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totisviribus · 2 months

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My kind, innocent, logic-brained engineer boyfriend: “How’s your writing for your book coming along today?”

Me, cursing at the imaginary people in my head who are currently wrestling in a coat closet instead of solving the mystery, meanwhile my laptop is at 10% battery with 10 tabs open about the structural integrity of a parking garage in Boston, what it feels like to be elbowed in the nuts, Regan’s economic theories, and a Reddit post about why the teacup grip is bad when firing a gun. I haven’t seen the sun in 3 days and if I stop listening to one of my painstakingly curated playlists I might die. I’ve written a handbook for a cultish organized crime company and often have to refer to it like a real handbook because I forgot what I’ve written. The coat closet scene is now 3,000 words and these goddamn characters just need to trust each other for Christ sake-

“Its going great thanks for asking honey🤗💕✨”

#writing #writer #creative writing #writblr #writeblr #writers community #writers of tumblr #writing problems #writing a novel #writing memes

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hayatheauthor · 1 year

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How To Accurately Describe Pain In Writing

Pain can be an interesting emotion to write about. It gives authors the liberty to merge their character’s emotions and surroundings to create beautiful metaphors and graphic descriptions that draw their readers in and convey their character’s struggles. However, if done wrongly reading your descriptions of pain can feel like a chore to your readers. Unsure how to accurately describe pain in your writing? Here are some tips to help you get started.

Use The Five Senses

As humans, we possess five senses that dictate our reactions to the world around us. When writing, it is important to use these five senses rather than just relying on what your character can see. Talk about the sound, the smell, the taste, and even the feeling.

If your character just got burnt, talk about the sound of sizzling flesh and the slight numbness they feel. Mention the terrible smell of burnt flesh, and make your character feel dizzy with fear as their eyes finally land on the horrific wound.

Internal bleeding makes people spit blood and taste iron and partially healed wounds feel itchy and irritant.

There is so much more to pain than what you see, and simply talking about your character’s wounds isn’t nearly enough to make your readers wince in second-hand pain. In fact, they are more likely to skim your passages in boredom.

Show your readers what your character is experiencing, and then go on to describe their reaction to this situation.

Build It Up, Then Break It Down

Pain doesn’t just suddenly come from nowhere. It starts with something small, blossoms, and then spreads. Your character won’t just suddenly get a third-degree burn the size of a baseball by leaning against a hot steel wall for the briefest of seconds. It starts with a light reddish-brown mark, then darkens, maybe even blisters.

You can’t go from 0 to 100 in one sentence. You need to build it up and show your readers how your character’s pain was found. Then, break it down.

Pain doesn’t come from nowhere, but it doesn’t suddenly disappear either. Show us how your character’s wound heals. Does the wound mark from where they hurt their knee turn into an ugly brown shade for a couple of weeks? Do their burns gradually fade from red to pink, or turn darker?

It’s important to show your readers the aftermath of your character’s pain. A character who just had a bullet pulled out of their shoulder with a hot knife can’t suddenly just jump up and start firing at the enemy with perfect aim.

You don’t need to overdo it and constantly mention their wounds during the healing stage, but something as simple as ‘her bandages uncomfortably scratched at her back every time she lifted her hand to eat’ or ‘his fingers subconsciously shifted to run over the remains of his burn mark even as his eyes remained trained on the blackboard’ will suffice.

How Does This Affect Your Character?

Physical pain aside, wounds can also have an effect on your character’s dynamics with others as well as your plot.

It’s important to take into account how they got this wound, how the other characters might react to it, and internalised conflict caused by it. Maybe your character injured their fingers during a game of volleyball and now they’re staring at their final exam paper with tears of frustration brimming their waterline because it hurts too much to write.

Maybe your protagonist suffered a small burn while sneaking out to go to their friend’s house and their parent or mentor saw it. Or maybe your protagonist won against the antagonist but suffered a grave injury to their legs and now cannot fight during the next confrontation, resulting in a chaotic outbreak at their headquarters.

Think about the internal as well as the external damage your character’s wounds can cause, and then use that as a plot device to further your book.

Do Your Research

It’s very important to accurately portray your character’s level of pain and consider whether or not they would realistically incur such injuries from such a wound. When writing about a character’s wound or pain consider doing some research about that type of wound.

