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writers-potion · 3 days

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Writing Weapons (3): Staffs, Spears and Polearms

Staffs

The staff is inexpensive and in the hand of a skilled fighter - deadly.

Particularly useful for entertaining fight scene, or for spontaneous fights.

A seasoned fighter can fight with a broomstick or garden hoe.

Useful for petite heroine: much lighter, long enough to fight at a distance so that he can't tackle or grapple

Spears

In most period, spears were the most common weapon for warfare

spears are cheaper than swords (better for large armies&peasants)

Spears can be tipped wth metal, stone, or anything at hand (bone, glass shards), or simply have one end sharpened to a point.

The Throwing Spear

An army would throw lots of spear at the enemy to do as much damage as possible before closing in

Each soldier may hold multiple throwing spears

The 'atatl' is used for loading the spear on the shoulder and catapulating it forward. This sllows women to hurl a spear with as much strength as a man.

Some spears are designed so their tips break on impact to prevent re-use.

Throwing spears are fairly lightweight. It is sometimes called 'javelin'.

The Thrusting Spear

The main weapon for peasants pressed into military service

Very long, often made from farming implement

The first row of soldiers kneels with spears low in hand. The second row kneels with spear at hip height. The third row stands with spears at waist height. The fouth holds the spears at shoulder hieight and the fith holds them above.

The thrusting spear is sometimes called 'lance'. If it's very long, it's called a 'pike'.

A warrior can hold a spear in the right and a shield in the left.

Polearms

Polearms are thrusting spears with cleverly designed, large heads which can stab, cut, hook, twist, cleave, push or pull.

Can be used as lances or as staffs

They serve best at a distance (preventing a sword-armed fighter), but can use them close-up as well. Some are even designed to pry open plate armour.

Can add authenticity to a medieval fight scene.

Poleaxe

spear with a tip for thrusting combined with an axe-blade for cleaving.

Billhook

Originally an agricultural tool, a hook-shaped blade for clearing brush.

Billhook has a long handle, a long sharp spike as a tip, and a pronounced hook.blade which serves to pull and cut the enemy's legs and ankles.

Halerd

Axe-blade on one side and a hook on the other

Developed to repel horses and to stop swordsmen getting close.

It became a ceremonial weapon, sometimes worn by guardsmen on parade

Blunders to Avoid

Medieval battles where every soldier fights with a sword

Soldier carrying polearms and not using them

adapted from <Writer's Craft> by Rayne Hall

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bunnis-monsters · 3 days

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Writers that use AI for their OCs are WEAK! Use picrew like the rest of us 🫡

#monster fucker #monster fudger #writers on tumblr #writer things #writer stuff #writeblr #joke #ai is theft #ai is not art #ai is stupid

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patronsaintofhomosandpain · 3 days

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STOP SELLING YOURSELF SHORT

༺𖤐๋࣭ ⭑🕸🦇🕸๋࣭ ⭑๋࣭ 𖤐༻

Stop saying “oh I'm just a writer” no NO! You are not just anything!

Unpublished, fanfic, or nyt bestseller, you work hard for that shit! Take pride in it!

Say it with me!

I AM A WRITER

I AM AN AUTHOR

I AM A HARDWORKER

AND THAT CAN NOT AND WILL NOT EVER BE TAKEN FROM ME

Got it?

#writeblr #writers on tumblr #writerscommunity #writing #writblr #writer things #writers #writerscorner #writerslife #book blog #original writing #creative writing #writers block #writing stuff #writing advice #writings #thoughts #advice #tipsy tuesday

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akwardsilince · 1 day

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Person A: "You're too pretty to be this stupid."

Person B: "Excuse me?"

Person A: "Like. I want to shut your mouth. But I'm not sure if I want to sew it shut or kiss it shut, you know?"

#writing #writerblr #writeblr #writer on tumblr #writblr #writer things #conversation #dialogue prompt #writers on tumblr #writerscommunity #writers #writers of tumblr #dialogue inspiration

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arcielee · 2 days

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My co-workers: You're such an avid note taker!

Me at my job, scribbling furiously in a notebook for a smutty Aegon x Reader idea that came to me during a meeting:

#arcie lore #arcie does corporate #i didn't even mention that i enjoyed reading when they asked me what my favorite non-analog hobby was #i was worried they would ask me “what do you read?”#so i panicked and said i did weight lifting in my spare time #like???#writer things

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lannegarrett · 1 day

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Writing Advice:

1. Write what's in your heart

2. Wait, hold up

3. THIS is what's in your heart?

4. Dear god

5. Your poor characters.

6. Why is there so much blood and death?

#writing advice #books #writing #writersnetwork #writers #writers on tumblr #writing community #author #writerscommunity #writers life #tumblr writing community #writer problems #writer things #writers of tumblr #writer #writing process

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pen-pain-poetry · 2 days

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Poetry. It is a drug.

Poetry. It is a drug. I can't live without it. when i am so happy, first thing i do is note down, making rhyme and put mazes going north and south.

Poetry, It is a drug. I can't live without it. when i am so sad, i scream with my words, not voice, feed them my anguish till i can't, till i am numb and sick.

Poetry, It is a drug. I can't live without it. i am writing them, in the exam hall, making poems when i am supposed to be reading.

Poetry, It is a drug. I can't live without it. it is my solace, my serendipity, I found my comfort in it.

©Pen_Pain_Poetry

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your-writing-motivation · 2 days

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*SOBS*

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the-ellia-west · 3 days

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I do not apologize

None of my female characters will be "I'm not like other girls"

or "Absolute Girl boss who don't need no man"

Kila loves dresses and having long hair

Kasi loves dancing and sewing, dresses, and long hair

Shyre is the same as Kasi, but also generally loves being held, supported, and protected

Kila is a Stone cold Killer

Kasi is a Hard-working Middle-class rebel

And Shyre is a Politician

Gender roles my beloved

I'm sorry you don't like them, But I do and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

#ellia writes #ellia's rambling #ellia tcot #ellia's tcot #the cursed one's throne #creative writing #fiction writing #writing community #writer things #writerscommunity #writers on tumblr #writeblr #writing #writers #writer #writeblogging

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byoldervine · 1 day

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How do you make characters who aren't present still feel impactful and like real characters?

My favourite way to do this (and hopefully I’m doing it successfully, haha) is through anecdotes from other characters - because, to them, it might almost feel as though they’re still around

In my oldest attempt at writing The Heir and the Cure before it became Byoldervine, I used a memory of my nan when Connor was thinking of his sick mother; my grandad had been telling her frequently to let her know when she was ready to come out of the bathroom so he could help her back to her chair in the living room, but when she came out she put a finger to her lips and crept away so my grandad wouldn’t catch her standing up and doing other things. That’s one of my last memories of my nan before she died and it’s stuck with me all these years

From a writing perspective, this memory can tell you about her relationship with me and with my grandad, as well as the fact that she was independent, liked to do things her way, a bit playful and mischievous, etc. And at least for me, it has a bigger emotional impact knowing this is a real memory repurposed for a story. Taking real memories to use in your story is definitely something I recommend when making your characters feel alive and real

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writers-potion · 11 hours

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Writing Female Fighters

The Heroine Must. Fight.

Today's female protagonists cannot sit on the side crying and breaking down or whimpering as the battle ensues.

Readers want to see autonomous female fighters who can at least defense themselves with courage and adequate skill.

Not all women are the same, but the heroine should get her butt moving.

Less Muscle, but More Flexibilty

The average woman is shorter than the average man, which makes it more difficult to wield a long sword or slam something down on the opponent's head.

A woman who works out can plausibly be stronger than a male couch potato, but if her male counterpart works out as much as her, the man is going to be much stronger.

On the other hand, the center of gravity in a woman's body is lower than a man's which makes it harder to knock her off her feet.

She is also more flexible, which gives her advantage in grappling fights, making use of complex landscapes, or deflecting blows.

A woman's small size can also be an advantage if her opponent has only ever trained with male opponents. His big hands might not get a good grip on her slender limbs.

In historical fiction, giving your heroine good muscule build can be tricky as exercise was generally considered harmful for women, with some exceptions for horseriding any maybe archery at best.

In such cases, make your heroine an accomplished dancer or an eager horsewoman, or the only girl whose father considered to be son replacement and thus, gave her a boy's education.

Women of lower classes who couldn't afford to be fashionably weak will be plausibly stronger, perhaps even more than an idle gentleman.

More Room for Negotiation, but Prolonged Ruthlessness

In the Suspense part of your fight scene, females are more likely to negotiate and talk more, strategically trying to descalate the situation rather than attacking on a momentary impulse.

Generally, women are less aggressive than men and remain level-headed longer than her male counterparts, opting for non-violent methods first before using force.

Exceptions apply if she is trying to protect her children (or someone who she cares for as a child). Mothers can be tigresses.

A female pre-fight conversation may be: "If you had not done so-and-so and betrayed me with so-and-so, we could have been good friends as I thought we would be." "What do you mean? It was in fact you who brought bad blood between us. I can still hear you laughing with so-and-so, taunting me, purposefully making me look bad -" "But that was so long ago! If you want me to say sorry about something so insignificant, you should have just said so: I'm sorry. There. Satisfied?" "Ha! I can't believe you say that so easily. You still don't get it, do you?" "Who's being petty and unreasonable now?"

