emilywrites185

[emilywrites185]

Tough things about writing that are actually okay. (Part Two)

Sometimes you lose writing momentum. That’s how it works, and that’s okay. Look back at what you’ve accomplished with the momentum you had and take a break when you need to. Its so easy to get caught up in a grindset and feel bad when you can’t reach a goal. The progress you make is worth more merit. Getting to that final goal/prize is always the main focus, but it can make one blind to the work they accomplish and its value along the way. When you lose momentum, look back at what you wrote. Its more than what you accomplished last time. Every piece is necessary. Give yourself more credit.

[emilywrites185]

You can write anywhere!

Write wherever you feel comfortable and creative. Lots of writing advice will tell you what to do with your space and how to be most creative. They'll try to tell you the best time of day or how clean your space needs to be. But only you know best what works for you.

Want to write in bed? Do it. At a cluttered desk at 3am? Push those doom piles aside! Under the dining room table during a family meal? I get it. We all need to hide in our own worlds once in a while. I even wrote a whole chapter in the corner of an outdoor superclub on vacation once.

All spaces are valid as long as you write!

[emilywrites185]

sometimes you need dialogue tags and don't want to use the same four

[emilywrites185]

~(°^°)~

[emilywrites185]

Tough things about writing that are actually okay (Part one)

It is okay to think that writing is hard.

Because it is. Everyone has their own struggles with writing. I struggle with endings, editing, and reworking sentences. My list of writing struggles goes on.

Writing is one of the most involved art forms, and it takes a long time to create a finished piece and sometimes even to consume it. There are so many moving parts to writing, it’s hard NOT to have a hard time with some part of it.

Getting an idea, coming up with a plot, characters, settings, rules, magic systems, keeping elements of the story a mystery, grammar, editing, formatting...oh look, a plot hole. Now what? Uh oh, this character is doing what it wants. Weren't they just wearing green? Which arm was injured? Or was it their leg.. How am I going to get them out of this? Dangit, now I need to add something earlier to happen to make this part make sense. Maybe this chapter should go here....or maybe I don't need it at all. I don't have time to write this week. I have no motivation.. just one meme...

There's always SOMETHING that makes the process hard.

I’ve never met a writer who didn’t struggle with writing. The writing community is not afraid to express what they have trouble with, and they are also more than ready to share advice on what helps them.

Its okay to think writing is hard, and there's millions of reasons why we still do it. Don't let the bumps in the road throw you off.

[emilywrites185]

Something I made while dealing with my own stuff and hoping drawing this would pick me up somehow. Maybe it worked.

FT my cat. His name is Mischief

[emilywrites185]

“You become a writer by writing. There is no other way. So do it. Do it more. Do it again. Do it better. Fail. Fail better.”

— Margaret Atwood

[emilywrites185]

10 More Additional Words to Love

Here is another installment from my very long list of favorite words.

Anathema (Noun)- Person, place, idea, or thing that is intensely disliked.

Beseech (Verb)- to beg or request with urgency or anxiety.

Cacophony (Noun)- in regards to sound, it is a chaotic mixture of loud, unpleasant sounds. Dissonance.

Demur (Noun)- The act of objection or hesitation to something.

Elocution (Noun)- the style of speaking, or the art of public speaking. A skill of clear, precise speech.

Frieze (Noun)- A coarse, durable wool fabric. Or an ornamental band around furniture or architecture.

Incendiary (Adj)- Used to describe something hot, combustible materials or weapons. Can also be used as a noun in regards to an arsonist or weapon. Someone who starts trouble. An agitator.

Loquacious (Adj)- Used to describe someone who talks a lot. Wordy and talkative.

Massif (Noun)- A clustered group of mountains that stands out from the other groups.

Obsequious (Adj)- excessively obedient or attentive.

[emilywrites185]

List of Quirks

(The categorized lists are below)

What is a quirk?

Quirks are habits, attitudes, mannerisms, or behaviors that are unusual, unexpected, or strange.

People have quirks, and your characters and locations should too. Think obsessions, a silly or unusual laugh, habits like pacing around the room, knuckle cracking, or braiding or twisting hair while thinking. Someone could always be cold, even in the summer without AC. An old man could have the habit of checking his mailbox twice a day, so much so that there is a path of trampled grass leading to his mailbox.

Locations can have quirks. The front door might have to be pushed or pulled in a certain way to engage the lock. The sink faucets could be switched. The hot water tap could really be the cold water tap despite the label.

Think of somewhere you've lived or a person you knew. What stood out to you about them? What did you find bizarre, aggravating, or charming about them?

Quirks will serve as the little details that will make your characters and settings lifelike. These quirks will say a lot about what you are describing, and they can even be used to allude to something important in your plot. There could be significant explanations to the quirks you choose which can add a layer of depth to your story.

Personality Quirks:

Thorough planner

Never plans for anything

Lone wolf

Needs approval

Adventurous

High strung

Takes things seriously

Skeptical of everything

Loves to argue

Avoids people

Avoids touching people

Honest to a fault

Impulsive liar

The Martyr

Sensitive

Abrasive

Compulsive flirt

Ambitious but lazy

Behavioral Quirks:

Picks at nails

Smokes only certain brands

Drinks a homemade concoction of choice

Tops their food with a specific dressing or additional ingredient

Loud laugh

Subdued laugh

Whistles or hums when walking

Always misses the trash can

Touches their face when they talk

Gets a stomachache at tense moments

Stutters when talking to someone attractive

If they clean is always a deep clean

Avoids public restrooms

Collection of ducks

Collections in general

Very loud sneezes

Kitten sneezes

Hisses when thinking

Always sounds angry even when they aren't

Has a hard time articulating feelings or desires

Often gets cliches or common phrases wrong

Physical Quirks:

Twitchy eye

Twitchy foot

Extremely flexible

Extremely inflexible

Two colored eyes

Chipped nails

Long perfect nails

Distinctive weight distribution

Very short

Very tall

Distinctive marks like birth marks or scars

Clothes/accessories:

Wears new clothes but has an old beaten-up suitcase or bag

Fingers full of rings

Never seen without makeup

Never wears their hair down

Cracked glasses

Socks never match

Old people sweaters

One sock pulled up, the other falling down

Half tucked shirt

Always a pen in the shirt pocket

Wears only a specific color

Crooked pins or name tag

Wears anything with their favorite animal

Wears slippers out in public

Location Quirks:

Squeaky steps

Window that jams

Lot full of old trees

A popular place of business with limited, inconvenient hours

House locks that are hard to open

A front door without weather stripping

Plumbing that rattles when water runs

Whistling windows

Creaky couch

Wavy, uneven floors

Always windy

A yard where critters are always seen

A public place that seems to attract certain people or animals

Always spotless

[emilywrites185]

Writing Notes & References

Alchemy ⚜ Antidote to Anxiety ⚜ Attachment ⚜ Autopsy

Art: Elements ⚜ Principles ⚜ Photographs ⚜ Watercolour

Bruises ⚜ Caffeine ⚜ Color Blindness ⚜ Cruise Ships

Children ⚜ Children's Dialogue ⚜ Childhood Bilingualism

Dangerousness ⚜ Drowning ⚜ Dystopia ⚜ Dystopian World

Culture ⚜ Culture Shock ⚜ Ethnocentrism & Cultural Relativism

Emotions: Anger ⚜ Fear ⚜ Happiness ⚜ Sadness

Emotional Intelligence ⚜ Genius (Giftedness) ⚜ Quirks

Facial Expressions ⚜ Laughter & Humour ⚜ Swearing & Taboo

Fantasy Creatures ⚜ Fantasy World Building

Generations ⚜ Literary & Character Tropes

Fight Scenes ⚜ Kill Adverbs

Food: Cooking Basics ⚜ Herbs & Spices ⚜ Sauces ⚜ Wine-tasting ⚜ Aphrodisiacs ⚜ List of Aphrodisiacs ⚜ Food History ⚜ Cocktails ⚜ Literary & Hollywood Cocktails ⚜ Liqueurs

Genre: Crime ⚜ Horror ⚜ Fantasy ⚜ Speculative Biology

Hate ⚜ Love ⚜ Kinds of Love ⚜ The Physiology of Love

How to Write: Food ⚜ Colours ⚜ Drunkenness

Jargon ⚜ Logical Fallacies ⚜ Memory ⚜ Memoir

Magic: Magic System ⚜ 10 Uncommon ⚜ How to Choose

Moon: Part 1 2 ⚜ Related Words

Mystical Items & Objects ⚜ Talisman ⚜ Relics ⚜ Poison

Pain ⚜ Pain & Violence ⚜ Poison Ivy & Poison Oak

Realistic Injuries ⚜ Rejection ⚜ Structural Issues ⚜ Villains

Symbolism: Colors ⚜ Food ⚜ Numbers ⚜ Storms

Thinking ⚜ Thinking Styles ⚜ Thought Distortions

Terms of Endearment ⚜ Ways of Saying "No" ⚜ Yoga

Compilations: Plot ⚜ Character ⚜ Worldbuilding ⚜ For Poets ⚜ Tips & Advice

all posts are queued. will update this every few weeks/months. send questions or requests here ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[emilywrites185]

Second drafts are worth the effort

You rewrite stories because they’re good and because you care about them, not because they’re inherently flawed.

A second draft is not admitting your first was bad. Only that it’s worth the time and effort to keep working on.

[emilywrites185]

“Respect your characters, even the ­minor ones. In art, as in life, everyone is the hero of their own particular story.” — Sarah Waters

[emilywrites185]

Writing Affirmations to Motivate and Inspire Part One

I can and will make time to write today.

I have a writing goal and I will reach it.

I may not like how my writing sounds right now, but I will edit it until I like it.

I will shut out my inner perfectionist when I write today.

My writing is important.

I am capable of improving my craft.

I will write what I like to write about.

I am worthy of writing for myself.

I am proud of the writing I have done so far.

I will put in my best effort today, even if it is not 100%.

I can and will sort out this plot.

Getting it written down is the most important part. The rest will come later.

Today I will learn something new about my characters.

I will take time to nurture my creative side.

I will rest when I feel burnt out.

Sometimes you just need to remind yourself that you have some control when things are overwhelming. Take charge of that inner voice that has nothing good to say. Slap it with these affirmations. Be stubborn with yourself. You will make time. You will figure out those plot holes. You are worthy of writing whatever makes you feel better. The ones I listed are affirmations I tell myself. They have helped me many times when I felt I had no time, energy, or motivation to write.

Do you have any affirmations you tell yourself regarding writing? Please add and share to the list!

[emilywrites185]

[emilywrites185]

[emilywrites185]

i don't get the sentiment that writing isn't fun. writing is so much fun! it's so rewarding! yeah it's hard sometimes but that doesn't mean it isn't fun. I love untangling the mess of plot threads in my head to figure out what should go where or why a certain section or sentence isn't working. it's like solving a puzzle. and my little guys are there! and i get to make them kiss or put one of them in a blender! so much fun!

[emilywrites185]

Writers of Tumblr!!

hello!! I know I don't talk about writing very often on this blog, but I am in fact a writer. I've been wanting to study writing as a craft for a while, so I made a discord server to study along with others!

It's a place to share resources, ask questions, get advice, and get critique of your writing! Complete writing exercises, and get feedback on them like a workshop or class--but completely free!!

Available for everyone 13+, whether you're an expert or a beginner, fanfic writer or novelist, everybody is welcome. (it's mostly focused on prose, however. but i promise I won't kick you out if you're a poet)

the whole point is a place to share your writing and get honest, constructive feedback. but even if you don't want to share, you can chat, use our resources, and help others!

it's a cool project that only works if there's a community behind it, so i'd really appreciate it if you could join or share. there are no activity requirements--it's really low-stakes. And the server just started today, so it's not very big, so it's not as intimidating as other servers you might've seen!

here's a link to the discord, available for 7 days. if you're seeing this after it expired--please dm me!