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[writing-kit-cat]

How to Draw Native People: a Tutorial/Reference Guide

As requested, here is a basic guide for how to draw Indigenous peoples (mostly focused on North America)! Also please note that this is not an exhaustive list of Native American phenotypes/features, and more like an intro on very common features that can be found in us, and even then, not altogether at once on a single person’s face. I highly encourage the use of references and care taken into research when drawing. I may do a part 2 that goes slightly more into depth, but for now, enjoy part one.

Resouces:

How to draw Native Skin tutorial (don’t draw us red!)

List of Native American Celebrities, which include their tribe(s) and home country, with 1,250 names, to use for your referencing pleasure

How to draw black people by Peachdeluxe, & Black hair in depth by misslaney for mixed black Natives

How to draw East Asian People, a guide by Chuwenjie, for mixed Asian Natives AND because it includes a lovely tutorial on monolid eyes, a shared feature of Native people

get drawin!!

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Man do you ever think sometimes about the extent of not-words you can use in text-based communication that you can’t spoken aloud?

Like [        ] or  ▀̪͈͍ͨ̚▀̣̹̲͎̬̥ͩͭ̃͊ͯ̑̀͟▀̠̯̬͚̥̜͕̫̍̒͛̀ͨ͂̄̀͡▀̬͔̮̏͑̌͛̉̂͊ͨͨ▀̶̛̳̱̗̺̭̔ͫ̿͑̋͢ for example- in a written format I can really mess with my text. Even just typing a normal word but like ｔｈｉｓ suddenly gives it a completely different spin. Even with more mundane text alteration, my ability to control my tone with minor shifts or compounding them makes things really interesting.

People have already talked in great deal about using punctuation- frankly, completely bugfucking the rules of punctuation as they are understood by older schools of grammar as my spellcheck program frequently reminds me- but there’s really something fascinatingly visual about writing as a medium. The words physically exist in space. Sentences have different weight if I put them before or after a paragraph break.

There’s a fascinating

cadence

to words and their position and arrangement, and the most fascinating thing is that especially in stuff like vines and memes, is you will see people using editing and even just their natural voice to try and emulate the rhythms and patterns of text manipulation- plenty of memes feature sudden shifts in volume or tone that feel like they’re trying to be the out-loud version of ⓉⒽⒾⓢ

and this started as a shitpost but turned into like, actual linguistic rambling so. there we go.

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all the tips I found for drawing a fantasy map are like :) “here’s a strategy to draw the land masses! here’s how to plot islands!” :) and that’s wonderful and I love them all but ??? how? do y'all decide where to put cities/mountains/forests/towns I have my map and my land but I’m throwing darts to decide where the Main Citadel where the Action Takes Place is

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THROUGH A RAPIST’S EYES” (PLS TAKE TIME TO READ THIS. It may save a life, It may save your life.)

An Article from Neena Susan Thomas

“Through a rapist’s eyes. A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were interview…ed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts:

1] The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun! , braid, or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.

2] The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for women who’s clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around to cut clothing.

3] They also look for women using their cell phone, searching through their purse or doing other activities while walking because they are off guard and can be easily overpowered.

4] The number one place women are abducted from / attacked at is grocery store parking lots.

5] Number two is office parking lots/garages.

6] Number three is public restrooms.

7] The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to a second location where they don’t have to worry about getting caught.

8] If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn’t worth it because it will be time-consuming.

9] These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas,or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their hands.

10] Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys you’re not worth it.

POINTS THAT WE SHOULD REMEMBER:

1] If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like what time is it, or make general small talk: can’t believe it is so cold out here, we’re in for a bad winter. Now that you’ve seen their faces and could identify them in a line- up, you lose appeal as a target.

2] If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell Stop or Stay back! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they’d leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target.

3] If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes,) yelling I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and holding it out will be a deterrent.

