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writecamp

welcome one and all to this sunny, summery affair! this post is to hereby invite writers to a not-so-little game commencing June 1st - rules to follow - till the end of Summer, August 31st - i know, this challenge is going to be a LOT and a long one, but i for one absolutely cannot wait!

now you may be asking, what is this game and what are the rules? well, dear writer, the purpose of the game is simple - for writecamp, all you have to do is pick a prompt from a given list and compose something with it, prompts could be a word, a trope, a place, a feeling, anything at all, it all depends on the day (if you took part in writemas, you'll be fairly familiar with how it all works :) ) and as for the rules, well, this author sincerely hopes they are as equally simple to follow: if you accept the challenge, be sure to share your responses, share the game with friends, family, anybody you'd like, and that's it, utilise the prompt from the challenge, share your work, and tag me in your responses!

and now for the important part: how is the game going to work?

each day of summer, starting June 1st, i will post the writecamp daily challenge - containing all sorts or prompts to stir the imagination pot

the game is open to all, and if you join late, no problem! just embrace the writery spirit of summer and play along! (you don't have to complete every day's challenge, but whatever you do, always be proud of yourself!)

bonus part (completely optional, but lovely if you choose to do it) - alongside your challenge entries, make sure to find a blog on writeblr, a writer you admire or one you've only just found, and pay them a compliment! (something so small but so, so important <3)

and since this post is an invitation to everyone out there on writeblr, in order to participate and be notified of the challenge posts when they go live, all you have to do is interact with this post and you're on the tag list!

any questions, let me know, and happy writing!

~ A Girl and Her Quill

~ ~ ~

tag list time! open tag as always too!

@the-ellia-west @willtheweaver @tildeathiwillwrite @drchenquill @365runesofthesystem

@coffin-hopping @godsmostfuckedupgoblin @a-mimsy-borogove @frostedlemonwriter @i-do-anything-but-write

@r-u-living @thatuselesshuman @lead-to-code @sunflowerrosy @theaistired

@phoenixradiant @autism-purgatory @corinneglass @tiredpapergirl @patheticexcuseforawriter

@missmisanthrope @littlestchildofthemoon @morganxduinn @thebrownleathernotebook @rmhashauthor

@lamuradex @fantasy-things-and-such @glasshouses-and-stones @hattonthehatman @humbly-a-doppelganger

@ramwritblr @s-pendragon7 @thelastneuron @heartreactor @ihauntmyhouse

@shiningstars-world @scaewolf @just-emis-blog @joeys-piano @ramitola

@yrndrgn @riveriafalll @lawrencespen1777 @theverumproject @zackprincebooks

@justjariel @orion-lacroix @jupiter---daydreams @vinniehorrible @stars-forever

@thewritingautisticat @whatwewrotepodcast @anaisbebe @appleandsnow @urnumber1star

@chaotictravelerrants @andagii-projects @dragmewithyoutonirvana @a-bi-cat-with-books @fearofahumanplanet

@just-a-domesticated-cryptid @attemptingwriter @kitkins13 @ray-writes-n-shit

@theonewholivesinthemovies @rheas-chaos-motivation @bookwormclover @sunflowerrosy @seastarblue

@aalinaaaaaa

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My characters are so happy right now :) Should I... ruin... everything?

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why is it that whenever i’m feeling so inspired to write, i have a million and one things around me distracting me from writing — but when i’m feeling so UNinspired, there’s nothing but tumbleweed and the silence of my empty, uninspired, wordless mind

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Stop being anxious about the first draft.

Nobody has to see it. If it turns out bad you can always edit the parts that don't work for the story. And if it turns out so bad you can't fix it, you can scrap the project, analyze what didn't work, take what you learned from it and do better the next time.

And hey, who knows, it might just turn out great and change your life forever.

For now, just start writing.

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How to use commas?

If you’re like me, you’ve probably wondered whether you’re using them correctly. Here, I’ve gathered some examples:

1. To separate items

She packed a lantern, a sleeping bag, a map, and some snacks.

Separate them with a comma.

In this example, the comma before the ‘and’ is not necessary. You can omit it, but many people don’t. It’s called ‘the Oxford comma,’ and it’s used for clarity.

2. After introductory elements

Yes, I’ll go with you.

After the rain stopped, we continued our journey.

Well, that was unexpected.

Slap that comma after introductory words or phrases.

3. Before conjunctions joining two independent sentences

He wanted to go for a walk, but it was raining.

Use a comma before for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so when they connect two complete sentences ('He wanted to go for a walk.' & 'It was raining'). If the second part is not a full sentence, skip the comma.

4. To insert non-essential information

My brother, who lives in Spain, is visiting next week.

The sword, rusted and forgotten, still gleamed faintly in the light.

Use commas to insert some extra information that isn't essential to the meaning of the sentence. If you could remove the phrase without changing the sentence’s core meaning, it’s non-essential.

5. With adjectives 

It was a long, tiring journey.

Use a comma between adjectives that describe the same noun. If you can put ‘and’ in between them or swap their order without changing the meaning of the sentence, slap a comma between those adjectives' cheeks.

