Writing Guide - Revision history

Rick Griffin: /* Pronouns, Gender and Sex */

2025-11-25T22:31:23Z

Pronouns, Gender and Sex

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:31, 25 November 2025
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	* '''Transgender/Nonbinary, etc.''' - Yes, every species with gender has these concepts somewhere. Different species have different practices regarding these situations. Species without sexual/gender differentiation do not experience these or experience these in an entirely different way from standard.		* '''Transgender/Nonbinary, etc.''' - Yes, every species with gender has these concepts somewhere. Different species have different practices regarding these situations. Species without sexual/gender differentiation do not experience these or experience these in an entirely different way from standard.
	While normally you simply use pronouns as you see fit, various traditions and species in the setting have specific focuses.		While normally you simply use pronouns as you see fit, various traditions and species in the setting have specific focuses.
	** ''Ringel'': No gender, ''technically''. Ringel in their own speech do not use gendered language, but rather might directly refer to sexual characteristics, and it is not seen as crude. This can still be transcribed as ''male/female/enby'' where appropriate. Use pronouns for ringel based on vibes. Ringel who change sex might not even change pronouns, but they might.		** ''Ringel'': No gender, ''technically''. Ringel in their own speech do not use gendered language, but rather might directly refer to sexual characteristics, and it is not seen as crude. This can still be transcribed as ''male/female/enby'' where appropriate. Use pronouns for ringel based on vibes or bias of the viewpoint character. Ringel who change sex might not even change pronouns, but they might.
	*** Use ''mother''/''father'' in a technical sense--the one who gave birth is a mother, the one who sired is a father, even if they have changed sexual characteristics since then.		*** Use ''mother''/''father'' in a technical sense--the one who gave birth is a mother, the one who sired is a father, even if they have changed sexual characteristics since then.
	** ''Ssarith'' and ''Turek'': No gender. Turek have both male and female characteristics. Ssarith are fully agender. Neither differentiate between roles.		** ''Ssarith'' and ''Turek'': No gender. Turek have both male and female characteristics. Ssarith are fully agender. Neither differentiate between roles.

Rick Griffin at 19:03, 17 November 2025

2025-11-17T19:03:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:03, 17 November 2025
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	===Terminology===		===Terminology===
	* '''Hands''' - ~~Use~~ paws, claws, or whatever is appropriate to the species over hands. Or if writing an anup, don't mention them at all, pervert.		* '''Hands/Feet''' - Ideally, use paws, claws, or whatever is appropriate to the species over hands. Or if writing an anup, don't mention them at all, pervert.
			** That said, if you can't go without using hand/foot without making it extremely awkward, go ahead and ignore this.
	** Exceptions - Words like handed, handling, handsome, handedly, etc. If it's a handy verb or adjective, probably doesn't need adjusting.		** Exceptions - Words like handed, handling, handsome, handedly, etc. If it's a handy verb or adjective, probably doesn't need adjusting.
	*** Exceptions to the exceptions - Punning is pawesome.		*** Exceptions to the exceptions - Punning is pawesome.

Rick Griffin at 18:51, 17 November 2025

2025-11-17T18:51:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:51, 17 November 2025
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	===Pronouns, Gender and Sex===		===Pronouns, Gender and Sex===
	* '''~~Man~~/~~Woman~~''' - No humans here. Use male, female, enby, or species name. You can use terms like ''lady'' for the vibes, but do so sparingly or try to find an alternative, not as a replacement term.		* '''Gender/sex terms''' - No humans here, do not use man/woman or words derived from either. Use male, female, enby, or species name. You can use terms like ''lady'' for the vibes, but do so sparingly or try to find an alternative, not as a replacement term.
	* '''Mate''' - For most species, use ''pairbonding'' for marriage and ''mate'' for husband/wife.		* '''Mate''' - For most species, use ''pairbonding'' for marriage and ''mate'' for husband/wife.
	** Exception: Montrose still use "marriage" and "husband/wife".		** Exception: Montrose still use "marriage" and "husband/wife".
			* '''Transgender/Nonbinary, etc.''' - Yes, every species with gender has these concepts somewhere. Different species have different practices regarding these situations. Species without sexual/gender differentiation do not experience these or experience these in an entirely different way from standard.
	* While normally you simply use pronouns as you see fit, various traditions and species in the setting have specific focuses.		While normally you simply use pronouns as you see fit, various traditions and species in the setting have specific focuses.
	** ''Ringel'': No gender, ''technically''. Ringel in their own speech do not use gendered language, but rather might directly refer to sexual characteristics, and it is not seen as crude. This can still be transcribed as ''male/female/enby'' where appropriate. Use pronouns for ringel based on vibes. Ringel who change sex might not even change pronouns, but they might.		** ''Ringel'': No gender, ''technically''. Ringel in their own speech do not use gendered language, but rather might directly refer to sexual characteristics, and it is not seen as crude. This can still be transcribed as ''male/female/enby'' where appropriate. Use pronouns for ringel based on vibes. Ringel who change sex might not even change pronouns, but they might.
	*** Use ''mother''/''father'' in a technical sense--the one who gave birth is a mother, the one who sired is a father, even if they have changed sexual characteristics since then.		*** Use ''mother''/''father'' in a technical sense--the one who gave birth is a mother, the one who sired is a father, even if they have changed sexual characteristics since then.

