12. [orv] Joongdok

"Don't put numbers into your stories." Jeezus.

Guide: Keeping Numbers & Number-Related Details Straight in Your Story

I was midway through my answer when I realized this would be a good opportunity for a quick guide.

About That Post...

Honestly, I think the OP was probably a bit of a tongue-in-cheek, hyperbolic rant from a writer who had a frustrating review or critique. The problem is, a lot of people seem to be taking it as genuine/good advice, and that really concerns me.

Obviously, it's fine to be vague about dates, ages, distances, or anything else if that's what you want to do. But don't leave numbers out because you're not willing to do the work to keep your story's details straight. Doing the work to figure that stuff out and keep it straight is part of your job as a serious writer.

Hey, Buddy! Let's Do Some Research!

Look, I get it... when you're excited about a story idea, you just want to go wild and start writing. But if your story uses real world people, events, locations, items, or other elements--or heavily relies on them as inspiration--you need to sit down and do some research.

This doesn't mean you have to choose exact dates for your story if you don't want to. But if your story is loosely set in the 1880s (or inspired by an 1880s setting,) you'd better have a good idea of what did and did not exist in the 1880s so you can be sure you're not using a 1914 fashion trend or 1700s slang.

And, doing research doesn't mean you have to research every single element of your story before you start writing. You can stop and research as you go. In the middle of my writing session tonight, I spent 15 minutes researching what kind of pine tree would grow near the coast in my WIP's inspiration setting. And even though that location will never be named in my story, I care about my writing enough to take the time to make sure my details are accurate.

WQA’s Guide to Internet Research Researching an Historical Topic Writing About Difficult to Research Topics

Timelines: A Writer's Best Friend

Whether or not you choose to be specific about dates in your story, I strongly advocate the use of a story timeline, even if you're not usually a "planner." Having a detailed story timeline (that includes important back story events) helps ensure that you don't mix up dates, lose track of how much time has passed between events, or create overlapping events.

There are loads of different ways you can create a timeline, and no way is better than any other. You can jot important dates and events down on post-its, use an app, draw out a timeline on a piece of paper, create something in Word... whatever you want to do is great! Here are some different timeline styles I've used. Some of these are timelines from actual WIPs.

Standard Line Timeline

Calendar Timeline (You can print these out at Time and Date...)

Basic Scene List & Timeline

Complex Scene List & Timeline (This one is based on Save the Cat!)

Color-Coded Timeline

And, if you're like me and you have trouble keeping character ages straight throughout important back story events, I give you...

The Color-Coded Character Age Chart

And, honestly, that's how you keep numbers and number-related details straight in your story. Research and timelines. It's just that simple!

So, don't be afraid to include numbers or number-related details in your story if you want them there. :)

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Ask Game: A–Z of Character Relationships/Social Behaviors

A. Affection: How does your OC express affection to the people they love?

B. Best: Does your OC have a “best friend?” If so, who, and what makes this relationship special?

C. Cute: What is something your OC finds cute/endearing about another character?

D. Death: Has anyone your OC loved ever died? If so, how did this impact them? Is there anyone your OC would be willing to die to save? Explain.

E. Easygoing: When with other people, does your OC tend to go with the flow, or be the leader? Why? Are there any people they behave differently around?

F. Forgiveness: Has your OC ever been betrayed by someone they trusted? If so, who? Did they forgive this person?

G. Gift: If your OC received a gift they didn’t like from a loved one, how would they react? What would they do with the gift?

H. Help: When someone your OC loves has a problem, how does your OC try to help them? Do they prefer to comfort, offer advice, or fix the problem? Would your OC go out of their way to help a stranger?

I. Irritating: What is something your OC finds annoying about another character?

J. Joke: Does your OC tend to tease and banter with their friends, or are they more serious/straightforward?

K. Kickback: Your OC is given the chance to have (their version of) the perfect day, but they have to bring someone else with them. Who do they choose, and what do they spend the day doing?

L. Loyalty: Is your OC more loyal to their family, their friends, or a mix of both? Why?

M. Mine: Is your OC comfortable taking things from their loved ones? (Do they snatch fries off their friend’s plate? Rummage through their sibling’s clothes?)

N. Nemesis: Does your character have a “worst enemy?” If so, who, and why? Could their relationship with this person be improved?

O. Outcast: Does your OC tend to get along with other people? How many close relationships do they have, compared to the average person?

P. Protect: Does your OC tend to protect other people, or are they the one who is protected?

Q. Qualified: Does your OC follow through on their promises? Do other characters consider them responsible/trustworthy?

R. Regret: Has your OC ever betrayed someone who trusted them? If so, who? Do they regret it?

S. Secret: What is something your OC wishes they could tell another character?

T. Three: Would your OC rather be given a hug, a compliment, or a bouquet of flowers?

U. Union: Is your OC interested in romantic relationships? If so, do they have a romantic partner? A crush? How is that working out for them?

V. Viewpoint: How often does your OC notice things they like/dislike about strangers? Do they perceive other people in a more positive, critical, or neutral way?

W. Wish: If your OC could make a wish on behalf of another person, who would they choose, and what would they wish for?

X. X-out: How much would your OC sacrifice to make a loved one happy? Would they do something embarrassing? Would they give up a vacation they really wanted to go on?

Y. Yearbook: What is your OC’s happiest memory with another character?

Z. Zoo: Does your OC have any animal companions? If so, explain.

Cute EreMin headcanons because my heart hurts looking at their season 4 relationship😭

- When they were learning to use maneuver gear, Armin would often fall because his body was weaker than the others. Eren would always keep a close eye on him and then catch him when he falls.

- When they were younger and Armin got scared, he would grab onto Eren’s sleeve and once Eren caught on, he would immediately eliminate the threat

- They casually touch all the time and Eren always makes sure to sit or stand next to Armin. They’ll even hold hands sometimes while learning about a new mission

- When Eren was getting put through experiments, he always preferred if Armin was present

- During the winters when they were younger they would have sleepovers and cuddle together. They never really grew out of it so when winter rolled around when they were trainee’s and scouts, Armin would crawl into Eren’s bed. They wouldn’t cuddle, but they would sleep in the same bed together.

- Eren always makes a fuss if he isn’t on the same chore rotation with Armin

- Before missions, Eren would always find Armin and just talk about random things because he knows Armin is nervous and he wanted to make him feel better

- When Eren passes out after experiments, Armin sits by his side and refuses to leave until he wakes up

- Making eye contact with each other or just being in one another’s presence is always enough to calm them down

- When Eren gets angry and starts lashing out, Armin is always the one to calm him down and follow him out of the room to help him feel better. They usually end up gossiping about other soldiers and talking about the outside world

- They always casually disappear together when the group meets up. Like the group can be meeting up for anything and the two of them will eventually leave together without anyone noticing for a while

- Armin always smiles really brightly when he sees Eren

- During the summers, they’ll take their horses and ride up a nearby mountain to watch the sunrise or just go up there before breakfast

- They get each other’s food for one another. Whenever they arrive in the mess hall together, only one will get up and get the food for both of them. They switch everyday

- Armin is able to distinguish how Eren is feeling inside his Titan form through his roars. He can tell if he’s feeling frustrated/angry, sad, or cheerful, etc. No one really understands, but they trust Armin’s judgement

- They make pinkie promises

- Armin has a lot of nightmares of the time Eren died in front of him and since Eren knows this, he’s always able to tell when Armin is thrashing around in bed and he’ll hold his hand until he wakes up

- Eren never listened in school when they were younger so Armin was the one to teach him to read and write outside of school

- Eren’s heart breaks whenever he sees Armin scared to tears and he’ll do ANYTHING to make the tears stop

- The one time Armin got so mad he screamed and yelled was at Hange because he thought/knew she went too far on an experiment. He was very angry for days and didn’t talk to anyone except for Eren and Mikasa (Eren thought the pout he always had on his face was adorable)

“ Eremin is canon,“ I say into the mic.

The crowd boos. I begin to walk off in shame, when a voice speaks and commands silence from the room.

"He’s right,” they say. I look for the owner of the voice. There in the 5th row, Hajime Isayama himself

Two-point Perspective of a Tausug Stilt House on Water

-Luna

[playing twister]

Han Sooyoung: Yoo Joonghyuk, right hand red.

Yoo Joonghyuk: *ends up on top of Kim Dokja*

Kim Dokja: Alright, you are doing this on purpose, aren't you?

Han Sooyoung: I stopped spinning like, 15 turns ago. Honestly I'm surprised you guys didn't notice sooner.

🚫🚭

I've made this post like six times but it still fucks me up the China's mountains just look like that. Like I spent decades thinking it was stylistic but no, they just have different mountains over there.

Gen was scared but not anymore

I looked back at all scenes with Gen in Tsukasa Empire and I noticed interesting thing. Gen would never stay on Tsukasa’s side because he NEVER felt comfortable there. He looked actually scared and always with his guard up. He never smiled in genuine way. He kept his distance. He wasn’t fine with Tsukasa’s plan. I actually think Gen wore bags with fake blood not since he found Ishigami Village but since he noticed how messed up Tsukasa is. He wore that to protect himself in Tsukasa Empire and it just happened to be more useful against Magma. I really feel bad for Gen. He looked miserable around Tsukasa only looking for chance to escape.

But then he joined Senku’s group in permanent way and his whole attitude changed. He started to smile in genuine way. He felt comfortable and that let him enjoy spending time with people. He started to mess around without fear of getting hurt by some meathead who wouldn’t understand the joke. Gen himself even said that Senku’s side is the safest place on the world. He is really happy now.

yeah its advanced… advanced gayness