Some Famous Authors Describe Their Characters As Smelling Like Wind Or Musk. I Just Described One Of

Some famous authors describe their characters as smelling like wind or musk. I just described one of my characters as smelling like a blown out candle.

I’ve been stuck in the urgent care waiting room for the past hour and I have nothing better to do so here’s a rant about how my most pathetic character became my most badass character for what is quite possibly the stupidest reason.

So I created this character named Cassidy and her deal is she has a power that is useless. She can reverse time, but that amount of time is taken off her life. I did this so she wouldn’t be too powerful and it became a huge part of her character because she hated her power and worked hard at everything else to make up for it. Still, she never used it.

I always planned to kill off a main character and I chose Cassidy because I thought she was the most deposable. I told myself years ago that I would never change my mind and had to go through with this.

So anyway I changed my mind. Why? Because I realized she had a lot of chemistry with another main character. It wasn’t even intentional—it just happened. The one thing in this world that kept Cassidy from dying was a ship.

Then I thought “if she doesn’t die then what do I do with her?” The answer was still let the antagonist nearly kill her, but out of revenge she finally accepts her power and uses it to sabotage her. She’s willing to shorten her own lifespan to get back at the antagonist and protect her friends.

This is so much more interesting right? I’m glad I realize the shipping potential because that tiny change improved this character so much.

My best rec is Forest of a Thousand Lanterns. The main character embroiders and she uses her beauty as a weapon instead of physical strength. There’s also an empress who wants to be a mother more than anything.

I’m becoming bored with the anti-feminization of fantasy novels. I’m all for heroines who take up a sword, or who chafe against the expectations of their society. But can’t we have more heroines who like dresses and housework and embroidery and family life? We don’t just need heroines who do stereotypically masculine things. Because that perpetuates the sexism–women are only welcome if they’re just like the boys. We also need to show that stereotypically feminine tasks and roles can be heroic.

To that end, here are some suggestions:

The princess who arranges her own marriage, because someone’s got to make the alliance to save this kingdom and it may as well be her. (Extra points: her parents want her to be a knight, but she runs away from home because she would rather get married).

A heroine who really, really loves babies and want to get married and start a family.

Women who love doing embroidery,and comparing patterns and making up new designs. And maybe they embroider a map or two for the adventure, because paper can tear and get wet, and that’s not a problem for fabric.

A woman who has to wear trousers for a portion of the adventure–and hates them. They might be slightly more convenient for running, but they’re uncomfortable, and her legs are too warm, and can’t she please get into skirts again?

Mothers as fantasy protagonists. Caring for their children while also dealing with the demands of the fantasy plot. Queens who negotiate treaties and care for the demands of the castle and then go back to spend time with their children. 

Women who don’t get married and aren’t pressured to get married, but have a happy, successful single life–working as a spinster or running a farm or having any other sort of successful business.

Fantasy societies that are built around the fact that women get pregnant and have children. Bringing your children to the meeting of the fellowship is totally okay! You can run the castle while your children play at your feet! Women aren’t trapped in the house caring for the babies because babies are welcome!

There are loads of interesting things that can happen if stories go beyond the tropes and include the reality of female life. (And if anyone knows of fantasy novels that include some of these things, please point me toward them).

OC in 3

Thanks for tagging me @poethill!

I’ll leave an open tag since I can’t remember who I tagged the last time I did this one.

Iris Arsonite

Just realized two of my characters have very strong Snow White/Rose Red immagery COMPLETELY ON ACCIDENT????

Some of the plot beats are so similar I'm genuinely shocked it took a YEAR to figure it out???????

can we just talk for a minute about how fucking INSANE those obscure middle grade books are with intricate plot lines and higher vocals then both children’s, YA, and adult lit; eccentric characters, random magic, and truly horrifying random imagery. they rllly are like when ur 13 you feel like ur eating urself alive and also u want to run the world. cereal doesn’t taste the same as when you were seven and ur secretly convinced u might be going insane. also there’s a magic portal but all of ur childhood dreams are shattered and everyone is ignoring it bc ur just a teenage girl.