Lily White, Poppy Red

NAMES   (  x  &  x  )  -  the etymology  &  history of first names.

ZODIAC   (  x  &  x  )  -   there are 12 zodiac signs,  &  each sign has its own strengths  &  weaknesses,  its own specific traits,  desires  &  attitude towards life  &  people.  astrology can give us a glimpse of a person’s basic characteristics,  preferences,  flaws  &  fears.

ALIGNMENT   (  x  )  -   each alignment represents a broad range of personality types  or  personal philosophies,  so two characters of the same alignment can still be quite different from each other.  in addition,  few people are completely consistent. 

MBTI   (  x   &   x  )  -   the 16 personality types were created by Isabel Myers  &  Katharine Briggs as a way to categorize an individual according to their preferred way of thinking  &  behaving.  each personality type is designated with a four-letter code,  like INFP  or  ESTJ,  which is an acronym for the four key dimensions of personality.

TEMPERAMENTS   (  x  &  x  )  -   the four temperaments are represented by four distinct groups of “traits” or tendencies.  each cluster of traits produces a distinct manner of behavior that is different from the other groups. 

ENNEAGRAM    (  x   &  x  )   -   the Enneagram is a personality typing system that consists of nine different types.  everyone is considered to be one single type,  although one can have traits belonging to other ones. 

THE NINE TYPES OF INTELLIGENCE   (  x  )  -   one theory regarding the nature of intelligence comes from psychologist Gardner,  who suggested that you could categorize smarts into different kinds of intelligence.  his theory suggests that there is more to being intelligent than simply being proficient in languages  or  being good in math. 

ARCHETYPES   (  x  )  -   an archetype is a pattern of behaviors that,  once discovered,  helps you better understand yourself  &  others.

LABEL  (  x  )  &   (  x  )  &  (  x  )  -   labels for your characters,  along with a short,  somewhat detailed description.

Horses are a staple of fantasy. Instead of writing them as emotionless vehicles lets give them life.

Horse Terminology

Mare: female horse

Gelding: castrated male horse, big boned and gentle

Stallion: male horse, more agressive

Foal: baby horse

Filly: girl baby horse

Colt : boy baby horse

Yearling: a horse a year old, too young to ride

Pony: small, smart and sturdy,

Colour

When writing horses, we like to colour them in. Make sure to have a look at my colours post for some symbolic choices.

Appaloosa: white hair and dark patches

Bay: red-brown, dark, mahogany bay, red bay, sandy are all common shades but bay must always have a hint of black.

Black: black but keep in mind that pure black is very rare.

Chestnut/Sorrel: reddish coat, may have brown/rws

Dun: yellowish commonly but can be reddish yellow horse

Paint/Pinto – white patches

Palomino: golden coat, white mane

Piebald – dark-skinned, with large splotches of black and white

Roan: blue or strawberry; mixed colored and white hairs. A blue roan has black and white manes, red roans have white manes.

Physical signs

These all tell you what the horse is telling you. Listen to your horse.

Blow: exhaling through the nose. This indicates curiousness and often followed by nuzzling.

Breathing: Yes, check if the horse is breathing first. Always a good point. But yes, horses have a resting breath that is relaxed. Changes to this could mean anxiety or fear.

Ears are up and pointed forward: alert and interested

Ears are pointed out to the side: Sleepy, tired, unwell or submissive.

Ears are pointed up: unwell or bored

Ears are back and pinned flat against the head: angry and aggressive. Fuck off right now or you’ll catch these hooves.

Neigh/Whinny: a sound made to look for company in people or horses.

Nicker: usually means “hello” in either a friendly context or a mating context. Mama horse will nicker to their kids.

Scream: usually while fighting some other horses.

Snort: exhaling through the nose sharply which is code for where’s the danger.

Feeding time

Horses need to be fed and it’s expensive. Horses are the most costly thing for a castle or army to have. It takes money to field a large calvary so make sure you have some food on board.

Apples and fruit.

Barley

Bran

Grass

Hays

Oats

Root vegetables – beetroot, carrots, parsnips, and turnips

Tack

Corn

Tack

This is the term for your horses kit. This will be a basic list.

