the sharpest sniper

* body language masterlist

* a translator that doesn’t eat ass like google translate does

* a reverse dictionary for when ur brain freezes

* 550 words to say instead of fuckin said

* 638 character traits for when ur brain freezes again

* some more body language help

HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT THIS WAS SO GOOD

I LOVE HOW CATHARTICALLY A N G R Y THE MAIN CHARACTER WAS!!!!! THE DELICIOUS EXPLORATION OF THE DESTRUCTIVE CYCLE OF REVENGE

MIZU I LOVE THE COMPLEX GENDER FEELS YOU GIVE AND SERVE

THE ART DESIGN

THE FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY

KURASAWA FILMOGRAPHY HOMAGES!!!!

I'm very normal about this show, god I hope they get okayed for a second season.

Oh, and, very R rated. Like, VERY R rated.

the last time I reblogged this post right before I got a great job, in a permanent work-from-home position, with benefits, retirement, and a salary literally 3x what I was making before, doing something I really like. 

So you know. 

When you create the first version of your novel—it is usually called your first draft. It’s not perfect and you’re not “done” with your novel, but drafting and writing are essentially the same thing. Redrafting and editing are similar processes, but they’re not the same. Here are a few differences between drafting and editing.

Drafting

After you’re finished with the first draft of your novel, you’re most likely going to spend some time redrafting. That means you’re going to create a 2nd draft, a 3rd draft, and other subsequent drafts that you feel are necessary. There are a few things you should focus on when you work on redrafting your novel:

Gaps or plot holes that need to be filled in

Ideas that haven’t been clearly explained or explored

Changes in the order of events in your novel

The addition of characters

The addition of scenes

The voice or style you’re writing in—check tenses or if anything sounds awkward

Scenes, characters, etc. that should be cut

Redrafting is when you start to shape the ideas and thoughts you put on paper during your first draft. This is the time you can create the novel you really want and you can flesh out your ideas. Don’t be afraid to drastically change what you’ve written if you think that will make it better. It often requires distance from your work for a while before you can begin. You need to look at your work objectively (or as objectively as you can).

Editing

Once you’re done redrafting, which will fix many of your plot problems and flesh out your novel (or cut it down to size), the editing process will be in full effect. I suppose it’s not wrong to refer to redrafting as part of the editing process, but when you’re redrafting you’re really still writing. You’re still shaping your novel and making additions to the plot. It helps to look at them differently. Here’s what you should focus on when you’re editing.

Go through your novel line-by-line

Check for spelling and grammar mistakes

Check your paragraph and chapter breaks to make sure they’re in the right place

Look out for repeated phrases or words that you’ve been using too often

Swap out words or sentences that don’t fit

Change the order of sentences that don’t sound right

Typos, typos, typos

Editing is difficult and it might need to go through your novel a few times before you catch your mistakes. It’s a painstaking process that requires time and attention. It might not be as fun as writing or redrafting, but it’s still a part of the process. Once you get the hang of it and find a flow that works for you, it will become much easier.

A Multi-Step Guide Written by a Visually Impaired Writer and Blogger

I’m hoping this blog will over time develop its own following, and when it does people will inevitably see my bio and notice what I included: I’m visually impaired.

Yes, a visually impaired writer, and I’ve written with two blind characters before so I have some practice in the field.

So, inevitably, someone is going to ask how to write a blind character.

Or, at least, I hope you’ll ask someone who’s actually blind or visually impaired about writing a blind character before you get too involved with your new WIP.

All parts will be tagged #blindcharacter in my blog, and I will add links to every post as I finish each part. Follow my blog for more writing advice.

Note, this post updates fairly often and old versions are still floating around out there. The most current version of this post is pinned to my blog with any new guides or links you might of missed.

As of 29 June 2022, this is the most extensive and screen reader friendly version of this post.

