My pen name is George Briar, I'm an aspiring author with a degree in literature and screenwriting; officially diagnosed with ADHD. Writing in various genres.
Here, I'm sharing my stories and tips on writing as I continue practising my craft and making steps towards finishing my first full-fledged book draft. Be welcome!
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So proud of this book cover idea I'm working on y'all have no idea. Slowly but surely working on a dystopian thriller that's inspired by real events. Fingers crossed, hopefully it's going to be my debut novel! I've been working on it for years now (more like working on the outline, the actual writing has yet to be started).
Hi there, your blog has been a tremendous help, thank you so much for making so many good posts. I wanted to ask you if you could maybe make a post about story/novel starters, like with examples or some ideas for it. Thank you again and please keep up the amazing work!
Writing References: Starting Your Novel
The Beginning β Hooking your Readers β Your First Chapter
Chapter Outline β Chapters: What to Include β Dialogue
Establishing Voice β Exploring your Setting β Freewriting
Creative Writing: How to Start β Elements
"Interviewing" your Characters β Plotting your Novel
Snowflake Method β Plot Method β The Story Circle
Questions Before Writing Your Novel β Tips: First Novel
Tropes: Borrow from or Subvert them β Use Templates (Example)
Ways to Generate an Idea β Your Audience
Hi, thanks so much for your kind words. Here are some references and tips you can consider. Some links include examples in media portrayals, such as those on literary and character tropes that you can use for inspiration. All the best with your writing!
More: On Plot Development β Writing Templates β Tips & Advice
Hey, a screenwriter with a degree in film studies and literature here. I'd like to see some writing, storytelling or worldbuilding questions and/or suggestions in my ask box! Let's do some sort of AMA (ask me anything)!
How to create a character for an online or tabletop RPG (also a good guide on creating characters in general)
Royalty/nobility TV Tropes page
Basic character profile
OC masterpost
Random character generators - (1), (2), (3), (4)
D&D Character Building Tool
Character Design Ideas:
How clothing affects a characterβs personality
Character Design Inspiration blog
Concept art, fan art, cool art to be inspired by
Character design references and inspiration
Sources for POC character design ideas and models
Create your own character model using HeroForge
For horned characters
Body and hair types guide
Random outfit generator
Naming Help:
Amazing site with an endless amount of naming resources
General advice on avoiding naming appropriation
Hispanic Surnames
Gothic Victorian names
Huge master list for character things in general
Masterlist of names of all types - including but not limited to ancient/old world names, Celtic, African, Northern European, Southern and Central American Native names, Japanese, Chinese, Mongolian, Polynesian, and more
Another name masterlist
How to pick a character name guide
Yet another names masterlist
Creating Background/backstory:
Character Sheet/Development Sheet
Another character development list
In-depth character personality, motivations and traits sheet
320 talents and passions for characters
On writing likes and dislikes that arenβt frivolous
Why you should write non-human characters non-conforming to the gender binary
Stereotypes, tropes, and archetypes
Random backstory generator
Assassin and thief character tropes to avoid
Character Interactions and putting your character into your world/story:
Comparing character height/height references
Characters who are scientists and writing about them doing science
Describing what different voices sound like
Describing skin tones
Writing friendship interactions that are platonic
Why having one character knock their friend unconscious to prevent them from doing something is a bad idea
Advice on shipping OCs with canon characters and what to avoid doing
Sweet Polly Oliver and Sweet on Polly Oliver situations (think of Disneyβs Mulan for an example)
How to write multiple viewpoints/juggling a main cast of more than 4 to 6 characters
How to make readers care about your morally gray hero/anti-hero
On platonic OC and canon character relationships
How to avoid Godmodding in RPs
When itβs cheap to kill off a character
Writing dialogue
Things you shouldnβt do to canon characters
Avoiding purple prose in writing and RPs
Slang resources
Dialogue tips
Websites to chart your story/plot/character relationships
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Not urgent, but would be infinitely grateful to do some commissions to get a device I've dreamt of for a while in order to be more productive and healthy as I still haven't found an adapted job. More information is in the following link:
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So, I started reading a free excerpt from the Fourth Wing, and I think I kind of started to understand its success.
