The Philosophy of Kendall C. Stark

New Part: 10 Lethal Injury Ideas

If you need a simple way to make your characters feel pain, here are some ideas: 

1. Sprained Ankle

A common injury that can severely limit mobility. This is useful because your characters will have to experience a mild struggle and adapt their plans to their new lack of mobiliy. Perfect to add tension to a chase scene.

2. Rib Contusion

A painful bruise on the ribs can make breathing difficult, helping you sneak in those ragged wheezes during a fight scene. Could also be used for something sport-related! It's impactful enough to leave a lingering pain but not enough to hinder their overall movement.

3. Concussions

This common brain injury can lead to confusion, dizziness, and mood swings, affecting a character’s judgment heavily. It can also cause mild amnesia.

I enjoy using concussions when you need another character to subtly take over the fight/scene, it's an easy way to switch POVs. You could also use it if you need a 'cute' recovery moment with A and B.

4. Fractured Finger

A broken finger can complicate tasks that require fine motor skills. This would be perfect for characters like artists, writers, etc. Or, a fighter who brushes it off as nothing till they try to throw a punch and are hit with pain.

5. Road Rash

Road rash is an abrasion caused by friction. Aka scraping skin. The raw, painful sting resulting from a fall can be a quick but effective way to add pain to your writing. Tip: it's great if you need a mild injury for a child.

6. Shoulder Dislocation

This injury can be excruciating and often leads to an inability to use one arm, forcing characters to confront their limitations while adding urgency to their situation. Good for torture scenes.

7. Deep Laceration

A deep laceration is a cut that requires stitches. As someone who got stitches as a kid, they really aren't that bad! A 2-3 inch wound (in length) provides just enough pain and blood to add that dramatic flair to your writing while not severely deterring your character.

This is also a great wound to look back on since it often scars. Note: the deeper and wider the cut the worse your character's condition. Don't give them a 5 inch deep gash and call that mild.

8. Burns

Whether from fire, chemicals, or hot surfaces, burns can cause intense suffering and lingering trauma. Like the previous injury, the lasting physical and emotional trauma of a burn is a great wound for characters to look back on.

If you want to explore writing burns, read here.

9. Pulled Muscle

This can create ongoing pain and restrict movement, offering a window to force your character to lean on another. Note: I personally use muscle related injuries when I want to focus more on the pain and sprains to focus on a lack of mobility.

10. Tendonitis

Inflammation of a tendon can cause chronic pain and limit a character's ability to perform tasks they usually take for granted. When exploring tendonitis make sure you research well as this can easily turn into a more severe injury.

This is a quick, brief list of ideas to provide writers inspiration. Since it is a shorter blog, I have not covered the injuries in detail. This is inspiration, not a thorough guide. Happy writing! :)

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!

Here are the deets on Tobias, the protagonist of The Savior’s Champion. DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU DON’T WANT TSC INFO - no *major* spoilers, most of this is info you’ll learn within the first 3 chapters or so.

Copyright © 2016 Jenna Moreci

CATEGORY#1: BASIC STATS

Sex: Male

Gender: Masculine, but not hyper-masculine. Doesn’t need to throw his weight around to feel like a man.

Age: 21

Race, ethnicity, culture: Thessian. 

The realm of Thessen, culturally speaking, is loosely based off of ancient Greece and Rome. It sits in between Kovahr (think vikings) and Ethyua (think ancient Egypt), so its population is widely mixed due to immigration and trade. Tobias’s family is not a product of immigration - they come from Thessian natives, same as most of the folks in his village. 

Height: 5′10″ - 5′11″

Body type: A few years ago he was slender, even a bit scrawny. But at around 18, he switched occupations, became a laborer, and the constant physical work has helped him bulk up. He’s no adonis, but he’s toned.

Appearance: He’s got wavy mop hair. Imagine an adorable mess of curls atop his sweet little head. Hair color is dark brown, but extended time in the sun is turning pieces of it golden brown. This is kinda what we’re working with:

(face covered because it’s way off)

Eyes are large and black. They’re technically a very dark brown, but you have to see ‘em up close to even make that distinction.

He’s got bronze, olive skin - think a latino look. Since he works every day in the sun, his skin is mega ultra super tan.

No mods, no tats. Angular features, long nose, and full lips. He occasionally rocks the five o’clock shadow, but the men of the Sovereign’s Tournament are frequently cleaned up by servant girls, which includes a shave.

Where is he from? He’s from a small hilltop village in the realm of Thessen. His upbringing was very humble, and he’s from a lower, “common” class, but his family didn’t necessarily struggle - they just lived within their means. It wasn’t until his adulthood that their financial situation became a big concern.

CATEGORY #2: RELATIONSHIPS 

Family: Has a twin sister named Naomi who was left crippled after a workplace accident. Prior to that, she was apprenticing under their father to become a metalsmith. Tomboy. Looks just like Tobias but is his opposite, as she was always the outgoing social butterfly of the pair. Her current situation has left her battling depression, though her spirits are higher than that of the average person in her condition. Despite their differences, Tobias and Naomi are fiercely close. She calls him Toby, and he hates it.

Father (metalsmith) died when Toby was 18 in the same accident that left Naomi crippled. Dad wanted him to become a metalsmith, but Toby wanted to become an artist. They butted heads for years until Toby acquired a super prestigious apprenticeship with the principal artist of Thessen. Once that happened, his dad was finally proud of him, and they started to get along. He died a year later.