4] If someone grabs you, you can’t beat them with strength but you can do it by outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm between the elbow and armpit or in the upper inner thigh – HARD. One woman in a class this guy taught told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands the guy needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it; it really hurts.

5] After the initial hit, always go for the groin. I know from a particularly unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy’s parts it is extremely painful. You might think that you’ll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want a woman who will not cause him a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble, and he’s out of there.

6] When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible. The instructor did it to me without using much pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly.

7] Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don’t dismiss it, go with your instincts. You may feel little silly at the time, but you’d feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.

FINALLY, PLEASE REMEMBER THESE AS WELL ….

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do it.

2. Learned this from a tourist guide to New Orleans : if a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you…. chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car: Kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won’t see you but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping,eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON’T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side,put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU CLOSE the DOORS , LEAVE.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:

a. Be aware: look around your car as someone may be hiding at the passenger side , peek into your car, inside the passenger side floor, and in the back seat. ( DO THIS TOO BEFORE RIDING A TAXI CAB) .

b. If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.

c. Look at the car parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot).

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP IT! It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked “for help” into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

Send this to any woman you know that may need to be reminded that the world we live in has a lot of crazies in it and it’s better safe than sorry.

If u have compassion reblog this post. ‘Helping hands are better than Praying Lips’ – give us your helping hand.

REBLOG THIS AND LET EVERY GIRL KNOW AT LEAST PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHATS GOING ON IN THIS WORLD. So please reblog this….Your one reblog can Help to spread this information.

THIS COULD ACTUALLY SAVE A LIFE.”

[writing-kit-cat]

In case you don’t follow the AO3_status Twitter.

Unrelated to the ongoing server work, one of our machines had a little mishap, which means that emails are going out a bit slower than usual. Notifications might be delayed by a few hours, sorry! We’ll let you know when all mail servers are back.

PS: The Support team is aware.

June 9, 2020

[writing-kit-cat]

im going to have a stroke

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For all my writers struggling with weaponry of the sword variety. 

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here’s my hot take

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you know what trope i just go maximum apeshit for every goddamn time?

when a character has to improvise a weapon under urgent circumstances.

im talking characters in handcuffs using them to garrote enemies

characters swinging objects that are WILDLY un-aerodynamic (a table, a a garden gate.)

or throwing objects that are wildly un-damaging (an inflatable chair, a bunch of flowers)

throwing something soft and light over someones head as a brief distraction

using the ENVIRONMENT against their adversary (pulling a rug from under them, slamming a door in their face)

using weapons that are broken or not working properly, or using them the ‘incorrect’ way (using an empty gun as a bludgeon, Elizabeth Swann pulling that sword off the wall but it still being attached to the wall display)

swordfights using anything BUT swords

people macgyvering wildly ‘low-tech’ improvised contraptions to defeat massively high-tech and well organised attacks

loading a blunderbuss or shotgun with something commonplace and either not-at-all dangerous or surprisingly lethal (sand, cutlery, buttons)

i love this trope so much

[writing-kit-cat]

okay I’m v curious about this so fanfic writers reblog and put in the tags whether you title your fic before or after you write it

#mostly before #sometimes after cause I think up something better later

[writing-kit-cat]

Fantasy Guide to Crowns

Crown is a general term and can be used to describe whatever headgear you royals sport. But if you want to a certain kind of crown, here are some terms you should know.

Circlet:

This is a headband. It can be simple or ornate depending on your character’s status in life. Male and female characters can wear these but it is more often worn by women. Ladies from noble families up to princesses can wear these.

Coronet:

This term is forever used incorrectly. A coronet is the crown of a peer of the realm (lords, dukes, earls). They are only used in ceremonies such as a coronation.

Tiara:

This is a common one. Tiaras are worn by princesses or queens regnant or consorts. Tiaras are not strictly for women, however. George the Fourth of England wore a tiara at his coronation, the same one Queen Elizabeth II wears today.

