Wordsmith By Night

Late as always but at least I finished. 😉 Days 6 & 7 of the #findingthegray2019 — Gilbert sees eye-to-eye with Fergal (the main character) in the urgency of their line of work and in protecting people. Though Fergal’s main motivation is a mix of revenge and atonement, they both also understand that they are the protectors of humankind against a dark and mostly unknown enemy. Their strategies differ quite a bit, however, and they don’t agree on what exactly a vampire is. Gilbert has mostly settled on a traditional hunting style while Fergal thinks they need more sophistication and strategy. - Thank you for being patient with me on these @authorerynblaire and @hmwilsonauthor 😁 - #writingchallenge #characterdevelopment #writing #amwritingvampires #vampirehunters #indieauthor #aspiringauthor #gothicwritingstyle https://www.instagram.com/p/B15T6kxgULp/?igshid=jk1tcq13bxxb

Day 5 of the #findingthegray2019 challenge — Gilbert’s shadow side is INTP. This side comes through when he’s stressed or pressed for answers. According to my story’s timeline, organized vampire hunting is a new concept and they still know very little about the vampires during Gilbert’s time period. When new things come up or they find themselves the prey rather than the predators, Gilbert’s shadow side shows up. He becomes heavily focused on more research to get answers. He draws upon what he has and what he is learning to figure things out more. During this time, he tends to be less concerned about his group or the people he cares about even though his end goal is still to protect them. - Challenge by: @hmwilsonauthor and @authorerynblaire - #writingcommunity #writing #writingchallenge #indieauthor #aspiringauthor #amwritingvampires #vampirehunters #gothicwritingstyle https://www.instagram.com/p/B1yy9PpgA4e/?igshid=1a2cw6dzmgj4n

Day 4 of #findingthegray2019 challenge — the ENTJ stereotypes I found online were bossy, mean/blunt/rude, power hungry, unable to follow, are workaholics, always want to be right, and don’t value relationships. Gilbert can be a but blunt and gruff but he truly cares about those close to him. He trusts his knowledge and ability to plan and so often thinks he’s right but will concede if proven wrong. This also makes him unable to be a follower but he is also the leader of the vampire hunters. However, a good night to him is a night where he doesn’t have to think about vampires or anything related. When Fergal and Elinor come to him, he is reluctant to help because the plague was supposed to mean no vampiric activity, which meant he would get a vacation. - Challenge by: @hmwilsonauthor and @authorerynblaire - #storyaesthetic #amwriting #writer #amwritingvampires #vampirehunters #indieauthor #aspiringauthor #writingcommunity #writingchallenge https://www.instagram.com/p/B1yxWZiggX_/?igshid=gliwlpgmu33w

Belated day 3 of #findingthegray2019 — Gilbert is an ENTJ so his inner functions are Ni and Se. As such, he has a while web of information that has been gathered, which he can draw upon to help come up with a long term goal. With Se helps him update that information in the moment. In all, he takes in previous experience to formulate plans but also takes in current happenings to help act in the moment or update any information he needs. - Challenge by: @hmwilsonauthor and @authorerynblaire - #writingcommunity #writingchallenge #amwritingvampires #amwriting #indieauthor #aspiringauthor #vampirehunters https://www.instagram.com/p/B1xhJOsA-gf/?igshid=1od20aui0roc3

My late day 2 of the #findingthegray2019 challenge. Gilbert’s first function is Extroverted Thinking (Te) and fourth is Introverted Feeling (Fi). - Gilbert is very much a do now, think later type. He takes in what is happening around him, decides the best action, and asks questions after the fact. Because his Fi is weakest, he often finds inner conflict when he realizes something he did may have clashed with his personal values. It can also hurt others around him before he realizes it and has to make amends later. - @authorerynblaire and @hmwilsonauthor are the amazing creators of this challenge!! - #indieauthors #writingcommunity #writingchallenges #writing #amwriting #characteraesthetic #characterdevelopment #vampires #vampirehunters https://www.instagram.com/p/B1r3wuRAFTl/?igshid=9l48kjj446k3

