dontcrywrite

[dontcrywrite]

show, don't tell:

anticipation - bouncing legs - darting eyes - breathing deeply - useless / mindless tasks - eyes on the clock - checking and re-checking

frustration - grumbling - heavy footsteps - hot flush - narrowed eyes - pointing fingers - pacing / stomping

sadness - eyes filling up with tears - blinking quickly - hiccuped breaths - face turned away - red / burning cheeks - short sentences with gulps

happiness - smiling / cheeks hurting - animated - chest hurts from laughing - rapid movements - eye contact - quick speaking

boredom - complaining - sighing - grumbling - pacing - leg bouncing - picking at nails

fear - quick heartbeat - shaking / clammy hands - pinching self - tuck away - closing eyes - clenched hands

disappointment - no eye contact - hard swallow - clenched hands - tears, occasionally - mhm-hmm

tiredness - spacing out - eyes closing - nodding head absently - long sighs - no eye contact - grim smile

confidence - prolonged eye contact - appreciates instead of apologizing - active listening - shoulders back - micro reactions

[dontcrywrite]

daydreaming about writing: 🥰😍🥹❤️😊🌺✨😘

the act of actually writing: 😭😰😵‍💫😭😰😭☹️😖

[dontcrywrite]

[dontcrywrite]

WIP (RE)INTRO | A KINGDOM BETRAYED

genre | young adult, high fantasy, adventure, lgbtq+

pov | third, limited

status | storyboarding/outlining draft four

synopsis |

Tensions in the kingdom of Arla have never been higher. Their diplomatic relations with other countries across the Lucent Sea are strained. Old magic that hasn't been seen in at least fifty years is bleeding back into the kingdom, causing sickness and fear wherever it goes. Something is deeply wrong. It all comes to a head when the prince returns from a hunting trip half dead, and his entire personal guard killed. Helen Mast is determined to prove herself. A squire in the king's army, all Helen wants is to be granted the rank of knight and protect the kingdom she loves. A chance encounter with Muriel, head of the king's personal guard, leads to Helen being chosen to undertake a quest to retrieve a long lost magical artifact that grants unspeakable power to the worthy few able to wield it. It's the only thing, the king believes, that can give the kingdom enough power to save itself. She's joined by Cordelia Langston, eldest daughter of one of the oldest noble families in Arla. Cory has her own reasons for wanting to join the quest, reasons she's unwilling to share. As the two journey deep into the heart of Arla, they discover secrets more deadly than the last — and a conspiracy that threatens to destroy the kingdom as they know it.

I'm starting a new tag list for this wip, so please let me know if you want to be added!

Character info below the cut!

STARRING

Helen Mast [she/her]: became a squire when she was very young, is desperate to get approval from Muriel (and any other authority figure), has learned a few trivial magic spells but isn't very good at them, has a horse named Whiskey who is her best friend

Cordelia "Cory" Langston [she/her]: eldest daughter of Lord Langston, lives in the palace six months out the year, would rather be out in the woods than stuck negotiating trade deals, loves her friends and family so so much

Moss Pennbrook [he/they]: bard who invites himself onto Helen's quest, a few years younger than Helen and Cory, born with the ability to wield magic (first in their family to do so), has never been serious once in their life

Levi Sherridan [he/him]: only son of King Sherridan and heir to the throne, was officially declared crown prince on his 18th birthday (which took place a few months before the events of the plot), frequently travels across Arla to connect with the people he's supposed to be ruling

Emory Thornfell [they/them]: a squire in Helen's squad, chaotic ball of energy who should really not be given sharp objects, befriends the prince, keeps Helen updated on palace ongoings while Helen is on her quest

#wip introduction #writeblr intro #writeblr #writeblr wip #fantasy wip #wip: akb #my writing #well aka has come a LONG way since I first made my original wip intro back in 2021 #I think Cory has seen the most change out of everyone #she went from princess to gardener to noble (where I think she's gonna stay this time lol)

[dontcrywrite]

What are some chronic illnesses that can only occur in a fantasy setting?

#writing inspo #wip: akb

[dontcrywrite]

things to think about for characters

do they have allergies?

what foods will they not touch?

what kinds of music do they like?

how are they around new people?

do they speak in an accent?

have they tried learning a new language?

how many languages do they know?

what is a song that will always make them cry?

how do they cry? heaving? silently? sobbing?

how do they dress? for practicality or fashion?

what is the first thing they notice about a stranger?

what is their humour like?

do they have scars? what caused them?

do they wear jewelry?

are they a frivolous spender or a miser?

do they prefer luxury or practicality?

who would they quote?

what could make them change their mind?

who is the first person they'd call?

how are they around animals? do they have pets?

what is their favourite childhood food?

what is something they've never told anyone?

childhood friends?

what are habits they've picked up from other people?

what are their guilty pleasures?

what is something they're staunchly against?

do they speak a certain way? do they use contractions? popular turns of phrase?

can they fall in love? what does it look like? does it differ between people -- friends vs family?

what would they rather die than do?

what is their biggest mistake? one that they look out to never do again.

[dontcrywrite]

It's a second vs third person thing! Hast is 2nd person singular and hath is 3rd person singular. I'd say in this scenario that hath would work best :)))

Question:

If I have a sentence of ''The fallen king Thornmyst the Magnificent lives and [hast/hath] summoned a terrible foe to rain foul evil on our righteously vanquished lands!''

Is it hast or hath. I know hast is the Shakespearean English version of has and hath is the past tense (I think????) but which one do I use. Is has the past tense or is have the past tense. help.

#If u wanted 2nd person past tense that would be hadst #st as an ending indicates 2nd person while th is more 3rd :))) #Hope this is helpful!!!

[dontcrywrite]

Writers: do you normally write female or male characters??

Recently I realized that, as a girl, most of my characters are usually boys. That let me to question why I was doing that, and I think it's because it kinda gives me a sense of freedom. Like, as a writer, I'm intrigued to explore different perspectives and worlds I wouldn't be able to in real life, so I guess writing male characters is kind of my "what would it be like being a boy?". So now, out of curiosity I want to see if this happens to any of you or you just like to write from what you know.

Also, please join my other ongoing poll if you haven't voted yet!!

If anyone would like to share more about their characters, I'd be very happy to know.

Happy writing :)

#usually girls bc I tend to write Sapphic characters

[dontcrywrite]

Tag the OC who is your default to try and make whenever you find a new character maker (picrew, etc.)

.

#oc: helen mast #I love my silly knight so much 🥹🥹 #I always try and make her :)

[dontcrywrite]

19 Most Common Character Flaws in Horror Fiction

Curiosity: Characters who are overly curious may investigate dangerous situations or places, leading to their downfall.

Arrogance: Arrogant characters may underestimate threats or refuse to heed warnings, putting themselves in danger.

Recklessness: Characters who act impulsively or without considering the consequences may find themselves in perilous situations.

Naivety: Naive characters may be easily deceived or manipulated by villains or supernatural forces.

Overconfidence: Overconfident characters may believe they can handle any situation, leading them to take unnecessary risks.

Stubbornness: Stubborn characters may refuse to listen to advice or change their course of action, even when it's clear they're in danger.

Greed: Greedy characters may prioritize personal gain over safety, leading them to make unethical or dangerous choices.

Distrust: Characters who are overly distrustful may alienate allies or miss crucial information, making them more vulnerable.

Cowardice: Cowardly characters may abandon others in dangerous situations or fail to confront threats when necessary.

Impulsiveness: Impulsive characters may act without thinking, leading to mistakes or putting themselves in harm's way.

Lack of Empathy: Characters who lack empathy may disregard the well-being of others, making them more susceptible to manipulation or isolation.

Overprotectiveness: Overprotective characters may prioritize the safety of loved ones to the detriment of their own safety or the safety of others.

Addiction: Characters who are addicted to substances or behaviors may make irrational decisions or be more easily controlled by external forces.

Obsession: Characters who are obsessed with a goal or idea may pursue it at any cost, even endangering themselves or others.

Paranoia: Paranoid characters may see threats where none exist, leading them to take extreme measures or isolate themselves unnecessarily.

Lack of Self-awareness: Characters who lack self-awareness may fail to recognize their own limitations or the impact of their actions on others.

Insecurity: Insecure characters may doubt their own abilities or judgment, making them more susceptible to manipulation or self-destructive behavior.

Ignorance: Characters who are ignorant of the true nature of the threats around them may underestimate their danger or fail to take necessary precautions.

Desperation: Characters who are desperate may make rash decisions or ally themselves with dangerous individuals or entities in hopes of achieving their goals.

[dontcrywrite]

i think it’s really funny when fandom people make fun of nonfandom people for not recognizing a fandom url. shit like “jackstanifold” or “strifesuccubus” or “hobocop” are not immediately recognizable as fandom references dude

#OK not writeblr related #but dontcrywrite is 100% a reference to Dan and Phil's don't cry craft and idl if anyone has noticed lol

[dontcrywrite]

Tips from a YA Editor by Anne Regan: Five Tips for Character Development

Know where they’re coming from.

A character profile can help define influences, values, motivation.

Background history shapes the character’s present and future actions.

Three-dimensional characters have both strengths and flaws.

What is the character’s core problem or desire?

Get readers to care about the character.

Show them struggling with issues and tough choices readers can relate to.

Show the effect their actions (positive or negative) have on the character.

What is the character’s motivation?

Tie in to their background and what’s important to them.

Use cause and effect to make the character’s growth realistic and believable.

Let them face both internal and external obstacles.

External: fired from their dream job

Internal: Longs for revenge on the evil boss who fired them.

Internal challenges can be more important than external ones.

You can’t control your environment, only how you react to it.

Development happens over time.

Avoid last-minute, deathbed conversions that come out of nowhere.

Change often isn’t linear—one step forward, two steps back

[dontcrywrite]

Writing advice from my uni teachers:

If your dialog feels flat, rewrite the scene pretending the characters cannot at any cost say exactly what they mean. No one says “I’m mad” but they can say it in 100 other ways.

Wrote a chapter but you dislike it? Rewrite it again from memory. That way you’re only remembering the main parts and can fill in extra details. My teacher who was a playwright literally writes every single script twice because of this.

Don’t overuse metaphors, or they lose their potency. Limit yourself.

Before you write your novel, write a page of anything from your characters POV so you can get their voice right. Do this for every main character introduced.

[dontcrywrite]

[dontcrywrite]

I don't CARE what genre your fictional world is, put a talking skeleton in it NOW

[dontcrywrite]

M+S Ask Games: World Building

Reblog this if you'd like your followers to send you a numbered question for you to answer! Make sure you send an ask to whoever you reblog this from.

—1— What do you love most about your story's world?

—2— How does your story's magic system work? /or/ How does the technology in your story's world work?

—3— Where does your story take place?

—4— What languages exist in your story's world?

—5— What pieces of fiction inspired your story's world building?

—6— What does your main character(s)'s home look like?

—7— Does your story have any fictional plants or animals?

—8— Where in your story's world is most beautiful?

—9— What was the first piece of world building you created for your story?

—10— What song best fits your story's world?

[dontcrywrite]

the narrative: *starts the third act by repeating a scene from the first act but now it has a totally different context*

me: ohoHOhohoHOHOhoHO