Yet another list for the sake of writing reference. I went with the more basic/well known mythological creatures so I didn’t really include some of the old and very obscure ones. I also want to specify that these a more European/American based mythological beasts. There is an enormous amount of mythological creatures special to every part of the world. Perhaps I’ll make more lists of fantasy creatures but more country/region specific?
“I did not fall in love. That makes it sound like a sort of accident. No, I did not fall. I descended a spiraling staircase, following it downwards, deeper and deeper. Sure, it was slower, but I was aware of every single step.
And the walk back up was so very, very slow.”
~ Excerpt from “Velvet Heart”, A story a began a year ago but never finished.
~*~
“I once met a fox who said, “lying is just another form of Story telling.”
“Yes,” I said. “That is true. But the intentions are never the same. A story is not built to manipulate.”
“Oh, but they are! Emotions and thoughts are twisted around the writer’s pen.”
“That is true. But the intention is to find beauty in manipulation. A means to an end. It is not a story woven to conceal and shadow. Fiction is called just that. ”
“Not all. Some are mislabeled and presented truthfully. Some are called history.”
“History is a story?”
“Indeed. Only ever told by the victors.” “
~Excerpt from “The Tales of Mr. Fox”, a short novel I started a year and a half ago. I hope to finish it eventually.
~*~
“Good can praise the Good, Evil can praise the Evil, but when Evil praises the good and Good understands the Evil is when it’s truly special.”
~Excerpt from a short story titled “Paper Girl”. Wrote it four years ago and never Finished it.
~*~
“I’ll tell you a secret:
You spot a romantic simply whether or not and how long they look at the sky.”
~Another Excerpt from “Paper Girl”
~*~
“I think I’d rather be an optimist than a pessimist- I don’t think I could take being wrong that often.”
~Excerpt from an unnamed short story.
“Take it from me, darling. I’d rather be single and happy then committed to the wrong person and miserable. “
~Another “Paper Girl” Excerpt
~*~
“Do you know what all stories have in common? They end.
Such is the human life.
Since the beginning of time, no one has escaped the sad truth that our human lives will meet a conclusion someday. Many have tried to escape this, but none succeed. Nothing is new under the sun. We live and die-that is life.
But how do we as humans cope with this unrelenting cold truth? That all we know will pass in the blink of an eye? The same way we deal with all hardships:
Art.
We tell stories. We sing songs. And create.
Through art we find beauty and solace in the saddest of truths. Because sometimes the loveliest things in life are tragic, and there is beauty in caring- therefore there is beauty in hurt. This is why we can smile a little as we realize the bittersweet truth- we cannot take anything with us, but we always leave something behind.
I am choosing to leave this behind. “
~Excerpt from “Space, Soul, & Death” which was intended to be a short story collection. I started it three years ago. Perhaps I’ll write enough pieces to finish it someday.
~*~
Thanks for sticking around to read this hodge podge of a post. Perhaps you might draw some inspiration from these dusty words and snippets of dialogue!
And the reference lists keep coming! But if you’re anything like me, you have a bookmark folder primarily for writing references and lists such as these to perhaps you will find some use for these! Though don’t get too distracted with lists and references. Keep writing!
Hey there bloggers! Just like with my superpower masterlist (which you can find here), this is done for character creation and writer reference for whatever story you’re working on. I plan to do more lists like these in the future. I have one in the works for a list of fantasy creatures and a list of medieval/fantasy town jobs. Until then, enjoy my extensive list of fantasy classes.
New year’s is not going how you expected. Not in the least. During the New Year’s Eve celebrations, you noticed a strange cloud on the horizon of the sky that no one else seems to pay attention to. Quickly, it culminates into an enormous storm before blowing everyone and everything about. Somehow, perhaps by falling and hitting your head, you’re knocked out. Only to wake up and find yourself on January 1st of the previous year.
★Vulnerable
You’re a reckless teen who has little to no regard for your own safety. Fed up with your act, your guardian angel quits. But little did you know what he was really protecting you from….
★A Mysterious Read
You go to check out book at your local library to find there is a book reserved at the desk for you. The cover is blank so you don’t know the title. Confused and unable to remember whether or not it was you who reserved the book, you take it home and begin to read. To your surprise, the book describes the beginning of your day, right up until you checked the book out. But there is more to read….
★Fish Bait
You are a farm boy who lives near a lake and herds goats and sheep for a living. One day, you decide to fish for your supper. But, to your surprise, you find something much bigger than a fish at the end of your line. You have caught the famed Capricorn.
★Cursed Castle
You are the daughter of a wealthy family who happens to own a castle. You don’t exactly live like a princess like expected. In fact, the castle is simply a tourist attraction and is the means by which your family makes their living. One day, while helping your mom clean the basement of the castle, you see a full suit of armor walk from one end of the hall to another before disappearing around the corner. Confused and amazed, you inform your mother who of course doesn’t believe you, chalking it up to the wild imagination of a child. But you know what you saw. And other weird things begin to happen….
★ Garnet Heart
The year is 2052, and you are a robotic scientist who has achieved much in your life. Your specialty is developing incredibly intelligent AI, and, for an upcoming Science Event, you decide to design a new, and innovative Robot: The GEM. The GEM design is a humanoid robot design with a chamber in the robot’s chest where you can place an item. You chose a Garnet, and your first GEM robot comes to life. You later find out that the personality of the robot depends on the gem you place in their chest.
