What Do You Listen To While Writing?

Day 24 (33 in base 7) of re-writing my novel

Since google docs (my primary writing tool, accompanied by my note-taking journal) doesn't quite accurately describe my true word count, today I will celebrate 30,000 words like I promised yesterday, because it's close enough to be within a 5% error.

I wrote more today, including getting deep in the weeds with the relationship between Izi, Hero of Cognition, and Dolgof, the Hero of Life. Without sharing very many spoilers, they're in very similar situations. Or, have been.

Izi, the current Emperor of Zeneste, has never been in a position of power before, nor has he been a proper leader. Dolgof had been in his position during the drafting of the Constitution of Zeneste, but she never became a good leader.

I like this dynamic between them. Not only does Izi have someone to discuss what being a leader means with, he also has someone to juxtapose himself against, however unhealthy that may be.

My oil painting of Gatorade Arctic Blitz

Ok I figured I'd reblog this bc my most developed conlang, Ipol, is the source of the names for the six Meistian magics: Cognition, Mind, Doom, Earth, Language, and Life. The English names don't really lend themselves to the poles that the Zenestians derived.

Lozerief coined the first three terms: Earth, Language, and Life. She translated them as meiete, lozezonif, and iboelzon.

Hota, then, coined the term "espool" to mean "anti-language" magic, or "Mind."

Izi, following suit, coined the term "emeete" meaning "anti-earth" magic, or "cognition."

Tagif, finally, coined the term "eleerif" meaning "anti-life" magic or "Doom."

I just thought this was cool.

Worldbuilding and Magic Systems: Things to Consider

Have a magic system in mind for your fantasy world? Here's a list of things to consider to help you tie this system into the rest of your worldbuilding, so that it feels more believable and realistic.

Source

What is the source of magic? Is it natural or man-made? Can humans use magic or is it a force of nature that only animals or other races can use?

Does magic originate from inside a person or does it require external items to use? If it comes from items, can the items be made? How long does it take to make the items?

Does the magic cost anything- money, stamina, health, etc.?

Can a person be cut off from being able to use magic? If so, how?

Prevalence

How common is magic in your world? Is it so common that everyone has seen it or is it a subject of myths and rumors?

How long have the people in your world known about magic? Has it always been there or is it a new discovery?

How much does the average person know about magic? How much do experts know? What do people not understand about this magic? Are there any common misconceptions? Myths?

Is magic revered or feared? Or if it's common, is it taken for granted? Are there any taboos surrounding magic?

How many types of magic are there? Are some more common than others?

Are there dedicated schools of thought surrounding the study of magic? Is it taught about in schools? If so, is it taught to children or only at the college (or equivalent) level?

Accessibility

Who can use magic? Who can't? Is it something that only the rich and powerful can use? Why? Or do genetics determine who can use it? Wealth?

Are there any physical limitations that might restrict who can use magic? For instance, maybe old or sickly people can't use magic because it requires a lot of physical effort. Does your society provide accommodations for people who can't use magic? Is a lack of magic ability considered a disability?

Does education level determine capacity for magic?

How easy is it to gain access to magic? How easy is it to learn about magic?

Power/Usefulness

How powerful or useful is magic for different parts of society? Military? Medicine? Entertainment? Art? Childcare? Government? Communication? Business?

How does magic affect the politics of your world? How does it shape the economy? Are there feuds over the use of magic? Do powerful groups in your world have an incentive to limit the use and accessibility of magic? Why?

What happens when people no longer have access to magic? Does this cripple their ability to go through their daily lives? How?

Mix, match, and cross-reference these with other elements of your worldbuilding to form a believable magic system that lives and breaths just as the rest of your world does. For every answer you give to the questions above, consider and build upon the implications of what that might mean for your world. A worldbuilder's best skill is the ability to ask "How will this affect ___?" So make sure you're always considering the ripple effects of each element you add to your world.

Happy worldbuilding y'all!

JK Rowling has used her billionaire legal team to silence a Jewish woman for telling the truth about her contempt for trans victims of the Holocaust.

Scotland’s network of “freedom of speech” organisations, as per usual, have nothing to say about the use of wealth to gag critics of the wealthy.

However fast they race to condemn the LGBT+ community for saying the names of those who harm us. Statements at the ready to insist that transphobes no one wants to work with anymore must be given every possible opportunity to gain from their bigotry.

But it's not the billionaires who are being silenced, as our media breathlessly echo their every hateful proclamation.

It's journalists and activists forced to publicly humiliate themselves under the weight and the threat of billionaire legal teams or be driven into destitution.

We deserve better. Freedom of speech needs to mean something

A free invitation to go off on main? It's hard NOT to pass this up.

I have been dying to talk recently about Tavisam, (M.I. tavisam, W.Z. tebisam, M.O. tawisaham.)

Tavisam is a sport much like American football or rugby, although admittedly less violent. The aim is simple: carry a large ball 120 m (to your opponent's goal.) It is nearly 1,000 years old, but only in the last 100 years has it become standardized.

Modern Tavisam

Modern Tavisam is played on a square field (120 m by 120 m) with fifteen players for each team, meaning each team has 30 players. The rules remain simple: carry the ball to your opponent's goal, which is a net at the other end of the field. The ball starts in the middle. Kicking, passing, rolling, and handing off the ball are all allowed.

