According to RAINN, a nonprofit designed to help victims of sexual assault, 1 in 9 girls under 18 and 1 in 53 boys under 18 will be sexually assaulted before their 17th birthday. Every 9 minutes, Child Protective Services either find evidence or receive a report of child sexual assault.

What are the statistics?

Survivors of sexual assault (of any age!) are significantly more likely to self-harm, develop substance abuse problems, eating disorders, and sleep disorders. Victims of sexual assault are twice as likely to commit suicide.

What are the long-term damages?

If a victim is genetically predisposed to have a mental illness (such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia) that mental illness is more likely to show up earlier in life. More often than not, survivors develop PTSD and often seek professional help.It's not just mental illness - victims are more likely to develop physical health problems as well. Most of the time, these are psychosomatic, though still very much a problem. Examples of this include chronic pain disorder, fibromyalgia, and POTS.

The damages don't end there.

When you know a survivor, the best thing you can do is know what their PTSD (and other mental illness) triggers are. Just listening and being mindful of the situations and surroundings you're putting them in can greatly increase their mental wellbeing.Another way to help would be to simply be aware of their mental illnesses' side effects and help them accordingly. If they suffer from severe depression, try and find ways to ease that for them. This could be taking a walk with them, helping them with chores, or simply being with them.

What can I do to help a victim?

Another key thing to do is when you see something, say something. You can report this to Child Protective Services, which will take action. The CyperTipline (1.800. 843.5678) is another great way to report exploited children.

How do you report CSA?

Both RAINN and Darkness to Light offer volunteering opportunities to work to end CSA. Other great organizations to volunteer with include: The Trevor Project, The National Suicide Hotline, and The Crisis Textline.You can make a difference! Get out there and fight for our kids.

Volunteering: a great way to make a difference

As a survivor, I volunteer with RAINN and other organizations to end CSA and help other survivors. It is very likely you know a survivor in your own life - read this and take action to help them and other victims.

Supporting Survivors of CSA (Child Sexual Assault)

Ever been walking and seen a worn-out trail in the grass between two paths? That's a Desire Path. Humans will see a shorter route between two destinations and take it, regardless of the pre-built paths. This causes erosion from foot traffic, eventually making the Desire Path more visible, and more likely to be used.

What is a Desire Path?

Part of human nature is figuring out how to make things efficient. When a human sees a more efficient way to get from their point of origin to their destination, they take it more often than not. If a pre-built/paved path turns a 90-degree corner, it's likely a human will cut the corner, trampling the grass because it's more efficient.

Why do humans prefer creating Desire Paths?

Architects and landscapers try to plan paths that they anticipate that people will follow. However, these don't take into account the psychology of travel. They plan mostly for aesthetics - humans are significantly more likely to take a route they deem faster or more enjoyable. This could be cutting across a corner for speed or walking across a field to see the wildflowers.

Architecture and Planning VS Human Nature

Desire Paths and the psychology behind them can reveal many other examples: using software not as intended, making choices not previously predicted by a designer, or driving on a route different than what the GPS recommended. Desire Paths are just one example of how humans will use space and resources to fit their schedules and preferences.

What do Desire Paths show us about free will?

Desire paths and the psychology of travel and free will have always been interesting. Now that I know of desire paths, I always look for them wherever I go.

Desire Paths: What Are They?

Beginning to flesh out a new character can be difficult. While there are many ways to do it, we often find ourselves skipping over really important things!

Who are they?

What makes you, you? Often times people have habits unique to them. Sure, they shower and brush their teeth, but does your character always put his mug in the same place? Does she always cuff her pants? What little things/actions belong to them and them only? Figuring out what makes that character unique - like habits, twitches, tics, random sayings - can make that character both more likable and more relatable

Mannerisms and Habits

How do they show affection to others and what degree? What are the exceptions? How do they show affection to family and to friends? How do they feel about strangers? People often show strong feelings of affection towards others important to them - this includes teachers, family members, friends, and pets. How do they show it?

What is their love language?

Does your character have sentimental items? What are they? Where did they come from? Where do they keep them? Often times, a character’s sentimental items tell a lot about them. You can show that someone’s dad is important to them by the photos, objects, etc, given to them by their dad that they keep in their room. What sentimental items represent who they are? What about their values? Figuring this out and showing it through setting is vital.

How does sentiment affect their life?

Do they have a stutter? Do they say ‘like’ and ‘um’ a lot? How fast do they talk? In short sentences or long ones? How else does their voice and speech pattern affect their personality and the way their socialize? Often times, if someone has a stutter, they tend to be more withdrawn. How can you further illustrate their personality through their speech?

How do they speak?

I’ve learned a general rule that often applies in writing and real life: if someone likes only old music or old movies, refusing to try new stuff, they are not open to change. How can you reflect their personality in what they like? Are they studious and keep books in their car in case of a long drive-thru line? Do they always keep a baseball in their glove compartment in case of a game? Showing inanimate objects’ relationships to the character can show a lot of their personality.

How do their likes and interests affect their character?

Writing realistic disabilities, both physical and mental, are crucial. If you have a solider returning from war, they likely have PTSD. A car crash survivor might also experience that but in a different way. Trauma is tied to circumstance. And for wheelchair users, they need a ramp to get somewhere. How can you illustrate how they deal with disabilities?

Writing disabilities and flaws

What does the character need to live? Maybe their favorite gum or water bottle? Do they always use the same bag whenever leaving the house? Maybe your character keeps an extra pair of socks in her bag. Maybe she keeps a small thing of tissues. What they consider necessary items often show a lot about the character.

What is their ‘emergency kit’?

As a writer, it took a while for me to learn the subtle details that truly make up a character. Skip the years of practice by committing these ideas to your work!

Bite-sized knowledge
to upgrade
your career

Persephone Sorenson
@persephonesoren

Supporting Survivors of CSA (Child Sexual Assault)

Desire Paths: What Are They?

Writing a Realistic Character

Bite-sized knowledgeto upgradeyour career

Persephone Sorenson@persephonesoren

Supporting Survivors of CSA (Child Sexual Assault)

Desire Paths: What Are They?

Writing a Realistic Character

Bite-sized knowledge
to upgrade
your career

Persephone Sorenson
@persephonesoren