As it's only the beginning, it's hard to tell whether the main character is a Mary Sue, but I think a couple of potential elements are there (unusual hair colour, one parent dead, quirky and nerdy, etc.), but they do not always necessarily mean a character is a Mary Sue. Then what took me by surprise was the fact the main character and her sister were discussing sex? Wow. That's impressive, really. Might be one of the elements that many readers have found alluring, as romance has always been one of the most readed genres. As I'm not into romance and all that, it threw me off a bit by its bluntness. Same with swear words. But hey, why not?
Might keep reading and change my mind. On the bright side, the writing is easy to follow, and exposition and description are well balanced.
What do you guys think of it? Does it deserve its popularity, or is it overrated? Let me know! No spoilers, though.
Guys, I hate doing this, but I need your help. Help me pay my hospital entrance fees so I can get important assistance in overcoming my severe depression. I'm in a very difficult place right now, failing to find a job, stuck with my parents, now having a suspected PTSD and persisting dark thoughts as a result... I'm a warrior, and I'll keep fighting, but today I humbly ask your help with my inner war.
Feel free to ask for sketches in exchange for any donation.
Become a supporter of CRIMSONNE today! β€οΈ Ko-fi lets you support the creators you love.
Itβs an actual astronomical event, so Wish Upon A (falling) Star applies, but it also reminds me of a night-flying V-1 βdoodlebugβ getting hit by flak.
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Partial transformation - mummy rot is slowly turning you to sand, a near miss from a medusa left you with partially stoned body parts, etc.
Hypnotic suggestions from being mind controlled persist after the controllerβs death, causing the victim to occasionally take actions to support the cause of a mind flayer cult that no longer exists.
Repeated demonic possession has left the patient with permanent gaps in their soulβs defenses, causing them to immediately get re-possessed if they go outside a consecrated area.
Post-resurrection trauma as the revived soul remembers an unpleasant afterlife.
Magical healing can get very weird if something is stuck in the wound. Itβll get you back on your feet, but you can get outcomes like βthereβs a chunk of wood fused into your chest because the magic couldnβt figure out how to get the arrow out of your chest and just healed it in place,β and this can cause mobility issues or infection vectors down the line.
SHealth tied to something else - the health of a tree, the amount of frost on the ground, the inverse of another personβs, the political power of whoever cursed you
Curse of bad luck - makes any small illness or injury potentially fatal if not treated with anti-curse in addition to anti-infection procedures
Magical reliance on a magical or nonmagical substance - can have any number of side effects
Repeatedly being drunk by vampires can cause an increase in blood production and therefore high blood pressure and related ailments. Can be treated by blood letting.
Thereβs a lot of hybridization happening in a lot of fantasy settings, and thatβs just asking for a lot of people with weird half-dragon genetic disorders. Works out fine for some people, not so much for others.
Parasitized by (insert creature here). If you donβt take the correct precautions to keep it dormant it will continue to spread and eventually hatch out/transform you.
Repeated contact with the undead has left you open to their influence - leading to hearing or seeing things that other mortals canβt, which can distort or distract from more mundane concerns.
Alternately to being more vulnerable to intrusion, oneβs soul can form a scar that makes helpful magic more difficult to take in.
Sleep disorders that make one fall into an impenetrable sleep at a specific trigger, or to do so for years at a time.
Out of phase with 4D space, oneβs body not connected to itself or anchored in place/time in the usual way. There could be a consistent two hour gap between the things you hear and what has happened, you might clip into the floor as if it was in a different place for you, or you might slide through the material plane in cross section.
Intermittent intangibility.
Split into two people, each with only half your traits.
Sensitivity to ambient magic - like the thing where peoplesβ joints ache before a storm but for being near ley lines or people with a lot of magic built up or other magic reservoirs. - The potential for magic, but where the magic has not yet begun.
Heal spell dependency: years of repeated serious injuries being healed by magic causes the body to stop healing naturally. seen often in professional fighters and those with a long career in hazardous occupations.
the forgotten dread: memory modification magic has caused the subjectβs conscious mind to forget some past trauma, but their subconscious still remembers, causing them emotions that they cannot explain or justify ranging from mild discomfort to blind panic when presented with triggers related to the aforementioned trauma. often encountered in cases where the subject has paid an unscrupulous mage to make them forget their past as an ill-advised alternative to therapy.
Psychically Transmitted Memories: the subjectβs mind has been linked to another personβs and, although the bond has since been severed, they have retained memories or thought patterns from the other person that are difficult to distinguish from their own.
