#creative writing

[creativepromptsforwriting]

One Night Stand Prompts

by creativepromptsforwriting | do not repost

Person A is not a kiss and tell kind of person, so their friends start to think that they have been alone for way too long now and set them up with Person B. What the friends don’t know is that they both already know each other – intimately.

It was supposed to be a one night stand. Then it became a second night. A third - and suddenly they realized that they had never left.

Person A normally does not go out to clubs. They normally don't accept drinks from strangers or dance with them. And they normally do not go home with them.

Remembering every last inch on Person B's body is not a weird thing, just because they only hooked up that one time. They had just been very thorough. And now the memories are haunting them. In the best way.

Person A's last one night stand ended with a misunderstanding and a lot of awkwardness. To cheer them up again, their friends set them up with a blind date. They meant well, it’s not their fault that it’s the person they had previously slept with.

Person A's friends are obsessed with setting them up with blind dates, and A knows they mean well, but they are just not interested in dating, so they just ask their last blind date and one night stand, Person B, to fake date them, so A's friends stop setting them up.

Can you still call it a one night stand if they actually already had one years ago?

Person A had never had a one night stand before, so they don't know what the correct etiquette is. They are currently bringing breakfast to Person B, who is still in bed, because that's the polite thing to do, right?

What is the worst thing that can happen when you have someone in your bed that you just had an amazing night with? Your parents deciding to pay you a visit, who are just so excited to meet your new partner.

Person A and Person B are in a committed relationship and very happy. So happy that they decide adding a third person for just one night won't change anything.

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#creativepromptsforwriting #writeblr #writers on tumblr #creative writing #writing inspiration #writing ideas

[writingwithfolklore]

Making the Most out of your First Draft

As someone who used to write every first draft without planning and then use that to figure out characters and outlines, I have a lot of experience in first drafts that are incredibly helpful to forming an actual story, and drafts that don’t add much.

              So here’s how to make the most out of your first draft:

1. Write what doesn’t make sense

One of the most helpful first drafts I ever wrote abandoned plotlines and started new ones as though they had existed all along like several times. It was also the longest draft I had ever written because I had packed so many ideas into it. The reason why this is helpful is because you can test out what a plot point will look like in the middle or even end of your story without having to go back to the same beginning again and again.

It doesn’t need to make sense, just try things out. Disappear characters who don’t work, add a best friend near the end that acts like they’ve been there the entire time, whatever idea you’re interested in you can try out without worrying too much about what makes sense or what you’d need in place to set it up. It's like literally stream of consciousness writing, and you're going to learn so much more about your world, plot, and characters than trying to make it make sense.

2. Write poorly

I spent a lot of that first draft having characters monologue to themselves or each other about their interests and problems and lives which allowed me to explore their backstories and voice even if that’s not something I would do in a final draft. I had the wackiest plot points to see how my characters would react, what would happen to the plot, and if I didn’t like it I would keep going like nothing had happened, I did a lot of yadda-yaddaing over worldbuilding and setting the scenes and making up things on the spot to see if they’d stick, skipping sometimes to the interesting stuff, or adding in a random scene just for fun.

It doesn’t have to be good. Even a little bit. You’re learning about your world and your characters and the story you want to tell, but you aren’t writing it yet. Allow it to be the worst thing you’ve ever written.

3. Make notes on what you like

As you go through and throw spaghetti at the wall (figuratively speaking), make notes on the things that stick. If you write a line of dialogue you really like, or a piece of backstory or even a vibe, make sure to make a note of it somewhere. This will help you narrow down your ideas to what you want to keep when you start writing your story. And if you’re like me and you want to outline or plan your subsequent drafts, these notes will be invaluable to start forming your planning.

Anything else I missed?

#writing #creative writing #writers #writing community #screenwriting #writing inspiration #books #filmmaking #film #writing advice #first draft #making the most out of your first draft #pantsing #pantser #writers on tumblr

[unboundprompts]

prompts for spring, summer, autumn, winter eyes! (The characters literally stand for each season!! They have eyes that hold the seasons)

Different Ways to Describe Seasonal Eyes

-> feel free to edit and adjust pronouns as you see fit.

