Sts Asks - Tumblr Posts

Happy STS!

What is your favourite genre to read? Is it the same as your favourite genre to write?

What subgenres within that genre are your favourite to read? Are they the same ones you like to write?

Happy STS!

My favorite genre to read and write is fantasy. Within it, I like dark fantasy and high fantasy. I’ve only written dark fantasy because high fantasy can be a lot to keep track of!

Happy Storyteller Saturday!

Today I'll send two questions (which are connected):

Question 1 - Imagine that your characters enter a magic labyrinth that shows them their biggest dream (s) come true. What do they see? Is their dream something they can achieve in real life?

Question 2 - In the same labyrinth, your characters enter a room that puts them face to face with (an illusion of) the person they hate the most or their worst fear. How do they react? Are they able to put up a fight against the illusion or do they need to be rescued? How do they feel in the aftermath of the confrontation?

Happy STS! You don’t know what you’ve done to yourself. Question 2 is ToL. But we’ll start with #1.

Adrin: At the place he is right now, he has no dreams of his own. He dreams of his sister, alive and well. His ambitions kind of died with her.

Mara: She would see herself in a massive library surrounded by every magical text she could get her hands on. And in that library would be a separate wing for all the cool inventions and magical artifacts she collects.

Oliver: Oliver…would be married to Mara, in a little village away from the city and his family’s legacy. He would make an honest living as a blacksmith and Mara would be running little experiments around their house.

Hettie: Much like Adrin, Hettie doesn’t have any ambitions for herself. Her life is dedicated to helping others, especially her mother. I think she would see her mother, happy and thriving in a nicer house, and her stepfather, who is a lot nicer and less drunk in her dreams.

Question #2

Okay, so I can’t exactly answer this question without spoiling 50% of what I have written 😂 Here’s why:

ToL Magic System (A Sneaky Little Peek 👀)

Tagging @outpost51 @writernopal in case you guys are curious (please ask to be +/- from ToL updates!)

The ToL gang have many similarities with one another, but the one common factor to pay attention to is: Legacy.

Adrin: Son of the former High Guard captain

Mara: Adopted child/protégée of a council elder, the highest position in their government

Oliver: Descendant of Victor Rothe, the man who destroyed magic and founded the city of Rothar.

Hettie: The daughter of an infamous traitor who was executed for starting a rebellion.

The Forest of Eternity, or Eternity as it’s usually referred to, is (basically) a parallel world. Without revealing too much, it’s just shy of a sentient being, and it reaches out to people they think might be able to wield its power and spread its energy. The way it connects to people is through their worst memories and/or fears. When faced with true darkness, how they react will determine not only if they are worthy of the magic, but which element of magic they are able to wield. The specific memories and fears they face have very much to do with their legacies. There’s a LOT more to explain but, spoilers…

So far only 3/4 characters have been tested, and that takes place between chapters 3-7!

Happy STS! Inspired by my impromptu and much needed offline day, if your OCs had an unexpected day off, what would they spend it doing?

Happy Storyteller Saturday! Thank you for the Ask, @writernopal!

If your OCs had an unexpected day off, what would they spend it doing?

This is such a cool question, btw. Here go some of my characters in a day off:

RAELEN - If Raelen had a day off, she would absolutely spend it exploring an unknown patch of forests until she finds just the perfect, magical spot for her to read. Then, the rest of the day would be spent reading her tomes in the tranquility of nature.

AZRA - If Azra had a day off, he would spend most of it flying on his dragon, Mystral, high above everything and everyone else, up in the clouds, taking quick breaks here and there to rest atop a mountain and eat some snacks.

JULYAN - If Julyan had a day off, he would 100% use it to mostly rest. His life is usually chaos and he is almost always working, so days off are a rare blessing he intends to make the most out of. He'd probably sleep in, but not too late into the day, then make some tea and just relax, do nothing for a while.

VALLERIUS - Vall would spend his day off in some city, trying out the best that kingdom has to offer. From local fairs/jousting competitions to taverns with good food and betting games, you can be certain Vall would be there, anywhere there's good fun and prizes to be won (even if it's just a tasty meal on a small tavern).