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Fantasy Wardrobe: Gowns

Skirts, ball gowns and chitons. Fantasy fashion is seen more often on women than the men so we focus on their clothes more. Sorry for this bible of a post.

Under the gown

Stop that dirty mind. These are the structures that hold out the gown to keep it the shape desired.

Farthingale/verdugado: were a series of hoops stitched into a sheath of material. This was worn under the gown in order to plump it out.

Pannier: Unlike to the farthingale, these were set at the hips rather than all around the body. These were popular in the 17th and 18th centuries. They extended the width of the skirt keeping the front and back panels flat.

Crinoline: This is a structured petticoat made to plump out a skirt of a gown popular in Victorian times. They were popular at the mid-19th century.

Petticoat: This is an underskirt worn under a skirt or a dress. Modern ones are made of layer after layer of tulle or netting.

Chemise/shift: A long underdress made of light material worn under the corset, kirtle and gown.

Top of the gown

This portion of the gown covers from the shoulders to the hips/waist.

Bodice: This part is the where the gown covers area from the neck to the waist.

Halter Neck: The halter neck’s straps go up the shoulders and are fastened at the neck, exposing the shoulders and having a plunging neckline.

Plunging Neck: The neckline makes a V from the neck/shoulders in the direction of the navel.

Empire Line: This style was popular in the Napoleonic courts. The bodice ends below the bust line and here the skirt begins flowing.

Boat neckline: This neckline runs from one shoulder to the other like Meghan Markle’s wedding gown.

Sweetheart: This makes a loveheart shape over the bust.

Scooped: a round neckline

Square: a square neckline

Sheer: When a see-through piece of material is sewn over the top of the gown.

Sleeves

The sleeves of the gown are just as important as the rest of it. Again variations lead to a wider sense of imagination.

Cold Shoulder: The sleeves begins at the top of the shoulder while the rest drapes behind, allowing the arm to be seen through it. Also called Angel sleeve.

Batwing sleeve: This sleeve has a deeper area for the arm and tapers thinner toward the wrist. Also called a magyar.

Bell sleeve: The sleeve runs down the shoulder and flares out from the elbow

Bishop sleeve : This sleeve is loose from the arm but tight at the cuff.

Cap sleeve: This only covers the top of the shoulder.

Fitted point sleeve: The sleeve tapers tp the back of the back in a point.

Gigotor: This sleeve is wide at the upper part of the arm but narrows at the elbow and wrist.

Hanging sleeve: This sleeve that slits at the side or front or the elbow, allowing the arm to peak out. Popular in mediaeval times.

Juliet sleeve : This sleeve has a puff at the top and runs down the arm or leaves it bare. See Snow White.

Lantern sleeve: The top of the sleeve runs straight and then puffs out between wrist and elbow

Poet sleeve: This long sleeve is fitted tight at the shoulder to elbow flares at the elbow and wrist.

Wizard’s sleeve: This sleeve runs from shoulder to wrist opening there and draping toward the floor with points.

Skirts

The shapes of the skirt vary. Try different shapes with your world to give a feeling of variety and depth.

A-line: This skirt flares out from the bodice with a gentle slope almost like the letter A.

Ballgown: This skirt stretches from the bodice in a wide shape. Think of the massive gowns on Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.

Bell Jar: Similar to the ballgown only the hem slightly goes in making it look like a bell.

Drop Waist Silhouette: This skirt begins below the hips from a loose seam. Most popular in 1920s.

Mermaid Silhouette: The gown is tight and fitting from the neck down to the knees of shins where is flares out like a fish’s tale.

Trumpet Silhouette: The skirt flares out from the mid thigh region.

High-Low skirt: the skirt is short at the front and long in the back. The mullet of gowns if you will.

Train: This is a sweep of material that trails behind the lady as she walks.

Examples of interesting historical gowns.

Sack-back gown or robe à la française: Popular in the 18th century. This style has the fabric gathered and streaming from the shoulders like a cape. The gown is open at the front to show the stomacher and petticoat. Here panniers will be worn, the wider the richer the lady. This gown often had ¾ length sleeves.