Spring

He had eyes like the fields of the pastures, green grass nearly up to your knees.

Her eyes were the flower beds that his mother used to prepare when spring finally arrived after a cold winter. Flowers would bloom and blossom in every color imaginable.

Their eyes were like the honey from the honeybees that arrived with the promise of spring.

Summer

Her eyes were a babbling brook, like crisp water on a warm day.

He had eyes that blazed like a hot summer sun.

Their eyes were warm rays and beach days, filled with laughter and freedom.

Autumn

She had eyes the color of the dying leaves, painted red, yellow, and brown.

His eyes were a winding road on a foggy morning, dying branches scratching at the edge.

Their eyes were of burnt out candles, pumpkins placed on doorsteps, and footsteps splashed in puddles on an old street.

Winter

His eyes were snowflakes, irises decorated with a delicate design.

She had eyes like icy mountains and falling snow.

Their eyes were a crisp breeze in the dead of winter, a frozen pond on a stagnant afternoon.

If you like what I do and want to support me, please consider buying me a coffee! I also offer editing services and other writing advice on my Ko-fi! Become a member to receive exclusive content, early access, and prioritized writing prompt requests.

#writing prompts #creative writing #writeblr #story prompt #ask box prompts #dialogue prompt #otp prompts #soft prompts #prompt list #rp prompts #writing prompt #romance prompts #dialogue ideas #writing ideas #love prompts #character description

[deepwaterwritingprompts]

Text: The last god of the sea lies rotting on the ocean floor, a final blessing for the animals to feed on. It’s a scramble for us to go harvest its bones, full of power and magic, the last of their kind.

#creative writing #writing prompts #heaven and hell #the sea #god whalefall god whalefall god whalefall

[novlr]

What is a good way to start a novel? (sentence frames)

Are you a creative writer struggling to get started on your next project? Do you find yourself staring at a blank page, unsure of where to begin? Fear not! Here are some sentence frames designed to inspire your creativity and help you generate story ideas.

Get to know your main character

[Character name] was not your typical [profession/role]; in fact, they…

Despite being [adjective], [character name] had always felt…

[Character name] had a secret, one that they had kept hidden for [time period]…

As [character name] looked out the window, they couldn’t help but wonder what life would be like if…

[Character name] had always been drawn to [hobby/interest], but had never had the courage to pursue it until…

The day [character name] met [another character], everything changed…

Setting the scene

The town of [name] was known for its [unique characteristic], but beneath the surface…

In a world where [fantastical element] was commonplace, [character name] stood out because…

The [building/location] had stood abandoned for [time period], but on this particular night there was [an event]…

The [place/location] was famed for its [unique characteristic], but [character] found themselves drawn to [thing]…

Introduce conflict

[Character name] had always believed that [belief], until [event] forced them to question everything.

When [character name] discovered [secret/revelation], they knew they had to…

The arrival of [character/object] in [setting] threw [character name]’s life into chaos, as they…

[Character name] had always been content with their [status quo], but when [event] occurred, they realised that they could no longer ignore their true calling.

The arrival of [character name] in [place/location] set off a chain of events that would uncover long-buried secrets and force the [people of location] to confront their darkest demons.

Show character growth

[Character name] had spent their entire life [doing/believing something], but now they began to wonder if…

As [event] unfolded, [character name] realised that they were capable of…

[Character name] had always been afraid of [fear], but in the face of [challenge], they discovered…

[Character name] used to [old behaviour], but now they [new behaviour]…

As [character name] faced [challenge], they discovered a [new strength/quality] within themselves…

[Character name] never thought they could [achievement], but with [catalyst], they learned to [lesson]…

Create suspense and mystery

[Character name] knew that [mystery/secret] held the key to [goal], but the closer they got to the truth…

As [character name] delved deeper into [investigation/quest], they began to suspect that…

The [object/clue] seemed insignificant at first, but as [character name] examined it more closely, they saw [detail].

