Definitely not a game dev pretending to be a writer. Aro/Ace
163 posts
Writingalterras - Ace At Writing - Tumblr Blog
When you were just a kid, your father left the house to go get your birthday cake, only to never come back. Ten years later, you leave to go buy yourself a cake, only to see your father, wearing fantasy armor and covered in scars, was about to knock on your door.
Thank you for such kind words. I saw the “ask” you sent me, and that was the highlight of my day. All I want with my stories is to have other people enjoy them as much as I do. I’m glad you’re interested in my world, I hope it lives up to your expectations when I finally finish it.
Follower special! All followers, this is for you!
Wow, I have been here for a month and already 15 followers, you pioneers of kindness. Thank you for reading, and now I have something for each of you. I don't have much, money, technical know how, or talent. But I can write, so here I decided to give each of you a personal prompt based on what I know from your blogs. Here goes nothing!
@cheezbot, "Is...why...how?" (Cheese vending machine) "Welcome to your dreams user...I got munster, Brie, Jack, etc."
@mike-like-t-scream, "Who is that lurking behind you?" "Don't worry about him, he just my pet...who is very protective,"
@snootlestheangel, "Are you from heaven?" "Used to be, got a bit borin' up there," "What happened to your wings then?" "Now that is a bit of a long story,"
@mysticalgalaxysalad, "Because of you the universe is now a salad," "How did I?" "Oh shut up, you know what you did,"
@somnifey, "I put a spell on you?" (Random hot guy looks up) "Yes you!"
@devotedshadowytherapist, "I am completely normal," "Prove it!" "Uhhh, I am a 23 year-old man," "And?"
@queerlilchinchin, "I feel sick!" "You mean anxious?" "Both," "You are a trained warrior chinchilla, you can get through this!,"
@j-1173, "Who are you," "That is a very interesting question, allow me to me answer in very complicated terms,"
@maddielang16, "What are your talents?" "You mean what aren't they," "Uh..." "Here let me show you!"
@motheyesofnight, "What a beautiful sight," "Gives me ideas," "What kinda of idea," "Do you really want to know?"
@Christine24256, "Nothing," "Excuse me?" "I said nothing," "Oh okay,"
@ravenmichaelisstuff, "What did you do this time?!," "It was only a small explosion this time," (Character A sighs,) "(Character B) Hey it saved your life! *Whispers* My your disappointment is hot," "What as that?" "Nothing!"
@cynicamo, "Meow," "Is that all you will say?" "Meow?" "Your a damn human being!"
@writingalterras, "Dang that was some solid advice," "Thanks, I try," "Care to explain that universe of yours again?" "Oh sure! ...*two hours later*...and that is about it!" (Listener with stars in their eyes) "Woah!"
@broitsf-ckingfreezing, "Master," "That's a new one," "I just assumed, since you know...uh," "Since I just sliced that guy in half?"
Author's note. I tried to make it as personal as I could for each, I was offensive in any way, I am sure I meant good will. You are all so special to me, thank you so much for reading my material, it means so much that you follow me...even by accident if you did. THANK YOU...that's all I can say but I say it as heart felt as I can...more coming in the future.
For the random questions ask: What is a weird, hyper-specific detail you know about one of your characters that is completely irrelevant to the story? - (@enchanted-lightning-aes)
OH I am so glad you asked this! I think up so much random bullshit for my characters. I’m going to have to break some of the rules for this game, cause there’s no way I can only say one thing. And I think I know the perfect thing to start out with;
Sir James Honorborn is probably my favorite immortal “side” characters of all time, but he is very much an important character to the story. Valthoraxe meets him for the first time, it’s in James’ bounty hunting tavern called, “Blade & Honor’s: Beer, Bounty, Bravery.” James co-owns the tavern with a man named Franvil Bladeson. While never stated in the book, it’s loosely implied that they are married. James is somewhat of a playboy, having slept with literally tens of thousands of guys over the course of his life, and continues doing so after his husband dies.
Valthoraxe’s species, the Firath, have always had excellent relations with the higher classes of dragons, and Draconic is taught in the Firath’s equivalent of an education system. I have so much lore about the dragons that I will only delve into in the sequel. A part of that lore is how Valthoraxe rules by sending orders and setting laws to every major city on Alterra, including the region of Lizea (the top third of Kio), which is recognized as dragon territory. Dragons are always welcome in The Lord’s Wastelands, which is why they are often seen flying overhead when heroes attempt to confront him. Valthoraxe knows many dragons personally, including Rathnir Cascada, king of the dragons of Kio.
Thank you @enchanted-lightning-aes for this ask, this was very fun!
