#Creative Writing Practice

[duckbowl]

House Lights

Creeping behind the horizon's curtain, rays of pale gold scatter into the sky.

Open your eyes.

The world is still dusted by shadow,

But brilliance rears its head from beneath.

Shine! O glorious light, unto the world!

Cotton candy pinks and pastel oranges

Fade into shimmering golds and brilliant blues.

See the horizon stretch into infinity

As the world lays aglow.

Stretch out your blinding arms

Until the bounds of time wrap close.

glow, o beautious light, upon the world.

lustrous sunbeams run back home

as soft shadows take their place.

close your eyes.

a curtain of stars closes over tonight's stage.

constellations slow dance together,

their partners light years away.

the moon does a lonesome waltz,

companion steadfastly slumbering.

but soon enough the orchestra tunes up

and the audience fills their seats.

[writers-potion]

how do you write a liar?

How to Write Liars Believably

Language

The motive of every goal is the make the lie seem plausible while taking blame off the speaker, so liars will often project what they say to a third party: "Katie said that..."

Referring to third parties as "they" rather than he or she

In the case of a deliberate lie prepped beforehand, there will be an overuse of specific names (rather than pronouns) as the speaker tries to get the details right.

Overuse of non-committal words like "something may have happened"

Masking or obscuring facts like "to the best of my knowledge" and “it is extremely unlikely," etc.

Avoiding answers to specific, pressing questions

Voice

There's isn't a set tone/speed/style of speaking, but your character's speech patten will differ from his normal one.

People tend to speak faster when they're nervous and are not used to lying.

Body Language

Covering their mouth

Constantly touching their nose

fidgeting, squirming or breaking eye contact

turning away, blinking faster, or clutching a comfort object like a cushion as they speak

nostril flaring, rapid shallow breathing or slow deep breaths, lip biting, contracting, sitting on your hands, or drumming your fingers. 

Highly-trained liars have mastered the art of compensation by freezing their bodies and looking at you straight in the eye.

Trained liars can also be experts in the art of looking relaxed. They sit back, put their feet up on the table and hands behind their head.

For deliberate lies, the character may even carefully control his body language, as though his is actually putting on a show

The Four Types of Liars

Deceitful: those who lie to others about facts

2. Delusional: those who lie to themselves about facts

3. Duplicitious: those who lie to others about their values

Lying about values can be even more corrosive to relationships than lying about facts. 

4. Demoralized: those who lie to themselves about their values

Additional Notes

Genuine smiles or laughs are hard to fake

Exaggerations of words (that would normally not be emphasized) or exaggerated body language

Many savvy detectives ask suspects to tell the story in reverse or non-linear fashion to expose a lie. They often ask unexpected, or seemingly irrelevant questions to throw suspects off track. 

[daily-prompts]

Prompt 2563

Keeping the place like this was easy when I lived alone, but now I needed to make some changes.

[marsplastic13]

I LOVE that part of editing that requires me to act it all out and see if it's actually how two humans would interact

[deepwaterwritingprompts]

Text: It is taboo, or course, to decorate with human souls. The rich complain that the plentiful beetle and moth souls you can buy in shops don’t glow as brightly, or come in the colors they desire.

[the-mouse-in-the-library]

I'm watching 1940s movie as research for a spirk fanfiction. Reading books about the time period for a spirk fanfiction. If only I could apply this level of dedication to anything else in my life I'd have a Pulitzer.

[writingwithfolklore]

How to Improve Your Writing

Writing can be done in an infinite amount of ways by an infinite amount of people in an infinite amount of styles. No, I don’t think the monkeys would have written Shakesphere. I think they eventually would have written something we’d refer to as Monkey-Sphere.

What I’m trying to say is that improving at writing is not a one-size-fits-all kind of process. There’s one important thing you need to consider if this is your goal:

What kind of writer do I want to be?

To improve at commercial fiction is going to look a whole lot different than improving at literary fiction. If you’re a bit lost here, check out my post: what kind of writer are you.

Once you have a solid idea of what kind of writer you are/you want to be, you can start focusing on the demands of your style.

Commercial Fiction

You are a writer who focuses on a snappy, engaging, fast-moving plot with fun and equally engaging characters. Think The Inheritance Games, The Maze Runner, Divergent, The Hunger Games.

To improve at writing commercial fiction, you’re going to focus on three things:

Your pacing

Your plot and its hook

Your characters

The expectations of your genre

Literary Fiction

You are a writer who focuses on beautiful language and challenging the reader, either how they think of themselves, or how they think of society (or both). You see your pieces as works of art that hold a greater meaning in society—they aren’t just entertainment. Think To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, The Secret History, Flowers for Algernon.

To improve here, you’re going to focus on these things:

Lyrical prose

Deep character development

Complex themes

Breaking from the “norm” or convention of novel writing

Understanding the world and society on a deep, educated level

Upmarket Fiction

Seen as the best of both worlds, you are a writer who has both the ear for lyrical, beautiful language and the instincts for an engaging plot and characters. Think Blood over Bright Haven, Gone Girl, The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Night Circus

You’re going to focus on these things:

Sensory/lyrical prose – vocabulary!

Character-driven plots with a sharp hook

A solid theme

Expectations of your genre

Taking these pointers, the best way to improve in your area of writing is to read in your area of writing. And read intentionally, really analyzing how other authors build their sentences, their plots, evolve their narratives, etc. Write down interesting word choices, lines you love, details about characters, themes (this is where an inspiration journal really comes in handy!)

Click on the links above to see my related posts!

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[raineandsky]

Heeey what’s up?XD i’ve got an idea which’s not letting me sleep in the night, I would be so happy if you wrote something like this. So basically: villain gets badly injured and supervillain leaves him behind, because villain is no more use in this state. He lies on his bed waiting for death to come and take him, also questioning his every decision that had led to this situation . When hero finds him, villain tells him to finish it quickly, he’s not even resisting . But instead hero brings his nemesis home with him, takes care of him and overall acts nice, which makes villain doubt his own sanity for a second.

Bonus points if hero tried to mock the villain(friendly ofc), expecting him to snap back, but instead villain just accepted it, making hero even more worried

Sorry if it’s too specific (*o*)💞

oooouuugghhhhh i have a soft spot for this kinda dynamic........ this was fun, thank you for the request!

tw: near death, blood

-

It’s close.

The villain can feel it. The pain is ebbing, the world is fading. A light chill is slowing blanketing him the closer he falls to the narrow edge of existence.

It’s a miracle he made it here at all, frankly, but the noise outside is a pleasant distraction from having to think about any of what brought him here. The quiet hum of the city below, the birds twittering on the branches outside his window, the door down the hall clicking shut, the chatter of the people on the street below, the—

Was that his door?

Any other day, the villain would’ve leapt up and taken the intruder on with his bare hands. But today is not any other day, and he can only watch as his bedroom door silently swings open.

Damn, he knew he shouldn’t have oiled those hinges last week.

“Oh,” the hero says faintly from the doorway, as if he’s surprised to find the villain in his own house. “You’re not looking so good.”

The villain lets out a sarcastic wheeze that sends a surge of pain through his chest. “I wonder whose fault that is.”

The hero approaches the bed, almost nervous, and the villain can see his nemesis’s favourite weapon tucked at his side, the metal protruding from his hip like it’s part of him. Maybe it is. It certainly seemed like it when it turned on the villain before.

The hero tsks humourously, the sound almost lost on the villain deafened ears entirely. “Those are the words of someone who didn’t dodge fast enough.”

“Can we stop dancing now and get to the good bit?” It’s intended to be sharp, harsh, but the lack of energy makes it come out like he’s begging. As if the villain ever would. “It’s a little unprofessional to follow your enemies home, but I think this might be for the best.”

“Oh, would you like me to fix you a drink while you bleed out, sir?” The hero breathes laugh, his usual grin worming teasingly onto his face. “Read you one last bedtime story?”

It’s a beautiful set up from the hero, really. On any other day, the villain would’ve laughed in his face and accepted either of those offers before putting him in the ground. Today is not any other day, so the villain just sighs and simply says, “I’d like you to put me out my misery.”

The grin on the hero’s face, patiently awaiting the usual retort, slips. The villain can barely find it in himself to put a name to the emotion his nemesis is slowly falling into.

“[Villain], wh—” The first flickers of uncertainty from the hero the villain’s ever seen. “I can’t do that. You know that’s against my hero’s code.”

“Eh, well,” the villain manages from behind halting breaths, “maybe it’d work out better for us both if you were the bad guy for once.”

The hero’s eyes flick over the villain’s face, then the crimson halo slowly seeping into the sheets, then, for some reason, at an ornate watch on his wrist.

“Alright,” he says confidently, like he’s just concocted a perfect plan in those three seconds. “Alright, I have fifteen minutes before the Agency starts asking where I’ve gone. Can you walk?”

“You can shoot me lying down, [Hero], I’m not wasting the last of my life obeying your orders.”

“It’s not an order, you moron,” the hero snaps, somehow gentle and annoyed at the same time. “It’s a request, and this is definitely not the last of your stupid, badly-spent life. Come on.”

-

Five days pass in what the villain assumes is the hero’s house. Not a decision the villain would’ve made, but he’s had five more days to judge the man about it than if he hadn’t made that decision, so really he can’t say too much on it.

The hero’s been in and out, much like the villain’s consciousness. A bandage here, a bowl of food there. Soft words, softer touches. When the villain meets him with more clarity and finds a smirk on the idiot’s face, his first worry is that he’s said something nice in his half-alive stupor.

“You’re more awake than you were,” the hero comments idly. “That’s good. Up to eating?”

The villain stares at his reflection in the soup the hero’s holding out to him. The blood caking his face before is gone, the giant gash the villain remembers the hero giving him barely a pink line now.

He’s better. Maybe the villain isn’t as awake as he thought, because this treatment, from the hero of all people, is rather charming.

He takes the bowl slowly, giving it a sniff. “Is it poisoned?”

“You’re definitely back!” The hero laughs, his smile wide and bright, and the villain almost smiles too. “No, it’s not poisoned. It’s not too flavourful, and the veg in it is nice and soft. Take your time.”

The villain brings the bowl to his lips and takes a sip of the broth. The hero wasn’t lying—tame, light, and not tasting even slightly of arsenic. “Thanks.”

It doesn’t sound natural to the villain’s ears, but the hero beams like it’s exactly what he wanted to hear.

The two of them sit in silence as the villain slowly works the soup down until it’s just a couple of carrots floating in a rather meagre sea. It’s warmed him nicely, woken him up a little. This care isn’t something the villain’s earned. Why is the hero doing this? Why is it making him so soft?

He’s been slowly planning his question, the obvious one, the one that’s been bothering him since the hero hoisted him out of bed and into recovery like he deserved it.

This question, carefully planned in the villain’s head, comes out as a rather pathetic, “Why would you do that?”

The hero shrugs, shaking his head slightly. “Any other day, I wouldn’t,” he offers with a light smile. “But it wasn’t any other day, and I felt like giving you another try.”

The villain nods and looks back into his soup. The hero, after a moment of awkward silence, adds, “Is that okay?”

Maybe any other day it wouldn’t have been. But today isn’t like any other day.

The villain shoots him an awkward smile and hero returns it cheerfully. Maybe this is the day he finally lets a hero win.

[duckbowl]

The Hero with a Thousand Strings

I did not Choose to be a Hero,

No honor drives this quest,

Forced to play a leading role

At the gods' behest.

Took my weapon to the grindstone,

Forged in Fury and steel

Wield it like a holy Burden,

Cut a path---no righteous zeal.

Made it to the throne room,

Dripping with sweat and Blood.

There's no telling now

What Else my Blade will let.

To end this marionette's Journey

I cut loose my Strings.

Looked up to the heavens,

"With your bones I'll build my Wings."

[writers-potion]

Let's Talk About Pacing Our Fight Scenes.

For Fast-Paced Parts:

Short words with single syllables. Immediately > at once/ endeavour > try/ indicate > point at/ investigate > check out.

Short sentences, the shorter the better.

Partial sentences to blaze through multiple senses and actions within a few lines.

Short paragraphs

Lots of verbs.

Few adjectives and adverbs.

Cut down on -ing form of verbs, as it can make words longer

Use simple past tense

Avoid conjunctions and link words.

Avoid internal thought - your characters are irrational, ruthless and in the flow of pure action.

For Slow-Paced Parts:

Use medium/long sentences

the paragraphs are longer: three lines minimum

Include longer words with more syllables

Use adjectives and maybe a couple of adverbs.

Insert the thoughts of the PoV character.

Words for Action Scenes

act, alter, attack, avert, back, block, bang, bash, battle, beat, beg, belt, bend, best, bite, blacken, bleed, blind, blister, blow, blunt, boil, bolt, boot, bore, bow, box, brace, brag, brash, brawl, break, breathe, brush, buck, bulgde, burn, burst, cackle, call, can, carry, cart, carve, catch, check, chop, chuck, clack, clank, clap, clash, claw, clear, cleave, click, cliff, cling, clip, close, club, cock, coil, cold, collar, come, con, connect, corner, cost, count, counter, cover, cower, crack, crackle, cram, crash, crawl, creep, crinkle, cross, crouch, rush, cry, cuff, cull, cup, curl, curse, curve, cusp, cut, dart, dash, deepen, dig, deep, dip, ditch, drive, drop, duck, dump, ede, effect, erect, escape, exert, expect, feint, fight, fire fist, fit, flag, flare, flash, flick, fling, flip, flock, force, gash, gasp, get, gore, grab, grasp, grip, grope, group, hack, harden, heat, help, hit, hop, hurl, hurry, impale, jab, jar, jerk, join, jolt, jump, keep, kick, kill, knee, knock, knot, knuckle, leak, leap, let, lever, lick, lift, lock, loop, lop, plunge, mask, nick, nip, open, oppose, pace, pack, pain, pair, pale, palm, pan, pant, parry, part, pass, paste, pat, peak, peck, pelt, pick, pierce, pile, ping, piss, pit, pivot, plot, pluck, plug, plunge, ply, point, pool, pop, pose, pot, pound, pour, powder, pray, preen, prepare, prey, prick, prickle, print, probe, pry, pull, pulp, pulse, pump, punch, pursue, push, quarry, quarter, quest, race, raise, rake, ram, rap, rasp, rear, retreat, rip, riposte, rivert, roar, rock, roll, rope, round, rouse, run, rush, sap, scale, scalp, scan, score,scream, seek, seep, shake, shape, sharpen, shock, shoot, shop, slap, slap, slash, slice, slick, slip, slit, smash, snap, snare, snatch, snipe, sock, space, spar, spark, speed, spike, spill, spin, spit, splash, spoil, spring, spur, spurt, spy, squirm, stand, steert, step, stick, strap, strike, stuff, suck, support, swat, sweat, sweep, swingm tack, tag, take, target, taste, team, tear, tent, test, thrash, throw, thrust, thud, tick, tide, tilt, time, tire, top, toss, tower, toy, trap, trick, trigger, trip, triumph, trouble, trump, try, tuck, tug, twril, twitch, weaken, wet, whip, whirl, whirr, whoop, whoosh, whop, work, zap, zip.

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[addiepaca]

#01 Blue Hour Talks

“Are you an idiot?” Medic glared at the Villain, their eyes slightly narrowed while they wrapped a bandage on the other’s arm. “What?” The Villain, slightly baffled at the sudden jab that broke the peaceful silence. They had hoped to at least get some slack after the disastrous fight in the warehouse last night. Bags clearly visible under their eyes after barely getting any sleep for the past few weeks and their body riddled with fresh cuts and bruises.

“Did you really let the Hero beat you because they seemed ‘under the weather’?” They tighten the bandage around their arm, causing some tension in their already strained muscles. “I did not, I just didn’t want to fight a sick hero,” Villain cleared their throat. The two had been throwing punches like usual when the Hero’s eyes seemed hazy, their breathing uneven and their face slightly paler than usual. Their moves were also lacking the typical force and precision, the Villain dodging every blow with ease it was almost laughable. Though the thought seemed to churn the Villain’s stomach with an uncomfortable feeling. Probably pity or something.

“Right, whatever helps you sleep better.”

Medic finished wrapping up their arm and leaned back on their seat, crossing their legs. Turning their attention to what the Villain assumed was their patient file. Villain scoffed lightly, pulling down the sleeve to cover their arm and rolling their eyes. “You know I’m really not appreciating your judgmental comments,” they sneered, brows furrowing as they rested their chin on their hand, pouting like a petulant child.

“I don’t get paid enough to keep those comments to myself,” Medic didn’t look up from the stack of papers in their hands, noting something down with barely readable handwriting on one of the pages. “You don’t get paid for this at all,” Villain retorted.

Medic finally shifted their gaze and groaned, hitting Villain on the head with their own file which made the other gasp in disbelief. “You’re right, it’s charity work. Be grateful I’m even listening to your nonsense,” Medic grumbled. Throwing the papers on their lap for them to read later. “Oh shut it,” they muttered under their breath.

It’s not like the Villain cared or anything, they just happened to be a considerate person. Besides, what good would beating a sick hero be? It’ll be too easy, too boring and definitely not worth their time. Villain had better things to do than prolonging the fight that night, like getting a few minutes of sleep before inevitably failing to get some rest. Eventually dragging themselves to the infirmary to treat the wounds they had been too lazy acknowledge.

“Really, how long are you going to keep this up?” Medic sighed, their eyes scanning over them with a thinly veiled exasperation. Villain, sprawled up on the patient bed with arms folded across their chest raised a brow at the vague question. “Keep what up?”

Medic made a strange gesture with their hands. “This ‘thing’ with the hero,” Swirling their left hand around unceremoniously while scrutinizing the Villain, their face almost looked annoyed. That fact, for whatever reason, made Villain just as irritated. Why couldn’t people mind their own business anymore?

“There is no ‘thing’ between us,” Villain said with a stern tone. Leaving no room for interjections as they glared at Medic. If they were allowed to punch medical personnel on company time, this ridiculous conversation wouldn’t even be happening right now. Medic pursed their lips with a sceptical expression on their face.

“Right,” they replied.

“Right.”

A moment of silence passed over them, as if to let the words sink in before Medic started persisting again.“So there’s nothing going on between you two?” They tilted their head in curiosity like a cat. Villain fought the urge to roll their eyes and rubbed their temples instead, surprisingly taking a second to think before answering. “Other than the usual hatred and disgust, no.” The other hummed in acknowledgement, nodding as they took in the Villain’s reply. “So if the Hero were to start seeing someone else, you wouldn’t mind?” 

The sudden hypothetical caught the Villain’s attention, making them flinch and glare at their sibling, dumbfounded. “What kind of question is that?!” Their voice slightly raised, though they didn’t mean to come off as harsh, the provoking question just irked them. Medic scoffed, a mocking smile playing on their lips as they brushed off their aggression. “Just answer it,” they urged. 

Villain bristled at the smug look on their face, weighing the consequences of knocking them out right now. “I don’t care who they see or don’t see, they’re not important to me.” They lied, the thought of it brought some discomfort to the Villain. After all, who has time for relationships when you’re busy fighting crime? Why would you not devote your utmost attention to your enemy? It’s absurd to think their the Hero would start to stop paying their attention to the Villain in favor of their spouse. The Villain had almost forgotten the fact that the question was a hypothetical.

“Okay,” Medic raised their hands in the air in a defeated gesture while averting their gaze. The corners of their lips twitching to hide a smile, undoubtedly. They leaned back in their chair again, quietly reaching out for the TV remote on the nearby desk. “You don’t believe me,” the words came out from the Villain’s mouth as more of a statement than a question. It wasn’t particularly hard to tell when Medic didn’t believe their half-assed lies. The derisive tone seemed to run in the family after all.

The TV screen lights up the dimly lit room, causing the Villain’s eye to twitch as they adjusted to the brightness. “I believe you, I’m not sure if you believe yourself,” Medic feigned indifference as they casually propped their feet on the bed. “Shut up,” Villain remarked. Kicking their feet away with a grumble, earning an annoyed scoff from Medic. 

“At least say thank you for patching you up,” they pressed the buttons on the remote, rapidly switching between channels while humming. The Villain slumped on their bed, stretching their bandaged arm carefully, almost forgetting the fact that their body hurt like hell. “No.”

Medic turned their head towards them and huffed out an annoyed breath. “Say thank you or I’m telling mum you ended up in the clinic again.”

“Why do you always pull that card?” Villain had the urge to throw them out of the room, but relented given their threat. Which they knew wasn’t a bluff. “Because it always works,” Medic shrugged as if it was a common fact. 

Villain groaned and leaned their head against the headboard, running their hands through their ruffled hair. “Thanks, happy now?” they gave in. Secretly fearing the wrath of a certain woman who they haven’t called in a month.

“Good enough,” Medic smiled smugly. Putting away the remote after settling on the news channel, one of the few that was interesting enough to capture their attention.

“Freak,” Villain muttered under their breath.

“Loser,” Medic replied.

The news flashed a clip of various heroes being awarded a few days ago, smiling and waving to the locals. Their hero inching closer to a certain rookie who hadn’t even been in the business for a year, hand in hand as they laughed softly together, lost in their own world. The Villain clenched their jaw.

part 2

[enlightenedfeline]

Daily prompt #52: ≽^• ˕ • ྀི≼

A local bakery owner starts a program specifically for senior citizens, teaching them how to bake on weekends.

[tahbhie]

30 Creative Ways to Use Air in Tense Atmospheric Descriptions #001

Descriptive alternatives capturing a tense situation using the element 'AIR'

1. The atmosphere weighed down like a thick blanket.

2. The air was thick with unspoken words.

3. A palpable tension hung in the air.

4. The oppressive air clung to her skin.

5. The air crackled with an electric tension.

6. A heavy stillness filled the room.

7. The air grew unimaginably thick, as if it could be cut with a knife.

8. A stifling pressure built in the atmosphere.

9. The oppressive air pressed down on them.

See full list...

[rheas-chaos-anthology]

What if you finish your wip??

What if its good? Better than you imagined?

What if people read it? What if someone loves it?

What if someone memorizes that one quote they love?

What if you get that agent?

What if it becomes a movie?

What if you are someone's favorite author?

What if it helps someone?

What if it all works out?

What if someone is touched?

What if it's more important than you ever expected?

What if it changes your life?

What if someone gets the courage to do that one thing they couldn't of before?

What if you are proud of it?

What if someone see's themselves in your writing?

What if you finish your wip?