#writers tips

[cryptwrites]

Poisons

Hello! I'm gonna share how I go about writing poisons and the things I think are helpful to keep in mind. Now, I have never actually poisoned someone - shocker - but I have done extensive research on the topic, so I would say I know a decent amount about how to effectively poison someone. Disclaimer: This is for writing purposes only, don't poison people. Thanks.

Keep In Mind:

Poisoners need little to no physical strength although they do need a strong sense of self control & nerves of steel. Shooting or stabbing someone takes a mere moment of consideration and is frequently the result of  a split second decision, while position requires dedication. Many poisons require a certain amount of time to work and the poisoner usually must administer several doses of poison in order to work. The poisoner also usually must be within close proximity to their victim and often will have to look them in the eye and engage with the person while the person slowly dies.

Exotic poisons can be more trouble than they’re worth. Importing exotic poisons leaves a trail for authorities to follow, and they require more research to correctly use.

Smart poisoners work with what they’ve got. The clever killer looks for drugs that are already in the victim’s medicine cabinet and that could be deadly. Read medical warning labels to get an idea of how to use them.

Poison can be used in ways that aren’t deadly. If the goal isn’t death, you can render someone dizzy or dopey, making a character vulnerable to a bad influence. 

Common Poisons

Hemlock: Poison hemlock comes from a large fern-like plant that bears a dangerous resemblance to the carrot plant. It was readily available for treating muscle spasms, ulcers, and swelling, but in large doses will cause paralysis and ultimately respiratory failure. 

Mandrake: It was used as a sedative, hallucinogen and aphrodisiac. Superstition mediaeval denizens believes when the vaguely human-shaped root was pulled out that plant gave a piercing shriek that would drive anyone to madness or death - hence the harry potter scene.

Arsenic: Arsenic comes from a metalloid and not a plant, unlike the others but it’s easily the most famous and is still used today. instead of being distilled from a plant, chunks of arsenic and dug up or mined. It was once used as a treatment for STDs , and also for pest control and blacksmiths, which was how many poisoners got access to it. It was popular in the Renaissance since it looked similar to malaria death, due to acute symptoms including stomach cramps, confusion, convulsions, vomiting and death. Slow poisoning looked more like a heart attack.

Nightshade: A single leaf or a few berries could cause hallucinations - a few more was a lethal dose. Mediaeval women used the juice of the berries to colour their cheeks, they would even put a few drops on their eyes to cause the pupils to dilate for a lovestruck look which is why Nightshade is also called ‘Belladonna’ or “Beautiful woman.” The symptoms include dilated pupils, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, tachycardia, loss of balance, staggering, headache, rash, flushing, severely dry mouth and throat, slurred speech, urinary retention, constipation, confusion, hallucinations, delirium and convulsions.

Aconite: This toxic plant, also called Monkshood or Wolfsbane, was used by indigenous tribes around the world as arrow poison. The root is the most potent for distillation. Marked symptoms may appear almost immediately, usually not later than one hour, and with large doses death is near instantaneous. The initial signs are gastrointestinal including nausea, and vomiting. This is followed by a sensation of burning, tingling, and numbness in the mouth and face, and of burning in the abdomen. In severe poisonings pronounced motor weakness occurs and sensations of tingling and numbness spread to the limbs. The plant should be handled with gloves, as the poison can seep into the skin.

If someones poisoning another:

The character should analyse the daily life of the target well before attempting to poison them. Note what sort of medicines they take, at what moments they are most vulnerable, how attentive they are to their surroundings, and so on.

Choose a poison that suits your needs. You need to be as discreet as possible and not arouse suspicion. Too dramatic and people will know something is up. Choose poisons that are easy to slip into meals/don't have to be administered constantly, or you could simply frame it as an overdose by using the target's own medicines.

Think of how you want to administer the poison. Some take effect through touch while some require being swallowed. Based on that, come up with a plan to poison your target.

Make sure everything corresponds with the plot and characters, and nothing becomes a plot hole. Don't have a typically nervous character be perfectly calm when thinking of poisoning. Don't poison someone just for the sake of it. Have everything tie back to the plot, your characters rarely should be poisonings someone just for the "cool" effect. Trust me, it doesn't actually have that effect and just comes off like lazy writing. Have your characters act in accordance with their personalities.

Research time periods and history when choosing poisons. Not all poisons were popular during the same time periods, and not all of them are native to the same geographical areas.

#horror writing #creative writing #writer #writing #writers #writerscommunity #writerscorner #writeblr #writing exercise #writer things #writers tips #writing tips #writing resources #writing is hard #poisons #writing poisons #writing challenge #writing reference #reference #fiction #fiction writing

[cmoroneybooks]

When seeking commercial success with writing you need to be realistic. Just because something shouldn’t be the way it is doesn’t mean you can ignore that reality.

What I mean: 

People do judge a book by it’s cover, unless you’re talented and have done your research it will negatively impact you not to pay a professional.

Marketing a book isn’t about how good your book is. It’s an entirely different skillset you’ll need to pick up whether you get indie published or traditionally published. 

If you’re writing something niche you can’t expect the marketing advice of people writing and selling something with wide scale appeal to work for you. You’ll need to find a way to advertise directly to the communities that surround your niche. 

Bigots read and buy books.

Publishing a book is fucking expensive but cutting corners is quickly noticeable. 

Publishers don’t take as many risks as they should, they’re increasingly letting indie authors take risks and prove that certain types of story can make it. You might have to wait for someone else to prove your kind of story works in the indie space to get any traction in the trad space.

I doubt any of these really surprise anyone. But anytime something is unfair or wrong in publishing whether indie or trad I see a lot of writers say something like ‘well people shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover so I’m making my own anyway’ as if saying that somehow changes reality. Let’s be realistic but hopeful and defiant as we head into 2023. Like the pragmatic side character who’s with the hero till the bitter end.

(Also how else are we meant to judge your book in a sea of others, when there’s so many that picking one off the shelf or clicking on to see the blurb is a decision of itself??) 

#amwriting #writing community #writers community #writers #writing #writers corner #writing advice #writers advice #writing tips #writers tips #lgbt writers #fantasy writers #indie writers #selfpublishing #self publishing #publishing #trad publishing #traditional publishing #writing rants #mywritingadvice

[thecomfywriter]

Writing Likable Characters

Hey y’all! How is everyone? It’s your girl, @thecomfywriter, back after… a long time. Let’s not talk about it lol I have no excuses and you’re not here for life updates. Anyhow, I’m back! And today’s topic is a doozy, not because it’s complicated, but because for some reason, it’s unnecessarily difficult to actually make a character likeable and worth rooting for. Considering most stories want readers to emotionally invest themselves into their characters and like them— well, we see the issue, don’t we?

In this post, we’ll explore the fundamentals of character development, why it's important to create likeable characters, and how to create characters readers can emotionally invest in. There’s a great benefit to creating characters readers actually care about, whether they’re protagonists, side characters, or even (shh….) the antagonists. So without further ado, let’s get into it. 

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Topic Overview: 

1.0 Why Have Likeable Characters?

2.0 The Common Characteristics

NEXT POST: Is it possible to create an unlikable character worth emotionally investing in? 