Negative Life Syndrome (previously βFalse Life Syndromeβ): seen most often in cases when the subject is exposed to dark magic while in the womb, Negative Life Syndrome leaves the subjectβs life energies tainted by undeath without making them truly undead. common symptoms include intolerance of radiant magic, aversion to sunlight, and the inability to set foot on hallowed ground; rare symptoms include healing from negative energies, sudden necrosis, and the desire to eat flesh or drink blood of living beings.
lycanthropy
Early Life Possessions: the subject was possessed by a spirit or demon during early childhood or infancy, and the possessing presence was in control of them when they learned important milestones, such as how to walk or speak. The subject is now dependant upon the possessing presence to help them perform these tasks or, in cases where the presence has since been exorcised, performs the relevant tasks at a level appropriate for an infant or small child.
Body requires nutrients not found in human food, and you must eat rocks, or gems, or some other alternative. You may or may not have the ability to actually digest these without magical assistance
Awareness of too many dimensions makes it difficult to interact with just this one - either to keep track of conversations, or walk to specific locations without ending up on another planet instead
Telekinetic psychosis - delusions tend to physically affect those around you (but HIGH chance for ableism in this one!)
you have flare-ups where your skin tends to slough off and be replaced by some other substance
After sharing life energy with a dying loved one, youβre now both trying to survive off one personβs supply. Like chronic fatigue, but if your loved one gets too big of a bruise you wonβt have the energy to get up until it heals
living in reverse
stuck at a certain age
supersenses lead to constant overstimulation
youβre a changeling, and if you donβt have someone who loves you close by, youβll turn back into sticks and mud
I finished watching House of the Dragon season 2, and I need to talk about it.
DISCLAIMER: Contains spoilers! Bear in mind that I didn't like the show. Nor do I hate it, but this post is probably going to be a rant. So, if you liked it, feel free to skip my post and/or not agree with it, be it fully or partially.
And a casual reminder that it's not only my personal opinion, but also an opinion of a person who has a degree in film studies and screenwriting, so I know what I'm talking about. Visually? Stunning. Writing? Well, about that...
Here goes nothing. The series had a great potential that was not fully used, in my humble opinion. The idea is very good, but execution could've been much better. Many scenes are painfully long, and many are fillers bearing little to no message/significance. The characters regress, and to me, season 2 was somewhat weaker than season 1. I'll admit I can't say I liked season 1 more, however. It suffered from the very same issues that only grew in season 2.
Some character development was abandoned in season 2, Daemon being the brightest example. His visions in Harrenhal are too redundant and feel practically useless. All that to show that he eventually fully pledges fealty to his wife and gives up on the crown. Like, not because he decided to, but because he was seeing visions? Huh?? That's lazy writing if you ask me.
And let's take a moment to talk about his visions: I think when he picked up the crown and returned it to Viserys after the latter dropped it in season 1 was a beautiful moment meant to show his evolution as a person. Season 2 showed me that it didn't matter as if it never happened. Look at him. He feels soooo guilty now for... for what? He did make amends with his brother, did he not? He supported Rhaenyra. And don't tell me he pretended to. That's a season 2 thing that appeared out of blue. Those visions never advanced the plot. In all honesty, I see them as a waste of time and budget. Like yeah, cool seeing those same actors, yeah, cool, Daemon feels something.
But then, why go through the same character arc he went through in season 1?? I also hated the vision where he slept with his mother. Like, why??? It'd make more sense if it meant something like he doesn't really love Rhaenyra, he loves himself, and he marries her because he sees himself in her because they're literally flesh and blood. Perhaps he views her as a part or an extension of himself, an appendage. That'd be interesting, but it would've been shown differently. And, besides, it's not the intention of the scene where everything is ridiculously simple. But why include his mother? To show he's dumb? Or horny? Both? It served no purpose.
Aemond was dumbed down as well. I liked it when he was looking for Aegon to crown him in season 1, telling him how important it is and how he'd love to be king himself, but reminded it was Aegon's duty as heir. It was somewhat... nice? Though in his own rough manner. Yeah, he has quite a temper, but he also was said to be educated and cunning. Smart. Where did that go in season 2?
In season 2, he's a man-child. Wasn't he supposed to like feel guilty for having killed Luke? Wasn't he actually aware of the consequences of his actions? No, he pretends he doesn't care. Or maybe he's so dumb he actually doesn't. It pains me. He had a great potential.