For the random questions ask: What’s one trope you wouldn’t write, except for money? - 🍀 (@enchanted-lightning-aes)
Easy, Love Triangles.
I’m not a big fan of most romantic tropes, but love triangles make me audibly sigh. I also wouldn’t write anything I don’t want to write, even if I’m being paid. I am very passionate about what I write, because I’d otherwise quickly lose any will to finish writing. My attention span isn’t great, but I try to focus what little attention I have on quality over quantity.
If I were to have to write something I’m against, I’d write a parody of it, and probably somehow include it in the worldbuilding of Alterra. I might have a problem, because every time I try to think of a new story, I accidentally think of a way to have it take place on Alterra. This world I’ve created has taken over my life.
P.S. I need to acknowledge this somewhere, but a random reblog on one of @hayatheauthor ‘s posts (the one about writing injuries) has just exploded in popularity, and I don’t know why. When I woke up yesterday, I was greeted to 142 notifications on that one reblog. The post itself has about 1200 notes, but my reblog specifically has a little over 300 of those. I don’t know what to do, I don’t want to turn off notifications, but at the same time I can’t keep getting 50 random notes daily. Do check out hayatheauthor’s blog, their stuff is great!
Please send me as many asks as you like, I will gladly delve into immense detail about any part of my worldbuilding. 300 words minimum, guaranteed!
for any writeblr: interact with this post, so i can send random asks. it'll take a while but i'll send.^^
also it ain't necessary to follow me, whatsoever.
I very unfortunately forgot who made these beautiful art pieces, but I think they fit this prompt perfectly.
If anyone can post the source, that would be great. I encourage all of you to look for the original artists, and give them the love they deserve!
Edit; art made by Piesarts
Your evil mother was killed by a demonic entity that took her form. It planned to torture you by revealing itself when you grew up, and feast on your terror and fear. When the day came, however, you felt no fear or despair. Instead, you thanked the demon for being the best mother ever.
Absolutely, especially if it’s a name you’re proud of, like Lord Valthoraxe. Have fun! Try to enjoy the things you write!
Don't be afraid to use your character's name!
To avoid repetition, new writers will often resort to descriptions like "the tall woman," or "the dark-haired man", which breaks up narrative flow and reads as unnatural. Don't over-describe, when just a name will do.
Thanks! This is really helpful, I’ve been worrying about what I’m going to do for my cover. Do you have any good suggestions on how to actually get your book printed?
The post is full of great insights, but here are some of the top tips to give you a sneak peek:
Top tips to making sure you’ll get quality book cover design
To give you the best chance of finding quality illustrators and artists for your cover art, these are the top tips from the publishers I spoke with:
Find artists who have worked on commission before. Make sure they show evidence of problem-solving, and that their portfolio gives a clean and clear idea of their style.
When in discussion with an artist or illustrator, make sure you can describe what you’re looking for in 5-10 words. This gives your designer a clear idea of what you want for your book cover design and ensures they’ll be working to a clear brief. If you can describe your work succinctly, then they’ll be able to design a memorable cover that reflects exactly that, and nothing else.
Look for illustrators who suit your themes. You might really love an artist’s work, but if they specialise in subdued, soft lines and specialise in fantasy art, they’re probably not the right designer for your romance or horror cover.
Do not ask for custom samples without being willing to pay a fee. Never ask an artist to work for free. You can get a sense of their style from a portfolio, but if you want to see tailored work samples, you must be willing to pay them – you will attract better-quality designers.
Always work with a contract. This is essential for both parties to ensure you both know what is expected from the other. It alleviates the likelihood any nasty surprises and keeps both parties protected from things like intellectual property theft or copyright infringement. Besides, if an illustrator isn’t willing to work with a contract, that’s usually a red flag that they’re someone you don’t want to work with. It’s worth it for that reason alone.
I’m going to be honest, this is why I haven’t finished draft 1 of my novel yet…
The fuck when you started with a 2,000 word one-shot thrown together and published at 2 am. And now you're staring down the barrel of a 10,000 word chapter of a multi-chapter fic with three spin-off fics, a crossover and a prequel in the works 💀 💀 💀
Some of these are pretty funny
responses to "I'm going to kill you" ?
"I don't believe you."
"If I'm going to die, I intend to deserve it."
"You'd be surprised how often people say that."
"Not if I kill you first."
"Fine, but I'm taking you with me."
"Thank God."
"I'm not afraid to die."
"What did I do this time?"
"You don't have better things you could be doing?"
"Finally."
"I don't think you have what it takes."
"Think before you speak."
"I didn't think it would end this way."
"Then, we have a problem."
"If you must."
"Oh, really?"
"That's fine, I guess."