Mommykins (Yucana) stays at home to care for Naomi. She had a job prior to the accident, but now it’s up to Toby to bring home the bacon. Now that Toby has sacrificed his dream to care for his family, she feels immense guilt. Because of this, she tries to shield him from the pain associated with caring for Naomi; when Toby gets home from work, it’s his job to relax. What she doesn’t realize is that she’s actually just making him feel alienated from his sister.

Friends: Toby’s two closest friends are Naomi and Milo. Milo is his neighbor, the youngest of a bazillion siblings, and the “runt” of the litter. They grew up together. The thing is, as they grew up, they became very different people. At this point, Tobias has essentially outgrown the friendship, but they’re still friends because by now their bond is more like family than anything else.

Tobias also makes friends within the Sovereign’s Tournament. Avoiding details for the sake of spoilers.

CATEGORY #3: THE SEXY STUFF

Sexual orientation: heterosexual

What is he attracted to?: He really likes long, pretty hair. He’s a boob man, provided they’re attached to the right woman. He likes femininity - when a girl smells nice, or when she’s wearing a pretty dress. But what’s really important to him is having a partner who sees and understands him, someone he feels comfortable talking to. He likes spunk and feistiness in a woman - someone who will shock him, keep him on his toes, make him laugh. He likes a strong, fiery personality - someone with opinions and purpose. Someone who will challenge him.

Sexual experience: Late bloomer, mostly due to his lifestyle - work work work and no time for play. His life revolves around providing for his family, so he doesn’t have the luxury of going out, having fun, and getting laid. He’s still a virgin, and he can count the number of girls he’s done anything intimate with on one hand.

Romantic experience: Two young, innocent, and very short-lived “romances,” if you can call ‘em that.

CATEGORY #4: SKILLS

Skills: Skilled at all things art. His expertise is as a portrait artist. Smarter than the average bear, but no genius. His creativity and intelligence become assets to him in the Sovereign’s Tournament.

Occupation/schooling: Went to the Thessen equivalent of basic public school. Worked his ass off to become an apprentice for the principal artist of the realm, then had to quit due to extenuating circumstances. Now works as a laborer in the sugarcane fields. He hates his job so much because it’s so incredibly mindless, but he does what he has to for his family.

Hobbies: PAINTING. DRAWING. He is obsessed with art. It is his greatest passion. He also really enjoys epics and fables (that shit is the equivalent of comic books in Thessen), and he likes to unwind with a drink at the end of a long day. He’s not an alchie, but he’s gotten sauced on occasion.

CATEGORY #5: PERSONALITY & CHARACTER

Introvert or extrovert? Introvert. Takes a while to warm up to people. Once he’s comfortable with someone, he’s very open and witty.

Right-brained or left-brained? Sooooo right-brained. Very artistic, creative, and in touch with his intuition. Deep thinker.

Strengths: He has a genuinely good heart. He is compassionate and kind. When he cares for people, he cares deeply. He’s intelligent, talented, and an old soul. Very deep thinker who questions conventions as opposed to blindly following the masses. Stands up for what is right and what he believes in. Unwavering loyalty. Selfless to the point of being self-sacrificing. When he opens up, he’s very witty and charming. Hard worker. Very brave, and very curious. A bit of an incognizant romantic.

Weaknesses: Honest to a fault. Has no poker face. Hellbent on saying his piece, even if it gets him into trouble. Led by his gut and emotion, even if it goes against his own self-interest. Has moments of obliviousness, especially when it comes to women. Sometimes overwhelmed by his feelings, which leads to poor decision-making.

Goals/dreams/aspirations: All he wants to do is protect his family and become an artist. But when he enters the Sovereign’s Tournament and starts developing warm tingly feelings, his aspirations change. Sure, he still wants to be an artist, but pursuing a life with the woman he loves becomes priority numero uno, especially since it seems like such an impossible feat.

Beliefs/affiliations: People in Thessen believe there is a higher power who ultimately created The Savior. The Savior, for lack of a better word, is somewhat of a Demigoddess - a Child of that higher power. However, Tobias doesn’t have the undying awe for The Savior that most people have. He knows She’s magical, but he sees Her as a Woman - Someone capable of being flawed.

Outside of religion, Tobias has a strong sense of principle, loyalty, and truth. He questions conventions. He needs to feel that an action or belief is right for him to be comfortable with it, regardless of whether or not the masses believe it’s right. He is not content with other people’s sense of morality - it needs to feel moral and right to him for him to accept it.

Fears: He’s had to deal with some really heavy realities, so his fears are reflective of that: losing the people he loves or losing himself. He feels an immense burden to take care of the people in his life and to stay true to himself. When either is compromised, he takes it very hard. 

Additionally, the Sovereign’s Tournament forces him to do things he would normally consider unthinkable, and he fears how these decisions will change him.

Insecurities: He’s insecure about his art. He really, really wants to be good. And he has very little awareness of how talented he is. He surpassed his master when it came to portrait art, and he has no idea. 

He seriously underestimates his capabilities in the tournament, and he’s a little ashamed about being in the tournament in the first place. It’s not his scene, he finds it objectifying, and he’s embarrassed to be a product for consumption/entertainment. 

Lastly, he questions his ability to care for the people he loves, even though he busts his ass doing so. 

I'm excited to announce that I have signed a book deal with Del Rey at Penguin Random House in the US and Michael Joseph in the UK for my debut novel, Alchemised, a standalone dark fantasy set in a war-torn world of necromancy and alchemy, in which a healer with amnesia is taken as a prisoner of war and must fight to protect her lost memories and the secrets hidden among them. It will grapple with themes of trauma and survival, legacy, and the way that love can drive one to extreme darkness, and it is, as you may be able to tell, a reimagined version of Manacled.