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Ref Recs for Whump Writers

Violence: A Writer’s Guide:  This is not about writing technique. It is an introduction to the world of violence. To the parts that people don’t understand. The parts that books and movies get wrong. Not just the mechanics, but how people who live in a violent world think and feel about what they do and what they see done.

Hurting Your Characters: HURTING YOUR CHARACTERS discusses the immediate effect of trauma on the body, its physiologic response, including the types of nerve fibers and the sensations they convey, and how injuries feel to the character. This book also presents a simplified overview of the expected recovery times for the injuries discussed in young, otherwise healthy individuals.

Body Trauma: A writer’s guide to wounds and injuries. Body Trauma explains what happens to body organs and bones maimed by accident or intent and the small window of opportunity for emergency treatment. Research what happens in a hospital operating room and the personnel who initiate treatment. Use these facts to bring added realism to your stories and novels.

10 B.S. Medical Tropes that Need to Die TODAY…and What to Do Instead: Written by a paramedic and writer with a decade of experience, 10 BS Medical Tropes covers exactly that: clichéd and inaccurate tropes that not only ruin books, they have the potential to hurt real people in the real world. 

Maim Your Characters: How Injuries Work in Fiction: Increase Realism. Raise the Stakes. Tell Better Stories. Maim Your Characters is the definitive guide to using wounds and injuries to their greatest effect in your story. Learn not only the six critical parts of an injury plot, but more importantly, how to make sure that the injury you’re inflicting matters. 

Blood on the Page: This handy resource is a must-have guide for writers whose characters live on the edge of danger. If you like easy-to-follow tools, expert opinions from someone with firsthand knowledge, and you don’t mind a bit of fictional bodily harm, then you’ll love Samantha Keel’s invaluable handbook

#reference

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I dream of the day when I won’t have to look at this fucking chart….

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Robin Buckley/Nancy Wheeler Characters: Robin Buckley, Nancy Wheeler Additional Tags: ST Femslash Week 2024, Prompt Fill, Fluff, Smut, Pet Play, kitten Nancy, Hand Feeding, thigh riding Series: Part 4 of ST Femslash Week 2024 Summary:

Robin let out a sight of relief as she finally made it through the door to the apartment. Dropping her bags of groceries on the ground, she slipped out of her shoes, calling, “Nance?” The sound of jingling caught her ears, and she spun to find her girlfriend trotting down the hallway on all fours. She was dressed only in lacy white panties and bra, with a pale pink collar adorning her throat and matching cat ears perched in her curls.

Stranger Things Femslash Week 2024 - Day 5 - Free Day

@strangerthingsfemslash

#stranger things #ronance #nancy wheeler #robin buckley #fanfiction #my work

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016) Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Robin Buckley/Chrissy Cunningham/Nancy Wheeler Characters: Chrissy Cunningham, Jason Carver, Robin Buckley, Nancy Wheeler Additional Tags: ST Femslash Week 2024, Prompt Fill, Jason Bashing, Guns, Violence, and Chrissy likes it Series: Part 3 of ST Femslash Week 2024 Summary:

There was a bang, and chips of bark exploded from a foot above their heads. They both gasped, Jason springing away, leaving Chrissy frozen against the tree. She instinctively hurried to fix her skirt as he peered into the darkness of the surrounding woods. “Hello?” he shouted, a bit stupidly. “I believe,” a cool, feminine voice said, “that she said no.”

ST Femslash Week 2024 - Day 4 - Women's Wrongs

@strangerthingsfemslash

#stranger things #chronance #chrissy cunningham #nancy wheeler #robin buckley #fanfiction #my work

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It was band day again. Robin knew she was essentially ignoring Nancy as they walked down the hall together, and she felt badly about it, but the anxiety nibbling away at her stomach was claiming all her attention.

While planning the week out, Robin had been really hopeful about how today would go. She had imagined a fun chat with Vickie in the hall, which would then lead to even more interesting conversation before band practice, and Robin would charm Vickie and make her laugh and make her want to spend time with her at the party.

But now that she had - no, she was trying to remember what Nancy said, she didn’t fuck it up. Now that the previous day had been awkward, Robin was nervous. She didn’t want to trip up again, stumble into another uncomfortable topic and make Vickie think she was just the worst at conversation. But she reminded herself of the rest of what Nancy said. It was normal to feel awkward. They just had to keep talking. This was the getting-to-know-you stage. And Robin really, really wanted to know Vickie better.

This chapter posted as part of Stranger Things Femslash Week! This is for Day 3 - Secret Dating. I figure secret fake dating counts? :P :P @strangerthingsfemslash

#stranger things #ronance #nancy wheeler #robin buckley #fanfiction #my work #dreams au

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Robin Buckley/Nancy Wheeler Characters: Robin Buckley, Nancy Wheeler Additional Tags: ST Femslash Week 2024, Prompt Fill, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Discussions of marriage, Fluff Series: Part 2 of ST Femslash Week 2024 Summary:

Suddenly, the bells of the church across the street started to peal cacophonously. Robin startled, jostling her cup, though thankfully not spilling. Nancy’s head popped up as well, and they both looked over to watch as a crowd of people swarmed onto either side of the church’s steps. A limousine pulled up to the curb out front, and a second later the big front doors swung open, and out spilled a man in a tux and woman in a white dress. “Oh, a wedding!” Robin exclaimed.

