Writing Is So Weird

writing is so weird

i have this project called wanderlust that's been going on for the last four years. what i find weird is that if asked, i wouldn't be able to describe government systems or different cultures or how magic influenced the technological advancements in the world. what can i describe? the smell of the wildgrass outside of one of the country's borders. the mood of the seas a few of my characters sail. the laughter of children as they're taught how to wield clunky wooden sticks like swords. i can hear the different accents of the characters, can visualize their faces at each moment in their lives, and i know exactly how they feel as their stories progress. it makes me a little sad sometimes, because i can't guarantee anyone will ever know this project like i do, and its so wonderful; i just want to share it with everyone. i didn't have a point to this post, i just wish i could flesh this project out enough to write it down, put it into words i can share. it means so much to me and i think i would die happy if even one person loved it half as much as i do.

I got my magnus archives dice set a few weeks ago and have been endlessly pondering some of the symbols on the big fears die. I heard that you were the one who designed the symbols, could we perhaps get a walkthrough of which symbols represent which fears? Just for some clarification :D

Oh fun! Happy to share.

So, I had to do these symbols in a way that was large and bold enough to be on a die, but distinct enough to identify. This sheet shows what’s what:

The above image has 3 columns and 5 rows with icons for the 15 fears. (Some are more thoughtful than others)

Row 1 - in the upper left is Extinction, shown as a robotic hand with a radioactive symbol on the palm. This is inspired by a combination of human and technology creating toxicity around them. To the right of Extinction is Stranger, shown as offset theater masks for the duplicity and carnival-vibe. In the upper right is the Web shown as a cobweb.

Row 2 - left is the End, shown a la a skull with a triangle cleaved in the center. I originally wanted to do something with tendrils out of it but it wasn’t clear enough to render right. The triangle is an artistic render of the death hazard. To the right of the End is the Vast shown as a triangle with a lighting bolt. This one was a little difficult as I wasn’t sure how to express Vast in a small space. So the lighting is supposed to evoke a dangerous sky, in a V made to form a triangle. Right on row 2 is the Spiral, shown as.. well, a spiral.

Row 3 - left is Desolation, a small flame engulfed in a larger flame, spreading. To its right is the Hunt which I originally had as a crosshairs target but Alex suggested going more primal, so we settled on teeth (I’m pretty happy with them) right on row 3 is the lonely, shown as a lighthouse.

Row 4 - left is the Dark with the classic closed eye in a filled circle. To the right of the Dark is the Corruption which is weirdly my favorite. It’s a bee but with a head with several growths. It’s a bit more abstract I guess but I was thinking of The Last of Us and the fungal zombification . The growths on the head are meant to be reaching out continuously in the hive mind. The right on row 4 is the buried, the shape inside is supposed to evoke closing in and down, collapsing

Row 5 - right is the slaughter, with a knife on a drum. I don’t know if I have to explain that. I wanted to do two knife drumsticks but they wouldn’t render on dice well. Center bottom is the Flesh shown as an anatomical heart with veins around it. This was another on I didn’t know what to do with at first and just drew a steak lol then Alex suggested a heart and it just made more sense. I think of it as the duality of Flesh as a visceral fear, but also an emotional one. The bottom right is an eye! Because… eyes.

There is also a rendered version of the web cassette on the set (not pictured)

I hope that helps and is interesting! And if you want a Magnus Dice set with the 15 fears I designed, check it out here: https://thedicedungeon.co.uk/products/themagnusarchives

The Dice Dungeon

The Magnus Archives - The Entities Limited Edition Dice Set

The Magnus Institute, London. An organisation dedicated to studying the esoteric and the weird. The Institute and its employees take care of

screaming shaking crying throwing up i cant do this anymore

I'm gonna haunt you in your head

The things we did, the last words I said

The most frustrating experience as a writer is having a clear vision in your mind of the story you want to tell but being too afraid to put pen to paper for fear of failing to do the story justice. I’m so scared that my actual execution will fail to meet my expectations that I’m paralysed to even start.

silly sona drawing. he's so friend shaped.

✨ love your fandom asks ✨ 

Saw the opposite of this floating around and thought the reverse might be fun.

list 3 positive things about your current fandom(s)

a headcanon you weren't sure about at first but have come to like!

a character that fandom has helped you appreciate

say something nice about a ship you don't ship (it can be another ship in your fandom, a mutual's OTP, etc)

something you see in fics a lot and love

something you see in art a lot and love

your favorite tropes to read/write/draw

you hope more people will come to appreciate ___ (a ship, a trope, an episode, etc)

a ship that isn't your OTP but that you enjoy

a blog (mutual or one you follow) that has made your fandom experience brighter

if you're a writer or artist, what fic or piece of art are you proud of making?

compliment someone else in your fandom

your favorite type of fandom event (gift exchange, ship week, secret santa, prompt meme, etc)

the ship that always makes you smile

the character that always makes you smile

a tiny detail in canon that you want more people to appreciate

the thing in canon that everyone loves and that you also love

a fandom tag that you track

your current fandom(s)

your very first fandom!

a fandom you're not active in anymore but that you still really like

the fandom friend you've known the longest

the fandom you're curious about because of a mutual

how has fandom positively impacted your life?

a piece of advice for taking care of yourself in fandom spaces