★Maybe take a break from that coffee? It can make you jittery sometimes and keep you from hydrating. Grab a quick glass of water instead of another coffee refill.
★Messy notes are a thousand times better than no notes. As long as you can read what you wrote, keep charging on. Your notes don’t have to look cute, just legible and somewhat organized.
★Showing up to class looking a little sloppy is better than not showing up at all. I know its tempting to skip but it is a risky decision. Plus, you don’t want to use of your “sick days” for when you just don’t feel like going or you got up a little late.
★Take a shower if you feel like you can’t study anymore. Refresh your mind a little.
★You don’t have to do a deep clean, but try and make sure that at least the surface of your desk is somewhat clean and clear. This will help you focus.
★Seriously, turn your notifications off.
★Try and stay on top of laundry to where you have at least one clean outfit-preferably the one you’re wearing.
★Sleeping the night before a test will probably do you more good than pulling an all-nighter. Wake up with a little time to eat breakfast and drink a whole glass of water before the exam. The information you crammed the night before is useless if you’re so lethargic that you can’t recall it.
★Packed lunches will save you a lot of money.
★If you’re feeling groggy mid-study session, try moving around a little. Get some fresh air, it does wonders.
★You don’t have to feel “cute” all the time to be productive. Romanticizing your education and schoolwork is awesome unless it starts to get in the way of your work. You don’t have to have perfect notes all the time & drink those aesthetically pleasing iced lattes so much. At the end of the day, it’s about the work you put in.
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.
The Clothes/Suit
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?
The Powers
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
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.
The Team
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.
The Tech
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.
The Villain
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, everyone! Hope you are doing well this fine morning (or whatever time you happen to be reading this)! I have joyous news! I have been tagged for my first award! It is known as the Aesthete Blogging Award which is described best by the creator, Asmita.
“This award is to honor every creative person, irrespective of their number of followers and views. Because, as long as you create, that is all that matters. This award is for those bloggers who put an insane amount of thought in each of their posts and for those who spread creativity like wildfire! Just wow!”
Many thanks to Devangi over at Just Penning Down My Thoughts for tagging me! Go check out her blog and send her some love and support as she has some real interesting stuff over there that may interest you readers!
So, without further ado, onto the tag!
The Rules:
Use the official logo/graphic of the award and display it on your blog.
Tell me a something about this world that you admire.
What is your favourite form of creativity?
Nominate 7 lovely people and notify them by commenting on their posts; spread some love!
Ask your nominees 4 questions.
Share something you created. (can be anything!)
And lastly, just so you know: I LOVE YOUR CREATIONS!
What I Admire about this World
As a sort of cynic, I think I sometimes spend too much time looking at the flaws of the world so I think this is a lovely question to ponder. I really do love the kindness and gentleness you can find in the little corners of this planet where you least expect it. Despite this world feeling difficult and torn apart in so many ways, don’t let that make you believe that there isn’t some good to be find. There are still good people. There are still honest people. There are still kind people.
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides that of evil.”
Oh, did I sneak another Tolkien quote into one of my posts? Hmm, well, anyways-
What my favorite form of Creativity is
100% writing. Although I love to draw, paint, and play guitar every now and then, I think writing reigns supreme in my mental list of favorite creative forms. I love the images we can paint with words and the various themes and ideas we can convey through little symbols strung together in a specific order. It is a very fascinating concept.
Devangi’s Questions
What incredibly strong opinion do you have that is completely unimportant in the grand scheme of things?
That sweet tea isn’t that great and that you can be pretty southern and still hate the stuff. I’ve lived in the Southern part of the US my entire life and I have never understood what people like about it?? It’s just sort of gross and has a very tangy taste.
What’s on your bucket list this year?
Quite a few things are on the bucket list for this year, but I one of them is to see the Ocean for the first time in my life. I’ve somehow made it to my twenties and have never walked on a beach before. This fact has made me quite sad but this year I have had an opportunity that will result in me finally laying eyes on the Ocean.
What’s the last book/activity you gave up on and stopped reading/doing? Why?
I could not finish the Star Wars Solo movie. I am a big Star Wars fan having grown up in a house hold where we watched the originals on a pretty regular basis. I have a fond memory of The Prequels even though they’re pretty corny. I am, however, not that big of a fan of the Disney releases with the exception of Rogue One and the shows that are coming out on Disney+.
I wanted to like Solo, but no one beats Harrison Ford’s portrayal, not to mention after Han and Chewbacca meet, there felt to be very little reason to keep watching. I got less than half way through before realizing I really didn’t care or could predict what would happen next. I hypothesized that the girl would die because she wasn’t in the following movies and we all know that Han ends up with his ship and he and Chewie go on to be smugglers. There aren’t really many stakes because you kind of know what’s already going to happen if you’ve seen all the other releases up to this point in the franchise.
Wow. That was a long, drawn out mini movie review. Kind of had a geek moment there for a second, sorry.
What was the best compliment you’ve ever received?
Any compliments concerning my writing or skill that I’ve worked to hone. Those tend to stick with me because it feels to gratifying to be recognized for something you love but also work hard at.
Creations I’d Like to Share
A Digital Art Piece I did a few weeks ago on my ipad.
An Earring Set I made this week!
My Questions
What’s your favorite work of art you’ve ever made?
By the Brooke 