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Murdering Mary SueMurdering Mary SueMurdering Mary Sue5 years ago in Academic Essays More Like This
Every aspiring writer has met her at least once, whether in his own works or in those of others. The alluring temptation of a perfect character taunts the author from one side while his muse urges him to keep writing from the other. Who wouldn't love her? She's the most beautiful, talented, fantastic woman in the universe, with not a flaw in sight. Every woman wants to be her; every man wants to marry her, so why would anyone want to kill her? Who would want to murder Mary Sue?
I would. I and many greater authors have been working hard to keep this succubus in her proper place: the trash can. Mary Sue is one of the wors
Lace Brushes7 years ago in Photoshop Brushes
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Tattoo Brushes7 years ago in Photoshop Brushes
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An Essay on Naming CharactersWhat's In a Name?An Essay on Naming Characters7 years ago in Academic Essays More Like This
An Essay on Naming Characters
By Kate Logan
When it comes to character creation, be it for a story or an illustration, choosing the proper name for a character is vital. All too often do I see characters with poorly thought-out names: the chivalrous knight Darren Starhawk; the sweet, innocent Lady Elvira; or the rough-and-tumble brawler Poindexter. On their own, these names are fine (even Starhawk, if you're going for a sci-fi flare), but they simply don't work with the characters they are describing. No one is going to take poor old Poindexter seriously, no matter how big his muscles are. To remedy this catastrophe, here
Edge of Thorns - Pt 7Part 7Edge of Thorns - Pt 73 years ago in Introductions & Chapters More Like This
There's no way I'm going to make another idiot mistake like running off without paying my bill. Alton is creepy enough as is. I don't need to give him a reason to be angry with me. What he doesn't know won't hurt me...
Nathan shook his head, not releasing Avery's hand until the teen lowered his head in defeat, making it clear that -- as much as he may have wanted to -- he wasn't going to open the door. With a sigh, he pressed his ear back against the door. Nathan rubbed the back of his head, moving next to Avery to join him. He could at least make that compromise.
"So what are you calling yourself these days, Lu?" The question cam
Edge of Thorns - Pt 3Part 3Edge of Thorns - Pt 33 years ago in Introductions & Chapters More Like This
You know, I haven't had Chinese in ages, and as tempting as that pretzel sounds, I'm really craving me some sesame chicken...
"I think I'm going to need something more filling than a coffee and pretzels," Nathan said, smiling at Alton. "Which way to Chinese?"
The other man laughed and lazily pointed out the window. "You'll want to turn right out of my shop, go straight through the next intersection, and turn right again at the corner of Midas Street and Banner Avenue. You should be able to spot the Golden Frog with no problem."
Nathan nodded, committing the directions to memory as he started towards the door. "Thanks, for letti
Edge of Thorns - Pt 2Part 2Edge of Thorns - Pt 23 years ago in Introductions & Chapters More Like This
As much as I hate to admit it, the more time I waste getting to the police station, the less of a chance I have to get my car back. I should have just called from the newspaper's office, but it's too late for that now. I guess I'll just have to suck it up and go with him.
Gives me more time to figure out why he makes me uneasy, at least.
"Well... I guess that makes sense," Nathan said, rubbing the back of his head. "Just around the corner, you say?"
Alton nodded, smiling eagerly. He shifted the books he was carrying to his other arm and motioned for Nathan to follow him, starting down the sidewalk. "Actually, it's one store down fr
Aligeri - Chapter 2 Part IChapter Two: Friends and Enemies (Part I)Aligeri - Chapter 2 Part I6 years ago in Fantasy More Like This
Clarice nodded as she took the box from Feles. Standing, she smiled and thanked her for the tea and said her goodbyes before she was soon out the door again. She remembered passing the bakery on the way there... it was four down, wasn't it?
Making sure that the box was safe in her arms, she walked down to the bakery, her mismatched eyes looking around her, trying to remember as much as she could about the streets. It wasn't long before she had arrived at the bakery, and once at the door, she called inside.
"Hello?"
There was an abrupt scuffling inside before someone answered the door. It cracked a
Aligeri - Chapter 12Chapter Twelve: Light and DarkAligeri - Chapter 126 years ago in Fantasy More Like This
He appeared to be his normal self, but realizing the precise source of the sound they heard was distressing. The aligeri was tangled in what could only be described as black webbing, and the noise was him trying (and failing) to break free. In fact, the more he fought with it, the more tangled he got. He didn't even notice Feles and Guy. They stood there for a moment in silence, before finally Guy broke the silence.
"Alyx..." he said slowly, not wanting to startle him because it was obvious that the aligeri hadn't noticed them yet. "What happened?"
He looked concerned as he saw all the black webbing that Alyx
Doctor Jared Setheh5 years ago in Male
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How To WriteAbstract: an analytical approach to plotting and writing fiction upwards of 1,000 wordsHow To Write8 years ago in Academic Essays More Like This
Acknowledgements: the potentially amazing Rachel (:devifrozenspiriti:) served as guinea pig to this; go and tell her to finish the product of that experiment, because you'll love it. Chris Widdison (:devtearstone:) approached me indecently with the idea of writing a longer essay (which will still happen, and be a lot more purdy than this here thing), which would incorporate this essay in another form, amongst others. He doesn't need to read any of this, because he already knows it all.
Target audience: young, inexperienced writers, especially those that
Mercurius5 years ago in Male
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The Writing ProcessWhat is the Writing Process?The Writing Process5 years ago in Academic Essays More Like This
Many of us learned that the writing process is made up of five parts: Pre-writing, Writing, Revision, Editing, and Publishing. Indeed, this process has been so ingrained, and the vocabulary and terms have become such a part of our education, that some students (and adults) feel as if writing is a formulaic, rigid thing—not unlike learning mathematics—that they simply never excelled in. Fortunately, this simply isn't true. While the five basic steps of the writing process are effective, they can only be effective if the people using the process understand the purpose of e
Edge of Thorns - Pt 27Part 27Edge of Thorns - Pt 272 years ago in Introductions & Chapters More Like This
I won't leave him, but if I call for an ambulance, there's a lot of explaining I'll need to do, and it won't look good on me at all. I guess that means...
"Stay there," the writer repeated. "I'll be right back. Just... yeah..." He hurried into the kitchen, looking back until there was no way he could see Alton or Alton could see him. There was only one way he knew he could get Gabriel's attention, and he needed to do it quickly. Nathan spotted the knife block and didn't hesitate, drawing out the first knife he could get his hands on. He'd scarcely brought the blade his wrist when he felt the chill of the angel's presence.
"What
Edge of Thorns - Pt 23Part 23Edge of Thorns - Pt 232 years ago in Introductions & Chapters More Like This
When I was asking questions, I wanted straight answers. It wouldn't be right for me to not give Avery that same privilege.
The writer swallowed back the knot that had grown in his throat. He had to tell him. "Gabriel is the angel of death," he explained. He watched the teen carefully, wondering how he would take this news, wondering if he should say any more.
Avery stared at him a moment longer before his gaze turned back to Gabriel. It was hard to tell whether the look on his face was fear, sadness, or some mixture, but the angel smiled at him gently. "Your parents," he said softly. "You were only a child when you lost them. You
Edge of Thorns - Pt 22Part 22Edge of Thorns - Pt 222 years ago in Introductions & Chapters More Like This
I don't want to get the kid's hopes up, but he should at least be comfortable here for the month I have him. If I can, I'll let him stay, and if not... well, maybe I can make better arrangements for him than hiding in his friend's basement.
"Avery," Nathan said, unable to look at him. "After Alton cures you (or whatever), and you don't have to worry about Micah trying to cut off your head, if I've gotten a job and can afford it, you're welcome to stay for the winter." He cringed a little, worried this was going to come back to bite him as he turned to face the teen. "I can't make any promises though."
Avery shrugged again, but n
Edge of Thorns - Pt 18Part 18Edge of Thorns - Pt 182 years ago in Introductions & Chapters More Like This
On second thought, it doesn't really matter if I believe him or not, does it? Still, it makes great writing material…
"That's… oddly logical," Nathan admitted, smiling while he considered the details. "And actually makes a lot of sense. I would have never thought of the story like that."
Alton laughed and shook his head. "Oh, I'm sure you would have. You're very creative, Nathan, and clever. I have no doubt that if, for some reason, you ever decided to use me as a protagonist in one of your stories, you would conjure up something very similar." The doorbell chimed from downstairs, and the shopkeeper looked out the wind
Edge of Thorns - Pt 16Part 16Edge of Thorns - Pt 162 years ago in Introductions & Chapters More Like This
I'm not going to let him intimidate me. I want answers, and if I have to swallow my fears and browbeat him to get them, then so be it!
"Deal with it," Nathan sneered right back, never tearing his gaze from Alton's. "If I can't trust you to be straight with me, then I'll just have to make doubly sure you're telling me everything I need to know."
The other man drew in a long breath, a thin, devious smile spreading across his lips. "Really? And how do you plan on doing that, Mr. Keene?" Something flickered at the edge of Nathan's vision: glimpses of shadows, parts of Alton's form shifting. For a moment, he could have sworn he saw w
Edge of Thorns - Pt 21Part 21Edge of Thorns - Pt 212 years ago in Introductions & Chapters More Like This
Micah's after Avery, not me. I have to stop him!
Before Nathan could think better of it, he ran back, putting himself between Micah and the teen. He crossed his arms in front of him and braced himself for the assault. "I don't care if you're an angel; I'm not going to let you kill him!"
Micah stopped short of his charge, hand still gripped tightly around the hilt of his weapon. "You do not know what you are doing, Nathan," he growled, just barely containing his anger. "If we let him live, his power will flourish. He will be corrupted, more dangerous. More lives will be lost. The sacrifice of one will save many."
"You mean the
Edge of Thorns - Pt 10Part 10Edge of Thorns - Pt 103 years ago in Introductions & Chapters More Like This
I should really start looking into some anti-psychotics, but if I'm not as insane as I think I am, then the Devil himself is sitting on my living room sofa and I've agreed to help him.
It took a moment for Nathan to find his voice again. "I think I'll stick with you. I've already pissed Micah -- Michael... whoever, angel guy -- off. That last thing a need to do is make him think I can't make up my mind."
Alton laughed from across the room, pushing his glasses up the edge of his nose. "That's a good possibility." He pat the seat next to him. "Come on, Nathan. I promise I don't bite. You have more questions for me, don't you?"
"
Roderick's ElegyMadeline, oh my dreamy Madeline,Roderick's Elegy5 years ago in Traditional Fixed Forms More Like This
My madness and my despair.
Why did they bury you that day?
Cold was your skin, colder your stare.
Madeline, I weep now as I recall;
And I speak of you, Madeline.
They say I am truly going insane,
That my nostalgia is my sin.
Madeline, do you remember when
We went to a picnic in the park?
You didn’t break that wooden pony,
Madeline, you broke my heart.
I said I didn’t want your ‘duty’,
Madeline, did you understand?
I had made of you a paper queen,
In my castle built of sand.
Madeline, we danced and you were glad,
How beautifully you laugh!
One… and two… and three&
SC: Ophelia O'Connor4 years ago in Female
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SC: Zeta4 years ago in Male
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Sta.sh
