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WRITING CHARACTERS TIPS

If you already have details for the character (ex: they like classical music), ask why. It helps to flesh out the character (ex: their older sister used to play it while they had tea parties, they play it when they miss her)

Make your characters want things, that want controls their actions. Also, MAKE IT MATTER! What's stopping them from getting it? What happens (or what do they think will happen) if they don't get it?

Most of the time strengths and weaknesses are the same thing. Your character may be a strong leader and that's great sometimes, but they can also become (or seem) bossy/controlling.

You are not creating real people; you are making the illusion of one. Don't be afraid to play God. Sure, you can throw events at characters to force them to make that decision, or you can make them the kind of person who would do it anyway. You don't have to know they're favorite food, unless it would come up in the story. Include some details, but make sure they have a purpose (see tip 1)

The characters first line should say something about them and they're last line of the story should say something about them. I like to use it to show how they changed.

Writerblr I need your help 😭

I've just been put in charge of this writing club, we need 4 members to have a club. We have 4. My friends who write but don't want join the club says it's too boring. The set up used last year was:

Writing prompt

Share what we wrote for the writing prompt

Lecture type thing on an aspect of writing

Talk about our WIPs

The ideas I have so far are optional contests (they will have gift cards as prizes) and putting up posters to get the word out about it.

If you have any ideas that could help me, please please please share them.

Writing Hack:

If you have a character that you like or dislike too much temporarily change their name. For example, if you have a character you love (which is making it hard to make them more complex) name them someone you hate. Or vice versa.

For obvious reasons, please change it back.

My weird yet effective writing routine

To me, writing is quite an intuitive process. I basically just follow my gut. Nevertheless, throughout the years, I’ve been able to develop a pretty effective routine, and I’m going to share it with you now!

Writing circuits. I don’t know about you, but I’m super lazy, and I also love to procrastinate. So, instead of writing for three hours straight, I split this time into little circuits and plan them throughout the day. Let’s say I’ll write for an hour in the morning, then an hour and a half in the afternoon and so on. It’s also incredibly beneficial for your health – both mental and physical.

Have a plan.  I’m a discovery writer, and I don’t really outline that much. But as I go about my day – eg. when working out, or running, or cooking, or eating, or sitting and doing nothing because of this procrastination right – I think about what I want to accomplish. And I usually ask myself the following questions. What is the purpose of this scene? Which characters should appear in this scene? Should it be more visual or more internally-focused? What actually happens? How should I describe it? Thanks to this, I have a general plan, and I’m much more motivated to actually write instead of visualizing that scene in my head (we all know this, don’t we?).

Write. Then I write. I write whatever pops into my head. I don’t care if it’s logical. I don’t care how many times I use abruptly, saw, felt, etc. I just allow my imagination to create this story.

Notes. When I end my final little session, I usually leave some comments for myself. What’s going to happen next, what’s the next big thing I want for my characters, etc. Having these notes makes everything easier; I immediately know what I’m supposed to do.

Having fun. I don’t care about the word count, deadlines, or anything like that. I enjoy the process, and I’m always very grateful for everything I write. I actually have this cute/weird habit: Whenever I end my writing session, I say ‘thank you’. Out loud. (Yeah, awkward, huh?) Thank you for my amazing imagination which allows me to create places and people in my mind! This kind of approach always makes me happy and even more motivated for my next writing session.

Three things you must know for any fight scene

I’m back with more advice! On today’s episode: fights. How to write them? How to plan them?

I’m here to help! Wether your a plotter, a pantser or somewhere in between, here are three things you should establish before writing a fight scene.

1) Who wins?

It seems like fairly obvious advice, but when I was a much younger writer, time after time, I’d go into a fight scene with no plan regarding the outcome. Whenever I felt like the fight was over, I’d end it, and whoever came out on top was the winner, regardless of how it made sense in the narrative. 

Establishing a winner from the beginning allows you to build the fight up in a trajectory that makes sense. Once you know who wins, you can better choreograph the scene to keep readers guessing.

2) What are the stakes?

