erikcolewrites

[erikcolewrites]

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.

[erikcolewrites]

Generating a story with AI is about as much writing as finding a piece of paper with words on it laying on the sidewalk.

Spoiler: it's not writing at all.

[erikcolewrites]

I love getting fake asks 🙄🙄🙄

[erikcolewrites]

Writers on a random Tuesday: Sits down, locks in, giggles, writes 10k, does not sleep

Also writers on a random Tuesday: writes one sentence and then stares into the abyss for five fours

[erikcolewrites]

It’s not even funny how relatable this is.

[erikcolewrites]

Cause of my insomnia number one:

[erikcolewrites]

I only started to do this recently and I promise it helps!

This is probably obvious or known by a lot of people but!

When yer writing, and you don't have concrete ideas for the beginning or any particular part of what you're writing,

Write out the bits you can see vividly!

Write the part you really want to write!

Even if you've only started the beginning, space down a few lines and write out that bit you're excited to write, you can connect the dots at a later point 👉👉

[erikcolewrites]

[erikcolewrites]

[erikcolewrites]

insane to think there was a time in my life where my characters didn’t reside in my head 24/7

[erikcolewrites]

There's nothing more important than writing what you want to read. Don't worry about who will like your book. Don't worry about what market it can neatly fit into. Don't cut corners or blunt edges to satisfy an imaginary person who might dislike aspects of your art. It's yours. Treat it as a pure expression of your soul. Compromise is for cowards.

[erikcolewrites]

Friendly reminder to not punish yourself for creating. 

[erikcolewrites]

There are two types of writers:

1. 'It's fiction, it doesn't need to make sense!'

2. 'I didn't account for the rotation of the planet and how that affects the constalations while my characters stargazed at different times of year, I have failed as a writer, and this entire thing is trash'

[erikcolewrites]

some people think writers are so eloquent and good with words, but the reality is that we can sit there with our fingers on the keyboard going, “what’s the word for non-sunlight lighting? Like, fake lighting?” and for ten minutes, all our brain will supply is “unofficial”, and we know that’s not the right word, but it’s the only word we can come up with…until finally it’s like our face got smashed into a brick wall and we remember the word we want is “artificial”.

[erikcolewrites]

Writing Advice

If a scene isn't working, place it in solitary confinement.

[erikcolewrites]

[erikcolewrites]

Do you think people who are virgin should write smut? I feel like most of them don’t even know what they’re writing and just write what they think sex is

the implication this ask suggests that people who write about murders, cannibalism, politics, magic, royalty au, sci-fi, wars, supernatural, time travel, medieval era, werewolves, vampires, mermaids or goblins must be murderers, cannibals, presidents, wizards, royalties, astronauts, ghost hunters, soldiers, time travelers, knights, werewolves, vampires, mermaids or goblins in real life is so funny to me