Happy Sts!! What Are Your Favorite/least Favorite Parts Of Plot Structure? Like What's Your Favorite

happy sts!! what are your favorite/least favorite parts of plot structure? like what's your favorite part of a wip (the beginning, rising action, climax, etc.)? & are you a fan of the 3 act structure or similar plot organizing devices or do you just wing it

Happy Storyteller Saturday! Thank you for the ask @cabbojage!

What are your favorite/least favorite parts of the plot structure?

Oh, this is a good one! And a complicated one at that lol. I really do love many parts of the writing process as long as I am having fun writing it, but, if I had to choose which ones are my favorites and which ones are my least favorites then:

Favorites: The Inciting Incident (I guess I just love seeing the protagonists' life turning into chaos and then writing their following decisions/reactions. Plus, it is literally the event that really gets the story going, and the one event that creates a "point of no return" for the MC) and the Rising Action (especially around the middle! I just love seeing the plot come together, the character's plans start to fall into place, new friendships being formed, enemies being made, etc lol). The Climax/Final Battle is always incredibly compelling to write, especially if it includes some form of a face-off against the villains or an unexpected turn of events/reveal of some sort! It is always great.

Least Favorites: I don't actually hate these but, um, the Beginning, Falling Action, and the little bits and moments between plot points that exist to connect them but when not much happens (not the Build Up or Set up, which I adore, but those oddly calm moments where usually things have already fallen into place and things are going slow). While those moments are necessary, and I do like writing them, I feel that this is the point where the plot meanders and where it feels like it takes forever to get to the "good stuff", you know? Especially if those slow scenes are needed in full and I can't just skip them or shorten them.

Are you a fan of the 3 act structure or similar plot organizing devices or do you just wing it?

I am a fan of the 3 act structure, as well as a few other ones, such as the 7-act structure, but I only use it as a guideline to help me establish the "Core Scenes", which are the bones on which the plot will then be built upon. Then, once it is done, it is a matter of populating that fictional world with additional cast members, minor plot points, and subplots until the plot is all done! There is always a lot of brainstorming (more of just picking a document and braindumping the ideas and stringing them together like a crochet piece), daydreaming (with music to set the vibe and inspire me, I always make character or WIP playlists for this reason, and pretty much every character of mine has a "signature song", which helped me figure out who they are), and creation of character profiles/moodboards, as the plot slowly thickens into one cohesive thing in the end.

Happy WBW! 💜💌 What does the ideal (or stereotypical, or both if they're different) marriage/partnership look like in any of the cultures present in the world of your WIP? Is it about a powerful union of equals? Is it about chemistry and happiness? Is the end goal to produce kids? How does gender impact this, if at all? etc.! :) - @liv-is

Happy WBW Wednesday! Thank you for the Ask, @girlfriend-champion!

What does the ideal (or stereotypical, or both if they're different) marriage/partnership look like in any of the cultures present in the world of your WIP?

Well, this varies, a lot. So I'll try to explain this in a summarized way to the best of my abilities. Since it depends on the region - and varies according to the kingdoms within the region, let's start there:

In the Free Realms:

The marriage of a commoner (that is, anyone outside of a noble House or royal family), would typically be about finding the one you love and spending the rest of your life together. However, there are still exceptions, and even commoner families may marry off one of their kids when they come of age to a more powerful/richer/secure family if they are in an unstable situation. The ability to have kids may be expected (of both people involved) - especially in more strict kingdoms such as Kestrall or Ergyre - but it is not an obligation (when it comes to commoner marriages) nor the reason people marry.

When it comes to noble (or even more strict, royal) marriages:

Some nobles can marry for love - be it another noble of equal rank or even someone from a lower-ranking house (marriage between nobles and commoners is uncommon but not impossible) - there is usually the pressure of upkeeping the status and strength of the House, so they may either be forced into an arranged marriage or choose to marry someone for political reasons. The reputation of the person a noble can choose to marry is also of high importance and must be unblemished. Having healthy children is encouraged, and oftentimes a marriage can be broken off by the nobles' parents if the marriage fails to result in a healthy heir.

For an example of arranged noble marriages in The Last Wrath: young Lord Maeryn Renfelli - Innara's father - was pushed from loveless marriage to loveless marriage (by orders of the other members of his House) so that he could have "a worthy heir". (Secretly, the "failure" of his marriages was a scheme of his uncle - who wanted to prove the young prince as "incapable of holding on to a marriage and having an heir", so that he could be king instead). His first marriage that worked out was to a lower-ranking noblewoman named Evalinne, which was the one he really loved and married in secret (without waiting for the approval of the Council of Houses because he was tired of being controlled). They had their first child, Innara, which was his pride and joy - and whom he considered the heir to his throne, but the council still saw her as a bastard (even though, according to the Old Laws, the marriage was properly officiated). Evalline died tragically later on (evil uncle once again in action), and Maeryn - now broken-hearted and enraged - refused to ever be wed to someone else again.