*laughs*
"Don't make promises you can't keep."
"Why?"
"You'll never get the chance."
"And what did I do to deserve death by your hand?"
"Are you sure about that?"
"I'm not ready to die."
"No thanks."
"And how do you plan on doing that?"
"Never make plans you don't intend to follow through with."
"You realize I'm going to defend myself, correct? And I won't go easy on you."
"Please don't."
"What makes you think you're capable of doing that?"
"Now, now, let's not make any rash decisions."
"Well, I could never say no to you."
"Why? I'm lovely."
"This is quite possibly the last thing I wanted to do today."
"Don't say things you don't mean."
"You would never hurt me."
setting
Setting the scene is one of the best tools a writer can have, as it allows for the reader to truly feel immersed in the story. But… how can an author set the scene? Is there a foolproof way to immerse the reader? (hint: the answer is no, lol.) Here are some things that help me build background and establish the setting. [as always, there’s no pressure to use any of these tips; writing is a unique process and there’s no “one size fits all” formula for it.]
Ordinary does not have to equal boring. Sometimes, it can be hard to escape the pressure of an interesting, entirely unique setting to provoke a reader’s interest. However, it can be hard to fulfill lofty expectations like those! Furthermore, there is absolutely nothing wrong with ordinary settings. In fact, embracing normality can really enhance a story. Office buildings, schools, grocery stores, gas stations… All of these places may seem ordinary, but that doesn’t mean they’re uneventful. In fact, each place comes with its own unique challenges and occurrences, which is really useful for writing! Mundane activities such as purchasing groceries, walking out of a movie theater, and visiting a library for books can all create additional outlets for interaction and occurrence.
Look to the details. This one is pretty self explanatory and probably something everyone already knew, but I figure it can’t be overstressed. The details really do make a difference! Little things like the way an office worker’s desk looks can reveal a lot about their character. For example, is their workspace cluttered with scattered papers? Or perhaps it’s pristine and looks nearly untouched? Those kinds of mundane things can be utilized to further establish your character’s desires, motivations, personality, etc.! Exploring a character in small, seemingly unimportant ways is pretty enjoyable and a fun exercise to further develop your character-building abilities.
Utilize weather and climate conditions to add effect. This is another simple way to add some character to a scene! Weather can add symbolism—if a character is feeling melancholy, it may appear gloomy outside—but it can also simply add more detail and further flesh out the scene. Even better, the scene doesn’t even have to occur outside! Weather conditions can still be noticeable from inside a building—think of the sound of precipitation, the presence/absence of sunlight, and the way light reflects off of different surfaces!
Embrace change. Sometimes, a story necessitates a return to a setting that already has been introduced. In these moments, it can be helpful to think of any potential changes that may have occurred since the last time the setting was visited. This can manifest in large-scale ways—such as a banker returning to their place of work, only to find that the building has caught fire and is now just a pile of rubble—or small-scale ways—think of a graduated student returning to their elementary school, only to find that it feels much smaller. Simple things can represent far bigger elements of a story—for example, a missing chair can represent a person’s death or foreshadow their future absence… a previously tidied area turning messy can hint at a future conflict… After all, most settings do not remain entirely unchanged. As people come and go, things are left behind, objects are moved/altered, and more!
Think about noise. Different settings will come with different levels of noise, which can also affect character interactions and conversations. If the characters are standing in a library, their voices may shift to hushed whispers. If there’s potential for eavesdropping (aka they’re in a public space), there may be different gestures and means of communication.
©2023, @defectivehero | @defectivevillain, All Rights Reserved.
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This hurts, I miss him so much. I tried to make a tribute, but I couldn’t finish it in time. Technoblade meant so much to me growing up, and his videos helped me through some dark times in my life. And now that I’m here, about to go to college, I can’t help but look back at all the times he’s made me a better person.
It’s still hard to get my head around the fact he’s never going to make another video again, or make a bunch of kids run away in fear, or just make a few random guys like me feel a little bit better.
Technoblade Never Dies! O7
Shuffle your favorite playlist and post the first five songs that come up. Then copy/paste this ask to your favorite mutuals. 🎶🎧💜💙🤗
Alright, sure. My favorite playlist is simply titled “Current Mood” and I’m constantly adding and removing songs depending on the mood I’m in while listening, currently it has over a hundred songs, and the 5 I got are all very different. I’ll also be explaining why I like each song;
1: I just really like Cyberpunk
2: You can never go wrong with a little Initial D.
3: German metal is just a perfect combination, in my opinion, it’s almost like the genre was made for the language. This song is definitely one of my favorites, and in my top 20 of all time.