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1.0 Why Have Likeable Characters? 

It seems obvious, but once you break down the purpose of a likeable character, it becomes easier to identify the fundamental characteristics and traits that most likeable characters possess. 

Suppose you go to a dinner party with your friends one night. There, you meet a variety of new people. ‘A’ is a tall brunette, with wide eyes and an even wider mouth. ‘B’ is a short and plump woman, with curly blonde hair and the occasional grey streak in between. ‘C’ is a scrawny man with a long face, a crooked nose, and a bow-legged stance. And ‘D’ is a blue eyed man with spiky green hair, tattoos all up his arms, and a silver septum piercing in his nose. Now, I’m going to ask you: ‘Who of these four people do you like ?’ 

Pretty freakin’ hard to answer, huh? 

Now suppose I gave you the same scenario, but I tweaked it just a smidge. You go to a dinner party where you meet a variety of people. ‘A’ is a talkative woman who only stops to take a deep breath and inhale a gulp of her red wine. She is loose and flamboyant while she talks endlessly about the various adventures she’s been on during her time off as a travel nurse. But while her extravagant storytelling is more than entertaining, you find it difficult to get a single word in when talking to her because somehow, the conversation always steers back to herself. 

Meanwhile, ‘B’ is a preppy and bubbly woman who works as an elementary school teacher, but you never really discovered that until the end of the conversation, when your mutual friend asks her how ‘the kids’ are, and the origin behind her soft-spoken tone and expressive eyes clicks in place. Your conversations together mainly center around your mutual love for animals— her with her dogs and you with your cats. Though she overapologizes and tends to be a bit more passive with all other topics of parley, the conversation is otherwise lighthearted. She is the first person to leave, however, cutting your time together short when she realizes the time and suddenly her dark circles seem to get darker. She is the one to redirect you to ‘C’, who is a professor at a prestigious university in a neighboring town. He looks quite formal and acts even moreso when he offers to shake your hand and requests the full length of your name and background. 

As a complete contrast to ‘B’, ‘C’ is entirely reclusive and apathetic— outwardly, that is. There is an aire of stiffness around him, with his tall posture and unintentionally impressive vocabulary. Your conversations deviate from topic to topic, never dwelling too long on one discussion but always exploring it to a level of depth that surprises you. Whatever point you make, ‘C’ presents a counterargument, and what could have started as a regularly subjective opinion transforms into an interesting delve into the nature of peaceful arguments. While the conversation is more than cordial and definitely leaves you feeling a bit more intelligent and curious than before you met him, you can’t help but notice the lack of impression or reaction from ‘C’ whenever you spoke. It is only when ‘D’ swings around and introduces himself to you that you feel more assured, as he informs you that everyone who talks to ‘C’ leaves the conversation feeling a bit judged. 

‘D’, you discover, is a freelance photographer who asks you if you would like a photo of you and your friends. You end up talking about his photography career, looking through his portfolio with awe— he is remarkably skilled and filled with a plethora of experience. Like your conversation with ‘B’, the tone is lighthearted, but this time, a banter is exchanged between yourself and the extremely witty ‘D’. His little quips are sassy, occasionally sarcastic but the follow-up laugh and pat of the shoulder relieves you from taking anything too seriously. While ‘A’ was entertaining, ‘D’ has a sense of humour that wonderfully matches your own. He is touchy, with every joke he makes being paired with some form of physical contact, but you discover he is like that with everyone as he expands the conversation to the entire dinner party circle. Occasionally, when his joke doesn’t land, he’ll do an awkward chuckle and make a self-deprecating comment to release the tension. But the tension never really dissipates when he makes jokes about his ex. Nevertheless, his smile is bright and his body language is always oriented towards the person he is talking to. You can’t help but feel properly heard when talking to him. The eye contact is unwavering and his every response is a testament that he was genuinely listening. 

Now, if I asked you— who of the four do you like? Is it a bit easier to respond?

The difference between the two is a bit obvious (intentionally, to make things a bit clearer). The amount of substance allotted to each character increased with the second scenario. While the descriptions of the characters in the first example were confined to their appearance, the second scenario offered interactive exchanges with each character that allows you as the reader to fully imagine this person, even without the physical descriptors, and visualize the interaction with them beyond a surface level. In short, the first scenario gave you caricatures; the second scenario gave you people. 

Why do I give you this very obvious statement? Because the more you think of your characters as characters to be liked or disliked, as opposed to the actions and interactions they have with their peers (in story) and their audience (the readers), the more shallow they will seem and the harder it will be for readers to connect to them, much less emotionally invest in them. 

If you want to create profound characters, expose your characters to scenarios that showcase their interactions with that environment and the people in that environment. Allow the readers to feel like the character is someone they know in their life, someone they can relate to or envision, whether it be themselves, their mother, or their chatterbox coworker from HR. 

Real characters evoke real emotions. 

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2.0 The Common Characteristics 

Before we get into a general list of likeable characteristics, let's highlight two terms and define them to differentiate them. Introducing… charm and charisma! Similar, but not the same. 

Charm: this is your golden ticket, and also the hardest to nail. Charm is essentially the presence a person carries, and how attractive it is to outsiders. Not attractive in the sense of romantic interest. Attractive in the sense that this person has a draw to them. Their personality is inviting, unique, and confident. They have an ability to put other people in ease in their presence and are welcoming and inviting while also keeping people engaged. Charming people are attractive because their personalities and presence in a room makes you want to stay near them. 

Charisma: the way I define charisma is magnetism. Its one of the components to charm that acts as the hook, line, and sinker. Charisma is a person’s humour, their body language, their tone, the way they look at you when they speak, whereas charm is the agglomeration of charisma, style, confidence, and personality. 

Okay, now for the list. You can pick and choose characteristics from the following list to create your own unique combination for your characters, but its not enough to have characters “have” these characters. Remember part one of this post. How your characters demonstrate these characteristics is fundamental to how charming and charismatic they are. Also, the influence these traits have and relationship they have with other characters. 

Likeable traits: 

Intelligence: people generally respect intelligence in a person. There are different types of intelligence though

Wit: how quick-thinking a person is. Think of someone who is witty— they’re quick with their responses and multifaceted. IMPORTANT: multifaceted. If you’re just quick with your responses, you’re quippy. But to be witty, your responses have to display intelligence through introspection or observance in a humorous tone. It’s a hard thing to master, which is why witty people are usually highly respected and considered inexplicably charming. 

Shrewdness: think of this through the example of schemers. Shrewdness is a meticulous, detailed type of intelligence that is sometimes used in negative connotations to describe people who are cunning and use their intelligence for malevolent intentions. But in general, shrewdness is about being practical, decisive, and considerate of multiple factors before coming to a decision. It displays thoroughness and patience in deliberating one’s thoughts and actions. Personal opinion that is not at all unpopular: shrewd villains >>>> MWAH! 

Cleverness: I like to think of these people as atypical with their intelligence. They find out-of-the-box solutions to problems and are able to apply creativity to problem-solving. 