Part One: Crafting the Blind Character

In which I tell you how to begin making a blind character who is more than a cardboard cutout

Part Two: Narrative Choice, Visual Description, Verbal Description, Social Interaction

In which I give you a basic rundown on how to write from the perspective of a character who can’t see and still make the narration descriptive

Part Three: Tropes and Clichés to Avoid

Your blind readers will thank you for not being the 5000th person to do this and manage to actually finish your story. (Do you have any idea how many stories I’ve noped out of within two chapters because of these clichés? A Lot.)

Part Four: Canes, Guide Dogs, and O&M

Everything I can tell you about 1) how to learn how to use a cane 2) how a cane works 3) how to describe what your character experiences with their cane 4) everything I know on guide dogs

-New- Additional Advice for Writing Sighted Guides–another legitimate form of O&M

Part Five: Small Aspects of being Blind You Never Thought Of

5 January 2021 Edit: This link has been fixed to correspond with the correct post

Or, really, very normal everyday things for blind people, the inclusion of which will make your characters more real and authentic. It’s the tiny details.

Part Six: Should You Cure Your Character’s Blindness? (Short Answer: No)

There’s no way to write a cure for your blind character that doesn’t make blind readers hate you. Sorry. We came here to finally experience a relatable character who experiences the world like us, but none of us are getting cured so seeing this character we learned to love become something alien from us in the end feels like a slap in the face

-New- What about a Temporary Cure to Show the Character is Happy being Blind?

Why I’m Blind and What I See -NEW-

I thought I’d finally make a post explaining the complicated situation about my vision. Includes an explanation of visual snow and exotropia, two of the three causes for my vision issues.

Writing Blind Characters Falling in Love, an Advice Post:

Someone asked what being blind and falling in love have to do with each other. Honestly, blindness changes your perspective on everything and it makes an impact on every relationship you have. This includes some things that you definitely do not want your character’s love interest to be/do.

Writing Blind Jokes (Should You Do It?)

You know those flow charts of “should you do x?” going around? It’s like that, but screen reader friendly. Should you write blind jokes. It’s pretty complicated and there are a lot of possible scenarios and details to consider.

Advice for Writing Toph Beifong -NEW-

In this I discuss what I would like to see done in fanfiction with Toph’s character after ten years of reading Avatar the Last Airbender fanfiction

-New- Some Informal Thoughts About Toph and ATLA World Building based on a Throw-Away Line

A small essay addressing the frequently asked question on giving your blind character a superpower to help them “see.”

It’s became a popular question, so to make the answer easier/faster for everyone to access, I wrote what will usually be my initial answer. Below there are a few links to some notable past questions on this subject.

Mourning My Vision, it’s More than Depression. 

A small personal essay addressing the nuances of the mourning period you experience with a new disability. The mourning period is mentioned in other guides, but this is more detailed.

Dealing with Heightened Senses, a video by Molly Burke with additional commentary by me

While Molly talks about the myths and truths about heightened senses, I talk about the correlation with blindness and neuro-divergency and how co-morbid disorders/disabilities might affect sensory processing.

Satirical Commentary on the phrase “that blank look in their eyes” used too often in fiction to identify a blind character

a:tla, I’m looking at you (and my eyes aren’t blank)

I Found a Lost Piece of Blindness History

My grandmother told me about her blind aunt and how she sent letters. It led me to speculate about all the O&M things people develop on their own but never get a chance to pass onto other blind people. Technology and techniques are lost in history and reinvented, including the white cane ad guide dogs.

Includes a little history on the introduction of guide dogs into the 20th century

The Following are Answered Anon Questions

Making Your Blog More Accessible

Making Links Accessible to Screen Readers

Reblogging to Add an Image Description to Someone Else’s Image

Why I Write Image Descriptions

Terms, Definitions, and Practical Advice

-New- What is the difference between Light Perception and Shadow Perception

Writing Blind Characters

Advice for a Character Who was Born Blind

-New- A More Recent Post about Characters Born Blind 

Over-Protective Parents of a Blind Character, Why They’re Over-Protective and How to Avoid Crossing a Line

A Blind Character in Victorian Era Historical Fiction

Is It Bad Not to Have Guide Dogs in a Fantasy/Historical Setting Without Guide Dogs (short answer: it’s not bad)