Saddle: Your seat on the horse

Stirrups: supports that hang from either side of the saddle to support the feet.

Girth: A belt that fastens the saddle to the horse.

Bridle: The bit that goes over the horse’s face

Reins: connected to the bridle and ensures you have a grip

Bit: this is what the horse has between its teeth.

Horn: a raised portion of the saddle that sits at the point where the saddle is close to the neck.

Blanket: a drape of fabric used to warm a horse or stop rubbing from the saddle.

Things you ought to know about horses

Riding bareback (i hear you laughing, pervert) is actually quite hard and dangerous

Horses have limits and most can’t gallop all night without a break

Horses often break legs and sometimes must be put down (honestly fuck you Veronica, #cobalt deserved better)

Horses die in battle, not all horses make it out (you go, Joey)

Common horses mentioned in fantasy

Destrier: The most popular war horse of the medieval era. These horses are only ever really used by knights in battles, tournaments, and jousts. It was not the most common horse but it was considered the desired of horses even being called “the great”. Usually male, these horses were renowned for their agility able to turn quickly making it suitable for battle. Destriers are expensive. When one looks in the histories you seen them going for almost ten times the price of another breed. The breed has since died out but scientists and equestrians have since been trying to reproduce them.

Courser: This was the more commonly used and available war horse. It is fast and strong horse ridden by knights and men-at-arms. They were not expensive than the destrier but still would cost a pretty penny.

Rouncey: A commonly used horse used anything and everything. Mostly used for riding, the horse could be trained for battle.

Palfrey: Would be an expensive horse for riding. It was a slender horse with an ambling gait so it was prized for traveling over distance.

(Nicked from iambickilometer):

drop one of these bad boys in my askbox and i will post, without editing

FIRST — the first two sentences of my current project

LAST — the most recently written two sentences of my current project

NEXT — the next line. meaning i will finish the sentence I’m on and write a new one, which you’ll get.

[insert prompt here] — you post a prompt, and i’ll write three sentences based on that prompt, set in the same time/setting as my current project

THE END — i’ll make up an ending, or post the ending if i’ve written it

BEFORE THE BEGINNING — three sentences (or more) about something that happened before the plot of my current project

Creative Self-Care

Know you’re not alone. The world may be self-isolating, but we do so together — as an act of solidarity to slow the spread of the virus. For ourselves. For each other. For those with weakened immune systems. We’re in this together, even if we’re apart.

Understand it’s okay if you don’t want to write right now. In the face of a pandemic, it’s only natural to feel hollowed out creatively (I know I do), like the stories we want to tell just don’t matter. That feeling is natural.

But know that our stories do matter. Right now, our lives feel overwhelmingly defined by COVID-19, but life holds so much more than that, even in self-isolation. We need to be reminded of the things that make life worth living.

So write, if you feel driven to do so. Return to your WIP, or start a new story, if you feel like this pandemic is compelling you to write something new.

And stay inspired with your favorite stories. Whether it’s a book, movie, or comic, return to the stories that inspire you most, to remind yourself why you love to write in the first place.

Physical & Mental Self-Care

Clean and Disinfect your computer/phone daily. In addition to frequent hand washing, the CDC says to clean and disinfect “high-touch surfaces,” such as doorknobs, light switches, sinks, etc. every day. That includes writing and research tools like our computers and phones.

Find ways to stay active. Even just 30 minutes of physical activity a day can can keep your immune system and spirits up. Try some 30-minute, no-equipment workouts on YouTube, or if it’s a nice day and you can avoid crowds, go for a walk or jog.

Eat well, but still enjoy your occasional comforts. Eating well will help you feel good and keep your immune system strong. But also remember to enjoy your occasional comfort foods (mine is mac and cheese, because I’m a simple man).

Don’t trust everything you hear about COVID-19. Misinformation, or at least misleading information, is rampant right now. Trust the guidance of official organizations like the WHO or CDC, but take any information you hear through friends or articles with a grain of salt. (I’ve collected some reliable resources about COVID-19 and its prevention here.)

Remember, again, you’re not alone. I wanted to reiterate this point, because it’s important. The Writeblr community is a kind, welcoming one, and you’re part of it. Reach out if you need someone to talk to, and remember your community is here.