My late day 1 entry for the #findingthegray2019 challenge. My side character is for my current wip (so different from the zombie characters). The character I chose for this one is Gilbert. - Gilbert is the head vampire hunter for his part of London in 1665. He works closely with the main character, Fergal, but they often don’t see eye-to-eye. When Fergal saved Elinor and brought her to learn, Gilbert argued against a woman being a vampire hunter at first but eventually gave in. He suffered a tragedy earlier in life where a vampire tried to kill him and he survived, which led him on the path he is now on. - Thank you again @hmwilsonauthor and @authorerynblaire for letting me partake again! - #amwriting #writer #writingcommunity #vampires #vampirehunters #writingchallenge #characterdevelopment #characteraesthetic https://www.instagram.com/p/B1r0Q53gTl3/?igshid=143xa6iuf79xd

Catch up on Day 24 of #findingthegray2019 — Another side character I want to develop is Malena. In the first draft, I really struggled with her. She’s one of Shae’s closest friends but is troubled with depression from abuse she suffered as a child. Her mother worked in a school as a librarian and when the plague first hit the area, her mother was locked in a school for quarantine when one of the children was found to have the plague. Malena waited at home as long as she could when Shae called her to join them outside of town but after days of no contact with her mother, she finally went to Shae’s parents’ house. However, after watching the news and finding out that her mother was most likely dead, her depression spiraled out of control. Shae and Veda are always trying to find ways to keep her busy and help her through the depression, but even they often struggle to stay upbeat and optimistic as the world crumbles around them. - Day 25 — Malena’s main cognitive function is Introverted Feeling (Fi). She is very in tune with who she is and what she stands for. She would like to make an impact in the world around her but tends to be too keenly aware of her weaknesses. It’s also hard for her to try a lot of new things; she knows what she likes and what she doesn’t like and so sometimes she can come off as picky. She also knows what she stands for and what she doesn’t, which often isolates her because she won’t be around people with severely differing views. However, she can also be an inspiration to those around her because she is so strong in following her beliefs. @authorerynblaire and @hmwilsonauthor (pictures from unsplash). #writersofinsta #writersofinstagram #writingchallenge #characterdevelopment #postapocalyptic #amwriting #amwritingzombies #indieauthor #aspiringauthor https://www.instagram.com/p/BzKUlbslEEz/?igshid=s5n9wrjarcf1

I feel so bad getting constantly behind on these. 😕 This month has just been one wild ride. I do enjoy doing them though, thank you @authorerynblaire and @hmwilsonauthor 😊 - Catch up on Day 23 of #findingthegray2019 — Veda always has hope and believes in humanity while Shae is more focused on survival. Veda is an optimist who thinks things will always find a way to work out; she knows this doesn’t always come cheap or without work, but one way or another, things will be alright. Even in the darkest of times, this gives her hope that they’ll find a way to survive this plague and only be stronger on the other end. Shae, on the other hand, believes that things are how they are and this is just life now. She believes they have to do everything they can to survive and adapt or else everything will be lost. If they do end up making it through things alive, it will be due to their hard work and perseverance, not because things “just work out”. - (Pictures from unsplash and google images). #writersofinsta #writersofinstagram #writingchallenge #characterdevelopment #postapocalyptic #amwriting #amwritingzombies #indieauthor #aspiringauthor https://www.instagram.com/p/BzKQgFYleaj/?igshid=jvt44y1a29vr

Where did she go, The girl with wonder in her eyes? I never thought, She’d leave me here alone. I am rotting away, From the inside out, With thoughts of darkness, And visions of evil in my head. No one told me, That young innocence, Was the price to pay, For growing up. (Picture by Alexander Lam on Unsplash) #poem #poemsofinstagram #poetry #writersofinstagram #writersofinsta #writer #depression #overwhelmed #growingup #indieauthor #aspiringauthor https://www.instagram.com/p/BzKOgxml3Gz/?igshid=1pz40byzrgnqh