Robe à la polonaise: This is a gown with a skirt that is cutaway, draped and ruffled at the overskirt. It can also be fitted.

Robe à l'anglaise: Similar to the francaise, the back of the gown was pleated into a cape like train. The gown was open in front to show the petticoat and the sleeves reached the elbows.

Tudor Style: This gown has a square neckline which may or may not include a sheer. The sleeves an be fitted to elbow and then billow out, lined with fur or are fitted at the elbow and wrist, showing the chemise underneath.

Chiton: This dress is often seen in Roman or Greek art. The Doric version was made by draping material over the body and fastened at the shoulder by clasps The Ionic chiton version was draped about the body and pinned at the waist.

Civil War Gown: These gowns featured drop shoulder sleeves, had low necklines, and ridiculously voluminous skirts. All this had to have petticoats and crinoline to keep the shape.

Tea gown: These gowns were seen in 19th century clothes. They had little form or structure and were often made of light fabrics.

Russian court dress: This gown consisted of robes worn over a tablier, with a boat neckline and cold shoulder sleeves.

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best monster designs:

thing with multiple eyes and mouths full of too many teeth that should be biologically impossible but somehow isn't

e̮̬̬͕̟̜͡l͙͓̳̙͈ͅd̳̞̖͙͚̦r̢͓i̶t̸̬̯͙̲ͅc͖̭̖̺̮h̥̠ ̭̤̹̦̩h̠̬̞̠ͅo͖͔r͔̲͈̻̫̝̺͡r̲͚o̯r͚̞͘ ̳̱͎͍t͏̣̣͈͇o̮̣̭̹o̦̹̠ ̹̖̘͢t̜̱͟e̥̳̭̝̺̜r̨̤͕̼r̠͡i̶b̠̩l͉̠̺̖͕̞͞ḛ̡̖͚ ̥͚̣͢to͇̦̮͞ ̫d̹̹͎̫e̝͚͞s̞͖͕̯̟̕c̲r̦̗̤̥͖̤̞͡i̡͉̭͖̻b̴̬̣͈̠̭ͅe̻̯͍̹̭͖͢

deer but it's scary

something perfectly ordinary and normal only there's something slightly... off about it that you just can't pin down

dragon

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Fantasy Guide: Horses, Steeds and Mounts

Horses are a staple of fantasy. Instead of writing them as emotionless vehicles lets give them life.

Horse Terminology

Mare: female horse

Gelding: castrated male horse, big boned and gentle

Stallion: male horse, more agressive

Foal: baby horse

Filly: girl baby horse

Colt : boy baby horse

Yearling: a horse a year old, too young to ride

Pony: small, smart and sturdy,

Colour

When writing horses, we like to colour them in. Make sure to have a look at my colours post for some symbolic choices.

Appaloosa: white hair and dark patches

Bay: red-brown, dark, mahogany bay, red bay, sandy are all common shades but bay must always have a hint of black.

Black: black but keep in mind that pure black is very rare.

Chestnut/Sorrel: reddish coat, may have brown/rws

Dun: yellowish commonly but can be reddish yellow horse

Paint/Pinto – white patches

Palomino: golden coat, white mane

Piebald – dark-skinned, with large splotches of black and white

Roan: blue or strawberry; mixed colored and white hairs. A blue roan has black and white manes, red roans have white manes.

Physical signs

These all tell you what the horse is telling you. Listen to your horse.

Blow: exhaling through the nose. This indicates curiousness and often followed by nuzzling.

Breathing: Yes, check if the horse is breathing first. Always a good point. But yes, horses have a resting breath that is relaxed. Changes to this could mean anxiety or fear.

Ears are up and pointed forward: alert and interested

Ears are pointed out to the side: Sleepy, tired, unwell or submissive.