Here are some things you need to check when researching the wound type:

How much blood would they loose with this type of wound?

What are the side effects?

Could this be fatal?

How long will it take to heal?

How long does it take for a wound to get to that extent? (for example, if you’re writing about a third-degree burn, research what it takes for a burn to be considered third-degree).

What are the major veins, arteries, and other important body parts in that part of the character’s body? For example, if your character is supposed to be injured on their arm but it’s not supposed to be serious, you need to consider whether the wound could realistically have ruptured their radial artery, resulting in death.

Will there be any scarring? What about any long-lasting wound marks?

You could also take a look at historical events similar to the one you’re writing. For example, if you’re writing about an assassination attempt consider researching the most historically renowned assassination techniques.

It’s also a good idea to ask your families and friends about their experiences with the type of wound you’re writing about (so long as it’s not a sensitive topic). Maybe you have a cousin who suffered a third-degree burn once or a classmate who has a scar from a graphic wound across their arm.

I hope this blog on how to accurately describe pain in writing will help you in your writing journey. Be sure to comment any tips of your own to help your fellow authors prosper, and follow my blog for new blog updates every Monday and Thursday.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks?

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Haya’s book blog where I post writing and marketing tools for authors every Monday and Thursday.

Want to learn more about me and my writing journey? Visit my social media pages under the handle @hayatheauthor where I post content about my WIP The Traitor’s Throne and life as a teenage author.

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writing-with-sophia · 2 months

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English neutral names

Taylor: a tailor or to cut (referring to the profession of tailoring).

Casey: a vigilant or "watchful.

Jordan: flowing down.

Avery: ruler of the elves or wise.

Morgan: born of the sea.

Riley: courageous or valiant.

Alex: defender of mankind (short form of Alexander or Alexandra).

Reese: enthusiasm.

Jamie: one who replaces.

Devon: the poet or bard.

Cameron: crooked nose or bent river.

Robin: bright fame, famous or just robin bird.

Sidney: wide island or wide meadow.

Shannon: small and wise.

Harper: harp player or minstrel.

Logan: little hollow.

Bailey: bailiff or steward.

Dylan: child of the sea.

Quinn: the fifth or counsel.

Skylar: the scholar.

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the-ellia-west · 1 month

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How to make your Readers Feel Emotions for Dummies

(AWWWWW :]]]] Edition)

So... Do you have any cute animals or children in your story?

No?

Then I can't help you go away

Kidding, kidding, you can make AWW moments in your story no matter who or what your characters are.

First

You have to have at least semi-Likable characters (Pets, adorable animals, or children make this wayyyyyy easier)

Likable characters make your readers want the characters to be happy! You can't really get AWWWW moments if you want the characters to suffer

Most AWWW moments come from Shipping or cute baby moments

Second

Decide what Type

whether you want it to be an AWWWW Romance moment, or an AWWWWW Baby moment

There's also #3 I forgot to mention: AWWWWW comfort/sentimental moment

Third

Decide which character the AWWW moment will happen between

Couple, Father/child, mother/child, friends, siblings, doesn't matter - Well... it obviously matters Which AWWW moment you're going for but... yeah

Fourth

What's Gonna happen?

For romance it's usually cute fluff moments - Want examples? Too bad, look it up on Pinterest! No, no, Joking. Here's a list:

Small cheek/hand kisses

A small, 'I love you so much.'

Wearing other's clothes

Forehead touch

Cuddling

Holding BOTH of each other's hands

FACE TOUCHES - Cheek/jawbone is best

Leaning into touch

Careful dancing

For parental figure and Child it's usually a comforting trust moment, a protecting the child moment, or a 'make me proud' moments

I fucking love these and I'm gonna go on a rant Addict, Tired, bitter mentors are so fucking great. There's so much you can do with them Mostly there's 'make me proud moments' The first 'I approve' moment There's 'you've made me proud' moments There's also 'Fine, you're my kid' moments And comforting trust moments hit so much harder when the mentor rarely shows affection.

It's just so... :D

For Friends, You should do with comforting moments, or a 'you don't know how much I care about you moments

Fifth

Soft Phrasing = soft emotions

Use long, calm sentences. No exclamation points or question marks unless it's dialogue. Keep everything smooth and fluid.

Tears are a powerful tool so use them sparingly

Use short words, and use cuter, softer words, metaphors, and adjectives.

