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you cannot headcanon your way out of overt thematic structures on which the entire narrative is built

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Tips from a Beta Reading Writer

This one's for the scenes with multiple characters, and you're not sure how to keep everyone involved.

Writing group scenes is chaos. Someone’s talking, someone’s interrupting, someone’s zoning out thinking about breadsticks. And if you’re not careful, half your cast fades into the background like NPCs in a video game. I used to struggle with this so much—my characters would just exist in the scene without actually affecting it. But here’s what I've learned and have started implementing:

✨ Give everyone a job in the scene ✨

Not their literal job—like, not everyone needs to be solving a crime or casting spells. I mean: Why are they in this moment? What’s their role in the conversation?

My favourite examples are:

The Driver: Moves the convo forward. They have an agenda, they’re pushing the action.

The Instigator: Pokes the bear. Asks the messy questions. Stirring the pot like a chef on a mission.

The Voice of Reason: "Guys, maybe we don’t commit arson today?"

The Distracted One: Completely in their own world. Tuning out, doodling on a napkin, thinking about their ex.

The Observer: Not saying much, but noticing everything. (Quiet characters still have presence!)

The Wild Card: Who knows what they’ll do? Certainly not them. Probably about to make things worse.

If a character has no function, they’ll disappear. Give them something—even if it’s just a side comment, a reaction, or stealing fries off someone’s plate. Keep them interesting, and your readers will stay interested too.

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Honor Fraser @ Philip Treacy Fall/Wint 1998

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Jess over on insta has finished stitching up her Blackwork Inner Solar System from my pattern.

Her work is meticulous, and she has changed a few things up to make this her own rendition (which I highly encourage!). The end product is just glorious.

It fills me with joy every time someone shares stitching from one of my designs or workshops. Textile love for everyone!

(Sorry if this is a bit spammy, I'm very excited.)

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Some objects. Just playing with what sparks something interesting when I arrange things.

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pardalote's top 20 makes for 2023, fourteen - the white robot gang!

Well, I did get a little obsessed with making white felt robots. I blame Amy.

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Murderbot (TV) Concept Art by Tommy Arnold

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A new shape, and stitching another (peeking in from the top). Letting the blue-yellow speak to me.

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A little green, a little purple. Shapes again.

Strangely I really enjoyed revisiting the teeny details on that brown and golden canvaswork snippet. Got me thinking.

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Orphan's Lament (gouache) It rained on our little smoke tree. I named this painting for the Robbie Basho song!

This will be my postcard print for June. Join my postcard club on Patreon if you'd like this mini print in the mail - link in my pinned post!!

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tumblr is for putting your stuff somewhere that's not secret but also not for anyone particular to see so it's true neutral in a really nice way

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05.07 - Old Tree

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Look alive people!

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