writersbloxx

[writersbloxx]

Quick Pulse Check

I'm thinking about writing fics to see what that does for my writers block.. I'd prob put them on a diff blog or ao3 but here are some things I've fixated on most recently:

pls feel free to comment any other favs of yours I should check out!

[writersbloxx]

I know this is a common question, but I just need a few ideas. It would mean a lot. What are the key characteristics of a story that make the characters star-crossed lovers?

Heyy!

When writing star crossed lovers, it's super important that their story is hopeless. Fate is real. Destiny is real. Their lives are written in the stars in different fonts. Their paths are never meant to cross. At least not the way they'd like to. The concept of "star-crossed lovers" originates from the belief that the position of the starts during one's birth dictates the course of their life.

It's important to establish chemistry, the ways that the relationship would work, the ways that these two characters love and choose each other. It's also just as important to make sure that every reason this relationship won't work is overwhelmingly out of their control. Having a good balance between both these elements can give your story a good push and pull- cute and angst. Make the reader believe at least once that its possible for the two to be happy together.

A good and classic example would be "Romeo and Juliet." We know from the start that their love is forbidden. Yet they are still able to meet, fall in love, and enact a plan to finally be together. However, a mistake completely out of their hands leads their love story to tragedy.

If your characters are star crossed lovers, they will not end up together. They will fight for a way around it, but the relationship will ultimately be sabotaged by the world around them.

Happy Writing! Hope this helped! 💜

[writersbloxx]

how to find relatablity in a story filled with utter fantasy nonsense?

If you view it as "nonsense," it just may not be the genre for you...

You might enjoy fantasy more if you read it for fun rather than relatability. And depending on the story you may still be able to relate to certain characters and their traits. You could also try stories that are realistic fiction.

[writersbloxx]

hi i'm struggling writing a story and need some help, how do i develop a plot? like if i have the ideas but i'm not sure how to advance it towards the finale? thank you for any advice or even taking the time to read this <3

Hii!!

A great jumping off point in writing a story is taking inventory of what you have so far. This includes all of your characters, their roles in the plot, and the major events that you want to put in the story. I have posts in my master list about structuring a plot (I briefly summarize the 3 and 5 act structure, but you can also look up the 7 act structure for a deeper look) and building characters and backstories that can help with this.

Another great way to visualize the story is making a timeline. This can help organize your thoughts on events you already plan to write into the story and see if there are any plot holes or spaces to add other plot points. This can be done any way you like, but a website recommended to me is the ChronoFlo Timeline Maker where you can make a free account.

Also, try not to think too much about your ending. It's best to get out all of your ideas and all there is you want to write and then piece it all together. You don't need to know exactly how the story ends before you start, just work with what you are sure of now and see where it takes you.

Happy writing! Hope this helped! 💜

[writersbloxx]

Need a Tip:

How do I unlearn the notion that my art/writing has to be perfect to be worthwhile?

Hii @hoyabembedreamtime!

This is a great question and something I've struggled with myself.

My best advice would be to start writing/drawing for yourself- forget the idea of anyone else reading or critiquing your work and create it because the story/art is meaningful and important to you. Don't hesitate when you get the urge to create something. Don't delete something you've written because you think it's bad. Get it all out first, and fix it up after.

It is also important that you don't feel pressured to show your writing /art to others if you aren't ready to. Knowing that whatever you're writing won't be judged is super liberating.

I also have a post on staying motivated and enjoying writing which can help!

Hope this helps! Happy writing! 💜

[writersbloxx]

Heyy, um I have a lil question, can you tell us (TELL ME) How to make a story? I mean, I'm a little good, but the plot is what I'm missing. Please help. 🌀

Hi @ilikeskyyyy!

When building a plot it's important to have a strong idea of your core premise. Some standard ways of forming a clear idea are the three-act-structure or the five stages of plot.

Three-Act Structure:

Act 1 (set up) ~ introduces main characters, goals, and initial problem/conflict

Act 2 (confrontation) ~ conflict escalates, characters encounter obstacles, stakes are raised

Act 3 (Resolution) ~ MC faces the climax, obstacles are overcome, initial conflict is resolved

Five Stages of Plot:

pretty similar to the 3-act-structure in terms of content but more broken up.

1- Exposition: starting up your beginning with setting, characters and the situation

2- Rising Action: narrative builds tension and central conflict is introduced

3- Climax: turning point and highest point of the story, conflict reaches its peak

4- Falling Action: where things start to be resolved and the story moves to its conclusion

5- Resolution: final outcome where loose ends are tied up

So I feel that these structures are helpful in mapping out major plot lines or where you want the story to go, but this isn't the be-all and end-all of plot structure. Sometimes a conflict isn't fully resolved. It can be intriguing to leave some questions unanswered. Maybe you want to introduce certain characters differently. Maybe you want to present certain issues/elements in different places. Either way, this structure is a good way to check off the basics and map out what you want to happen with your story.

In my master list, I have some posts about building characters, writing a character backstory, and more that can add to this.

Happy Writing!! 💜

[writersbloxx]

Hi, can I ask on how to write for yourself if you're a public writer?

Hii @aisyah-heartly!

Lmk if I've misinterpreted this, but I think that when posting/releasing your works publicly, writing for yourself starts with enjoying what you are writing.

Making sure that you are motivated and happy with your writing is key. It shouldn't feel like a chore. It's great to take tips, prompts, etc. but at the end of the day, what you write is up to you. Meaning that whether it's "for you" and your enjoyment is ultimately up to you. Also note that while it's important to be open to criticism, try not to let any negativity towards you or your work affect your will to write or your style.

I have some posts about staying motivated/enjoying your writing and beating writers block to expand on this.

Happy writing!! 💜

[writersbloxx]

Screaming

Snippet of a WIP:

*also- if you have an ask rotting in my inbox rn im sry its been a while and promise i'm working on it 🙏🏾*

[writersbloxx]

Any tips for someone who completly stuck in writeblock with no actual reason? I wasn't writing in years but i can't let it go either.

Hi @afusiek!

Writers block can be really tough and as someone who has struggled with it off and on, I'd love to help with some tips!

I have a similar post here about how to enjoy writing/staying motivated, but I'd like to dive deeper into dealing with writers block, as I've seen a lot of people ask about this.

Dealing With Writers Block

Finding inspiration is key. Diving into other creative works is a great way to do this. Read any books or fics you love, watch a great movie, listen to a podcast even. And if you encounter something you don't like, write what you would've done differently.

Change your environment. A new space offers a new perspective.

Literally force yourself to write. It doesn't have to be for a novel, but a way to get creative juices flowing again is by starting small and freewriting. Set a ten minute timer and write about your day, describe the room you're in, or even a recent dream you've had like its a story. Put your phone and all other distractions away and just write, even if it isn't perfect. If you create a routine, soon you can set this timer for thirty minutes or an hour and start working on a story.

Poetry. A way I overcame writers block was through free verse poetry because this can literally be anything, through any format, and with any length. Write down whatever comes to mind, whether it rhymes or not and whether it makes sense or not.

Brainstorm. If you want to craft a story, get a piece of paper, set a timer and write down every idea you can come up with, whether you find it interesting or not, and see where one of them can take you.

Lower your expectations- no first draft is ready to be published. A bad paragraph is more to work with than a blank page.

People watch. Its a weird suggestion, I know, but look out the window, or sit outside and first describe what you see, then build a story around it. Simply writing down what you are seeing gives you a concrete jumping off point.

Talk to someone, take regular breaks when writing, avoid comparison, try new methods/genres, and revisit old works

Hope this helped and happy writing!

[writersbloxx]

can we have body language for unrequited love?

Hi Anon! 

This is a really interesting ask so I’m gonna split it between a character in love and someone who doesn't feel the same. Hope it makes sense!

Unrequited Love

An Unrequited Character:

Daydreaming about (unlikely) interactions (this can be a way they project their own perception/hopes onto the other person)

More jealous/envious of those close to who they love

Going out of their way to initiate contact or make excuses to be around this person

Maybe this character believes that the other person secretly loves them (or will grow to love them if they just keep pushing it)

Putting the one they love on a pedestal, longing for them and fixating on even the smallest interactions, overthinking every social cue

Feeling angry, embarrassed, hurt, and frustrated when rejected or when they show interest in someone else

Confused about why they aren't feeling the same way. They may feel small or inadequate/insecure

The One They Love:

Many body language cues can happen here, but above all with unrequited affection, this character will avoid any chance of giving the other any hope of reciprocation.

Avoiding/minimal eye contact

Avoiding time with the other person (making excuses or finding other people to accompany them so they don't have to be alone together)

Lack of mirroring (postures/gestures and even energy/mood) or leaning away/creating extra space between them

This character may experience anxiety or nervousness when around the other person or over think their interactions (“did I give them the wrong idea?”)

Maybe being outright unkind to the other character or frequently bringing up their own romantic interest

Masking discomfort or deflecting affection can also turn into a sort of fawning, which would only fuel the cycle in this scenario. This can look like smiling to hide their discomfort, avoiding conflict by engaging in (what can be light) conversation, or even making empty promises to please the other person and end an interaction sooner.

[writersbloxx]

could you do a body language post about how to write someone going through grief, specifically describing some of the very different ways people react to grief?

- 🍡

Hi Anon!

