a rose turned to a daisy,
“I envy the sunflower for its unapologetic presence
and the way it shines bravely
in a world much too fond of understatement.
I wish my petals were a bright as she.”
a sunflower turned to an iris,
“I envy the rose’s delicate beauty
and thorns that ware off bad intentions
and those who only love her for her bloom.
I wish my petals were as rich as she.”
A few days ago, I got together an extensive list of Super Powers to aid in people’s character creation. In a similar vein, I wanted to create a post with a few tips and tricks one might employ when making a gifted vigilante or superhero sort of character.
Though one thing to keep in mind when developing the areas below for your character, that each thing is generally connected to create a cohesive and believable MC. For example, the outfit/armor of your hero may tie into their power and/or their backstory. Or vice versa. All of the elements of a super hero character- the clothes, the powers, the backstory, everything, are generally connected in some way.
There are a few things to consider when creating your character’ super suit. First, how does it tie into the hero’s identity? Generally, it can tie in a few different ways…
It ties into their powers
It’s design and overall style could harken to the hero’s powers. Like Mr. Lightning bolt man having a lightning bolt on the chest of his suit. This is pretty common with most superheroes though it doesn’t have to be the case.
Another way it can tie into the character’s power can be done by functionality. Think about The Incredibles and how each person’s suit is designed to match their powers. For example, Violet’s suit disappears along with her. In general, the functionality of the armor or suit of your hero should definitely be taken into account, especially where their skills are concerned. We don’t want Inferno Man’s costume going up in flames constantly, now do we?
It ties into their backstory
Sometimes, a character’s outfit can harken back to their roots. Where they came from. Got a hero who was once a pick-pocket living on the streets? Maybe give him some slightly tattered street clothes. This can be done with many characters though generally this outfit is changed out for a new, more suitable (and generally more stylish) super suit later.
It ties into their position with a group or team
This isn’t always the case as there tend to be a lot solo heroes out there, but if you plan on putting your character on a team with other individuals, maybe consider if they have a uniform? Or a symbol of sorts that appears on all of their suits?
Figuring out powers for you character can be the most fun part of character creation (and often is the first place I start when make super hero OC’s), BUT sometimes if I’m starting with a backstory, I can get stuck. Generally powers tie into the character’s backstory but this can also be left up to speculation.
Below are a couple things to consider when picking out your character’s power if you haven’t already done so.
A Weakness
Overall, it’s a good idea to give you character a weakness of sort or some clear limits of what they can do once you’ve picked out their power. Every well designed power should come with its own “rules”.
Their superhero name
If they have one, tying it back to their super powers is the common choice. You can get really creative here. Animals or creatures of sort are often used as names. Colors are often employed as well. Or you can just go for an alias for your OC. It’s all up to you.
The backstory, when done well, should cover a few elements. The origins of their powers/skills, their relationship with their support system (and often, how they lost that support system. Backstories generally involve the death or a romantic partner or family member), and what led them to the life they now lead.
This is an optional element, but deciding whether your hero works solo or with a group is vital to the story. If you do choose to drop your hero into a group, you need to develop the other characters and figure out whether they’re other fighters like your MC or if they’re more of a support crew. You also need to consider whether or not they work under an umbrella organization or if they operate under their own terms.
Technology in super hero media and stories tend to be a little more advanced or bizarre than that of the real world. It’s a good idea to flesh out exactly where technology is at in your story and time period as this often plays a role in the storyline of most super hero tales.
And finally, we get to the second most important element of the story. There are tons of different avenues you can take with the Villain. You can make him sympathetic, have personal ties with the hero or another “good” character to complicate things, give him all sorts of cool gear…the possibilities are endless. But, in all this fun, don’t forget the MAIN AND IMPORTANT THING TO DO WHEN MAKING A VILLAIN FOR YOUR STORY-
Make it make sense as to why your hero is opposing the villain. Hero development and Villain development are tightly linked as this is where you should start considering MOTIVES. And motives, are often what give SPICE to a hero’s tale. Because these motives can be shockingly different or similar in some cases. But at some point, the villain and hero are going to need to butt heads. And it needs to make sense to the reader as to WHY.
And I think that’ll do it! There’s much more to say on this topic but there’s a brief overview of what I personally find important when developing a Super Hero OC. Good luck on creating your supers!