[Character name] had a nagging feeling that something was off about [person/place/thing], but couldn’t quite put their finger on it until [event].

The [sound/smell/sight] was hauntingly familiar to [character name], but they couldn’t remember why until [event].

Explore character relationships

[Character name] had always looked up to [other character], but now they began to see them in a different light because [event/change].

Despite their differences, [character name] and [other character] found themselves drawn to each other because of [detail].

[Character name] knew that [other character] was hiding something, but they never expected [revelation].

[Character name] and [other character] were once inseparable, but [change] meant they grew apart.

[Character name] never expected to find a friend in [other character], but [character detail/event/location] brought them together.

[Character name] couldn’t shake the feeling that [other character] was hiding [secret] from them.

Remember, these sentence frames are just a starting point to help you generate ideas and get your creative juices flowing. Feel free to adapt, combine, or expand upon them to suit your unique story and writing style. The most important thing is to let your imagination run wild and enjoy the process of writing your novel!

#writing prompts #writing ideas #story ideas #writing inspiration #sentence frames #writing resources #writers #creative writing #writing #writing community #writers of tumblr #creative writers #writeblr #writerblr #writing tips #writing advice #writers on tumblr #creative writing prompt #fic prompt #story prompt #writing prompt #story prompts #let's write #writing asks #writers and poets #writer community #writers block #writer #beat writers block #writer's block

[patronsaintofhomosandpain]

Fuck your word count!

༺𖤐๋࣭ ⭑🕸🦇🕸๋࣭ ⭑๋࣭ 𖤐༻

"Focus on your word count," "Write 2,500 words a day," "Real writers set monthly word goals."

SHUT UP! Your word count doesn't matter. You're just stressing yourself out.

It doesn't matter if you write one word today or 10,000! At least you wrote something! Focus on that.

Quality and sanity of quantity.

#writeblr #writers on tumblr #writerscommunity #writing #writblr #writer things #writers #writerscorner #writerslife #book blog #original writing #creative writing #writers block #writing stuff #writing advice #writings #thoughts #advice #tipsy tuesday

[hayatheauthor]

Crafting Sad Scenes: Writing Tears and Emotional Depth

Creating authentic emotions is vital for immersive storytelling, which is why I decided to make this series on how to write different emotions. After exploring rage, it's now time to delve into sadness!

When it comes to portraying sadness, delving into various aspects of your character's behaviour and environment can deepen the emotional impact. Here's a guide on how to evoke sadness in your writing using different elements:

Facial Expressions

Downcast Eyes and Furrowed Brow: Describe how their eyes lower and brows crease, reflecting inner sorrow or distress.

Quivering Lips or Trembling Chin: Note the subtle quivers in their lips or chin, indicating emotional vulnerability or the effort to hold back tears.

Pained or Distant Gaze: Highlight a gaze that's distant, unfocused, or filled with inner turmoil, showing their emotional detachment or deep sadness.

Tear-Streaked or Reddened Eyes: Mention tear tracks or reddened eyes, portraying recent or suppressed crying, enhancing the visual impact of their sadness.

Hollow Cheeks and Sunken Eyes: Describe physical changes like hollow cheeks or sunken eyes, reflecting fatigue, despair, or prolonged emotional distress.

Body Language and Gestures

Slumped Shoulders and Hunched Posture: Show their dejected stance with slumped shoulders and a hunched posture, conveying a sense of heaviness or defeat.

Fidgeting or Clasping Hands: Detail how they fidget nervously or clasp their hands tightly, indicating inner turmoil or a need for comfort.

Absentminded Touching of Face or Hair: Mention absentminded gestures like touching their face or running fingers through their hair, reflecting introspection or sadness.

Slow or Listless Movements: Describe their movements as slow, lethargic, or lacking energy, mirroring their emotional state of sadness.

Avoiding Eye Contact or Retreating: Highlight how they avoid eye contact or retreat from interactions, seeking solitude or trying to mask their emotions.

Dialogue and Inner Monologue

Subdued or Monotone Speech: Show their dialogue as subdued, with a monotone delivery or pauses, conveying emotional restraint or inner pain.

Expressing Regret, Loss, or Longing: Use dialogue to express their regrets, sense of loss, or longing for something or someone, adding depth to their sadness.

Internal Conflicts and Self-Reflection: Delve into their inner monologue, revealing their conflicts, doubts, or self-reflection, showcasing the complexity of their emotional journey.

Using Metaphors or Symbolic Language: Incorporate metaphors or symbolic language in their dialogue or thoughts, enhancing the poetic or introspective nature of their sadness.

Environmental Cues and Setting

Bleak or Desolate Settings: Set scenes in bleak or desolate environments, such as abandoned places or dimly lit spaces, amplifying the sense of isolation or melancholy.

Rainy Weather or Gray Skies: Describe rainy weather, gray skies, or somber atmospheres, mirroring their emotional state and adding a reflective tone to the setting.

Diminished Colors or Lack of Vibrancy: Use descriptions of muted colors or a lack of vibrancy in the surroundings, reflecting the character's subdued mood and emotional depth.

Actions and Reactions

Withdrawing from Interactions: Show them withdrawing from social interactions, seeking solitude, or avoiding activities they once enjoyed, highlighting their emotional withdrawal.

Seeking Comfort Objects or Routines: Describe how they turn to comfort objects or routines, such as listening to music, writing, or engaging in familiar activities, as coping mechanisms.

Emotional Outbursts or Sudden Changes: Portray occasional emotional outbursts, sudden changes in behavior, or moments of vulnerability, revealing layers of their sadness.

Impact on Relationships and Interactions: Explore how their sadness affects their relationships and interactions with others, showcasing the dynamics of empathy, support, or misunderstanding.

Types of Tears and Emotional Triggers

Watery Eyes: These tears often accompany moments of deep emotional pain, such as hearing hurtful words, experiencing profound disappointment, or feeling overwhelmed by sadness. Characters may blink rapidly or struggle to maintain eye contact as tears well up, indicating their struggle to contain their emotions.

Quiet Tears: Quiet tears are silent and discreet, often shed in moments of solitude or introspection. They may occur when a character reflects on past memories, grapples with internal conflicts, or experiences a poignant realization. These tears are a subtle yet powerful expression of inner turmoil.

Full-On Sobs: Full-on sobs involve audible crying, heaving breaths, and visible emotional distress. They typically arise from intense grief, loss, physical pain, or overwhelming stress. Characters may find it challenging to speak coherently or control their emotions during such outbursts, revealing the depth of their emotional turmoil.

Tears of Joy: Tears of joy occur in moments of immense happiness, relief, or heartfelt connection. They often accompany scenes of reunions, achievements, or profound expressions of love and gratitude. These tears symbolize emotional release and the overwhelming experience of positive emotions.

Tears of Empathy: Characters may shed tears of empathy when witnessing others' suffering or hearing poignant stories. These tears reflect their compassion, sensitivity, and ability to deeply connect with the emotions of others, adding layers of empathy to their characterization.

Writing Prompts and Exercises

Write a scene where your character experiences a sudden wave of sadness in a public setting, struggling to conceal their emotions.

Craft a dialogue between two characters, one trying to comfort the other who is deeply saddened by a personal loss or disappointment.

Describe a setting that reflects the mood of sadness, using sensory details to evoke emotions and create atmosphere.

Explore a character's inner monologue as they reflect on past regrets or missed opportunities, expressing their profound sense of sadness.

Create a symbolic object or motif in your story that represents your character's journey through sadness, using it as a recurring theme for emotional depth.

Incorporating these elements can enrich your narrative and evoke powerful emotions in your readers, fostering a deeper connection to your characters and their emotional journeys.

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 publishing tips for authors every Monday and Thursday! And don’t forget to head over to my TikTok and Instagram profiles @hayatheauthor to learn more about my WIP and writing journey! 

#quillology with haya sameer #hayatheauthor #haya's book blog #haya sameer #haya blogs #writers on tumblr #writer community #sad stories #writer tools #sad writing #writer blog #writer stuff #writer wednesday #writer tips #creative writing #writing emotion #writers of tumblr #writerscommunity #writeblr #writing community #writer spotlight #writer things #writing prompt #writing tools #writing stuff #writing #writing life #writing inspo #writing help #writing advice

[universallyenthusiastsage]

P.O.V: Villain finds out Hero's burden.

————

"What are you doing here?" Villain asked, walking behind Hero. Villain held an umbrella over Hero to stop them from getting more wet then they were already.

"What do you mean? Why I'm in a graveyard?" Hero asked rhetorically with a slight scoff, kneeling beside a grave. "That's question seems more fitting for you."

"I asked first." Villain said with venom in their tone, glaring at Hero.

Hero went quiet. It wasn't every day that they got to open up to someone, let alone to their mortal enemy.

"Well? Cat got your tongue?" Villain raised an eyebrow.

"Shut it. I'm not opening up to you." Hero responded, only briefly turning away from the gravestone to glare at Villain.

"I didn't say you had to open up, I asked why you were here. Surely, you don't know 53 people personally." Hero's eyes widened as Villain pointed out how many graves Hero had visited and left flowers at.

"And you intend to visit about 20 more, based on the amount of flowers left in the bouquet." Villain smirked, knowing they had cornered Hero to make them speak.

Hero hesitated for a second before speaking, "No... You're right. I didn't know these people personally."

"Then why are you paying your respects?"

"Because I killed these people."

Villain froze, completely shocked by Hero's words. They had never seen Hero even raise a finger to the worst of the civilians, let alone end someone's life. Hero was an angel, at least, that's what Villain thought.

"Why? How?" Villain asked, watching Hero stand up.

"They got caught in the cross-fire of my fights." Villain's eyes softened. Hero was still an angel, but one ridden with guilt for something they couldn't control.

"It's not your fault, you know..." Villain's tone raised, and they spoke slower, as if talking to a scared child.

"...what?" Hero didn't understand. They had killed them. They had gotten to reckless when fighting villains, and killed these people.

"It's not your fault. You didn't kill these people. Why are you holding yourself responsible?" Villain placed a hand on Hero's shoulder, silence filling the air, interrupted by only the sound of rain hitting the ground and umbrella.

"Because I did. I was to reckless with my power, I should have been more careful, I could ha—"

"Hero." Villain cut them off. "You couldn't control it. It's not your fault. You were doing your job. Think about it. If you were more cautious, you couldn't have taken down some of the greatest villains, like Supervillain. These minor losses were simply the effects of saving many more people in the future. So please, calm down, and stop blaming yourself." Villain ended their speech with a sigh. "Please."

"...I can't promise anything." Hero responded, avoiding Villain's gaze.

"Then try."

Hero smiled softly, nodding as they took Villain's hand off their shoulder, interlocking their hands.

"Alright, thank you, Villain."

Then, a realization dawned on Hero.

"Why are you here?" Hero said with skepticism. "And how did you know how many graves I visited?"

"U-uhm... haha... so..." Villain tried to squirm out of Hero's hand, but god were they strong.

This time, it was Hero's turn to raise an eyebrow and smirk.

"Looks like I've got a little stalker on my hands."

#hero x villain #creative writing #hero x villain prompts #story prompt #fanfiction prompts #oc prompt #writing #writing trope #daily prompt #angst with a happy ending #light angst #angst #fluff

[official-difference-million-en]

#breast expansion #acotar #caged foot slave #stories #issa rae #diy tutorial #buzzfeed unsolved #bts jimin #skies #monogatari #nash grier #wolves #creative writing #Daisy Marie

[marvelmaniac715]

Dialogue that I'd love to work into a fic but I don't know where or how:

"Why are you afraid?"

"I'm not."

"Yes you are, you're terrified."

"I'm telling you, I'm not, what makes you insist that I am?"

"You're shaking."

"...It's cold."

"It's summer."

"...What do you think I'm afraid of?"

"Oh no, I don't think, I know."

"Alright then, what do you know I'm afraid of?"

"Me."

"Does that upset you?"

"Not as much as it used to."

#fanfiction ideas #fanfiction #dialogue prompt #dialogue ideas #character dialogue #writing dialogue #whump dialogue #writing prompt #writing inspo #fanfic writer #my writing #writers on tumblr #creative writing #ao3 writer

[invalidstories]

Angst Dialogues Prompts

"I wish I could just turn off these feelings, you know? But every time I try, it's like they're etched into my soul, tearing me apart from the inside."

"I feel like I'm drowning in my own thoughts. No matter how hard I try to keep my head above water, the burden of my past drags me down."

"I'm tired of pretending to be the hero when I'm the one who needs saving. I need saving from myself."

"I hate how much power you have over me. One look, one word, and suddenly I'm right back where I started, trapped in this never-ending cycle of pain."

"I'm scared, okay? Scared of what's going to happen next, scared of making the wrong choices, scared of being alone. But most of all, I'm scared of letting myself hope."

"Why do we always hurt the ones we love the most? Is it because we know they'll forgive us, or because deep down, we're just too afraid to let them go?"

"I'm so tired of feeling like I'm not good enough. No matter how hard I try, it's like I'm always falling short, always disappointing everyone around me."

"Sometimes I wish I could just disappear, you know? Like fade into the background and never come back. Maybe then, the pain would finally stop."

Masterlist

#invalidstories #writers on tumblr #reading #dialouge prompts #dialogue prompt #writing prompt #whump prompt #angst #angst prompts #writing #writers #writeblr #writerscommunity #creative writing

[sprout-senior]

moon is still like 12, he’s just been 12 for 500 years

dialogue transcription and more headcanons under the cut:

moon: dumb dumb idiot dumb

terror: you are a fucking child

moon: aaah you maddd

as part of their somewhat contentious relationship, moon has a bit of a mischievous streak. he points out little mistakes, makes a huge deal out of any behavior that could be perceived as soft/caring, and likes to float right in front of terror’s face to distract him. he’s somewhat see through, but it’s still a pain in the ass.

moon can see other ghosts, though he doesn’t often get a chance to interact. he was delighted when cross joined the team, jumping at the opportunity to make a new friend in chara. terror cannot see chara, but knows he exists.

phantom papyrus is not real. dust believes that moon and terror’s situation is similar to his own, but again, he doesn’t bring it up.

terror is a long suffering eternal babysitter. he is completely exasperated with moon after 500 years of being stuck together.

he will never admit this to anyone, not even himself, but terror doesn’t know what he’d do if he ever separated from moon. he could justify it with the very strong possibility of being unable to hold his form without the original consciousness, but between you and me? he’s attached to the kid. he even feels responsible for it. you must never tell a soul, but he’s even comforted moon before.

#utmv #undertale #undertale au #creative writing #undertale art #utmv art #passive nightmare sans #nightmare sans #corrupted nightmare sans #dreamtale #headcanons

[takingstockofwhatmattersmost]

when did you start to abandon your strength...your might

when did you let him seize your essence, your grace leaving wounds that scar

when did fear grip you tight underneath a pendulum’s sway robbing your inner love

when did you forget every piece every part of your true whole self?

#tumblr writing community #writers and poets #writers on tumblr #poets on tumblr #poetsontumblr #writeblr #recognizingthevoiceless #hijack #hijacked #hijacked collab #collab #collaboration #hijackery #sexetry #sexbitsofstarglow #poetryslutsreloaded #poeticreverse #bullshitters-reprice #wordbinge #quietpoetrycorner #poetsandstuff #smittenbypoetry #inspireamuse #poetry #creedatelier #spilled ink #creative writing #free verse #writerscreed #twcpoetryhijack

[deepwaterwritingprompts]

Text: The priests have been crushing fertilized basilisk eggs into my food for years, hoping I’ll develop Death’s Sight. The fifth egg I steal from the kitchen manages to hatch. My first and only friend.

