Constant Stream of Creativity

THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL

Make a paragraph every time that any of these things change!

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WARNING. HERE THERE BE BLOOD AND MURDER STUFF. DO NOT CONTINUE IF IT WILL TRIGGER ANYTHING/MAKE YOU QUEASY. PLEASE. PLEASE. PLEASE. OK.

Now.

I think here you get into the beautiful realm of what we writers like to call creative license. But let’s start with what you are for sure going to need to know:

Check out this recently reblogged post for all you need to know onBlood.

This is an interesting article on blood splatter (with some pics, so beware), as well as the basics of blood splatter analysis, shapes, etc.

And let’s not forget that you are going to need to know the basics of how your killer’s weapon of choice actually kills. Is it poison? Gun shot?Sword? As the author you have to make sure you research itcompletely. If your killer can kill with a paper napkin, make sure you know what vein he cuts, and how much it bleeds.

How to clean up after the murder is also essential to know. (Like, ok, I’m not going to Google “how to clean up after a murder,” no, go watch CSI.) If your character is competent, he or she is not going to leave behind fingerprints. How do they accomplish this? Gloves? Burning them off? Do they have bleach, to clean up the blood? How do they hide the evidence?

So, yes, there are certain things you need to know inside and out.

Alright, you say, but what about creative license?

You, as the author, are going to need to put yourself in the shoes of killer and victim. How they are feeling, what they are doing, etc. Approach it the same as writing any other scene—a good dose of imagination, a healthy dash of respect, let simmer. For example, I’ve never punched someone before, but I can pretty well imagine it would hurt for both parties involve, and can write it that way. I can picture the wind up, hear the crack of knuckle on bone. I’ve never personally experienced it, but with a little research, I can write it, and write it how I see fit.

I hope you appreciate my internet history, Anon. It’s now full of sketchy articles on blood splatter. But that’s what’s cool about being a writer, isn’t it? One minute it’swhat’s the currency in Croatia, the next it’s how do I break a person’s neck.

But really, someone should save Will Graham.

Presented without comment.

a really cool, private alternative to tumblr rping that isn’t aim or skype is titanpad which enables you to write simultaneously with your partner and save it as a document! it’s a good way to archive your work, sort of like writing an actual book together. here’s an example!

…at least to some of us in the roleplay community it’s not. Some might argue that crack, the genre that can be defined as anything nonsensical, outrageous or just silly, is not worth time or energy, but I would argue otherwise. In fact, here is a whole list of reasons why you should indulge in some absurdity every now and again.

1. Interactions you never thought possible are suddenly a reality. Sure, a cartoon character from 21st Century and a historical figure from the 18th Century probably won’t have a lot in common if you try to devise a legitimate plot that requires a setting and cause for interaction. However, throw them together with ingredients to make a birthday cake for the President of the United States and a deadline, and watch them take off! Sometimes you just have to suspend reality a bit to open up new ideas.

2. Low stress/high productivity makes you feel accomplished. We all have days where our drafts pile up to our throats and we feel like we might cry if we get another multi-para reply to add to the stack. Roleplay can be daunting and sometimes feel like a chore we just do not want to do. It’s okay to take a break and focus on some short, silly replies that are quick to turn around and don’t require a lot of thought. Sometimes it’s refreshing to put the angst aside, give yourself a break, and have a little fun. Your drafts will still be there when you’re done.

3. You will learn things you never imagined about your character. Part of throwing your muse into uncharted territory is the opportunity to find out more about them through situations they would not normally encounter. You are bound to learn different opinions and skills they have when you branch out from recycled plots and tropes.

4. You will end up creating genuine relationships. Crack threads tend to be short and sweet and (for the most part) don’t carry on for hundreds of replies. However, sometimes a spark lights or an idea is formed that leads to a lasting relationship or characterization that your muse will carry on longer than the duration of the thread. While the situations may be contrived and ridiculous in a crack thread, the exchanges will be genuine and those bonds will then be easier to incorporate into reasonable verses.

Songs with lyrics can sometimes be distracting when you’re trying to focus. On the other hand, no sound at all can be worse. Finding a balance that isn’t distracting, but still ‘noisy’ enough to be worthwhile is tricky. Here’s some to get you started. 

Noisli: Can mix and match with lots of options. Also has a soothing color changing background.

August Ambiance: It’s like summer without the bugs and strangling heat.

My Noise: Tons and tons of lists including natural and man made sounds. Has an App option, as well. 

Rainy Cafe: Has options for rainy sounds as well as cafe sounds. Can turn on/off both at leisure, if you just want to listen to one. 

Sound Drown: This one has a bird option, which I thought was neat.

Coffee Shop: 1 hour of coffee shop sounds.

Jazz and Rain: Could there be a better combination? I think this is my favorite.

Coding: I honestly didn’t know this was a thing. But here’s some mouse clicks and typing.

Epic Music: This one is actually an option for Jazz and Rain. It’s just so awesome I thought it deserved it’s own separate mention.

Library Background Noise: Just over an hour of library background noise.

Xoki: This one isn’t audio. Instead it’s a visual, color based website that lets you choose soothing colors to move across your screen.

Virtual Fireplace: A no-frills crackling fire.

Do Nothing For 2 Minutes: Calm yourself before going back to the grind.

Classy Fireplace: More jazz and rain.

Snowy Mood: Pretty winter pictures and the sound of somebody walking through snow.

Forest Mood: The sounds of the forest. 

A Soft Murmur: This one also has an App option, and includes things like wind and waves.

I Serenity: This one has things like purring, typewriters, and clocks. 

Rainy Mood: This one is pretty self explanatory.

1. Take what you need from other writers

I think the writer, as I’ve said before, is completely amoral. He takes whatever he needs, wherever he needs, and he does that openly and honestly because he himself hopes that what he does will be good enough so that after him people will take from him, and they are welcome to take from him, as he feels that he would be welcome by the best of his predecessors to take what they had done.

2. Don’t worry about style

I think the story compels its own style to a great extent, that the writer don’t need to bother too much about style. If he’s bothering about style, then he’s going to write precious emptiness–not necessarily nonsense…it’ll be quite beautiful and quite pleasing to the ear, but there won’t be much content in it.

Improving and lengthening your para replies.

Six steps and one example that will hopefully help you become more confident in your paras. At the end of this guide, I have left an example, using a para that I wrote when I first began to roleplay. Please like this to let me know that I helped!