Hello, bloggers & readers! Today I’m just gonna ramble a bit about some of my favorite works of art. These vary from classic paintings to paintings done by lesser known artists whose work (in my opinion) is just as beautiful. I’m no art expert, sure, but if I see a painting and think “ooooh, I want that on my wall.” I think it’s pretty darn good. And I don’t think you come to this blog for impeccable art advice or critiques (if so, I am both perplexed and amazed).
So let’s get started!
This girl. Her stuff is incredible. Her works are both ethereal and haunting. Some of my favorite pieces are down below.
Link to her profile where you can view more of her immaculate work: click here
Van Gogh’s pieces are probably some of my favorite out there in the art world. So if I ever scrape up a gazillion dollars, I totally plan on buying one. But my interest in the artist doesn’t just stop at the popularized “Starry Night” piece. No, I also can’t help but adore his “Iris” painting, “Wheat Field” painting, “Almond blossoms” painting, “Sunflower” Painting, and “Starry Night over Rhone” Painting.
Starry night is gorgeous, but, if you haven’t, I implore you to browse his other works.
A positively haunting piece.
I want to conclude this section with a recommendation of the wonderful and touching movie, “Loving Vincent”. It is a gorgeous piece of cinema that I discovered this year where the whole movie is animated to look like a moving Van Gogh painting. If you’re interested, the trailer is below. I rented it on Youtube for about three or four dollars and cried like crazy while watching it the first time through. Can’t recommend it enough.
Another popular artist whose work I love. I primarily enjoy his nature paintings, especially the ones with water and water lilies.
My obsession with this man’s work probably is rooted in the same part of my brain that is obsessed with fairytales. His work has a very fantastical feel to it and has many portraits of beautiful, princess like women that I find entrancing and ethereal.
I’m not an art expert. I cannot positively identify a coyote. I really can’t tell a lady from a knight with luxurious hair. But I can point to a painting and say, “Now there’s a looker!”
Thanks for stopping by!
Just a fun little challenge of a blog post that I’ve been wanting to do. I’ve always been fascinated by the history of names and their meaning. So, let’s dissect my name, shall we?
Brooke
With an e. Don’t forget the e.
The name Brooke, from my research, seems to be of old English and/or old German origins. And I’m sure you can guess as to it’s meaning. Brooke refers to clean, clear water or, more specifically, a small stream. The name has grown more popular during recent years thanks to Brooke Shields and a New York society grand dame named Brooke Astor.
Not much else to say on this name. It means a small stream. Let’s keep moving, shall we?
Lynne
Also with an e. Never. Forget. The. e.
So, what are the origins of this one? Well it seems depends. There are a few different origins/versions of the name, each with their own slightly different meaning of the word. The Anglo-Saxon Lynne means “waterfall” (wow, another water word?) while the English version means “house” or “church”. The French version means “idol” while the German version means “snake”. (So my name could very possibly mean water snake??)
Freeman
Don’t forget the two e’s.
This last name is a little self-explanatory. A free man. One who possesses his rights. This name became very common after African-Americans won their rights and took this name on. Though delving into family history, it seems this is not exactly where mine specifically came from (which doesn’t surprise me. I’m quite pale). My specific family name can be traced somewhere from England but that’s about it.
Put it all together and you’ve got…
Free River Church, depending on whatever meaning you ascribe my middle name to. Free Water Snake perhaps?? Don’t know.
Anyways, thanks for sticking around and reading this random deep dive into the origins and meaning of my name. It was a fun little challenge indeed!
Till next time, bloggers!
How many lives exist
Parallel to me
Running side by side
Never to intersect or meet
But it's not so much the parallel lives
That occupy my mind
But ones who intersect but one time
To meet at one point
Before going on our merry way
Never to intersect again
Two lonely little rays
So one of my New Year’s Resolutions was to complete my “Writer Games Challenge” which you can find linked here if you’re interest in completing it too! The first category of challenges is to write a little bit about yourself and the things you like and are passionate about. So I’m starting with the list of 5 things that make me happy!
Ready? Well regardless, here we go!
1. Cats
Wow. Nobody saw that coming. Gosh, me??? A cat lover?? Its not like I have a cat in my blog footer and as a huge part of my blog identity! Bonkers, I know. I really pulled a fast one over you, didn’t I?
Okay, seriously, I have never met an animal that purrs and is as comforting as a cat. Sure, they can be a little evil but so can we! Its only fair.