Sixth

Have a visible result

Smiles, cute thoughts, cute dialogue, different feelings or actions towards other characters

Stuff like that

AWWWWW moments can be very powerful to characters as they can for real people, they can change so much with little words.

They can be turning points, displays of affection to the audience, turning points of affection, showcases of change, strengthening of relationships, a final goodbye, they can be so much in just so little.

Good Evening and Good Luck with your Writing My loveable Writing friends! you can do this! <3

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em-dash-press · 11 months

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Tips for Starting and Stopping Chapters, Plus FAQs

Even if you have the most exciting, engaging ideas for your novel, you might struggle to write it because you have to deal with chapters. These are a few of the most frequently asked questions about chapters and a few tips that might help you overcome manuscript challenges.

How Many Chapters Should a Book Have?

Unfortunately, there’s no straightforward answer to this question. Genres and intended audiences influence manuscript word counts. Younger readers will need shorter chapters to keep their interest and older readers might prefer longer chapters that dive deep into conflict or theme.

Storytelling elements also change the number of chapters per book. A fast-paced novel might have more short chapters to keep up the faster narrative pace. A slower novel might linger in wordier scenes, so there could be fewer chapters with longer page counts per chapter.

You can always look at comparable novels in the same genre to guestimate how many your manuscript could include. If you’re writing a Twilight-inspired novel in the same fantasy genre and Twilight has 26 chapters in a ~110,000 word count range, you could aim for a similar number.

What’s the Purpose of Chapters?

Chapters divide longer stories into segments that help readers process new plot events. They give people breathing room to digest heavier topics or moments by pausing or putting the book down to do other things for a while.

They also give more weight to cliffhanger moments or events made to shock readers. Even if they immediately flip the page to keep reading, the momentary pause lends gravity and meaning to whatever ends the chapter before.

Tips for First Chapters

Include Some Action

The first line of every chapter doesn’t need to be a dramatic car chase scene, but the chapter in its entirety should include some plot-moving action. It hooks readers and gets your pacing started.

Add Emotional Weight

Action can only intrigue readers so much. What’s the emotional weight compelling your protagonist to take part in, react to, or fight back against your inciting incident? Establish some emotional weight in the first chapter to motivate your protagonist, like showing how much they love their sister before getting betrayed by her in the inciting incident.

Avoid Infodumping

Readers don’t need to know everything about your world-building or protagonist in the first chapter. The infodumping only weighs down your pace. Sprinkle your descriptions and reveals throughout the first act of your book to keep readers coming back to learn more about the world.

Tips for Starting a Chapter

Introduce a Choice

Choices help stories move along at a pace that keeps readers engaged. If your protagonist is stuck in their head for most of a chapter, there’s nothing pushing your story forward. Always include at least one choice when starting a chapter, whether it’s big or small.

Keep Expanding Your Conflict

Every chapter should expand your primary conflict in some way. It might affect newly introduced characters, change your protagonist’s world, or require a sacrifice. As long as your conflict is relevant to your chapter in some way, your story will always remain true to its thematic purpose.

Remember Your Cause-and-Effect

An initial chapter sets up or introduces a conflict that gets your plot moving. If you’re unsure what to do in the following chapter, use it to address the effects of that previous chapter’s conflict. Although the conflict likely won’t get resolved that quickly, you can still write about your characters’ choices post-conflict or how the world changes in a way that affects their futures.

Tips for Ending a Chapter

Experiment With Your Endings

I used to be afraid of ending a chapter without some shocking, groundbreaking plot twist. Althought that’s a great place to put those moments, it’s not plausible to end every chapter with one. Where would your readers feel comfortable pausing for the night? When would they feel the quiet sanctity of peaceful moments where characters build trust between themselves?

Play around with your endings by refusing to be afraid to cut your manuscript into segments. If one doesn’t feel right during your read-through, you can always merge it into the next chapter and cut them differently during editing.

Use It to Shift Your Story

When your story needs to change times of day, locations, or perspectives, that’s usually a good sign that you need a page or chapter break. It’s not always necessary, but these are the types of chapter breaks that give readers breathing room.

Again, you can always re-work your chapters during editing if you find that they aren’t ending in the right places during your first few read-throughs.

Ramp Up Your Tension

Who says chapters always have to end on a cliffhanger? You can also end them when the action or tension is becoming more intense. When two characters are in the car on the way to rob a bank, they argue over whether or not to actually shoot people. One character’s eagerness and the other’s disgust raises the tension. As it escalates into them yelling in the parking lot, the chapter can end when one leaves the car and slams the door.

Ending on a moment of heightened tension is another reason readers turn pages and stay engaged. In the above case, they might not be able to put the book down until they find out if the robbery resulted in murder.

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Starting and stopping chapters can cause plenty of anxiety, but remember—you’re always in control of your manuscript. Play around with these ideas and make any necessary changes in your editing phases. You’ll figure out the best way to organize your story by chapters and develop more confidence in your long-form storytelling abilities.

#creating chapters #writing chapters #chapter length #writing a first chapter #writeblr #writing advice #writing tips #writers of tumblr #writing #writing help #creative writing #writing inspiration #writing community #writing a novel #writing a book #writing a story

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novlr · 2 months

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So, this may be a question there is NO absolutely correct answer to…BUT: How does one now when a novel is finished? Like, how do you know when to stop writing or editing? How does one move on from the perfectionism of a story to just the creation and sharing of one?

Writing a novel is a journey full of unexpected twists, intense emotion, and the perpetual quest for perfection. However, one of the most elusive aspects of the writing process is understanding when to put down the pen or close the laptop and declare the manuscript finished.

As a writer, you may often find yourself tangled up in the pursuit of perfectionism, pondering over the infinite possibilities for your story. But there comes a time when you must step back and share your creation with the world. Here are some tips on how to recognise that moment:

How to know when your novel is finished

The story arc is complete: Your characters have been through their arcs; the conflicts raised have been addressed, and your story has come to a resolution that aligns with the themes you set out to explore.

Feedback is no longer as useful: You’ve gotten feedback from beta readers or editors, and you’ve addressed the critical concerns. If the feedback starts to become subjective or less consistent, it might be a sign you’re done.

Diminishing returns on edits: If your recent rounds of edits are barely producing any changes, or if the changes are not significantly enhancing the story, it’s likely a signal that your novel is complete.

How to know when to stop writing or editing

Trust your gut: Deep down, you often know when you’re making changes for the better or just making changes. Trust that instinct.

Get feedback from readers: Solicit the opinions of readers who represent your target audience. If they’re captivated by your story and satisfied with the conclusion, it’s a good sign that you don’t need any more rewrites.

Professional feedback: If you send your manuscript to a publishing professional, like an editor, they’ll give you a good barometer of whether your manuscript is ready or needs more work.

Be objective: Take a step back from your manuscript and read it like a reader, not a writer. If you find yourself changing things back to how they were in previous drafts, you might have reached the point of over-editing.

How to move beyond perfectionism

Embrace imperfection: Accept that no novel is without flaws, and that’s what makes them unique and human. I’m sure you could pick out flaws in any of your favourite books, but you love them regardless. Give yourself the same grace.

Shift your mindset: Instead of focusing on the perfect manuscript, focus on your readers. If it’s a story you want to tell, readers will want to read it. They deserve to read your words!

Set it free: Sometimes, the only way to move on is to release your work into the wild. Just take a step into the unknown and take a chance. You’ll never feel ready, so sometimes it just comes down to a leap of faith.

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jacquelynlscott · 1 year

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🥉 Three Elements for Writing the Setting of Your Story

🔑 The setting of a story is where and when your book happens. Your book setting is important because almost everything your character does will be affected by when and where they do them.

The three elements for how to write your story setting are time, location, and environment.

⌛ Time

Time is the when of your story. When thinking about your book, consider these when’s:

📅 What year? Your time period affects everything about your character. What clothes they wear, the technology and language they use, and their ability to move and interact in the world. A person in 1700 Europe isn’t going to use a cell phone to call someone, just like a person in 2023 United States isn’t going to speak Middle English.

🍁 What time of year? Is it winter, spring, summer, or fall? A character living in a Canadian winter isn’t going to spend time outdoors in a t-shirt and shorts. A person visiting Arizona in the middle of summer likely isn’t going to walk around in a jacket and jeans, no matter how stylish.

⌚ What time of day? This is more significant for scenes than the book as a whole. You can use the time of day to create a particular mood, such as nighttime for a feeling of danger or mystery. You should also consider the time of day for what your character is about to do. For example, someone likely isn’t going jewelry heisting at noon on a Monday.

⏳ Is time passing? Pay attention to how time is unfolding throughout your scenes and story as a whole. You have to account for any time that passes between scenes, when characters travel, or when you insert a flashback. Make sure your reader knows when your scene is happening, or they’ll be lost.

🗺️ Location

The location of your story is as broad as the country and region and as specific as the neighborhood or house. Like the time period, the location of your setting will affect your characters in all aspects of their lives: what they wear, how they speak, if they walk or drive or take the bus, etc.

If your book is fantasy, you will need to do some very detailed world-building work. A fantastic resource for this is The World Building Leviathan from Kittyspace.

🌲 Environment

The environment of your manuscript includes the physical world and social, political, and cultural influences of the time and location.

Take into consideration the environment’s climate and how it impacts your characters. For example, a character living in the tropics will have a vastly different life than someone living in the mountains of North Carolina.

What is the cultural, political, and social environment like in your character’s time period and hometown? These aspects can impact what your character believes in and the different values they hold dear. Societal norms vary across time and place, and it will take a lot of research to make sure you’re getting it right.

🙅‍♀️ Setting Don’ts

Newer authors often think they need a lot of exposition about the setting up front. This is called a “data dump,” and they are often very difficult to read. You don’t want to bore your readers with a lot of information about your world upfront. Rather, allow your setting to reveal itself slowly, either through your character or short bits of exposition throughout.

If you’re writing a fantasy or historical novel, avoid treating everyday objects as novelties. Even if that object is unique to you, it would not be unique to your character. If something is supposed to be ordinary to your character, treat it like it’s ordinary.

Check out jacquelynlscott.com for a free downloadable setting worksheet to help you think through the setting of your book or scene.

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willowiswriting · 1 month

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How to Find Your Character's Flaws

Character flaws are so, so important to pushing your story forward and keeping your characters from being too static. But what if you can't figure out your main character's big flaw? You have everything you need to start writing, but your character just feels flat throughout the story.

This is when you need to start thinking about the plot itself. Essentially, whatever makes it hard for your characters to achieve their goals makes for a good flaw and results in a fundamental shift in character across their character arc.

Therefore, consider what your character needs to do in order for the story to go off without a hitch. Imagine if your character were the absolute perfect person to complete this task. (Hint: they're not. But let's pretend for a second.) What traits would they need to have to easily accomlish the tasks you've set them out to do? I like to make a literal list of positive traits. For example, in my low-fantasy mystery novel:

Now that we have this list, we can take one (or more) of these traits and reverse them! For the above list, I know Elaine is NOT a calm and even-tempered person, so that's one major flaw that, when keeping in mind as I write the story, will naturally create conflict between what is "supposed" to happen and what the main character is doing.

I like this method better than just throwing a dart at the board to see what sticks because it naturally creates a character arc. By the end of the story, Elaine will need to work against her naturally bombastic nature to succeed in the finale.

You can also reverse-engineer this method to determine the ending of your story. If your main character's flaw is that they are extremely resistant to change, for instance, the finale will require your character to face and accept a HUGE change for them.

#writeblr #writing #writers #writblr #writers of tumblr #amwriting #writeblr community #creative writing #writers on tumblr #writer #on writing #writerscommunity #female writers #writer things #writing advice #writing about writing #writing a book #writing a novel

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bricktoygrapher · 1 year

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Writing a novel 📜

#writing a novel #typewriter #lego #lego photography #legophotography #toy photography #toyphotography #legophoto #toyphoto #brickcentral #toy photoshoot #legominifigures #lego minifigures #minifig photography #minifigs #toyphotogallery #toy photographers #toyartistry #toycommunity

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bb-nebula · 3 months

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"If only my skin could be stripped off like bedding. If only it could be bleached. I wonder what it's like to love, to be loved and to feel clean while doing it."

Jane Juniper Ash, The Running Girls

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pagesofjasmine · 9 months

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The writer | messy notes, imaginations, worlds, ink and healing power in lines.

@pagesofjasmine

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hayatheauthor · 1 year

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How To Write And Create A Subplot

A subplot is an essential aspect of any book. It helps drive your story forward and hook your readers in with a compelling narrative. A good subplot raises the stakes for the main character by introducing side characters, creating plot twists, adding another dimension to the story or revealing information from the past or future.

