because their actions are almost always wild and unpredictable. When a student receives training, their skill will actually decline over the next few months, because they will be trying to fight by the rules and are naturally not good at it. It takes at least two years to become a good swordsperson.

#5. The actual swordfighting itself

Footwork - Forward and back, in a line, in a semi-circle, a pivot. The basic goal of footwork is to give you a balanced center from which you can lunge, advance, retreat, attack, and parry. It also helps maintain the appropriate distance from your opponent and percieve.

Timing - How fast/slow is your opponent? How fast is your reaction time?

Every fighter has a different style. Some may naturally be inclined to use a certain move over and over, and have weakpoints in say, their reaction time. It is important that your character has a proper swordfighting style.

Predictability - How good are your characters/opponents at anticipating and learn each others fighting style? That determines the outcome of the fight!

Sources I used: https://kingdompen.org/writing-realistic-sword-fights/ // https://mythicscribes.com/miscellaneous/swordplay-for-fantasy-writers/ // https://lisashea.com/lisabase/writing/medieval/swords/glossary.html

[thedrystage-writing]

Trope: Woobie Species 

A whole species full of beings that have suffered a lot in a world out to get them.

demons:

demons are most notably looked at as being evil and thus must be exterminated, lest they destroy humanity. This leads to any demons having to hide from humans so they aren’t immediately killed on sight

a world where laws don’t apply to demons so people can capture, kill, beat, torture, or sell demons as they please with no ramifications (given they can subjugate the demons enough to not hurt any humans) 

demons being rounded up by humans and kept in captivity because they are too dangerous to be left in the wild 

demons being beaten on the streets for no reason other than existing 

demon hunters going after demons and torturing them or using them for experiments

people capturing demons to experiment with how to torture them and what works best on their species, trying all sorts of different methods 

demons having to hide their demon features from humans 

demons feeling bad because they are seen as evil and cruel abominations by everyone around them even if the particular demon feeling this way hasn’t done anything wrong

conditioning demons to act docile 

vampires: 

pretty much the same concept as the demons, so the prompts can be interchangeable 

people being so afraid of the vampires that they launch an attack against them as soon as they see one 

people stringing vampires up in the center of town and torturing them with silver, holy water, or waiting until the sun comes up to set an example of human strength against vampires or simply just to take out anger on them 

vampires being intentionally deprived of blood but chained up and unable to get to any 

vampires being restrained with silver

vampires being branded to show they are vampires 

vampires being burnt with the sun 

vampires being burnt or “purified” with holy water 

people capturing vampires and forcing them to do demeaning things for blood, such as crawl across the floor after a beating towards a bowl of blood, only to kick the bowl and watch the vampire try to lick it off the floor 

people taking advantage of vampires super-healing to beat and torture them beyond the extent of what a human could take 

people beating, torturing, and starving the vampires to keep them subjugated and weak so they possess little to no threat to humans 

keeping vampires as pets

elves: 

seen as arrogant, humans want to bring them down and see the elves beneath their feet 

elves being ostracized from all societies 

elves being driven out of cities and forced to live in slums 

elves being treated worse than anybody else and not given any kindness 

elves being sold into slavery 

elves being forced to work on dangerous sites or mines and exhaust themselves 

elves being captured and put on display for their beauty 

elves forced to live on the streets and aren’t even able to beg for food because nobody will spare them any 

elves being beaten if they go into any areas with humans because the humans don’t want them there 

elves hiding their pointed ears to try and pass as human so they can have a better life or at least be able to eat 

Feel free to add on!