Goes with this prompt, if you like

#creative writing #writing prompts #flora and fauna #priests #eggs #basilisks

[novlr]

“One word after another. That’s the only way that novels get written.” — Neil Gaiman

#neil gaiman #on writing #insp #author quotes #authors #writers #creative writing #writing #writing community #writers of tumblr #creative writers #writing inspiration #writeblr #writerblr #writing tips #author #writblr #writer stuff #writer things #writers cor #writers corner #wr #writers block #writers and poets #writing advice #writers on tumblr #block #beat writers block #inspi #creative inspiration

[the-modern-typewriter]

Hello this is a question that came about from watching the new Fallout TV show and a character named Maximus. He’s a relatively neutral character and his arc is very wonderful coming from a writer and big book reader but I noticed that the average viewer doesn’t understand his character and actually hates him… my question is as an author is it okay to make your story more digestible to people who lack perception since it’s the general audience for mainstream media and how do you do that without losing your story? Idk this was probably too complex and a stupid question 💔

Not a stupid question! There are no stupid questions.

Going to unpack this a bit though. (I haven't seen the show.) First some general points, but then some advice on balancing complexity in a story.

So. Some things to get out of the way:

You don't know what the average viewer is thinking. Just because their opinion on a character is different to yours, doesn't mean they lack perception. Do we sometimes have an issue with critical thinking in the modern age? Yes. But we also live in an age where people bring a vast array of different insights and experiences into the stories they read/watch. 99% of the time a story doesn't have just one right interpretation, especially if it is a more complex narrative.

You CAN try to write a story that is more digestible to a general audience, but if you do have concerns about the media literacy of the general population, focusing on providing unchallenging stories is not the fix to that. People learn through engaging with interesting work and having discussions about them - e.g. when they are given the opportunity to. Perception, like anything, is a skill trained with practice. No one's born with it. There's no inherent us/them that can't be changed.

Will you be happy and fulfilled as a writer writing stories that you feel are dumbed or watered down? I know I wouldn't end up writing the versions of stories that I want. Similarly, you probably won't then attract the readers/audience that most resonate with your ideas, because you don't give them the chance.

Generally speaking, people hate being talked down to. As a reader/lover of stories, if I thought a writer was talking down to me and thought I was an idiot who couldn't understand the themes/plot, I wouldn't want to have anything to do with their stuff. It's a horrible feeling, isn't it? It's like being written off before you even leave the gate.

Okay, now some advice: Amazing children's books are a great example of stories that are simplified to appeal and meet the audience where they are at, without losing the richness that makes them resonate and engage readers/audience. However, there are adult examples too. They share some qualities.

These often have:

Clear structure (there are a myriad story structures that you can use to make a story hit beats the reader expects and create a sense of satisfaction, while still giving you room to play.)

High concept story idea/plot (so, stories that can be explained/pitched in a line. E.g. children are forced to fight in televised death matches (Hunger Games), a famous author is imprisoned by a dangerous fan who doesn't approve of his new work (Misery), 'it's jaws in outer space!'). These stories have simple premises that often have wide-appeal, but the stories themselves can be complex.

Engaging main character(s) with a clear goal/agenda. They don't have to all be morally pure, but for an easy win, your character should be likeable/easy to root for. In a children's book, e.g. at the simplest level, these are often also high concept. (E.g. a mouse wants to be heard so is convinced it needs a lion's roar to be loved - The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright)

There are, of course, exceptions to every rule. Game of Thrones was phenomenally popular, for example, but I don't think it's an easy to sink into world/simple set of characters.

Watering down an existing story to fit a different target audience is often not going to lead you to write the best story. This is because it's like trying to fit a triangle into a circle, or make a banana bread into a savoury scone. However, there are plenty of stories with mass-appeal that offer readers a variety of different levels to engage with them, so it is very possible to write a brilliant story with mass appeal. But you work from the foundations up, not from the finished product down.

I hope this helps!

#writing advice #writing talk #writing tips #creative writing #fiction writing #writing #on writing