A male pre-fight conversation will be shorter: "Who's the coward now?" "You're wrong." "Prove it." "Bastard."

Compared to men, it will take more time for a woman's fight hormones (adrenaline, neurotransmitters and such) to kick in.

She would be slower to engage initially, throwing reluctant punches and thinking, but she'll grow more and more violent and lose all rational thought and compassion, and once she's in full flow, may not stop even when her opponent begs for mercy.

When writing a male-female duo, you can show him going for the first blow while she observes and strategizes first. When he's past his peak and panting, she is flying about left and right. Later when the tension wears off and she becomes wobbly and teary, she can rely on him to have recovered faster and distract other teammates so that they won't see her cry.

Plausible Skills and Backstory

In many cultures and time periods, the general attitude of society towards girls is that they have no place in fist fights or martial arts, unlike how it is encouraged for boys of the same age. So if your heroine has physical prowess that surpasses typical 'fitness' or is hidden, build a backstory of how she's obtained it.

For modern heroines, it can be as simple as signing her up for martial arts classes or yearly membership at the local gym. For historical fiction or girls with strict 'feminine' upbringing, it can be trickier.

It can be related to profession: maybe she was an erotic wrestler, catfighter, or an assasin who thought killing was more honorable than prostitution. They may have dabbles with it for a short time and is now trying to hide their past from their respectable employer or fiance.

It can be family backstory: Perhaps her mother was an accomplished martial artist or she had to fend for younger siblings on the streets from an early age. Maybe she was the only girl in a family of many boys who refused to be the punching bag.

Inexperienced Female Fighters

A woman with no fighting experience or training is likely to resort to one of these on instinct:

Try to talk herself out of the situation, attempting to persuade or negotiate for her life.

Grab something to use as a weapon. This instinct seems to be stronger for women than it is in men.

Use her hands to try and break free, or kick (often wth little success)

Pull hair

Scratch.

In a serious fight, pulling hair and scratching won't be helpful, except when the police come to find her body, they would find the opponent's DNA under her fingernails.

Plausible Weapons and Clothing

All of the above applies to scenes where both parties have no weapons, or has the bare minimum (like one dagger each).

Weapons are equalizers, and if your heroine is pointing a gun at her opponent she will definitely NOT hesitate to be the one to shoot first.

When giving your female character a weapon, choose one she can plausibly use. It would take an unusually brawny woman to wield a great medieval longsword.

For historical fiction, give your heroine something she'll plausibly own. Swords and firearm were a no-go for women, but archery was borderline acceptable.

For clothing starters, you definitely CAN NOT dress her in a tight miniskirt and chainmail bra with long, flowy hair and multiple silver chockers. Unless she's trying to seduce her way into her opponent's bedroom, and he has a chainmail bra fetish.

A practical heroine will have her thighs covered, preferably with leather but at least with fabric, since a lot of blood flows through the thighs and a slash would be critical.

She'll keep her hair tied, tucked under a helmet, braided back, etc. so that it won't impede her vision.

She'll support her breasts with a strong sport bra. In a historical eprioid, she'll either tie her breasts tight with a fabric bandage or support them with some kind of leather corset.

Invent a female version of male fighter clothing of the time you are writing about if it doesn't exist.

If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! 📸

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bunnis-monsters · 2 days

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Sorry if it’s stupid but what’s wrong with using ai for there OCs so that readers get a good idea of what the look like since it looks realistic? I’ve read stories where they use ai pictures they found online that fit how they picture the character and/or with the outfits they’ve described and it really helps, me especially, since they look realistic and they never claim that it’s theirs. Especially since it obviously ai, so if they did I doubt anyone would believe it. Just wanted someone to clarify as I saw your post about stuff like that. Thanks in advance.

That’s because ai is trained with other people’s art/photos, almost always without permission. They steal art and put it into a machine, taking away from artists. Some people even directly steal from artists that say they don’t want their art to be trained with AI just to hurt them.

AI is unethical, every time you put in a prompt you’re feeding the machine and helping to train it. You cannot use AI without fault, because you are helping to train it when you use it.

Instead, I recommend making a Pinterest if you want to find outfits for your characters, maybe trying picrew for character creation, and possibly commissioning artists.

Even if you just use it yourself and don’t post about it, you’re STILL feeding the machine. You’re getting stolen art… and that’s disrespectful to the artists.

I hope this helps to explain it!