Rick Griffin at 18:06, 17 November 2025

2025-11-17T18:06:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:06, 17 November 2025
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	\|- style="background-color:#ecf4ff;"		\|- style="background-color:#ecf4ff;"
	\| Lio Empire		\| Lio Empire
	\| 20 hour, no AM/PM		\| 20 hour, 100 minute, no AM/PM
	\| HH:MM		\| HH:MM
	\| Meridian Sunrise		\| Meridian Sunrise
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	\|- style="background-color:#ffffc7;"		\|- style="background-color:#ffffc7;"
	\| Krakun Empire		\| Krakun Empire
	\| 24 hour, no AM/PM		\| 24 hour, 60 minute, no AM/PM
	\| HHMM		\| HHMM
	\| Meridian Midnight		\| Meridian Midnight

Rick Griffin at 18:05, 17 November 2025

2025-11-17T18:05:08Z

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 * '''Puns''' - As many as you can! Make Gre7g suffer!
 ** No seriously, even though these characters are technically speaking in a non-English language, do not get hung up on whether or not a term rhymes, can be made into a pun, or another play on words. Just pretend it works for the language being spoken.
 * '''Untranslated words''' - Don't call a rabbit a smeerp. You ''might'' get away with calling a smeerp a rabbit if it has enough rabbit-like characteristics, but it should still get some kind of differentiator to not put "literal earth bunny" in their head.
 ** If a word a character is using is difficult to translate, you can use their word for it, or a near-equivalent if it is explained to the reader.

Rick Griffin: /* Typesetting */

2025-11-17T17:45:30Z

Typesetting

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:45, 17 November 2025
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	** ex: ''We need to infiltrate the'' White Flower II ''in order to acquire their delicious fruit pies'', she thought.		** ex: ''We need to infiltrate the'' White Flower II ''in order to acquire their delicious fruit pies'', she thought.
	* '''Scene break''' - Use a separator like ### to indicate a scene break in the middle of a chapter; it is more clear than just three returns in a row. Use anything while drafting so long as it's consistent.		* '''Scene break''' - Use a separator like ### to indicate a scene break in the middle of a chapter; it is more clear than just three returns in a row. Use anything while drafting so long as it's consistent.
			** It's better not to use a word processor's ''horizontal line'' for a scene break as this might not be find/replaceable in their own software, for whatever reason.
	* '''Small Caps''' - Used to denote the beginning of a chapter or passage depending on layout style, with the first x words put into small caps for visual weight. Don't use while drafting, this is a final polish formatting.		* '''Small Caps''' - Used to denote the beginning of a chapter or passage depending on layout style, with the first x words put into small caps for visual weight. Don't use while drafting, this is a final polish formatting.
	* '''Underline''' - Underlining is not preferred in general fiction for any reason--traditionally, underlining text in manuscripts told the typesetter to italicize the text. Since now we can just format directly in word processors, there is no need to do this anymore.		* '''Underline''' - Underlining is not preferred in general fiction for any reason--traditionally, underlining text in manuscripts told the typesetter to italicize the text. Since now we can just format directly in word processors, there is no need to do this anymore.

Rick Griffin: /* Typesetting */

2025-11-17T17:44:37Z

Typesetting

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:44, 17 November 2025
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	===Typesetting===		===Typesetting===
	* All Caps - Use for signage if applicable; otherwise emphasize using italics.		* '''All Caps''' - Use for signage if applicable; otherwise emphasize using italics.
	* Bold - At your own risk. In other stories, bold is sometimes used in standalone centered text like reading out signage, but it's preferred not to use it in-line.		* '''Bold''' - At your own risk. In other stories, bold is sometimes used in standalone centered text like reading out signage, but it's preferred not to use it in-line.
	* Drop Caps - Don't use while drafting, this is final polish formatting.		* '''Drop Caps''' - Don't use while drafting, this is final polish formatting.
	* Italics - For emphasis, titles (books and ship names, not personal titles), thoughts (without quotations), alternative communiques (lip reading, chemical signals, flash [morse] code). In a line of italics, un-italicize to indicate emphasis.		* '''Italics''' - For emphasis, titles (books and ship names, not personal titles), thoughts (without quotations), alternative communiques (lip reading, chemical signals, flash [morse] code). In a line of italics, un-italicize to indicate emphasis.
	** ex: ''We need to infiltrate the'' White Flower II ''in order to acquire their delicious fruit pies'', she thought.		** ex: ''We need to infiltrate the'' White Flower II ''in order to acquire their delicious fruit pies'', she thought.
	* ~~Small~~ ~~Caps~~ - ~~Used~~ to ~~denote~~ ~~the~~ ~~beginning~~ of a ~~chapter~~ or ~~passage~~ ~~depending~~ on ~~layout~~ ~~style,~~ ~~with~~ ~~the~~ ~~first~~ x ~~words~~ ~~put~~ ~~into~~ ~~small~~ ~~caps~~ ~~for~~ ~~visual~~ ~~weight~~. ~~Don't~~ ~~use~~ while drafting, ~~this~~ is a ~~final polish~~ ~~formatting~~.		* '''Scene break''' - Use a separator like ### to indicate a scene break in the middle of a chapter; it is more clear than just three returns in a row. Use anything while drafting so long as it's consistent.
			* '''Small Caps''' - Used to denote the beginning of a chapter or passage depending on layout style, with the first x words put into small caps for visual weight. Don't use while drafting, this is a final polish formatting.
	* Underline - Underlining is not preferred in general fiction for any reason--traditionally, underlining text in manuscripts told the typesetter to italicize the text. Since now we can just format directly in word processors, there is no need to do this anymore.		* '''Underline''' - Underlining is not preferred in general fiction for any reason--traditionally, underlining text in manuscripts told the typesetter to italicize the text. Since now we can just format directly in word processors, there is no need to do this anymore.

