I’m drifting through dimensions rn
evans: I love bees they’re very important for the ecosystem and they’re cute and make honey!
A bee: *buzz*
evans, shaking and crying: please don’t hurt me
ayo i found 2 pages with head angles of humans and animals, could be useful to anyone reading this
hoomans
animals
Saw this on Facebook, but not on Tumblr and I just need it on my blog.
FULL CREDIT to Violet Wilson (@ViWiWrites), Twitter
Another drawing of someone on a minecraft realm’s character. I’ll be honest arms are difficult, but I think I did ok.
Tony: don’t say a word
Peter: fergalicious
Tony: what did I just say?
Peter: oh I see how it is Mr. Stark, when we played scrabble last week it wasn’t a word but now it is
Peter: how convenient for you
When writing speculative fiction, one of the writer’s most important jobs is to establish the new rules for their world. In many branches of speculative fiction, especially fantasy and even horror, this is magic, though it can also be technology and alternate scientific rules for science fiction. Whatever alternate fact(s) or reality you utilize to make your fictional world possible, that qualifies as a “magic system.” Your magic system is most often defined by what it can’t do rather than by what it can.
When writing speculative fiction, it’s usually assumed that something about your world is different than ours. That can be a small tweak or it can be a complete dismantle-and-reassembly of physics as we understand it. Whatever system you choose to implement, it needs to have internally consistent rules. If, throughout the course of your book, magics begin to contradict each other, then it will disturb your readers suspension of disbelief. You don’t want your awesome magic to yank your readers from the believability of the story. But…most important of all…you have to establish some sort of rules and limits in order to prevent yourself from pulling a deus ex machina. No one likes a poorly executed deus ex machina. Few people like a well executed one (is there such a thing?). If you have rules, limits, cost, built into the magic or technology of your world, then you establish something that is not only nuanced and interesting, but believable.
Why write speculative fiction if I have to create and follow all of these tedious rules?! The real world has rules enough.
It’s true. But following your own rules and following real worlds aren’t the same thing. Lots of you have probably heard the little saying, “Give your world a Flux Capacitor.” If you think about it, Back to the Future’s Flux Capacitor doesn’t make a lot of sense. It’s not explained. But we accept it because it’s magic. And when Doc says, “Here’s this thing. It makes time travel possible.” We accept it because it’s a simple alteration. He doesn’t try to use it to do more than what is initially established. It never breaks that rule. It’s not used to get Marty out of an impossible situation, defying any previous understanding of the technology. That’s why it works.
First, you need to probably choose what type of magic you will use. Will be elements based? Or energy based? Spirit? Physical? Time and Space? What things is your magic summoning/manipulating/drawing from?
Now you’ll want to focus on the parts that make your magic yours. Sure, elemental magic has been used half a zillion times, but it can still be interesting if you do something new with it. The best way to do something new is to alter its limits, change the cost, give it a new spin that makes your regular ol’ fire magic something intriguing.
You can do a little bit of research into ancient forms of magic, into other literary uses of magic. See what those before you have done and use it as an inspiration.
If you’re having trouble knowing where to start, I’m here to provide you some thoughts concerning the skeletal-assembly of your magic system! Use these prompts as you see fit!
What does magic use/alter/manipulate?
visible energies
gravity
laws of physics
light
thought
water, only, in all of its forms
fabric of space
elementary particles
items of specific color or texture
perception
plant life
the dead
blood
magnetic forces
demons
vibrations
earth
emotions
Who possesses magic?
scholars
children
random lucky people
anyone
everyone
the elderly
anyone who’s ever petted a dog
specific animals
deities
How is it acquired?
at birth
intense study and training
gifted
through random action
through a ritual
as one ages
stolen
From where is power drawn?
internal mana
heat energy
alignment of the stars
physical contact with _____ (the earth, another life force, a drawing or rune)
kinetic or potential energy
the moon(s)
other realms
movement of tectonic plates
spiritual energy of those nearby
consumption of specific foods/drinks/elements
Check out the rest of the Brainstorming Series! Magic Systems, Part Two New Species New Worlds Cultures Civilizations Map Making Politics and Government Belief Systems & Religion Guilds, Factions, & Groups War & Conflict Science & Technology Wildlife & Ecosystems History & Lore
So here’s a fun story about me. I’ve stopped going to school and I really should be in school. For context I was in the psych ward until a few weeks ago and then my mandatory therapy decided I should not be in school because it was having an impact on my health and my parents agreed
Fair enough but now I’m a bit stuck bc it is now a very real possibility that I walk out of year 11 with no exams and that’s actually terrifying so today I started drawing and I didn’t stop until I was done. And that’s why this piece exists.
The Official Jedi view on politics is that they try not to interfere and do not trust politicians, but if they are running out of options on how to settle an issue they will tell Padme Amidala what is going on and just unleash her onto their problems