“i Am Not A Speed Reader. I Am A Speed Understander.” — Isaac Asimov

the types of laughs and smiles

smirked — teasing, playful, snarky. usually, one side of the person’s mouth is slightly upturned.

smiled — a smile, both sides of the person’s mouth turn up and it can be slight or extreme.

laughed — a general laugh. usually in response to something funny or outlandish, can be dry, loud, kind of quiet, or hearty.

chuckled — laughter’s quiet cousin. usually more subtle than a laugh and can be the suppression of a laugh, like someone was starting to laugh but decided against it.

howled — a loud, intense and higher pitched version of laughter. think doubling over, hands on knees kind of laugh. like a wolf, if you will

convulsed/convulsing with laughter — the person’s body is shaking or moving a lot due to laughter, maybe their arms are moving, they’re bent over, i don’t know whatever you want

beamed — a more strong, noticeable smile, usually wide and cheerful. think your crush just asked you out kinda deal

things to think about when you’re worldbuilding

economy or economies — what does the economy look like? is it horrible? is it great? does it vary from area to area?

race(s) — what do your people(s) look like? are they human, are they something else, are there multiple species?

currency or currencies — what do people use to trade? do they trade with items, like one pound of beef in exchange for one pound of scrap, or currency, like one dollar for one peach?

magic — decide if you want to have magic in your world, none at all, or if you want to put a spin on magic, like technology (smartphones, laptops, etc.) is considered magic

magic system — how does your magic work? are there different elements? maybe different element combinations can make others?

rules of magic — what are the absolute don’ts and dos in your magic system? also, what are the don’ts and do’s for magic in your society or societies?

magicians — are there magicians? are they typically one race, can they be anyone, or are multiple races known for being magicians? how are they related to magic? are some races better at becoming magicians and dealing with magic than others? what makes someone a strong or weak magician if you’re going to have power differences?

how magic relates to science — if you’re going to have science in your world, how does magic tie into it? is magic just apart of science? is magic its own thing and science another?

flora and fauna — how is the wildlife? are the plants and animals the same as the ones on earth, or are they unique? are there a variety of organisms or only a few?

geography — what does the planet look like? is it mostly land, water, or something else? are there landforms? if so, what are they and what do they look like?

natural resource(s) — what resources are available on the planet or planets and where?

climate(s) — what is the weather generally like on the planet or in specific areas? for example, is it always hot in one area but always cold in another, or is the entire planet one way?

culture(s) — manners, calendar(s),

technology — how technologically advanced are your people? are some areas or civilizations more advanced than others? are they barbaric?

medicine — how advanced or simple is medicine? is it available to most people? is the kind of treatment you receive race specific? does free medical care exist or is it available?

transportation — how do people get around? do they walk, use cars, bikes, planes, and or trains, or something else entirely?

communication — what are the language(s)? what are the methods of communication? are there specific alphabet(s)?

colors in writing

black — black, shadow, jet black, ebony, crow, charcoal, coal, oil, raven, ink, onyx, soot, pitch black, obsidian, midnight

brown — brown, mocha, peanut, coffee, dirt, cedar, cinnamon, chocolate, brunette, pecan, wood, fudge, grizzly bear

red — red, blood, wine, cherry, apple, brick, crimson, ruby, scarlet, strawberry, maroon, rose

orange — orange, tangerine, fire, tiger, carrot, apricot, marmalade, citrus, pumpkin, basketball orange, ginger, deep saffron

yellow — yellow, blonde, blond, pineapple, butter, lemon, mustard, banana, corn, honey, gold

green — green, sage, lime, chartreuse, grass, fern, leaf or leafy, basil, pear, clover, green apple,

blue — blue, cobalt, sky, lapis, blueberry, azure, diamond, navy, royal blue, denim, cornflower blue, lobelia blue, river, ocean, lake, pool blue, sonic

indigo —indigo, deep indigo, royal indigo,

purple — amethyst, lilac, periwinkle, orchid, grape, hyacinth

violet — violet, french violet, pure violet

pink — pink, rose, salmon, fuschia, hot pink, bubblegum pink, cotton candy pink

white — white, feather, paper, bone, snow, pearl, eggshell, cloud, dove

“the most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘eureka!’ but ‘that’s funny…’” — isaac asimov

for me writing is the urge to write about that cinematic image i saw while listening to that ethel cain song

words to use instead of “said”

normal:

— stated

— spoke

— remarked

— reported

— added

questioning:

— asked

— inquired

— requested

— begged

angrily:

— demanded

— shouted

— growled

— yelled

sad:

— sobbed

— cried

— groaned

— bawled

nervous:

— trembled

— quaked

— stammered/stuttered

happy:

— exclaimed

— chirped

— laughed

— giggled

animal symbolism for your writing

dog — loyalty, faithfulness, trust, companionship, pack mentality, family-oriented

cat — independence, aligity, mystery, solitude, curiosity, self-reliance

rabbit — fertility, luck, new beginnings, gentleness, purity

snake — temptation, evil, ill will

deer — grace, gentleness, renewal, vulnerability, innocence

fox — cunning, trickery, intelligence, adaptability, mischief, playfulness, tomfoolery

coyote — cleverness, creativity, trickery, playfulness, knowledge, an omen or a warning

wolf — intuition, wisdom, freedom, wildness

alligator — danger, power, strength, camouflage

elephant — memory, longevity, intelligence, sovereignty

horse — travel, spirit, adventure, transportation, hard work

seal — playfulness, happiness, joy, understanding

seahorse — good luck, magic, persistence, fortune, individuality

shark — power, authority, strength, predatory nature, protection

fish — abundance, perseverance, prosperity, peace, calmness, water

grizzly bear — strength, power, protection, a connection to the wild, healing

black bear — fearfulness, conflict-avoidance, mindful

polar bear — viciousness, coldness, protectiveness

panda bear — peace, gentleness, luck, friendship

red panda — patience, sensitivity, originality, non-conformity

bird — transcendence, messaging/messengers, freedom

worm — decay, death, cycle of life, regeneration, simplicity

bug — filth, transformation, decay, unpleasantness

i would’ve rather suffered with you than be happy without you and maybe that was what was wrong with us all along

”people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — isaac asimov

words on trees, bushes, rural regions, and forests for your writing

thicket — a dense group of bushes or trees

grove — a small wood, orchard, or group of trees

underbrush — shrubs and small trees forming the undergrowth in a forest

undergrowth — a dense growth of shrubs and other plants, especially under trees in woodland

canebrake — a piece of ground covered with a dense growth of canes

chaparral — vegetation consisting chiefly of tangled shrubs and thorny bushes

woodland — land covered with trees

coppice — an area of woodland in which the trees or shrubsare, or formerly were, periodically cut back to ground level to stimulate growth and provide firewood or timber

hurst — a wood or wooded rise or hillock

hillock — a small hill or mound

copse — a small group of trees

bower — a pleasant shady place under trees or climbing plants in a garden or wood

deciduous — (of a tree or shrub) shedding its leaves annually

coniferous — conifers are a group of cone-bearing, woody seed plants. they are most diverse in warmer areas like tropical mountains, and are also found in the wild regions of canada and russia

bosk or bosque — a thicket of bushes; a small wood

woodlot — a woodlot is a parcel of woodland or forest, typically small in size, that is capable of supporting small-scale production of forest products

pine — an evergreen coniferous tree that has clusters of long needle-shaped leaves. many kinds are grown for their soft timber, which is widely used for furniture and pulp, or for tar and turpentine

oak — a tree that bears acorns as fruit, and typically has lobed deciduous leaves. oaks are common in many north temperate forests and are an important source of hard and durable wood used chiefly in construction, furniture, and, formerly, shipbuilding

birch — a slender, fast-growing tree that has thin bark, often peeling, and bears catkins. birch trees grow chiefly in north temperate regions, some reaching the northern limit of tree growth

mahogany — hard reddish-brown timber from a tropical tree, used for high-quality furniture

hinterland — the often uncharted areas beyond a coastal district or a river's banks

willow — salix, also known as willows, osiers, and sallows, is a genus of around 350 species of shrubs and trees that are usually deciduous. they are primarily found in temperate and cold regions on moist soils. the white willow is the largest species, with mature trees growing up to 25 meters tall

redwood — sequoioideae, also known as redwoods, are a subfamily of coniferous trees in the cupressaceae family. they are the tallest trees in the world and can live for thousands of years

elm — ulmus, or elms, are a genus of deciduous and semi-deciduous trees found across most of the northern hemisphere. they are known for their broad shade and vase-like shape

magnolia — a tree or shrub with large, typically creamy-pink, waxyflowers. magnolias are widely grown as ornamental trees

greenwood — a wood or forest in leaf (regarded as the typical scene of medieval outlaw life)

boskage — massed trees or shrubs

countryside — the land and scenery of a rural area

country — districts, areas, and small settlements outside large towns, cities, or the capital

backwoods — remote uncleared forest land

outskirts — the outer parts of a town or city

wildwood — an uncultivated wood or forest that has been allowed to grow naturally

sticks — an area in the country that is far away from towns and cities