cirianne

[cirianne]

How long was the longest train trip you've been on?

Note: this doesn't necessarily have to have been on the same line, but it does have to have been entirely via train. If you're not on a train or about to be after a layover or brief transportation (i.e. shuttle bus) between lines, your trip is considered over for the purposes of this poll.

- I have never been on a train

- Less than 30 minutes

- 30 minutes to an hour

- 2 to 6 hours

- 7 to 12 hours

- 13 to 23 hours

- 1 to 2 days (24 to 47 hrs)

- 2 to 4 days (48 to 95 hours)

- 4 to 7 days (96 to 167 hours)

- I've been on the Trans-Siberian (7+ days, 168+ hours)

Note: this doesn't necessarily have to have been on the same line, but it does have to have been entirely via train. If you're not on a train or about to be after a layover or brief transportation (i.e. shuttle bus) between lines, your trip is considered over for the purposes of this poll.

#3 days #tehran to Istanbul #on the transasya express #it was amazing #and also something I wouldn't do again #you learn to value the simple things #Station bathrooms in ankara #are Paradise to me #But also I take long train rides #6+ hours #very often #all across Europe #and went several times on sleeper trains #it scares me #how rarely Americans take trains #I know why #but like #I am so sorry for you #trains are great #cars are horrible

[cirianne]

So what I did work on was a little bit of Blackborn but mostly the thriller, and the latter isn't actually a thriller but a contemporary literary novel it seems (still has the girl struggling with expectations, societal norms, trauma and a murder).

It's been a super exciting week at the writing retreat, I learned a lot, and tbh I got motivated to work on all these stories, but for now I am kind of intrigued by the contemporary novel with it's delicious set of character dynamics.

Let's see where it goes.

I don't think many of my former mutuals are still here, but if you are - hi! And if you're someone else, hi as well!

I post because I face a challenge - I'm leaving for a dedicated writing retreat in a week or so, and I love it! But! The idea is to work on a big writing project among others who bring their projects too.

And I really don't have a project.

So, help me! What should I work on?

Current ideas (as a poll because, why not) - even the projects you think you know would be different, because I'd write in German but nvm:

[cirianne]

IDGAF if the women in my fiction are empowering or aspirational, I'm an adult, I don't need role models, I want the women in my fiction to be interesting, and if that involves being pathetic, hypocritical, amoral, or trapped in a delightfully dysfunctional relationship so be it

[cirianne]

I don't think many of my former mutuals are still here, but if you are - hi! And if you're someone else, hi as well!

I post because I face a challenge - I'm leaving for a dedicated writing retreat in a week or so, and I love it! But! The idea is to work on a big writing project among others who bring their projects too.

And I really don't have a project.

So, help me! What should I work on?

Current ideas (as a poll because, why not) - even the projects you think you know would be different, because I'd write in German but nvm:

#Twenty minutes #self reblog

[cirianne]

I don't think many of my former mutuals are still here, but if you are - hi! And if you're someone else, hi as well!

I post because I face a challenge - I'm leaving for a dedicated writing retreat in a week or so, and I love it! But! The idea is to work on a big writing project among others who bring their projects too.

And I really don't have a project.

So, help me! What should I work on?

Current ideas (as a poll because, why not) - even the projects you think you know would be different, because I'd write in German but nvm:

[cirianne]

psa - i also have a blog for whump writing. i like keeping these two separated though.

thus - if you’re a whump blog and i followed you, and you don’t know why, but want to follow back, lmk and i’ll give it to you ;)

#self reblog #fyi

[cirianne]

I just read this, and I have a little thought I'd like to add: Protagonist and POV character don't have to be the same person.

They usually are, but I've seen some amazing works, where this isn't the case. Arguably, for example, in some thrillers or detective fiction, the villain is the protagonist, whom we explore through the eyes of the investigator. But this is also possible - more than that, it can be exciting and thrilling - in other genres.

