gywo

[gywo]

[gywo]

Writers, here’s your reminder that you should be doing warm-ups!

Athletes need to warm up. Musicians need to warm up. Artists need to warm up. Heck, I even have to play a few matches in video games before I get into a groove every day.

Warm-ups help you get into the right headspace, give you more control of your actions and word choice, get you comfortable in your physical setting (eg: with your keyboard, notebook, tablet, or whatever you're writing with), and spark creativity.

Even if you don’t think you have spoons to write, sit down and do a couple warm-ups. If you still don’t want to, that’s alright. But. I think you’ll be surprised how often they help break that ice.

5-15 minutes is all you need. I personally set a timer for ten minutes each time and do not stop writing until the time is up. Your warm-up can be anything at all so long as it gets you writing and starts nudging those creative juices.

Here's some common warm-ups:

Journaling. Just jot down some notes about your day. Feel free to really lean into something that you noticed. We're going for description and details -- try to avoid settling into a spiral or focusing on something negative that will upset your creativity.

Short story prompts. Type that into Pinterest and pick the most ridiculous, cliche thing you can. Write a little scene, story summary, or even a rant about why you do or don't like the prompt. Just write.

Vocab challenge. If you like a bit more critical thinking to get you in the zone, have a random vocabulary word generator spit out five or so words. Check their meanings and jot down a little story or thought that includes all five. You get more familiar with beautiful and descriptive language, and it gives you a much narrowed prompt (which is lovely if you're like me and suffer each time there's an open-ended task assigned).

Character moments. Try putting your character into a generic setting and write down almost meticulously what their thought process would be. Follow them realizing they've just stepped in mud or dreading the start of the day. Pick a mundane thing and describe them working through it. This will not only get your writing going, but it will wake up the character's voice in your head.

Ongoing storytelling. Did you know that Whinnie the Poo was A.A. Milne's warm up story? He would jot down a quick little story with those very basic characters and did so every day. Whatever came to mind. He kept writing little tidbits on the same characters and eventually it turned into a series. Having that ongoing plot with isolated scenes and simple characters can help you feel more motivated to sit down and write.

Get-to-know-you-questions. Google a list of basic first-date questions (there are a million out there) and answer one yourself. Go into specifics. Where do you most want to travel and why? Let yourself ramble until the question is fully answered.

Writer's block blues. This is a favorite of mine. If you're truly stuck, write about being stuck. Eg: 'I'm supposed to write for ten minutse, but that feels so stupid and impossible. No one is goign to read this anyway. I have no ideas and the page is so overwhelming when its blank. I used to be able to write on and on and nothing could stop me. it was like breathing. but now I have nothign and do nothing and I can't even do a stupid prompt-' Even the rambling and ranting got me writing. It made things easier. It made writing this post easier. Also -- notice the typos? Yeah, don't fix those. You're in writing mode, not editing mode when you're doing this. If you edit while you write, you're forcing yourself to stay in your executive and calculating headspace rather than falling fully into creativity and dream. Ignore the mistakes. That's for future you to handle.

I've officially rambled far too much, but I hope that helps even a little bit. Live well and write often, my friends. Best of luck to you <3

[gywo]

forrest mankins

[gywo]

mm writing scenes as they come to you is good because no writer's block. You just get down the parts that are flowing. But then you have to go back and figure out how to join the scenes that you know will take one or two paragraphs at most which is bad because if you knew how they fit together you wouldn't have jumped over them in the first place.

[gywo]

Do you have advice for being confident in the things you want to do, artistically? Your songs have such a strong narrative/message, but it feels hard sometimes to be confident about creative works when it feels like everything has 'been done' to some extent.

i didn't crawl out of the sewer and start making the stuff you know me for, it took me years to make work that felt truly like mine

i started writing as the Narcissist Cookbook in 2016 (roughly), and by that point i'd already made about 15-20 EPs & albums over twelve years under different names and with different sounds. some of it was good, some of it was bad enough to have me waking up in cold sweats thinking about it. some albums and EPs no-one heard but me. most of it was me awkwardly trying to find my voice by imitating counting crows, dashboard confessional, jimmy eat world, bright eyes, the hives, etc.

the truth is that you'll spend a long time imitating your heroes - it's the unique and interesting ways you screw that up that will eventually become the foundation of Your Voice™

general hints:

take big swings

be overly ambitious

be masturbatory and self-indulgent

be excited about making mistakes

draw inspiration from artists outside your medium - I'd rather see a painting trying to be a poem than a painting done by an artist who only liked paintings

burn it all down every now and then

learning to finish Things might be the most important skill you can pick up - finishing a Bad Thing is the only way you'll ever learn how to finish the Good Things when they come along

drugs don't make you creative, they just shut down the anti-Art - the part of you telling you you suck while you're making something. you can shut that part of you down sober, it just takes work

dig for the ideas that scare you - "i couldn't get away with that" and "i could never say that" are like the beep of a metal detector

what art do you wish existed that doesn't exist? make that

[gywo]

What Makes a Good Pay Off?

              Novels are full of set ups and pay offs. Every single element you introduce is considered a set up, which means every single one needs to have one or more pay offs. If a character is really good at drawing, that skill needs to come into play during an important moment later or it will feel like a waste of words and reader attention, for example. If there’s a dog in the first chapter, it can’t disappear without providing some use to the plot.

              So how do we write a good pay off? It depends on a few things:

1. The longer the set up, the bigger the pay off

If the pay off is relatively small, place the set up sooner before. The longer it takes to get to the pay off, the more expectations are raised and the greater the moment needs to be. If a dog is introduced at the beginning it would be appropriate for it to play a small part in the plot a couple chapters later. However, if the dog is introduced and then comes up again and again across the plot, it should have a large role in the plot and ultimate ending of the novel.

2. Large pay offs should have at least 3 set ups

If you introduce something at the beginning, you can’t expect readers to remember it all the way to the end without some sort of reminder. That’s why large set ups typically come back up throughout several points of the novel. 3 times is not a hard and fast rule (and depending on the length of your novel and where your pay off is, this number is going to look very different across projects) but it’s a good guideline so that you remember to carry it throughout the novel before the pay off.

3. The last pay off is the biggest

If your set up has multiple pay offs, they should get progressively bigger and more satisfying as they go, leading up to the final that has the largest impact on plot and character.

4. Every POV character will have a set up and pay off

An arc is essentially a large set up and pay off, which means every character should have one. Your inciting incident is the set up for your MC’s arc, but the other POV characters also need their own introductions to their arcs, and eventually, their own resolutions. These can be placed wherever makes the most sense for them, and can be shorter than the main plot (for example, a side-character’s story may be resolved any time between the midpoint and ending, though I wouldn’t go any sooner than your midpoint).

[gywo]

Text: I try all the Prince’s food first. So many seek to influence his choices through magic, not a week goes by without bread that tastes like bloodlust, or a sip of wine that tastes like forgetting.

[gywo]

i wish i could remember who made the recommendation to "make a list of all the different ways someone could feel about a topic in your fictional setting and then make each of them a character" because it is a great technique and is also extremely fun

[gywo]

ICYMI: Kellie Doherty talks about how to make travel in fantasy more interesting! 🐉

"You don’t need have your characters travel by horseback, sail on a boat, or even walk everywhere. Now this would be hyper specific to the kind of world you’re building, but try to think about unique ways your characters could journey through the land. Maybe the characters can fast-travel by magic, but it demands a specific and steep price to do so, or maybe they have unique non-horse mounts that you’ve imagined and would like to show off, like a dragon or something."

[gywo]

WHUMPERLESS WHUMP EVENT 2025

Welcome back to the Whumperless Whump Event of July, where we celebrate the situational and environmental side of our community via beating the shit out of our blorbos!

FAQ and plain text prompts under the cut!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How are the prompts divided?

Q: Where can I find the prompts list?

A: @whumperless-whump-event on Tumblr.

A: The title is a “theme” for the day, followed by two tropes and a dialog prompt.

A: Absolutely.

Q: Can I use the title as a prompt?

A: Not at all.

Q: Do I have to use all of the prompts?

Q: Can I use all of the prompts?

A: Absolutely. If it's fun, go for it--don't feel pressured to finish them all, but do follow what's inspiring you.

Q: If I'm writing a chronological story, can I swap the days to make it fit the timeline?

A: Yes. Just make sure you tag each piece with the prompt and day you're filling.

Q: Can I have early or late entries?