Knowledgeable: this is what people think of when they think of trying to make an intelligent character. The typical approach to writing a genius is making them know everything. And while many intelligent/smart people are knowledgeable, it's typically because of the underlying traits they have that drive them to pursue knowledge (i.e. curiosity, focus, passion, wonder, skepticism, objectivity). Focusing on those aspects of your character rather than what they know itself is what will sell your character as intelligent rather than a human encyclopedia. 

Introspection//Observation: this is emotional intelligence. Being able to assess people’s intentions, their emotional states, predict their reactions, and also being able to understand and connect to their own emotions. Emotionally intelligent characters are honestly so lovely, so refreshing, and such an underrated type of intelligence. To be able to read and predict human behaviour is so extremely impressive and also allows your character to alter their behaviour depending on their audience, which can add to their charisma and charm 

Kindness: no one likes an asshole. It’s really as simple as that. People enjoy the company of people who are tender, caring, compassionate, empathetic, and not mean. It’s safe company, and company that makes others feel better about themselves. Entirely welcoming, which is why its so charming to be kind and gentle. 

Humour: I could do a whole separate post on different types of humor. But to summarize it lightly, to write a character, it’s more important to try to humor the reader than the other characters. Humor is subjective, but adding genuine comedy rather than ingenuine reactions from other characters and telling the readers that ‘Character A is funny’ doesn’t have the same effect as inciting genuine laughter from the reader. Different types of humor include: 

Witty humor: as I mentioned earlier, it carries an added advantage of intelligence to the mix. These can include light jabs between friends, but if done incorrectly, can make the character seem mean. So good luck lmao 

Dark humour: hard to pull off tastefully. General rule with attempting dark humour though? It's all about boundaries. It's dark humour if you're joking about your own experiences, traumas, or something personal to you/your character. Doing it on the expense of someone else's experience is called being an asshole.

Sass//sarcasm: use this sparingly. Sass is fun with banter, but imagine hanging out with someone who answers everything with sass or sarcasm. Sounds exhausting? That’s because it is. Also, quick differentiation: sass has personality and a bit of zest to it; sarcasm is deadpan and mocking. Compare the following dialogues:

Sass: “Hey Jocelyn! Jeez… Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.” “And clearly someone else woke up on the right side.”

Sarcasm: “Hey Jocelyn! Jeez… Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.” “You don’t say.”

Trustworthiness: the most inviting thing about a person is knowing they’re not a backstabbing, shit-talking, macking asshole. Someone you can trust your secrets with is someone you can be vulnerable around, which is one of the foundations of creating intimate relationships. Having a character who blabbles off other character’s secrets, or even just petty gossip, is not a demonstration of trustworthiness. Valuing a person and truly listening to them while they speak, and then asking them about how private they want to keep that information— oof that’s a keeper right there. 

Good listener: just to bounce off the last point, being attentive and showing your character cares about the people around them, their interests, and what they have to say is such a likeable quality because it appeals to the part of everyone (including your reader) of wanting to be sincerely heard. Your character doesn’t have to be devotional. But it’s about being respectful. 

Okay, a bit more of a condensed list now so I can wrap things up:

Empathy: understand others’ emotions and being considerate towards other perspectives 

Humility: no one likes an arrogant prick. Don’t make them Mr. Humble either (Mr. Humble in the sense of being humble to the point of being rather pretentious or being a doormat. Like, a person can acknowledge their achievements, be proud of themselves, have confidence, and ALSO be humble by not being braggy and arrogant about it)

Honesty: telling the truth, yes, but also being sincere in how they conduct themselves. 

Reliability: no one likes mr. flakey lol. Being able to depend on someone strengthens relationships, and the moment a character exhibits this quality for the reader to view, the reader is able to attach themselves to this character 

Optimism: optimism is fun! Optimism makes people feel hopeful. Yeah, pessimism used for comedy with sarcastic characters is a whole trope. But it’s only likeable if executed correctly. Otherwise, pessimism can be a drag. Think of pessimism as the risky route vs optimism as the safe route. 

Resilience: showing a person’s willpower and their will to live by enduring hardship is one of the most respectable qualities, because its a quality we all wish to emulate in our real lives and understand takes a great deal of effort to actually be successful in. 

Generosity

Patience

Authenticity

Open-mindedness

Courage

Gratitude

Adaptability

Selflessness

Fairness 

Integrity: what are your character’s values? How true do they stay to their values? How strong is the needle of their moral compass? This one is massive to creating a character who reader’s respect, because efining a person’s value system allows them to become intimately familiar with the character’s perspective of the world, their ethics code, and their morality. Even if they cannot agree with all of the values of the character, a character who stays true to their values and has integrity is commendable, and therefore in most cases, respectable (hint hint, this is a huge transition to my next post lol)

Essentially, creating likeable characters is about trying to charm your readers with your characters' personality and presence, to the point where the reader would genuinely want to be friends with this person in real life. Having their actions match their narrative description and their in-story reputation also adds to your reliability as a writer. If you’re trying so hard to convince me as the reader than Jonathan is a real stand-up, charming guy who is a huge womanizer; smooth-talker all around to the point where he is able to get positions and extort favours from people because he has such a way with words… but then all of Jonathan’s dialogue sounds like a piece of wet cardboard was brought to life, I’m going to start thinking you as the author are rather delusional, think I’m dense, or have no idea how smooth-talkers actually sound. But what I’m not going to believe is that Jonathan is what you say he is. 

—

Okay! That’s all for today, folks! Stay tuned for my next post on writing unlikable characters that readers still want to root for. Also! I’m thinking of short story prompts for you guys to practise your writing with on this account, now that I have the chance to be a bit more active. 

Why do I have more opportunities to be more active? 

I FINISHED MY BOOK, BABYYYY!!! LETS GOOOOOO :D

Yeah, so I might post some excerpts of my own wip here. Currently though, I’m in the editing phases, and then querying!!! 

Okay, anyways, toodles! Have a great rest of your day or evening! <3 

#writers #writing #wip #writing community #writerblr #fiction #writers tips #writing tip #tips and tricks #writing tips #character development #charming #character #characters #ocs

[thoushallwrite]

hey guys. when you get an idea? write it all out. go big. go home. do EVERYTHING. write the ideas, plan it all out, write the draft of the first chapter/part/whatever. be messy as hell. don't try to make it perfect- just word-vomit. do whatever you want. as much or as little.

then leave it alone for a few days. ignore it. let it stew in your doc.

come back to it in, like, a week. revise it.

wait another week. revise it again.

keep revising every week until you think it's decent (enough). then post it. or get started on the next part. whatever.

the point is, don't burn yourself out, trying to do the ENTIRE writing process. do as much as you're comfortable with, and the moment you start to feel burned out, leave it alone for a while. focus on something else. maybe a different story.

i find this tactic works extremely well for me. esp since i have insufferable adhd :)

#writeblr #writers tips #writers advice #writers community #writers on tumblr #writing #creative writing

[halesluts]

hello! do you guys have any tips or recommendations for someone who would like to start writing again but is afraid, insecure or ashamed?

#writeblr #writers on tumblr #writerscommunity #writing #writer stuff #writers block #writers advice #writers tips #creative writing #fanfiction writer #fanfiction writing

[beelmons]

How to make interactive stories on tumblr (for writers)

Okay so recently I made The downfall of Spencer Reid which is an interactive (18+) story, reader insert, for Criminal Minds. Making an interactive story is very fun, and I'd love to see more around so this is a probably not so small tutorial for other writers that might be interested in doing something similar.