Someone Asked About My Thoughts on a Medusa-like Character Blinding Herself to Avoid Hurting Anyone

-New- Someone Asked For Advice Writing a Character whose Eyes were Gouged Out–and Why Blindfolds are Not a Good Idea + Medical Alternatives

Characters Who Have Recently Gone Blind and Avoiding Inspiration Porn

-New- Inclusive Language in Dialogue: Is it appropriate for a blind character to use visual verbs like “I saw” and “I watched”

-New- Thoughts on If Characters Would Drink and Go to Bars

(In one of my original guides I said I was sure most blind people would not go to bars. A few years later, I’ve now realized that sentiment is influenced by my gender, not my disability.)

-New- Researching Blind Historical Figures

I took a disability studies class focusing on Helen Keller’s complicated legacy. My professor gave us the option to get creative with our final projects, so I gathered all the research I had for three blog posts.

How did Helen Keller Navigate her World

My extensive historical research on the accessibility tools Keller had in her lifetime

Who was Helen Keller: Her Passions and Interests

I talk about her writing, her politics as a socialist and suffragette, her love for animals and nature, her brief history as a performer on stage, and how she became the face for Blind Advocacy. This includes lots of photos of Keller with image descriptions I wrote.

The Controversies Surrounding Helen Keller

-This includes:

Her family history as the daughter of a Confederate Captain

Growing up on a plantation that formerly held slaves

How she met Alexander Graham Bell and the negative influence both had on the Deaf community

Her sexuality and falling in love (and why that was so controversial)

Her stance on eugenics and her internalized ableism

The Miracle Worker (1963) movie- how it became the most popular depiction of Keller, why it’s problematic, and how it damaged her legacy

The 2020 TikTok Controversy and #HelenKellerwasfake

Talking about Popular Blind Characters In Media

Does Daredevil’s Echolocation Negate His Blindness

-New- Is it Worth it to Watch All of Daredevil for the Research (It’s Not)

Someone Else was Asked How to Write Daredevil Fanfiction

Blind Characters with Superpowers/Fighting Styles

World Setting where the General Population has a Superpower

Superpowers that don’t involve sight, Five questions to ask yourself if this superpower is a bad idea or a good one

-New- Your character would not use a cane as a weapon, it’s a bad idea

D&D/Roleplaying Blind Characters

-New- Animal Familiars Acting as Service Animals and Advice for Communicating with Your DM

E.A. Deverell - FREE worksheets (characters, world building, narrator, etc.) and paid courses;

Hiveword - Helps to research any topic to write about (has other resources, too);

BetaBooks - Share your draft with your beta reader (can be more than one), and see where they stopped reading, their comments, etc.;

Charlotte Dillon - Research links;

Writing realistic injuries - The title is pretty self-explanatory: while writing about an injury, take a look at this useful website;

One Stop for Writers - You guys... this website has literally everything we need: a) Description thesaurus collection, b) Character builder, c) Story maps, d) Scene maps & timelines, e) World building surveys, f) Worksheets, f) Tutorials, and much more! Although it has a paid plan ($90/year | $50/6 months | $9/month), you can still get a 2-week FREE trial;

One Stop for Writers Roadmap - It has many tips for you, divided into three different topics: a) How to plan a story, b) How to write a story, c) How to revise a story. The best thing about this? It's FREE!

Story Structure Database - The Story Structure Database is an archive of books and movies, recording all their major plot points;

National Centre for Writing - FREE worksheets and writing courses. Has also paid courses;

Penguin Random House - Has some writing contests and great opportunities;

Crime Reads - Get inspired before writing a crime scene;

The Creative Academy for Writers - "Writers helping writers along every step of the path to publication." It's FREE and has ZOOM writing rooms;

Reedsy - "A trusted place to learn how to successfully publish your book" It has many tips, and tools (generators), contests, prompts lists, etc. FREE;

QueryTracker - Find agents for your books (personally, I've never used this before, but I thought I should feature it here);

Pacemaker - Track your goals (example: Write 50K words - then, everytime you write, you track the number of the words, and it will make a graphic for you with your progress). It's FREE but has a paid plan;

Save the Cat! - The blog of the most known storytelling method. You can find posts, sheets, a software (student discount - 70%), and other things;

I hope this is helpful for you!