NYX - Nyx would spend his day off trying to find a place far away from any human eyes, where he could be alone to unwrap his wings and fly by himself for the first time in gods know how long, finally getting to enjoy being a faery if only for a small while.

KADEN & SYBIL - These twins rarely do anything without one another, and days off are no different - never one without the other, even during vacation. They'd likely spend it writing cool songs and practicing the lute, before going off to find some (small-scale) trouble to spice up the day.

INNARA - If Innara had a day off, you can bet she would spend it enjoying the best of the kingdom's daily life, especially if there is a festival to be found. She'd be in her element, likely dragging either Helios or one of her cousins to join her at the party/festival. She'd then end the day by climbing to a high tower and watching the city lights below flickering like little stars.

ZEPHYR - Zephyr would likely spend even his day off reading ancient tomes and studying magic, even if a little bit less intensively than usual. If he was ever, miraculously, convinced to take a break, Zephyr would then take time to just chill out, sleep and eat some good food (instead of just random snacks throughout a study day). Jamie might convince him to take a walk around town and see all the cool things their kingdom has to offer.

JAMIE - Jamie would spend his day off by waking up early, taking a walk down at the city early in the morning, and maybe even going out to ride around in the meadows outside the city. He'd buy himself his favorite desserts and then spend the rest of the day talking to Myrah and geeking out about ancient magic facts, or even go to watch a local jousting competition while eating candy. He might try to convince Zephyr to - at least once - spend some time out of his study and actually talk to them about fun stuff, but there's a high chance he'll fail at his attempt to get the older boy to take a break.

QUINN - Would be ecstatic about the idea of a whole day away from the nobles he works for. He'd likely spend his whole day painting and drawing in his room, enjoying his free time. He would also make sure to spend the day with his 5-year-old son, with whom he rarely has much time to be around during his normal days.

EMRYC - If Emryc had a day off, he'd 100% spend it by going out to the best underground taverns around and spending the day on betting games, drinking wine, and making a whole lot of money out of those stupid enough to think they can beat him in a match of Deadly Bones (an Agrannorian dart game with high-stakes)

NADINNE - Nadinne would go out to one of the many beaches in her seaside kingdom. If she is lucky, her former pet sea monster, a giant whale/shark-like creature named Mister Truffles, might come to visit and play with her in the sea. She'd watch the sailing ships pass by in the distance and disappear on the horizon, dreaming of one day having her own ship that would sail into the unknown.

ARAMMIS: Its prank time! Arammis would use her free time to play pranks on her friends, and especially on her siblings, likely starting a minor "prank war". When she grows bored of it, Arammis would likely take some time to walk to the city, buying her favorite snacks, and then suddenly chasing a random alley cat to try and bring it home with her (because she loves fluffy animals)

NETHEN - Would take his free day to get as far away from the Imperial Palace and into the forgotten woods outside of the city, where he'd visit the secret little memorial he made for Elain (since Elain didn't have a marked grave, Nethen made sure that he at least had a memorial, even if he wasn't buried there), and talk to it as if telling his friend the news about the past few weeks. After some time, he would go home and likely spend his day reading books at the royal library and avoiding other nobles.

These are the ones I could think of right now!

Happy Storyteller Saturday! Today I'll send two questions (which are connected):

Question 1 - Imagine that your characters enter a magic labyrinth that shows them their biggest dream (s) come true. What do they see? Is their dream something they can achieve in real life?Question 2 - In the same labyrinth, your characters enter a room that puts them face to face with (an illusion of) the person they hate the most or their worst fear. How do they react? Are they able to put up a fight against the illusion or do they need to be rescued? How do they feel in the aftermath of the confrontation?

Happy STS, Mystic!

Imagine that your characters enter a magic labyrinth that shows them their biggest dream (s) come true. What do they see? Is their dream something they can achieve in real life?