The "Stereotypical/Ideal Marriage in The Free Realms" (the marriage people dream of having in Agrannor, even if they can't): A happy, flourishing marriage between two equals who love each other deeply, with healthy children, but not too many.

As for gender: it doesn't have much of an effect - unless it is one with the intent of having biological children (usually those are arranged). Same-Sex/Same-Gender marriages are common and openly accepted in the Free Realms (even between nobles).

Marriages between humans and non-human people (elves, fae, merfolk, etc) are legal - in most kingdoms with some exceptions - and usually accepted, though there is still some degree of societal prejudice around couples like this.

Children born out of wedlock are accepted in some kingdoms, but others still see them as only bastards. (There rarely are social consequences for mothering/fathering a child out of wedlock unless the individual is a noble in an arranged marriage for political alliance.)

In the Morosyn Empire:

The politics of marriage in the Morosyn Empire are similar to that of the Free Realms, and at the same time, not. While, when it comes to commoner and free citizen marriages in general, it is still about love and happiness, there are some core cultural differences.

They are far more strict about the expected behavior of those involved in the relationship, and there is far less social mobility when compared to the Free Realms. Marriage rites and ceremonies are also of high importance and must be followed through.

Marriages between nobles and commoners are heavily frowned upon, and marriage between humans and non-human people is illegal and will be treated as such (execution is the most common end for these couples if they are caught in the Morosyn Empire). Another marriage that is illegal only in the Morosyn Empire is the marriage between a free citizen of the empire (someone who was born and raised in the empire and has all the rights a citizen should have) and a courtesan (who usually is a prisoner of war and has no civil rights in the Imperial lands).

Arranged marriages are very common in the Morosyn Empire, and are an openly used tool between noble houses and royal families to gain political advantage, be it by annexing a conquered kingdom or brokering an alliance with a powerful one. The Emperor has the power to arrange marriages between the nobles under his rule, to create a political scenario that best suits him.

Gender does not impact marriage in the Morosyn Empire, as long as they're both non-magically talented humans. Same-sex marriages (even between nobles in an arranged marriage) is completely legal and allowed.

Having healthy children is also important to the Morosyn Empire, very important, as much as it is in some arranged marriages in the Free Realms. But what is even more important to the Morosyn Empire is the policy towards children born out of wedlock. In the Morosyn Empire, children born out of wedlock (be it on an affair or between two unmarried people) are heavily frowned upon and can have some consequences (such as the lost of political status or even the loss of money, belongings, etc), even if they are commoner. And the child will forever be considered a bastard and outcast.

The "Stereotypical/Ideal Marriage in the Morosyn Empire: (the marriage people dream of having in Agrannor, even if they can't): A powerful union of equals, with respect and happiness that will lead to the thriving future of the family while respecting the orders of the Empire.

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Eve's weird question time: I wanna fight people. I am bringing Lila the op sorceress and Beatrix, who will probably bite. Which two ocs are you bringing to the fight?

Thank you for the Ask, Eve! (@your-absent-father)

If our OCs were to have a fight, I would absolutely bring Julyan Ashiren and Vallerius Zyndrosar.

Because here's the thing:

Julyan is not only a fire mage, no, he is a literal sun mage (a Sunscryer, in technical Agrannorian terms) - he carries the full power of the sun in his blood at all times, and not in the stereotypical sense of "Oh pretty boy with delicate light powers, how cool is that he controls the light" no no no (though he is very pretty, his powers aren't) - I mean it in the most dangerous, uncontrollable and unpredictable way possible, capable of great destruction if he decides to use his power's full potential. An ancient might older than the lands, coursing through every fiber of his very being, the power of the most vital and ruthless celestial body held at his fingertips. That is dangerous. Incredibly so. He can burn someone to a crisp with a flick of his pinky finger - (he chooses not to, because he is good and kind, and does not want to cause harm to anyone. But still, he has the ability to do so, at any given moment by the end of the books, after he learns to master and control his powers - because in the beginning, it was a very unstable and rocky road to learn.)