The same goes for Aegon himself and Helaena. Especially Helaena, who basically became the background character. A queen who... who's just there? Yeah, she was shocked at how peasants hated her, but did she at least try to change anything? To learn more? No, she was just sitting around, sad and powerless. We never see her interact with Aegon, too. And that's terrible. Doesn't she at least try to speak to him? Advise him?
Unlike Aemond, Aegon was more like Viserys, though this wasn't well shown I find. There was but like one moment where he said something about not being willing to cause more violence or something like that in the beginning of season 2. And that's it. I know, he's supposed to be a rebel, a wayward son, young and all that. But still, he took his role as a king quite seriously. Well, that's what they attempted to show, at least. After his injuries, we see what remains of him, which is not too different really. He's literally mourning his cock. Excuse me?? And where's Helaena? Their daughter? It's as if they no longer exist.
Oh, and let's not forget the ending where everyone is just staring into the horizon during the last 20-30 minutes of the episode. Anticlimactic, even considering the budget cuts. Perhaps, especially considering the budget cuts, because the story felt painfully stretched this season. Many scenes are unnecessarily too long. About most of them, I had a craving to cut them out (if I were editing the show). The pacing is odd, as if they needed fillers to meet the required running time for each episode.
Rhaenyra is frustrated, and that's frustrating to watch. She's a queen, but she listens too much to her sexist advisors who are supposed to be loyal regardless of her gender. They've sworn themselves to a woman but have no compassion for her. I know they probably seek to control her. But she's strong. She freaking has a dragon. I'm not saying she should threaten them, but what would they do if she did? Basically, she complains the whole season about being a woman.
Her kiss with Mysaria was really unnecessary. What did that even mean? I hoped it'd be a platonic hug of understanding. But nope. It was... awkward. And didn't seem to do anything as later they looked like it never happened. Then her meetings with Alicent, especially the last one... so flat. Why? Alicent has no choice, certainly, but why would she be so stubborn? Only to return and go "actually you know what, I've changed my mind" to Rhaenyra, who's like "great timing, you're a tad late." That made her look not desperate but kinda... stupid.
Oh, and another one of the issues from season 1 that festers in season 2 is the unstable tone. They're trying to be funny sometimes without being too funny, but it looks so off. One moment, you're trying to set a dark and dramatic tone. The next, it's a joke. Naturally, as a viewer, you'd be confused at how you're supposed to feel. Humour is usually used in drama to enhance immersion, make characters more human, build a connection and empathy between them and the viewers, and most importantly to give more emotional weight to dramatic scenes. Unfortunately, that's not the effect they're getting in House of the Dragon, which is a great shame.
I have too many questions, as you can see. Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read me, and feel free to comment or even DM me. I'd like to hear what you think and whether you share my opinion or not.
I played Hogwarts Legacy twice now and I realized something about the characters (especially Sebastian) that I need to talk about.
The first playthrough I was charmed by Sebastian. But during the second one I've noticed something was off about him and the way he spoke. Then it struck me β he's a manipulator.
His obsession with finding a cure for his twin sister may come off as adorable and selfless, but after giving it some thought (quite a lot of thought, actually) I came to a conclusion that even this desire of his is selfish.
How? Well, it appears that he views Anne as more than a sibling β as his twin to him she's an extension of himself. A part of him. He feels incomplete without her by his side hence why he wants her so bad back in Hogwarts. Remember how she said she was okay with staying in Feldcroft (save for goblin raids and Sebastian's feud with their uncle)? She might not miss Hogwarts as strongly as Sebastian claims to the player, trying to get their help and appeal to their feelings through pity.
But does Sebastian take into account what she wants? It doesn't seem so. She said so herself, she feels there's no cure to her condition nor does she want for the Dark Arts to be involved. Yet, he gives her no choice, because he's certain he knows what's best for her. After all, she's his twin. The way he had pointed out this fact on more than one occasion demonstrates how important it is to him. Plus, he seems to be of a quite high opinion of himself, he could as well love Anne mostly because she's his female self. Mayhaps he doesn't really want her cured purely out of love for her β first of all, he wants her with him.
Sounds quite possessive and unhealthy. Wait until I remind you it's 1890s and (even if the developers apparently did not aim for historical accuracy) if this world is anything as it was in the actual Britain at the time, then it makes sense why Anne doesn't speak up for herself and is rather passive. You may have noticed how both Solomon and Sebastian seem to take decisions concerning her without even asking her opinion. Well, back in Victorian England it was normal, because a woman's fate was decided by her eldest male relative (father, brother, or, in this case, uncle) or a husband. It also may mean that Solomon did not take his nephew and niece in out of goodness of his heart but because he had to by law.