2. Iced Coffee
I’m sorry for these basic answers but Iced Coffee is a gift from the heavens and you’re lying if you say otherwise. I don’t care what season it is or how cold I am, I love my coffee iced and with copious amounts of sugar in it, thank you very much.
3. Fire places
I figured it was befitting to put this below the Iced Coffee seeing as how my enjoyment of cold brew & circulation issues result in me feeling rather…chilly to say the least. Whatta mystery. So how does one remedy this? By roast in front of a fireplace.
Fireplaces are the peak of humanity. Its like we knew our ancestors were onto something with that whole gathering around the fire thing. And they were so right. Nothing beats and iced coffee and a book in front of an open fire. Preferably when it’s raining out. Which reminds me!
4. Rain
The coziness level of a day suddenly increases immensely when water begins falling from the sky. God really did something with this whole rain thing. He knew exactly what he was doing.
5. Animated Movies
In college I have very little brain power to last through most live action and plot-complex new movies. I just can’t get into them very much these days and I’m not exactly sure why. Instead, recently, I’ve been enjoying settling down in front of the TV after school to watch the newest animated movie that’s out. Animated movies are my new comfort watch these days.
And woah! Are we already at 5?? I didn’t even get to Tacos, warm fries on a cold, dreary day, and quill pens! Oh well, maybe next time! I’ll see you readers ’round, okay?
These bones feel hollow
The wind blows through my chest
This suit of armor is supposed to protect
But in it, it is hard to rest
The breeze whistles through my helmet
Is it in there, I wonder?
I hid it long ago,
When I had torn it asunder
Neath plates of metal
I hid it away, lest it be torn apart
But I really wonder if its there now,
A tin man, with no heart.
★ Send them cards.
★ Bake them bread.
★ Send them a bunch of memes that you know that will make them laugh.
★Write them a poem.
★Send them a perfume or lotion of a smell that makes you think of them or that you think they’ll like.
★Asking them how their day was.
★ Buy or pick them flowers and tie it with a ribbon.
★Spend time with them
★ Make them a playlist.
★Recommend them a movie that you know they’ll enjoy.
★Send them a little note of gratitude.
★ Write them a letter.
★ Recommend them a book that you know they’ll enjoy.
★ Make them soup.
★ Make them a list of things that make you think about them.
★ Draw them a picture or just making them some sort of art.
★Make them cookies.
★ Write them a short story.
★ Recommend them a flavor of coffee/tea
★ Send them a Bible Verse or a Motivational quote.
★Tell them you love them.
Hello, Ladies and Gents!
Aaaaand we made it! As I am writing this, 2022 is merely hours away and soon, people will be cheering as they usher in a new year. 2021 has been rough for everyone I think but I wanted to take a moment and reflect on last years resolutions and my former self’s goal’s that she wished to achieve over the course of her freshman and sophomore year of college.
Last year I divided my goals into categories, much like this year’s. These categories were writing, photography, blogging, art, personal, and school.
So let’s see how I did, shall we?
Starting off with the writing category….
Finish 5 short stories – check! I finished this one quite early actually. I now see the goal as rather small but at the time of setting it I was doing significantly less writing by large.
Finish the rough draft of “SNOW” – Snow is the title of my full length, fairytale themed mystery novel based on the events of Snow White. I finished the first rough draft of Snow in the summer and was quite proud of myself. This year I hope to finish the second and get the third underway.
Create a new plot book – This one requires some explaining. Every year, I write down many plots that I cannot write so I print the ideas out and collect them in various “plot books” to keep track of them as well as flip through for inspiration. I finished two the year prior and wished to make a third this year. I completed this task as well.
All of these goals were met much to my satisfaction. This next year I hope to set a few more as well as more challenging ones as I feel I’ve gotten an idea of how much writing I tend to do throughout a year.
Next up is the photography category…
Have a photoshoot with my bestfriend – Did this in the summer along with most of these other shoots with the exception of the Medieval shoot which was done in the snow.
Have a Medieval themed photshoot – Check! Did this in February I believe.
Have a photoshoot in a ballgown – Double check! Did this one twice.
Have a superhero themed photoshoot – Check as well! Me and my friend wanted to have a photoshoot in our marvel costumes for comic con which made for some fun pictures!