Rick Griffin: /* =Terminology */

2025-11-17T17:41:21Z

=Terminology

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:41, 17 November 2025
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	*** Ulayavi will typically seek to change their sexual characteristics to fit their chosen gender, but don't have to.		*** Ulayavi will typically seek to change their sexual characteristics to fit their chosen gender, but don't have to.

	===Terminology==		===Terminology===
	* '''Hands''' - Use paws, claws, or whatever is appropriate to the species over hands. Or if writing an anup, don't mention them at all, pervert.		* '''Hands''' - Use paws, claws, or whatever is appropriate to the species over hands. Or if writing an anup, don't mention them at all, pervert.
	** Exceptions - Words like handed, handling, handsome, handedly, etc. If it's a handy verb or adjective, probably doesn't need adjusting.		** Exceptions - Words like handed, handling, handsome, handedly, etc. If it's a handy verb or adjective, probably doesn't need adjusting.

Rick Griffin: /* Transcription */

2025-11-17T17:41:00Z

Transcription

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:41, 17 November 2025
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	===Transcription===		===Transcription===
	* '''Accents''' - Nothing so heavy as to be indistinguishable from gibberish, ~~unless~~ ~~it's~~ a ~~language~~ ~~not~~ ~~yet~~ in ~~the~~ ~~translators~~.		* '''Accents''' - Nothing so heavy as to be indistinguishable from gibberish. Differentiate characters by register and light use of inflections.
			* '''Languages''' - If the character cannot speak the language being spoken, it is perfectly appropriate to skip over it. Don't do what I did in ''Traitors, Thieves and Liars'' and have an untranslated dialogue at length unless it's meant to be read into, and even then you should still probably skip the gibberish.
	* '''Puns''' - As many as you can! Make Gre7g suffer!		* '''Puns''' - As many as you can! Make Gre7g suffer!
	** No seriously, even though these characters are technically speaking in a non-English language, do not get hung up on whether or not a term rhymes, can be made into a pun, or another play on words. Just pretend it works for the language being spoken.		** No seriously, even though these characters are technically speaking in a non-English language, do not get hung up on whether or not a term rhymes, can be made into a pun, or another play on words. Just pretend it works for the language being spoken.
			* '''Untranslated words''' - Don't call a rabbit a smeerp. You ''might'' get away with calling a smeerp a rabbit if it has enough rabbit-like characteristics, but it should still get some kind of differentiator to not put "literal earth bunny" in their head.
			** If a word a character is using is difficult to translate, you can use their word for it, or a near-equivalent if it is explained to the reader.
			** Only italicize an untranslated word if it is a word that the POV character doesn't recognize.

	===Typesetting===		===Typesetting===

Rick Griffin at 17:34, 17 November 2025

2025-11-17T17:34:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:34, 17 November 2025
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	* '''Measurements''' - Metric system is preferred.		* '''Measurements''' - Metric system is preferred.
	** Exceptions - Beer can be measured in pints because metric doesn't have a convenient term for 470ml.		** Exceptions - Beer can be measured in pints because metric doesn't have a convenient term for 470ml.
		⚫	* '''Nose''' - Functional, but consider snout, muzzle, beak, etc. as appropriate.

	===Transcription===		===Transcription===
	* Accents - Nothing so heavy as to be indistinguishable from gibberish, unless it's a language not yet in the translators.		* '''Accents''' - Nothing so heavy as to be indistinguishable from gibberish, unless it's a language not yet in the translators.
		⚫	* '''Puns''' - As many as you can! Make Gre7g suffer!

			** No seriously, even though these characters are technically speaking in a non-English language, do not get hung up on whether or not a term rhymes, can be made into a pun, or another play on words. Just pretend it works for the language being spoken.
⚫	* Nose - Functional, but consider ~~snouts~~, ~~snoots~~, ~~proboscis~~, ~~or even antennae~~ as appropriate.
⚫	* Puns - As many as you can! Make Gre7g suffer!

	===Typesetting===		===Typesetting===