However, if executed incorrectly subplots can overshadow your main plot and deviate from the heart of your story. Unsure how to create and execute a subplot? Here are some helpful tips to get you started!

Why Are Subplots Important?

A subplot is a narrative thread that supports the elements of your main plot. They often build conflict or shed light on a secondary character’s story. Subplots help you create multilevel narrative arcs and build complexity and depth.

Your readers certainly don’t need to know what your antagonists were doing while the protagonist underwent secluded training, but adding this subplot builds tension, heightens the stakes and easily portrays personality traits and character flaws. This is especially true for genres such as SFF or horror where your characters often don’t know their enemy’s plan until the last moment.

Subplots are often what make your readers connect with your characters and world-building. To put it simply, if Harry Potter was written without any subplots Rowling could have wrapped up the entire series in one book.

Types Of Subplots

It’s important for authors to branch out and implement more than one subplot in their manuscript. Sticking to one subplot can often result in a poor portrayal of an important moment or make an interesting arc fall flat. A simple way to avoid this is by combining different subplots when working on your manuscript.

Mirror Subplots

Mirror subplots are essentially a subplot that mirrors what your protagonist or antagonist is going through in order to illuminate their personality traits and how they dealt with said situation. A great example of a mirror subplot would be Sophie and Agatha’s dynamics during the first book of A School For Good and Evil.

Sophie and Agatha both start off with essentially the same introduction to characters like Tedros, the faculty, their roommates, etc. but while Sophie uses a negative outlook to harm those around her Agatha focuses more on a problem-solving approach.

Contrasting Subplot

A contrasting subplot is when a smaller character faces the same situation as your protagonist/antagonist but handles the situation differently. For example, a protagonist allowed themselves to be injured in order to safely evacuate a nearby citizen but an antagonist in a similar position used the civilian to shield themselves from the attack.

Contrasting subplots cannot exist unless both characters undergo the same situation, which is why it is important to plan this subplot out before executing it.

Complicating Subplot

Complicating subplots are the most common subplot used in literature. They’re pretty self-explanatory and involve a secondary character creating complications for the protagonist. This can be as simple as your love interest’s sister spreading gossip about the protagonist, or as complicated as a grand political scheme created to turn the protagonist’s allies against them.

Romantic Subplot

Romantic subplots are often confused with romance written as a subgenre. The difference between the two is simple—a book with romance as a subgenre simply includes romantic themes, however, a romantic subplot uses romance to deviate from the main plot.

For example, if your protagonist left their usual environment to attend an event with your love interest for a couple of chapters, that counts as a romantic subplot. However, a character simply having a romantic moment does not constitute as a subplot.

Things To Keep In Mind When Creating A Subplot

Now that I’ve divulged all of the facts associated with writing a subplot, here are some personal tips writers should take into consideration when creating a subplot.

A Subplot Is NOT Its Own Story

This is an important factor many writers often forget when creating a subplot. Subplots are meant to tie into the main plot and move the story forward. They are supposed to be an arc in your story, not a story of their own.

Subplots are a great way to foreshadow events, drop hints, reveal character traits, etc. however, you need to consider whether or not your manuscript needs to have these characters. Your deuteragonist’s tragic past with the antagonist might make for a good story, but you could probably summarise those events within one chapter.

The same can be said for past love interests, ex-friends, training arcs and backstory arcs for minor characters. These factors would all propel your plot forward, however, incorrectly implementing them can ruin your reader’s immersion and deviate from the actual plot.

If you’re unsure whether or not your subplot should be included in your novel, take the time to consider these few questions:

Does your subplot help your protagonist accomplish their main goal? Or does it drastically deviate them from their initial purpose?

Does this subplot introduce a new character, a new side to an old character, or the ‘true’ version of a seemingly good/bad character?

Would your character be unable to attain their long-term goal without this subplot?

Would your world-building, character development, or a certain aspect of the main plot feel confusing if not for this subplot?

If your answer to these was yes, then you probably have a valid subplot on your hands. If not, then you should genuinely consider questions and take into account why you want to include this subplot, to begin with. If your answer is something along the lines of ‘it has so and so scene/dynamic which I really enjoyed or think the readers will like’ then your manuscript would probably do better without that subplot.

