A Place for All My Scribbles

One person says that Steinbeck is one of their favourite authors for prose, and then they share an example of what they would consider purple prose. It is so violetly awful that I think the poster must have written it themselves as a kind of parody of purple prose. Other people assumed the same.

But as it turns out, they are quoting from a book written by a YouTuber whose channel ia dedicated to talking about writing (namely, their own writing, which is genius, but often not comprehensible to the drooling plebs).

Naturally, I read the free sample of their book in awe and horror, and I'd like to share some screenshots with you. If you also have trouble defining or understanding what purple prose is, it's this.

'Noctilucent orbs'. Even fanfic written by a 14-year-old wouldn't dare.

We have seven days in a week because waaaay back in ancient times, folks observed seven ‘stars’ that didn’t move the same way all the others did.

We have 60 minutes to an hour because the ancient folk who decided had a base-60 number system and it Stuck

Our concept of ‘seasons’ is rooted to the way certain parts of the world experience Climate (and the imperialism that then went and projected that vibe around)

Even things like ‘Day’ and ‘Night’ are messy, when you start thinking about how different places get different amounts of sun at different times of the year

and not every culture counts the same number of Fundamental Colors

And then “Maps” as we know them are relatively modern inventions. Once upon a time, it was a lot more feasible to just list out landmarks and turnings (literally: an itinerary)

‘taking baths’ requires access to large amounts of water, and folks without that luxury have a different approach to hygiene

And characters in a world without a printing press (+ the invention of standardized spelling) would have a much harder time actually learning to read

These are some lowkey underrated tips I’ve seen floating around writing communities — the kind that don’t get flashy attention but seriously changed how I write.

1. Put “he/she/they” at the start of the sentence less often.

Try switching up your sentence rhythm. Instead of

“She walked to the window,”

try

“The window creaked open under her touch.”

Keeps it fresh and stops the paragraph from sounding like a checklist.

2. Don’t describe everything — describe what matters.

Instead of listing every detail in a room, pick 2–3 objects that say something.

“A half-drunk mug of tea and a knife on the table”

sets a way stronger tone than

“There was a wooden table, two chairs, and a shelf.”

3. Use beats instead of dialogue tags sometimes.

Instead of:

"I'm fine," she said.

Try:

"I'm fine." She wiped her hands on her skirt.

It helps shows emotion, and movement.

4. Write your first draft like no one will ever read it.

No pressure. No perfection. Just vibes. The point of draft one is to exist. Let it be messy and weird — future you will thank you for at least something to edit.

5. When stuck, ask: “What’s the most fun thing that could happen next?”

Not logical. Not realistic. FUN. It doesn’t have to stay — but chasing excitement can blast through writer’s block and give you ideas you actually want to write.

A few ideas:

Braille and large print signs, maybe even tactile print someone who reads print could touch

Good lighting

Lighting under stairs/steps or high contrast steps if they exist at all

Elevators that talk, have tactile buttons rather than touch screen, and Braille labels

Tactile maps of the campus

Detailed maps and explanations of the communal bathroom situation, such as where are the sinks in relation to the stalls, how do the sinks work, where is the soap and how is it dispensed, how and where do you try your hands?

Buttons that open doors, maybe even doors that slide open and shut from the side instead of out or in

Hand rails on the walls similar to ones in hospitals, perhaps with lights under them?

A really cool case study is Gallaudet college which is designed for d/Deaf students. The architecture is informed by how sign language works rather than simply being retrofitted. It’s called DeafSpace architecture. For example, hallways are wider and curve gently which allows for further line of sight to prevent people from bumping into each other. Doors will open automatically so people don’t have to stop signing while walking. The color of the walls are chosen to allow for better skin contrast (more visible signing) and common areas have large, horseshoe-shaped benches for easier conversations.

Essentially, the architecture not only accommodates students but enhances the advantages of sign language. It goes beyond compliance-based rules. While this is d/Deaf focused, the principle can apply to any architecture project. How can architecture can fit seamlessly with the mudane aspects of life?

For blind specific accommodations, some things that you could think about are layout, sound, and lighting. For example, having a consistent, predictable layout can reduce the cognitive load of navigation. Sound barriers help reduce sensory overload and grant people more focused cues. Specifically, acoustical treatments that reduce the mechanical sounds and increase the positive sounds like footsteps allows for a better understanding of the space. Metal transition strips on a concrete floor can also help key people into where they are. For lighting, avoiding harsh glare is crucial as they can be really disorientating or hurt.

1. The FBI's Famous Cases & Criminals archive (fbi.gov/history/famous-cases) has detailed breakdowns of real fraud cases, Ponzi schemes, and confidence operations. The language they use is clinical and precise, which is perfect for getting the procedural details right.

2. The FTC Consumer Sentinel Network publishes annual reports on the most common fraud tactics in the US. Great for understanding how modern scams actually work and what makes people fall for them.

3. The Smithsonian's American Art Museum has a free digital collection of forgery case studies. If your character forges documents or art, this is gold.

4. Court Listener (courtlistener.com) is a free legal database where you can read actual court transcripts from fraud trials. Want to know how a real con artist talks under oath? This is where you find out.

5. The Internet Archive's collection of old newspaper crime sections. Search for "confidence man" or "swindle" in papers from the 1920s through 1960s and you'll find incredible real stories that would feel too dramatic for fiction.

Bonus: The Psychology of Fraud section on the Association for Psychological Science website has accessible articles about why people trust, how deception works cognitively, and what makes someone a convincing liar. Essential reading if you want your con artist characters to feel psychologically real.