Once you know who wins, you must then decide what the stakes of the fight are. What happens if they lose? If they win? What is gained or lost? This can vary wildly, depending on what genre you’re in. Sci-fi and fantasy will commonly have world-ending stakes a la Avengers: Infinity War. Romance or contemporary stories are more on the ‘suspended from school’ end of the spectrum. 

Either way, you must know what the fight accomplishes for the characters — good or bad. Not only must you know, but you must make sure it’s known for the reader too. If we don’t understand why the characters are fighting, the fight will be confusing and there will be little to no emotional tie.

3) What are the characters’ fighting styles?

This is more secondary information, but I think it’s important for at least the author to know. Ask yourself: Do my characters have previous fighting experience? Do they prefer one style to the other?

A boxer will fight differently from a wrestler. MMA and Karate do not look the same. If your characters have experience in any discipline, put some time towards researching it so you accurately portray it. Even non-combat sports can impact how someone fights. 

If your characters have no fighting experience, they’re much more likely to be ‘scrappy.’ And no — someone with no combat background will not win against someone who does, unless they have untapped magic punching powers. Keep it realistic. 

Once you’ve established these three things, you’re well on your way to writing a powerful fight that hooks readers in!

June - Monthly Drabble

“You—”

“Try it,” he scoffed, then coughed from the dust rising. “The unevenness has caused more of us to fall in these pits—and only few make it out to be reincarnated.” 

“I—” Her throat closed. “I don’t understand.” 

“You don’t need to,” with a wry smile, he leaned back against the decaying bones. “Just make yourself comfortable for another month or so and hope for the best. When they’re done killing each other, then try to negotiate with the gods and make it out.” 

“You want to just die?” 

“Turn around,” he muttered. “I wouldn’t even wish that on my worst enemy.”

taglist: @hahaha-darn-it @hadhafang @ramblings-of-teen-angst @mschvs @aajames217 @bamboozled-boi @luckyricochet @catharticallysarcastic @decamilue @theblueslytherin @tatyhend @tinyoonsblog @vsmith0099 @midnightsora @cupcakesxdomjoon @likeshatteredrainbowglass @scuzmunkie @kookiwu @xjiminsthighsx @dreadity @lovelytaes-blog @noooodlllleeee @ggukkieland @namjoonshug @angelarin @jaiuneamesolitaiire @acsycharm @hollyweird0 @yourtmblrgirlfriend @hesmyphenominiall @decamilue

yeah. post it!

There are a lot of folks who don't understand what kind of slog it really is. They think all the work is done once you write the sucker.

Should I make a post about the process of getting a book published? I was at a writers society meeting the other day and I found out nearly no one in the room knew even where to begin with publishing

If you're a writer of fantasy, horror, or speculative fiction in general, reblog this! Looking for kindred spirits to follow!

Do any of you guys have That One Scene that you fantasize about fans making art for someday? Like you write it and you’re like this. this is an Image.

Anyway this is mine, from SOLE Project:

Matt marvels at them with the rest of the crowd. They look so good together, and powerful. The fact that Beth has just walked on water to get here reminds him just how different they are from their audience. Hans’s wings spread above her head make an iconic image that Matt knows will not be forgotten. Heck, it’ll probably be all over the Internet by the end of the day.

Kati’s Introduction Scene

A SOLE Project Excerpt

Every SOLE character gets an introduction scene like this one, though I will have to change some of them to make them more unique and distinctive. But the only changes this one will be going through is a cut, so why not memorialize it here?

Tagging  @homesteadhorner @kometa-makes-art @knightedwriter @cog-writes @nicholewrites @byjillianmaria @lux-scriptum @golden-eyed-writer @ava-burton-writing @lady-redshield-writes  and @westywrites 

Bright light burns into one of her eyes, then moves away to the other one. She blinks uncomfortably, moving her head from side to side in a drowsy attempt to get away from it.

“Ma’am?” a voice calls out, too loud and too close. “She’s awake.”

Footsteps approach with the sharp sound of high heels. She feels each step like a stab in the head. “Leave us,” a new voice commands, and she hears rather than sees the owner of the first voice hurry away.

“Kati?” The crisp, commanding tone of the woman’s voice has disappeared. It’s now gentle, and inquiring. “Kati, can you hear me?”