Create Conclusive Arcs

Unlike your main plot, subplots are supposed to have a start and finish. They need to have a complete arc and some semblance of a conclusion.

For example, if you were writing a contrasting subplot where the side character decided to abandon another character in order to save themselves, you need to consider what happens once you write out this scene. How do the other characters react to it? Does this impact your side character’s position in the story? And most importantly, how does this impact the rest of your plot?

You need to know where you’re going to go with your story once you have concluded your subplot, and figure out a way to tie your subplot into your main plot.

I hope this blog on how to create and execute a sub plot will help you in your writing journey. Be sure to comment any tips of your own to help your fellow authors prosper, and follow my blog for new blog updates every Monday and Thursday.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks?

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Haya’s book blog where I post writing and marketing tools for authors every Monday and Thursday.

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secondhandbagofholding · 2 months

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So I've been working on a book now for a couple years and I thought I'd write out some tips that have helped me. Some of these tips might not work for everyone, but they've helped me:

1. Creativity isn't something that strikes randomly. Creative people create do so by consistently creating. Don't wait. Sit down and write. Creativity is more about discipline in doing a thing than it is brilliant moments of insight. The insight will come when you are elbows deep doing the work.

2. Keep a schedule. I personally write at 3 pm every day as if it is a job. I have an alarm on my phone for it. At 3 pm almost every day I sit down at my typewriter, set a timer for 1 hour, put my phone on airplane to limit distractions, and I type. Whether it's the most eloquent thing I've ever written or the most garbage words ever conceived does not matter so long as I string them together for an hour.

3. Only write for your allotted scheduled time. If your routine and schedule is to write for an hour, only write for that hour. If your schedule is 30 minutes, only write for that 30 minutes. When the time is up, finish your sentence, and put it all away. You will pick it up tomorrow where you left off no problems. And you will be more excited to write next time if you are anticipating finishing something you're in the middle of.

4. Ritualize the task. Every time I sit down to type I have a series of things at hand that only exist to me when I'm typing. One is a bowl of popcorn of some kind. The other is a bowl of trail mix. The last is a large hot cup of green tea. I don't consume those things at any other time. They are writing snacks and writing snacks only. The mug I use for the tea is only used when I'm writing. Doing the ritual of preparing it all, in conjunction with getting out my typewriter and book notes, helps me transition into writing time almost seamlessly.

5. Keep a notebook handy. You will have ideas. You will hate something, or want to elaborate on something later. Worry about those later. Make a note, simple as possible, and forget it. You can deal with errors and changes later. First you just need to get words on a page.

6. Write messy. Jump around. Linear stories don't need to be written in linear fashion. You can work on the conclusion of a book at the same time as writing part of the middle. You can write the beginning last if you want. Don't worry about the order, just write. And for that matter. Don't worry about writing badly. You can edit later. Words on a page is the main goal. Editing can happen later. Just like with any art, writing begins with a general shape, then you can add in and define the details later.

7. Convince yourself you're doing better than you think. Because you are.

8. Read books. You can't become a great writer without experiencing great writing. Read voraciously and pay attention to the writing. Learn from what you read.

I hope this helps someone. Have fun!

Happy Writing!

#writing a novel #writing a book #writing #writeblr #writer #author #write #writers on tumblr

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the-ellia-west · 3 days

Text

TCOT Release Date GOAL

This is not a confirmed Release Date, but a Goal.

I hope to Finish TCOT by March of Next Year.

This is my Goal, and I really hope with all the free time I'll have this summer, that I can do it.

I want all of you to know I love you, and I'm writing this story for you <3

I hope you can stand to wait for it a little longer :]

Thank you for being here and Being excited for my stupid little stories. I hope you'll all like it when its done.

(No one has said they want to be taken off the tag list... so tell me if you do) Or if you want to be added to the list Tell me as well,

@oliolioxenfreewrites @friendfromdsmp @thepeculiarbird @corinneglass @phoenixradiant @sunflowerrosy @kia-is-poisoned @rivenantiqnerd @aestheic-writer18 @ryahisbored @nkikio @somethingclevermahogony @mjparkerwriting @sl-vega @darkandstormydolls @agirlandherquill @baconandeggs-25 @alnaperera @fantasy-things-and-such @ajgrey9647 @aalinaaaaaa @cybercelestian @danielleitloudernow @illarian-rambling @idunnobutliaiscool @jeremy-no @vyuntspakhkite-l-darling @fandom-pits-dweller @xenascribbles @katwritesshit @smudged-red-ink @sunnyjustice @thelazywitchphotographer @pastellbg @louudthoughts @bigwipscholar @killingthemoon84 @fenatics @attemptingwriter @purplehandshumanfeelings @bluberimufim

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theauthorpaula · 1 month

Photo

(via How To Create Believable Friendships in Your Fiction)

#writers on tumblr #writing a novel #friendship fiction #friend fiction

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novlr · 5 months

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💌I am writing a semi-slow-burn romance, where characters A & B never met each other except briefly at one point where B fell for A, like love at first sight.

Up until now, they know about each other only through rumours.

Now they are going to meet officially but I don't know how to show their relationship starting/growing without it seeming too fast and unnatural.

What do you suggest?💌

Slow burn romance allows for a gradual, organic development of feelings. They often mirror real-life relationships, where emotions and attraction develop over time, create intense anticipation, and build emotional connections with readers.

Slow burns allow for in-depth exploration of characters’ emotions, insecurities, and personal growth. As readers invest in the characters’ journeys, the eventual romantic payoff becomes more rewarding. Let’s look at how to write characters in a slow burn romance novel.

How do they behave?

They may start off as friends or acquaintances before realizing their deeper feelings.

They might be hesitant to express their emotions openly, leading to moments of internal conflict.

Their actions towards each other should be filled with subtle hints and gestures.

They may experience jealousy or possessiveness towards one another.

They might engage in playful banter and teasing as a way to mask their true feelings.

How do they interact?

They may have frequent encounters that gradually increase in intensity.

They might have deep conversations that reveal their fears and vulnerabilities.

They could have intimate moments that create a strong emotional connection.

They might share secrets and confide in each other more than others.

Their interactions should be filled with anticipation and unresolved sexual tension.

Describe their body language

Lingering touches, or accidental brushing against skin.

Frequently locking eyes across a room.

Nervous gestures, like biting their lips or fidgeting.

Leaning in and unconsciously seeking proximity.

Become more relaxed and comfortable over time.

Mimicking each other’s gestures or body language

Blushing or flushed cheeks

Describe their attitude

They may have a love-hate relationship, alternating between attraction and frustration.

Their attitude might evolve from indifference to fascination and infatuation.

They might initially resist their feelings, denying the growing connection.

They can have moments of self-doubt and a fear of rejection.

Their attitude should gradually shift towards acceptance and vulnerability.

Common slow burn romance tropes

Friends-to-Lovers: The characters start as friends, and their relationship gradually develops into a romantic one.

Enemies-to-Lovers: The characters initially dislike or have conflicts with each other, but over time, their feelings transform into love.

Forbidden Love: The characters face obstacles or societal boundaries that prevent them from being together.

Second Chance Romance: The characters have a history together, and their paths cross again, giving them a chance to rekindle their feelings.

Opposites Attract: The characters have contrasting personalities or backgrounds, leading to initial friction but eventually finding common ground.

Workplace Romance: The characters work together and initially keep their feelings hidden due to professional boundaries.

Positive story outcomes

In positive story outcomes of a slow burn romance, the characters finally confess their love for each other, leading to a happily ever after. Their relationship deepens, nurturing a strong and lasting bond. Together, they overcome obstacles, demonstrating the true strength of their connection. The slow burn romance sparks personal growth and self-discovery for the characters, as they learn to navigate their emotions and overcome their fears. Through patience and perseverance, the story highlights the importance of cherishing and fighting for love.

Negative story outcomes

While slow burn romances often have positive outcomes, negative story outcomes aren’t unheard of. In these scenarios, the characters may realise their feelings too late, missing out on a chance for true love. Their relationship can become strained due to misunderstandings and lack of communication, leading to a sense of longing and regret. One of the characters may choose to move on, leaving the other heartbroken. The slow burn romance becomes a source of pain and unrequited love, exploring the bittersweet nature of their connection. These negative outcomes serve to evoke a deeper emotional impact and highlight the importance of timing, communication, and seizing opportunities in matters of the heart.

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