June 2013
10 posts
Problem #10: Backstory Blunders
The past is prologue, for sure, but you can tell too much too soon dragging your plot down, if everything about the characters’ past is explained right upfront in Chapter One. (Click here for more discussion of this topic.)
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- Cafuné (Portuguese): the act of tenderly running one’s fingers through someone’s hair.
- Toska (Russian): a dull ache of the soul, a longing with nothing to long for.
- Mamihlapinatapai (Yagan): the wordless, yet meaningful look shared by two people who both desire to initiate something but are both reluctant to start.
- Litost (Czech): a state of agony and torment created by the sudden sight of one’s own misery.
- Botellón (Spanish): a gathering in which youths meet in a street or a public area in order to consume alcohol.
- Schadenfreude (German): the feeling of pleasure derived by seeing another’s misfortune.
- Wabi-Sabi (Japanese): a way of living that focuses on finding beauty within the imperfections of life and accepting peacefully the natural cycle of growth and decay.
- Ya’aburnee (Arabic): a declaration of one’s hope that they’ll die before another person because of how difficult it would be to live without them.
- Torschlusspanik (German): the fear of diminishing opportunities as one ages.
- Ilunga (Tshiluba): a person who is ready to forgive and forget any first abuse, tolerate it the second time, but never forgive nor tolerate on the third offense.
- Shemomedjamo (Georgian): to continue eating food even though you’re already full, just because you like the taste of the food so much.
- Saudade (Portuguese): refers to the feeling of longing for something or someone that you love and which is lost.
- Waldeinsamkeit (German): the feeling of being alone in the woods
- Forelsket (Norwegian): the euphoria you experience when you are first falling in love
- Naz (Urdu): the pride, the assurance that arises from knowing you are loved. From knowing that no matter what you do, you will always be loved.
Favorite: 3
- yeahwriters - lots of prompts, images, quotes and motivation
- writeworld - prompts, quotes, references, tips
- fuckyeahcharacterdevelopment - character, plot development and vocabulary tips
- writingprompts - amazing and original picture prompts
- dictionaryofobscuresorrows -…
Serendipity (names, places, mapbuilding, etc.)
Quick Story Idea
Full Story Idea
Writing Challenges
General Character
Quick Character
really just all of Seventh Sanctum
RPGesque generators
Writing Prompts
Inspiration Finder
Story Arc
Fantasy Story Situaton
Adventure
Chaotic Shiny is just really good in general
Random Plotreblog for my own reference
/high pitched screeching
It’s a matter of taste and style, but not long ago American writers attempted to demonstrate their credentials to the world by including Latin and French phrases within works. A dash of Latin was expected of the moderately educated throughout the Western world.
