Tag: reviews

June 2025, Summer Writing

What Would Your Villain Do on Summer Vacation?

Sara's Writing Sanctuary

Funny and Unsettling Writing Prompts for Writers Who Love a Good Twist

Summer is here—sunshine, pool floats, cold drinks… and, possibly, a dramatic necromancer sipping cursed lemonade while plotting revenge in a cabana.

Because even villains need a break.

Whether you write dark fantasy, magical comedy, dystopian drama, or something deliciously strange in between, imagining what your villain does off-duty can unlock all kinds of inspiration. And let’s be honest: nothing stirs up creativity like a villain trying to “relax” and failing miserably.

Below are some funny, chaotic, and slightly unsettling prompts to help you explore the lighter (or darker) side of your antagonists.

😈 What Would Your Villain Do on Vacation?

  1. The Dark Lord has officially “retired” and is trying out beach volleyball. He keeps turning the ball into a fireball, and no one will tell him the rules.
  2. Your vampire villain starts a Sunset Cruise for mortals. “Nothing suspicious,” they insist… but there’s no sunscreen on board. Or garlic bread.
  3. A necromancer opens a smoothie shack at the beach. The skeleton staff is literal, but business is booming… until health inspectors arrive.
  4. A swamp witch tries to enjoy a peaceful fishing trip… until the fish start talking back, and one demands vengeance for her toad-based magic.
  5. The tyrant queen disguises herself as a lifeguard to spy on rebels—turns out, she’s good at it. Too good. She saves a puppy and starts trending online.
  6. A chaos god, bored of universal destruction, decides to infiltrate a family road trip as the grandma. No one questions why Grandma glows.
  7. A trickster villain signs up for a yoga retreat to “reconnect with their inner shadow.” But someone insults their aura, and now the full moon is broken.
  8. A villain gets dragged to their family’s reunion cookout. Nobody knows they’re evil… until a nosy uncle sees their face on a wanted poster.
  9. A fire demon wants to learn to surf. The ocean doesn’t want them back. Cue angry wave spirits, boiled sea foam, and awkward sunburn.
  10. A villain-themed summer camp opens for aspiring henchmen. Halfway through, one camper discovers the villain is actually their estranged parent.
  11. The villain builds a luxury beach resort to trap heroes. But the heroes love it… and the villain ends up winning a hospitality award.
  12. A cursed sandcastle tournament awakens something ancient. Now the villain is stuck negotiating peace between toddlers and eldritch horrors.
  13. Every year, a secret island appears where villains gather to relax. This time, a hero crashes the party—and ends up leading karaoke night.

✍️ Writing Challenge:

Choose your favorite prompt and write a short scene (300–500 words) where your villain tries to relax… but their true nature just can’t help but shine through. Do they succeed? Fail miserably? Accidentally make a friend?

Summer isn’t just for heroes. Give your villain a break—and maybe a pool float shaped like a skull. You never know what kind of fun (or doom) will come from it.

Happy writing ^_^

April 2025, Character Ideas

Crafting Unique Character Arcs: Beyond the Hero’s Journey

Sara's Writing Sanctuary

When most writers think of character arcs, they picture the classic transformation: a reluctant hero becomes brave, a selfish character learns empathy, or a lost soul finds their place in the world. These arcs are beloved because they work—but what if your story calls for something different? Something stranger, deeper, or more emotionally raw?

Let’s explore some unique character arcs that break the mold and invite readers into unexpected emotional territory.

1. The Backward Arc (From Light to Dark)

Not every character gets a happy ending. Some fall. Think of characters like Anakin Skywalker or Walter White. These arcs are emotionally gripping because we watch the descent. To make it unique, explore a fall that feels justified in your character’s eyes—maybe they think they’re doing good. Let readers mourn who they used to be.

2. The Identity Spiral Arc

Instead of changing into something new, your character goes in circles—returning again and again to the same question: Who am I really? They try on roles, shift alliances, even change names. These arcs are perfect for shapeshifters, survivors, or characters with fragmented pasts. It’s not about becoming someone—it’s about accepting all the selves they’ve ever been.

3. The Healing Arc

Some arcs don’t involve “saving the world” but simply learning how to live again. A trauma survivor who learns how to feel joy. A hardened mercenary who discovers gentleness. These arcs are quiet but deeply emotional, and often resonate with readers on a personal level. Their “victory” isn’t external—it’s internal peace.

4. The Forgotten Arc

What if your character starts as someone great—a hero, a genius, a ruler—and slowly becomes ordinary? This arc explores themes of legacy, ego, and what it means to matter without power. Maybe they choose this path, maybe they’re forced onto it. The key is embracing the “smallness” with grace, not shame.

5. The Reflective Arc (The Mirror Character)

Some characters change not because of their own journey—but because they mirror or witness someone else’s arc. A sidekick who grows by watching the hero fail. A sibling who carries the weight of another’s choices. These arcs require subtlety, but they show how connection changes us.

6. The Reclaimed Arc

Your character had their story stolen—by trauma, by lies, by magic—and now they must reclaim it. Think of memory loss, cursed souls, or stolen destinies. The arc isn’t about growth as much as return. These characters don’t become new—they remember who they were always meant to be.

Final Thoughts

The best character arcs don’t always follow the expected path. Sometimes they spiral. Sometimes they burn. Sometimes they bloom quietly in the dark. As a writer, your job is to listen to your characters and honor the shape their truth wants to take—even if it’s strange.

So ask yourself: what does your character need? A victory? A reckoning? A quiet moment of stillness? The arc is where story and soul meet—and when you get it right, it lingers in your reader’s heart long after the final page.

Happy Writing ^_^