Take care of yourselves, everybody.

My dash is shockingly empty and I’m looking for people to follow, so if you:

-are a fantasy writeblr/writer

-are an lbgtq writer

-have lgbtq characters/themes

-are friendly and active

-are just a writeblr at all!

I have covered historical clothes from head to ankle but I haven't covered shoes yet. So thanks to @sara-toftlund I will finally be exploring some historical shoes.

Buskin

Buskins are knee/calf-length boots with open toes. They would be laced up at the front. These were worn by mainly soldiers or hunters in Ancient Greece and Rome because they protected the legs.

Caligae

The caligae were the famous sandal-boots of the Roman legions. They were made with thick hobnailed soles and laced at the front. These are the boots that give Emperor Caligula his name since he often wore when dressed like a little legionnaire when living with the Germanic legions. Basically by calling him Caligula we are calling him "Little Boots"

Chopine

Chopines were the beginning of platform shoe. They were worn mainly in 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. Chopines were made like this to protect the feet from the dirty streets and add a bit of height to the wearer. They were popular with rich women and courtesans. They would be made from wood or cork and often decorated with fabrics and beads.

Geta

The geta are the traditional Japanese footwear. They look rather like flip flops with thick soles. The geta would be worn in all kinds of weather to protect the feet outside except the snow.

Crakows

Were the mad looking shoes we see in art from the Middle Ages with the really long toes. The toes would often be curled and the shoes would be highly decorated.

Moccasin

The Moccasin is a Native American shoe often fashioned from deerskin or leather. The Moccasin consists of a sole of unworked leather and were often fashioned with a vamp, a flap of leather, at the base of the ankle.

Slippers

Slippers are rather a general term for shoes. Slippers would be commonly worn by women in the West but were also worn by both sexes in Eastern Empires such as Persia and India.

Boot

you are allowed to take a break. you don’t have to write if you don’t feel like it.

everyone has their own pace. it doesn’t matter if you write one page or ten pages a day, you are still a writer.

your first draft is going to suck. every first draft or every book has sucked. i’ll get better and better as you edit. that’s what editing is for, making your work actually good.

experiment. try out new routines, new styles, new genres. it’ll never harm you. you’ll gain experience and become a better writer. you’ll understand what suits you and what doesn’t.

you don’t need publishing to be a writer. publishing is just an option but if you don’t want to you can just keep your writing to yourself.

if you write, then you’re a writer. no matter how much experience you have, what genre you write, if you are published or not. you are a writer.

everyone is different. everyone has a different style so find your own and rock it. search for inspiration but ultimately focus on what allows you to express your ideas in the best way possible.

write that sentence, that dialogue, that scene that terrifies you

don’t delete shit, just move it to another document

have a “bits and pieces” document for all the odds and ends you can’t fit anywhere else

think of the color of a person’s eyes, imagine something reflected in them, now write that scene

fiction doesn’t have to be 100% accurate, don’t research yourself to boredom

i’m being serious there’s a thing called suspension of disbelief and it’s magical (yes that’s me making a joke)

write something that makes you cry

write something that makes you laugh

write something you can’t explain to other people

write something you won’t remember until you read it the next day

don’t read about the publishing industry until you really, really need to. all it will do is make you unbelievably tired

listen to music from open world RPG video games, you’re welcome

always take a small journal or some paper and a pen with you

write by hand in a journal every once in a while

put the ending of your story in the beginning and see what happens

listen to input from other people. yes you’re the writer, but they’re the reader and they want to help you make something spectacular

said is not dead dude like wtf

the thesaurus is shiny and lovely and a great resource but don’t let words get in the way of your story telling, you don’t need to write prose as poetry for it to be beautiful

just finish the draft first, worry about perfection after

yes, you do have talent

World building - The land of the mighty trees

The land of the mighty trees is the magical world The Knights of the Alder mainly takes place in. It is the world of fae and all things magical.

It lies next to the world of humans but in another realm. Only magical beings can wander between the two worlds without a problem. For mortals to get to this world however, they need a faerie ring or path and the guidance of a magical being to make it through. The land of mighty trees is a land of great beauty. Its nature is vibrant, colorful and full of live. It is more enchanting and livelier than the human world. And it’s home of the fae ever since their creation.