4: Doom Eternal is my favorite game, and I love every bit of art that crosses it with Animal Crossing!
5: Two Steps From Hell was one of the first artists I really got obsessed with, so their music is always a treat.
HEY, YOU! WRITEBLR USER! PLEASE RECOMMEND ME SOME WRITERS AND BLOGS TO FOLLOW, AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO INCLUDE YOUR OWN!
One Song for Every OC Tag
Thank you @rickie-the-storyteller for tagging me!
Rules; Assign a song that fits the vibe of your OC.
A few of my OC’s originated from music I was listening to at the time, so this should be very fun.
Lord Valthoraxe - Once Upon A Time… A Monster (King Stephen)
Valthoraxe is a broken creature, who has gone through more pain and trauma than any of us could even fathom imagining going through. He’s mentally snapped several times, and has become a monster the world bows before in fear. This song portrays everything I could connect with him, with a perfect title to match. My book is his story, the story of how a great person descended into madness, rose to tyranny, and eventually fell. In the land of Alterra, there was Once Upon A Time… A Monster.
Sir James Honorborn - Sicilian Defense (Rok Nardin)
James is a very mysterious person, who seems like just another goofball side character, but is actually a terrifyingly powerful and immortal master of the arcane, with several spells that have taken him several centuries to write. This song has the same otherworldly charm I imagine him to have, while eventually rising to an energetic and powerful level.
DiamondMan - Selenica (King Stephen)
Diamond is one of the heads of NOVA, specifically NVO, and is a main character of the book. Diamond is actually based on another character from a very close friend of mine who is working with me on the sci-fi aspects of the story, so this song was chosen by him. In his own words, “It fits my character perfectly.”
The Heads of the NOVA Corporation - Virtual Armageddon (Kings & Creatures, Brandon Lau)
NOVA is the primary Sci-fi faction in my world, with 9 people leading it. NOVA is a problem solving company, be it inter-galactic travel through the complex NOVA-Gate Network of wormholes, to the hired extermination of hostile lifeforms. While being a neutral entity that’s held very highly in the public eye, it is also a machine of war that is ruthlessly efficient. This song captures the power and threat brought by it’s autonomous forces run by a nigh-sentient AI.
Melody - Absolute Territory (Ken Ashcorp)
Melody is just a fun little character I thought up, while listening to music and thinking, that will never appear in the final book. I went into more detail about her in a previous post, but in short; She is a half-elf shunned by her race and ends up making a deal with the tyrant, Lord Valthoraxe, for a set of magically enhanced clothing. The outfit vastly amplifies her magical abilities by syncing it up with whatever song she’s currently listening to. Naturally, she prefers to be listening to energetic and powerful songs that pop out, and this one in particular matches her new found self-confidence.
I’d love to write down more characters, but I currently only have the one wip, and these are the only fully fleshed out characters I have so far.
This was a lot of fun, I’ll be tagging these wonderful people to play along as well;
@orionsworldbuilding, @hayatheauthor, @author-a-holmes, @shiversdownyourspleen, and @raventsurara
Looks great! I’ve been reading through your posts recently, and there’s a lot of good stuff here. I especially love seeing custom maps.
Work in progress. The line art isn't completely done yet and I tried a new technique to draw hands. I have a bunch more to draw to finish Caelum's reference sheet but I really want to play stardew valley instead so I'm putting it off :)
On a more humorous side note, I'm in the midst of an art trade with someone and I tried a new line art technique and they gave me a compliment on it, SO as a man, it is the only way I will be doing my line art because those serotonins hit real good.
Whenever you visit the dragon’s lair, you give some treasure instead of taking some. People think you are crazy for doing this.
It is said that, once a decade an angry dragon will destroy a castle, once a century a furious dragon will burn down a city and once a millenia an outraged dragon will use it’s gold to collapse an empire.
Long ago, a young elf met a young human in the forest of Eternia and they became best friends. Now, a millennium later, that same elf faces his old friend, the now terrible lich lord, in the same forest.
For reasons unknown, at the exact same moment everyone in the world lost the ability to change emotions. They were stuck with whatever they were feeling at that moment; anger, fear, constipation, guilt, ecstasy… with a permanent case of curiosity you are determined to find out why.
“Soldier, how the hell did you manage to take 9,999 captives?” “No idea, sir. They all just surrendered after I killed the first guy.”
You are a 512 year immortal in a bar, angry because you can’t order a beer. It’s not your fault you took the immortality potion at 12 and have looked the same ever since!
“I challenge you to a duel, sir! Pick your weapon and make your peace, for I have trained under the greatest weapon masters in-” “Fisticuffs.” “…W-what?” “FISTICUFFS.”