Happy Nanowrimo! In honour of national novel writing month 2017 we have put together this list of 50 of the most useful questions and answers from our blog this year. We hope you find them useful - happy writing!
-the scriptautistic mods
Meta
Our masterpost list
Finding an autistic sensitivity reader or beta-reader for your story
How to research autism without falling for tropes
How do I incorporate a character being autistic into the plot without making it be about them being autistic?
Autism resources
Representation
What sorts of characters would you like to see more of?
What are common stereotypes about autistic characters?
Do you have any advice to keep from infantilizing an autistic character?
Is it ok to write ASD characters that are not loved and accepted straight away?
Would it be bad if I make a non-human character autistic?
How do y'all feel about a story about an autistic guy who grows to dislike his autism?
Comorbidities
Similarities and differences between OCD and ASD
What is the difference between down syndrome and autism?
Encouraging abused children to stim again (effects of child abuse)
Are autistic people more likely to get migraines?
Tips for writing an autistic character in a psychiatric hospital?
The effect of a mental breakdown on a character’s routines
Emotions and empathy
What does hyperempathy feel like?
What would a low-empathy character feel and do when trying to comfort someone?
Showing love without saying “I love you”
How would my character use facial expressions?
Sensory sensitivities
What does understimulation feel like?
How might a person with sensory sensitivities cope with living in an unpleasant environment?
Can a character’s autistic traits change as they get older?
How does it feel to have auditory processing disorder?
Why would an autistic person might hit their head when overloaded?
Stimming
How can I write stims?
What does stimming feel like?
What unobtrusive stims could my character use?
Would a character stim differently depending on their emotions?
What is the effect of repressing their stims?
Education
Does autism give disadvantages for certain subjects at school?
Is it realistic to send someone with autism to a special needs school?
Ableism
Well-intentioned but rude neurotypical people
Bad therapy
Might a police officer consider an autistic person a threat if they were having a meltdown?
Communication
What might cause my character to be temporarily nonverbal?
What are some causes for an autistic person being nonverbal?
Might my character use filler words like “um” and “er”?
Could an autistic character pick up on sarcasm?
Could you use signing to communicate with an autistic toddler?
Other
Is it possible for a character’s family/friends to not suspect that the character is autistic until adulthood?
A character’s friends asking them to stop infodumping
How to write a sex scene with an autistic character
What problems might my character have around keeping a pet?
What could be some difficulties with being an autistic cop?
Flying and being at the airport while autistic
Fun posts
Stim toys in a post-apocalyptic setting
Accommodations for an autistic crewmember on a space station
What might an autistic society look like?
I got pretty fed up with looking for words to replace said because they weren’t sorted in a way I could easily use/find them for the right time. So I did some myself.
IN RESPONSE TO Acknowledged Answered Protested
INPUT/JOIN CONVERSATION/ASK Added Implored Inquired Insisted Proposed Queried Questioned Recommended Testified
GUILTY/RELUCTANCE/SORRY Admitted Apologized Conceded Confessed Professed
FOR SOMEONE ELSE Advised Criticized Suggested
JUST CHECKING Affirmed Agreed Alleged Confirmed
LOUD Announced Chanted Crowed
LEWD/CUTE/SECRET SPY FEEL Appealed Disclosed Moaned
ANGRY FUCK OFF MATE WANNA FIGHT Argued Barked Challenged Cursed Fumed Growled Hissed Roared Swore
SMARTASS Articulated Asserted Assured Avowed Claimed Commanded Cross-examined Demanded Digressed Directed Foretold Instructed Interrupted Predicted Proclaimed Quoted Theorized
ASSHOLE Bellowed Boasted Bragged
NERVOUS TRAINWRECK Babbled Bawled Mumbled Sputtered Stammered Stuttered
SUAVE MOTHERFUCKER Bargained Divulged Disclosed Exhorted
FIRST OFF Began
LASTLY Concluded Concurred
WEAK PUSY Begged Blurted Complained Cried Faltered Fretted
HAPPY/LOL Cajoled Exclaimed Gushed Jested Joked Laughed
WEIRDLY HAPPY/EXCITED Extolled Jabbered Raved
BRUH, CHILL Cautioned Warned
ACTUALLY, YOU’RE WRONG Chided Contended Corrected Countered Debated Elaborated Objected Ranted Retorted
CHILL SAVAGE Commented Continued Observed Surmised
LISTEN BUDDY Enunciated Explained Elaborated Hinted Implied Lectured Reiterated Recited Reminded Stressed
BRUH I NEED U AND U NEED ME Confided Offered Urged
FINE Consented Decided
TOO EMO FULL OF EMOTIONS Croaked Lamented Pledged Sobbed Sympathized Wailed Whimpered
JUST SAYING Declared Decreed Mentioned Noted Pointed out Postulated Speculated Stated Told Vouched
WASN’T ME Denied Lied
EVIL SMARTASS Dictated Equivocated Ordered Reprimanded Threatened
BORED Droned Sighed
SHHHH IT’S QUIET TIME Echoed Mumbled Murmured Muttered Uttered Whispered
DRAMA QUEEN Exaggerated Panted Pleaded Prayed Preached
OH SHIT Gasped Marveled Screamed Screeched Shouted Shrieked Yelped Yelled
ANNOYED Grumbled Grunted Jeered Quipped Scolded Snapped Snarled Sneered
ANNOYING Nagged
I DON’T REALLY CARE BUT WHATEVER Guessed Ventured
I’M DRUNK OR JUST BEING WEIRDLY EXPRESSIVE FOR A POINT/SARCASM Hooted Howled Yowled
I WONDER Pondered Voiced Wondered
OH, YEAH, WHOOPS Recalled Recited Remembered
SURPRISE BITCH Revealed
IT SEEMS FAKE BUT OKAY/HA ACTUALLY FUNNY BUT I DON’T WANT TO LAUGH OUT LOUD Scoffed Snickered Snorted
BITCHY Tattled Taunted Teased
hey writers! OneLook Thesaurus lets you find that word you can’t think of but can describe! go check it out!
Bleeding:
Blood is warm. if blood is cold, you’re really fucking feverish or the person is dead. it’s only sticky after it coagulates.
It smells! like iron, obv, but very metallic. heavy blood loss has a really potent smell, someone will notice.
Unless in a state of shock or fight-flight mode, a character will know they’re bleeding. stop with the ‘i didn’t even feel it’ yeah you did. drowsiness, confusion, pale complexion, nausea, clumsiness, and memory loss are symptoms to include.
blood flow ebbs. sometimes it’s really gushin’, other times it’s a trickle. could be the same wound at different points.
it’s slow. use this to your advantage! more sad writer times hehehe.
Stab wounds:
I have been mildly impaled with rebar on an occasion, so let me explain from experience. being stabbed is bizarre af. your body is soft. you can squish it, feel it jiggle when you move. whatever just stabbed you? not jiggly. it feels stiff and numb after the pain fades. often, stab wounds lead to nerve damage. hands, arms, feet, neck, all have more motor nerve clusters than the torso. fingers may go numb or useless if a tendon is nicked.
also, bleeding takes FOREVER to stop, as mentioned above.
if the wound has an exit wound, like a bullet clean through or a spear through the whole limb, DONT REMOVE THE OBJECT. character will die. leave it, bandage around it. could be a good opportunity for some touchy touchy :)
whump writers - good opportunity for caretaker angst and fluff w/ trying to manhandle whumpee into a good position to access both sites
Concussion:
despite the amnesia and confusion, people ain’t that articulate. even if they’re mumbling about how much they love (person) - if that’s ur trope - or a secret, it’s gonna make no sense. garbled nonsense, no full sentences, just a coupla words here and there.
if the concussion is mild, they’re gonna feel fine. until….bam! out like a light. kinda funny to witness, but also a good time for some caretaking fluff.
Fever:
you die at 110F. no 'oh no his fever is 120F!! ahhh!“ no his fever is 0F because he’s fucking dead. you lose consciousness around 103, sometimes less if it’s a child. brain damage occurs at over 104.
ACTUAL SYMPTOMS:
sluggishness
seizures (severe)
inability to speak clearly
feeling chilly/shivering
nausea
pain
delirium
symptoms increase as fever rises. slow build that secret sickness! feverish people can be irritable, maybe a bit of sass followed by some hurt/comfort. never hurt anybody.
ALSO about fevers - they absolutely can cause hallucinations. Sometimes these alter memory and future memory processing. they're scary shit guys.
fevers are a big deal! bad shit can happen! milk that till its dry (chill out) and get some good hurt/comfort whumpee shit.
keep writing u sadistic nerds xox love you
ALSO I FORGOT LEMME ADD ON:
YOU DIE AT 85F
sorry I forgot. at that point for a sustained period of time you're too cold to survive.
pt 2
also please stop traumadumping in the notes/tags, that's not the point of this post. it's really upsetting to see on my feed, so i'm muting the notifs for this post. if you have a question about this post, dm me, but i don't want a constant influx of traumatic stories. xox
I just thought I’d whip this up for any rp'ers who might find it useful :)
Abercrombie- a know it all
All wet- no good
Aces, snazzy, nobby, smooth, swell, keen- very good
Ameche, horn, blower- telephone
Babe, broad, dame, doll, frail, twist, muffin, kitten- names for women
Bean shooter, gat, rod, roscoe, heater, convincer- gun
Beat- broke
Bleed- to blackmail
Blow your wig- become very excited
Booze, hooch, giggle juice, mule- whiskey
Brodie- a mistake
Bulge- advantage
Bumping gums, booshwash- talking about nothing useful
Cabbage, lettuce, kale, folding green, long green, Suds, salad, dough, moolah, rhino- money
Cave- one’s home
Chisel- swindle or cheat
Clip joint- Night club or gambling joint where patrons get screwed
Crumb, fink- loser
Crust- to insult
Curve- a disappointment
Dig- think hard or understand
Doggy- well dressed but in a self concious way
Doss- sleep
Drilling, plugging, throwing lead, filling someone with daylight, giving someone lead poisoning- shooting at someone
Grifter- con man or woman
Make tracks, dangle- leave quickly
Packing heat, wearing iron- carrying a gun
Shake a leg- hurry up
Snipe- cigarette
Togged to the bricks- dressed up
Take a powder, blow, split, scram, drift- leave
Trip for biscuits- a pointless task
Twit- fool or idiot
For any writers: http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/SFTerms.html
For more facts, follow Ultrafacts
Rain: cleansing, sadness, renewal, obstacles
Sunshine: happiness, hope, clarity, energy
Storms: conflict, turmoil, dramatic change
Snow: purity, stillness, coldness, isolation
Fog: confusion, mystery, uncertainty
Wind: change, freedom, unrest, communication
Eagle: freedom, vision, strength, courage
Lion: bravery, power, leadership, pride
Dove: peace, love, innocence, spirituality
Wolf: loyalty, cunning, survival, community
Snake: transformation, danger, temptation, wisdom
Butterfly: transformation, beauty, impermanence
Rose: love, beauty, passion, secrecy
Oak Tree: strength, endurance, wisdom
Willow Tree: sadness, flexibility, resilience
Lotus Flower: purity, enlightenment, rebirth
Ivy: friendship, fidelity, eternity
Cactus: endurance, protection, warmth
Mirror: self-reflection, truth, illusion
Key: opportunity, secrets, freedom
Bridge: connection, transition, overcoming obstacles
Candle: hope, spirituality, life, guidance
Clock: time, mortality, urgency
Mask: disguise, deception, concealment
One: beginnings, unity, individuality
Two: partnership, balance, duality
Three: creativity, growth, completeness
Four: stability, order, foundation
Five: change, adventure, unpredictability
Seven: mystery, spirituality, luck
Spring: renewal, birth, growth, hope
Summer: vitality, abundance, joy, freedom
Autumn: change, maturity, decline, reflection
Winter: death, stillness, introspection, endurance
Light: knowledge, purity, safety, enlightenment
Darkness: ignorance, evil, mystery, fear
Shadow: the unconscious, secrets, mystery
Twilight: ambiguity, transition, mystery
Fire: passion, destruction, energy, transformation
Water: emotion, intuition, life, change
Earth: stability, grounding, fertility, growth
Air: intellect, communication, freedom, change
Eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Bouncing on the balls of their feet.
Clapping hands together in delight.
Speaking in a high-pitched, rapid tone.
Grinning from ear to ear.
Jumping up and down with joy.
Hugging others spontaneously.
Cheeks flushed with enthusiasm.
Widening eyes and raised eyebrows.
Waving hands animatedly while talking.
Giggling or laughing uncontrollably.
Unable to sit still, shifting in their seat.
Heart racing with exhilaration.
Feet tapping or legs jiggling.
Practically vibrating with energy.
Exclaiming, "I can't believe it!" repeatedly.
Reaching out to touch or grab someone’s hand.
Dancing or spinning around.
Clutching their chest as if to contain the excitement.
Practicing or rehearsing what they’ll say or do.
coiling (up in a ball, in on themselves, against something, etc)
panting (there’s a slew of adjectives you can put after this, my favorites are shakily, weakly, etc)
keeling over (synonyms are words like collapsing, which is equally as good but overused in media)
trembling/shivering (additional adjectives could be violently, uncontrollably, etc)
sobbing (weeping is a synonym but i’ve never liked that word. also love using sob by itself, as a noun, like “he let out a quiet sob”)
whimpering (love hitting the wips with this word when a character is weak, especially when the pain is subsiding. also love using it for nightmares/attacks and things like that)
clinging (to someone or something, maybe even to themselves or their own clothes)
writhing/thrashing (maybe someone’s holding them down, or maybe they’re in bed alone)
crying (not actual tears. cry as in a shrill, sudden shout)
dazed (usually after the pain has subsided, or when adrenaline is still flowing)
wincing (probably overused but i love this word. synonym could be grimacing)
doubling-over (kinda close to keeling over but they don’t actually hit the ground, just kinda fold in on themselves)
heaving (i like to use it for describing the way someone’s breathing, ex. “heaving breaths” but can also be used for the nasty stuff like dry heaving or vomiting)
gasping/sucking/drawing in a breath (or any other words and phrases that mean a sharp intake of breath, that shite is gold)
murmuring/muttering/whispering (or other quiet forms of speaking after enduring intense pain)
hiccuping/spluttering/sniffling (words that generally imply crying without saying crying. the word crying is used so much it kinda loses its appeal, that’s why i like to mix other words like these in)
stuttering (or other general terms that show an impaired ability to speak — when someone’s in intense pain, it gets hard to talk)
staggering/stumbling (there is a difference between pain that makes you not want to stand, and pain that makes it impossible to stand. explore that!)
recoiling/shrinking away (from either the threat or someone trying to help)
pleading/begging (again, to the threat, someone trying to help, or just begging the pain to stop)
Feel free to add your favorites or most used in the comments/reblogs!
Is mercy a sign of weakness in your eyes?
What is your primary motivation or value that drives your actions?
Are there any principles you refuse to compromise on, even in your pursuit of power?
Do you believe lying is justified if it serves your goals?
How do you manipulate others to achieve your ends?
Would you betray an ally to further your plans?
Do you believe in justice, or do you see it as a tool to manipulate others?
Would you sacrifice yourself for a cause or ambition?
Would you destroy something beautiful or innocent to achieve your goals?
If you had to choose between your ambition and the life of someone you care about, what would you do?
Do you feel any responsibility towards society, or do you act solely for your gain?
How do you justify your actions to yourself and others?
Can you forgive someone who has wronged you, or do you seek revenge?
How long do you hold grudges, and what actions might provoke them?
Do you respect any form of authority, or do you see yourself as the ultimate power?
These questions can help you delve into the psyche of your villain.
Here’s an invaluable writing resource for you.