NOT ONLY THIS BUT... Julyan's parents were war heroes, which means this boy knows sword fighting and the general use of weaponry like a pro. Also, after his family died, he had to defend himself and his siblings alone, which means he knows some very dangerous street fighting and will beat someone up if they try anything threatening - even without his powers.

As for Vallerius, though he hates his magical affinity and rarely uses it, trying to keep it contained at all times, he is a Nightshaper Mage - which literally means, he holds the power of the night (the moon, the darkness, the stars, the cold, everything) in every way possible. Not only that, but this boy is the son of a Fallen One (for context, Fallen Ones are mages who are already born with dark magic, powers twisted by the corruption of the magic sources their blood is connected to. Literal dark mages by nature, though many are actually good people who choose to try and use their powers for good). This means he is unaffected - to some limited extent - by dark magic and most importantly, though at a great physical cost, he can and will use dark magic for combat purposes should he ever need to (though it does make him hate himself even more than he already does, but that is a whole different issue).

All I can say is, good luck to anyone that tries to threaten or challenge these two!

Happy STS!

Has a piece of your own writing ever scared or unsettled you? If so, how?

~ @tabswrites

Happy Storyteller Saturday! Thanks for the Ask, @tabswrites!

Has a piece of your own writing ever scared or unsettled you? If so, how?

The answer to this is: Yes, there is a piece of my writing that scares/unsettles me. The new, updated version of Bryn's backstory to be exact. (I changed my mind when it comes to what exactly happened in his past, and so I updated his backstory to this new version).

As for how it disturbs me, it's because of the villain's cruelty on this scene, and the repercussions it had for the characters involved. It's just, I don't know, incredibly evil of the villain? Though it was necessary for the story (basically the whole reason for Bryn's revenge arc on the actual plot of The Last Wrath), it was one of the few scenes that truly impacted me, from my own writing.

SPOILER WARNING: (Because this bit has yet to be fully revealed in The Last Wrath, and general warning for douchebag villains)

When Bryn was young (around 10 years old), he was the son of a powerful general who led their realm's forces against the Imperial Kingdom of Davvenhelm... and lost. His father was executed. But that's not the part that is terrifying. Bryn and his older brother, Cirien (around 18- 19 years old), were captured by the army of High Lady Avaline, the ruler of Davvenhelm, and their kingdom refused to pay the ransom, abandoning them at the hands of their enemy. Avaline wanted to know a secret, about a hidden ritual that could give her the power she needed to achieve her goals, and that secret had been sealed away by the boys' mother, years ago, and only their House knew about it. When Cirien refuses to give in and tell her what she needs to know (I mean, who in their right mind would give a tyrant the key to have even more power? He was right not to tell her anything), she decides to try a different approach.

And this is where the backstory becomes terrifying.

In the continent of Agrannor, there is a magical/cursed flame known as the Dreadfire - in the times of the Ancient Wars, the Dreadfire was used to annihilate entire armies. It is said that it is a flame that causes unspeakable, excruciating pain, but does not leave one single mark/scar, nor physically wound the person (it just causes pain)... other than destroying the mind of those who touch it (basically, anyone who comes into contact with it for too long experiences such pain that their minds get trapped in an eternal magical trance, as their bodies can't handle the suffering caused by the Dreadfire). It was sealed away into a cursed chest, though it can be controlled by anyone who holds its key, and hidden from the world. Well, High Lady Avaline found it.

Basically, to get the information she needed, Avaline had Cirien burned by Dreadfire (this scene is not shown, only implied), and Bryn witnessed it. By the time the young man told her what she needed to know, it was too late. Cirien survived, and though without a single wound/scar, (as the Dreadfire doesn't leave a mark), his mind never recovered.

The boys were rescued by an Imperial soldier two days later, who was repulsed by the cruelty of her queen, and so they managed to escape to freedom, but Cirien was no longer himself. Bryn's motivation, at the start of his character arc, is to kill/get revenge on High Lady Avaline for what she did to his brother.

Bryn also developed an aversion/fear of any kind of fire from that day onwards, be it a candle or a fireplace.

So yeah, it was deeply scary to write about, but necessary to the development of the story and the characters involved.

Its Blursday! You hand the OC of your choice $1 million dollars (or the equivalent in your/their world!), what do they spend it on?

Happy Blorbo Blursday! Thank you for the Ask @writernopal!

You hand the OC of your choice $1 million dollars (or the equivalent in your/their world!), what do they spend it on?

Raelen - She'd likely spend at least some of her newfound money on chocolate snacks, but only some of it. Afterward, she'd probably save most of it, and use her money to fund the reconstruction of the Ancient Archives for the Mageborn scrolls.