Stranger Things Femslash Week 2024 - Day 2 - Women Over Thirty

@strangerthingsfemslash

#stranger things #ronance #robin buckley #nancy wheeler #fanfiction #my work

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Robin Buckley/Nancy Wheeler Characters: Robin Buckley, Nancy Wheeler Additional Tags: ST Femslash Week 2024, Prompt Fill, Drunkenness, light caretaking, awkward bike riding Series: Part 1 of ST Femslash Week 2024 Summary:

She peered around the corner of the hallway, sizing up the bathroom door. No one else seemed concerned, going straight back to partying as soon as Steve was out of sight. But Robin had seen Nancy going back and forth to the punch bowl multiple times throughout the night - again, not being nosy, just noticing - and she had seemed pretty drunk. The kind of drunk where you shouldn't leave someone alone. Before she could second-guess herself, she went down the hall and knocked.

Stranger Things Femslash Week 2024 - Day 1 - Different First Meeting

@strangerthingsfemslash

#stranger things #ronance #nancy wheeler #robin buckley #fanfiction #my work

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I want to write a book called “your character dies in the woods” that details all the pitfalls and dangers of being out on the road & in the wild for people without outdoors/wilderness experience bc I cannot keep reading narratives brush over life threatening conditions like nothing is happening.

I just read a book by one of my favorite authors whose plots are essentially airtight, but the MC was walking on a country road on a cold winter night and she was knocked down and fell into a drainage ditch covered in ice, broke through and got covered in icy mud and water.

Then she had a “miserable” 3 more miles to walk to the inn.

Babes she would not MAKE it to that inn.

#reference

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“One of the most solid pieces of writing advice I know is in fact intended for dancers – you can find it in the choreographer Martha Graham’s biography. But it relaxes me in front of my laptop the same way I imagine it might induce a young dancer to breathe deeply and wiggle their fingers and toes. Graham writes: ‘There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.’”

— Zadie Smith (via campaignagainstcliche)

#advice

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Nancy was laughing as they walked through the doors, and it couldn’t have worked any better to get Vickie’s attention. She was at her locker, and her head swiveled around immediately, looking towards them.

Robin met her eyes, giving her a small smile and wave, then looked back at Nancy. They took a few steps closer, then Nancy mimed realizing something, patting at her pockets.

“Oh shoot, I forgot something in my car! I’ll be right back.”

With a nod from Robin, she turned around and hurried back out the door. This was another part of their plan, a way to get Robin alone with Vickie for a moment.

#stranger things #ronance #nancy wheeler #robin buckley #fanfiction #my work #dreams au

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As soon as the crowd had died down, though, Steve turned back to her with an expectant look in his eyes. “So, what are you going to do about it?”

Robin scrunched her eyebrows at him for a moment, until her brain caught back up to what they were talking about. With a gusty sigh, she said, “That’s the problem. I have no idea. The party’s next weekend, so I feel like I need to, y’know” - she awkwardly mimed shifting a gearstick - “kick it into next gear, but I don’t know how to do that.”

#stranger things #ronance #robin buckley #nancy wheeler #fanfiction #my work #dreams au

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I hope every writer who sees this writes LOADS the next few months. Like freetime opens up, no writers block, the ability to focus, etc etc you're able to write loads & make lots of progress <3

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So You Want to Write Poly Fic: A How-To from Your Favorite Poly Mutual

(i know for many of you I'm your only poly mutual so that works too)

This guide is going to rely heavily on Stranger Things pairings, because that's the fandom I'm currently writing in, but these concepts can apply to any fandom.

Expand your definition of Polyamory

Fandom loves the triad, and if this is what you want to write, there's no reason not to. However, three people all dating each other should not be the only thing you think of when you think of polyamory! Here are some other configurations for your consideration:

Jonathan is dating both Nancy and Argyle, but Nancy and Argyle are not dating each other

Chrissy is dating Robin, but sometimes makes out with Heather at parties.

Eddie, Steve, and Nancy are all dating each other, and Nancy has a separate relationship with Barb.

Steve and Robin have a queerplatonic relationship that they consider their primary partnership, but both date other people in a casual setting.

Chrissy is not ready to be in a relationship after breaking up with Jason, but has casual hookups with multiple people who are aware of and comfortable with the situation.

2. Pay attention to your dyads.

One of the most common mistakes I see in poly fics is trying to superimpose the same way you'd write monogamous pairings onto more people. The problem with this is that in a couple with only two people, you are only writing one relationship. In a poly ship, you're writing more, and probably a higher number than you think of. This is where the dyad comes in.

