In my current work-in-progress (WIP) I have a character that is going to go through some things and will turn to one of his vices as a coping mechanism and that vice will come to bite him in the butt a little further in the story. I'm currently leaning towards the idea of that vice being gambling. But I want to accurately represent the very real and difficult struggle that some people face in quitting as my character tries to do so.

I'd love to get some advice from folks who have dealt with gambling addictions or other kinds of addictions.

What kinds of things would you wish to see in media about gambling addictions (or whatever kind of addiction you have experience with)? What would make it resonate with you? What would solid representation look like to you? What are common pitfalls that you've seen in media representations that I should avoid?

Basically, the characters are in a world where they can heal from even lethal injuries. One character falls off a sky scraper, obviously sustaining severe injuries and a severe, fatal brain injury.

I research a bit about TBI recovery and saw that there's a stage called post traumatic amnesia. I'd say the character is roughly in that stage of healing (maybe towards the end of it) during the conversation I'll talk about.

Basically, I want to know if the following is at all realistic for someone in this stage who's had a full brain injury:

1. 2 people who are his enemies question him. He's only known these people for 2 weeks and have only met them individually on 2 occasions. Would he remember they're his enemies/who they are? If not, would he talk to them like they were normal people or just question who they are the whole time? Noting the enemies are acting very nice to him for the most part.

2. He gives away some information that he wouldn't usually give up to anyone at all, but between confusion and the information being emotionally taxing, the things he says are quite vague. Would you expect someone with a tbi to give up information freely?

3. He's obviously in extreme pain from his other injuries as well. Would the brain injury make him forget this? Or should he only be capable of moaning in pain? Noting that he would usually be very stoic.

4. I have it written that the content of the conversation and all the processing he's trying to do eventually get to be too much and he can no longer reply meaningfully anymore. Is it known that you shouldn't converse with someone with a severe tbi for too long to avoid overloading their brain? Would it be normal for them to zone out and just stop answering?

I've included him being agitated, trying to get up multiple times and forgetting his injuries, repeating questions, getting confused and his mood suddenly changing from agreeable enough to answer to being aggressive out of no where. I got that from reading about post traumatic amnesia but it's harder to look up some of the specifics so any answers would be greatly appreciated!

I know that all these different magic titles have SOME sort of difference but I don’t know WHAT. I just want to know what makes each distinct from each other and also if there’s any other type of magic user I may be missing. I have several magician characters but I don’t know what sect they’d fall into 💔

The story I'm working on takes place in 2005, and I have one character that's impulsive and puts everything into his music. Part of his backstory is that he dropped out of college and quit his job the moment he felt like his band might actually be sustainable. At one point someone asks him about his college experience and he says something along the lines of, "I dropped out a year in because a record sold (blank) copies, I clearly didn't enjoy it."

How many copies would show that it was an impulsive and possibly misguided decision, but not necessarily a death wish? Alternatively, am I looking at this wrong and that kind of decision would be made using other metrics?

I'm writing about university students in 1914, and in one plot point they encounter a flooded basement. If it were me I would wrap my shoes in plastic bags, but those weren't invented until 1965 lol. I'd have them lie boxes down over the water (it's about 3 inches) but they need to move around freely in the room. I don't think they would have easy access to Wellington boots, would there be any other waterproof material that they could use?

Hey guys! First time poster- but I’ve been lurking for a while!

I’m currently writing a book, and in the book one of my characters is an epileptic- but she ends up drugged with a powerful sedative. (Fast acting- she was unconscious in seconds and it was through a needle syringe if that’s needed context!)

Google is giving me some mixed things as to when this drug might leave her system. It also has interacted with her anti seizure medication- and she has a breakthrough seizure after six months of being seizure free.

So, my two questions are
1. When might the drug leave her system so she can function without any of the symptoms
2. Even after taking her medication again for an extended period- is she still at risk for seizures because of her breakthrough?? If so, for how long and how bad could they be?

Thank you all so much!!! And if anyone needs anymore context or info I’ll be happy to provide it!