Now, yes, the story seems to try and show Sebastian killing Solomon as something he did not think through, but if their society functions like irl Victorian England's did, then... Sebastian basically eliminated a rival and now gets to decide Anne's fate however he pleases. Yikes! Intentionally or not, that'd be a chilling detail. I don't imply it's canon, but it does make some sense in its own way.
Sebastian shows deep remorse about killing his uncle, but does he really feel it? If the player chooses to learn the Unforgivable curses, Sebastian states that "your intention must be clear" and "you must mean it". Then he literally says about the murder of his uncle that he didn't "mean it". An interesting word choice. Does not look like an accident to me.
As a manipulator, he flatters, he lies. He lies a lot. Not necessarily maliciously, because he might just also be lying to himself to twist the truth and feel better about it. During my second playthrough I've found myself no longer believing what he says. He's a cunning and ambitious individual who's ready to do anything in order to get what he wants. And that's exactly what he does. Even with his best friend Ominis Gaunt whom he occasionally uses. He said he always has his way with disciplinary matters. Might as well be his charm and/or Ominis, whose father happens to be friends with the headmaster.
Now, about Sebastian's charming exterior. He can charm his way into anyone's heart but his uncle's. He can convince them to do whatever he wishes. He has a calculating strategic mind, choosing his words carefully and making sacrifices to meet his ends, like when he doesn't reveal to the librarian he wasn't alone in the restricted section and when he shows the Undercroft to the player. He likes friends who are in his debt. Of course he does, because he can use their trust later. Perhaps to him people surrounding him are but chess figures on a board.
But oh, how his faΓ§ade crumbles in those rare moments when he struggles to achieve his goal! Pretty much like Lord Voldemort. Just think about it, he kills on instinct because his uncle destroys his last hope to get back his sister beside him. And he objects against him "taking away" Anne, saying that he "can't" separate him from his twin. The word choice makes it clear how possessive and determined he is about it. When speaking of Anne he stated "she's unwell", but "she's going back to Hogwarts soon". As if Anne's fate really depends entirely on him.
Those were but my own speculations, do feel free to share what you think, whether you agree or not and why. Once again, I'm not saying it's canon and I'm probably digging too deep, but I had to get it out haha. So here we go.
Have a great day and thank you for reading me! Looking forward to reading your opinions!
Guys, I played Hogwarts Legacy for the first... and then second time in my life. Anybody down to discussing it? I'm overwhelmed by all the details and possibilities it provides. Like... woah. I've noticed too many things that are so minor they're more like theories, but still make sense to me. I need to discuss them with someone.
(Played it on a Switch though.)
For example, who was your favourite character and why? Whom you didn't like and why? What are your thoughts on Sallow twins? Their uncle? Ominis Gaunt? The ending?
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Here's my ultimate character profile template that helps define crucial details of any important character in your story, may additionally help with outline, plot holes, and even writer's block if you're stuck or losing interest:
Name:
Gender:
Personality type: (unnecessary, but may be helpful with making your cast diverse and assigning more realistic fears and desires, e.g., enneagram)
Desires: (what does your character want?)
Fears: (what keeps them from getting it?)
Beliefs and misbeliefs: (what does your character need to change their mind about in order to overcome their fear and get what they desire? There's also beliefs in this part, because some things your character believes in don't necessarily change, but if they can somehow affect the plot, why not mention it? It doesn't necessarily have to be bad)
Social life: (how does your character behave around their family? Their friends? Strangers? Rivals? Enemies?)
Addiction: (what habits does your character possess? What or who do they depend on? Do they always need something in their hands to fidget with? Or do they often ask for a light?)
Self image: (how does your character view themselves personally? What are their imperfections they feel bad about? What are the parts of their appearance they're proud of? Do not confuse with physical description!)
Physical decription: (do not confuse with the former! What does your character look like to others?)
Backstory: (here's your time to shine by using everything we established in previous parts by explaining the reason behind each (but not necessarily every single one) part. For example: where did your character's fears come from? Their desire? Their misbeliefs? The ugly scar they're so uneasy about? Why do they smoke or need fidget toys? Why are they more friendly to strangers than their own family? Etc.)
Here's the blank version to copy and paste into your projects. Feel free to use, change, ignore some parts, or add your own: