leeeshieu

[leeeshieu]

5 editor’s secrets to help you write like a pro

1. Sentences can only do one thing at a time.

Have you ever heard a four-year-old run out of breath before she can finish her thought? I edit a lot of sentences that work the same way. You need a noun, you need a verb, you might need an object. Give some serious thought to stopping right there.

Sentences are building blocks, not bungee cords; they’re not meant to be stretched to the limit. I’m not saying you necessarily want a Hemingway-esque series of clipped short sentences, but most writers benefit from dividing their longest sentences into shorter, more muscular ones.

2. Paragraphs can only do one thing at a time.

A paragraph supports a single idea. Construct complex arguments by combining simple ideas that follow logically. Every time you address a new idea, add a line break. Short paragraphs are the most readable; few should be more than three or four sentences long. This is more important if you’re writing for the Web.

3. Look closely at -ing

Nouns ending in -ing are fine. (Strong writing, IT consulting, great fishing.) But constructions like “I am running,” “a forum for building consensus,” or “The new team will be managing” are inherently weak. Rewrite them to “I run,” “a forum to build consensus,” and “the team will manage.” You’re on the right track when the rewrite has fewer words (see below).

(If for some insane reason you want to get all geeky about this, you can read the Wikipedia article on gerunds and present participles. But you don’t have to know the underlying grammatical rules to make this work. Rewrite -ing when you can, and your writing will grow muscles you didn’t know it had.)

4. Omit unnecessary words.

I know we all heard this in high school, but we weren’t listening. (Mostly because it’s hard.) It’s doubly hard when you’re editing your own writing—we put all that work into getting words onto the page, and by god we need a damned good reason to get rid of them.

Here’s your damned good reason: extra words drain life from your work. The fewer words used to express an idea, the more punch it has. Therefore:

Summer months Regional level The entire country On a daily basis (usually best rewritten to “every day”) She knew that it was good. Very (I just caught one above: four-year-old little girl)

You can nearly always improve sentences by rewriting them in fewer words.

5. Reframe 90% of the passive voice.

French speakers consider an elegantly managed passive voice to be the height of refinement. But here in the good old U.S. (or Australia, Great Britain, etc.), we value action. We do things is inherently more interesting than Things are done by us. Passive voicemuddies your writing; when the actor is hidden, the action makes less sense.

Bonus: Use spell-check

There’s no excuse for teh in anything more formal than a Twitter tweet.

Also, “a lot” and “all right” are always spelled as two words. You can trust me, I’m an editor.

Easy reading is damned hard writing. ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

[leeeshieu]

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) dir. Hayao Miyazaki

[leeeshieu]

Ebidiary [2/7]

[leeeshieu]

“A while back I shared a conversation with a man about his life. (Now I should say this was man with a fine education, with real depth of character, and who had achieved high visibility and considerable accomplishments, a success in every imaginable way.) At one point I asked him what he most wanted in life. He had a very clear answer. I would have imagined his naming something existential, something noble or altruistic or even eternal. What he most wanted in life? He named a certain Italian-made sports car, phenomenally expensive. He said he wanted one of these since he was boy. And I told him, “Well good for you, if that’s what you really want. Good for you!” But it isn’t what I thought he would say. Not even close. So I asked him why? Why this sports car? He told me about the engineering, the durability, the handling. He spoke of the beauty of the design. A very impressive car. I asked if he could say more, go deeper? He spoke of this car’s being rare, not many of them made, quite unique. I asked if he could go deeply yet? Why did that all matter?

Our conversation wound its way back to his childhood. He had been raised in neglect and poverty: ragged clothes, holes in his shoes, the object of merciless and cruel teasing as a young boy. And he had vowed that some day he was going to really matter, he was going to “make it,” and he would prove it, for everyone to see, by owning this particular Italian sports car. By this point in our conversation we were both laughing and crying together: crying because his appalling childhood which he had survived and conquered; laughing because he was still carting around this desire for the Italian car, and what that would mean. And he realized that his desire was a really good thing – his desire for the dignity of his birthright, to claim his self worth, to succeed against impossible odds, to offer his own learning as a leader for others. He had simply fixed his desire on this car… and he realized that the car just scratched the surface of this God-given desire. He said finally, “maybe I don’t need to claim the car; I just need to claim my life.” And I said to him, again and on a deeper level, “Good for you.”

Listen to your desire. Our capacity to desire is God-given. No matter how flimsy our desires, no matter how conflicted or shadowy or duplicitous or even wrong our desires may be on the surface, they are connected to something deep within our souls that really demand attention, and that is good. Our desires are worth listening to.”

— Br. Curtis Almquist

[leeeshieu]

I wanted my first-year film students to understand what happens to a story when actual human beings inhabit your characters, and the way they can inspire storytelling. And I wanted to teach them how to look at headshots and what you might be able to tell from a headshot. So for the past few years I’ve done a small experiment with them.

Some troubling shit always occurs.

It works like this: I bring in my giant file of head shots, which include actors of all races, sizes, shapes, ages, and experience levels. Each student picks a head shot from the stack and gets a few minutes to sit with the person’s face and then make up a little story about them. 

Namely, for white men, they have no trouble coming up with an entire history, job, role, genre, time, place, and costume. They will often identify him without prompting as “the main character.” The only exception? “He would play the gay guy.” For white women, they mostly do not come up with a job (even though it was specifically asked for), and they will identify her by her relationships. “She would play the mom/wife/love interest/best friend.” I’ve heard “She would play the slut” or “She would play the hot girl.” A lot more than once.

For nonwhite men, it can be equally depressing. “He’s in a buddy cop movie, but he’s not the main guy, he’s the partner.” “He’d play a terrorist.” “He’d play a drug dealer.” “A thug.” “A hustler.” “Homeless guy.” One Asian actor was promoted to “villain.”

For nonwhite women (grab onto something sturdy, like a big glass of strong liquor), sometimes they are “lucky” enough to be classified as the girlfriend/love interest/mom, but I have also heard things like “Well, she’d be in a romantic comedy, but as the friend, you know?” “Maid.” “Prostitute.” “Drug addict.”

I should point out that the responses are similar whether the group is all or mostly-white or extremely racially mixed, and all the groups I’ve tried this with have been about equally balanced between men and women, though individual responses vary. Women do a little better with women, and people of color do a little better with people of color, but female students sometimes forget to come up with a job for female actors and black male students sometimes tell the class that their black male actor wouldn’t be the main guy.

Once the students have made their pitches, we interrogate their opinions. “You seem really sure that he’s not the main character – why? What made you automatically say that?” “You said she was a mom. Was she born a mom, or did she maybe do something else with her life before her magic womb opened up and gave her an identity? Who is she as a person?” In the case of the “thug“, it turns out that the student was just reading off his film resume. This brilliant African American actor who regularly brings houses down doing Shakespeare on the stage and more than once made me weep at the beauty and subtlety of his performances, had a list of film credits that just said “Thug #4.” “Gang member.” “Muscle.” Because that’s the film work he can get. Because it puts food on his table.

So, the first time I did this exercise, I didn’t know that it would turn into a lesson on racism, sexism, and every other kind of -ism. I thought it was just about casting. But now I know that casting is never just about casting, and this day is a real teachable opportunity. Because if we do this right, we get to the really awkward silence, where the (now mortified) students try to sink into their chairs. Because, hey, most of them are proud Obama voters! They have been raised by feminist moms! They don’t want to be or see themselves as being racist or sexist. But their own racism and sexism is running amok in the room, and it’s awkward.

[leeeshieu]

being a compsci student yet having a passion for literature is kinda confusing to be honest

#literature #computer science #uni life

[leeeshieu]

It wasn't supposed to be out this early. They all thought they had more time to get back home and lock the doors -- it was barely dusk, but as it would seem the vampire was growing more powerful the longer it plagued their town.

"Come out, come out..." It sang in it's wicked tone. He could hear a smile in it's voice and he pressed himself further into his hiding place.

People of all ages hid behind counters and shelves, hoping to dodge the gaze of the inhuman creature that stalked through the aisles. It was toying with everyone in the shop. He had no doubt it knew where they were all hidden and took twisted enjoyment stalking them.

He wished he was strong enough to do something, but he wasn't a fighter, and even the strongest of the town's residents stood no chance against it. No one knew enough about it. It seemed to have no weaknesses.

A panicked cry broke the tense silence of the shop. He peered around the edge of the shelf and saw it had targeted a teenager, dragging her by the ankle to the center of the store.

