green was the silence

On top of having this blog to encourage creating OCs, I also want to give people access to resources that can help you out in creating your OC! Here is a compilation of blogs to follow, as well as a few other links to help further your development!

maxkirin - Novelist blogger who offers many great pieces of writing advice, as well as videos!

about-your-oc - Writing prompts and resources for OCs

character-prompts - A collection of short character prompts

develop your oc - A collection of prompts and questions for your OCs

faceclaims-rpg - A blog dedicated to finding “face claims”, or irl people to represent your character’s appearance. They include a large array of tags and a directory of faceclaims, including POC.

tasksweekly - A blog dedicated to bringing more advanced prompts to get your creative juices flowing. Check out their info page and just snoop around.

dear-indies - A blog dedicated more specifically towards RPers with guides, tutorials, masterposts and face claim help.

howtofightwrite - An excellent resource for tips and tricks on writing combat and fight scenes, as well as what not to do.

The Script Family - This is a link to a separate masterpost, all of the blogs listed being absolutely excellent resources for writing and research. Just reach in and take a look, there’s answers to questions you didn’t even know you had.

writing-prompt-s - Short prompts to write stories off of

tiftswritingcorner - Prompts and challenges

helpfulwritingstuff - Reblogs of random resources and tips for writing.

heywriters - Writing tips, inspiration and resources

writingwithcolor - A blog dedicated to writing and resources centered on racial & ethnic diversity

fixyourwritinghabits - A collection of resources and tips for writing

fuckyeahcharacterdevelopment - A hub of information for character creation, development and writing

writeworld - A blog dedicated to prompts/inspiration to get writing via pictures, art and music

promptsandpointers - A blog dedicated to bringing advice and inspiration for writing

yourocs - Questions to flesh out your characters

writing-questions-answered - A blog dedicated to answering questions about writing help

Disrupt the reader’s sense of justice. 

This generally means setting a character up to deserve one thing and then giving them the exact opposite. 

Kill a character off before they can achieve their goal. 

Let the bad guy get an extremely important win. 

Set up a coup against a tyrannical king. The coup fails miserably.

Don’t always give characters closure. 

(Excluding the end of the book, obviously)

A beloved friend dies in battle and there’s no time to mourn him.

A random tryst between two main characters is not (or cannot be) brought up again.

A character suddenly loses their job or can otherwise no longer keep up their old routine

Make it the main character’s fault sometimes. 

And not in an “imposter syndrome” way. Make your MC do something bad, and make the blame they shoulder for it heavy and tangible.

MC must choose the lesser of two evils.

MC kills someone they believe to be a bad guy, only to later discover the bad guy was a different person altogether.

Rejection is a powerful tool. 

People generally want to be understood, and if you can make a character think they are Known, and then rip that away from them with a rejection (romantic or platonic) people will empathize with it.

MC is finally accepting the Thing They Must Do/Become, and their love interest decides that that’s not a path they want to be on and breaks up with them

MC makes a decision they believe is right, everyone around them thinks they chose wrong.

MC finds kinship with someone Like Them, at long last, but that person later discovers that there is some inherent aspect of MC that they wholly reject. (Perhaps it was MC’s fault that their family member died, they have important religious differences, or WERE THE BAD GUY ALL ALONG!)

On the flipside, make your main character keep going. 

Push them beyond what they are capable of, and then push them farther. Make them want something so deeply that they are willing to do literally anything to get it. Give them passion and drive and grit and more of that than they have fear.

“But what if my MC is quiet and meek?” Even better. They want something so deeply that every single moment they push themselves toward it is a moment spent outside their comfort zone. What must that do to a person?

Obviously, don’t do all of these things, or the story can begin to feel tedious or overly dramatic, and make sure that every decision you make is informed by your plot first and foremost. 

A WRITEBLR INTRODUCTION!

About me;

Tina, she/her, Indian, Londoner 

I tend to write historical fiction and fantasy and I tend to read the same. 