Keep reading

If you’ve got an idea, write it down. Don’t overanalyze it. Just start writing and allow the plot to lead you.

take me with you when you go away

/

it's probably paranoid

but his generosity beats like a burden.

always even in his eyes.

faking and taking

the fastest and the fanciest;

what to watch for?

follow the money, follow the lady,

take a bit of a chance

with a little bit of skill.

like playing poker with a god on your side,

it's a hell of a ride.

/

fighting gets you caught,

gets you noticed gets you killed.

racking up the charges,

keep me close and train me well.

/

give it away, toss it aside.

scatter it in sterile soil,

gamble if you like.

but never, ever burn it.

('cause I'll know if you do).

/

never get attached to your cash,

'cause when you're strapped for it,

you can't forget what it was

to live without it.

/

be rich for a day or a week

you'll lose it.

money like that ties you down,

trips you up, takes you

out of this world.

can't do anything with it,

can't do without it.

/

fly through the sky,

fall down from Mars.

and when you're back,

when you land on the earth

earthed like lightning,

what do you do?

case the next mark, pick the next stop

on the road.

/

hang your hat where you lay your head,

no. hold up your head.

walk into the space like you own the place

(you do).

and here's the key:

he'll always come back 'til he doesn't.

/

never seen the ocean

never seen the border,

and it'll be warm and it'll be wrong.

and whatever magick fills you.

and whatever gods protect you.

it's a full-time fucking job.

so I think I'll stay right here,

not going with you when you go.

/

and I'm playing telephone with my life

and I make a fool of myself with tongues and truth,

I make a fool of myself with words and teeth,

but I never make a fool outta him.

/

so it's raining shoes and sipping liqour,

wishing you well, a well-wisher.

words stretch and slip beneath my lips

so I run

and I sit

with the silence

(not him).

/

AKB 2019

/

Sitting on the bus

In my mouth the taste of tea

Maintaining my calm

/

AKB 2016

/

Rice sweets and macha

Complementing each other

Rest on my palate

/

AKB 2016

/

Light shines down through trees

Bokke on my camera screen

Dapples now captured

/

AKB 2016

/

Light shines down through trees

Bokke on my camera screen

Dapples now captured

/

AKB 2016

A Love Affair with the Earth While the Sun Looks On

/

The earth is your home

The sea, my legacy.

Every edge of me touching

Every edge of you.

/

I say touch, I mean push, nudge

Sometimes I bite

And you crumble

Into my mouth

Then rebuild, elsewhere.

/

In the cracks between my toes

Only sand grows.

Wan like my frost

Not the kind dark

Where good things thrive.

Bees won't land on me.

/

Glacial, I melt on hot days

My ridges recede, oceans rise.

In loving you, I flood you.

Resistance isn't futile

In this war we call a game.

/

In the trenches we plot attrition,

Waves like infantry carry it out.

You let me brush up against you,

Still you roar,

And smile sideways with knowledge.

I'll never win.

/

It's a race to the end.

Blood in my ears, oil in your blood.

You taste the salt and spit it out.

/

Unstuck and out of synch.

Here are my offerings.

There's no man here

Just entities

Beyond belief.

And still, all I ask is:

Will you touch me?

/

You push inside of me

While I only lap at your thighs,

Twisting and calling

Breathing in and out with the moon

While your rhythm waits on the sun.

/

The sun, giver and taker

Beats down hotter, beams out brighter

Burns the world and starts anew.

I wouldn't want it without you.

/

AKB 2019

Day 2: Mindless? I certainly felt it. More of a doodle than anything... Now with free haiku!

/

Brainless not mindless.

Sure, don't mean you can trust me...

Decide for yourself.

/

AKB 2019

Day 2: Mindless? I certainly felt it. More of a doodle than anything... Now with free haiku!

/

Brainless not mindless.

Sure, don't mean you can trust me...

Decide for yourself.

/

AKB 2019

Day 3: Bait. To reel 'em in. Another poem to go with my sketch and I'm falling for Inktober. Hook, line, and sinker.

/

My heart on a hook,

Such sweet bait to catch a crook.

My soul on a string.

/

AKB 2019