HOHOHO! Bold of you to assume something like this doesn't exist in AASOAF lore already hehe. I can't go into what they see because it's kind of spoilers so excuse my vague-ing on this question 😅

In the same labyrinth, your characters enter a room that puts them face to face with (an illusion of) the person they hate the most or their worst fear. How do they react? Are they able to put up a fight against the illusion or do they need to be rescued? How do they feel in the aftermath of the confrontation?

Ooo okay so one of the big themes in AASOAF is personal growth, so to answer this question, if I were to drop any of the characters into something like this at the start, they would all need to be rescued even if they don't think they do. Predictably they'd all feel defeated and extremely fearful. At the core of each character is a single, but very real, fear that drives them forward and pushes them to do things to soothe that feeling. The goal is at the end, that when put in the same situation they would be able to overcome on their own based on what happened throughout the series and the people they've met along the way.

🤠”Spoil” the ending of your WIP using only memes.

Thank you for the Ask, @late-to-the-fandom!

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE LAST WRATH UNDER THE CUT!

🤠”Spoil” the ending of your WIP using only memes.

I made only two of these, so as not to spoil too much, lol.

MEME 1:

MEME 2:

for the ask game--💬🗯️✨? :) - @liv-is

Thank you for the Ask, @liv-is!

💬Share your crunchiest bit of dialogue; include zero context.

I don't know what crunchy means in this situation, I'm assuming it means either "very good dialogue I'm proud of".

"What did you do?" Innara asks a twinge of terror in her words. [...] Elyren looks at the bones, unmoved, and scoffs. "I did what I had to do! If I hadn't done what I did -" He pats the pile with the tip of his boot "This Imperial thug would have cut off your head. I would expect a bit of thankfulness - after all, I just saved your life from decapitation and spared your boyfriend that very bloody and traumatic sight, whenever he comes looking for you."

🗯️What do you think is the most divisive or controversial aspect of your WIP?

Wow, uh, I don't know. There are a lot of dark themes explored in the book in some very specific scenes (war, prejudice, harassment, etc.), but such is the role of Dark Fantasy in general, to criticize harsh realities in an exaggerated yet clearer manner. I don't really know how to give a clear answer to this one.

✨What is one totally unique thing that sets your WIP apart from the other stories?

I usually don't do this, lol, because I find it a bit awkward to compare creative works but since I have to answer this question then I would say: The worldbuilding and character relationships, I guess. I'm very proud of the world I created for The Last Wrath, and I consider it rather unique compared to some other stories that I like. I try to subvert expectations/tropes naturally when it comes to character relationships, and am very proud of the current result!

Happy STS!

Has anyone given you a compliment on an aspect of your writing that you personally weren’t fond of or didn’t think you were good at? What was it and how did you react?

Happy Storytelling Saturday! Thank you for the wonderful Ask, @clairelsonao3!

Has anyone given you a compliment on an aspect of your writing that you personally weren’t fond of or didn’t think you were good at? What was it and how did you react?

Yes. While I usually like the things I write, I sometimes tend to feel uncertain about certain things, dialogue being one of those in the past. I received many positive comments from my writing friends about the way I write dialogue, and it's become one of my favorite parts of my writing now, as I see it in a different light!

Happy super late WBW!

Tell me 5 fun facts about the magic users in your WIP!

~ @tabswrites

Happy Late Worldbuilding Wednesday - or Storyteller Saturday today lol. Thank you for the Ask, @tabswrites!

Tell me 5 fun facts about the magic users in your WIP!

In Agrannor, you're only considered a "Mageborn" if you are born with magic within your blood, as a part of your being and very nature. If you're not born with that but have a magical affinity (the ability to learn magic and cast it through enchanted objects) you're a Sorcerer.

Forbidden magic is a different concept from Dark Magic. In Agrannor, Dark Magic is defined as an inherently corrupted/twisted manifestation of Pure Magic. Forbidden Magic are certain spells cast from normal magic, whose effects are not considered ethical, but which do not necessarily stem from dark magic - that is up to the caster. Examples of Forbidden Magic are certain entrapment spells (when they trap a soul in the limbo), some more brutal killing spells, and of course, necromancy. In The Last Wrath, Elyren Tyrvommira (a young elven sorcerer obsessed with necromancy and the study of life and death) and Cyprian Naras (a vengeful human Mageborn) are known for their regular use of Forbidden Magic/Spells, though they rarely use dark magic (Elyren considers it an unnecessary risk, but he would use it. Cyprian views dark magic as an abomination and solely sticks to forbidden magic instead.)