Currently done with all of the Nu!Canon novels, OF & SQ yet to go. I'm excluding all words with super obvious Latin roots (ie Aristocra, Syndic, Patriel), though something might have slipped in.

Families

Boadil

Chaf

Clarr

Coduyo

Cohbo

Csap

Dasklo

Droc

Elod

Erighal

Evroes

Irizi

Kivu

Kiwu

Krovi

Kynkru

Mitth

Obbic

Plikh

Pommrio

Stybla

Tahmie

Tumaz

Ufsa

Xodlak

Names

Ab'beɡh

Afpriuh/Chaf'pri'uhme

Al'iastov

Apros/Csap'ro'strob

Ar'alani

Azmordi/Tumaz'mor'diamir

Ba'kif

Bet'nih

Biclian/Obbic'lia'nuf

Bomarmo

Borika/Cohbo'rik'ardok

Brisch

Che'ri

Cinsar

Dalvu/Elod'al'vumic

Dilpram

Dy'lothe

Ers'ikaro

Ghaloksu/Erighal'ok'sumf

Ieklior

Ilparg/Boadil'par'ɡasoi

Ja'fosk

Jaraki

Kharill/Plikh'ar'illmorf

Khresh

Kloirvursi

Labaki/Stybla'ba'kif

Lakansu

Lakbrovom/Xodlak'brov'omtivti

Lakbulbup

Lakinda/Xodlak'in'daro

Lakjiip/Xodlak'ji'iprip

Laknym

Lakooni/Xodlak'oo'nifis

Lakphro/Xodlak'phr'ooa

Lakris

Lakuviv/Xodlak'uvi'vil

Lakwurn

Lappincyk/Stybla'ppin'cykok

Lamiov/Stybla'mi'ovodo

Larsiom/Stybla'rsi'omi

Mafole

Mi'yaric

Ocpior

Octrimo/Droc'tri'morhs

Oeskym/Evroes'ky'mormi

Oesputi/Evroes'pu'titor

Ovinon

Pontriss

Raamas

Retuvili/Clarr'etu'vilimt

Rivlex/Clarr'ivl'exow

Roscu/Clarr'os'culry

Rupiov/Clarr'upi'ovmos

Shrent

Soomret

Samakro/Ufsa'mak'ro

Tanik

Thalias/Mitth'ali'astov

Thistrian

Thivik/Mitth'iv'iklo

Mitth'omo'rossodo

Thooraki/Mitth'oor'akiord

Thrass/Mitth'ras'safis

Thrawn/Mitth'raw'nuruodo

Thurfian/Mitth'urf'ianico

Thyklo/Mitth'ykl'omi

Un'hee

Vah'nya

Velbb

Vimsk

Vorlip

Vurawn/Kivu'raw'nuru

Vurika/Kivu'rik'ardok

Wevary

Wikivv

Wutroow/Kiwu'tro'owmis

Yokado

Yomie

Yoponek/Coduyo'po'nekri

Ziara/Irizi'ar'alani

Ziemol/Irizi'emo'lacfo

Zififerenc/Irizi'fife'rencpok

Ziinda/Irizi'in'daro

Zistalmu/Irizi'stal'mustro

Places

Avidich

Camco

Celwis

Cioral

Copero

Cormit

Csaus

Csilla

Csaplar

Desum

Dioya

Glastis

Ibbian

Jamiron

Kinoss

Krolling Sen

Massoss

Naporar

Noris

Ornfra

Ool

Oyokal

Panopyl

Pesfavri

Pleknok

Rentor

Rhigar

Sarvchi

Schesa

Sharb

Shihon

Sposia

Taharim

Thearterra

Vlidan

Yopring

Ships

Bokrea

Jandalan

Orisson

Parala

Tomra

Words

charric

docklet

grillig

growzer

nyix

questis

vivan

yapel

I gave you my word. I’m with you until we both fall.

Thrawn + “perhaps”

bonus: