Resources for Writers #12

A frequent blog where I share ideas and resources for writers of all genres. Each issue is imagined independently and is intended to invoke inspiration.

Jan 01, 2025

Hello Writers,

Welcome to 2025! I know we’re all hoping that it will be better than the last four, and that’s meant as an apolitical statement.

I only made one resolution for this year: to write something everyday, even if it’s just a premise of an idea.

Unfortunately, I get to start this year sick, but I am on the mend. Hopefully a poor start will lead to a great finish. We need something to turn around. We also had an auto-payment go through that was supposed to have been cancelled, and so no gifts this year. I’m probably going to have to sell my guitar….[[|:-(

Anyscam, on to the goods!

Plants

Dante’s Cup — A fictional plant that can be found in jungles and rainforests. A small plant that grows a large lateral leaf at its base with a small stem that can curl downward and grows a cup like flower that fills with a digestive acid that has a lure for insects that turns it into a more viscous liquid, both trapping and digesting them.

The name refers to an occasional burning of the inside of the cup caused by a chemical reaction. This is to clean out non-digestible parts like keratin. It’s an orange flame, but resembles how alcohol burns. It happens late in the evening when sunlight is at its lowest and the plant is preparing itself for the night cycle.

Fire-resistant bamboo — On its own, bamboo is truly a superior material. It has a tensile strength greater than steel, and can withstand pressures that exceed the limits of concrete. It’s biggest drawback is that it can be easily burned. If, somehow, you were to create a fire-resistant species, either by technological means, or maybe it’s natural, this would greatly increase its viability.

There are a variety of things that this could be applied to, for instance, skyscrapers could be made. Perhaps there is a giant version, allowing for its use in starships or other vessels. Imagine how light a plane could be, maybe even causing flight to be learned much sooner; at least with a glider type.

Superconductors

LK-99 — Quickly becoming the biggest scam in science since cocaine was sold as a panacea, the idea of a superconductor working at room temperature is much more interesting than most people realize. Especially, if you consider the fact that, currently, superconductors only work at extremely cold temperatures, usually involving liquid nitrogen.

The exciting part about this idea is that, this is what holds back a lot of the scifi-like technologies that scientists and engineers are working on, for instance, warp engines. Not only that, but the re-engineering of our current technologies into much more super-efficient devices and machines. It would mean nearly lossless power transfer.

Electrinium — A fictional element discovered in the rings of a brown dwarf star, this element works as a superconductor at high temperatures. In a non-activated state, this light metal is non-magnetic and has anti-bacterial properties like that of copper. However, once heating begins, it becomes magnetized soon taking on superconductive properties like anti-gravity once it reaches near melting temperatures. It will also spin in place, matching the frequencies that are involved, which can cause it to tumble out of place if not tuned correctly.

In our current state of technology when it comes to energy, we use heat to create energy. They kind of go hand in hand. Even though this is one of our most efficient means of producing energy, there is a lot lost within the heat to energy transfer. This element would produce nearly 100% efficiency within that transfer, and this would reduce the quantity of power plants needed.

Creatures

Q-ling — No, it’s not a name for what would’ve been Q’s and Janeway’s child. These strange, orb-like entities are a collection of electrons that break the veil of the ocean of potentiality that is the quantum realm and take on a pseudo-consciousness that essentially allows them to observe reality for a brief time. This time can be as little as a few microseconds to as long as several days.

Due to their quantum state while in reality, they are able to pass through solid objects, and can sometimes teleport instantaneously, or even seem to exist in several places at one time. They have been known to try to communicate through altering their frequency and emitting different hues of light, but not enough information has been gathered to formulate some type of language, and that’s only possible if they all speak the same one.

Drakken — A rare occurrence whereby the magical force within a dragon’s cells fuse with its skeleton during decomposition. It then takes several years and upwards to a century for the magical force to reanimate the skeleton. Its intelligence is reverted to that of an animal, relying on basic instincts.

It no longer has spells memorized, nor its breath weapons, but it does retain its other natural abilities, such as flight, and its innate spells or magical abilities. Its senses become magic-based with its sight being similar to that of the True Sight spell in Dungeons & Dragons, at least how it was in v.3.5.

Image Writing Prompts

What will our first ecumenopolis look like?

What will be the next deadly virus?

Who will write Ka’s story?

Free Images for You

Nearly all the images I use, I make with AI. At the same time, they’re all free for you to use in your stories and blogs. I don’t require any credit, and I can enlarge them if you like. I make most of them with NightCafe, and if you decide to join, please use my referral link.