First of all, what's an interactive story? It's a piece of writing where the choices of the reader affect the outcome of the story, it's also commonly known as "choose your own adventure" story. They are specially fun with reader inserts, since it adds to the fantasy of having control.

Trace your plot and plan for actions

Like any other story or fic, you have to trace your story. While you do that, it's important that you think carefully about what are the possible decisions that the reader might come to face, and the possible consequences they might have on the story. Some common decisions are:

Choosing a piece of clothing

Deciding what place to go/path to take

Staying in or leaving a place

Using a tool, a different tool, or not using tool at all

To say or not say something

A specific action that the reader takes that affects the outcome for either better or worse.

These choices are what you call a "path", the new direction in which the story will go. You can have as many choices as you want on a single story, but remember every choice leads to a different path, and you have to have compelling stories for all of them. I'd suggest start with two main choices, and then a max of 2 choices on each path, this will likely lead to 4 possible endings for the story.

Rammifications and linking between posts

As I mentioned, every choice "breaks" the story into possible outcomes. For this, the specific challenge is to make every piece work between the choices. For example, let's assume you're writing an angst story, and the choices are as follows:

>Say you never loved him

>Say that you love him, but you can't be together.

These two choices will earn completely different reactions from the character that hears them, so you have to write both scenarios. Chances are, that the relationship the character will have after every choice will change. So probably if you choose "I never loved you", the character might go away or stop talking to reader altogether, while if you choose "I love you, but we can't be together" there's a chance the character will remain as a tragic lover and act jealous around reader. Drastic difference in what you need to write, right?

Another advice, if you don't want to make your story as long or have to think too much about the endings and plots, try to make your choices similar to each other, or even in a way that can lead to the same ending.

To do this, you have to take into consideration the following concepts:

Time and place: both choices have to be linear towards the ending, and if they happen on different places, they have to be able to match the place where the ending takes place as well.

Ambiguity: the choices will have different dialogue most likely, so you can't reference only one of the choice's dialogue, otherwise the readers taking the other path won't be able to recognize it or make sense of it, it's better to keep an ambiguous situation that could allow the reader to make sense of what they read before.

Continuity: The ending of both choice's have to match with the next part's beginning, otherwise you might break the illusion of it being the same story.

Example, picking up from the original example we gave on the last section:

X "You said you loved me, and I waited for you because I love you, but I can't keep going on like this, clinging on to faux hope, I should have realized way sooner that your heart wasn't empty because no one would fill you, it's because you won't allow anyone to."

If you used a dialogue like this, people who didn't chose the "Tell him you love him, but can't be together" option would question in what part of the story the words "i love you" were said. An alterative would be.

O "I waited for you because I loved you, regardless of what you said back then, but I can't keep going on like this, clinging on to faux hope, I should have realized way sooner that your heart wasn't empty because no one would fill you, it's because you won't allow anyone to."

With this dialogue, saying "Regardless of what you said back then" opens the opportunity for both choices to work, and now the reader can picture the choice they made in the first place, and it makes sense with the rest of the dialogue. Continuity isn't lost thanks to the ambiguity of the words.

Something similar applies to time and place, don't reference a place if one of the options makes it impossible for the characters to be in said ambience.

Formatting and posting

Formatting can become a bit of a hassle. On tumblr, HTML doesn't allow for different pages on one same container on posts, so you have two options, you can program the story on a single tumblr custom page (if you're familiar with HTML, this could be very fun and more immersive for the reader), or do it through posts, like I did with my first story.

Every choice will lead to a different post, and you will have to post them all before publishing the beginning of the story so you can link them altogether.

Now, of course if you can do that on your main blog, but it might ruin the experience for people who already follow you if they see the choices first and with broken links. I fixed this by making a side blog specifically for posting the story paths. I just used my same username and added -interactive at the end, lols.

Formatting the choices is quite easy, you just add them at the end (it's important that they are at the end) of the story and add the link to the post that they should lead to to go to the new path. I personally like to add "intended" to it so it looks more like a button, but you can use anny styling you like.

Now, the linking is where things can get a bit messy, it's hard to remember which path leads to what post, so don't be embarrassed to use any visual aid or titling system to keep track on what is what and what goes where. For my part, I usually redact everything on Google Drive first and use titles similar to code titles to keep track of them. This is a snippet of my upcoming fic, where we have a very first choice which is a clothing selection, and then the second choice which is the place selection. In this case, the clothing affects what happens in both places, so I have to write 4 different scenarios with both combinations.

First choice

Text where you get a second choice, but both choices have two outcomes from the original first choice.

This way, I can label my scenarios differently to keep track which belong in which choice. Like this:

Sometimes I have to re-read all the paths so I make sure the connections make sense, and if they don't, I have to rewrite some parts, but it's okay! The important thing is that the readers don't lose the engagement. Try to keep the stories short, 1k tops per post, at least at the beginning, so readers also don't feel like they are getting interrupted.

Have fun with it and write without being scared to fail! You can also start with blurbs or shorter stories. For my part, I have played a lot of otome games and choice-based text games so I started with a 4k fic (the one linked at the beginning).

Additional tips and experiences i went through

Try, by all means, to get a beta reader (shout out to my sister wives @ihavemanyhusbands and @cassiemartzz that constantly give me feedback). Beta readers will help you with spelling, continuity, and the overall sense of your story. Bonus if they are your friends and can be honest with you, and double bonus if they are also writers who can give pointers!

Use a flow chart: if you have managed programming before, a flow chart can give you an specific idea of the timeline of the story and the paths that are formed by the decision-making. I will add a picture of my most recent flow chart that I drew (yes by hand) for my upcoming fic.

I posted and reposted a million times (hence, why i needed a blog no one followed) before I posted the original story (which was posted on my main writing blog). I only posted the main story until i was sure all links worked properly.

Don't allow anyone to reblog the path posts, otherwise the experience might be broken for other readers. People mean well when they reblog, but they can reblog the main story (the very first post), you should config the path posts so they can't be reblogged by anyone.

Remember all path posts should be posted on your -interactive blog (or any other side blog you make), and the main story (the start of it) goes on your main writing blog.

Use titles on your tumblr post as well, so you don't miss which post contains what part of the story, you can delete them later before posting the main story.

Hopefully, this will be of help and we can begin to push interactive stories a bit further, they are really fun to write, and really really fun to play. Have a great writing, everyone!

Picture of the flow chart i made for my fic (I suggest only use if you're familiar with programming or flow charting for other disciplines, otherwise it might be just doodles):

#long posts #writing #writers of tumblr #spencer reid #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid smut #criminal minds #fanfic #fanfic writers #prompts for writers #writers tips #writers block #creative writing #writing on tumblr

[celestialscreeches]

How I create characters:

Create them a broad subject: music, religion, philosophy, anarchy, etc.

Create their demeanor: shy, loud, chaotic, vulnerable, cute, etc.

