thenerdsstuff

[thenerdsstuff]

Come back to the place in where you lost your innocence and it will breathe words that will tell you it was never lost.

#photography #writing

[thenerdsstuff]

He had always seemed like such a nice guy; he got a job at sixteen when their father left, kept his sister on school, and took care of his mother when she was so sick. The boy was a man at a young age, flashing smiles to kids in the park and taking an extra shift for a couple of coins. There is this one time when my mom even said that I should marry a gentle man like him, a man that possesses such kind glance.

They do not know what I witnessed so I never spoke. I understood because they should discover it on their own. Yet I am filled with such disturbance, the boy is not a sheep. He is but a wolf in a clothing of fur and no one really questioned why he owned markings in his wrists.

I was five. He was a teenager. The youngster would always visit our house to give me a pat on the back, his white teeth polished the same as his words.

When I look back, I will always catch a glimpse of his puffy eyes, the bags under it more darker than before.

He had always seemed like such a nice guy but the world was never nice to him.

prompt 1623

Start a paragraph with this sentence:

He had always seemed like such a nice guy.

#writing #creative writing prompts #oneshot #story prompts

[thenerdsstuff]

Creative Writing: Writing Exercises - Volume 1

As a writer, it's important to keep my skills sharp. Here are a few writing exercises that might get you warmed up for your next story. #WritingCommunity #AmWriting

When I released my first novel, “Broken Promise Records,” there were a good amount of folks who were surprised that I had an interest in creative writing, because I never talked about it. That opened the conversation for some, who said “I’d like to write stories, but I don’t know where to start.” That always struck a chord with me because I remember that exact feeling. Because of that, I always…

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[thenerdsstuff]

50 INTERESTING WAYS TO BEGIN A STORY.

I am well aware of the turmoil of finding a gripping story beginning. God the pain! So I present to you prompts to help y'all hook the readers !

The arrival of a letter or email or package. ( Whether the contents is good / bad depends on you )

The text of a letter / email/ diary. ( You might wanna dive right into what it says and let the reader learn about the character reading )

An invitation to join a club / attend a party / to do something shocking.

A death of a character.

The main character is in a frustrating situation. ( This can quickly help readers to empathize right away )

A main character is in an awkward situation.

An escape from a boring meeting or prison or someplace unwanted .

Someone discovers a dead body.

A funeral is held for someone in the family / the community.

The beginning or the middle of a disaster. ( a bombing , a plane crash, an Apocalypse.? Anything really)

A birth.

The aftermath of a disaster.

A character does something which will be discovered later. Eg; sneaks a love note into someone's possession, poisons the wine, plants a bomb in a car, etc.

A game or contest.

A kiss.

A performance or the conclusion of one.

One character rescues another.

A main character declares he is in big trouble.

A main character is clearly in big trouble.

A main character is in the hospital.

A main character sees a house or city for the first time.

A plane/ ship/ train arrives. ( Your OC might be on board or watching it. If they're on board, you can take the readers on a journey)

Someone gets amazing news.

Someone gets devastating news.

Someone goes on a date.

A scene at a party/bar / nightclub.

A fight scene. ( OC may be participating or watching the fight )

An all-out battle scene.

A character moves to a new place

A dramatic moment in the middle of the end of the story. ( You can decide to start like this and backtrack to show how they got there )

Someone is arrested.

A courtroom trail.

A job interview. ( This helps the story start with the main character being vulnerable and the readers can empathize with them while getting to know them through their inner monologue )

The main character gets fired from their job. ( A nice method for instant empathy)

A chase scene. ( Nothing better to pull the reader than a little action. Hehe ~)

Character or characters wait for another. Maybe an ambush or a surprise party.

A busy street scene.

A character/characters getting ready for an event. Eg; getting dressed, put on makeup, shaved, do their hair .etc

A visitor shows up at the door. ( a stray cat? A future love interest? Someone your character dislikes? Etc )

A character commits a crime.

A character witnesses a crime.

Characters or a character do a job.

One character teaches another how to do something.

Character or characters preparing to dit down at a meal

A character comes across a significant object. ( probably a magical object? A dangerous object like a gun? It could be anything. )

Someone teaches or attends a class.

Your main character discovers something shocking in the possession of their loved one. For example, imagine them discovering a gun / a suicide note, a bloody knife, or clothing, a large amount of hidden money, very disturbing photos, etc )

Your character running away from something or someone dangerous / deadly.

Your main character waking up in an unfamiliar place. ( A nice method to start with a little mystery. Spicy Bonus points: they don't remember how they got there in the first place. Or better yet AMNESIA!! There are many ways to get around it.)

50. Your character being followed. Or they're the one following someone)

[thenerdsstuff]

Narrative Botox: Filler Words and Phrases to Look Out For

If you’re planning on publishing traditionally, chances are you keep a sharp eye on your word count. Literary agents and publishing houses are on the hunt for the best quality stories that they can print for the cheapest price (using the least paper and ink), so you have a higher chance of gaining representation if you can crank your novel out in the least words possible.

However, filler words and phrases aren’t only the enemies of aspiring traditional authors; every writer—fanfic, novelist, journalist, you name it!—should try to eliminate filler from their stories to assure more concise and high-quality writing. Oftentimes, filler contributes nothing but clutter, and without it, your narrative can flow smoother and in a more sophisticated manner.

But how do you know what’s filler and what’s not? Here are some tips on how to Ctrl+F and kick this narrative botox to the curb!

I compiled these lists with the help of Infusionmedia, BDR Publishing, and ResetEra !

Filler Words

1. Just

A writer’s worst enemy, and the bane of my manuscripts’ existences. Eliminating all the ‘just’s can cut down your word count by hundreds.

2. “That” as a conjunction

It’s an unnecessary addition to a sentence, which will be more streamlined without it.

Example: “He said that he wouldn’t do it again.”

Revised: “He said he wouldn’t do it again.”

3. “Now” as an adverb

“Now” is essential if you’re talking about the past and present, but when you’re using it to draw attention to a particular statement or point.

Example: “Now, I didn’t think it’d get so out of hand.”

Revised: “I didn’t think it’d get so out of hand.”

4. Redundant adverbs

These adverbs serve no purpose because the verbs they’re describing already imply the way the action is performed.

Whispering softly

Yelling loudly

Crying sadly

Laughing happily

5. “Telling” words

These words are redundant, especially when using first person, because in describing an event, we can already assume that the characters are experiencing it.

Seeing/saw

Feeling/felt

Hearing/heard

Smelling/smelled

6. “Clarifying” words used to portray definiteness or indefiniteness

Although these are meant to help out the readers get their bearings on a situation, all they do is come across as wishy-washy! Be concise and sure of yourself!

About

Absolutely

Accordingly

Actually

Almost

Basically

Certainly

Clearly

Completely

Entirely

Even

Exactly

Fairly

Highly

Hopefully

Literally

Maybe

Only

Often

Oftentimes

Perhaps

Possibly

Probably

Quite

Rather

Really

Reasonably

Relatively

Seem

Seriously

Simply

Slightly

Some

Somehow

Sometimes

Totally

Very

Filler Phrases

1.“Let out (vocal noise)”

Use the verb instead!

Example: “He let out a sigh.”

Revised: “He sighed.”

2. Using passive voice

Passive voice inflates your word count by including various “to be” verbs into the prose. Passive voice involves actions happening to a subject rather than the subject performing an action, and as a result isn’t as riveting to the reader as active voice; even if it wasn’t a matter of word count, you’d still want to get rid of it anyway!

Still don’t know what I’m talking about? Check out this article from Grammarly.

Example: “The boy was bitten by the dog on his arm.”

Revised: “The dog bit the boy on his arm.”

3. Describing the wrong noun

Many writers will be as specific as possible about what “thing” is affected by the event they’re describing, when it’s much simpler to take a step back and write about something more general.

Example: “The level of water rose.”

Revised: “The water rose.”

4. Phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs are the combination of two or three words from different grammatical categories—a verb and an adverb or a preposition—to form a single action. Usually, these phrasal verbs can be replaced by a single-word verb.

“Ask for” can be replaced with “request”

“Bring down” can be replaced with “reduce”

“Come across” can be replaced with “find”

Etc.

5. Clarifying phrases

Same reason as clarifying words. Get to the point!

A bit

A little

A lot

In a sense

Kind of

Sort of

6. Remember your contractions!

Even if your story takes place in olden times, I can guarantee that if you never use any contractions ever, your story’s gonna be a clunky mess. But sometimes you’re in the moment, consumed by the poetic power of the muses, and forget that this isn’t a soap opera; so make sure you check that you’ve been using your contractions!

It is, it was, it would, she is, would not, should not, is not, does not etc.

7. Inflated phrases

These phrases can be replaced with more concise words.

Along the lines of (shorten to: like)

As a matter of fact (in fact)

As to whether (whether)

At all times (always)

At the present (now or currently)

At this point in time (now or currently)

Be able to/would(n’t) be able to (could or couldn’t)

Because of the fact that (because)

By means of (by)

Due to the fact that (because)

Even though (though or although)

For the purpose of (for)

For the reason that (because)

Have the ability to (could)

In light of the fact that (because)

In order to (to)

In regards to (on or about)

In spite of the fact that (though or although)

In the event that (if)

In the nature of (like)

In the neighborhood of (about)

On the occasion of (when)

On one/two separate occasions (Once/twice)

The/A majority of (most)

There is no doubt that (No doubt)

Wasn(n’t) capable of (could or couldn’t)

Hope this helped, and happy writing!