This is a great question! Here are some ideas:

Grief

Different Kinds of Grief

Acknowledging or accepting feelings- this can look like many things. Seeking support from others, time to themselves, expressing themselves and their grief through creative outlets or other skills they can concentrate their energy into, self care, and more

There is also denial of these feelings. Refusing to acknowledge what happened, avoiding conversations/talking about it, flat out saying that whatever happened isn't true. They can also busy themselves with work or other outlets to keep from thinking about what happened

Refusing to accept reality can also look like suppressing negative emotions and carrying on with their regular routines or even adopting an oddly positive exterior

If a character doesn't understand their grief or what's happened to cause it, emphasize that confusion and how they try to work through it

Body Language

This is pretty broad and everyone grieves differently but here are some examples that go with the shock/realization in initial grief

More slumped posture/head down or decreased eye contact. Maybe your character wants to hide their pained expression or the fact that they may be crying

Slowed movements, withdrawal from social interactions, distancing themselves. Signs that the character is emotionally/physically drained

Tightness in their chest, shortness of breath, headaches. Think of cause and effect. Maybe their eyes are dry from crying or their stomach aches because they haven't been eating

Hope this helped! Lmk if there’s something here I can be more specific about

[writersbloxx]

Hi! Could I ask for some body language for general love? Like fluffy kind of love? Shy but like.. I don’t know, flustered? A little hard to describe what I mean haha

Hi Anon! I had a lot of fun with this one

Writing Fluffy/Shy Love

Body language:

Prolonged or fleeting eye contact, dilated pupils, lingering gazes at the person your character(s) interested in. As if they’re fixated on something about this person, or looking for something new about them to fixate on. (If flustered, then darting their eyes away or quickly averting their gaze if caught staring)

Fidgeting, sweaty palms, leaning in

Closeness: your characters will find any excuse to touch. Holding hands, sitting close to one another, touching knees when seated, draping arms around shoulders or legs across laps, gentle touches, playful nudges, etc. This type of physical contact is gonna be a slow burn with flustered/shy characters. For example, if they're holding hands, don't just say they are, describe them inching closer, brushing one of their fingers against the other’s palm, making eye contact. Find nonverbal cues/body language that initiates closeness. 

Soft smiles, relaxed brows, attentive looks (watching the other’s hands, eyes, lips, etc) 

Frequent laughter, open posture

Subconsciously mirroring the other’s body language/picking up some of each other’s mannerisms or habits without realizing it

Inner thoughts or Dialogue:

Overthinking/over-analyzing interactions between them and the one they love

Deeper concern and empathy for the person they love

More genuine interest in what the other says/does, deeper understanding/knowledge of their habits and behavior. Maybe a character loads more attention on their partner’s words/wants above their own.

Dialogue/dynamics in a couple depends on their personalities. Can be more playful/teasing with banter, passionate, casual, quiet, etc. All relationships are different from more passionate ones to companionate ones, and more.

Are both character’s flustered? Explore what it looks like when they're both hesitant or shy around each other. 

If it's one flustered character, what happens when the other notices how shy they are?

General tips:

Linger more on the simplicity/normalcy of the moment. Fluff isn't dramatic twists or arguments. Cuddling while watching a movie, character A playing with character B’s hair while they do the dishes, one doting on the other when they're sick.

The tone here is going to be more cute, domestic, and comfortable.

Remember that in fluffy/shy love it's a great start to have a friendship between the characters as a foundation rather than a romance standing on its own. Why do your characters love each other? What little things do they love about each other?

should i do dialogue prompts with this or try a post diving deeper on relationship dynamics?

[writersbloxx]

Hi!!! So i need a little help please, english isn't my first language and I'm experimenting with english writing for the first time, I'm struggling with grammar and ppl have suggested me to use grammarly, would that be ethical? Is there an alternative that is ethical?

Hi Anon!

For more basic grammar checks, the use of grammarly is generally acceptable. If this is a question of academic integrity, it really does depend on the assignment/professor because grammarly is still AI powered with content generation. If it's for your personal projects, grammarly claims to adapt to your writing style, but over-reliance on this tool could lead to plagiarism.

Some more traditional tools that don't rely as heavily on generative AI are the built-in grammar checks in Microsoft Word or Google Docs. It also never hurts to have your work proofread by a native English speaker.

All online grammar checks use AI. However, it's easy to navigate responsible use of it. Just avoid making them your primary tool and relying too much on their paraphrasing options. Also be sure to treat their corrections as suggestions, reviewing them carefully to be sure they fit into the context of your writing.

Happy writing!

[writersbloxx]

Could we get some body language tips on disgust and/or sickness?

Body Language

When someone is...

Disgusted/Sick

Disgust:

Face/Body:

If a character's disgust is visible, the face will be more wrinkly/scrunched up.

