I was getting pretty fed up with links and generators with very general and overused weapons and superpowers and what have you for characters so:
Here is a page for premodern weapons, broken down into a ton of subcategories, with the weapon’s region of origin.
Here is a page of medieval weapons.
Here is a page of just about every conceived superpower.
Here is a page for legendary creatures and their regions of origin.
Here are some gemstones.
Here is a bunch of Greek legends, including monsters, gods, nymphs, heroes, and so on.
Here is a website with a ton of (legally attained, don’t worry) information about the black market.
Here is a website with information about forensic science and cases of death. Discretion advised.
Here is every religion in the world.
Here is every language in the world.
Here are methods of torture. Discretion advised.
Here are descriptions of the various methods used for the death penalty. Discretion advised.
Here are poisonous plants.
Here are plants in general.
Feel free to add more to this!
Updated 9th September 2024 More writing tips, review tips & writing description notes
Facial Expressions
Masking Emotions
Smiles/Smirks/Grins
Eye Contact/Eye Movements
Blushing
Voice/Tone
Body Language/Idle Movement
Thoughts/Thinking/Focusing/Distracted
Silence
Memories
Happy/Content/Comforted
Love/Romance
Sadness/Crying/Hurt
Confidence/Determination/Hopeful
Surprised/Shocked
Guilt/Regret
Disgusted/Jealous
Uncertain/Doubtful/Worried
Anger/Rage
Laughter
Confused
Speechless/Tongue Tied
Fear/Terrified
Mental Pain
Physical Pain
Tired/Drowsy/Exhausted
Eating
Drinking
Warm/Hot
Some old notes on three-point lighting 💡
Pacing Through Sentence Length in Writing
You ever notice how a scene can feel like it’s dragging or speeding up based solely on the length of the sentences? Sentence length isn't just a technical detail—it’s a pacing tool. When used right, it can control the speed and tension of your story. Here’s how:
Short Sentences = Speed, Tension, Impact
Short, snappy sentences are like quick breaths, instantly pulling the reader’s attention. They mimic fast action, nervous energy, or urgent thoughts. They create momentum. Think of action scenes or emotional moments—often, less is more.
Example: The door slammed shut. His heart raced. She was gone.
In just three sentences, you feel the urgency, the chaos, and the emotional weight of the moment. It’s all about breaking up the narrative with these quick hits to keep the reader on edge.
Long Sentences = Build-up, Reflection, Depth
On the flip side, long sentences slow things down, adding complexity, reflection, or tension. They’re great for moments of introspection, world-building, or setting a scene in rich detail. These sentences create a flow, pulling the reader into the character’s headspace or the atmosphere of the moment.
Example: The wind howled through the narrow alley, carrying the distant sounds of a city that never seemed to sleep, never seemed to rest, and in that eternal hum, he wondered, not for the first time, if he would ever find peace here or if, like everyone else who tried to escape the shadows, he would simply become another part of the city’s endless noise.
Here, the length of the sentence mimics the complexity of the thoughts—heavy, reflective, almost hypnotic. It builds tension not with action but with an overwhelming feeling of being stuck or trapped in thought.
Combining Both = Dynamic Flow
The real magic happens when you mix short and long sentences. This creates a rhythm—suddenly, a break in the flow, a quick shock, and then back to a longer, more drawn-out moment. It reflects real life: quick bursts of action or emotion followed by moments of pause or thought.
Example: He reached for the door. It was locked. His heart pounded, each beat a reminder of how badly he needed this. There were no other options. There was no way out. The key could be anywhere. And he could not afford to wait any longer.
Long sentences = build tension, create depth, set mood. Short sentences = ramp up urgency, show action, make an impact. Mastering this flow is a game-changer for pacing!
This was forwarded to me by a former colleague who attended a course on how to publish/edit a book. You probably already know most of these tips, but there might be something you’ll find helpful, who knows…
QUESTIONS TO ASK DURING FIRST PHASE OF EDITING
GENERAL STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK (what the story is and how it is being told):
What is the book about? What is the driving force behind the narrative?
Who is the audience for this book?
Is it based on real experience?
Does the story work? Are there any parts that feel unconvincing or where the narrative drags?
Are there any parts I don’t understand?
What is the trajectory or the shape of the story?
Does the story start in the right place?
How quickly do I become immersed in the book?
Are there any points where my immersion in the story is broken, or I lose interest?
Do I believe in what I’m reading?
How satisfying is the ending? Does it feel inevitable?
Does it feel like anything is missing?
Is there anything extraneous (characters, detail, unnecessary plot points)?
What is the narrative point of view (first person, second person, third person)? Does it change? Is it consistent? Does it work? What might be lost or gained if the story were told another way?
Is the tense consistent? If it changes, is it necessary?
Does coincidence feature as a plot device? If so, is there another way to engineer the same events?
Keep reading
I updated my taglist with links to the more noteworthy theories.*
*…that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re good. they just got a lot of notes.
Here’s are the links for mobile users:
Undertale:
A CHARActer Analysis (bring snacks)
Don’t GOAT Breaking My Heart
The Soul in the Machine
Where is Frisk Post-Pacifist?
Deltarune:
Meta
Kris, Frisk, and Chara are Nonbinary (and why it matters)
Weak Points
On Susie’s Very Cool Gender
Frisk-Kris Parallels
Ralsei Parallels
Deltarune’s message isn’t that escapism is a bad thing
Taking a Closer Look at “Tea Theory”
Deeplore:
A More Compassionate View: The Red Soul is Here to Help
Deltarune’s Timeline May Have Been Reset Before
Two Characters Control the Save/Load Screen
The Red Soul Turned Yellow and Saved Kris on its Own
Who is the Narrator Talking to When They Say “You”?
Things that Support Chara being the Narrator in Deltarune
Super Forbidden Acid Lake Dialogue I Intend to be Annoying About
How to Hack the Susie Plush Into Your Game (pre-bug fix)
Why There May Be More Types of Boss Monsters
Kris Has a Trusting Nature (And May Trust Us)
Let’s Talk about Papyrus!
We Don’t Know Where Asriel Is
Susie May Be from a Human Community
Ralsei’s Astral Projection Habit - It’s Not About Us. It’s About Susie.
Things that indicate Noelle may return to the Dark Worlds
Ralsei’s Prophecy has ties to Gaster
Taking a Meandering Look at the New Green Room
Kris and Susie may have been friends in the past (and had a falling out)
What age was Kris adopted by the Dreemurrs?
Friendship Propaganda:
Kris and Susie
Kris Grew To Care About Susie (Chapter 1)
Kris Cares About Susie Outside of Our Influence (Chapter 2)
Kris May Have Considered Susie a Friend Before Chapter 1 (Halloween Pencil)
Kris Deliberately Gives Susie Space
Kris wasn’t afraid of Susie even before she joined the team
Kris wants to spend time with Susie
Susie is still a little insecure about her friendship with Kris
Susie might have wanted to be friends with Kris since before Chapter 1
Susie is putting a lot of effort into connecting with Kris
Kris and Susie are both choosing to be friends and there’s nothing we can do about it
Kris and Susie may have been friends in the past (and had a falling out)
Ralsei
Ralsei’s Not Afraid to Get Mad at Susie (which is good)
Susie’s friendship with Ralsei changed over Chapter 2
Kris Considers Ralsei a Friend
Noelle and Kris
Why Noelle values her friendship with Kris
Noelle is an incredible friend and reaches out to Kris constantly
Noelle has been saving Kris (on both routes)
Kris was likely sincere when they said they were friends with Noelle
Noelle and Kris are supportive of each other’s relationship with Susie
Both Kris and Noelle enjoy reconnecting
Susie and Noelle
Noelle is NOT “Unhealthily Obsessed” with Susie (A Cranky Post)
The Susie and Noelle Friendship Propaganda Post
Noelle is genuinely interested in Susie as a person
Yes, there is evidence Susie has a crush on Noelle
Misc Warm Fuzzies
Alphys Might Be Trying to Look Out for Susie.
Things that indicate Undyne might bond with Susie
The Reason Kris Refuses to Give Spamton the Soul
Susie Has the Biggest Heart on the Team
I think we should try taking a closer look at where she came from to understand what her state of mind was back then.
Susie isn’t from Hometown.
Wherever she was from, she was not treated well.
And, upon coming to Hometown…things weren’t much better.
In Hometown, Susie is
Chronically underfed
Likely homeless
Hated by most of her classmates
Close to being expelled and losing her last tether to a normal life
Susie was at the very, very end of her rope at the beginning of Chapter 1.
Keep reading
The newest post on my blog discusses five books that I think are essential to helping writers grow. They break the craft apart in easy-to-read ways. You'll treat yourself to funny lessons and entertaining perspectives while strengthening your ability to write captivating stories.
Check out the post here!
i'm AWARE this is a stupid hill to die on, but like. trope vs theme vs cliché vs motif vs archetype MATTERS. it matters to Me and i will die on this hill no matter how much others decide it's pointless. words mean things
Susie and noelle.... gay people...