Resources for Writers #7
A frequent blog where I share ideas and resources for fiction writers of all genres. Each issue is imagined independently and is intended to invoke inspiration.
Hello Readers,
It’s been a minute, and I really haven’t gotten to a point to where I can sit down and write. Luckily, I have several of these written, and it doesn’t take much time to spice them up with some more imagery.
In case you missed it, my partner is due for open heart surgery on November 22nd. She’s struggled with bigeminy her whole life, and with other health problems, it has coalesced into acute aortic stenosis. Her blood is being pumped through a straw instead of the normal one inch hose we all have.
Please consider perusing her wishlist for her recovery in rehab. She plans to start her Substack while recovering.
Anybeat, on to why you’re here.
Time Travel
Twin Paradox — I’m sure you’re familiar with the Grandfather Paradox. A time paradox wherein you travel back in time to conceive yourself, or become a progenitor of your lineage. The Twin Paradox, however, is more specific. For a male, it would be traveling back ten or more months before you were conceived and lay with your mother which creates a slightly older paradoxical twin of you. For a female, it would require birthing the child prior to traveling back to the present.
Now, the reason that it’s a paradox is that, your alteration of the timeline somehow erases your memories of this occurrence, and to fix itself, the timeline creates a parallel timeline, allowing both of you to grow up with the same parents and removing it when the twin leaves to live on its own.
A lot of story ideas are brewing in my mind, but I’m busy with other stories at the moment.
Jeremy’s Paradox — Jeremy is an average single guy who meets with an interesting young woman at a party. She seems oddly familiar, and the two get blitzed which leads to a one-night stand. Nine months later, Jeremy wakes up and has full-blown amnesia, and to make matters worse, he supposedly wakes up in someone else’s house.
Half-naked and hungry, he tries to use his debit card at an ATM, only it eats the card and tells him that his account doesn’t exist.
Unfortunately for Jeremy, the timeline chose not to go the Twin Paradox route, and instead, erased Jeremy’s existence without removing his physical body — no energy or matter lost or gained and all that.
In Jeremy’s case, the woman at the party was his future daughter who then birthed their son. Their son then grew up and eventually traveled back in time to sleep with Jeremy’s mother to create him, only, the timeline was having a bad hair day and just said, “Nope!”.
Breath Weapons
Liquid Fire — It looks and acts just like fire, except that it is in a viscous liquid form. It flows smoothly and slowly, but not as slowly as lava. It doesn’t get absorbed, but dissipates as it sets things on fire instead. It’s also light blue in color just like the base of the flame on a lighter. Imagine drowning in fire. No thank you.
Acid Glob — Instead of a thin liquid, this acid breath comes out as a mucousy glob that slightly sticks where it lands, and can explode upon impact. There may be a certain amount of time before another one can be fired.
Magic
Quantum Magic — As much as we like to separate science and magic, quantum sciences are telling us a different story. In most fantasy settings, magic trumps science in most cases, but I’ve always felt that spellcasters can too easily become demi-gods. A warrior does not have the same probability for a similar epithet.
Magic should have certain limitations, even at the highest levels. It should only be able to bend — not break — the laws of physics. Be it mixing technology and magic, or just scientific insight that improves your magic, quantum science is the penultimate level of knowledge to take your magic to the next tier.
I would suggest keeping it simple. Maybe a high-level wizard divines some knowledge about the quantum realm, and now realizes how they can extend the limitations of their teleportation spells. Or maybe this knowledge allows them to travel short distances through time.
There is a lot of information, and a lot of ways that quantum sciences could affect/improve magic. I could write a whole series of issues about it, but it’s up to you to find out more. Like the description states, this is intended to invoke inspiration. My hope is that it inspires those ideas that spiral down an unexpected rabbit hole of a concept that you can’t ignore it despite the projects you have going.
Image Writing Prompts
Was there a big bang if all there exists is One?
What if Anakin Skywalker won the battle against Obi-Wan Kenobi?
What will be the next art trend?
Also, that’s the prompt for the image.
Free-To-Use Images
Names
First Names
Brennim
Vielanya
Zimbral
Iniestro
Elengehr
Last Names
Gristener
Gatebreaker
vin Draulin
Wildstone
Ayemvir
Place Names
Gilded Crest
Anville
Lagrea
Nightwind
Longwood
Spell Names
Felger’s Dweomer
Valgred’s Disc
Tendrils of Horror
Lightning Whip
Syndra’s Submersible
All of the images in this blog were created with the Dall-E 3 model on NightCafe Creator. If you consider joining, please use my referral link.
Also, all of these images are royalty-free and free for you to use if you like. I don’t even require credit, although it would be nice. Furthermore, let me know if you’d like a larger resolution. I can make them as big as 8000 x 8000 pixels….[[|:-)
Thank you so much for reading. Please consider recommending my substack. I hope you imagine having a wonderful day….[[|:-)