Like this, you can still keep a certain air of mystery around the protagonist, while still having the perspective of a full character filtering the story. There's a bit of a challenge in it; like how to describe scenes that are private to the protagonist. But I believe it's possible.

Hey there dear ♥ I have a problem that I see happen to me often, my main character is usually a regular Joe/Jane, and their gf/bf/best friend is THE MOST AWESOME PERSON IN THE UNIVERSE with the weirdest and most complicated backstory EVER. So, even though the side character is usually the interesting one, my brain still tells me that my MC should be the MC. I write in 3rd person limited, following the MC, always. I still struggle with different POVs, and even though I’m trying to get better at it, I really really enjoy the single POV narrative. I’ve been toning down my SCs and trying to hype my MCs but I still feel like they lack something. I’ve been using a chart you posted somewhere about internal conflict, and I’m doing my best to keep them at least equal. And even though the people that read my stories told me they didn’t feel my MCs are boring, they did prefer the SC. And I still, as the writer, see my MCs as plain and way too simple. Is it normal for writers to feel their characters are boring? Am I thinking too much into this? Is there a secret to make my MCs shine just a little bit more? Thanks! ♥

Main Character Overwhelmed by Secondary Character

Your MC isn't the MC because they're the most interesting person in the story or because you think they should be the MC...

Your MC is the MC because they're the protagonist. They're the character who is primarily responsible for moving the story forward and resolving the story's conflict, whether that's their own internal conflict (in a character-driven story) or an external conflict (in a story that is plot-driven or both plot and character-driven.)

So, to determine which of these characters should be the MC, you have to start by looking at the conflict of your story. What is the major internal or external conflict that must be resolved by the end of the story? Which character's goal is essential to attaining this resolution? That's your MC/protagonist.

As far as making your protagonist more interesting when they're overshadowed by a secondary character, here are some things you can do:

-- Make sure your story has a conflict that the MC/protagonist is trying to resolve by the end of the story. -- Make sure your protagonist has a stake in resolving the conflict. In other words, something important they'll lose if the conflict isn't resolved. -- Make sure your protagonist has either a bigger stake in resolving the conflict than the other characters, or their stake in resolving the conflict is the central focus.

-- Make sure your protagonist has a believable, fleshed out motivation for wanting to resolve the conflict. Their stakes are what they'll lose if they don't, their motivation is why those stakes matter to them. -- Make sure your protagonist has believable flaws that impede their progress in resolving the conflict, but also some positive traits that make the reader want to root for them. -- Give your character traits and a background that readers can identify with. This helps them bond with the character and feel like they have something in common with them. I hope that helps! ♥

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

Learn more about WQA

Visit my Master List of Top Posts

Go to ko-fi.com/wqa to buy me coffee or see my commissions

[cirianne]

✨#FFF YOU | SARA

Let's shine a light onto @cirianne!

Sara has been especially inspired by #FFF 009 Street Magic, so let's have a look at it!

Street Magic is a collection of short stories.

Blurb: Alicia Rivera is called a terrorist by some; a hero by others. Fact is, she's the figurehead of a resistance that somebody else started, her destructive magic has murdered dozens, and there's some years in her past she'll never talk about. This is a collection of scenes and stories about her path, from the beginning of her magic to the final moments of the revolution. There's grief, love, anger, family, war, friendship; and a girl growing into a legend.

You can read the original FFF entry HERE, and you can find the masterpost for the whole project HERE.

A few words from Sara: Dear FFF collective - and those behind it, before it was a collective. You guys are incredible, and honestly - my writing life wouldn't be the same without you. There's so many stories that grew because of your prompts, sparked my creativity, nudged me out of my comfort zone. I've met friends over the stories I wrote for you, and I've made friends happy with introducing them to you. Stay amazing! You're wonderful and I'll be forever grateful to what you did for me and for the whole community! <3

Thank you so much, Sara! 💚

#thank you so much #for this feature #but especially #for everything else you do for the #writing community #you are amazing fff collective #and i owe you so much #as do my followers #😅 #street magic

[cirianne]

Using a prompt. But like. Exactly one. Regardless what it is, and you can't just check another one and pick, you do that exact ONE you find randomly.