Now play around with them and get a feel. I love giving them tons of dialogue with other characters for this, but you can also you methods like writing inner dialogue or actions (whatever works best with you).

Now let them have depth, analyse their interactions and come up with reasons why. Wrote a random dialogue line/monologue/action/etc that you like but doesn't feel like fits them? Make it fit them.

Now that your characters are more fleshed out imagine their character arc. TRUST ME every good character has a character arc, if you can imagine them at different times through their arc then you've completed this post.

You can also always revise a character if they feel off. Nothings permanent (probably?)

Lastely remember to have fun! My characters typically end up boring or annoying if I overthink them or create them in ways that don't entertain me.

#write #writer #writing advice #writing #writeblr #writers tips #writing tips #writers on tumblr #advice #tips #tip #character #character advice #character sheet #dnd #d&d #dnd character #d&d character #you can also use this with just about anything #ive found writing cities/countries/nations work in a similar style. #most of my writing is based on a chaotic vibe so i hope i explained this properly!

[bookpublisher1]

How a Writing Community Transforms an Author's Journey

In the solitary expanse of a writer's world, the presence of a writing community becomes a beacon of connection, support, and inspiration. In this exploration, we delve into the unspoken power of a writing community, considering essential factors and highlighting reasons for authors to join such nurturing circles. As we navigate through the importance of these communities, we'll indirectly spotlight a remarkable example – the Brave Healer's Writing Community.

The Unseen Tapestry: Factors to Consider in a Writing Community

Choosing the right writing community is a decision that can significantly impact an author's journey. Several factors should be considered when seeking a community that aligns with individual goals and aspirations.

1. Diversity of Perspectives: Enriching Creativity

   A thriving writing community is one that embraces diversity. Different perspectives, backgrounds, and writing styles within the community contribute to a rich tapestry of ideas. Consider a community where varied voices inspire creativity and challenge preconceived notions, fostering a dynamic environment for growth.

2. Supportive Environment: Nurturing Growth

   An effective writing community serves as a support system for authors, offering encouragement during both triumphs and challenges. Look for a space where constructive feedback is shared, resources are exchanged, and members uplift one another. A supportive environment becomes a catalyst for personal and professional growth.

3. Engagement Opportunities: Fueling Inspiration

   Engagement is the lifeblood of any community. Seek a writing community that provides ample opportunities for interaction, whether through forums, events, or collaborative projects. Active engagement not only fuels inspiration but also builds lasting connections with fellow authors.

The Heart of Connection: Reasons to Join a Writing Community

The decision to join a writing community is a transformative step in an author's journey. Several compelling reasons make these communities an invaluable asset.

1. Overcoming Isolation: Breaking the Solitude

   Writing can be a solitary pursuit, and authors often face isolation. Joining a writing community alleviates this solitude, offering a virtual haven where authors connect, share experiences, and combat the loneliness that can accompany the creative process.

2. Feedback and Improvement: Honing Craft Together

   Constructive feedback is a cornerstone of growth for any writer. In a writing community, authors can receive diverse perspectives on their work, identify areas for improvement, and refine their craft collectively. The shared journey of improvement becomes a shared victory.

3. Motivation and Accountability: Sustaining Momentum

   Writing communities provide a constant wellspring of motivation. Whether through shared writing challenges, progress updates, or words of encouragement, members motivate each other to stay committed to their goals. The sense of accountability within the community sustains momentum during both productive and challenging times.

4. Networking and Opportunities: Opening Doors

   Networking within a writing community opens doors to opportunities. Whether it's collaborating on projects, sharing publication insights, or connecting with industry professionals, a well-connected writing community expands an author's horizons and contributes to their overall success.

The Unveiling: Brave Healer's Writing Community

In the realm of writing communities that embody these essential qualities, the Brave Healer's Writing Community stands out as a beacon of inspiration. With its commitment to diversity, support, and engagement, this community provides authors with a nurturing space to thrive. Members share their unique healing stories, provide constructive feedback, and actively engage in collaborative initiatives that amplify the collective voice.

By fostering an environment where authors connect not only through their shared love for writing but also through their healing narratives, the Brave Healer's Writing Community goes beyond the conventional writing circles. It becomes a sanctuary where authors can explore the intersection of creativity and healing, forging connections that transcend the boundaries of the written word.

Conclusion: The Ongoing Journey of Connection and Creativity

In the vast landscape of an author's life, a writing community is the compass that guides, the wind that lifts, and the stars that illuminate the way. As authors embark on the ongoing journey of connection and creativity, the choice of a writing community becomes a pivotal decision that shapes their narrative. In the heart of a supportive community, writers find not only inspiration but also a profound sense of belonging – a testament to the transformative power of shared stories and shared dreams.

#writers circle #writers #writer #writers tips #writer community #author groups

[catt-nuevenor]

Switching Tracks

To all my fellow authors out there, do you find it difficult to switch between emotional elements in your stories?

Between the knife-twisting, gut-wrenching, heart-breaking moments of devastation, and the sweet as sugar, sun-warmed, pulse-fluttering, squee-inducing romance?

If you too struggle, have you found ways to cope? How do you manage that tonal dissidence when writing? How do you change tracks, so to speak?

Any hints, tips, and general advice would be most appreciated.

Pain and frustration sharing for those who haven't found ways to cope is also 100% valid.

#writerscommunity #writers advice #writing advice #writers tips #writers rants

[gwox]

If It Doesn't Make You Squirm… [Brutal Light]

Recently, I went over the links in my old promotional page for my debut (and so far only) novel Brutal Light from 2011, and discovered that a bunch of the links were dead. Which shouldn't be surprising, since blogs come and go, and these essays and interviews came out twelve years ago now. So over the next few months, I'm going to be reposting these here, starting with "If It Doesn't Make You Squirm...", which I originally wrote for Lincoln Crisler's blog on 12/6/11.

One of the most valuable bits of writing advice I ever read (from a source, sadly, I can no longer recall) went something like this: "If it doesn't make you squirm, it won't make the reader squirm." It was a passing bit of advice with no context--at least, none that I recall--but it's stuck with me like nothing else, and is always at the back of my mind whenever I write.

The first question as a reader you might ask is 'Why would you want to make me squirm? What did I ever do to you?' (That is, unless your first question is 'Are you wearing pants?' If so, you're likely already squirming.) To me, as a fiction writer, it means I've connected with you on a fundamental level--it means I've successfully put you 'behind the eyes' of my main characters and gotten you to feel what they feel. I've somehow connected you with their terrors, trials, exhilarations, despairs, and joys. Ultimately, it means I've given you an experience that will stay with you a while.

So why do I, as a writer, have to squirm to make that happen? I got myself a nice cushioned chair to sit in while writing and possibly being pants-less, so why would I make myself uncomfortable in it?

To me, it means sincerity shouldn't be faked. A writer who unflinchingly faces her or his fears will be able to write those fears with an authenticity that a writer who doesn't want to step outside of his or her comfort zone will find hard to duplicate. I'm not just talking about the things that are stock-in-trade for a dark fantasy or horror genre writer--vampires, zombies, serial killers, giant snakes, and the like. There are day-to-day fears that are even harder to face with honesty.