Next, let’s review my blogging goals…
Achieve 200 posts – I am surprised at how quickly I was able to complete this one! I got into blogging quite a bit more than I expected to this year which is awesome!
Try and post at least once a week – Mostly completed this one. There were a couple gaps during the year but overall I would say this goal was mostly met.
Feature/interact with other bloggers more – Mostly completed this one as well! I’m slowing trying to get involved in the wordpress sphere of blogging and am slowly making some blogging friends as well!
Make some new graphics – Did this twice actually. Once mid-year and again just today. I wanted a new, clean look for my blog to usher in the new year with!
Next up are my art goals…
Paint at least 5 paintings – Finished this during the spring semester of college. I was enormously stressed out and painting helped me relieve such stress.
Finish a sketchbook – Check! I have moved onto a new one and its also already half finished!
Try and draw a realistic person – I usually draw cartoon-y styled people so this one was challenging but I completed it a few times for good measure over the course of the year. Drawing realistic people is unbelievably hard.
Illustrate a story – I illustrated a fairytale I wrote.
Make concept art for my novel – Done! I also made a map for the world of my novel as well.
Create 100 digital art pieces – Completed this one as well.
Make a self portrait – Check! Did this twice over the summer and once during the fall semester.
Next we’ll be moving onto the personal goals category…
Read at least 5 books – This might seem like a tiny goal to most people but at this time in my life, I had a huge reader’s block that persisted until the summer of this last year. Thankfully I was not only able to read 5 but 10 books this year.
Do a devotional daily – Didn’t quite make this one. Slacked off during my fall semester where I would do my devotional on and off. Habits are hard man.
Drink more water – Mostly completed this one? I should have made this goal more specific but overall I drank more water this year than the year before (where I was regularly dehydrated) so let’s hear it for progress. I did way better at this after my freshman spring semester for sure.
Complain less – I’m still making progress on this one. I don’t know if I exactly failed this one, but progress is much slower than I’d like with this one. Complaining is a bad habit that has plagued me since high school (heck, my blog is even called LOW EXPECTATIONS). I’d love to stop whining so much but I just love letting the world know when I’m unhappy.
Eat 3 meals a day – This was a goal I added later on the year mid spring. I was in horrible health both mentally and physically during this time which was made worse by my response to stress which was not eating. I started not feeling hungry without even thinking about it. In fact, I only noticed this was becoming an issue when I started shedding weight like crazy which is pretty bad when you’re an already scrawny 5’1 college girl. So I made this goal.
And I’m happy to report that I’m in a much better place. While I didn’t achieve this goal perfectly, by large, I’ve been good at eating 3 meals every day. The habit was hard to form and I struggled through the summer but overall, the hard work has paid off.
And now, the school related goals I made…
Don’t fail a class – I was worried about this goal for awhile. In the spring, I all but flunked my midterms. I thought for sure I was going to fail Bio 1 (THE CLASS THAT IS MY MAJOR). But things really did end up working out and I ended up not only passing Biology but did so with a B. Hang in there, fellow students.
Make at least a B in Chem 1 – Again, I was worried about this one. Chemistry was incredibly hard for me and I’d spend literally 4+ hours on the subject daily, trying to teach myself the material as everything was online. It was horrible but I had an amazing course lay out which made it feel more manageable. I came out of the class with an A+.
Shoot for a B in Pre-cal – And a B is what I got. I test badly in math so I spent the entire semester cushioning my grade for when I took the final. I got a 54% or something like that on the final but came out with a B as I worked so hard on all other assignments because I knew I wasn’t the best at math tests, especially when they’re timed.
Test out of my Chem 1 final – In my Chem 1 class, if you were happy with your grade, you could choose to opt out of the final. And since you already know what grade I got in the class, you bet your buttons that I was NOT take that final. No, thank you.
Create a solid 4 year graduation plan – Completed this one during the summer. I sat down with my sister who had already graduated college and made an excel document with all my classes and when I need to take them. Incredibly helpful during registration week.
Take finals in a healthier mindset than in the spring – Another goal that I added mid year. So, taking my finals in the spring, I was kind of dead inside. I was shaken up after doing so poorly on my midterms a few months earlier that I almost expected to do badly. I ended up doing fine on almost all of them (except for the pre-cal but we’ve talked about this). Really, I was just in a pretty toxic head space at the time and a part of me knew it. I equated my grades and performance to my worth without even realizing it so when I flunked my first big tests of the year, I really struggled.