"I think this one will do for today." It hummed, despite the teenagers pleading cries and attempts to scramble away.

He looked around the store in distress. Was no one going to step in? The girl was just a child. He couldn't watch this.

As the vampire positioned itself to feed, he found himself stepping out into the aisle.

"--Wait..." He managed to choke out, despite his nerves.

The vampire looked up at him curiously and he quickly looked down to avoid staring directly into it's eyes.

"What is it, human?" It trilled in amusement, unmoving.

He wanted to melt back behind the shelf, but the trapped teenager looked up at him with hopeful, tear filled eyes and that strengthened his resolved.

"I, uh--" He took a deep breath. "--How about we make a deal?"

"A deal?" It sat back, releasing it's hold on the teenager, intrigued. The teenager stayed completely still, not daring to move.

"Yes." He nodded. "You keep coming back here because you need new victims, but what if--" He fought through a wave of anxiety, trying to keep speaking before his brain could catch up to him. "--What if someone went with you?"

The vampire stood up and he accidentally made eye contact. His mind went blank as it approached him, looking him up and down.

It's inhuman voice broke the spell and he gasped in alarm as it was right in front of him, circling him. "I've never had a volunteer before."

It paced around his back, tracing a finger across his shoulders sending a chill up his spine. It was shorter than him, but that didn't make it's presence any less intimidating. "You'd volunteer yourself? For the girl tonight? You may very well die."

He squeezed his eyes shut so he could think. "For the entire town. Period." He managed to say with some force. "I'll go with you, but only if you leave them all alone."

It hummed again and laughed. "I've never had a volunteer before." It repeated, stopping it's circling in front of him. "Very well, human. I'll accept your interesting offer. As long as you stay will me, I will leave this town alone."

It extended a hand and he found he could look at it's face without getting dizzy. It must not be using it's powers. It wanted this to be a complete conscious choice it seemed.

He took one last look around the room at the faces of his neighbors, before taking the smiling creature's hand.

#i'm a sucker for vampire fic

[leeeshieu]

why do all the words sound heavier in my native language? scratch that. why did I choose to seek refuge in a language of another instead of training my tongue to bear the heaviness of my own?

[leeeshieu]

such is the live of the kingdom of savages. normalities are the bleak of noons and despair of nights. for the gaze of gods never truly landed to the depths of their abyss. for they strive with hatred burned deep into their souls.

thus, as the gods descended upon their purgatory. with embittered heart they fought, enraged by the blinding rays of the divine.

but what are mortals in the eyes of celestial beings?

the tales of savages from the abyss was nothing more but a mere legend. their land a decaying mess and their heirs long lost through time.

alas, the hatred flowing in their hearts were never truly lost. for as long as the last hope of the great kingdom prevails, justice shall be served.

— 29/07/2022.

#✏️ by kira #khaenri'ah #writing #genshin impact

[leeeshieu]

BEST accounts to follow as a writer

It's been a long time since my last visit here on Tumblr, right? So, as a comeback and since you loved my masterpost of websites for writers, I am bringing you my favorite Tumblr blogs to follow if you're a writer and are interested in finding lots of inspo on your timeline, as well as prompts, tips, and useful resources. Shall we start?

PROMPTS:

@givethispromptatry

@dailystoryprompts

@here-haveaprompt

@dark-fiction-and-angst

@youneedsomeprompts

@deity-prompts

@whygodohgodwhy

@writinghoursopen

@fluffyomlette

@promptsforthestrugglingauthor

@novelbear

@gfuckign

@ghostly-prompts

WORLD BUILDING INSPO / PROMPTS:

@worldbuildingprompts

@locationbuildingprompts

@wbqotd

@wildworldwritingprompts

@worldbuilding-question

@thealpha-chronicles

@happyheidi

@enchantedengland

@ancientsstudies

@greeksblog

OC PROMPTS:

@yourocdoeswhat

@questionsforyourocs

@oc-question

@oc-dev

@characterization-queries

@oc-factoids

@tag-that-oc

@some-oc-questions

GENERAL WRITING ADVICE:

not all of the following accounts post things but they reblog useful info

@writing-with-olive

@tstrangeauthor

@everythingwritingg

@writerthreads

@heywriters

@thewritersphere

@writelively

PS: If you think your account fits any of these categories, feel free to comment! Someone will check it out!!! :D