While tackling isn't allowed, it's certainly a very physical game. It's completely allowed to take the ball from another player who's holding it. This often results in groups often all pulling on each other for the ball, especially to start the game.

To start the game, the ball is placed in the center of the field, and both teams must line up 12 m away from the ball. Once the horn (some fields still use a pistol blank) sounds, both teams race for possession of the ball.

If the ball goes out of bounds, the ball is replaced in the center, like the start of the game.

The goals at either end are 5 m tall and 15 m wide, placed due in the center.

The game can either end in a tie, win, or loss. The game ends after 120 minutes.

A foul is called at the referee's discretion. A foul is defined to be any act which could cause unnecessary harm to another player, including kicking, tackling, hitting, head-butting, or anything else which could injure another player.

Teams are allowed 2 substitutions every 30 minutes.

Historic Tavisam Games

University of Obizoe Tavisam Team vs. U. of Ir Nouzonif Tavisam Team

Summer of 855.

Outcome: Obizoe 12 - 2 Ir Nouzonif

Notes: The first recorded game of Tavisam played between two college teams, and also the first game in the East vs. West rivalry between Ir Nouzonif and Obizoe. It's said multiple fights broke out in the spectators' stands at the neutral site, played alongside the Great Inland Lake.

U. of Ir Nouzonif vs. Ir Nouzonif State U.

Autumn of 855

Outcome: UIN 5 - 3 INSU

Notes: The first game in the Ir Nouzonif rivalry: UIN vs. INSU. After losing the first 3 goals in 15 minutes, UIN pioneered the rotating defense on the fly. INSU didn't score another goal.

U. Obizoe vs. U. Tolftorrijv

Autumn of 855

Outcome: Obizoe 15 - 1 Tolftorrijv

Notes: Obizoe dominated Tolftorrijv in their first ever, true away game. Hearing about the rotating defense at UIN, they took it one step further and perfected it. The rotating defense would go unmatched for fifty years.

Odapir U. vs. UIN

Winter of 901

Outcome: Odapir 7 - 7 UIN

Notes: Many history writers say the sport stagnated until this game, when UIN agreed to play a historic Tavisam game with OU at a neutral site in Atepsi. UIN scored the first 4 goals, hunkering down with the rotating defense. Shockingly, OU deployed their weapon: the arrow attack. Without going into too much detail, they managed to draw the defense in on itself, and then take the defense away from the goal. Odapir scored the next 5. The game ended with a mob trampling the field once time ran out and the scoreboard read 7-7. This was also the beginning of the rivalry between OU and UIN.

Ir Nouzonif Admirals vs. Tolftorrijv Palms

Spring of 905

Outcome: INA 1 - 0 TT

Notes: The only goal in this game was scored with 5 minutes remaining on the clock in Tolftorrijv. This was also the first professional game, and INA figured out how to defend against the arrow attack.

I hope this is interesting!

Good morning everybody!! <3

I need some writing rambles. SO! This is an open call/tag to EVERYONE that sees this!

I want to know what writing you've been working on. Something you're dying to talk about, an OC you adore, a snippet you're proud of having written. ANYTHING!! I want to hear all of it!

You can post something and tag me, just comment, or even DM me! I don't care how you want to tell me, I just want to hear it all!!!

Vocabulary • Synonyms

Laughter

words to use to avoid adverbs!

✽

➸ bellow

➸ bluster

➸ boom

➸ burst

➸ cackle

➸ cachiannate

➸ caw

➸ chortle

➸ chuckle

➸ clamor

➸ crack up

➸ crow

➸ elate

➸ exult

➸ giggle

➸ grin

➸ gruffaw

➸ holler

➸ hoot

➸ howl

➸ jubilate

➸ mock

➸ muse

➸ rejoice

➸ riant

➸ roar

➸ shout

➸ shriek

➸ smile

➸ smirk

➸ sneer

➸ snicker

➸ snigger

➸ snort

➸ squall

➸ squawk

➸ titter

whether you’re proud of it or not it’s words on the page and that alone deserves praise

Day 25 (34 in base 7) of re-writing my novel

Today I explored one of two very important concepts in my novel: what does magic look like without a body to bind to it? Read ahead to learn more, but there are technically spoilers here.

"No," I decided. "It's-" A foul stench slashed at my nose, popping my eyes open. "What the hell?" I stood and plugged my nose, sticking out my hand. "I don't smell it." Hota stood beside me, hands in their pockets while they looked around. From the forest came a rotting buck the size of a semi truck. I could see its skull from beneath the skin that had fallen away, and only one eye remained on it. "I don't see that." Hota gulped and stood behind me. The buck wasn't real, I realized. The buck was made of magic. This was the consequence of failing to restore magical balance quickly enough. This putrid thing, made from unguided magic, wandering aimlessly in a world where it couldn't interact. Had I failed? Would Meiste soon perish?

Magic without a body is aimless. It is undead. It has no will nor way, rhyme nor reason, nothing like that. In fact, the perception of that magic is what caused it to take a form in the first place. It is only putrid-smelling because Izi perceived it that way, and it only looks like a rotting deer because that's what Izi saw.