partiallythawed

[partiallythawed]

“First, you must know the truth concerning everything you are speaking or writing about; you must learn how to define each thing in itself; and, having defined it, you must know how to divide it into kinds until you reach something indivisible. Second, you must understand the nature of the soul, along the same lines; you must determine which kind of speech is appropriate to each kind of soul, prepare and arrange your speech accordingly, and offer a complex and elaborate speech to a complex soul and a simple speech to a simple one. Then, and only then, will you be able to use speech artfully, to the extent that its nature allows it to be used that way, either in order to teach or in order to persuade.”

— Plato, Phaedrus

[partiallythawed]

People talk a lot about how reading is necessary for writing, but when you really want to improve your writing, it’s important to go beyond just simple reading. Here are some things to do when reading:

Note how they begin and end the story. There are a ton of rather contradictory pieces of advice about starting stories, so see how they do it in the stories you enjoy. Don’t only look at the most popular stories, but look at your more obscure favorites.

See what strikes you. Is it fast or complicated scenes with a lot of emotions? Is it stark lines? Pithy dialogue? What do you remember the next day?

Pay attention to different styles. It’s not just whether they use past or present tense, first or third person. It’s whether the writing is more neutral or deeper inside character’s heads. Do they use italics? Parentheses? Other interesting stylistic choices? Take the ones you like and try them out in your own writing. See what works and what doesn’t.

Keep track of how they deal with other characters. Do we see a lot of secondary character each for very brief periods of time or are there a couple that show up a lot? How much information do we get about secondary characters? Do they have their own plots or do their plots revolve entirely around the main characters? 

Count how many plots there are. Is there just one main plot or are there multiple subplots? Are the storylines mostly plot-based or character-based?  

Pay attention to what you don’t like. If you don’t like what’s going on in a book or even just a scene, note what it is. Does the dialogue feel awkward? Are the characters inconsistent? Does the plot feel too convenient or cobbled together? Does the wording just feel off? See if you can spot those issues in your own writing, especially when reading a completed draft or beginning a later draft.

[partiallythawed]

"no one ever says goodbye unless they want to see you again”

[partiallythawed]

“I have sometimes suspected that the only thing that holds no mystery is happiness, because it is its own justification.”

— Jorge Luis Borges, Dr. Brodie’s Report (via quotespile)

[partiallythawed]

“how can I teach her some way of being human that won’t destroy her?”

[partiallythawed]

#Weekend Game

Give yourself 15 minutes, get a random number between 1 and 712 and search for that prompt (search in my tags: prompt #{number}) and then start writing.

Afterwards you can post it, show it to someone you trust or forget you ever wrote it if you don’t like it. Just remember: Practice makes perfect. :)

And if you already used that prompt choose another one or write it in a completely different way.

Have fun!

[partiallythawed]

via: Philosophy Matters

[partiallythawed]

i could talk about it for ages but i just fucking hate how creative things like painting and writing and singing are considered skills and not just something as natural as eating and breathing like holy shit. yeah there’s capitalist undertones everywhere just trying to make literally everything profitable but it’s also just upsetting that once we get to a certain age and are able to critique our work we stop creating art because we don’t think it’s good enough. art is for you !!! it’s not about making something perfectly beautiful it’s about self fulfillment and it’s just so insane like. when we were little we’d draw literal fucking scribbles and be like :)))) where did that energy go !!!! i wanna sit on the floor and draw scribbles outside the lines with crayola markers who’s gonna fucking stop me ????? i just hate to see that no one thinks they can draw or write or do anything like that just cause ??? or that they can’t sing under their breath or make cheesy songs because it’s not good enough !! make shitty art !!! please !!!!! art is NOTTT for other people and it does NOTTT have to be a skill it’s something as simple as just doing something to enjoy yourself jesus fucking christ. just because you’re not good at something doesn’t mean you can’t do it !! it makes you happy that’s all that matters pls

[partiallythawed]

the infernal devices edit :)

[partiallythawed]

The steps to traditional publishing

If you decide to pursue traditional publishing, what are the steps after you've written and self-edited your manuscript?

1. Querying

For traditional publishing, you'll need a literary agent 90% of the time.

In order to get a literary agent, you need to query a bunch of them. It is also possible to secure representation at in-person pitch events or on Twitter events like PitMad.

For querying, it is important to compile a list of agents who are reputable and who represent your genre and age category. Then, decide in how many rounds you will query these agents.

Follow their guidelines!

For most agents, you'll need a query letter - a one-page cover letter pitching your book. You'll also need a synopsis, which sets out the entire work in a few pages. Some agents may also request extracts from the manuscript.

2. Getting an agent

If an agent likes your submission they will contact you. Most likely, this will be to request part of your manuscript, or the entire work.

If they still want to represent you after reading the book, they will offer you representation.

You will then sign a contract of representation and the agent will get a percentage of the proceeds of your published books.

3. Agent edits

Not all agents are editors, but most are. If you get an editorial agent, the agent will work with you to polish your novel even more.

This will take as many rounds of edits as is necessary for both of you to be satisfied.

4. Going on submission

Once your book is ready, your agent will pitch the book to editors at publishing houses.

This will usually take multiple rounds and a lot of time.

This is like querying, only more excruciating.

Once an editor shows interest in your work, this process comes to an end.

This also means that the power is back in your hands. Your agent will now let the other editors know that you have an interested editor and that they will have to respond within a certain period if they still want to represent you.

5. Acquisitions

Even if an editor wants to publish your work, they need the go-ahead of the entire publishing house.

This is what acquisitions meetings are for.

The editor will pitch your book to the rest of the company. The marketing, financial etc teams will then decide whether they think the book can be profitable.

6. Offer and auction

If the publishing house wants to publish your book, you will receive an offer from the publisher.

If more than one publisher is interested, the book will go to auction, where the interested publishing houses will bid to publish the work. The best offer will then be accepted.

7. Contract

Once you've decided to publish with a certain house, contract negotiations will begin.

Your agent will be in charge of negotiating on your behalf. However, it is probably a good idea to educate yourself on the things to look out for and to consult with an Intellectual Property lawyer.

Once you and the publisher are satisfied with the contract, you will sign.

You will receive an advance, which is the amount the publisher predicts you will earn in royalties from the book. The first portion of the advance is usually paid upon signature of the contract.

8. More edits

Then, you will have various rounds of edits with your editor to ensure that the book is the best it can be.

Once this is complete, you will probably receive the second portion of the advance.

9. Behind-the-scenes stuff

Your publisher is then in charge of certain procedures necessary for publication e.g. formatting and cover design.

The publishing house will also create a marketing plan, which you should supplement with your own marketing.

10. Publication

And, presto, your book is published.

The process from offer to publication can take anywhere between just under a year to 6+ years.

Should you earn out your advance, you will receive royalty cheques from your publisher.

So, those are the usual steps in broad terms. Some aspects may vary, but this is what you can expect when pursuing traditional publishing.

Reblog if you found this useful. Comment if you have further questions. Follow me for similar content.

[partiallythawed]

“The world only exists in your eyes. You can make it as big or as small as you want.”

— F. Scott Fitzgerald

[partiallythawed]

[partiallythawed]

Do’s and Don'ts of Designing for Accessibility

Anxiety

Autistic Spectrum

Dyslexia

Physical or Motor Disabilities

Low Vision

Screen Readers

Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Find the PDFs for Do’s and Don’ts of Designing for Accessibility here.

[partiallythawed]

march prompts via @creativepromptsforwriting

3/2 - butterflies

————————

you touch me

it changes everything

had you not

held eye contact

a second too long

nothing would be the same.

you ruined me

but in my mind

you are still perfect.

my wings are spread

yet i fall from

the weight you

make me carry.

oh

catch

me

my

darling.

just because you

look gorgeous doesn’t

change the fact

you eat me alive

consume my very soul

make me nauseous and

gravely i’ll to the stomach.

you are not what i thought

i still forgive you

however.

meeting you changed everything

you will never be what

i wanted and

you never wanted me

in the first place.

my senses fail me

as your single touch

changed everything

why can’t you

need me?

[partiallythawed]

narcissa malfoy moodboard !

[partiallythawed]

march prompts via @creativepromptsforwriting

3/1 - flowers

———————

fragile

ever so fragile

do not tear me apart

exude perfection

idealistic

you choose favorites.

don’t touch me

i’ll break

but don’t look away

i’ll wither.

you are my sun

warmth upon my skin

what would i do without

you my love.

look at me

am i up to standards

do i remind you of

spring?

[partiallythawed]

I'm still hung over

every little star

you put into

my night sky.

~kairos