selfemployedmess

[selfemployedmess]

Hi to you reading this.

I have been feeling terrible. Yes, terrible and dumb. And I feel everything around me is designed to make me dumber, and lose motivation and focus and everything remotely human and good in life. Like most addictions, the start point for me would be "Well I chose it, didn't I?" But thinking a little bit, retrospectively, did I really have a choice? To not choose something that is designed to "make things more convenient" or to "make life easier"? Like, clearly I'm not the only one who thinks that pausing, or even slowing down would mean not being able to catch up with the crowd, but where tf are they headed? Why am I rushing there? Can't I like just walk slowly, enjoy the sights, get there eventually? If you thought, "Well, why not? It's your life right?" No, you're wrong. You know what those rushing are taking with them? Money and monetary opportunities. I neither have the money, nor those survival skills to not want money, or monetizable skills to like create the monetary opportunities for myself. I'm absolutely cooked and afraid.

Any advice?

[selfemployedmess]

Overthinking and anxiety are partners in crime.

[selfemployedmess]

I could say "Hi" but why would I do that when I can send you a song instead.

Here's a list of my current favs :

I am not who I was - Chance Peña

Sun to Me - Zach Bryan

Something, somehow, someday - ROLE MODEL

Blowing smoke - Gracie Abrams

Watermelon Moonshine - Lainey Wilson

Omg!! This is such a meaningful introduction. I was so excited, but then I also got a bit overwhelmed because "how can I respond to this in a meaningful way??"

I don't think you will be disappointed to know that mine don't overlap with yours (yet!).

But here’s what I'm gonna do. Listen to all of them and get back to you to connect through them. Meanwhile, here are some songs in my head right now...

1. Maestro - Onew

2. Deja Vu - Taemin

3. Situations - DaniLeigh

4. Igloo - Kissoflife

5. Hopeless Valentine - Daiseychain

(There are more but I'll keep to 5 too!!)

Thanks for this ❤️

I hope I find more ways to connect with you in future too!! ✨️

[selfemployedmess]

Happy storyteller saturday!

Do you listen to any music when you are writing, or when trying to get in the mood for writing? What kinds of music?

Omg It's you ❤️❤️

Happy storyteller saturday!!

Thanks of asking these questions and giving me a chance to yap away.

I listen to a lot of music.There is no fixed genre to be real with you.

Often when I'm discovering new pieces or relistening to the old ones, I pay attention to the lyrics and sometimes I find the perfect lyrics ro describe whatever situation my characters are in. That helps me visualise scenes better and finally write it down. I find myself pausing through the piece to match with it and that makes me quite annoying to be around haha. (This also happens when I'm reading something btw) (Like "wow how is there a song for this??" types)

I also get new ideas when listening to some songs. Like the perpetual "What if??" Helps with brainstorming.

But I don't think I sit down for focused writing with a random ass playlist playing on the side. I can't hear myself think that way.

I do, on occasion (writer's block), listen to curated writing/reading playlists on youtube or spotify, or simply classical music or just pretty music (no singing) playlists to get the process started.

Thanks for asking this ask. You've successfully reminded me to sit down and write. ✨️

(I cannot be sorry enough for subjecting you to a wall of text. My apologies 👉👈)

[selfemployedmess]

Today, I finally managed to complete some tasks after procrastinating and overthinking and being physically incapable of doing them for a couple of days. The heaviness has not subsided since I clicked the submit button. I feel nauseous. But there is a little bit of relief. But I also feel like crying. What is wrong with me. But at least it's done for now.

[selfemployedmess]

Write it.

Even if you think it's only you who will read it (and like it).

Believe it or not, there are several weirdos in this world like you, who would like to read your work (and like it). ✌️

"Would anyone want to read --" Listen, imma stop you right there. Yes. YES, someone would want to read that. You write that weird little fucked up story. Or that domestic little slice of life story. That drabble or that 300k monster.

I promise someone wants to read it.