So I made a goal to take my next finals in a much better head space the following semester. And so I did.
Completing this goal was a product of an astounding amount of work I’d done on myself after the void of doom that was the spring semester. These last finals I got sick with the flu during the week but to my surprise, this didn’t exactly stress me out. Moving all my finals back and missing out on precious study time while I was sick was annoying but I wasn’t falling apart at the seams like I was during last finals season.
I took every test with a sense of finality and pride. I’d done it. I’d made it through the fall semester of my sophomore year and regardless of whatever grade came back, I knew I was going to be okay.
And that feeling was a victory I don’t think can compare to anything else I have achieved during this last year.
Next year mostly certainly come with some downs. That’s kind of life. But it will come with some ups too. And I’m so excited to see not only what the ups are exactly, but how I will grow this next year. I’m a little nervous, granted, but that’s alright. Because regardless, I’m going to be okay.
Happy New Year & Take Care!
Ladies and Gents, I have a confession to make- I am not a morning person. This early bird finds no joy in catching the worm. I may be up, but I am very rarely at ’em. My carpe diem is a little rusty.
What I’m trying to say is mornings are sort of a hard time for me. My soul is really that of night owl if I’m being honest. Its quiet and dark out with the exception of crickets and maybe a few frogs chirping. I’m all cozy in bed reading or doing whatever else I want to before I drift off to sleep. The day is over and I am very okay with that.
And then there are mornings.
I got a weighted blanket for Christmas and let me tell you, I thought it was hard to get out of bed before. I feel like the blankets are all but pulling me back into my warm little burrow and that fact that it is now winter and its getting cold out makes it even worse.
All that being said, I do have a few tricks up my sleeve that help improve my mornings even though they shall never truly replace my first love (being the evening). Because even though getting out of bed is something I rarely revel in, once I get going, things are significantly less hard and a few fun little morning habits will do nothing but make that part of the morning a little less hard.
★ Start your morning off with a little splash of water
In more way than one. I recommend washing your face and moisturizing before you start your day. It always helps to feel clean and refreshed. But I also mean this in the sense that you should definitely try and drink at least one glass of water before you start your day. For me personally, this tends to prevent me from sucking down a cup of coffee as soon as my eyes pop open. Coffee is terrible for me straightaway in the morning as it suppresses my appetite (so I’m tempted to have a small breakfast or skimp out on the meal entirely) as well as my desire to drink water for the next few hours which leaves me feeling shaky by 10 AM. This could just be a me thing but I figured I put the recommendation out there.
★Skip glancing at your phone first thing
This is a bad habit of mine that I want to improve as I find myself way more sluggish when getting out of bed. I also feel a little spacey or groggy for a bit longer than normal throughout the morning, as if I still haven’t fully woken up. Not to mention checking the news a bit too often can depress anyone. I just find my mind to be much more clearer when I wait about a half hour before checking my phone after waking up.
★Make a breakfast you like
It doesn’t have to be a feast but if you like boiled eggs, try and make one. If you like avocado toast, maybe have a slice with fruit. You don’t have to make a whole spread (as I’m sure few people have time for that), but something is always better than nothing and why not make it enjoyable as well?
★If you can, jot down what you need to do that day
This helps gets you brain into the zone to complete tasks and be productive. It also helps organize your thoughts and gives you a clear list of tasks to complete throughout the day.
★Fill Up a Water Bottle
I feel like this list is just me yelling at myself to remember these things, but really this is important (and something I sometimes neglect on hectic mornings). A water bottle that you can have on hand can really help keeping you drinking water through the day which, in turn, can help you concentrate better.
★If going somewhere, make sure you have everything you need
If you have devices, check and make sure they’re charged and that you have their charging chords on hand. Don’t forget deodorant or whatever else you’ll need throughout your day. This may seem like an obvious thing to do but its also good to have another reminder.
★Listen to Music that makes you happy to be alive
Music is the best medicine sometimes. And a playlist that helps me feel pumped for the day works wonders.
★Move around a little if you have the time
A quick 5 or 10 minutes exercise definitely helps me get going in the morning. Sometimes I have time for a quick walk , other times only a few stretches. But again, something is always better than nothing. Exercising a little also helps kickstart your brain and prepares you for the day to come.
And that’s all for now! Seize the day, lovelies!
By the Brooke 