Azra - He'd pamper his dragon with a saddle made of diamonds and pearls because Mystral (his dragon) likes to look majestic. Then, Azra would probably use the rest of the money to help Kestrall rebuild in the aftermath of the Siege and the wars.

Julyan - That boy would hoard that money with his life, "my precious" (from LOTR) style. Not because he is selfish, but because he is very self-conscious and anxious about money, and probably hasn't seen that amount of money in his wildest dreams. He'd continue living his life as he always had because he'd be scared to spend the money.

Vallerius - Continent-wide trip across Agrannor, here he comes, baby! He'd spend a year traveling across the continent in the finest places it could offer. He'd end up penniless shortly after his trip is done - that boy was born noble and never really learned how to handle money (much less the concept of savings) - but he'd say it was worth it.

Luciya - The most chaotic shopping spree in the world. I'm talking full-on deranged impulse buying. She'd come home with a cart of the weirdest candy known to man, the tackiest clothes in existence, and the most useless dagger set ever - no money, no purse, and no sanity in sight. Of course, she'd also rescue some animals from crooked merchants, but not normal ones, I'm talking about a giant winged serpent from the Scarp and a suspiciously looking Hook-Eye mountain cat from Ergyre, and be like "Hey, Fabian! Meet our new pets! Aren't they the cutest? They bite". Fabian promptly transcends onto the great beyond once he realizes how she spent their money so quickly.

Innara - Buys some of the most dangerous alchemical elixirs and potions in the world, chooses the sharpest gold-plated dagger (just out of spite), and beelines it back to her home kingdom. Once she is there, she bribes the nobility who betrayed her to be by her side, like "Hey, Great-Uncle! I'm back, thought I was dead huh? Maybe stop poisoning my dad by any chance? No? Okay then", and kills the bastard (her corrupt Great Uncle) by blowing him up to smithereens with the potions she brought. Then she gives the rest of the money to the kingdom and enjoys the chance of spending a month as a pampered princess in her own court before she gets bored and goes to find some adventure.

Lukan - Promptly loses it all on a betting game at a shady tavern, gets blackout drunk, passes out, and wakes up at home with zero recollection of how he got there or how he lost the money in the first place. Mourns the loss of his 1M bounty for two seconds before moving on with his life like its just another Tuesday.

Tanwin - Buys books, lots of books, endless books, and locks himself up in his room for a month to read them all, then emerges from the experience with still almost 500.000 gold to spare.

How Tanwin's interaction at the library would likely go: Book Store Clerk: Okay, how many books do you want? Tanwin (dead serious): Yes. Book Store Clerk: But how many? Tanwin (pulls a dagger): Just Yes. Book Store Clerk (filling up boxes and boxes of books immediately): Okay then! (Silently to themselves:) Why did I get this job, should've stayed on the farm, but nooo... Now I got to deal with this fucking guy.

Bryn: STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIES. Strawberry cupcakes, strawberry pies, everything strawberry that 1M can buy. Also, he'd take Cirien on a tour of a florist shop because Cirien likes to see the exotic flowers and carnivorous plants.

Sybil: Would get Morwan to join her in the most unhinged drinking game and tavern crawl in history. Two hours in, they'd be at least halfway through 1M, without even realizing it, because Sybil likes gambling and so does Morwan.

Emryc: Would get a puppy. He wouldn't even buy the puppy, he'd just pick up a random stray dog from the street and use the fact that he is now a millionaire as a bargaining chip to get his friends to let him keep a random - likely magical or cursed - dog in the fortress. And it's not even a cute regular dog either, it's the most mutated, weird, cursed dog-like thing ever. No one is sure it's even really a dog, or a cat, or anything for that matter. Lilo & Stitch style.

(Emryc) "I have 1M gold, I can do whatever I want." (Ansell) "That... dog, has three heads. And I think another head is spawning, oh my gods -" (Emryc) "I know! Isn't he the goodest boy?" (Ansell) "He bit me!" (Emryc) "As he should." (Ansell, walking away) "That's it. Hey, Ellinor, get Yuna, we're moving back to your Dad's place, come on."

Nethen: Would be the most obnoxiously meticulous person ever. He'd awaken his inner accountant, and be proud of it. He'd know exactly how much each coin weighs and costs and how much it is worth in each province of the kingdom. And end up not spending a dime.

Nadinne: Would spend her 1M creating an exact, working replica ship of The Fearless (her aunt's ship which was sunk by pirate Captain Vulfric when Nadinne was a kid), and get a talented crew, so that she can finally sail the seas on her own terms like she always dreamed of.