I’m writing for therapy, in order to manage my mental health and looking to meet other writers and discover all your amazing stories!

My works;

The dialogue in your story is crucial to several factors that ultimately define the tale, including but not limited to character development, plot advancement, and description. It is one of the three main components of writing and should most definitely be kept in mind when proceeding with your tasks. Below, I’ve written some things to keep in mind when you are allowing your characters to converse and strategies that can help with accomplishing those goals.

1) Conversations should be natural and consistent: Nothing should sound like something your character wouldn’t say. For example, if your protagonist is meant to be serious and dark, they shouldn’t be saying ‘OMG, L8S ALIG8ERS, SEE Y'ALL RIGHT AFTER I FINISH MY HOURLY STARBUCKS RUN AFTER PILATES AT THREE. LUV YA AAAHHHHH!’ every three seconds. Yes, characters are complex and have unique moments depending on the circumstance, but even with that, they must remain consistent. Another note regarding this is that if your character does not sound natural or human, something must be altered.

2) Characters should have their own voices: If they all begin to sound monotone and the same, your story likely is as well. Everyone has a different thinking/speaking process, and that should accompany them throughout the tale. (I mean, life isn’t one character, is it? Imagine how horrid it would be if we were all just one)

3) Avoid small talk: You should definitely keep in some moments that show your characters are still human but if it isn’t necessary towards understanding/advancing the plot or characters, get rid of it. No one wants to hear about Carter’s new bedsheets, regardless of what snazzy patterns they have.

4) DIalogue is important, but it isn’t the whole story: Let actions show what happens rather than your character talking it all out. Better yet, mix them (narration + dialogue) for the best effect.

5) Don’t always use names: It isn’t natural. Only do this when capturing another character’s attention or to make a point.

6) Using said is okay: We don’t always scream, fume, pout, or sob. Sometimes, we just say, and that is completely okay! (More natural too) If not, however, here’s a post that can help.

7) Stutter Realistically: “I-I d-d-don’t e-ev-ever st-stutter l-like th-this-is. Instead, this is how I - how I stutter.”

8) Remember your dialogue tags: If you cannot tell who is speaking, it’s time to plug one of them in. It doesn’t hurt to add a ‘Sarah said’ from time to time so go ahead and do it! Maybe you know what you’re talking about inside of your mind, but your audience doesn’t.

9) Don’t talk too much: Sometimes, actions are stronger than words. If instinct calls for it, do it.

10) Proper punctuation: This is very important for readers, publishers, yourself, everybody. Here’s a quick guide that can help.

AND SO I RISE excerpt

[ pov: hesen ]

Black Girls & Women: Representation We Want

As a Black woman reader, I definitely want to see more soft Black girls and women in literature. Girls with their own self-interests (caring about oneself isn’t necessarily selfish) and not always someone else’s caregiver is great too.

Here’s my list!

More Black girls...

In love

With close family bonds and healthy relationships and support systems (that don’t require enduring abuse, fixing their partner, or overall emotional labor to earn domestic happiness)

Being protected

As main characters, heroines and anti-heroes

On adventures

In fantasy and magical settings

In historical settings as peasants, upper-class society, and royalty

Descriptions of Black Afro hair, skin, features as a normal thing in books (see this compilation) and not in an Othering way

On the other hand, vibrant, sometimes hyped up descriptions that allude to their beauty (see this ask. Or this one). Not Othering, just appreciating! 

Put us in fancy dresses and give us a sword and let us dance at the balls and have admirers!

Experiencing complex emotions not necessarily in reaction to racism or racist violence

On the book cover! And with an accurate, not light or white-washed model

~Mod Colette

Responses:

@madamef-er

Soft black girls and nerd girls who like cute things. 

Shy black girls not just in situations with boys. 

More lgbtqia+ black girls. Studs! Femmes! 

Gender fluid and non conforming constantly changing their style because they like it!

Spies and not just as the 'sexy bait' or 'weapons master' let us sit behind the computer for once and be hackers and stuff

@tanlefan

Black girls who are just...people.

I want a fantasy escapism adventure that isn't a thinly veiled discussion on slavery or racism or any other aspect of The Struggle. I am tired. 

Can I just have a happy Black girl who believes in fairies or something?

@esmeraldanacho-1776 More autistic Black women/girls! I don't care what genre really; just have them in there!

@briarsthicket And enby black people!

@mattiekins

Def soft black girls. 

Energetic and playful. 

Or shy and quiet.

I want to see more black girls who are nerds and not just mommy mommying or nanny nannying everyone. 

I want black girls who want to be a ballerina, or a talk show host, or a game designer etc. 

I want a black girl who gets to be happy. 

Who doesn't have to act older than she is and be the shoulder for everyone, always.

@xiiishadesofgrey

I want more black lady nerds, if we’re talking modern settings!  

More black ladies who have a sporty/playful nature! 

Who aren’t afraid to get dirty and make chaos, without being dirty or frowned upon!

Strange as it sounds coming from me, more black princesses! Brandy as Cinderella in the 90s was my first Cinderella, and I LOVE that.

Please, god, more black wlws.

@daintythoughtswritersblock

I want to see tropes exercised 

Black women of all shades and tones

@hazelnut4370

Tbh just fellow black people being happy, like I rarely see that,

Or enjoying hobbies

rivergoddessdream

Happily childless black women

Black women traveling the world

Fat black women in happy, healthy, poly relationships

Black cis and trans women having a true sisterhood

Autistic black women

Black women in period pieces that aren't about slavery and don't take place in the US

Black women thespians

Black women painters

Black women revolutionaries

Black women front and center in the narrative

Black women healers and storytellers

Non christian Black women stories

Black women rockers

#complicated black women characters #tell those stories

@missnancywrites

More Black Girls...

With diverse cultural and social backgrounds!

That are nerdy, girly, intelligent, ditzy, all the personality types that white girls in literature get!

That are fragile, shy or anxious. Almost every single black woman I’ve seen in media or otherwise are wise and adult. Let us be an absolute wreck, or an anxious mess!

In science! Characters like Shuri, Moon Girl and Iron Heart in Marvel revitalized me, cuz young black girls only get two types. Both these girls are in intellectual and in science, but have bery different personalities.

In interracial relationships, and not because they hate black men or something along those lines. They just happen to be dating outside their race, black women get hate for that in real life and it’s unfair. Let us have relationships outside our race! That said...

In platonic relationships with black men! I think that’s important, cuz I don’t often seen black solidarity unless it’s for the purpose of showing how diverse the writing is. Let them share interests, daily frustrations that they would only understand, but don’t force a romance.

In solid friendships with other black girls! For some reason, we’re pitted against in each other inside and outside of writing! Write some sweet wholesome friendship!

With different sexualities! Let there be some that are ace, others are gay, bi or pan! Just be sure you don’t sexualize them, or turn em into a robot.

•Who are dark-skinned! This can be seen a lot in tv or movies, but when you want a black girl in your stuff don’t just hire a light-skinned black girl or a biracial black girl. It’s not the same.

Who get to act their age! Black women have a long standing history of being adultified, starting from a very young age, and it’s extremely harmful. Little black girls can wear what they please, the problem is people sexualizing them. Let the teen black girl be a teenager, she can look out for her siblings but she isn’t the keepern the house or their lives. Young adult black girls are not ideal housewives or capable working machines, they mess up and mess around just as much as any young adult.

With mental/physical disabilities or illnesses. Alongside with being forced to be more mature than they are, disabilities/illnesses are never taken seriously and we’re forced to just deal with it. Having black girls who happen to have these issues, but also have a healthy support group is always good!

@ink-and-roses

Seen as beautiful and desirable and NOT in a hypersexualized way

Interracial relationships are wonderful because black girls are beautiful and lbr everybody sees it

Sensitive and allowed to feel something other than righteous anger

Some black girls are skinny! Some are big! Some are slim and some are curvy! There’s no mold!

Dark skinned!

A YA protagonist out to save the world from something other than racism

Superpowers or magic that doesn’t come from generational trauma or slavery

Black characters who support other black characters. None of this token crabs in a barrel business.

Black girl nerds and punks and goths exist. I promise.

And this may be a personal preference but I’m not against the idea of a damsel in distress. We are always being strong. Let her be soft and delicate and cared for. Let her be princess carried and rescued from the tower and the dragon.

[Note from Mod: It’s not just you! I love a Black damsel being saved and protected. What is progressive for one woman varies due to historical and present depictions and is why intersectionality in feminism is so important! -Colette]

@nightlyswordswoman

As a writer, I write a lot of my black female characters like this because I rarely ever see black women being represented in these ways! ESPECIALLY on the covers of books, unless the author themselves is a black woman and even then its rare. 

Too often black women are stereotyped as strong protector types that are always rough, tough, and don’t need anybody in books (and real life), when that’s honestly just dumb and inaccurate--black women are as vulnerable as anyone else (in some cases, even more vulnerable, but that’s another topic). 

So yeah, this list is 100% accurate and I encourage those who are interested in writing black female characters (whether you’re a black woman or not) to consider writing them like this, because the stereotype needs to die lol.

But wait, there’s more!

@just-a-swsh-fangirl  As an anime fan I kinda want to see a white male protagonist be paired up (romantically) with a black female at the end of the series. It would make my black self happy to see a girl like me in an important role like that.

@tgingwe

Black girls in STEM, pleaaase

Black girls with ADHD, depression, and other mental health conditions! 

Black girls with supportive families! 

Pan black girls! 

African black girls, with cultures that impact their lives and with complex relationships between their specific identities/cultures and the idea of being perceived as just black outside of Africa! 

Happy Trans Black girls!

@starcrossedrose

Love triangles where a black character gets to be with the guy or girl in the end.

Love triangles revolving around a black character.

Black retellings of fairy tales

Black characters in royal positions (King, Queen, Princes, Princesses, etc.)

@superviza

soft,reserved,emotional,shy, spirited, spunky, bubbly, corny, weird black women

a black woman in a healthy relationship with a black man who has a healthy obsession with her

little black girls

modest black women

black women without a criminal to success backstory

black women they were raised in a healthy family with both black parents who are still living

black women in interracial relationships that aren’t necessarily white

no tokens, several black women together with no beef

black women in fantasy

black women in friendship with ppl of other races and ethnicities

black women who get to feel and express emotion with it being a threat

@sappho-of-etheria

Black girls who don't live in the US

black girls who are daughters of immigrants and have complex relationships with both their homeland and the land their family is from

Black girls with healthy relationships with their parents

black girls who are indecisive about their lives and struggling to find their place in the world and the reason not being racism

LGBTQ+ black girls with families that accept them and celebrate them

More black witches/magic users who don't fall in the magical negro type.

Quirky black girls who have endearing and unusual interests

Black girls who both love sterotypical and non-stereotypical black things

Black girls having supportive friendship groups and not being the one who constantly needs to support the others

Black girls saving the world

Black girls having a love interest who loves them and cherishes them not because they think they are weak but because they want them to be safe and happy

Black girls being the cherished love interest

Black girls being thought of the most gorgeous girl and not being overly sexualized

Black girls and their siblings/friends going to another world a la Chronicles of Narnia

Black girls being the chosen ones and saving the world

Black girls in medieval fantasy stories and not just being a slave or the handmaiden of the white princess

Black girs with different and complex relationships with their womanhood and how they express it

Black girls with different hair textures

But above all else I just want black girls to be able to have the same range in character as their white counterparts. I am tired of never being able to relate to characters that look like me