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I have so many different WIPs that all have such different vibes. Like, I've got:

The Last Pigs of Peru: sort of like warrior cats or Watership Down, this one details how guinea pigs used to live in the wild before they were almost entirely domesticated (with some fictional elements)

School of Monsters (not final title) about a military school that fights monsters

The Foundations of Despair: celestial angles, apocalypse, ghosts

Turning the Tides: Cops & robbers with a serial killer

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I'm an October Libra 🫣

Signs and their months on an alignment chart

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Hi! I went to culinary school, and I can tell you that the times on the recipes are really just a rough estimate as to when it could be done. You should check it halfway in, just to make sure it's cooking right and to get a better estimate on how long it'll take based on how long it took after half the time, but overall I've seen a lot of things cook way longer than, say the 40 minutes it recommends as the longest cooking time.

When I'm writing a recipe, I prefer to write how to tell when it's done instead because then there's no feeling of betrayal if it's not done within the correct time frame, like "it will be golden brown" or the toothpick test.

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I currently have COVID for the first time since the start of the pandemic (my whole family is very careful about the spread of germs, but my brother was coughed on at school...not his fault at all, that kid should have been quarantined)

ANYWAYS I have found that keeping myself distracted has really helped me stay on track getting things done?

Like, I had laundry to fold, but I was so tired I thought I could drop.

So I started watching Lucifer on Netflix, and it's not only an amazing show that I'm absolutely obsessed with, but it helped keep my mind off the pain in my joints long enough to keep the chores caught up.

I have a feeling this isn't normal, but when discussing with my brother what works for him to keep the symptoms manageable, he said that it's the dopamine that makes him feel better (playing video games, eating sweets).

Like, is this normal??

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me: *opens document to write* brain: let’s rethink the entire plot instead

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Happy September! Be kind and thoughtful to other writers and editors!

Happy September, editors and fellow writers!

Let’s enjoy the one month when everyone should treat us with a little extra kindness!

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Acne Care for Depression

(Or any other condition that might stop you from taking care of your skin.)

Side note: I've had acne for 10 years, and as evidenced, I'm terrible at taking care of it. Here's my advice on how I take care of my acne now while struggling with ADHD and depression

Skin care routines too overwhelming and difficult to do? Get a package of face wipes, like the makeup wipes that aren't super full of chemicals. I use Walmart-brand ones that are more for face-washing than they are makeup removers. The less fragrance in them, the better (but scented ones are okay). The main point of skincare routines is essentially just to remove the buildup from oils on your skin so you don't get breakouts. Wipe your face whenever it feels super oily (or at least once a day) with one of these wipes, and try to get some medicated ointment on when you can. Just doing this daily has dramatically decreased the amount of breakouts I have, and the wipes I buy have aloe in them, which is good for your skin

Wash. Your. Pillowcase. Even if you keep SEVERAL backup pillowcases, make sure your pillowcase is getting washed somewhat regularly. I like to sleep on one side of my pillow for two days, flip it over for another two days, and then change it out. It's not perfect, but you'd be surprised how just by changing your pillowcase somewhat frequently, you keep the breakouts down

HYDROCORTISONE! It's a miracle for skin like mine that gets dry easily, I just slap some hydrocortisone on. It's good for reducing rashes/dry skin

If you struggle with oily hair, try to prevent it from touching your face. The oil from your hair can also give you breakouts

Obviously this isn't perfect, and it definitely won't work for everyone, but it's what I do to try to balance both my acne care and mental health. A lot of this may seem like common sense to some people, but it took me a long time to figure out. I still get breakouts, but the amount of them I have has tremendously decreased since attempting to do all of these things.

Hope this is helpful to at least someone out there!

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“how do you plot / plan your book?” very bold of you to assume i do that.

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i swear all writers are mentally ill. y'all keep putting your "beloved" characters through the most traumatic experiences ever just to feel something.

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A fic I had somewhat abandoned got kudos today and it felt so good I want to write it all immediately

But the plot was just kinda lost...I rushed the '"confession " in a need to get it going, but I didn't think about how that would affect the rest of my plotline. So there was a part of me that was determined to make it work.

I'm massively grateful whenever someone reacts to my posts or works whatever platform it may be because it gives me hope and a lot of joy.

So, thank you to whoever left me kudos. I'm gonna go plot the rest of the storyline now <3

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I GOT HURT/NO COMFORT. Should I be afraid of myself?

@the-ellia-west

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Things that immediately turn me off a fiction book

I'm pretty picky with what I read, because the time I spend reading is time that I could spend writing. I generally know if I will like a book within the first chapter, and I feel no shame in giving up if I'm not vibing with it.

And no, I don't believe in the "oooh read further it warms up" because does it? Does it really? Do I want to waste time finding out?

Frankly, at this point in life, I read more nonfiction than fiction because there's just so. many. bad. books. that are getting published. Worse than fanfictions.

Anyway, here are the things that make me give up. Maybe hearing this will help you as you write your own masterpiece.

Too Many Proper Nouns

Three characters maximum in the first chapter or two. Do not throw dozens of people at me. I will get confused and give up. Let me get to know the main character, by themself or with a few of their closest companions, before you make me remember everyone else. And go deep with those characters! I want someone to stick with!

You can reference other characters, to create a sense of a deeper world, but do not go all-in on them. Make it clear that they are just there to provide a bit of context, and we don't have to remember them yet. We should only be meeting three characters maximum.

Throwing Us Immediately Into a Dramatic Action Point

This is controversial I know, but I hate when something immediately starts with a battle. I don't care if any of these people live or die. I don't know them. I haven't grown attached to any of them.

Even just a page or two to get to know them first will help. You can have them gearing up for a battle, thinking about what's going to happen, maybe talking to their friends, maybe checking their armor, whatever feels natural for them. But do not just start with stabbing people! I don't care about them yet!

Too Many Details

Many this is just me, but I simply do not care about every piece of armor your character is wearing. I don't need to hear a play-by-play of every single color of every single thing because I don't care. Pick out a few specific things for me to focus on and that's it. Stop overloading me with colors and patterns and armor styles.

Yes, yes, you've done your research on historically accurate gear. That's great. It would be good for a movie. But if I have to look up different armor pieces every five seconds, I am glossing over it and moving on. I don't care. I'm here for the story. If I wanted an infodump about medieval armor, I would simply pick up a nonfiction book (and maybe I will).

White Space Syndrome

Tell me what the overall scene looks like instead of all these hyperspecific details of certain objects, like carts or emblems or whatever. I want to know where I am!!

Don't just say "a forest." Tell me what kind of forest. Tell me if it's a young forest or an old snarly forest or a swampy forest or a cold alpine forest.

Don't just say "a castle." Tell me if it's a bustling castle or a gloomy castle or a rundown castle.

Don't just say "on the sea." Cold sea? Tropical sea? Far far away from land or is land in sight? These are the things I want!

Too Much Backstory

For the love of god do not explain the entire history of this culture in the first chapter. The first chapter is for getting to know the characters we're going to be following. You can introduce those things slowly and carefully as the story unfolds.

I get that fiction writers are delighted by all the worldbuilding (or research, in historical fiction) they have done. But the reader does not care right away. They need to get invested before all those little specifics matter at all. My eyes glaze over and I give up because I don't want to have to remember all of that all at once. It's like you just threw a college textbook at my face.

Plus, if you're doing third-person limited, you have to remember that the character is not going to be thinking all of that! They won't say all of that either! Because they know all of that!

Even a general on the brink of a major battle is not going to go "yes, this all dates back to when we took Iuanfutila back in 181, when the brave Iuanfutilans protested the rule of our Yawwbaawnwhryr leaders ...." They are focused on the present moment, and they may discuss the backstory later. Tell us what we need to know now because that is what the character would be thinking too.

"Oh, but Topazadine, how will the readers understand the context if I don't tell them??"

There's a battle. Two groups are at war. Or something was stolen. Or two people are fighting. Whatever. We understand those things. We can get the basic gist of how things are going to play out by just showing us these things happening. Then, as we have gotten a feel for the characters, you can tell us more about the context.

If you walk into a store that's being held up by an armed robber, do you give a shit about his backstory, or do you only care once that person has been arrested and you have to testify? I think we know the answer. You're not going "ohhh why is he doing this??" at first. You're going "HOLY SHIT THERE'S A GUN WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW???" and then you'll care about the other stuff later.

Too Much Play-by-Play

I also do not need a play by play of a fight scene. I need to know the general movements, and then the overall atmosphere. I want to feel what the character feels rather than feel like I'm watching a football game.

Your reader will fill in the gaps if you give them enough information, but when you overload them with every single action, they're now trying to keep track of what went where instead of how this moment is supposed to feel. And now the action and drama has gone out of the writing because it's become a manual of fighting techniques.

Pointless Dumb Conversations

"Oh, could you turn around for me? I want privacy."

"Sure, of course, I'm a respectable man." Manfred knew that a lady-in-waiting would be unsettled by the presence of a strange man, so he wanted to be respectful.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Oh my god no one cares!!! No one!! We don't need this exchange. Cut it. This is stupid. Unless something is actually happening or something is meaningful about them saying this, shut up.

How to Not Write a Horrible First Chapter That Makes People Ragequit

Can you tell I'm mad today? I started and stopped three different books because they were all so bad.

Three characters max in the first chapter, with deep discussion of each. (One or two is better.) General appearance, demeanor, profession, whatever.

Restrain the urge to infodump! Dribble it out over the chapter!

Give the setting more attention than random little details that ultimately do not matter. I don't need to know the pattern of the curtains on the horsecart that's about to be burnt. Don't care.

Do not give a play by play of every single action that a character takes because it's boring and no one cares.

In media res is great but do NOT start with a big climactic intense battle or fight or whatever because we don't know these characters and don't know who to root for (or why we should care).

Your character is not going to give us a history lesson in why this conflict is happening. Do not do it yourself either. Give us just enough to get intrigued and no more. Think how your characters would think and what they would prioritize in discussions.

If a conversation is just pleasantries and has no purpose, drop it, we don't care.

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sitting down to write isn't really about creating a story, it's about getting the story onto the page before it destroys me

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in case you needed to hear it today:

it’s okay to use your turn signal when you’re changing lanes

it’s okay to use your turn signal when you’re taking an exit

it’s okay to use your turn signal when you plan on turning (can even be done sooner than 2 seconds before you’re about to turn)

you have a turn signal. in your vehicle. two of them in fact.

you are so brave and beautiful and smart and can do it. using your turn signal

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Maybe we’re not finishing our stories because we don’t want them to end.

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As a repulsed ace, I'm terrified of never finding a partner that's okay with the lack of sexuality in the relationship. But in this I learned how passionate I am about my career (and side hobbies) and a lot of things about myself I would have never known about myself otherwise. I have a lot of good friendships, a stable job, and lots of time to focus on college.

Maybe I've become aroace, but when you've faced that fear of being single your whole life you sort of start to see the things you have that the need for love takes away from. When I was actively dating, i cared about nothing BUT that relationship. After coming put as ace and biromantic, I've realized that that was toxic.

I'm not, at all, disagreeing with OP. I'm more or less adding another perspective

okay this is what i have to say

aces do not exclusively date other aces. there are many many allosexual people who are fine with dating aces--even aces who don't have sex! it's time for people to stop assuming that a relationship isn't complete without Making Fuck. allos who think this: not everyone puts as much value on sex as you. please expand your minds. i promise that it is entirely possible to have a healthy, fulfilling romantic relationship without doing the do.

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I've given up on so many first drafts because they weren't publishing-quality. Now I've accepted its gonna be a train wreck the first time through, and I can clean up the damage afterwards. Don't give up just because it's not perfect the first time

friendly reminder to everyone that first draft just needs to exist.

it doesn’t need to be good, it just needs to be there. stories go through so many different drafts that nobody is gonna care if your first draft is a little messy.

you can’t edit and clean up something that doesn’t exist, so make it exist!