#Writing things

[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? "

[wrenmkingsley]

Manipulating time flow is one of the more obscure skills in writing, but it's one you should definitely master.

A paragraph can describe a split second or a decade. The real magic happens when you start varying the word/time ration fluidly.

[moseslikellamas]

This is perfect advice!! When I was younger, as an added step if you like me need to reread things many times to get them, I would keep a notebook full of quotes from different authors. Compare them against each other, take what you like leave what you don’t. Identify pov, speech patterns (include quotes with and without dialogue look at how the writing changes with/without speech) Note how descriptive they are and what draws you into a scene. This a great opportunity to pinpoint why a certain trope annoys you and what hints an author drops to tip you off early. Read and then REREAD books. You will be surprised how many different things you missed on a first read. If the author is placing a lot of nuance it is guaranteed (yes, even you literature geniuses) you will miss something. While doing all of this writing analysis don’t forget to engage with each element separately but also how they weave together into a cohesive narrative. What is the point of the metaphor? Why is the author choosing to use it here and now? How does it contribute to the larger point of the narrative? If you feel stuck or are just coming up blank while writing a scene, go read something. Read anything!! For fun, for joy, for terror and sadness. Read something you love and view it through the lens of writing. So many times I get inspired because I remember why I write in the first place, to read! Yes the writing mechanics are there for a reason and they are important but if you aren’t enjoying the writing, its likely you won’t enjoy the reading. Keep the boundaries and laws of the world in mind but remember why you’re there, to connect and convey these really big and intense emotions we all can relate in some way or another.

how do you come up with scenarios, or the right words for things? i'm a writer and i see the things i want to write like little scenes in my head, but finding the right words to convey what i see is REALLY hard, maybe you have some tips?

also i love lady normalgirl she's so me when i..

idk how i come up with scenarios LOL, but coming up with the right words for writing/scripts is all abt analysing and practicing. if you want to improve at writing, READ A LOT and when you do, think about how the author's using the language (like are they using metaphors/similes? what does that imagery get across? what are they showing and NOT showing? etc etc just what you probs got in literature classes lmao) there's not always one right word for the scenario, but different uses will invoke different things yk.

then (and it's very important you do this) try put that into practice! it won't be perfect, but writing something will get you a helluva lot closer to that eventual perfection than writing nothing will. the more you write the more you're gonna be able to come up with those right words!!

this might be silly advice, but in art/storyboarding/comics, you often see advice abt doing film studies -- that might be a good idea for you! like trying to adapt what's happening in the movie to writing/prose, bc then you're solely focusing on getting right words down, not on having to make the scene in ur head!

[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. 🌈

[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.

[readerofallsins]

oh no

I’ve come to the harrowing realisation that the only way to write my book is to write my book

I may never recover

[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"