[selfemployedmess]

''what if my writing isn't good eno--'' what if it's a reflection of your soul. what if it has a place in this world. what if you write it anyway

[selfemployedmess]

😭

me as a writer

[selfemployedmess]

Happy STS!

Do your characters have any favorite foods? If so what are they and why do they like them?

Is this.... my first ask?? Omg @indoorghost thanks for asking me. Hehe. Happy STS to you too. ❤️

Right now I am working with just vibes, I guess. I don't have a solid story/plot. I have a couple of main characters sure and I'm trying to swim in some serious romance waters. But so far I've got like names?? And a general idea of what they must be like trait wise!! Even a bit of what's up with them. So naturally, I haven't really thought about their favourite foods. 😭😭

So my main ML is this happy-go-lucky cutesy funny type person who likes to be pampered, but can also be extremely passionate when he is trying to solve mysteries, or romantically pursuing an older woman, my main FL (not that much older than him), who has forgotten what's it's like to be easygoing because she's gone through some sh"t.

So if I had to choose really, I'd say contrary to his fluffy character, ML likes to binge on serious spicy food, especially when he experiences any forms of setbacks. And my FL secretly enjoys eating sweets because that keeps her connected to her peaceful past with her loving fam before the sh*t went down. 🤔

I think I'll start looking into my main characters more deeply after this point so I can flesh them out entirely. Hehe.

Thanks once again. 👉👈

What's up with your characters in the food territory?? 😊😊

[selfemployedmess]

Every hour, every minute, every second,

You know night after night

I'll be poking, you write, any day a week.

[selfemployedmess]

The number of things I've forgiven myself for doing, using the excuse "It's for reference", is offensive now.

[selfemployedmess]

*writes a sentence or two after writing nothing for days*

[selfemployedmess]

Thanks a lot for this 👉👈

I just read through this post -- Etiquette of the Edwardian Era and La Belle Époque: A Day in the Life of a Socialite-- you mentioned married and unmarried ladies. Could you also throw some light on the day to day life of a young widow and an older widow in this era?

Including some bit about what colours they would usually wear? Black? And a teeny bit about their public and private treatment? As in their society. Would they ever be allowed remarriage, or even public appearances? I think not. But just curious.

A young widow would have much the same life as a married woman, only now she would likely hold less events. She would still be invited to events, go shopping etc. She would move out of the home if her children are grown but if they are young, she would stay at home. She could travel if she wanted, many widows took themselves off on long holidays.

As for an older widow, she would live a more quieter life at the dower house. She would act as patron to charities but would likely not take too large a role on the active part in it.

Both would wear black in their first year of mourning but would likely progress to colours by 18 months.

[selfemployedmess]

I hate that this is what is happening right now. @agirlandherquill tags me in the lovely prompts of Writemas, and my sorry ass brainstorms a good bit but fails to write it down. Procrastination is a terrifying piece of crap. That's it. That's all I had to say.

"I should write" *looks at memes about writers procrastinating writing instead*

[selfemployedmess]

This is what I mean when I say I have vibes but no story/plot.

[selfemployedmess]

This. This. THIS.

the first rule of writing is that there are no rules. the second rule is to save your work every 5 minutes because technology is a fickle god.

[selfemployedmess]

Hey, do you have any tips for historical detective fiction?

(I would like to draw inspiration from our own history but create an Alternate Universe cause I'm too afraid to get things wrong, might as well make a new country or something from scratch with it's own history.)

Writing Notes: Historical Detective Fiction

Historical detective fiction is an important sub-category of historical fiction in general. As such, it should be judged by the same criteria applied to historical fiction; namely, that a certain verisimilitude is present.

All the events depicted may not have actually happened but the reader should believe that they could have happened.

Moreover, when real events are mingled with fictional ones, that mixing must appear to be natural.

Additionally, real historical characters must act in accordance with their distinguishing characteristics and in conformity with what we know about them.

Martin and Annette Meyers, authors of the Dutchman detective series, know and adhere to these standards.

Their careful adaptation of their novels to the demands of the historical genre has made them a model of historical detective writing.

Using the Fantasy Fiction Continuum, Historical Fiction edges a little further into the realm of Fantastical.

The author describes a past world that modern readers are unfamiliar with by painting mental pictures of times, locations, customs & cultures that no longer exist.

Some Tips from a Historical Fiction Writer:

The big hook for many readers is that the history is real and many of the characters did walk the Earth. But that means readers want it to be accurate. They will be quick to pick on poor research and ‘iffy’ twists on reality and time. But you will sometimes get it wrong – or reality just messes your story. Writing tips for any aspiring authors in this genre are:

Never give up on researching

Keep learning and developing

Accept all feedback – even the highly critical is useful

If you need to twist reality – be honest

People who point out your mistakes can seem pernickety, but they are generally of good intention. Even if not – pretend they are and keep a reader

Common Elements of Historical Fiction

Setting: The setting is the most important part of a historical fiction novel. It should take place during an authentic period in history and be set in a real historical place. For example, New York City during the Great Depression or Paris, France during World War II.

Plot: The plot in a historical fiction novel is a combination of real events and fictional events. You can invent characters, cities, and events, but they still must make sense to the time period. For example, a novel set in London, England in 1666 would benefit from incorporating the Great Fire of London, a major turning point in the city’s history.

Characters: The characters can be real, fictional, or both, but they should all look, speak, and act in ways that accurately reflect the era. For example, if you are writing a book about Mary Tudor, it shouldn’t disregard or reinvent her family history as the daughter of Henry VIII and sister to Elizabeth I, who both played an important role in Mary’s reign.

Dialogue: The dialogue must be authentic to the time period and should reflect the status of the characters who are speaking. For example, British soldiers in the Revolutionary War wouldn’t use Western slang of today.

Conflict: The problems the characters encounter should be conflicts people of that era would encounter. For example, your book might describe the hesitation and fear German soldier feels as he is to the Eastern Front, where he knows he is likely to die.

Tips for Writing Historical Fiction

Free write to brainstorm ideas. If you’re interested in writing historical fiction but don’t know where to start, spend 15 minutes writing in your notebook about a period or historical event you’re interested in rendering in fiction. Note any assumptions you have about the period, cultural depictions of it in other books and films, and what specifically interests you about this moment in history.

Find an interesting way into a time period. Consider using a historical time period as a backdrop and placing fictional characters and events within that world. Or, choose a historical event and create fictional characters who experienced it and whose lives were affected by it

Do your research. In addition to getting the historical facts correct, the smaller details are important, too. Write an inventory of the details in your work that you haven’t researched but should check. Likely, these will be small things—for example, the color of refrigerators—whose accuracy will keep a reader interested and make your story more credible.

Build a world. World-building makes a historical fiction books more authentic and gives readers a reason to keep coming back. Include details about the world in which your story takes place to give readers historical context and balance those exotic details with familiar, relatable ones to keep the story grounded. However, don’t add information just to add it; make sure every part of your world-building advances the story.

Don’t get bogged down in dialogue. Different historical eras have different vocabulary and grammatical structures. Include occasional words and phrases to reinforce the historical setting, but don’t include so many that the novel becomes difficult to read and less enjoyable.

Add fictional characters. Even if you’re writing about true events, you can take some creative liberties. Introducing fictional characters to complement those based on actual historical figures can help you move the story along, inject personality, and keep it entertaining.

Choose which of these tips for historical fiction work best for your story and incorporate them with elements of Detective Fiction.

Sources: 1 2 3 ⚜ More: Notes & References

The elements found in other subgenres overlap with detective historical fiction as well, so here are previous posts that you might find helpful as references:

Clues in Crime Fiction

Basic Narrative Pattern of Crime Fiction

Writing Notes on Pain & Violence

Writing Tips: A "Convincing" Mystery

In creating your fictional world from scratch, here are some worksheets and templates on worldbuilding that may guide you, or more references on worldbuilding.

Hope this helps with your writing!