Catching up on Day 21 and current day 22 of #findingthegray2019 — Day 21 - Veda’s subconscious is INTP. This isn’t a side of her that comes out toward people but rather in her job. When she has to medical decisions, she uses her logic to help her through the situation. It’s also what pushes her to continue to research the medical realm and thrive to become more than a nurse in the long run of things. There are times where this side also comes out when working with Shae, since Shae is very much a problem solver and good thinking about the possibilities and how things tie together. This side of Veda definitely works well when they need to brainstorm, but she often second guesses herself when she’s in this state. - Day 22 - Shae and Veda see eye-to-eye on a lot of things and differ on few things. Though they often have different focuses and ideas on how to get a goal, they don’t often disagree on the goal. Before the apocalypse, they often saw eye-to-eye on politics, the way the world works, and generally lifestyle choices. It’s part of why they connected so strongly and remained together even after the world began to fall apart. @authorerynblaire and @hmwilsonauthor (pictures from unsplash) #writersofinsta #writersofinstagram #writingchallenge #characterdevelopment #postapocalyptic #amwriting #amwritingzombies #indieauthor #aspiringauthor #writer https://www.instagram.com/p/BzCrP9FlDCx/?igshid=15jc2327cwxws

Days 19 and 20 catch up for #findingthegray2019 — Day 19: Veda’s inferior function is her Introverted Thinking (Ti). She hasn’t fully developed this function and so she can sometimes come off critical of others when they don’t match her expectations, but she is learning to be less judgemental and more nurturing and guiding toward people. She often fluctuates between the two; this is seen mainly in the difference of how she acts toward Shae versus another side character, Malena. When she’s around Malena, she tends to be critical and judgemental of the girl, but when she’s around Shae, she’s patient and nurturing, using her observations to guide Shae in the direct path. - Day 20 - Veda’s auxiliary function is Introverted Sensing (Si). She tends to play things safe, using methods that have been verified to work. This is part of why she’s chosen to be a nurse and work in a hospital. It’s a traditional route in life; going to school, getting a job, and the like. It comes across in her relationships as well. She can be fairly conservative in how she interacts, she isn’t one to take risks, and she doesn’t open up too quickly. - Veda’s tertiary function is Extroverted Intuition (Ne). This function helps her in nursing and also with helping take care of people. Though she tends to follow the tried and true method on things, when she needs to figure out what’s wrong, she tends to look at the problem solving aspect in a more creative manner. If she’s pushed out of her comfort zone or into a foreign situation, she ends to apply the creativity of her Ne to help figure things out since she doesn’t know the traditional method. @authorerynblaire and @hmwilsonauthor (pictures from unsplash) #writersofinsta #writersofinstagram #writingchallenge #characterdevelopment #postapocalyptic #amwriting #amwritingzombies #indieauthor #aspiringauthor https://www.instagram.com/p/BzCjDeiF9fm/?igshid=359bm5exbfvl

Day 18 of the #findingthegray2019 — Veda’s dominant function is Extraverted Feeling (Fe). This is demonstrated in almost everything she does; from choosing to be a nurse to how she handles matters with the group to how she aids Shae to take the group into consideration. Veda is good at understanding the group and is a good mediator, especially when there is an argument over something Shae decides. Being so close to Shae and knowing her for so long, ahe is very good at calming people down when they’re upset over a decision. - Veda truly is the “mother” of their group by making sure that everyone is acting according to a larger moral code and working to make sure everyone is taken care of. She is invaluable to the group as she is one of the few (with there actually only being one other) that truly looks out for the group’s well being and she is certainly the most confident in it. Before the group expanded, Shae had actually asked Veda to be the leader since she was so good at taking everyone into consideration and looking out for everyone but Veda declined, knowing that she wouldn’t be able to make the hard decisions like Shae could. @authorerynblaire and @hmwilsonauthor (pictures from unsplash). #writersofinsta #writersofinstagram #writingchallenge #characterdevelopment #postapocalyptic #amwriting #amwritingzombies #aspiringauthor #indieauthor #writingcommunity https://www.instagram.com/p/By4aETVFzxB/?igshid=g6udg24hllg6

What is it to be human? To be human is to love, To the point if pain. To cry no matter, How you feel, Because emotions can’t always, Be contained. To be so happy, You almost feel numb. - To be human is, To make mistakes, That stop you in your tracks. To have so much hope, Even when all seems lost. To know that life doesn’t end, Because you’re wide awake. - It is human when, There is violence, That’s too cruel to speak. There is discrimination, That will break hearts. There is death, So unjust. - To be human, Is everything right, And everything wrong. It is destruction, Anger and pain. But it is also beauty, Humble and ecstatic. (Picture from chuttersnap on unsplash) #writersofinsta #writersofinstagram #poetry #poemofinstagram #tobehuman #poetryofinstragram #writer #indieauthor #aspiringauthor #writing #amwriting #amwritingpoetry https://www.instagram.com/p/By3Pc75lffV/?igshid=viu5sqy2wplx

Day 17 of #findingthegray2019 — Veda Faust is one of Shae’s closest friends, possibly even best friend. The two met in high school and have been friends ever since. They both went to different colleges, with Shae going to a trade school and Veda going to medical school. Veda has always been the “mother” of the group; she looks after everyone and makes sure they’re well, so it came as no surprise to Shae or the others that Veda would go to school to become a nurse. When she was close to graduating, she married her college sweetheart, Beau, who was a member of the National Guard. - When the plague broke out, Beau and Veda were originally going to try and tough things out in the city. With their expertise, they were figuring they could ride it out and that it wouldn’t become as severe as it did. Being a member of the National Guard, Beau was called to help keep order, in part by enforcing curfews and sectioning off infected parts of the city. As the situation grew worse, Beau ended up killed in action. This pushed Veda to finally join Shae and the others, which was no easy feat. Once she joins the group outside if the city, she’s the one that helps Shae in her leadership, ensuring that the needs of everyone are met as well as whatever plans Shae has. @authorerynblaire and @hmwilsonauthor (all pictures from unsplash). #writersofinsta #writersofinstagram #writingchallenge #characterdevelopment #postapocalyptic #amwriting #amwritingzombies #indieauthor #aspiringauthor #aspiringauthorsofig #writingcommunity https://www.instagram.com/p/By19kGslf0v/?igshid=1p9ma21q6wv36

Day 16 of #findingthegray2019 — Jared’s weakness is his ability to maintain the relationships he has and be able to have a true connection with people due to his weak Fi function. With Shae’s ability to see different outcomes and process data, while comparing everything to previous happenings, she can take advantage of how Jared works in general. He has clearly expressed his selfishness in his striving to survive. Shae recognizes that to overcome him as an obstacle, she has to work slowly and carefully. This has it’s downfall—the longer it takes, the deeper entrenched he is in things. She also has to deal with the isolation he has caused and convince those that have swayed to his side that he is their biggest threat. - Being able to see the different outcomes and make changes as something comes up to alter the information is key to being able to beat Jared. She can find the little weaknesses he exposes that he tries to cover up and exploit them, until he’s at his weakness and she can strike. @authorerynblaire and @hmwilsonauthor (pictures from unsplash and google images). #writersofinsta #writersofinstagram #writingchallenge #characterdevelopment #postapocalyptic #amwriting #amwritingzombies #indieauthor #aspiringauthorsofig #aspiringauthor #writingcommunity https://www.instagram.com/p/ByzKPyQFwjU/?igshid=1ukq4csb2pvey

Catch up on day 15 of #findingthegray2019 — Jared’s upper hand over Shae is that he’s a natural leader due to his Te function. Where Shae struggles to take her teammates into consideration, whether it be their feelings or their needs, he can see and use this. Shae is good at having a plan and keeping everyone alive, but Jared has what the group needs; a skillset that keeps them alive, good plans, and the ability to know and lead people. It’s easy for Jared to get people on his side, even if he can be just as cold on the exterior as Shae at times. - He uses this to his advantage by trying to cut Shae off from her closest friends. He sees how they aid her in being a leader, practically coaching her on what everyone needs and how to address it. When she is cut off from that support, her leadership can fall to pieces because she’s unable to take the human factor into consideration. @authorerynblaire and @hmwilsonauthor (pictures from Unsplash and Google images). #writersofinsta #writersofinstagram #writingchallenge #characterdevelopment #postapocalyptic #amwritingzombies #amwriting #indieauthor #aspiringauthor #aspiringauthorsofig #writingcommunity https://www.instagram.com/p/ByzJamWl-97/?igshid=1q9j39j04ul4x