Resources for Writers #16

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.

Apr 02, 2025

Hello Writers,

It was my birthday the other day, and it went okay. We froze our butts off going on our monthly outing to Denny’s. That was the extent of the celebration; no cake or gifts this year since we’re in a jam trying to make this move happen.

I’m constantly feeling overwhelmed, but something is telling me to post this today. Luckily for you, this is all stuff that I wrote a little over a year ago, so it shouldn’t sound like I did it half-assed. Does that make it a waning or waxing gibbous? [[|:-D

Elements

Benthium — An extremely dense metal that has a melting point of 27,116°F. It was discovered on Venus and it bonds well with titanium, making an alloy that can withstand most solar temperatures but still retain its integrity. For reference, our sun is about 10,000°F.

As with the image above, I imagine it having a deep blue hue. Just remember, some stars are so enormous that most ships would not be able to withstand the gravity before having any trouble with the heat.

Carnelium — A powdery sulfur-like element found on Mars or perhaps at a significant volcano in a fantasy realm. It’s an extremely good source of fuel for fire that burns very slowly, but also makes it able to be struck anywhere to be lit. This substance also makes very efficient torches. It creates a more reddish-orange flame that is harder to see from farther away.

It burns without odor and its reddish fumes are non-toxic, but are also statically active and will adhere to statically active surfaces; much like how rubbing a balloon on your head makes your hair attract to it.

Story Ideas

Translation Recreation — I could see this idea being more fit for an episode or chapter more than a full story. The idea here is that your main characters, or at least some of them, have been captured and are forced to work in a labor camp where there are certain signals being broadcast that make it impossible for you to determine what each other is saying, including with telepathy.

They are constantly being watched, and so any attempts at writing, charades, or sign language is met with severe punishment, but nothing that would interfere with their capability to do work.

This scenario would have to be overcome either by others performing a daring rescue, or perhaps your characters know each other well enough to not have to speak to one another except with certain looks and can coordinate an escape. It’s possible that — if they’re not human — that they have complex pheromones that can speak volumes to one another, or at least alert them to emotional states. Maybe your characters know how to share dreams, which would be a good way to communicate.

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Image Prompts

What’s eating Gilbert’s Grape?

What if art starves too?

What if the key to success is an actual key?

Free Images for You

As always, all of the images in this post are free for you to use. They did rule that AI-generated imagery can’t be copyrighted, so have at it. Here are nine more.