[thenerdsstuff]

Hey, I need a bit of advice. I'm kindof new to writing, and I know that there's a lot of stuff that goes into writing before you start the story, such as building the characters etc. Do you have like a basic overview of the things that should definitely be done before I try to write things out into a story? Also, what is a character arc and how do I write one? I hope this ask makes sense.

Hi!

There is so much going into a story. But this is not the format to analyse every little detail of it and you also just wanted a basic overview before you start, so here it is.

Basic overview: How to write a story?

Theme

What kind of story do you want to tell?

What do you want to write about?

What genre do you want to write in?

What is your target audience?

Is there a message you want to convey?

Specific issues you want to highlight?

What narrator do you want to tell the story?

 Structure

Before you start you need a rough idea on where to start and where to end

Beginning

Who is there in the beginning and where are they?

Ending

Who is still left and where do they end up?

Bear in mind that a story doesn’t need a happy ending, it just needs a satisfying one

Middle part (you don’t need to know this in detail)

you just need a few scenes to make a timeline

you need to kind of know how to get from the beginning to the end

you will need ups and downs and twists

Some major plot points for the middle part

Places/stops

Plot twists

When and how does the MC meet the other characters?

Key scenes to further the plot

A few scenes you already know you want to have in the story

Characters

How to create a character? (Tips for creating and developing characters)

Who is your MC?

How many MCs do you have?

How many important characters do you need?

Character arc – your character can’t stand still; they need some kind of drive or problem that is a change to what their life was before

You have to send them on a journey, they have to overcome things you threw in their way

At the end of the story something has to have changed for them

 This is just some basic stuff, so if you or anyone else wants some part of this a little bit more detailed let me know.

- Jana

[thenerdsstuff]

What I often see in fiction but want to change...

Why does the bad boy of a story always have to be really disrespectful of the female(s) he likes? Why does the typical "sweet guy" always have to be humble and kind and respectful?

Why can't the good guy for once be oblivious/indifferent due to -insert dark past reason/any other reason- or have any other unlikeable trait usually attributed to the bad guy?

Why can't the bad boy behave respectfully towards his love interest (as in: not violating their personal space, kissing or grabbing them without permission, kidnapping them etc)? IMO, bad boys can still be "bad" in other areas without being total douches to their love interests.

Bad boys are still 'bad' if they break the law a few times (illegal races etc) or have a overall nasty/cool attitude, but behave differently towards their s/o.

I'm tired of seeing the clichee trope of constantly teasing/harrassing your s/o and showing them that kind of 'tough love'.

Also: the colors.

Bad boy colors: black, generally anything dark

Good guy: pure white, anything light

I get the reason for the differences, but for f's sake I would really love to see a bad boy in lighter clothes, like a pink shirt or orange pants or something equally outrageous, blurring the lines between what the usual "color codes" for bad guys are.

Same for the goodie-two-shoes. I want a sweet guy wearing all punk black or have a cinammon roll wear dark nail polish, dark ripped pants with messy hair.

[thenerdsstuff]

Masterpost: How to write a story?

Compilation of writing advice for some aspects of the writing process.

How to motivate myself to write more

How to get rid of writer’s block

Basic Overview: How to write a story

How to come up with plot

How to create a character

How to make a character unique

How to write conversation

How to write the last line

How to create a villain

Introducing a group of characters

Large cast of characters interacting in one scene

Redemption arc

Plot twists

How to write a summary

How to write romance

How to write emotional scenes

How to write yelling

How to title fanfiction

How to use songs in a fanfiction

Fatal Character Flaws

Good traits gone bad

More specific scenarios

Slow burn

How to create quick chemistry

How to write a bilingual character

How to write a character with glasses

How to write a polyamorous relationship

How to write found family

How to create and write a cult

Criminal past comes to light

Reasons for breaking up while still loving each other

Forbidden love

Date gone wrong

Causes for the apocalypse

How to create a coffee shop atmosphere

How to write enemies to lovers

How to write lovers to enemies to lovers

Arranged matrimony for royalty

Paramilitary Forces/ Militia

Honeymoon

Academic Rivals to Lovers

Love Language - Showing, not telling

How to write amnesia

AU ideas

Favourite tropes

Inconvenient things a ghost could do

Milestones in a relationship

How to write age difference

Platonic activities for friends

Introducing partner(s) to family

Writing a stratocracy

Reasons a couple would divorce on good terms

Love Language - Showing you care

How to write the mafia

A Queen’s Assassination Plot

Crime Story - Detective’s POV

Giving the reader butterflies with your characters

Evil organization of assassins

Last day on earth

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