Take the fear of opening yourself up to another person--to not only admitting your vulnerabilities to yourself but letting your guard down so that someone you love can see them and possibly mock you for having them. Take the fear that you will someday be forced to look at what's beneath the carefully woven tapestry of words you call your identity, and you'll discover that there's nothing there. Take the fear that you'll end up alone, that the one you're with will wise up and leave you, and she or he will be right in their judgment. Even if these are not your fears, specifically, chances are you have others that cut this deep.

Horror and dark fantasy provide canvases like none other to explore these fears. Zombies, vampires, cannibals, werewolves, and even stranger beasts can give voice to our fears of what the world holds, and the desires we publically disdain while privately fantasizing about. There's nothing like a demon for uttering something cruel and monstrous, which may be a lie but is even more terrifying if it is true.

I have fears. They make me squirm, when I give them too close an examination. So I write them--grossly magnified and distorted, mixed in with things from the dead places and lots of bloody mayhem. I have no idea if they'll make you, the reader, squirm--my squirming is just a prerequisite, not a guarantee of success, and my fears may not be yours--but you'll know I've taken my best shot.

By the way, I am wearing pants. There's enough fear in the world without people wondering about that.***

Gary W. Olson is the author of the dark fantasy novel Brutal Light and a contributor to the dark fiction anthologies Fairly Wicked Tales and The C.A.M. Charity Anthology: Horror and Science Fiction #1. His blog originates here.

#brutal light #gary w. olson #writing #writers tips

[cryptwrites]

writing injuries: 101

hi goblins and ghouls let me teach you how to write that silly little stab would you decided to give your silly little guy so that you could rip out the hearts of your reader, even more.

Hopefully you have gathered from the title that this will be discussing WOUNDS! BLOOD! GORE! OTHER NASTYS! If you disagree with my advice, MORE THAN OKAY! I'd love to hear yours and we can exchange tips! Lets get into it.

Types of Injuries

To write a realistic injury you NEED to know three things: A) What type of boo-boo B) What caused said boo-boo C) Where is the boo-boo D) Who will kiss boo-boo better (optional) edit: according to my friend D is not optional, so. find someone to kiss it better

Common types of injuries

I am by NO MEANS a professional so... take with a grain of salt. There are so many resources out there if you need to get specific but here's some simple shit xoxo:

Abrasion: Remember when you fell on the street as a skin and scrapped the shit out of your knee? Yeah. That. Its broken skin caused by friction against rough surfaces: requires IMMEDIATE cleaning.

Animal Chomps (bites): These can and will cause an infection if you don't treat it. Your 5'3 teenage girl CANNOT brush off that wolf bite apocalypse writers. Get her to the closest med tent.

Avulsion: A injury's caused when a body part is ripped away either partially or fully (HELLO SAW MOVIES). Results in some severe trauma (physically and mentally if they live) Typically caused by gunshot wounds, explosion's, car crashes etc.)

Bruise: Muscle fibers, blood vessels, and connective tissues are damaged with these bad boys. They cause that bluish purply look. Bruises do change colour to a yellow-green the older they are so do your research!

Burn: There are three degrees and a whole lot of different types for this mf and I can do a separate post on burns if you all want, but in general it is damage to the skin caused by heat, chemicals, radiation or sunlight (we all are too familiar with that last one). As some of know it can result in Swelling, Blistering, and scaring. Now if you gave your creature a really bad burn then it can cause shock, death and the destruction of the skin! And it leaves your victim of choice vulnerable to infection! Yay!!!

Fracture: a break in the bone, it literally looks fractured. It causes pain swelling, numbness and possibly deformity. You will likely need to send your character to the doctor.

Laceration: A cut, slice, tear in the skin, these are not stab wounds this is like if you accidentally cut yourself on glass or if someone swung at you with a knife and it sliced you, but it didn't go into your body and stay there. You get the idea.

Puncture wounds: THIS. THESE ARE YOUR STABS. Penetration to the skin caused by any sort of (usually sharp) object. These are the wounds your serial killer might use in the final moments of the kill with his knife, or the final blow to your hero's enemy with his sword.

Sprain: Ligaments (the things you see in x-rays that hold the bones together) that have been stretched or torn which happens when the joins move into unnatural positions. Usually, this results in stiffness, discoloration and swelling.

Strain: NOTE, Sprain and Strain ARE different. This is what happens when a muscle or tendon (not a ligament) is pulled, twisted or torn. Typically caused by over-stretching/contracting. Usually results in pain, muscle spams, and weakness.

Please note, that like I mentioned with burns there are degrees of severity for ALL OF THESE so please do your research this is just a starting point.

Care & Aftermath

LOTS of writers forget this part and its so sad. You want cute scenes between to characters who aren't yet dating but your rooting for? ONE OF THEM JUST GOT HURT AND THE OTHER IS TENDING TO IT. BAM INSTANT CUTE SCENE. Do not forget about your aftermath and medical care. Most injuries if left untreated WILL WORSEN if you leave them alone so FIX UP YOUR GUYS.

Do your research!! Look up the kind of injury your character sustained, the severity of it and you'll find recovery time and the kind of treatment they'll need.

In my experience, the more you focus on the aftermath of wounds, the more realistic it seems even if your dashing hero just got his arm ripped off by a dragon.

Writing the injury

You do not, now listen closely. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WRITE A MEDICALLY ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE WOUND. You're probably writing fiction and not a med student essay. If you are... email your professor I cannot help you here.

Just focus on getting the basics down. What's the bleeding? How bad is the swelling? What's the pain level at? and just leave the rest to the imagination. Unless your character is a doctor or whatever, your little dudes will also not know exactly what an Avulsion is. You can just say that there's a gaping hole or something. They'll be far to focused on the pain or whatever is causing it to diagnose themselves then and there.

Realism

I pinky promise you that as long as you have the basics, your readers will pick up what your laying down. The characters reaction is the most important part. How are they feeling emotionally? Are they having a physical reaction to the pain (Limping, shaking)? Do they have any physical response to the sight of their own/others blood? Do they experience shock? What's their attitude after it all?

These are the questions you should ask yourself. A war-hardened soilder will react differently to a gunshot wound than someone fresh out of high school.

Thanks :] go make the masses suffer :]]

#writing #horror writing #creative writing #writer #writers on tumblr #they/them #writers #writerscorner #horror #writers tips

[cmoroneybooks]

If you’re a pantser who struggles to finish books because you run out of ideas or constantly get stuck, that’s a sign you should try outlining.

It might not be the answer. 

I want to make it perfectly clear I’m not one of those writers that don’t believe you can pants a novel. You can. This isn’t about people that are successfully pantsing novels, this is about pantsers who never finish their books. 

If you never finish an original book, especially if you never get much past the first 20K words and you always pants those books, pantsing is likely the root of your problem.

I say original because I’ve encountered a lot of writers who successfully pants fanfic that cannot do the same for original work, or cannot do the same when they first transition from exclusively writing fanfiction to writing original work. I had this experience in my teenage years moving from only writing marauders fanfictions to writing my own stories. 