Furrowed or lowered brow, wrinkled nose, raised upper lip, grimacing

Hunched over, turning away, and/or covering sensory areas like nose, eyes, mouth. Just trying to block out whatever is triggering their disgust

Voice:

Inflections that give away disapproval/revulsion. Maybe short or clipped speech patterns

Sharp tone/raised pitch. Maybe gagging or choking sounds

Sickness:

This will depend on what illness your character has. Research symptoms/side effects and build off of those.

For example, if the character is experiencing congestion, their voice will be nasally/heavy. If they're coughing or have a sore throat, their voice will be hoarse, or they'll speak quieter to keep from straining.

Look at how their mood/behavior changes if they are feverish, delirious, etc. Some people can go about their everyday lives with a common cold, but many people aren't themselves when bedridden or in pain.

If you are writing a character with a chronic illness, put a lot of research into the symptoms, any medicines and their side effects, how a person's mind is affected, and even look at how it can affect your character's relationship with others.

happy writing!

[writersbloxx]

how would one go about with writing unnerved characters? Not afraid, but more like paranoid-

Writing Paranoia

Hi anon! To start, a really cool example is the story I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison (!TW!). It's 13 pages, you can find it online, and a central theme is paranoia, especially through the narrator's suspicion/distrust.

Some tips on writing a character who's paranoid:

Don't have their personality revolve around their paranoia: it can be a prevalent trait, but no one is completely on guard 24/7. Its ok for this character to be relaxed at times, and on a normal day, your character may have other things to focus on before paranoid thoughts have free reign

The character will likely know that they're paranoid. Play with their point of view. If the story is in first person, you can have fun crafting an unreliable narrator. Take chances to give the audience reasons to doubt or not trust this character. They don't willingly cause problems, but they do feel trapped.

On that note, if the character is aware, maybe try showing how they will attempt to control their paranoia/nerves. You can also build up to a slow realization that they are paranoid

This character shouldn't make complete sense to the reader. Leaps in logic that make sense to the character or drawing early conclusions that can spiral into more, or get disproved later. Taking drastic action to solve issues which seems right to them but crazy to others

How they interact with other characters is important- their paranoia is clearer when others are brushing them off. There aren't many people who believe them (or maybe they have many people who do, which can in turn cause more issues)

If they keep to themselves, also a great way to focus on distrust between the character and the reader

Happy Writing! 💜

[writersbloxx]

Thinking about possibly starting another blog

I'm trying to motivate myself to keep writing but I also want to encourage other writers and see what you're working on.. asks/comments are open if you have thoughts on this

[writersbloxx]

Hi! Can you give tips for writing explosions? For example a building exploding or a vehicle or a bomb. Like the reader should physically feel the gravity of the explosion and it's impact.

Hi anon!! I loved this question!

Here are some tips on writing a convincing explosion scene:

Perspective:

Focus on the perspective of the character that is experiencing this and weave the rest of the scene around them.

If they know the bomb is about to go off: Note how they hold their breath when they realize nothing can be done, how the world stops for a second before it goes off, try to capture whatever fear, dread, or other emotions they may be feeling. Really draw out these moments and the tension in them.

If they don't know the bomb is about to go off: Remember that they don't have the time to think or realize that something is exploding. Really play with the confusion and surprise of the moment. What does this look like for them if they don't have time to brace themselves? If they didn't even have time to try and stop it? What is your character thinking and feeling here?

The Explosion:

We know what an explosion looks like, so the level of attention you want to place on the blast is really up to you as an author, and how it fits with the rest of your story. If you have an omniscient narrator, it may be best to keep things on the light side, but if your point of view is limited to one narrator/character during the blast, really focus on their experience and thoughts.

Explosion (or other words like burst, rupture, eruption) of sound, light and heat. Will be deafening and damage hearing if your character is near. If it's dark, describe how the blinding light transformed the world around your character.

Your character would feel the vibration of the explosion before the sound hits. Describe them being thrown back by the force and the shock wave.

Maybe there's debris flying through the air; shards of glass, wood, metal.

Ultimately, pay more attention to the before and after than the explosion itself. An explosion has urgency and immediacy which can be diminished if you spend too much time dwelling on it. Set the scene by showing how it ravaged the environment around it, show the characters reeling, their ears ringing, and their eyes burning.

Other elements:

Sensory details are your friend.

If it fits, pay attention to the situation around the explosion and capture the atmosphere in those moments. Is your character supposed to stop the explosion? Really play with the time crunch and the panic that comes with that.

If it's a building: describe what that looks like. Are there people inside? Have your audience picture the building when it was intact so we know what's at stake. Then have us picture it caving in, or crumbling. Describe the debris falling onto the streets below.

If it's a car: describe its appearance and any potential signs that its about to happen like damage, smoking hood, or leaking fluids. Maybe your character can smell gas. Sounds like popping noises and grinding metal. The twisted metal of the car during/after the explosion.

Hope this helps!