Ears are pointed up: unwell or bored

Ears are back and pinned flat against the head: angry and aggressive. Fuck off right now or you’ll catch these hooves.

Neigh/Whinny: a sound made to look for company in people or horses.

Nicker: usually means “hello” in either a friendly context or a mating context. Mama horse will nicker to their kids.

Scream: usually while fighting some other horses.

Snort: exhaling through the nose sharply which is code for where’s the danger.

Feeding time

Horses need to be fed and it’s expensive. Horses are the most costly thing for a castle or army to have. It takes money to field a large calvary so make sure you have some food on board.

Apples and fruit.

Barley

Bran

Grass

Hays

Oats

Root vegetables – beetroot, carrots, parsnips, and turnips

Tack

Corn

Tack

This is the term for your horses kit. This will be a basic list.

Saddle: Your seat on the horse

Stirrups: supports that hang from either side of the saddle to support the feet.

Girth: A belt that fastens the saddle to the horse.

Bridle: The bit that goes over the horse’s face

Reins: connected to the bridle and ensures you have a grip

Bit: this is what the horse has between its teeth.

Horn: a raised portion of the saddle that sits at the point where the saddle is close to the neck.

Blanket: a drape of fabric used to warm a horse or stop rubbing from the saddle.

Things you ought to know about horses

Riding bareback (i hear you laughing, pervert) is actually quite hard and dangerous

Horses have limits and most can gallop all night without a break

Horses often break legs and sometimes must be put down (honestly fuck you Veronica, #cobalt deserved better)

Horses die in battle, not all horses make it out (you go, Joey)

Common horses mentioned in fantasy

Destrier: The most popular war horse of the medieval era. These horses are only ever really used by knights in battles, tournaments, and jousts. It was not the most common horse but it was considered the desired of horses even being called “the great”. Usually male, these horses were renowned for their agility able to turn quickly making it suitable for battle. Destriers are expensive. When one looks in the histories you seen them going for almost ten times the price of another breed. The breed has since died out but scientists and equestrians have since been trying to reproduce them.

Courser: This was the more commonly used and available war horse. It is fast and strong horse ridden by knights and men-at-arms. They were not expensive than the destrier but still would cost a pretty penny.

Rouncey: A commonly used horse used anything and everything. Mostly used for riding, the horse could be trained for battle.

Palfrey: Would be an expensive horse for riding. It was a slender horse with an ambling gait so it was prized for traveling over distance.

Hunters: Or more commonly called Thoroughbred. The Thoroughbred is a fast horse and an agile one. Though vest for racing, the thoroughbred was mostly used when the nobility went riding in hunting excursions.

[writing-kit-cat]

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!

[writing-kit-cat]

Resources For Writing Deaf, Mute, or Blind Characters

Despite the fact that I am not deaf, mute, or blind myself, one of the most common questions I receive is how to portray characters with these disabilities in fiction.

As such, I’ve compiled the resources I’ve accumulated (from real life deaf, mute, or blind people) into a handy masterlist.

Deaf Characters:

Deaf characters masterpost

Deaf dialogue thread

Dialogue with signing characters (also applies to mute characters.)

A deaf author’s advice on deaf characters

Dialogue between deaf characters

Mute

Life as a Mute

My Silent Summer:  Life as a Mute

What It’s Like Being Mute

21 People Reveal What It’s Really Like To Be Mute

I am a 20 year old Mute, ask me anything at all!

Blind Characters:

The 33 Worst Mistakes Writers Make About Blind Characters.

@referenceforwriters masterpost of resources for writing/playing blind characters.

The youtube channel of the wonderful Tommy Edison, a man blind from birth with great insight into the depiction of blind people and their lives.

An Absolute Write thread on the depiction of blind characters, with lots of different viewpoints and some great tips.

And finally, this short, handy masterpost of resources for writing blind characters.

If you have any more resources to add, let me know!  I’ll be adding to this post as I find more resources.

I hope this helps, and happy writing!  <3