There are a couple of reasons why not planning at all may be causing your issue:

1. You might not understand story structure well enough to make it up as you go along. That’s nothing to be ashamed of, we’re all learning how to be better writers. Get some books on story structure and write yourself an outline. At least cover the inciting incident, the midpoint turn, and how the story ends. I’d recommend something a bit more fleshed out like the 15 beat story structure as a template and just leaving blank a few items if they feel like overplanning. 

Structure books I recommend: 

Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody 

Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure by Janice Hardy

Character Arcs by Jordan McCollum

If this is your problem you may find that after a book or two written with the aid of some kind of outline you don’t need that anymore, or you need less and less detail. Don’t be afraid of trying pantsing again in the future. Your writing process should constantly be changing. That’s just you taking on the lessons of each book you write and applying it to the next.  

2. You might need some idea of what you’re writing towards to keep you motivated and interested in the story or to keep you from getting lost. 

If this is the case you’re probably some level of a planner at heart. I’d recommend you try a traditional structure like the 15 beat story structure, for that see my recommendations above, but you might also want to try simply planning the ending of your story. If you know the ending, you know what you’re writing towards. 

#writing advice #writers advice #writeblr #writers of tumblr #writers on tumblr #amwriting #writingcommunity #writers community #writing community #indie writers #writers tips #writing tips #writers tips and tricks #fantasy writers #writers corner #lgbt writers #planning #pantsing #story structure #outlining #outlining your novel #outlining a novel #writing rants

[thecomfywriter]

Tropes Masterlist

Hey! It's your girl, @thecomfywriter, back with another post. I'm going to keep the intro short for the sake of convenience, but here's the promised list of writing tropes , organized by genre. Also, don’t forget to check out my socials, and if you like my posts, support me with a coffee! Enjoy! 

༺ ༻ 

Socials: 

Insta: 

Writing: @tovwriter

Art: @gkmarts

Pinterest: @gkm075

Wattpad: @gkm075

Tumblr: @thecomfywriter

BuyMeACoffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nvna

༺ ༻

Romance: 

Boy/girl next door 

Bad boy x nerd/good girl

"You're just, not like other girls" (*gag* Ә) 

Makeover scene 

*character A takes character B to their secret "special spot"* 

Love triangles 

Enemies to lovers 

Best friends to lovers 

Star-crossed lovers •

Unrequited love (highkey love this one lol) 

Character A is so logical and sciencey that they don't believe in something so  unquantifiable as love until character 

B, the artistic and emotional one, shows them what it's about 

Fake dating 

Forced marriage/alliance 

Opposites attract 

Instant love 

Billionaire fantasy 

Alpha x rebellious defiant ("strong independent woman" vibes) 

Supernatural x human 

Virgin x player 

Reincarnated lovers who must find each other to stop the cycle 

Mystery // Crime: 

Dark past 

Murder for secrets

“It was *insert ordinary unsuspecting random-ass character* all along” (“Scooby-Doo villain phenomenon”)

Note: a lot of crime is committed by random strangers unbeknownst to the victim, and a lot of it is personal crime where the victim was selected for a reason. Whichever one your story falls into, just know the appeal of mystery is the audience’s ability to try and figure it out before the big reveal. If that isn’t possible because they’ve never met the character before… you see how that can be disappointing?

The only witness/protagonist with amnesia 

The hidden staircase/passage/attic 

The important clue in the book 

“Escape Room” Plot (they’re stuck until they solve the mystery) 

Red Herring

The Raged Confession (the killer/culprit exclaims their confession in a fit of anger) 

Good Cop Bad Cop

Eureka!

The genius detective ((they can see clues and the case in a way that no one else can)

Clue hunt 

Planted evidence in the protagonists possession 

The slip up (the cul[rit/suspect reveals information they shouldn't know about the crime, thus incriminating themselves) 

The mystery kingpin 

Fantasy: 

Medieval setting 

The Chosen One 

The Wise Old Woman/Witch

The Rebel 

The Runaway Royal 

The Dark Lord // “Evil Leader”

The Gang (group of friends/fellowship)

The tumultuous journey 

The Mentor 

The Lost Object/Artifact/Weapon (necessary or the key to the adventure) 

Do not make this object a plot device to explain away everything or help your hero in every situation PLEASE. Let them struggle 

The secret/lost heir 

The underdog 

The Prodigy

The Damsel in Distress 

The Badass Heroine 

The (evil) Enchantress 

The animal companion 

The benevolent king 

The ancient wise immortal who rEFUSES to help or get involved 

The prophet / oracle 

The price to pay for key information (the sacrifice) 

The martyr (hero or close to hero that dies for the cause, thus becoming motivation to succeed in their mission)

The gala/ball (bonus points if the enemies/-to-lovers must dance with each other while having an intense, sarcastic and witty conversation)

Time travel // into the past

Action/Adventure Tropes:

The badass 

The sexy female badass (bonus points if she’s not like other girls)

The undercover spy 

The womanizer 

The chase scene 

Butting heads with authorities 

The vigilante 

The villain monologue 

Closely relates to “The Incompetent Villain” who somehow always loses even though they have the clear advantage and might have even cornered the hero

The explosion walk-away

The feisty love interest who hates the protagonists’ guts and won’t be swayed by his charm

The gadgets 

The ticking bomb 

The stalker 

The party / event where the gang must go under disguise 

America, the heroes! (why is everything so america centered lol) 

The snarky dark humour protagonist 

Example of pulling this trope off successfully: deadpool

The tough cookie crumbles (the strongest character begins to lose hope/strength/motivation/feel scared or weakened)

The impossible unexplained escape (hero escapes high security prison/chains off screen, with seemingly no logical explanation)

Thriller/Horror:

Cabin in the woods

Serial killer on the loose

Home invasion 

The masked killer 

The (idiot) group of friends 

“Let’s split up”

Sexy-time couple dies first 

The shadow monster

Paranormal events/activities

Flickering lights 

Sudden loud crash 

Angry spirit

Demonic possession

Revenge killer

Ouji board 

The smart character that dies before revealing the secret of how to stop/survive the supernatural force 

Everything happens in the dark/night

Cryptic messages

Breathing on the phone

Wild animal/dog 

“They're behind you”

Everyone dies in the end 

Glitching technology

Possessed doll 

The hunt and quarry (the characters on the “quarry” for the killer/creature hunting them) 

The creepy synchronized twins 

Creepy children in general

Animals and children can see what others can’t

Dystopian:

Post-apocalyptic

Zombie invasion 

Rampant disease 

Alien invasion

A long war 

Protagonists are the common underdog who became a symbol of rebellion/change 

The competent but unwilling companion who helps the protagonist 

authoritarian/dictator government 

The tyrant leader 

Extreme class divide 

Poverty and slums vs riches and nobility 

The rebellion / uprising 

Journey through the wastelands 

Toxic environment 

The bunker 

A tournament/trials character must compete in 

The utopia that isn’t actually a utopia 

Conformity and cruel law enforcement 

Advanced futuristic technology

Future setting 

Collapsing society

Alright, this is where we’ll end. If you have a genre you want covered or if I notice I’m missing one on the list, I’ll edit and update this post. Hope this helps! 

