Words Into Potions: Introduce Your WIPs!

Words into Potions: Introduce Your WIPs!

We want to know what you'll be working on during our March writing challenge!

Introduce the WIP(s) you'll be working on during March using the template below!

Make sure you add the tag 'MS: WIP Intro', so we can browse through all your projects and reblog them to Moon + Seraph!

Please include a link to our Words into Potion introduction somewhere in your post, so anyone can easily learn about and join our writing challenge.

WIP Introduction Template:

— Title — Genre — Summary — Optionally, any WIP-related links — Optionally, your WIP hashtag — Optionally, one WIP graphic/art — Optionally, a short snippet

Looking to make friends during our writing challenge? Take a look through the WIP intro tag here and find writeblrs to follow and support!

Last Line Tag

Thank you @sharkblizzardblogs for the tag! (Post here.)

Gently tagging (no pressure): @hallowedfury @jovialnightmares @awritingcaitlin

From The Queen of Lies:

She had let herself believe for a few inconsequential days that she was the plucky, dauntless heroine of a novel who could carve out her own happy end.

Signs You Should Write The Story

1. You can't stop thinking about it

2. It would be exciting and fun to write

3. It's meaningful to you

WRITE THE STORY

So, I don't know how to write pain like! What words do I use? how do I describe it! I really need some help here!

No problem! And sorry about not answering sooner, I was on vacation. To make it up to you, I’ve made one of my trademark Long Posts about it.

TIPS ON HOW TO WRITE PAIN (FOR BOTH ORIGINAL CONTENT WRITERS AND FANFICTION WRITERS)

When I first started writing, about eight years ago, I had the same issue as @imjustafuckinggirl.

How are you supposed to write about pain you’ve never experienced before???

The characters in my book suffer through all sorts of terrible shit, and in no way am I writing from experience, which is marginally easier to do than write about something that has never happened to you.

However, with time, I managed to gather up a few strategies on how to write pain.

1. Don’t Write Paragraphs About It

I know, it’s tempting. You want to convey to the reader just how much pain the character is in, and you think that the pain will be emphasized the more you write about it.

This, however, is a lie.

As a reader, when I’m reading a book or fanfiction where, whenever the writer uses agonizingly long paragraphs to describe when a character is hurt, I skip it.

Entirely.

It’s boring and, quite frankly, unnecessary, especially during a fight or huge battle, which are supposed to be fast-paced.

When it comes to writing about pain, it really is about quality and not quantity.

In my own writing, I stick to short, quick paragraphs, some of them which are barely a line long. This gives it a faster pace and sort of parallels with the scattered, spread out thoughts of the character as they suffer.

2. Describe it Right

Many times, usually in fanfiction, writers over-exaggerate certain injuries.

This partially has to do with the fact that they’ve never experienced that injury before and are just thinking about what it might feel like.

As a girl with two brothers and who often participated in rough play-fights, I can assure you that getting punched is not as painful as you think it is.

(However, it does depend on the area, as well as how hard the punch is, on top of the fact that you have to take into account whether or not the punch broke bones)

I’m reading a high school AU where a character gets punched by a bully (Idk where they got punched it wasn’t stated) and the author is describing it like they’d been shot.

It was to the point where I was like Did the bully have brass knuckles or something????

It was very clear that this author had never been punched before.

When describing the pain of an injury or the injury itself, you have to take into account:

- What object was used to harm the character

- Where the injury is

- How long the character has had the injury

- (For blades) How deep the cut is

- (For blunt force trauma) How hard the hit was

- Whether or not the wound triggers other things (Ex: Concussion, vomiting, dizziness, infection, internal/external bleeding).

There’s also the fact that when some authors described wounds caused by blades such as knives, daggers, and swords, they never take into account the anatomy of a person and which places cause the most blood flow.

Obviously, a cut on your cheek will have less of a blood flow than a cut on your wrist, depending on what the blade hits, and I hope that everyone consults a diagram of veins, capillaries, arteries, etc. when they’re describing blood flow from a certain place.

There’s also the fact that you have to take into account where the blood is coming from. Veins? Arteries?

The blood from arteries will be a brighter red, like vermilion, than the blood from veins, which is the dark crimson everyone likes to talk about.

Not all places gush bright red blood, people!

3. DIFFERENT INJURIES HAVE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PAIN

Here, let me explain.

A punch feels different from a slap.

A broken arm feels different from getting stabbed.

A fall feels different from a dog bite.

I’ll give you a list of all the kinds of things that can be described for the three most common kinds of injuries that happen in stories:

Punch/Blunt Force Trauma

How it feels:

- Aching

- Numbness (In the later stages)

- A single spike of pain before it fades into an ache

- Throbbing

Effects:

- Vomiting (If the character is punched in the gut)

- Swelling

- Bruising

- Broken bones

- Unconsciousness (Blow to the head)

- Dizziness (Blow to the head)

- Concussion (Also a blow to the head)

- Internal bleeding

- Death (In the case of concussions and internal bleeding and broken bones- ribs can pierce lungs)

Stab Wound/Cut

How it feels:

- Stinging (only shallow wounds have just stinging)

- Burning

- With stab wounds, I feel like describing the effects of it make it more powerfully felt by the reader

Effects:

- Bleeding (Consult chart of the circulatory system beforehand for the amount of blood flow that should be described and what color the blood should be)

- Dizziness (Heavy blood loss)

- Unconsciousness

- Infection (if left unattended)

- Death

Gunshot

How it feels:

- Depends on the caliber bullet, from how far away they were shot (point-blank range is nothing like being shot from a distance), and in what place. Do careful research and then make your decision.

Effects:

- Bleeding(Consult chart of the circulatory system beforehand for the amount of blood flow that should be described and what color the blood should be. Also take into effect the above variables for blood flow as well.)

- Dizziness (Heavy blood loss)

- Infection (if left unattended)

- Death

Some things that a character may do while they’re injured:

- Heavy/Harsh/Ragged breathing

- Panting

- Making noises of pain

gasping

grunting

hissing

groaning

whimpering

yelping (when the injury is inflicted)

screaming

shrieking

wailing

- Crying/ Weeping/Sobbing/Etc.

- Clenching their teeth

- Unable to speak

- Pressing their hands against a stab wound/cut to try and stem the bleeding

- Eyesight going out of whack (vision blurring and tilting, the room spinning, black spots consuming sight)

- Eyes rolling up into their head

- Trembling/shaking

- Ears riniging (from gunshot)

HOPE THIS HELPED!

A writer’s guide to forests: traveling through the woods

Getting from point A to point B is something that both people in real life and the characters of your story will have to figure out. Whether as a means to get to a plot point, or as a part of the plot itself, travel presents opportunities for the writer.

Hack ‘n slash- Where paths are nonexistent, your characters will literally have to blaze a trail (the ‘blaze’ in this case has nothing to do with fire. Instead it is a trail marker made by carving a mark into a tree. The mark resembles the white patch seen on the forehead of mammals, most often horses.) Being the pioneer is slow going, especially if the undergrowth is thick and requires clearing. Cut bamboo can go through the foot, poison oak and poison ivy can give a nasty rash, and biting insects can make life miserable. And then there is the matter of marking the trail. A character on the run will not want to advertise their location and will do their best to keep their trail hidden. But for others, they will want to mark the trail. Stone cairns, arrows, blaze marks in trees, and even sticks and knotted grass can point out the path to other travelers. This can be helpful to others, but it can also present a danger. Thieves and outlaws can create false trails that lead travelers into a trap or ambush.

Game trails- Animals have their habits. They like to take the same path between places. Over time these develop into trails that crisscross the forest floor. For a character on the run, or those who needs to make haste, these are a tempting choice to follow. But be careful. Some animals are able to traverse terrain too difficult for humans (narrow ledges, near vertical faces, and the gaps underneath fallen trees are not fun places to be). And your characters may encounter more than deer or rabbits. Predator species hang out around game trails as they can be fruitful hunting grounds.

Existing paths and roads- Roads can range from simple dirt paths to paved highways. These will be the most direct routes between the principle settlements in your story. Prosperous areas will have well maintained roads with travelers and patrols using them frequently. Characters may also encounter watchtowers, farms, and inns along the way. Poorer regions, those affected by war, or more remote regions will have less well maintained roads, fewer travelers, and few to no amenities between towns. And if your characters can use the roads, expect hostile armies, outlaws, and highwaymen to use them as well. And where the roads go may be limited to the most populated regions, forcing your characters to leave the path if they want to get to isolated villages, caves, temples, or even a wizard’s tower.

Use the water- Of course, you can have your characters forgo land transportation and use the rivers, lakes, and seas. Rafts, ferry boats, and ocean going ships are all viable options. It should be noted that these are not perfect solutions. Rapids and waterfalls will force characters back onto land until they find gentler waters. Storms can delay or sink vessels, and cold winters will freeze water over. Of course, a frozen river or lake is just an excuse to get out the ice skates. Droughts will dry up streams and small lakes, and recent rains can turn placid waters into unsurvivable whitewater.

Up in the trees- Hate to burst your bubble here, but swinging from vines is something that only exists in fiction. If you try to do this in real life, it will not work out well…provided you can even find sufficient vines or fig roots. Of course, in your story, you are free to do what you want. Nothing is going to stop you…well except maybe for your readers and the critics who will pan you for using what may be considered an overused and unoriginal trope. Other options include bridges, cable cars, or even zip lines.

Taking flight- Of course, the forest will not pose an obstacle if your characters can simply fly. This can be achieved by characters that possess wings of some sort. They could have a winged mount, or they could hitch a ride on a vehicle like a helicopter or ultralight plane.

Underground- If in doubt, take a cue from moles and dwarves. Tunnels can serve the same function as roads, with all the benefits and drawbacks included. Of course your characters will also have to be aware that cave-ins are a real and present danger. These can be natural, or deliberate sabotage. And your characters best hope all the recent tunneling hasn’t awaken any ancient evils from long ago…

Word Find Tag!

I'm catching up with my tags and asks today, because there were so many and I'm not sure if I'll have the time this week, so please bear with me my mutuals (:

I was tagged by @i-can-even-burn-salad, (here)! I'll go with my newest WIP, Of Starlight and Beasts, for this one!

My words are: hurt, help, mercy, and voice Your words are: loyal, haste, frost, and glory

I'll be tagging (gently, with absolutely no pressure): @lassiesandiego, @unstablewifiaccess, @hrmkingizzy, @elshells, @illarian-rambling, @meerawrites, @tabswrites, @rickie-the-storyteller, @jay-avian, @crowandmoonwriting, @writernopal, @elshells, @thetruearchmagos, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams, @clairelsonao3, @apolline-lucy, @oh-no-another-idea, @little-peril-stories, @cowboybruncha nd @kaylinalexanderbooks

✨Contains SPOILERS for the WIP Of Starlight and Beasts✨

Read more for the following scenes (below the cut) (:

A very confused magic boy (Arammys) and The Squad tm waking up in an unknown dungeon and meeting someone important who is not in a good mood.

An old enemy becoming a new friend. The characters make a gamble with their fates - this might be another trap, but it also might be the alliance that tips the scales in their favor. Only one way to find out.

The team's usually collected, calm and fearless character losing it for a second and being vulnerable for the first time in front of his friends. He hates it.

An adorable lesbian warrior showcasing an awesome hidden ability to save her newfound friends, and Arammys being terrified of heights.

Hurt

[...] "Are you okay?! Did they hurt you?" He heard a voice, her voice, coming from the other side of the cobblestone wall, muffled but still clear. The lighting was dim enough that he could see his hands, and there was clearly torch light coming from down the hall ahead.

It took little more than a second of adjusting his sight to realize they were trapped in a dungeon of sorts. How quaint.

Through the ringing in his ears, to the other side, he could also hear Tomasa cursing and punching something metallic, while straight ahead the twins quipped about something he could not quite make out. A strange ache flared in his head, and he closed his eyes tightly.

"I think I'm fine. But where-" He brushed his hands over his eyes, trying to refocus on something that wasn't the irritating ringing in his head "...Where are we though?"

"I'm not sure of where exactly - we got ambushed in the forest sometime ago and the next thing I know we woke up here."

"I figured that much pretty quick. But still, where are we? Do we know this place? Who do we get to thank for our undelighfully icky new accommodations now?"

Just as Arammys finished his sentence, there was a soundless woosh of fabric up ahead. He looked up, squinting through the bars, to see a long-haired figure clad in intricate armor standing right outside the door, stone-faced. He closed his mouth into a thin line.

"That would be me." [...]

Help

[...] "Why should we trust you?" Corah leveled her sword at him, the tip of the blade inches from him. Her eyes were unyielding, and behind her, the group watched the new arrival with a mix of shock and fear.

Bastien lifted up his hands placatingly, calmly taking a step forward and letting the sword hit the chest plate of his armor.

"Because I can help. If you go into her realm alone, none of you will make it out."

Corah scoffed, tightening her grip on the blade's hilt. She tilted her head. "That's awfully convenient coming from the guy who tried to kill us in our sleep only a month ago. Now you expect us to be stupid enough to follow you like ducklings right into your Queen's slaughter hall, is that it?"

"No!" He exclaimed, before regaining his calm composure "Look, you have no reason to forgive me, and frankly, I can understand if you won't fully trust me either. I know I wouldn't. That's not what I'm asking for - but consider this, I'm already committing high treason just by coming here. And most certainly for bringing you this."

He slowly reached for his satchel, not once breaking eye contact with the girl, who watched his every move, expecting the worst. His hand reappeared a second later, holding the amulet for all to see. Behind her, gasps echoed around the small clearing.

Blood and embers swirled inside the glowing crystal. Corah recognized it immediately - everyone knew the story, a symbol of the bitter love that shook their nations and sparked a war, Queen Meira's best-kept secret.

Corah lowered her sword, eyes still narrowed.

"How did you get that?"

"...Because the Queen also happens to be the liar who called herself my mother." [...]

Mercy

Eidan's shoulders stiffened, and he stared emptily at the destruction ahead. His fingers brushed the bracelet around his left wrist, seeking comfort. "The 'Eclipsed' aren't exactly known for their mercy, that I know well."

Their group went silent as they realized what he meant, the howling of the foggy wind and creaking trees outside the massacred temple being the only sounds surrounding them for a long moment.

Mason, of all people, stopped his bickering with his twin, suddenly aware of the turn the conversation had taken. He reached out a hand, hoping it would be a comforting gesture, but as soon as the tip of his fingers brushed against the fabric over Eidan's shoulder, the young man flinched away violently.

"I don't need your pity." Eidan snapped, distant eyes mixing the current anger he was feeling with the fear his memories brought back to the surface before his expression numbed again, "We should keep going, we'll be wasting daylight at this rate."

"Are you sure-"

"I said we should keep going." Eidan didn't look over his shoulder nor spoke anything else, practically marching ahead of the group and turning back to the trail they should be following.

Voice

"Oh my gods, oh my gods, oh my-!" His voice became raggedy as the dragon flew higher, having caught them just seconds before they would've hit the ground. He clings to her golden scales, trying to digest the fact that this giant dragon was the same friend who loved to arm wrestle sailors at a tavern and dance to rowdy music.

Tomasa is a dragon - that should be the most shocking thing at this moment. However, given their distance from the ground and her speed as arrows soared past them, Arammys' main concern centered around not falling to his death.

"Pretty cool, huh?" She turns her long neck to look over her shoulder for a moment, nearly hitting the city wall in the process.

Arammys swallowed, clutching the scales around her neck so tightly he thought the muscles of his hands would snap. "That's - certainly a word. I'm just not sure it applies!" The words faded out into a terrified scream as their dragoness friend purposefully swirled in circles in the air, her hearty laugh rattling through his bones.

"Aw, don't be such a killjoy! This is amazing." Tomasa exclaimed, stretching out her wings. When Arammys didn't answer, she tried to look at him again but was unable to see his face as he held on to her neck for dear life.

She let out a deep sigh, her voice ringing with the kind of deadpan disbelief that only a seasoned fighter could have. "Don't tell me this boy has his eyes closed."

Corah snorted out a single laugh at their friend's tone, placing a reassuring hand on Arammys' back, before answering her. "He's got his eyes closed."

"You've got to be kidding me."