Like, take the music playlist you heard last and write something based on the title of the last song on it. Or go to that one prompt blog you followed most recently and write something for their newest prompt; no need to publish it or to make it work with existing stories, just write a little something.

Just don't give yourself the option to find the "perfect prompt" (you probably won't ). Work with one thing, and see where it takes you. Chances are, you'll be surprised.

Does anyone have any tips for getting creativity/ motivation back? IM trying everything. I wanna write but I have no ideas at the minute and Im trying different types of arts and crafts and video games, reading and all that stuff

[cirianne]

Omg, yes. 🤝 Hard same. My short stories are nothing alike in the two different languages, the German ones are way more contemporary and literary, and just as you say, a little bleak and very heartfelt.

me, writing short stories in english: look at this magic and the slightly weird creatures and sparkly stuff aah shiny :3

me, writing short stories in german: everything is grey and dirty and oh look it's commentary on the mundane

[cirianne]

014 Nacht der Nächte

Blitz-Stichwort Nummer 14 "Nacht der Nächte" kommt von @cirianne (und leider zu spät, Verzeihung!)

Was macht diese Nacht zu etwas besonderem, was lässt sie herausragen? Warum ausgerechnet diese? Ist sie besonders lang oder besonders kurz, dunkel oder lichtdurchflutet, wild oder feierlich, ein Finale oder ein Umsturz?

Sieht nur ein Charakter das so, oder sind sich alle einig?

Schreibt es, findet es heraus und lasst es uns wissen!

Regeln

Ausnahmsweise habt ihr Zeit bis Montag (Feiertag) um 12 Uhr (GMT+1), um einen Text von 100 bis 1000 Worten zu dem vorgegebenen Thema zu schreiben und unter #Blitzgeschichten und unter Erwähnung von @blitzgeschichten zu posten.

Alle Einreichungen teilen wir auf unserem Blog und freuen uns schon darauf, neue, spannende Geschichten von euch zu lesen. Kommentiert, wenn wir euch zu unserer Leseliste hinzufügen sollen, damit ihr kein neues Stichwort verpasst. Vergesst auch nicht, die Geschichten der anderen zu lesen und zu kommentieren.

In zwei Wochen dann wieder im gewohnten Rhythmus, Donnerstag bis Sonntag!

Lust auf Flash Fiction auf Englisch? Besucht @flashfictionfridayofficial​​​.

Kommentiert + wenn ihr zur Leseliste hinzugefügt werden wollt oder - wenn ihr entfernt werden wollt.

@stories-by-rie @pheita​​​ @mysticaly-sparklez​​​ @chris-the-dragonslayer​​​ @krawalle-n-hiebe @acaranna​​​ @doro-writes​​​ @samsi6 @acaranna @caeliriva @doktor-disko @dichtereimer @photoshamanism @gedankenstrudel @wortersammlung @koenigvonfelder @nothing-words-can-say @wankendeschritte @eos109 @azriel-alexander-holmes @didyougavemepaperandink @somealienquill @siarven @wilde-writing

#German writeblr #boost

[cirianne]

Ashes

As the comments to the original (German) post haven't turned out to be a good place, here's an own post with the translation of the German flash fiction I wrote for last week's Blitzgeschichten event.

(Also, this checks card 1 of the @yourocsbackstory prompt event.)

< 200 words

-------------

Using a lighter, it takes three minutes and twelve seconds to completely burn a hundred-euro bill.

A pack of bills, however, takes much longer, and there is a risk that the fire will die out before its job is done.

That's why I've taken precautions.

100,000 euros rest before me in the old metal fire bowl, neatly stacked as I got them from you, now drenched in gasoline. The liquid itself doesn't affect the bills, they are made to withstand almost anything.

That's what I tell you, while your face on the cell phone screen gets redder and redder.

I reach for the pack of matches, extra long, and pick one.

Your voice is getting high-pitched.

In my hand, the match ignites with an alluring crackle.

I smile as I fling it from me, as the green of the bills is enveloped in a tempest of orange, as the heat of the fire caresses the skin of my arms.

I have ceased to hear your voice.

Ashes to ashes, and I dance in their rain.

I am free.

#self reblog #timezone reblog

[cirianne]

Ashes

As the comments to the original (German) post haven't turned out to be a good place, here's an own post with the translation of the German flash fiction I wrote for last week's Blitzgeschichten event.

(Also, this checks card 1 of the @yourocsbackstory prompt event.)

< 200 words

-------------

Using a lighter, it takes three minutes and twelve seconds to completely burn a hundred-euro bill.

A pack of bills, however, takes much longer, and there is a risk that the fire will die out before its job is done.

That's why I've taken precautions.

100,000 euros rest before me in the old metal fire bowl, neatly stacked as I got them from you, now drenched in gasoline. The liquid itself doesn't affect the bills, they are made to withstand almost anything.

That's what I tell you, while your face on the cell phone screen gets redder and redder.

I reach for the pack of matches, extra long, and pick one.

Your voice is getting high-pitched.

In my hand, the match ignites with an alluring crackle.

I smile as I fling it from me, as the green of the bills is enveloped in a tempest of orange, as the heat of the fire caresses the skin of my arms.

I have ceased to hear your voice.

Ashes to ashes, and I dance in their rain.

I am free.

#flash fiction #my writing #whatever this is #writeblr

[cirianne]

I wrote a little something on my German writing blog. Might provide translation eventually, see if it works; until then, have the original!

Asche

Nun auch mein Beitrag zu den @blitzgeschichten , wie immer ein paar Schritte experimenteller, wenn ich auf Deutsch schreibe. Knapp 150 Worte.

Stichwort war "Aus der Asche in den Wind".

Mit einem Feuerzeug dauert es drei Minuten und zwölf Sekunden, einen Hundert-Euro-Schein vollständig zu verbrennen.

Ein Bündel dauert deutlich länger, und es besteht das Risiko, dass das Feuer verlöscht, bevor sein Auftrag erfüllt ist.

Deshalb habe ich vorgesorgt.

100.000 Euro liegen, in der alten metallenen Feuerschale vor mir, so perfekt gebündelt wie ich sie von dir erhalten habe, nun getränkt in Benzin. Die Flüssigkeit selbst macht den Scheinen nichts aus, sie sind gemacht um fast allem standzuhalten.

Das erzähle ich dir, während dein Gesicht auf dem Handybildschirm immer röter wird.

Ich greife nach der Streichholzpackung, extra lang, und greife eins heraus.

Deine Stimme beginnt, sich zu überschlagen.

Das Streichholz entflammt mit einem verheißungsvollen Knistern.

Ich lächle, als ich es von mir werfe, als das Grün der Scheine eingehüllt wird in einem Sturm aus Orange, als die Hitze des Feuers meine Arme streichelt.

Deine Stimme höre ich schon lange nicht mehr.

Asche zu Asche, und ich tanze in ihrem Regen.

Ich bin frei.

[cirianne]

Worldbuilding Question

Inspired by a recent trip and a discussion with @cirianne, I posit a question to you writeblr:

If the setting of your WIP had a museum, what would be in it?

Would it detail the local history, showing the changing landscapes? Would it showcase an individual, an event, such as the events your characters live through? Are there artefacts? Testimonials? Interactive events? Any particular highlights that leaves its visitors stunned?

To clarify, this could mean a museum about the events of your WIP many years after it happens, or it can simply be a museum that has details about the setting.

#love that question #and will answer it eventually #worldbuiling

[cirianne]

Blitzgeschichten ist zurück!