Happy Writing :)

#writing #writing tools #writers #writing community #writerblr #writers on tumblr #writblr #writing blog #writing tips #writing help #writeblr #creative writing #writers of tumblr #tropes #writing tropes #writing tip #writing resources #writers blog #writers tips #tips #advice #book #wip #fantasy #oc #resources #masterlist #writing masterlist #writing masterpost

[thoushallwrite]

Writer's Tip

Anecdotes are the solution, my dears.

Stuck on what to write next? ANECDOTES.

Want to find some way to build character's background without infodumping? ANECDOTES.

Want to transition from action-to-action, paragraph-to-paragraph, etc.? ANECDOTES.

Want to show the growth or development of a relationship? ANECDOTES.

Far too many writers underestimate anecdotes. They are a tool that is crucial to your writing. Use it!

#writers advice #writers community #writers tips #writeblr #writing #creative writing

[cyber-official]

Writer Writes About Writing - Part 1 - Organic Storytelling!

Writing can be a very daunting and overwhelming process. Questions I typically find myself asking are "What would be the motivation?" or "How would this work in reality/ my fictional world?"

Both are very important questions which I've never fully agreed with other writers about. Although I have my own answers, not every author works in the same way I do.

Working with other writers can stifle your own creativity and stop you from exploring ideas, and feelings you'd like to provoke. Roleplaying scenarios with friends can lead to things not playing out how you imagined they would (not always good, but not always bad). Even an editor might disagree with the direction you took in the story 50 pages ago! It's just not how you imagined.

So, I came up with a very creative way to stop this overthinking, which in turn might help you. I call it "Procedural generation!" Or "Organic storytelling" if you don't want to think in cool gamer terms.

Organic/ procedural storytelling is done in the head - 100% - and is purely reactionary - meaning the story is being led by how your character reacts. Lets have a go at a small example!

Okay, so here's the situation. You are locked in a room! It has tall walls and there's a grate at the top letting in light. However, there's one big steel door in your way, and as luck would have it... It's locked!

I can already hear you "Okaaay, well I'd just lazer my way out!" Or "OH GOD, I'M GOING TO DIE! I HAVEN'T EVEN KISSED A BEAUTIFUL LOVE INTEREST YET!"

First of all, it's okay. This isn't real and just part of our imagination. Secondly, you can't lazer your way out as it has something preventing you from doing so. Why? Because I said so! Now listen.

Creative solutions to flesh out your character are always good go-to's. Resourcefulness is far better than making your character a Mary or Gary Stu (That's right, I'm looking at you, undescript superhero movies!).

So, how do we deal with our impenetrable door? Okay, well let's look around the room. Is there a gallon of gallium to make it crumble? Does the door have a lock? What kind of lock? Do I have a screwdriver or a very nifty pair of fingers? Is there a bucket I could dismantle, even though I've filled it with poo?

"So, just give the character tools? Seems kinda A + B = C, don't ya think?" Okay, well... Let's just say it is. But have you researched how to break a lock? Have you researched how a door could be impervious but has hidden weaknesses?

You don't need to give your character inherent knowledge of the above, just enough intuition that they're not dying next to the poop bucket.

For example: Are there bolts on the frame of the door? Is there a peep hole? Does the bucket have a handle? Could you use the threads of your clothes to make a laso? Did you remember to turn the stove off at home? All relevant questions which could make your character think 'Eureka!'

Obviously, if you wanted your character to be stuck somewhere, you would intend to get them out, right? So, it's reasonable to think of these questions which may lead you to understanding how they get out. It doesn't even need to work on the first try! Just something to show they're thinking and how they think.

In this organic way of thinking, it's always good to show something different or smart when coming up with ideas for your characters to escape. As a writer, you should absolutely avoid the overused and seen before techniques. This includes but not limited to: A hidden wire to picklock, undescript lazer device, keys they stole earlier from a guard, or simply seducing the guard to let you go. All these things are boring, seen before, and not very interesting. Not to say you can't use these techniques but unless something exciting like a monster is behind the door, you should probably find an original (or less well known) solution.

This technique in storytelling can be applied throughout the whole of your story, if you couldn't tell. As another example, let's talk about roleplaying (solo or with someone else). In this example, you are a manager and have been given some grave news that the moon is going to explode, unless you find a particular email received by a random employee in the company.

As ridiculous as a scenario it is, it's actually brilliant for what we're going to discuss: Organic reactions! I imagine if you heard this news. Many of you probably aren't in an authority level high enough to deal with it - but in this scenario, you are!

If this was a real life situation, most of us would probably laugh or have tremendous anxiety about this. Which isn't very helpful to know how your character (the manager) would react. So, we have to consider these few things first.

Is your character a hard-ass bitch? Do they hate the moon? Maybe they have a deep hatred of the sea and just wish it would stop moving! Or maybe, they actually quite like the moon and want to save it. Your initial reaction is the catalyst for what you write next. How to solve the problem is pretty much written above.

So, let's try this again. I'm telling you, right now: "If we don't find this email, the moon will explode!"

Responses you may give:

Laughs arrogantly "You watch too much TV! Get back to work."

"Who would do such a thing?! How do you know this?"

"Good! Finally some f*cking sleep - I live on a beach house, you know?!"

Or, maybe if you were a werewolf: "As much as I hate to protect the catalyst of all my horrors, we need to stop whoever is doing this!"

You get the idea. Each response either expedites the process of solving the problem, or makes it difficult for the people around you to come up with a solution sooner. Meaning: You may start with 24 hours but by the time your character comes around, you may only have 24 minutes to find this email (raising tensions).

You could potentially combine the two examples into one, and all of a sudden you have someone trapped in a dark room, looking up at tall walls as they see the moon inevitably due to explode. Your character was the manager all along! And now, you need to get out so you can organise your people, in-order to find this email.

By the way, these examples weren't planned at all. Despite this, they can work very well together. Which then leads to more ideas such as: Who put you there? Was it the employees who were tired of your lack of urgency on the matter - even though you have the answer? Was it a cult of moon-phobes, or something of the sort?

All of a sudden, these ideas now have a level of organic world building. Which we will be talking about in the next post about conceptual storyboarding!

If you enjoyed my unhinged ramblings and found this entertaining, please consider giving the blog a follow!

If you'd like to keep up to date with my current project, CYBER サイバー, a manga series based in the neo-futuristic, dystopian world of 2288 - then please check it out in the links below!

CYBER Official: https://cyber-official.com

Pre-launch IndieGoGo Page: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/cyber--4/coming_soon

Written by Eliza (Author)

#writers on tumblr #writerscommunity #female writers #writers block #writers tips #writing tips #writing advice #writing help #creative writing #how to write #worldbuilding #indie author #authors of tumblr #fiction #writer #book writing

[ya-boi-haru]

WRITERS!!!?

One thing I really want to do with my OCs & Story is make it realistic even though it has the most unrealistic themes.

What I mean by this is that there may be people who have supernatural abilities and Aliens from other worlds, but I still want it to be believable and realistic on certain topics, especially heavier themes.

I want to know realistically how would a person go through withdrawal, how does one actually a "ptsd attack", how does one act in certain situations...

Where would I go for this type of thing? Website recommendations???

#writer #oc story #story planning #writers advice #writers tips #writers help #oc