Writing Prompts For Writers With No Motivation

Gee, I don't know how to research writing Characters of Color tastefully:

So You Want to Write a Fantasy: Writing Female Characters

So You want to Write a Fantasy: Culture

 SYWTWAF: Writing What you Don’t know

Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

 Some primers

 More Primers

 RaceFail ‘09: Or where Deepad’s I didn’t dream of Dragons comes from, and why.

 Writing characters of Color

  Writing Outside your experience

Media Representations Wiki - stereotypes/tropes/culture/etc

 On A:TLA’s whitewashing - All The World’s White, the Rest of Us merely live in it

The Face of the Other: Do Manga & Anime characters look “white”?

Describing Characters of Color pt 1 & Describing Characters of Color (pt 2)

 I Didn’t Dream of Dragons

 Shame

 So You Want to: Avoid Unfortunate Implications

 Transracial Writing for the Sincere

 Why Writing Colorblind is Writing White

What a Girl Wants: Representation

 An Equal Place at the Table

 Avoiding LGBTQ Stereotypes

The Problem With Colorblindness (and the Rest of Racebending.com)

 Making Movies for White People: A Tongue in Cheek critique of Minority Representation in the Media, or lack thereof

 From Margin to Center: Writing Characters of Color via Racialicious

 Writing Characters of Color - a helpful community!

 Why my Protagonists aren’t white (even though I am.)

 The Dangers of Telling a Single Story (a helpful Video)

 The Lack of People of Color in Historical Fictions

 How to Read and Respond to Literature of Color

 The Advantages of being a White Writer (in getting published)

 Writing Characters of Colour (Now With 10% Less White Liberal Anxiety!)

 Fic and Skin Tone (discusses Nyota Uhura, otherwise relevant)

 On Problematic Writing

 Writing Race in YA fiction: Debunking Myths

 Diversity Writers: How to Write People of Color

 The Importance of Inclusionary Writing

 Racialicious

 Overcoming the Noble Savage and the Sexy Squaw: Native Steampunk

 The Intersection of Race and Steampunk: Colonialism’s After-Effects & Other Stories, from a Steampunk of Colour’s Perspective

 Beyond Victoriana: For EVERYTHING Steampunk/1800s/Industrial Revolution that isn’t just Victorian England and the archives Tales of the Urban Adventurer

 Can I just watch A Game of Thrones in Peace? (A brown feminist fan rant).

Fantasy and Sci-Fi race Bingo

Invoking Strangely Colored people

Many Voices

AfroFuturism, SciFi, and the History of the Future

Some Open Thoughts on Race & Dsyutopia

When Will White People Stop Making Movies like Avatar?

Portraying POC in YA Fantasy: Are we There Yet?

Debunking White Fantasy

Racism in Fantasy

Magical Realism is Fantasy written in Spanish.

#Beardy unwashed white fantasy guy

Describing Characters of Color in Writing

Your Default Narrative Settings Are Not Apolitical

On Writing LGBTQ characters (another list)

1.) It’s not hard to figure out what to do, there are plenty of resources.

People say you have to get it right, do your research, but … what else are you supposed to research? It’s not like people with more pigment in their skin have completely different personalities than those with less, any more than any individual. It’s frustrating when I can’t even figure out what the heck people are talking about.

Bam. Research step one done for you.

2.) Writing characters of color/minorities is a good thing.

I don’t like the notion that fantasy authors are under some kind of obligation to present ethnically diverse worlds. I’m English, and a fair sized part of English history consists of unwashed beardy white people in mead halls. If I’m inspired by my own history and cultural heritage, then that’s what I’m damn well going to write about. I’m not writing about some other culture just to appease the people who think there aren’t enough black characters in fantasy, or whatever. You want it, you write it. Nothing to do with me.

You’re wrong.

3.) Your all White Fantasy Land Didn’t Exist in Real Life:

…the rather medieval one has more diversity than real medieval Germany probably had […] In a world with medieval means of transport, it just doesn’t seem natural to me to mix dark-skinned people with blue-eyed blondes in one setting. I just try to give the people a colour that fits the place where they live.

You mean like the people from Africa and the Middle east who began to take over Southern Spain, as well as the Jews who were pretty well spread out throughout Europe, the Middle Easterners they would have met on the Crusades, and the incoming Mongol Hordes who spread to the very edges of Eastern Europe before the empire finally collapsed? Don’t forget that Turkey is right there, and the silk road would have gone from Song Dynasty China, through India, and ended in Turkey before moving further westwards into places like Germany. Also the attempts at the Franco-Mongol alliance would have been pretty interesting. (That’s about the 13th century - arguably smack dab in Middle Ages Europe and definite contact between France/Christian Europe and the Mongolian Empire.)

Unless you’re writing everything in the far reaches of Denmark or something, historically speaking, I call bullshit on people who have societies that are only all white ever, because it’s just inaccurate. Consider the relative closeness of Northern Africa to Spain, or Turkey to the rest of Europe, the conquests of Alexander the Great, the Crusades, Slavery existing in Europe, including England, the slave trade, imperialism, Pax Mongolica, The Silk Road, Jewish Diaspora, the Islamic Empire vs The Holy Roman Empire, Egypt, Algeria, China’s sailing across the world, The Maruyan/Gupta Empires of India, tea trades, Columbus sailing in hopes of finding China, etc, etc, etc.

4.) I mean I just don’t believe you anymore. It’s unrealistic. Seriously guys.

You’d think I’d just denied the holocaust or something. Get a grip. All I said was that I’m going to write about my own cultural experience and anyone who thinks I should do otherwise for the sake of political correctness can bugger off.

This isn’t even about being PC this is just not being wrong about everything.

good lord.

THINGS TO MAKE YOUR OC FEEL GUILTY . Pt 1.

When she leaves for work in the morning , her dog looks sad .

He took off the collar of the family dog and abandoned her in the park because they couldn't afford to feed her.

As a child / adult they didn't notice or figure out that someone was in a terrible situation before it was too late.

They had a horrible argument with them right before they died in an accident.

He or she keeps imagining what it would be like to kiss their best friend / sibling's soulmate/ BF or GF / wife or husband.

He didn't make it to his father's deathbed in time.

She was out of town when her terminally ill loved one died alone at home.

She accidentally served food to someone who was highly allergic to it and almost killed them .

He or she didn't go to their funeral.

Because of an illness or deformity , he can't work and has to accept the support of others or the government.

Despite a happy childhood and a fortune adulthood , he struggles with depression and anxiety .

She called in sick for work when really , she just didn't feel like going in.

She frequently indulges in unhealthy eating despite the doctor's warning.

He had stopped taking his medications for a while now.

He forgot someone's birthday .

She forgot their anniversary.

She cheated on her boyfriend or spouse.

He stopped loving her a long time ago but can't find it in him to break up with her , who's head over heels for him

She had an abortion even though her partner wants to start a family.

His girlfriend killed herself after he broke up with her.

He ignored the call or turned off his when someone called to later discover they committed suicide.

She had an abortion .

He was in a car crash that injured the driver.

He was involved in a hit and run.

She accidentally hit someone's dog when they run out in front of her car.

She betrayed someone who was very kind or good to her.

He or she has decided not to have kids and is hiding it from their spouse who loves children.

As a lawyer, he got his client scot free even though the guy was guilty.

They accepted bribe and faked evidence to implicate an innocent person.

As a teenager they bullied others.

She accidentally killed someone or badly hurt someone when they pulled a prank .

He and his friends spread a fake rumour about someone for fun that caused the person to be an outcast.

They are in love with their step sibling.

He is in his forties and dating someone half his age.

She stole from her best friend.

He stole someone else's work and is making money out of it.

She had to put down her dog because he was very old and miserable.

She thinks she loves her step child than her biological children .

As a child or adult , he successfully blamed his wrongdoing on someone else who was punished for it.

He / she's sleeping with his best friend's / friend's parent.

Some of these can be used as ideas for character secrets as well . And if you probably want to write a character who is unlikable you could use these and not make them feel guilty about it.

Miscellaneous dialogue prompts .

"Leave . Now . Before I do something I regret . "

" let's pretend to be strangers . It's what you already do best anyway "

" I don't want to ever see you again!" .

" Everything is always my fault , isn't it ? You never want to admit your mistakes "

" Do you know what makes me mad ? It's that I still love you , even after everything you've done to me "

" I realized I never really knew you. You were never who I thought you were. "

" sorry , I'm allergic to stupidity "

" Can I please throw myself out the window ?"

" Don't make me come there ! "

" Aww... You're such an adorable human ! - I want to buy him ! "

" I'm a good cuddler and hugger , just so you know "

" Apparently , my human doesn't like to be disturbed during it's slumber ... -She almost killed me ! "

" Wait - is it me or did that statue just move ? "

" Well , someone grew some balls . Did you guy do it yet ?"

" Don't test me , love. I know a lot of good places to hide bodies. "

" Grandma , can you tell us again about the time of civilization ?"

" don't you know it's forbidden to have twins ?! "

" I'm not here to fight. I just wanna talk "

" lick your lips one more time and see what happens .."

" why is your water so ... Colourless ?"

" Ahh !! Don't strip infront of my innocent eyes ! "

" I can't see ! I can't see anything !!!"

" The Apocalypse has began ! " " What the hell ?! Dude ,did just you call me at 2 in the morning for this shit ?!

" I'm unfortunately so sexy , it's a crime .

" I want you so bad ... I can't take it anymore...!"

" Studies have shown that kissing is actually relaxing to humans. Sooo.... Want me to help you calm down?"

" I'm not sad and single . I'm fabulous and available. "

" You're so full of shit , even the toilet paper would shun you !"

" I belong to you . Today , tomorrow and forever ."

" Is that a ...fish in your hair ?"

" Are you hitting on me ?" " Oh, so you finally noticed ?"

" This soulmate thing sucks ! I don't want to meet my stupid soulmate ! I want to be free like other kids !"

" Is that blood on your shirt ?!"

" Tell me , who did you kill this time ?"

" I don't remember... I don't remember killing him "

" I'll make you pay for all the suffering you've caused us "

" I swear I saw it move !"

" Who's there ! Show yourself !

" You're weak and a coward . Just like your ancestors , I'll enjoy killing you too "

" This is an obsession , not love ! You need to stop before this even more out of hand !"

" Sir , that's not the way home "

" Ahhh... The sweet smell of death "

" Why are there cameras in my bathroom ?!"

25 Writing Prompts to Make Your Character Feel Lonely

Some of these things wouldn’t necessarily make a person feel lonely, but all of them could make someone feel that way.

He invites people to his birthday party, but all of them either cancel at the last minute or simply fail to show up.

People keep posting pictures from a party that she wasn’t invited to.

He doesn’t have anyone to celebrate Christmas or Valentine’s Day with.

She eats alone at a restaurant.

He sits alone at the movies or a baseball game.

He’s getting divorced, and their mutual friends are spending time with his wife and her new boyfriend.

She gets Christmas cards from married couples with pictures of them and their smiling children.

He’s in a group of people who have a lot of in-jokes he doesn’t understand.

She realizes that the woman she considers a best friend doesn’t feel the same way about her.

A group of his coworkers never invites him along to lunch.

She misses the dog who used to sleep at her feet.

He looks out of the window of his new apartment and wishes he’d never moved away from his hometown.

She comes across photos or cards from a family member who has since cut her off.

He’s in a foreign country where he doesn’t speak the language well— or at all.

She’s working a night shift all on her own.

He hears his partner or wife compliment someone else profusely, but s/he never compliments him.

He texted three people, and none of them texted him back.

She was excited to be invited to a party, only to realize it’s a “party” where you’re supposed to buy stuff.

He wakes up from a dream where he’s with his ex, his long-distance partner, his family, or a new group of friends, and he realizes it wasn’t real.

After buying a nice new outfit, she realizes she has no one to go out and do things with, so she has nowhere special to wear it.

He joined an online dating service and no one is showing any interest.

There’s a snack item in the vending machine that nobody ever wants, and she relates to it.

He plays board games with himself as a child…or as an adult.

She always asks other people about their health, their families, and their work. Nobody asks her how she’s doing.

He talks to a virtual assistant or computer program as though it’s a real person.

gestures that gets me on my knees.

(feel free to use<3 the kisses ones are.. im- i-... yall better tag when u write these or else check under ur bed before sleep! :) )

lingering with your lips open, touching, but not kissing, and this one glance at their eyes and you say fuck it and pull at their collar to kiss them

heavily breathing after a kiss (damn ittitit)

gulping when they get a little too close

and not knowing how to talk or exist after they finish kissing you like they've been needing that kiss for a lifetime!!!

loosing your mind when they tilt your chin to look you in the eye

pulling them by their belt to kiss them>>

lazy kisses in the morning, that starts with a grunt as they pull you closer to them as you try to get up and lazily placing kisses all over face and ends with a hoarse whisper from them asking you to stay. fucjfuck

their mouth at your ear, whispering!!!

"give me a chance. to prove what i can make you feel." (ohmykgodks)

when they kiss you, hard, gripping, shaking breaths, fists in each other's clothes, against a wall, but they stop. and smirk, "you want that, love? i want cuddles though." and their grin is too wide, stupid and cocky and beautiful.

you're holding on by a thread and they sort of grin against your lips, mumbling, "just lose control, love."

that glance at your body with their eyes subtly widening, almost gulping as they take in your attire. fuck.

the lips are hot, soft, settling, nibbling and gasping, pulling onto each other for more and when you stop, they have their eyes closed, heavily exhaling, hair ruffled, and they look like the prettiest mess ever.

holding your hands above your head as they kiss you

A bunch of different dialogue prompts #35

"If we lose this-" "It's just a game of Capture the Flag honey, it's not that serious-" "If we lose this, I'm divorcing you."

"What do you want from me?" "You'll see soon enough."

"Can I ask you a favor?" "Can you ask me? Yes. Will I do it?" "... you haven't even heard what I was going to ask-" "No."

"Never underestimate the power of a well-timed prank, young padawan." "See, this is why I never introduce you to people."

"Not to sound desperate, but, we're desperate."

"Don't ever ask me about that again, is that clear?"

"Hear that?" "Hear what?"

"There you are! I've missed you!" "What- What's going on?"

"Am I supposed to know who you are?"

"I'm bored, wanna do something?" "Sure, what do you want to-" "Bank robbery." "..." "..." "Should I be concerned?"

Friends to lovers prompts:

Being cast as the main characters in a school play and having to perform a romantic confession scene together. You're okay with it since it's your friend playing the love interest, and they (probably) don't mean it anyway. But when they start acting it out, it almost feels real. Once the scene has ended, you realize how much you wished it was

Or being the one who has to act out the confession to your friend (who you've been crushing on for years) and trying so hard to not faint from embarrassment

Calling each other by nicknames

Accidentally confessing to each other while laughing over something

Being separated from each other for sometime and realising how much you miss the other's presence

Sharing a book and reading it together in a library, when your friend rests their head on your shoulder. It's been a common thing for years, so why has this fuzzy feeling taken over you all of a sudden?

Drawing small doodles in each other's notebooks, when one day your friend writes 'I like you'

Helping your friend move to another place, coming across the teddy bear you gave them ages ago

Sharing the most awkward first kiss ever, but becoming better at it by the second try

Telling their friends about their relationship, only to be surprised by the fact that they already knew and placed a bet on when they'd get together

Proposing at the same place where they first met as kids

reassurance starters

“ i feel safe with you. “

“ i won't let anything happen to you. “

“ you're safe with me. “

“ are you okay with this? ”

“ you've got good values. “

“ i trust you. “

“ thank you for your patience. “

“ can i kiss you? ”

“ i won't tell a soul. i promise. “

“ i appreciate you. “

“ you are so smart. “

“ i love you for who you are. “

“ the world is lucky to have you. “

“ you don't mind if i kiss you, do you? “

“ it's okay, you know. “

“ i want you to kiss me. “

“ only if you want to. “

“ i would pretty much trust you with my life. “

“ are you okay with being touched? “

“ if you're uncomfortable, you can tell me. “

“ you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. “

“ you're a wonderful person. “

“ you deserve the whole world. “

“ do you want me to talk to them for you? “

“ are you sure about this? “

“ it's okay if you say no. “

“ it's up to you. “

“ i'll always support you. “

“ you'll always have me. “

“ we don't have to do this if you're not ready. “

“ you belong with me, to me, under me. consensually, of course. “

“ can i hug you? “

“ i like kissing you. “

“ you're really cute, you know. “

“ you're adorable. “

“ god, i love you. “

“ we make a pretty good team. “

“ it's you and me. “

“ you're worthy of everything. “

“ i've never loved anyone the way i love you. “

“ you promise this is okay? “

“ are you okay with me kissing you? ”

“ come to me, whenever you need to. “

“ i'm here for you. “

“ you can talk to me. “

“ do you trust me? “ “ yes. “

“ i like spending time with you.

“ it's nice, this thing we've got going on. ”

“ you make me happy. really happy. “

“ you're safe with me. “

“ i got you. “

“ you're okay. “

“ i'm not going anywhere. “

“ call me, even if it's the middle of the night. “

“ are you okay with this? “

“ i'm extremely okay with this. “

“ you know that i love you, right? “

“ whenever you're ready, i'll be there. “

“ if you're not ready, we can wait. “

“ take your time. it's okay. “

“ it's gonna be okay. i promise.

“ you're not alone.

“ you have me. “

UNREQUITED,  FALSE ASSUMPTIONS  &  PINING  PROMPTS 

TO EACH OTHER

❝  i love you.  and i know you don’t feel that way about me and that’s okay i just.  i wanted to get to say it at least once.  ❞

❝  what are you talking about—   of course i love you?  ❞

❝  but i do love you.  i always have.  i just thought you didn’t feel that way so i never said anything.  ❞

❝  look i…i do care about you.  a lot.  and i wish i could love you that way.  i really do but i just,  i’ve never seen you like that.  ❞ 

❝  …you love me?  ❞ 

❝  why didn’t you ever say anything?  ❞

❝  i did!  i loved you.  and i thought you didn’t feel that way so i moved on.  i’m with someone now.  why…why did you wait so long?  ❞

❝  why did you wait so long to tell me how you feel?  ❞

❝  i love you!   okay?  i’ve been so fucking in love with you for longer than i can remember.  ❞

❝  you should have told me how you felt.  ❞

❝  actually i…there was a little while there where i had this horrible crush on you.  if i’d known this was how you were feeling i would’ve gone for it.  ❞

❝  please don’t say it.  i know you don’t love me.  i don’t expect you to,  but just.  don’t make me have to hear you say it.  ❞

❝  i’ve loved you for so long…i don’t remember what it was like to not be in love with you.  ❞

❝  i can’t say no to you.  and it’s just not fair.  ❞

❝  please,  don’t be cruel.  i love you.  like really love you.  so if i’m just some passing curiosity for you…don’t.  don’t say anything at all. ❞

❝  you don’t get it.  i want the whole package with you. i don’t wanna be some fling you forget about in a few months.  ❞

❝  do you know how long i’ve waited for you?  ❞

❝  i don’t need you to love me back.  i just want you to be able to accept that this is how i feel.  ❞

❝  why did you think i wouldn’t love you back?  ❞

❝  will you just slow down a minute!  i’m trying to tell you i love you too.  ❞

❝  i wouldn’t have been messing around with anyone else if i knew about this sooner.  ❞

❝  will you stop crying so i can kiss you already?  ❞

❝  honestly i’d never thought about it…i just need time to think it over.  ❞

❝  i hadn’t ever taken the time to think about it.  but…that doesn’t mean i couldn’t love you.  ❞

❝  i just need to know.  do you love me?  or have i just been making this all in my head?  ❞

❝  i love you.  please don’t say anything yet.  you don’t need to say anything. ❞

❝  no—  they weren’t lying.  i do.  i love you.  but i didn’t want you to find out like that.  i didn’t want you find out at all,  actually.  ❞

❝  look can you just forget about it?  okay?  yeah i’m in love with you.  big deal.  it happens.  ❞

❝  yes i love you.  i’ll get over it.  ❞

❝  are you…are you really over me?  cause,  that’d actually really suck because i’m not over you.  ❞

❝  look,  i know you love me.  but you shouldn’t.  ❞

❝  you are far too good to love someone like me.  you’ll find someone better.  ❞

TO/FROM A THIRD PARTY

❝  if that’s how you feel about them why not just say it?  take a chance.  wouldn’t you rather know one way or the other?  ❞

❝  this whole time i didn’t see them…i didn’t see what was right in front of me and now it might be too late.   ❞

❝  i love them so much it hurts.  ❞

❝  love shouldn’t hurt this much.  this whole thing is just consuming you in a way that isn’t healthy.  ❞

❝  you either need to make a move or let them go.  ❞

❝  this isn’t good for you.  you can’t keep pouring yourself into someone who doesn’t even know you exist.  ❞

❝  you do see how they look at you,  right?  ❞

❝  don’t you realize they’ve been in love with you for years?  ❞

❝  they love you,  dumbass.  ❞

❝  look i’m so fed up with everyone knowing you two love each other except you.  go kiss them or shut the fuck up about it.  ❞

❝  just take a chance.  you might be surprised.  ❞

ACTIONS/SCENARIOS

[ CONFESSION ]  for sender to interrupt receiver’s confession of love by kissing them. 

[ CONFESSED ]  for receiver to interrupt sender’s confession of love by kissing them. 

[ STOP ]  for sender to try and walk away,  afraid they’re going to get their heart broken but receiver grabs their wrist and pulls them back in for a kiss. 

[ STOPPING ]  for receiver to try and walk away,  afraid they’re going to get their heart broken but sender grabs their wrist and pulls them back in for a kiss. 

[ CONFRONTING ]  for receiver to confront sender after a third party told receiver that sender is in love with them. 

[ DRAMATICS ]  for a near death experience to drive receiver to confess their feelings to sender. 

[ SEE ]  for receiver to be hurt and realize sender loves them because of the way they’re taking care of them. 

[ EAVESDROP ]  for receiver to overhear a conversation where sender talks about their feelings for them. 

[ HUSH ]  for sender to ramble about their feelings and how they know it isn’t requited only for receiver to put a hand over their mouth so they’ll be quiet long enough for them to explain they love them too. 

[ AWAKEN ]  for receiver to not think they feel the same way but realize after a simple hookup with sender that they’re in love with them to. 

[ CASUAL ]  for sender to want to sleep with receiver to get it out of their system.  but receiver winds up catching feelings to because of it. 

[ TENSION ]  for muses who have been pining for each other to finally have sex for the first time. 

[ BREAK ]  sender can’t take it anymore and kisses receiver out of nowhere. 

[ FREE ]  receiver can’t take it anymore and kisses sender out of nowhere. 

[ TRY ]  sender has confessed their feelings and receiver tries kissing them to see how they feel.  

[ TRYING ]  receiver has confessed their feelings and sender tries kissing them to see how they feel. 

meeting parents prompts!

1. A and B have been in a relationship for a while, yet A has never met B’s family. They kept trying to arrange dates to do so, but they were either too busy with work or simply forgot. It wasn’t until A was walking through the grocery store while running errands that they bump into a couple that brought a sense of familiarity to them. They both reminded A of someone and after a few moments of small talk, it clicks that the couple is B’s parents! A then figures that it’s time to finally introduce themself, and comes home with the funniest story to tell their significant other. 

2. B has never had a good relationship with their parents and although they seemed to have grown from it, it doesn’t mean that wounds from the past don’t sting from time to time. When A and B start their relationship, A introduces B to their parents and is welcomed in loving arms. B, not being used to such a caring environment doesn’t know how to properly respond or express how truly grateful they are. 

3. B brings A to their parents for the first time. A had expressed how nervous they were for weeks on end, worrying if B’s parents would like them or not. B helps A through their nervousness and constantly reassured their partner that their parents wouldn’t be dismissive or rude at all, telling them that A would be welcomed warmly. It calms A’s nerves and gives them the confidence to go through with the plans, but when B’s parents are unexpectedly rude and disapproving, A has to now deal with their rising panic. B has to figure out what to do about this new problem. 

4. A has been avoiding the whole step in which B meets their family, as they are worried that their family wouldn’t accept or approve of B for any given reason. B wonders why, but respects that A isn’t ready just yet. After thinking a while though, A decides that it is unfair to B to hide them away and should embrace their lover instead. After arranging plans, A finally brings B to their parents, ready to defend their partner at any costs, but is heavily surprised when instead of rejecting B, their parents love B more than anything else in the world.