6. To separate dialogue or direct address

"We must leave now," she said.

I don’t know, Marcus, if this is a good idea.

Slip that comma in to separate the dialogue from the speaker’s tag (‘she said’) or before and/or after the name of the person being addressed.

7. With dates, addresses, and titles

He was born on March 2, 1990, in Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Alina Voss, PhD, will lead the lecture.

8. Between the main action and the simultaneous background action.

She stirred the soup, humming a tune.

He typed quickly, glancing at the clock.

They walked through the park, chatting quietly.

Want more? Here's how to use dashes. Here's how to use semicolons.

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Hey, stop scrolling and start writing. The book ain't gonna write itself.

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What the hell is the difference between -, –, —?

And how do you use them?

Hyphen -

A single-length dash is called a hyphen. Here are some uses:

1. To connect compound words

You can use it for compound words. Now, what the hell are compound words, you may ask? These are words you pair together (can be more than two) to create a new word with a new meaning.

short-term plan

full-time job

six-pack

well-known author

2. With prefixes

(Not always, so be sure to check.)

ex-boyfriend

anti-inflammatory

self-loathing

3. With numbers

Smash a hyphen between numbers (21–99):

twenty-one

seventy-three

4. For stuttering

Need to make your blorbo stutter? Shove a hyphen in there. …In between the letter and the word, you dirty-minded fuck.

“I’m s-sorry.”

If you want to read more on hyphens, here’s an excellent article

En Dash –

It’s a slightly longer dash than the hyphen—perhaps we could say double length. Use it to:

1. Show a range (meaning "to" or "through")

Pages 15–32

Monday–Friday

1990–2020

2. Show a connection or contrast between paired items

The New York–London flight

The liberal–conservative divide

Em dash —

Finally, the big daddy dash. The triple-length bad boy. The writer’s favorite.

It’s mostly used to create a strong break in a sentence. Use them to:

1. Replace parentheses for emphasis

You can use big boy em dashes to insert extra information or asides in a sentence, with more emphasis than parentheses.

The wizard—Mystra’s Chosen One—wandered into the market.

2. Replace a colon for dramatic effect

You can use it to introduce a conclusion in a stronger way than a colon.

She had only one goal—survival.

3. Show interruption or sudden change

If you want to show someone being cut off or switching thoughts, throw that em dash in.

“I just thought you should—” “No, you didn’t think at all!”

He turned the corner—and froze. 4. Add emphasis or a final thought

He wasn’t just tired—he was defeated.

Want more? Here's how to use commas. Here's how to use semicolon.

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The fuck are you supposed to do with the semicolon ; ?

We’ve discussed the comma and the dash brothers—finally, the time has come for the less sexy relative: the semicolon. But how do we use it?

1. To link two related independent sentences

He didn’t believe in fate; she made him reconsider.

The forest was silent; even the wind held its breath.

Slap a semicolon between two complete sentences that are closely related but not joined by a coordinating conjunction (like and, but, or so). This creates a subtle pause—somewhere between a comma and a period—and it shows the relationship between the two sentences.

2. To separate items in a complex list

She packed her bags with care: a red silk dress, delicate and expensive; an old photograph, creased and faded; and a knife, sharp as her resolve.

As you can see, semicolons help with clarity. If the items in your list already contain commas, use semicolons to avoid confusion.

3.  To balance contrast or comparison

He spoke in riddles; she answered in truths.

The sun warmed their backs; the storm waited ahead.

Here we have a slightly sexier use of semicolons. They can elegantly balance two ideas that contrast or reflect one another.

4. Before a conjunctive adverb when connecting two independent sentences

First, what are conjunctive adverbs? Conjunctive adverbs are transition words used to connect independent clauses or sentences by showing the relationship between them - Grammarly

These are some examples: however, therefore, moreover, nevertheless, meanwhile, for example

Use with a semicolon:

She wanted to continue exploring the ruins; however, the sun was beginning to set.

Notice that you use a semicolon, paired with a comma, here. In this instance, they are a package deal—the lovers that sandwich the third (the conjunctive adverb) in between them in this grammatically correct ménage à trois.

You slip that semicolon before the ‘however’ AND then you slap a comma after it.

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my ADHD brain be like

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Did you write today? No? Okay, not a problem. Just open a doc and write a sentence. One sentence, that’s it. Just one. One, dude, just one. I know you can do it. One. One sentence. Just one.

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Bad news, y'all

You really gotta write the damn book to become a published author

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Main character syndrome as a concept is so funny because even your main character shouldn’t have that. Nor should you as the writer have it on their behalf.

Like no babe not everyone should be completely enamored by your main character. Let someone hate their guts.

No, your main character shouldn’t always be the one to save the day and fix everything and be the bigger person. Let them be a gremlin.

The only time your main character should get a ‘good’ thing or win is when it can go horribly wrong for them, worse than it would’ve been. Not in a romanticized way but in a terribly dreadful way.

Unless it’s the ending and even then, what did they lose along the way?

(If it’s the point of their character that they think they’re special and ‘the main character’ then that’s different obviously.)

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writer's block is cruel and unusual punishment and should be against the geneva conventions

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