boneskullravenriver - Tumblr blog

[boneskullravenriver]

please please please please reblog if you’re a writer and have at some point felt like your writing is getting worse. I need to know if I’m the only one who’s struggling with these thoughts

[boneskullravenriver]

Me: *beating myself over the head over my writing*

The brain worms: "you're not even going to publish this. What are you doing lol"

[boneskullravenriver]

Sometimes it's best to just start

For years I struggled with actually writing, though I guess I still struggle sometimes. It's gotten easier to manage over time though.

One of my major issues was that I would exhaust myself planning the story, and then I wouldn't be able to write. I used to be able to just write without thinking of outlines, but somewhere along the way I had a thought -- "REAL writers plan out their stories." And I was essentially gatekeeping myself out of my own stories, because as usual, I'd listened to all this writing advice that often started as, "You need to do this--" or some other variation.

But every time I started a new story I'd come to a road block. Because planning was just. so. BORING to me. And it exhausted me far more than actually writing. So what usually ended up happening was I'd plot for, like, thirty minutes and then be so tired for the rest of the day. Which meant no writing was being done. And eventually this trend would continue until I just dropped the story entirely because of burn out.

What I've realized about myself is that I often like to leave surprises for myself in the story. I'll have certain story beats planned out that I'll work towards in my story, leaving it up to my own surprise how we get there.

And anyway, I shouldn't have to worry about being absolutely perfect on my first way through the story, right? So if you're having trouble figuring out plot points or worried about burnout from planning... Maybe it's time to just start writing.

[boneskullravenriver]

Question for my writer folks on here. Because this has been bugging me. Specifically talking to people doing long form works like a novel original story or a multi chaptered fic if you're doing fanfiction.

Do you write each chapter in a separate document and keep them together in a folder or do you keep each chapter in one big document separated by headers??

I used to do the second but I've started doing the first. I dunno. It feels neater to have them separated, and I can see the accurate word counts but again, I feel like maybe having it all separated might feel too cluttered....

[boneskullravenriver]

Listen. Beloveds. I say this gently. But you have got to stop using the "oh yeah? you think it's fine to ship this? trying telling your family members and coworkers about your ship and see how they react 😤" argument in your shipping discourse.

You do realise that to most normies who have never been in fandom, all shipping is deranged behaviour, right? You know this, right?? You do know that even if your ship is the most wholesome and unproblematic thing possible, if you go up to your Great Auntie Barbara or Gary From I.T. or whoever and are like "oh yeah one of my main hobbies? going online every single day without fail and talking to a bunch of strangers about how much these same two fictional characters should kiss. yeah I spend HOURS of my free time drawing them kissing and writing them kissing and editing footage of the show to appear more romantic too", there's a strong chance they are going to think you are unbelievably embarrassingly cringe at best and utterly insane and worth avoiding from now on at worst, right????

Please. Please don't encourage impressionable teens and young adults to think it's okay to bring up any fandom shit at the dinner table or in the staffroom unprompted without the danger of having real social repercussions. Please my loves you are stressing me out. Please promise me you don't do this. Oh baby no.

[boneskullravenriver]

I'm sick and tired of people on Tiktok honestly. Especially when it comes to fandom. The most dog water takes ever. Like no. I AM going to give you the side eye if you're harassing authors for what they write on AO3. It's an ARCHIVE. why are advocating for censorship lol. If you don't like, don't read! Simple.

[boneskullravenriver]

[boneskullravenriver]

Leave me and my weird names in peace

[boneskullravenriver]

bg3 challenge • [1/3] companions

[boneskullravenriver]

Usually it’s video games instead of music but this is pretty much accurate hehe

[boneskullravenriver]

nothing makes u feel stupid quite like being a writer. out here googling “rooms in a house” to make sure i didn’t forget one of em. blockhead behavior.

[boneskullravenriver]

*hypnotizes you* write your book write your book write your book

[boneskullravenriver]

"oh no!! there's a huge plot hole in my story what am i gonna do!!" don't worry i have a comically large rug u can cover it with

[boneskullravenriver]

sometimes when I'm writing I'm like oh fuck i dont know what comes next uggghhh guess I'll just have to make it up :////// bitch... ur making the entire thing up ...it's fiction... thats the fuckin premise

[boneskullravenriver]

no one talks about how the main plot driver for season two of buffy the vampire slayer is that angel genuinely got the soul fucked out of him by buffy. like. that’s what happened. im generalizing a little bit but literally the sex was so good it made him the happiest he’d ever been and his soul fell out as a result. pussy so good it makes you evil. and you as the viewer are supposed to take this seriously. “erm well technically he was just so happy being with buffy-” ok well then the post nut clarity knocked his soul out. still hilarious. check mate.

[boneskullravenriver]

If a scene feels flat and you can't figure it out, ask yourself:

• What can MC smell? Is there an ocean breeze, sweat, a cinnamon roll fresh out the oven?

• What can MC hear, besides the dialogue? Is a bird singing, river flowing, a car speeding, clock ticking?

• Can they taste something, even if they're not eating? Previously drunk alcohol or juice, aftertaste of a cigarette, smog, too instense perfume?

• Can they feel something on their skin? Rough clothes or delicate material, blowing wind, an allergy or a rash, grass that theyre laying on?

• What does the character see, besides other characters? Is the room dark or is sunlight coming in nicely? Are the colours vibrant or dull? Are there any plants?

• What's the weather? Is it snowing and the cold is making goosebumps appear on their arms? Is it hot and sweaty and clothes are clinging to their body?

• HOW DOES IT MAKE THEM FEEL? To any of the above.

Do they like the smell of cinnamon rolls or are they weirdos (I'm a weirdo, I don't fit in).

Does the clock ticking calm them down or annoy them?

Do they enjoy the aftertaste of a cig and like how dirty it makes them feel?

Are they sensitive to touch and how their clothing feels on their skin or are they indifferent?

Would they enjoy the scenery more if it was more sunny out, because they're afraid of the darkness?

Do they like it snowy or are they always cold and hate winter?

Come on, give them persoanlity, likes and dislikes, don't be scared to make them people and not only likeable characters.

[boneskullravenriver]

I just realized something. I had bought Lightbringer right on release. So technically the hard cover I have is a first edition. Also, unlike 10 year old me, IM NOT TAKING OFF THE DUST JACKET (seriously I want to go back in time and punch myself. I have a bunch of books I wish I had kept the dust jacket for)

I think I'll refrain from marking it up like I have with my other books lol. It's pristine and ready for me. But I just finished DA and I'm not mentally ready for this shit rn I'm gonna go read another book then come back LOL.