#Blitzgeschichten: Flash Fiction auf Deutsch (German Flash Fiction Event)

Die Idee

Hallo liebe deutschsprachige Schreibcommmunity! Nach langer Pause sind wir wieder zurück. Ihr kennt bestimmt @flashfictionfridayofficial, unser verbundenes Schreibnetzwerk. Blitzgeschichten ist ein Schreibevent, das euch regelmäßig neue Stichwörter bietet, die euch zum Schreiben von Kurzgeschichten inspirieren sollen. Gerne könnt ihr auch selbst neue Stichwörter einreichen.

Die Hosts

Wir sind Cirianne @cirianne und Lexi @lexiklecksi, zwei deutschsprachige Autorinnen, mit viel Spaß am Kurzgeschichten schreiben. Ein Dank geht raus an unseren ehemaligen Host @eluari für die Unterstützung. Wir freuen uns sehr, wenn viele von euch gemeinsam mit uns fleißig in die Tasten hauen.

Das Konzept

Jeden zweiten Donnerstag posten wir ein neues Stichwort. Bis Sonntag um 12 Uhr (GMT+1) habt ihr Zeit, einen Text von 100 bis 1000 Worten zu einem vorgegebenen Thema zu schreiben und unter #Blitzgeschichten und unter Erwähnung von @blitzgeschichten zu posten. Alle Einreichungen teilen wir auf unserem Blog und freuen uns schon darauf, jeden Sonntag neue, spannende Geschichten von euch zu lesen. Kommentiert, wenn wir euch zu unserer Leseliste hinzufügen sollen, damit ihr kein neues Stichwort verpasst. Vergesst auch nicht, die Geschichten der anderen zu lesen und zu kommentieren.

Helft uns, die frohe Botschaft unserer Rückkehr zu verbreiten! Teilt diesen Beitrag und merkt euch schon mal den Donnerstag, 13.04.23 vor. Wir freuen uns auf euch und eure Geschichten!

Lust auf Flash Fiction auf Englisch? Besucht @flashfictionfridayofficial​​​!

Die folgende Leseliste beinhaltet writeblr, die in der Vergangengheit Blitzgeschichten geschrieben haben sowie proaktiv deutsche writeblr, die wir kennen und hoffen, dass ihr Lust auf Blitzgeschichten habt. Kommentiert + wenn ihr hinzugefügt oder - wenn ihr entfernt werden wollt.

@stories-by-rie @pheita​​​ @mysticaly-sparklez @chris-the-dragonslayer​​​ @krawalle-n-hiebe​​​ @doro-writes​​​ @samsi6 @acaranna @caeliriva @doktor-disko @silversynthesis @dichtereimer @photoshamanism @gedankenstrudel @wortersammlung @koenigvonfelder @nothing-words-can-say @wankendeschritte @eos109 @azriel-alexander-holmes @didyougavemepaperandink

#boost

[cirianne]

Prompt Quest

(Because I, @cirianne , just gave this to my irl writing group and wanted to share it with you guys, my online writing group. Just a little in-between-event, until we maybe start another big one)

Pick one or several of the cards in the photo (needs, relationship, location, object) that vibes best with your OC, and write a little scene for it!

If you finish it by the end of next week (April 16th), tag this blog or use #yourocsbackstory, and we'll probably reblog! Please add content warnings if necessary and use a read more for longer posts.

Text version under the cut.

Happy writing!

[And re: where this is from? A hilarious game called Fiasco by Bully Pulpit games that lets you and your friends make up stories about "powerful ambition and poor impulse control". Big recommendation!]

OBJECT: The charred ashes of $100,000

RELATIONSHIP: Bounty hunter and bounty

LOCATION: Security camera station

NEED: To get even with the local drug dealer

LOCATION: Small village, now a burnt ruin

NEED: To get laid by the hottie at Muscle Logic

RELATIONSHIP: One-time fling

NEED: To be a hero by defending the little guy

RELATIONSHIP: They owe you their job

#i came up with it #so I'll probably do it #and maybe #so will you #prompts #yob event