A: Yes. Early and late entries will not be reblogged to the event account, though.

Q: Is there an Ao3 collection?

A: Yes! This year's collection can be found here, or through searching whumperless_whump_event_july2025. Please remember to submit this year's prompts to the 2025 collection and NOT the 2024 one!

Q: Can I write NSFW?

A: You absolutely can, but the event blog will not reblog any prompt fill rated Explicit. Please ensure you tag NSFW appropriately.

Q: Can I use AI?

A: No.

Q: Can a whumper be included in the prompt fill?

A: The short answer is no. The long answer is that you cannot have the role of whumper in your prompt fill (aka: no whumper-on-whumpee); however, if the character you want to be a whumpee or a caretaker happens to be a whumper, then as long as they are not fulfilling the role of whumper, it's fine. Also, if there is a whumper, it must be totally impersonal and faceless. Here are some examples for clarification:

A character's drink is spiked at a party. OKAY: The whumper who spiked the drink is never mentioned and is completely faceless, and the story is directly about whumpee recovering. NOT WHUMPERLESS: The whumper who spiked the drink kidnaps the whumpee. A character is left alone in a storm. OKAY: The character is stranded or lost. NOT WHUMPERLESS: Whumper tied them to a post and left them in the storm. A character is mugged on the street. OKAY: The whumper is a stranger, faceless, and the focus is on Whumpee. NOT WHUMPERLESS: The whumper is a stalker and there to kidnap Whumpee.

All in all, if your goal is to fulfill the event, then try to avoid a whumper. If you're using the prompts elsewhere, then ignore this; but in the spirit of the event, no whumper roles please.

Q: How do I tag my posts?

A: Tag with #whumperless whump event, #wwevent 2025 and #wwevent day [x](Don't just tag wwe, that's wresting.) Then, tag triggers and content warnings. Please put these first in the tag order! It just makes it easier to reblog.

Q: How do I get reblogged?

A: Mention this blog in your post! It's the easiest way for me to find you. Otherwise, I won't reblog it. (This also means if you do not want your post reblogged to the event, just don't mention the blog, and it'll stay private.)

I think that's about it. That's a lot, so if you've got any questions, feel free to shoot me an ask. I'm happy to help!

PROMPTS:

INSULT TO INJURY: Infected wounds / Hurt and ill / “Fate really has it out for you, huh.”

PUBLIC MISINFORMATION: Presumed dead / Search party / “There's a hand, I can see them!”

IT'S NOT YOU, IT'S ME: Left behind / Attempted Martyr / “Get out while you can, and don't look back.”

LIKE A KALEIDOSCOPE: Numbness / Dissociation / “Can I hold your hand?”

AT LEAST IT'S NOT MANUAL: Trapped in a car / Stranded / “You can't drive like this.”

DOOMED BY THE NARRATIVE: Scheduled execution / Near death experience / “That was too close.”

AHOY THERE MATEYS: Motion sickness / Washed ashore / “I hate the ocean.”

CHEF MIS-STEAK: Hot stove / Slip of the knife / “I swear, I'm usually better at this.”

SCHEDULE YOUR MAINTENANCE: Lack of self care / Sick day / “Just take a nap. I can handle the rest.”

BOOM, CLAP: Gunshots / Sound sensitive / “Shut up, please.”

CAN'T STOP WON'T STOP: Overworking / No time to rest / “We're not safe yet.”

HOW DID WE GET HERE: Isekai'd / Evacuation / “This is not a good place to be.”

A GOOD OLD FASHIONED BEATDOWN: Training mistake / Accidentally hurting someone / “…Let's take a break.”

RIPPED THE RUG FROM UNDER YOU: Despair / Clinging on for dear life / “Please don't leave.”

GET BEHIND ME: Using their body as a shield / Full team whump / “You're such an idiot!”

KNOCK ME OFF OF MY FEET: Collapsing in public / Dizzy / “Woah, there, you good?”

SEEING RED: Bloody nose / Coughing up blood / “Good lord, is all that yours?!”

BREAKING NEWS: Storm Shelters / Huddling for warmth / “It'll be over soon.”

IRRESISTABLE: Venomous snake bite / Spiders / “Man, these bugs really just love you, don't they.”

GOT THE SNIFFLES: Seasonal allergies / Can't stop coughing / “Bring tissues next time.”

FEAR IS THE MIND KILLER: Phobias / Uncontrollable shaking / “I gotta do this. I have to.”

HUG TIME: Touch starved / Comfort / “You're safe. I promise, you're safe.”

RECOVERY PERIOD: Tending to past injuries / Bruises / “Alright. Lecture me before you pop a blood vessel.”

IT WAS ALWAYS BURNING: Wide-scale fire / Third degree burns / “You'll only make things worse if you keep doing that.”

IT'S JUST SPRINKLING: Stuck outside during a storm / Natural disasters / “We should not be out here right now.”

CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE: Flying debris / Pinned / “We gotta get you out of here.”

ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH: Withdrawal / Hangover / “You'll get through this.”

TAKE A WALK (LITERALLY): Hiking mishap / Heatstroke or heat exhaustion / “Can we take a break?”

TAKE A WALK (FIGURATIVELY): Snapping under pressure / Lashing out / “You wanna say that again?”

MIND THE STRINGS: Mind control / Psychic mishap / “Come back to yourself, please!"

ONE WRONG STEP: Caught in a trap / Impaled / “If we remove it, you'll bleed out in seconds.”

ALTERNATES:

THE CLOCK IS TICKING: Losing track of time / Long term coma / “Was I… dreaming?”

IMPROVISED SOLUTIONS: Field medicine / Makeshift gurney / “It's all we have, I'm sorry.”

HARD KNOCK LIFE: Severe concussion / Clumsiness / "Sorry… who are you again?"

UNDER PRESSURE: Can't stop the bleeding / Disrupted healing factor / "Why isn't it working?!"

WHO'S YOUR EMERGENCY CONTACT: Workplace mishap / Distress call / "Talk to me."

SHENANIGANS AFOOT: Time loops / Body swap / "You're scaring me."

A RIVER IN EGYPT: Working through injury / Recovery / "I'm fine. I'm fine."

[gywo]

Sheep and Standing Stone, Avebury, England

Photographer: Barry Andersen

Photo: BarryAndersen.com

[gywo]

Facial Expressions & Emotional Micro-Reactions for Writers

(For those subtle moments when “he frowned” just isn’t enough.)

Tight-lipped — Mouth pressed closed, often from restraint, anxiety, or irritation. Jaw clenched — Tension from anger, fear, or self-control. Eyes narrowed — Suspicion, doubt, or intense focus. Brow furrowed — Confusion, concern, or frustration. Lip twitching — On the edge of a smile… or a snarl. Eye roll — Dismissiveness, annoyance, or teenage energy. Lip biting — Anxiety, hesitation, or suppressed emotion. Nose scrunch — Disgust, confusion, or mild sass. Blinking too fast — Shock, overwhelm, or trying not to cry. Staring blankly — Dissociation, distraction, or emotional overload. Smirking — Confidence, mischief, or sarcasm. Avoiding eye contact — Shame, discomfort, or guilt. Looking down quickly — Vulnerability, embarrassment, or attraction. Shoulders rising slightly — Insecurity, fear, or defensiveness. Forced smile — Pretending, hiding, or surviving the moment.

[gywo]

Hey, real talk. How does one write smut??

[gywo]

The Challenge of Wheels and Words

This is a fest where all fic titles follow the popular format “A/The ____ of ____ and ____.”

To participate, spin the wheels below to get your title. Then, write a fic inspired by that title.

Fics can be any fandom (including original fic), any pairing, any genre, any rating, any length. Go wild!!!

Spin for your first word

Spin twice for your second and third words

Submit your fic to our AO3 Collection

Posting dates: July 1 - 7

Rules

You can spin as many times as you want.

You can submit as many fics as you want.

Fics can be for any fandom, including original fic, any pairing, genre, rating, and length.

Your fic does not have to be complete by the end of the posting period.

If you just want to spin and don’t want to write, you can send us your favorite titles as an ask and we’ll post them for others to grab!

Mods: @sillyunicorn and @embraceweird 

[gywo]

It feels like this every time I write a fic

[gywo]

What if your character could speak to his or her ancestor? What would they have to say?

[gywo]

how to outline a story:

write a bullet point list of everything that happens

realize it doesn’t make sense

cry

start writing anyway