#Writing things

[writers-bane]

I know we all writers cringe from our own writing (embrace the cringe) from time to time. But do you also cringe as you're writing? Like you physically can't continue the sentence and have to pause for a moment because cringe and it's not even that bad but you're brain is like no. I mustn't cooperate.

[scribblesandink]

"I'm a writer," I say, googling every CDC in my country "I'm just a writer! "

My screen lights up as I research pathogens that haven't seen the light of day in centuries

"I'm a writer"

My hands shake as my computer starts oozing smoke, finally overwhelmed by the dozens of tabs I have open, many of which haven't been in use in days

"I.... I'm a writer? "

[theshakespearetrash]

Thank you for the tag @eodred! This was a hard one; my relationship to my own writing has always been a weird one. There was a period of time many years ago when I fancied myself a decent writer, and either because of that or the other way round I was writing a lot more. Then for a long time I couldn't bring myself to write at all, and I've only just started trying to drag myself kicking and screaming back into it, so it's been a real roller coaster of 'oh this isn't that bad actually' to 'good lord why even try.'

Some things I'm proud of in my writing, pulled from various comments:

Attention to worldbuilding detail. Historical research is always something I just enjoy doing, and over the years I've gotten a variety of comments showing appreciation for the attention paid to small details, historical context, and random 'colours' of places that give the settings life.

Writing things that stick with people and make them think, where you can read the work time and again and still find new details to pick out and chew on, or what I would refer to as 'rewatch potential.'

Character study! I personally think I can often get a bit self-indulgent with introspection, but on the other hand I have also been praised for delving into the meat of characters' heads, or into the thorny intricacies of relationships, especially those that might not receive much attention in canon. Everyone gets dealt an even hand, in terms of how I want to play into their nuance as human beings rather than archetypes, which seems to produce sympathy for and understanding of even 'stock' or one-dimensional characters, which is absolutely what I want. The psych major brain goes brr

One comment I got awhile back on a VERY long since abandoned fic made my heart crack into pieces with the words "adroit wordsmith job." I love fitting together words in fun ways or ways that feel like music to my brain and when other people pick up on that or say it resonates with them I get very very happy

Another favourite comment I've gotten was "I stayed up until a fairly inadvisable hour to read this" which. Godspeed to that person because the fic they were reading was a Monster, I'm honoured they found it compelling

Vivid, evocative description! Not always utilised to pleasant ends

No pressure tagging: @borom1r, @pregnant-javert, @kylobith @erulasse23, and anyone else who would like to participate! :)

Writer positivity tag game

Alright, let's try this again. I've recently been struggling with how I feel about my writing -- I both love it and hate it, and I'm both proud of it and ashamed of it. So let's all name a few things about our writing that we like, and tag our writer friends!

Here goes for me (this is all things I've heard from other people, btw):

--creating compelling characters that readers love, hate, and everything in between. The worst thing, in my opinion, is to write characters who leave readers indifferent. --using all five senses to create a vivid sense of place --unique premises, creative plot twists and resolutions --range, from sweet, soft cottagecore to gritty, dark themes --a lyrical style with evocative metaphors --the ability to vary pacing depending on the needs of the scene --good balance between showing and telling, exposition and action --despite the lyrical style, I am actually not that bad at word economy and getting better every day. The scenes where things happen at a rapid pace or are emotionally intense are a good example of this. (My recent rewrites, with the ghost of Papa Hem sitting at my elbow, have been aimed at precisely this -- what can I say more efficiently? Do I really need to explain this or describe that? Off with the filler words!)

NP tags: @konartiste @from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras @emmathefanficgal @butoridesvirescens @dilettantefeminist @sotwk @fishing4stars

[mmelete]

i wish ao3 allowed people to give kudos per each chapter. These 100k word NOVELS need more love than 200 tiny digital hearts ☹️

[going2hell4everythingbutbeingbi]

I firmly believe that some stories can never be translated into a different medium and that's okay

[glitchedoutpxie]

How to use Em Dash (—) and Semi Colon ( ; )

Since the ai accusations are still being thrown around, here's how i personally like to use these GASP ai telltales. 🦄✨

Em Dashes (—)

To emphasize a shift / action / thought.

They're accusing us—actually accusing us—of using AI.

To add drama.

They dismissed our skills as AI—didn't even think twice, the dimwits—and believed they were onto something.

To insert a sudden thought. Surely they wouldn't do that to us—would they?

To interrupt someone's speech. "Hey, please don't say that. I honed my craft through years of blood and tears—" "Shut up, prompter."

To interrupt someone's thoughts / insert a sudden event.

We're going to get those kudos. We're going to get those reblogs—

A chronically online Steve commented, “it sounds like ai, idk.”

Semi Colons ( ; )

To join two closely related independent sentences / connect ideas.

Not only ChatGPT is capable of correct punctuation; who do you think it learned from in the first place?

Ultimate pro tip: use them whenever the fuck you want. You don't owe anyone your creative process. 🌈

[pastelpiggielol]

[chilipepperconverse]

surprised this hadn't been made yet

[frownyalfred]

good….let the spite flow through you….write the new chapter just to take a stand….

[kcrabb88]

I feel like we really lost something when we started looking at writing as a reader-centric product meant to appeal to the desires of a specific audience rather than a writer-centric approach of someone writes whatever particular thing particular compels them/whatever weird thing the demons in their head want to talk about, and people out there who are also compelled, and/or relate, find that writing. A lot of discussions of writing really center around what readers want rather than a writer's exploration. Sometimes as a reader I don't know what I want. I click on a fic or pick up a book I'm not sure about but that looks interesting, and I love it. Reading what I expect to get is it's own joy, but we always need to expand our horizons and not get mad at creators for not always writing what we want/expect.

[authorisedgardian]

The stuggles of being a writer.

A shame that I have to actually finish my book before I get to read it. I enjoy writing it just as much but I am looking forward to finishing my first book and getting to read through it, even if I do know what's going to happen.

[moninils]

IT'S ALL FOR THE PLOT!!!!!

[includedisco]

I won't stop saying it: in fanfic-writing, you make your own rules. Write whatever the fuck you want to write

Sometimes it's that you haven't written that fanfic of that genre yet because you don't have confidence in your writing talents, or you have some learning and improving to do in your writing, or you're afraid of the audience reception.

Sometimes it's also just that the said genre is not for you. Write what you're confident in and what makes you happy. It's okay to leave the rest alone.

Unless you're receiving payment to diversify and to be more creative and to "impress", you have every right to stick to your comfort zone.

Write the same fanfic five times with five different endings. Write one genre of fanfics. Write all genres ever known to man. Write for 75 fandoms. Write for one fandom. Update once a year. Update every hour. Write only 200-chaptered stories. Write only drabbles. Write the tamest stuff. Write the kinkiest stuff(tags exist for a reason). Write different love stories for one character you love. Use the same lines or words.

Do anything and everything as long as you're happy and having fun. If there are too many negative emotions(fear, self-doubt, mental stress, worry, anxiety, overthinking, etc.) attached to your writing, then you're probably taking it too seriously.

Nobody has the right to shake your fanfic-writing peace and make you doubt how great of a writer you are, not even YOURSELF or YOUR READERS. This shit is free and meant to be for fun and relaxation.

[jamietarttsnorthernattitude]

We’re fanfiction writers, of course:

We’re going to use song lyrics as titles.

We’re going to check for comments 30 seconds after we post something.

We’re going to have more WIPs than days of the month.

We’re going to use any excuse to post snippets.

We’re going to use ask box games to procrastinate.

We’re going to hype up our writer friends.

We’re going to scream, cry and throw up reading our friends’ work.

[going2hell4everythingbutbeingbi]

yall gotta learn the difference between "this character is an asshole" and "this character was supposed to be super cool but the author is an asshole" and "this character is a teenage girl who was mean once"