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What is... Alpha vs. Beta Reader?

Most writers do not publish a work without it going through the process of being critiqued by multiple people beforehand. People that do the critiquing are alpha and beta readers.

But where is the difference?

Alpha readers come in first. They can read your draft at any point, you can even just run your first ideas by them. The alpha reader should focus on the general story, the bigger picture. They tell you where plot holes are and if an idea or scene in underdeveloped. They will tell you if one of your ideas just don't translate on the page just yet. You should take their feedback and apply it.

After working on the draft with the feedback you got, it's time for the beta reader. This one comes in towards the end, when the overall draft is finished. A beta reader should represent your target audience and should tell you what they liked and didn't like as a reader, not a fellow writer. They can tell you about what they felt while reading your story and if they cared about the characters. Beta readers will examine the whole story like the alpha readers, but they will do it more in-depth, which is why it's important to have them come in at the end, when you've gone through multiple rounds of revisions of the overall story.

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Secret Relationship Dialogue

"What if someone sees us?"

"I would love to just take you out on a date."

"Let's meet at our spot."

"But I don't care about what anyone else thinks!"

"Not sure I can go the whole day without kissing you."

"Maybe it's for the best that we don't see each other in public. Wouldn't want to be arrested for indecent behaviour."

"I would love to hold hands with you."

"They will be mad if they ever find out."

"Let's go somewhere where we no one knows us."

"I'll just keep dreaming of our first real date."

"Can we really keep going like this?"

"It's not easy, but I'm right here with you."

"Are you sure that you're ready to tell them?"

"I would love everyone to know about us."

"You're not my dirty little secret. And I never want you to think that."

More prompts!

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Reactions to... getting betrayed

"So that's how it is."

"No. This can't be right!"

"Why am I not surprised?"

"I thought we were friends!"

"Are you for real?"

"No! No, please, not you."

"You would never do this to me. Right?"

"Oh, I was so naive to believe you."

"You promised to be by my side!"

"No, I refuse to believe that you would do that to me."

"Tell me why! I hope you have a good reason."

"Why? Why did you have to do this?"

"How can you look me in the eyes and betray me?"

"What have I ever done to you to deserve this?"

"I don't know if I want to cry or strangle you."

"It was all just a sick game to you!"

"Why did it have to be you?"

"How dare you betray my trust like that!"

"You have hurt me like no one has ever hurt me before."

"I never thought it could be you."

"How could I ever believe another word you say?"

"You taught me a valuable lesson today. Trust no one."

More: Betrayal Dialogue Prompts + How to write betrayal

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! And check out my Instagram! 🥰

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Dark Academia Names

Girls

Addison

Agatha

Alexandra

Amalia

Amira

Aurelia

Beatrix

Camille

Carlotta

Carmen

Claudine

Claire

Dorothea

Elisabeth

Florence

Francesca

Gwendolyn

Helena

Johanna

Liliana

Madeleine

Margaux

Margot

Marjorie

Maude

Milicent

Ophelia

Rosalia

Salima

Samira

Soraya

Valentina

Viktoria

Wilhelmine

Zuleika

More names!

Dark Academia Boy Names

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! And check out my Instagram! 🥰

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This is really great

Kisses Masterpost

All the kisses we deserve.

Kisses

A list of 50 types of different kisses for you to write about and for your characters to experience.

How to write a fluffy kiss scene

In a fluffy, non-sexual kiss scene I would make the kisses shorter, but more frequent, everything is a bit slower and calmer. There is no need for urgency. It’s almost a bit lazy. Instead of deepening the kiss they would give each other a short kiss on the lips and then another one and another one, but they would also focus on other things in the scene:

soft smiles

innocent touches, like neck and shoulders

forehead touches and kisses

hushed conversation

eyelid kisses

gentle stroking of cheeks

soft laughs

tucking hair behind ears

First Kisses

A list of different kinds of first kisses.

First Kiss Prompts

“I would very much like to kiss you right now.” “Please.”

“I’m not sure how to…” “Just follow my lead.”

“Is it ok if I kiss you?” “I would like that very much.”

“I knew I would love kissing you, but this was…” “Even better than the dream?” “Yes.”

“This would probably be the perfect moment for a kiss…” “And we probably shouldn’t waste it.”

“I would like to show you how I good I feel when I’m with you.”

“I’ve never done this before. I’m probably not going to be great at it.” “Neither have I. But we could figure it out together.”

The first kiss was not like the movies. It was a bit too stiff and at an awkward angle. But the second one was already better. Later that evening they had already become masters.

It was always exciting to kiss someone new. The first shy touches of yet to be claimed lips, leading to soft sighs and deepening feelings.

The feather-light touch on her lips made her feel warm and safe.

It was the first time their lips were meeting, but they immediately knew that it wouldn’t be the last.

Accidental Kisses

in a moment of celebration they get overwhelmed with emotions and basically without a conscious decision to do it

they fall into or onto each other and their lips meet

they have to share a very tight space and one of them tries to turn around which makes their lips meet

one gives the other a kiss on the cheek and the other one suddenly turns their head

Random assortment of prompts about kissing

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee! And check out my Instagram! 🥰

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Prompt #974

"We should make out. That's super important to do when you're undercover. I've seen it on TV."

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"I can't believe you're still angry with me."

"Oh, is that so? How gracious of you to give me an allotted time to be pissed at you, and how rude of me to have surpassed it. Do I need to pay a surcharge?"

"That's not what I meant."

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Prompt #971

"You went up against actual gods and this is what you are afraid of?"

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logical brain: it’s just fanfiction… you’re writing this for fun… it’s okay if it’s not perfect as long as you enjoyed creating it

monkey brain: everything I write must be groundbreaking

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Self-Care Dialogue

"I'm gonna stay in bed and I will not do anything today."

"Just laying down and cuddling with you is the best self-care for me."

"Please, be kinder to yourself."

"You deserve a day off. Please, just take it."

"Cake is definitely a form of self-care."

"You need to do this for yourself. You will feel better afterwards."

"Don't sacrifice yourself for others."

"Self-care doesn't mean you're selfish."

"We all need to take some time for ourselves."

"I know I say I'll treat myself to something nice a lot, but I deserve it a lot."

"Cutting toxic people out off your life can be a good start to heal."

"Sometimes we just need to make ourselves happy."

"Not saying anything to this is also a form of self-care."

"You're a wonderful person and I feel so good with you. Please start treating yourself the same way you treat me."

"Let's do a spa day, we earned that."

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! And check out my Instagram! 🥰

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Color synonyms cheat-sheet

Here’s my ultimate list of synonyms for every colour that you can use in your descriptive writing! Save this post to find them easy later.

Red

scarlet

vermillion

ruby

blood

wine

cerise

crimson

cherry

maroon

coral

rust

sanguine

blush

burgundy

Blue

azure

cobalt

sapphire

cerulean

marine

navy

indigo

teal

denim

ocean

lapis

sky

turquoise

Yellow

amber

gold

lemon

sand

saffron

ivory

dandelion

honey

butterscotch

mustard

canary

flaxen

maize

Green

olive

emerald

grassy

verdant

sage

lime

pine

juniper

chartreuse

seafoam

moss

fern

jade

forest

Black

jet

obsidian

onyx

raven

charcoal

ink

shadowed

dark

midnight

grease

void

White

pearl

alabaster

egg shell

cotton

snow

ivory

frost

bone

powder

light

chiffon

cream

ashen

Orange

amber

tangerine

marigold

clay

apricot

peach

sandstone

honey

bronze

fire

ochre

titian

auburn

Purple & Pink

lavender

plum

lilac

violet

magenta

mauve

orchid

blush

fuschia

salmon

grape

mulberry

periwinkle

iris

Brown

chestnut

hazel

ginger

sepia

mahogany

cedar

cinnamon

beige

bronze

auburn

coffee

walnut

wood

umber

tawny

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First Kisses

The first kiss between two characters.

an accidental kiss

kissing as a dare

finally kissing, after a long time of pining

a surprise kiss, catching one of them off guard

learning how to kiss together

desperately kissing, being in danger

kissing as part of a game

movie kiss/kissing while acting

kissing in the heat of the moment

a soft and unsure kiss

kissing to prove a point

at first a gentle kiss, getting deeper and deeper

winning and a kiss as a reward

kissing to try it out

laughing while kissing

a breathless kiss

kissing as a distraction

a kiss on the corner of the mouth

smiling while softly kissing, finally showing their love

First Kiss Prompts | Kisses Masterpost

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Resources For Writing Sketchy Topics

Medicine

A Study In Physical Injury

Comas

Medical Facts And Tips For Your Writing Needs

Broken Bones

Burns

Unconsciousness & Head Trauma

Blood Loss

Stab Wounds

Pain & Shock

All About Mechanical Injuries (Injuries Caused By Violence)

Writing Specific Characters

Portraying a kleptomaniac.

Playing a character with cancer.

How to portray a power driven character.

Playing the manipulative character.

Portraying a character with borderline personality disorder.

Playing a character with Orthorexia Nervosa.

Writing a character who lost someone important.

Playing the bullies.

Portraying the drug dealer.

Playing a rebellious character.

How to portray a sociopath.

How to write characters with PTSD.

Playing characters with memory loss.

Playing a pyromaniac.

How to write a mute character.

How to write a character with an OCD.

How to play a stoner.

Playing a character with an eating disorder.

Portraying a character who is anti-social.

Portraying a character who is depressed.

How to portray someone with dyslexia.

How to portray a character with bipolar disorder.

Portraying a character with severe depression.

How to play a serial killer.

Writing insane characters.

Playing a character under the influence of marijuana.

Tips on writing a drug addict.

How to write a character with HPD.

Writing a character with Nymphomania.

Writing a character with schizophrenia.

Writing a character with Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Writing a character with depression.

Writing a character who suffers from night terrors.

Writing a character with paranoid personality disorder.

How to play a victim of rape.

How to play a mentally ill/insane character.

Writing a character who self-harms.

Writing a character who is high on amphetamines.

How to play the stalker.

How to portray a character high on cocaine.

Playing a character with ADHD.

How to play a sexual assault victim.

Writing a compulsive gambler.

Playing a character who is faking a disorder.

Playing a prisoner.

Portraying an emotionally detached character.

How to play a character with social anxiety.

Portraying a character who is high.

Portraying characters who have secrets.

Portraying a recovering alcoholic.

Portraying a sex addict.

How to play someone creepy.

Portraying sexually/emotionally abused characters.

Playing a character under the influence of drugs.

Playing a character who struggles with Bulimia.

Illegal Activity

Examining Mob Mentality

How Street Gangs Work

Domestic Abuse

Torture

Assault

Murder

Terrorism

Internet Fraud

Cyberwarfare

Computer Viruses

Corporate Crime

Political Corruption

Drug Trafficking

Human Trafficking

Sex Trafficking

Illegal Immigration

Contemporary Slavery 

Black Market Prices & Profits

AK-47 prices on the black market

Bribes

Computer Hackers and Online Fraud

Contract Killing

Exotic Animals

Fake Diplomas

Fake ID Cards, Passports and Other Identity Documents

Human Smuggling Fees

Human Traffickers Prices

Kidney and Organ Trafficking Prices

Prostitution Prices

Cocaine Prices

Ecstasy Pills Prices

Heroin Prices

Marijuana Prices

Meth Prices

Earnings From Illegal Jobs

Countries In Order Of Largest To Smallest Risk

Forensics

arson

Asphyxia

Blood Analysis

Book Review

Cause & Manner of Death

Chemistry/Physics

Computers/Cell Phones/Electronics

Cool & Odd-Mostly Odd

Corpse Identification

Corpse Location

Crime and Science Radio

crime lab

Crime Scene

Cults and Religions

DNA

Document Examination

Fingerprints/Patterned Evidence

Firearms Analysis

Forensic Anthropology

Forensic Art

Forensic Dentistry

Forensic History

Forensic Psychiatry

General Forensics

Guest Blogger

High Tech Forensics

Interesting Cases

Interesting Places

Interviews

Medical History

Medical Issues

Misc

Multiple Murderers

On This Day

Poisons & Drugs

Police Procedure

Q&A

serial killers

Space Program

Stupid Criminals

Theft

Time of Death

Toxicology

Trauma

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the most important question you can ask yourself when designing a magic system in fiction is "wouldn't it be fucked up if this happened"

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How to write a kiss scene

requested by: anon request: How do I write a good kiss scene? As how do I describe it? What details or words would make it good?

What goes into the writing of a kiss scene?

details to incorporate:

the sensations in their stomach, their chest, and their knees

the way their breathing changes shortly before the kiss

the feeling of the other's hands

the texture of the other's clothing

the moment they realise they've reached the point of no return

the feeling they're left with after the kiss

words to use...

... to describe the kiss:

tentative

tender

hesitant

quick

soft

gentle

delicate

languid

feathery

familiar

exploring

hungry

heated

fiery

frantic

impatient

sloppy

messy

aggressive

... to describe how they feel about the kiss:

nervous

excited

giddy

anxious

apprehensive

ambiguous

surprised

reassured

certain

confident

relieved

eager

greedy

... to show what the lips do:

exploring each other

brushing over each other

locking

devouring

touching

sealing

pressing against each other

capturing

lapping

tasting

crushing together

travelling (the other's body)

trailing (down to the other's chin)

grinning into the kiss

caressing

lingering

... to show how their body reacts:

feeling warm all over

buzzing

humming

pumping/palpitating heart

clenching lungs

joy bubbling up

tingly stomach

warm chest

burning cheeks

sweaty palms

blood rushing through their veins

... to describe what their hands are doing:

tangling in their lover's hair

wrapping their arms around their lover's neck

intertwining their fingers with their lover

resting on their lover's hips

pressing into their lover's shoulder blades

cupping their lover's cheeks

touching their lover's chin

curling their arm around their lover's waist

resting on their lover's shoulders

grabbing their lover's collar

sneaking up under their lover's shirt

brushing over their lover's bare skin

lightly squeezing their lover's butt

focus on:

the sensations instead of what's physically happening. (the protagonists might very well not know themselves what is happening exactly, but they feel very precisely)

I hope this helps <3

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“If I get turned into a vampire, does that count as dying according to my life insurance policy?”

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Eleventh Day of Gift-Giving

Eleven Encouraging Words

... prompts about characters encouraging others

“You don’t have to do this alone.”

“I will always support you.”

“You are enough.”

“Never give up. You can do it.”

“You’re almost there. Keep going.”

“I believe in you and so should you.”

“Believe me. This will pass.

“This is a dream worth fighting for.”

“I’ve always admired your strength.”

“You’re worthy. Yes, you are.”

“Everything is possible when we do it together.”

24 Days of Gift-Giving