History: 

At the beginning, there were three great goddesses of creation: The earth goddess, the sun goddess and the moon goddess. Those three divinities created two worlds existing right next to each other, but on different planes of existence. One world for themselves, their children and other magical beings and one world for their non-magical creations (one of them being the humankind).

The land of the mighty trees is part of the magical world the goddesses created. It got its name from the six mighty trees Alder, Ash, Willow, Aspen, Birch and Oak, children of the great goddesses and creators of fae and other mythical creatures. Those trees are like gods, immortal and powerful. But they are more of a magical essence than actual persons. They’re bound to the magical world and give it their life energy. The mighty trees and the mother goddesses created all magical beings from their own essence and made the magic world’s beautiful nature. And ever since that day, their descendants live in the land of the mighty trees.

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There are two regions in the land of mighty trees: the five kingdoms and the wild woods. They exist alongside each other. The dwellers of both of those regions are living in peace, even though they all have their own customs, rules and morals and are vastly different from each other. Mostly they avoid each other, all minding their own business.

The five kingdoms: 

Those kingdoms are the home of the fair folk, the fae born from the mighty trees themselves. There’s one kingdom for one mighty tree: the Ash court, Willow court, Aspen court, Birch court and the Oak court. Formerly there used to be the Alder court as well but it was dissolved after what happened with the Alderking. Those kingdoms are like big civilized cities with several smaller villages gathered around them.

The fair folk: The fae living here are known as the fair folk. They look similar to humans but are more ethereal and “pristine”. They live in a civilization and have their own hierarchy. They are ruled by kings and/or queens and have gentry: a royal family and several lower nobility families. Each kingdom has their own royal guard and of course the normal citizens. Their rules and customs are clearly defined but differ from kingdom to kingdom. So does their lifestyle, but all live life at its fullest. What all kingdoms share is the love for feasts, as well as their holidays. The fair ones do not often cross path with humans. Still there are cases where they help a human, or kidnap them, or take one as their lover.

The wild woods: 

The wild woods are home to the other kind of fae living in the land of mighty trees: the wild folk. The faeries who were born from nature itself and don’t belong to any of the kingdoms. They live scattered across the woods and don’t have cities or a common civilization. They just live on their own or in flocks and guilds or families.

The wild folk: The wild folk is separated in many different groups of fae, whose appearance differs depending on their kind. There are little faeries with wings, hobgoblins, nature spirits, kelpies, so called forest demons, fae that are half animal half person and more. They do not subordinate to either of the rulers of the mighty kingdoms, or anyone, really. They are their own masters. They do have their own culture and rules just like the fae of the kingdoms, again depending on the group of wild fae they belong to. But they keep their own customs a secret. The wild folk also has their own celebrations. Once a year all of them come together for a big feast. No one knows what exactly they are celebrating though, that is a secret only they know. They also interact with humans more than the fair ones, playing pranks on them or helping them depending on their mood. Often when there’s word that something like a mysterious disappearance of a child occurred, they are involved somehow.

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This was the first world building post for The Knights of the Alder! If you guys have any questions, go ahead and ask! :D

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wip intro / wip tag / character intros

Base these off of your own works!

💜- top 3 favorite lines

☕️- favorite passage

👻- 2 or 3 sentences from something you haven’t posted yet

😅- a line that made you feel second hand embarrassment

👁- series or oneshots?

💍- your most underrated story

☺️- a line that made you feel a fluffy happiness

😳- your scariest line

😏- your most risky line

💁‍♀️- reader insert or OC?

👶- advice for new writers

👀- favorite response to one of your works

⭐️- how do you get your inspiration?

🎲- your favorite chapter/part from a multiparty series

💻- three works of yours that are must reads

💊- what is something that you wish you knew before you started writing?

🎈- what’s a spoiler for a wip or series?

😂- a line that made you laugh out loud

🎀- favorite story

👎- if you could change something in one of your works, what would you change and why?

😢- a line that made you cry

💬- describe one of your completed works in three words

💭- any ideas for a possible wip?

💕- opinion on AUs?

💘- what’s your favorite AU? Least favorite?

🔍- does anyone in your personal life know that you write on tumblr?