Mageborn children - though already born with magic - often manifest their powers at a very early age too (ranging from a few days after birth to around six years old, though some late bloomers can even manifest their powers around 10 years old, but that is very rare). Their powers usually take after that of their parents or clans, though since their magic is still wild/raw matter (they're born with magic in general, and "what kind of magic" is usually shaped by the child's experiences and surroundings), their powers can still adapt or become something entirely different. Children with milder magical affinity (future sorcerers) do not manifest powers but may be able to connect with magical artifacts and use that magic.

Family units are a much wider concept within Mageborn and Elven cultures, as they believe that the family you choose is just as important as the family of your blood (as in, a family doesn't necessarily stop at who you're related by blood but is also who you choose). Adoption is very common within Mageborn groups - and there isn't as much distinction between an adopted child and a biological one in their culture, they're family and that is what matters.

Mageborn have many traditional festivals, holidays, and celebrations in general, and each of those varies according to the region they live in, their creed, and alliances.

Happy STS! I arrive with a character ask this week! If one of your characters emptied their bag/satchel/purse, what would we find among their personal effects? Crumpled receipts? Forgotten snacks? Wads of cash? More knives than they'd care to admit? Tell me about it!

Happy Storyteller Saturday! Thank you for the Ask, @writernopal!

I'll do this for a few of my characters from The Last Wrath, with a list of what you'd find in their satchels/bags!

Raelen Ashiren: A rolled-up page ripped from a rare royal tome of spells, spare daggers, her overflowing and worn-out journal where she writes her discoveries and magical studies, at least two bottles of healing salves and a roll of bandages, a water canteen, and leather gloves.

Lukan Velterin: Two sets of lock picks, a small hammer, overall gear for breaking into places he is not supposed to, a small flask of wine, extra blades (more than he should have), an old coin purse with stolen gold from at least five different kingdoms, random pickpocketed knick-knacks and a lilac silk handkerchief.

Sybil Rihdel: Candy wrapped in old parchment, extra strings for her lute, stolen rings and jewelry of all kinds, a pocket knife, a bottle of nightshade leaves she stole from an apothecary and now doesn't know how to use, random prank stuff, and a rock she insisted on naming "Timmy the Pebble" just to annoy Nyx.

Fabian Anynth: A full canteen of water, dry rations for exactly two days of travel, three rolls of bandages and a large bottle of a disinfectant potion, the bracelet Luciya made for him when they were kids (on the very rare occasions he is not wearing it on his wrist), fast-acting poison to put on his blades, a small whetstone, a spare scarf, and a set of different kinds of extra runic daggers.

Darian Caelestis: POTIONS, POTIONS, AND POTIONS ✨(which may or may not be flammable. Lukan calls his satchel "The Danger Bag" because Darian has set their camp on fire at least five times by now), a bottle of the Agrannorian equivalent of coffee, meticulously clean brass goggles, thick leather gloves, a small journal for scribbling stuff + a charcoal pencil and quill, alchemy components, a small wood carved flute/whistle made for him by his mom, random stuff, and a slightly charred scarf. One time, a small reptile crawled into his bag and Darian's soul almost left his body when he reached for a potion and found the lizard instead, that was fun.

Innara Renfelli: Dry food and snacks for the road, a bottle of berry/fruit juice because she doesn't like to drink clear water, (in a small purse inside the satchel) her old necklaces and rings from when she was a noble, and not exiled (out of her old jewels, she only kept her locket around her neck), random colorful trinkets from almost every city she has gone to, many extra ribbons to tie her hair, a needle and thread for multiple uses, and many bottles of useful potions/poisons/elixirs.

And here we have it: what some of the cast from The Last Wrath would have in their bags! I hope you like this answer! (:

Happy Storyteller Saturday! Why did you choose the POV you did for your story?

Happy Storyteller Saturday! Thank you so much for the Ask, @gummybugg!

Why did you choose the POV you did for your story?

So let's consider my 2 Main WIPs!

The Last Wrath

Is a Multiple-POV story in 3rd person, and while all POV characters have vastly different experiences, their lives and the events in their stories are intrinsically connected. I choose a Multiple POV route for many reasons, chiefly because it allows me to explore different viewpoints and the effects of the story's arc through different lenses, while also moving the conflict forward in a compelling way. For example, we have:

Raelen Ashiren: a young Mageborn girl looking for a way not only to escape the war and discover the true secrets of her family's lost legacy, but also to find a way to save her older brother from a fate worse than death.

Zephyr Tellian: a talented sorcerer looking for an anti-dark magic spell that can counter the attacks of the villains (and prevent the War of Prophecy) while also looking for the cure of the curse that has been slowly but surely consuming him.

Princess Ellinor Dallantes: as the only survivor of the massacre of her family - the royal clan of Arkellya - Ellinor was raised by assassins and grew into a warrior who is currently leading the main rebel efforts against the Morosyn Empire's plans of conquest.

Darian Caelestis: a young potions-maker, son of infamous rebel warriors, Darian has lived in the shadow of a promise he could not keep, until he found the chance to make things right and save his long-lost best friend/boyfriend from the enemy.

So yeah, lol, it's a pretty varied set of viewpoints!

Tales of Wilted Flowers

Is a Single-POV story in 3rd person, with a few occasional bouts of Dual-POV here and there. The POV majorly follows the character of Lorelai Wildwood, a young outcast who wants to be more than what the world sees in her, as she goes on a winding adventure with some newfound allies, to stop an evil lurking beneath their kingdom's perfect surface. (Occasionally, as mentioned before, the POV of this book shifts to that of Xarian Argyris, a faerie outlaw who becomes Lorelai's love interest.)

I chose this specific POV because it lets me focus solely on the MCs experiences, while showcasing a bit of their thoughts and inner conflicts, which really comes in handy for writing a high fantasy adventure!

Happy Storyteller Saturday! Which of your characters is the least like you and why do you like them despite your lack of similarities?

Thank you for the Ask, @lassiesandiego!

I'm one of those writers who likes to say that most of my good characters have a small "piece of myself", except for most villains of course, as it makes writing them much easier and allows me to understand their motives better!

That being said, I would say that, out of all my main WIPs, the characters that are the least like me are: Azra Moorsworth (The Last Wrath), Faellyn Ellara (Tales of Wilted Flowers), and Clarence Van Sterlling (Enchanted Illusions).

DISCLAIMER: What is listed under "differences" is merely a comparison between my characters and my own personalities. Neither traits are "right" nor "wrong", as I am simply stating the contrasts between me IRL and the characters I have created for my stories! (:

Now, as for why they're so different from me and why I like them despite the personality differences!

AZRA MOORSWORTH -

(Differences) - Azra is much meeker/insecure than my personality - he prefers to avoid conflict (by "conflict" I don't mean fights, but facing challenges and things that get him out of his comfort zone), and is much more extroverted than me - I could never dream of reaching his level of extrovertedness. If we were to use the Enneagram to define this difference in personality, Azra is a Type 4 (the Individualist), while I am a Type 8 (the Challenger), having fundamentally different outlooks as well!

(Why I Like Him) - Azra is an incredibly positive character, especially when it comes to cheering others up and making sure everyone around him is having a good time - traits that I aspire to try and improve in my personality as well. He is also selfless when need be, despite all his fears, personality and instincts telling him to run the other way he chooses to stand for what he and his siblings believe in if that is truly necessary, despite the dangers and cruelty of the world he lives in. He is, fundamentally, a cinnamon roll, and one of the purest characters in TLW when it comes to a moral compass - I can't help but adore him!

FAELLYN ELLARA -

(Differences) This is a curious one, as she does share similarities with me, but not nearly as much as the other members of the main cast. I would say that the main difference between her and me is that Faellyn is incredibly forgiving - even when she should not be, too forgiving for her own good - and has a patience level that I aspire to have one day. Believes in the best in other people, even when other people have proven her wrong. Her Enneagram is Type 7 (The Enthusiast)

(Why I Like Her) Honestly, what's not to like? She's sweet, funny, bubbly, and has a great sense of justice! Despite being impulsive and reckless at times, she has an ongoing drive to do what is right for others, especially for those she cares about. She has a big heart, and is almost always the smile in the room! She's diplomatic and intelligent, as well as tricky when it matters. I also find it incredibly endearing and satisfying to write and show how much she grows throughout the story, becoming more mature and wise without losing the merciful and sweet side that makes her who she is.

CLARENCE VAN STERLLING -

(Differences) While I am somewhat introverted, I would say that he is 1000% more introverted than me. Clarence is very quiet, preferring not to talk as much, and liking extended periods of being by himself - while, in comparison, I am very talkative to those I consider my friends, and don't quite feel comfortable in extended periods of solitude. Another key difference is that, due to his vampiric upbringing, Clarence is also very naive/sheltered as to the ways of the world, being almost (if not completely) clueless as to how the human world and its inhabitants work. Clarence is firmly an Enneagram 1.

(Why I Like Him) He is very endearing and polite, and despite not really understanding all the new human things surrounding him he tries his best not to be rude or scary towards anyone, despite having the ability to do so. Clarence is also intelligent, wickedly clever, and something of a prankster if given the chance! Honestly, writing about him navigating the human world with the help of his newfound friends and his sorcerer girlfriend, is one of the most adorable things I have written!

I hope this answers your questions! (:

Happy Storyteller Saturday!

In the world of your WIP, what character would you say undergoes the most drastic transformation (in personality, character arc, worldviews, or even appearance)? What character doesn't? Would you say the setting/environment surrounding them (including the people around them) had something to do with this change or was it something completely internal to them?

Thank you so much for the question, @mysticstarlightduck , this was a lot of fun to answer!

I would say that my greatest character transformation is my main character Elva, by far. Without spoiling too much she goes through some amazing hardships several times that rock her worldviews fully. Her character arc is all about trust so it's kind of a given but it's cool to have figured out where and why and especially how it changes. And her appearance is something that takes a couple different severe turns too. Right at the beginning and right at the end she gets a new look apiece.

Her friend Tholi stays the most steady through the whole story. He is a stubborn bastard of a sireling who refuses change to the point where it... I was going to give everything away there but thought against it as I was writing.

As for setting it has everything to do with these changes or their lack. Both the location and company they keep has a lot to do with how they develop.

Happy STS!

Which OC has been taking over your mind recently? What excites you about them?

~ @tabswrites

Happy Storyteller Saturday! Thank you so much for the ask, @tabswrites!

Which OC has been taking over your mind recently? What excites you about them?

Cailean Telkerly from Enchanted Illusions, Ahren Ellara from Tales of Wilted Flowers, and Adaria Vytris from Realms of Loss. Lemme explain (:

CAILEAN TELKERLY -

Cailean is one of my favorite characters in that book, being the rogue with a heart of gold archetype that I really, really love in fiction! Since I've been working on his POV backstory a lot lately, I've gotten to know his history a lot better, which only made me love this character even more. I'm excited about quite a lot of things about him, from his intricate past to his personality. He is a classy and witty con man/thief who specializes in stealing from the nobility and overall big targets. To make a very long story short, he agrees to help one of the protagonists (Agatha) because he believes using this partnership will get him rich (and because they have a common enemy), but ends up really falling in love with her in the process (which complicates and screws up his "this partnership is strictly business" plan quite a lot), which leads to a very much "star-crossed lovers" situation sometimes. Plus, he is really adorable in personality, because even though he is a petty criminal, he is also a really good person deep down beneath the opportunistic exterior he carefully crafted throughout the years - and is someone very charmingly sarcastic at that. Writing the growth of his relationship with Agatha, from strangers to partners/friends to lovers, is really, really rewarding, especially given their vastly different worldviews and experiences (and how much they fall in love with each other).

AHREN ELLARA -

I really like writing about Ahren because of his complexity, and his character arc in the first book - which goes from a hesitant good character to a morally grey character, as he ends up doing the wrong things for good reasons (as he was led to believe he had no other choice). He's a really tragic character and a good example of how a chaotic environment and constant pressure can change even the most resilient of people. Ahren had everything, and in the matter of one fateful night, he lost it all. He would do anything to restore his family name and keep his cousin safe, even if it takes making not-so-great choices and morally convoluted deals. The impact of the losses he suffered and the hardships he endured turned Ahren into someone slightly bitter and paranoid, certain that everyone was "out to get him" and that he had to be ruthless before the world has the chance to be ruthless to him - having a "the world was never fair to me, why should I be?" mindset. He is a good person and tried with every fiber of his being to remain so, but eventually, it all becomes too much for him to handle alone, which defines a turning point for his character in Book 1. Overall, a very compelling POV that has taken over a lot of my mind these days!

ADARIA VYTRIS -

There's something I really like about her backstory and motivations throughout the book, they feel very specific and genuine to her. I love writing about underdog characters who beat the odds and decide to take a stand about a system that has wronged them. Adaria is also incredibly loyal and protective of her family, which is the whole reason she embarks on this journey in the first place - to save her siblings. Her relationship with them is also a huge part of why I love her backstory so much! Adaria is a very hopeful character, preferring to believe that one day the future will be brighter - and she will fight to make sure that happens. The odds were always against her - she was just another street kid from the freezing outer cities, probably destined to starve or vanish, like so many before her, but she wanted more than that world could give her, she wanted to be more. To live, not just survive. She decided to challenge her destiny, with what tools she was given and will do whatever it takes to ensure this future for herself and those she loves. Another thing I really like about her is her friendship with Kassien Vann, a knight from Sarythea tasked with protecting a weapon she sets out to steal - their relationship goes from rivals to hesitant allies and finally friends, I really like it!

Happy Late STS!

Sorry for the late ask, things have been chaotic for me these past few days, lol. Here we go!

What is your all-time favorite moment/scene you've ever written?

What is the most meaningful relationship (without too many spoilers) between the characters in your WIP?

Happy STS! Thanks for the ask!

My all-time favorite moment hasn’t happened yet, but I will be writing it soon for Ch. 14! It will be Hettie’s last chapter in ToL that sets up her arc for Book Two, and there’s a really tragic and powerful moment that will be very influential to her story.

I think the most meaningful relationship is the one that took me completely by surprise: Mara and Adrin. I hadn’t intended for them to become so close but they had this weird chemistry that I just ran with. Book Two will explore their friendship a lot as they recognize similar qualities in one another that are damaging to those around them. They’ll have to teach each other how to overcome their trauma, and there are some really beautiful moments I have planned for them.

Happy Storyteller Saturday!

When you finish a first draft, how does it look? Is it readable or does it have more holes than a swiss cheese? What are your next steps, and how much changes?

(If you haven't finished one yet, what do you think how it'll look when you get there?)

Happy Storyteller... Sunday? (:

(Sorry for the late answer!)

Usually, my first drafts are very messy but readable. I may skip a few scenes, or add quick notes instead - what I know the characters need to do, or what I don't know they are going to do, so that I can figure it out later. After finishing a draft I usually take the time to try and write in some of those skipped scenes, do a bit of editing to polish off the writing for the second draft, think of what went "wrong" or what I really enjoyed about certain scenes, or just like, erase whole chunks of the story that don't work anymore and think about what scenes could take their place, that sort of thing!

Then, depending on how I feel about the final version of this first draft, I may set it aside for a while and start some other WIPs (a hiatus, so to speak, to let the ideas for the next draft rest and develop, so that I can come back to it some months later with a fresh mind. For example, my WIP The Last Wrath is in that kind of hiatus rn!), or - if I'm really, really full of ideas and excited to write this next draft - I just move onto the second draft. (: