#creative wrting

[tanyakennedy1899]

Short story by Garadge Heathen 12.07.2023

[cantsleephomesick]

im in a constant state of trying to calm down

[mems-sama]

Conquering the First Chapter: A Guide for Writers

Have you ever wasted hours staring at a blank page, waiting for inspiration?

You struggle to come up with an idea for your story, but finally, inspiration strikes. You write the first chapter, believing it will make you a best-selling author. However, upon re-reading, you realize it needs improvement.

And then you toss all of it away.

Hey, I get it. Wrestling with that first chapter can feel like trying to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded—it's a real head-scratcher! You want to hook your readers right from the start, but sometimes it feels like your words are doing the cha-cha in the wrong direction.

And let's be real, staring at that chapter for too long can make you want to throw your laptop out the window and start a career in llama farming instead. But let's stop for a moment. Take a deep breath and exhale.

Know that you're not the only one who's felt this way.

Loads of writers have gone through the "my first chapter is a dumpster fire" phase.

The good news? You can turn that dumpster fire into a sparkling beacon of literary goodness. Here are some practical things you can do in the meantime.

Step one: Give yourself a break. Seriously, put that chapter in timeout and come back to it later with a fresh perspective.

Step two: Get some outside opinions. Share your chapter with fellow writers or beta readers who can offer constructive feedback. And if all else fails, dive into the first chapters of books you love for a little inspiration pick-me-up.

Step three: Shake things up. If your first chapter is feeling stale, try approaching it from a different angle. Maybe start in the middle of a scene, or introduce a surprising twist early on. Don't be afraid to take risks and experiment with different narrative techniques to see what works best for your story.

Step four: Embrace the mess. Writing is a messy process, and it's okay to have a messy first draft. Don't get too hung up on making everything perfect right away. Sometimes, you need to embrace the chaos and let your creativity flow freely. You can always refine and polish your work later.

It's totally normal to have moments where you want to launch your laptop into the stratosphere. But remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a perfect first chapter.

Keep at it, keep tweaking, keep pushing, and you'll get there. You've got this!

Next time, we'll discuss how to make the first chapter of your book more captivating for your readers. Make sure to catch it. Thank you for reading and have a great day!

[catchingdaydreams]

Sleep paralysis demon Miguel was conjured on a rainy night. You had trouble sleeping from the storm rattling your windows. The tree branches outside cast vigorously moving shadows in front of you. If provided some entertainment while an episode of another annoying sleep paralysis was becoming onto you.

Sudden thunder erupted outside, what usually would cause you to jump, you remained still in your bed, motionless.

What was starting to become motionless too was the shadows.

Your quick glance at the window as lightning flickered by was all that the entity needed.

You had an unwelcomed guest.

It wasn't noticeable at first, the loaming shadows on your wall. But you instantly freaked out as an arm reached out, grabbing the end of your bed post. Its grip was firm as it forced the rest of its body out. Its build was that in the form of a tall man. Any other detail was too obscured from the darkness it loomed over itself.

While this was happening you, internally, was freaking the fuck out. You tried all your might to move your body, to cower from that thing. You've had your mind play tricks on you before. It was second nature to experience these things in your current state. But your instincts are going haywire right now. It was an upright force towards your flight responses now. This was not a trick of your mind, it was real and you needed to escape. But you were utterly helpless. All you could do was to stare at the entity.

It stared back.

It opened its eyes amongst the void, projecting fiery red. It was the only distinguishing thing you could make out. As like with its body, his face was still pretty unidentifiable. It beamed with such malice that it pierced your soul. If you could you would have gulped.

You prayed whatever that thing was, that it would not move any closer. You had no clue what it was nor why was it looking at you like you had done something to atrocious him....maybe in another life perhaps? You don't really believe in that shit but what you are experiencing now is tearing your sense of reality so you really don't know what to believe anymore.

The man? hovered above you as its entire body was out of the wall. He never did move after that. Or rather didn't have a chance.

Thunder once again boomed outside. Seconds only passed as lightning struck the sky, flashing your vision. And with a blink, the man before you vanished.

Your eyes roamed the rest of the room in a panic. You were still freaking out, thinking that the entity moved somewhere else within your room. But you couldn't find him in your search. On edge you didn't drop your defense that easily. You waited for a bit, a few minutes or so. And sighed. You involuntarily you held your breath from that quick scare. Still on edge, yet a relief was washing over you slowly.

You didn't get sleep that night. Too afraid that it might come back that night.....he didn't though but....

What you didn't expect is that this would be a common occurrence.

The second time he showed up was much more disturbing. He came from the floor by the end of your bed, so you didn't expect his arrival until you saw his signature flash of crimson. He stood by the back bedframe. This time you got to see how large his frame was as his body was in clear view. This didn't help either as he obscured your window, blocking out much of its natural light. The only thing that shined was red.

You were pretty much hysterical the first time you saw him. You felt small and defenceless under his malicious gaze. All you could was stare into it as he did so with you. Thank the gods, you felt, that he didn't move any closer. He remained motionless by your bed post.

What was odd was that your fear, while still prominent, was easing up. Mostly it was that 15 minutes (or what felt like it ) of direct eye contact with a grumpy being was starting to become, well, boring.

While you really couldn't read his face, he could see yours. His eyes slanted, making it look smaller then it was before. If you had to guess it was as if you offended him for not being scared. You're the one who should feel offended right now. Some random spooky man thing breaks into your home and just stares at you while you're trying to sleep. Hell no. If you were able to move right now you would have scoffed and flipped him off.

You couldn't bother to be scared now, no you were mildly irritated. You move your sight away from him in spite. You had enough of this. You were drained from work and needed to try to at least sleep for a couple of hours.

You didn't look back. Not when the corner of your eyes saw his shadows move. You didn't care if he left on not as your body slowly started to ease and drift to sleep.

__________________________________

As you succumbed to slumber the man walked up to the side of your bed and sat down on the sheet. There wasn't any imprint that was made by his weight. Was just a shadow, in this form.

He sat there puzzled by your actions. Usually it would take many nights before someone didn't fear his presence anymore. It ruined his feeding. And how you went about it pissed him off.

He was a succubus. A subclass one that feeds off fear. He often appears in nightmares, shapes one's dreamscape into dread and turmoil. But lately that hadn't been satisfying to him. No matter who or what the person was, he hadn't got his fill. It was only until his brother suggested to try terrorizing within reality with a feast similar to his current taste. To dine on the fears of the people who couldn't sleep. To be the "monster under the bed" Gabe states.

But Miguel was picky with his food. His choices were limited to him. He eventually ended up as a sleep paralysis demon. Less work for him too, all he had to do was stand there and look pretty ( well to the people, look pretty Fucken terrifying). And everything would have gone perfectly too, but he met you.

Your fears taste wasn't the reason it stirred something within jim, no it was pretty bland compared to his previous feast. It was how quickly it disappeared . As a being to be feared he took full offense. He could be the bigger man and acknowledge his defeat. But he was no man he was a demon. You unwillingly challenged him, and he was going to make sure you cowered beneath him.

[dumblr]

[sacredwilderness]

At night

while he slept

I planted stars

in the ground

that-

they might

grow up to become

galaxies

and spell out

my own revolving love letter

[marlenaxx]

A silly personality mixed with a little bit of darkness is so damn attractive... it's as if you deceived the entire universe and said " Yes I know how heavy it is to exist but I choose to shine even brighter and enjoy this life to the fullest, as long as I breathe no one is taking that out of me "

[sweetbabyloveallday]

I want to feel this

This

This

And this

[writing-with-sophia]

I usually find myself using the same range of ages in my stories (young adults, teens), and just plotting a crime story, I realized how unrealistic it was to have almost every single character in early stages of adulthood, especially the team researching the case. Of course I have in mind a lack of experience in certain things for them and stuff but it's pretty hard for me to do older or much younger characters idk why 😭 what would u recommend? Is it somehow bad not to have a variety of ages or making it less realistic? It makes me feel like I'm doing a teen novel, sry for my english and uh ty <3

How to include a broader spectrum of ages in stories

Well, in fact, it's not necessarily bad to focus on a specific age range in your stories, as long as it serves the narrative and the themes you want to explore. If you find it difficult to write for a wide range of ages, you can certainly focus on teenagers. A story about young detectives can also be engaging and exciting, right? But if you want to incorporate a variety of ages to add depth and richness to your story, here are a few suggestions to help you:

Tip 1: Develop characters

Create well-rounded characters of different ages, each with their own distinct personalities, perspectives, and life experiences. Develop their backstories, motivations, and goals in a way that reflects the impact of their age on their thoughts and actions.

Then, explore how age can influence characters' motivations, goals, and challenges. Older characters may bring wisdom, life experiences, and a different perspective, while younger characters may have a sense of idealism, curiosity, and growth potential. By considering age-related motivations, you can create more dynamic and believable characters.

Tip 2: Build relationships for characters

At different ages, people develop various types of relationships. For example, a 16-year-old girl may have relationships with peers, teachers, and family members, while an adult man may have relationships with family, coworkers, and friends in social settings.

Relationships between older mentors and younger proteges, or clashes between generations, can add depth and conflict to your story. These interactions can also provide opportunities for growth and learning for your characters.

Tip 3: Pay attention to characters' dialogue and language

The vocabulary, tone, and communication styles of characters from different age groups are different. Younger characters may use contemporary slang or have a more informal way of speaking, while older characters may have a more formal or seasoned approach. You can observe closely how the elders around you communicate and make notes in a notebook.

Tip 4: Research

If you find it challenging to write characters of different ages, consider conducting research or seeking firsthand experiences from people of those age groups. As mentioned above, you can make a small notebook to record the words, actions and behaviors of people around you in certain situations. Reality is always a great source of information if you know how to take advantage of it.

Tip 5: Beta and feedback

You can share your work with beta readers or writing groups that include individuals from various age groups. Their feedback can offer valuable insights and help you refine the portrayal of different age groups in your story.

Remember, storytelling is an art, and there are no set rules. Ultimately, it's about finding a balance that aligns with your creative vision while ensuring your story resonates with a diverse audience. Embracing a variety of ages can add depth and realism to your stories, expanding the scope of your narratives and making them more relatable to readers of different backgrounds and experiences.

[datemidelveleno]

Mi sono guardata allo specchio e volevo prendermi a pugni.

[cantsleephomesick]

what if one day

i wake up

and i dont want to do it anymore

[bloodkrieg21]

Do you ever just want to add a minor world building thing to a world but just don’t know how… like I was thinking that it would be funny to have a bunch of different kid movie magic be cannon. Like honey I shrunk the kids, or you know the cupboard that makes toys alive.

I was thinking just a regular world… but there is a new pest. Be ware if your hose gets infected with orks. Some kid had this cupboard and decided to put their ork miniatures in it… they got most of them back to plastic but 1 got eaten by a bird… now 20 years later they are everywhere

[salmapoetry]

You said : I'm sorry this world is too cruel for you

But why did you choose to be cruel too? By telling me, I will find someone better

Yet if you had not cared less, you would have tried to be a better person for me.

-Salma gassab .

[itsbansheebitch]

making a story where not everyone likes the protag, but isn't villainized for disliking them/their actions is SO interesting.

the NUANCE! the INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CONFLICT!

it's awesome. honestly, a lot of stories can be upgraded by showing characters that have good reason not to like the protag and aren't given the "villain edit" for their opinion.

[thepileofclothesonyourdesk]

Me (writing): Alright, which one of you fuckers is going to have my eldest daughter trauma

[sweethoneyrose83]

Writing prompts centered around the concept of found footage:

1. The Lost Expedition: A team of adventurers embarks on a journey to uncover a mythical artifact in an uncharted jungle. However, the only traces left behind are their scattered cameras and tapes. Write a story piecing together their eerie and mysterious final moments through the recovered footage.

2. The Haunted House: A group of friends decides to spend a night in an abandoned mansion known for its ghostly reputation. They bring cameras to document their experience, but as the night progresses, strange occurrences intensify. What horrors do they capture, and what secrets does the footage reveal about the house's past?

3. Unexplained Phenomenon: A series of inexplicable events start occurring in a small town. People begin disappearing, and strange lights are seen in the sky. As investigators dig deeper, they stumble upon various recordings showcasing these occurrences. Write about the investigation based on these found tapes and unravel the truth behind the bizarre happenings.

4. The Cryptic Signal : A radio operator intercepts a distress signal coming from a remote area. All they find at the site are tapes and recordings left behind by a scientific team. The footage depicts encounters with something inexplicable. What did they discover, and what caused their distress?

5. Time Capsule: A collection of old tapes and footage is discovered buried in a time capsule. The recordings document daily life from decades ago, but among the mundane footage, there are hints of something much darker. Unravel the mystery hidden within these seemingly ordinary recordings.

Feel free to explore these prompts, twisting and turning them to fit your own narrative ideas!