A dyad simply the relationship between two people. Say you're writing Nancy/Chrissy/Robin (as you should). You're not just writing the one relationship between the three of them. There are also three separate relationships to consider:

Chrissy/Nancy Robin/Chrissy Nancy/Robin

Each of these relationships will have its own dynamic, and just because they're all dating doesn't mean it will all be the same. This is why I often caution newer writers away from writing relationships with tons of characters off the bat. The jump from a triad to a quad moves you from 3 dyads to 6. Now, depending on your POV character, you may not have to focus much on every single dyad, but you do need to be aware of their existence.

3. Metamour Dynamics

A metamour is a person who your partner is dating and you are not dating. Metamour dynamics can be very complicated (but also very fun to play with when writing) because of the feelings that can come up seeing your partner with someone else.

Let's say both Steve and Robin are dating Nancy, but not each other. Are they thrilled to never have to be apart? Do they find it hilarious how much they share one brain? Or do they get sick of never having space away from each other? Does Robin resent that Steve's relationship with Nancy is more recognized by society because of heteronormativity? Does Steve resent that Robin's never had her heart broken by Nancy?

Metamours also may be awkward or choose not to interact. Let's say Nancy's dating both Barb and Eddie now. Do Barb and Eddie form an unlikely friendship? Are they consistently awkward and tense to a point where Nancy doesn't keep them near each other?

There are as many different metamour dynamics as there are people, and giving some life to these relationships will give a lot of texture and realism to your poly fic.

4. Let it be Messy

When we write monogamous pairings, most writers in a longer fic will include things not working out, miscommunication, hurt feelings, jealousy, anger, and angst. But there seems to be an anxiety around allowing any of these things to exist in polyamory, as if by admitting it's not always perfect, we're giving ammunition to polyphobia. (This same pressure is put on poly people in real life to be the Perfect Poly Partner and never experience difficult feelings around polyamory.)

The truth is, relationships are complicated. And while I love seeing poly pairings in fluff and smut, there seems at time to be real resistance to putting poly pairings into genres that are messier.

Mess is a part of life. Mess is especially a part of intimate, vulnerable relationships, and, on a personal note, I need the mess to exist in fiction because stories are how I understand myself. When poly people are allowed to be human, it helps me (and probably other poly people) give myself permission to be human too. You are not hurting the poly community if your characters mess up, especially if it's in real and human ways.

I hope this helps you feel more comfortable and confident writing poly characters! Feel free to shoot me an ask if you have any follow-up questions.

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can't believe it's 2022 and we still have posts around about not overusing "said" like seriously? Imagine if I made a list of words to use instead of "and." wouldn't that be stupid?

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The thing about writing advice is that most people who are in a position to give it don't really know how they do what they do.

It's like playing Hamlet: an actor can talk about the personal processes that help them to interrogate the text and get into the character's head, and they can talk about the experiences they've had that prepared them for the role, and they can talk about what they want their performance to convey and maybe even reflect on why they make certain choices. But they can't give you a ten step guide to playing Hamlet. It fundamentally doesn't work like that.

It can be frustrating. Sometimes the advice you get from authors you admire, authors whose work you relate to in an unspeakable way, is just not a good fit. It can be discouraging (why can't I see the world like they do? why can't I be up and awake and produce 2000 words before breakfast?) or it can even set you back (I mustn't use adjectives. I have to plan every page. I can't get started until I know the protagonist's grandmother's maiden name). You have to learn to see it as the individual talking to themselves, rationalising a largely automatic process in terms that can only ever correlate, never fully explain.

Only one piece of ageless advice has consistently held true for generations of good, bad and happily mediocre writers, probably since the dawn of society: steal time from your day job.

#advice #lolol the last line #so true though

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Robin Buckley/Nancy Wheeler Characters: Robin Buckley, Nancy Wheeler, Karen Wheeler Additional Tags: Ronancetober 2023, Prompt Fill, Halloween, Halloween Costumes, Trick or Treating, Childhood Friends Series: Part 10 of Ronancetober 2023 Summary:

Ronancetober Day 16 - Trick or Treat

Nancy is so excited to go trick or treating with her best friend ever, Robin. A scare threatens to ruin the night, but Nancy won't let Robin be upset for long.

Happy Halloween!!

#ronancetober #ronancetober 2023 #stranger things #ronance #robin buckley #nancy wheeler #fanfiction #my work

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Robin Buckley/Nancy Wheeler Characters: Robin Buckley, Nancy Wheeler Additional Tags: Ronancetober 2023, Prompt Fill, Fluff, Pumpkins, Pumpkin carving Series: Part 9 of Ronancetober 2023 Summary:

Ronancetober Day 15 - Autumn

Robin joins Nancy and her siblings as they carve pumpkins. It turns into a very sweet tribute from one to another.

#ronancetober #ronancetober 2023 #stranger things #ronance #robin buckley #nancy wheeler #fanfiction #my work