#i'm sure this will look so beautiful edited and spruced up

[fro-nooboo]

[writingquestionsanswered]

Not sure if you've answered something like this before, but how do I write "prettier" sentences? I know one thing that will help would be expanding my vocabulary, but a thesaurus only seems to get me so far. I feel like when I write, especially when I'm describing things, my sentences are so basic. Idk if this makes sense, if it doesn't I can try and find examples from other writers to help describe what I'm talking about!

How to Write "Prettier" Sentences

Pretty prose is something many writers aspire to, however, it's not as easy to achieve as looking up words in a thesaurus. It's something you have to train yourself to do through both learning and practice.

Learn By Reading/Listening

First and foremost, making sure you're reading/listening to a variety of books and stories is essential if you want to learn how to craft prettier prose. Reading and listening to stories helps train your brain to: recognize the cadence of pretty prose, understand the structuring of pretty prose, understand how to craft meaningful imagery, and fills your head with vocabulary.

Expanding Your Vocabulary

Vocabulary is also an important component of crafting pretty prose. Following web sites, pages, and apps that have a "word of the day" (like the Merriam-Webster website) is a great way to learn new words. You can also purchase a word-of-the-day desk calendar for 2024. Some writers like to flip open the thesaurus every day on a random page and read a few random words. You can also read creative articles in newspapers, magazines, websites, etc. to learn new words. You can also look up the specific vocabulary for something you're describing, like if you're describing a house, you can look up the architectural style and general architectural terms to learn how to describe specific things like the style of home, the trim, the windows, etc. Finally, in addition to the thesaurus as a source of new words, you can add other word references to your collection, such as The Describer's Dictionary, the Random House Word Menu, The Writer's Lexicon, etc.

Learning Poetic Cadence and Imagery

Listening to music/reading song lyrics, and reading/listening to poetry are great ways to teach your brain how to craft descriptive imagery. Poetry has to say a lot with few words, so it helps you understand the power of using just the right words in just the right way.

Effective Description is Important

Effective description is of course another piece of the puzzle. Not all writing is description, but a lot of pretty prose is descriptive. So, when you're describing things in your story, make sure to consider the senses--what can be seen, heard, tasted, smelled, felt/touched? You don't want to incorporate all of that into the description of one thing, obviously, but if your character is walking into a forest, considering all of those things can help you come up with a vivid, beautiful description. Sometimes, looking for photos or videos of the thing you want to describe can be helpful, too.

Practice Makes Perfect

And last but not least: practice. Once you've started to train your brain using the methods above, when you go through a draft to revise it and come to a sentence that needs sprucing up, try out different things that you've learned. Don't go overboard with the thesaurus, but perhaps your sentence describes twinkling stars... is there another word you could use instead of twinkling that's more surprising and vivid? The thesaurus suggests: glimmering, shimmering, sparkling, blinking... cross-checking each of these in the dictionary shows they're all appropriate choices for describing the twinkle of a star. You can also read the sentence out loud to listen to the cadence... are there longer or shorter (yet appropriate) words you can use instead to make the sentence more lyrical? Improving your sentences in editing helps you learn to craft pretty sentences as you're writing them the first time.

I hope that helps!

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I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

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[stormee-jiiva]

A Plush Doll

lol I'm fucking miserable right now and tightly cuddling Kyo plushie is my number one comfort then I had the idea of this with it being some kind of reverse Isekai where instead of Kyō ending up in our world to find out he's fictional what if we were the fictional ones. I'm very tired.

theres no dragons mentioned but know that theyre there in my brain

Edit: omfg I'm dumb and forgot the title

Rengoku Kyōjurō x Fictional!MC

Warnings: I have literally no clue what I even wrote. Literally no proofreading.

Kyōjurō had owned the plush doll for years. His mother had made it for him as a small child after he'd read a certain book about a far off land full of all kinds of possibilities. As a child Kyōjurō adored your character, even if you weren't the main star of the show you certainly were to him. So much so that Kyōjurō's mother had gone out of the way to make an adorable little plush doll of you.

As the years passed and his duties as a demon slayer took priority Kyōjurō found himself forgetting of the plush doll still hidden away in his room.

It a particularly tumultuous autumn afternoon. Senjurō attending to his home as his father remained secluded in his room.

Senjurō had swept, and tidied almost every room in the estate that day before coming to his brother's room.

Kyōjurō had been gone on a mission for the past few days, and while his room wasn't particularly messy it could certainly use a little spruce up considering the disheveled futon, sticking out drawers and scrambled closet, not to mention the fine layer of dust that coated the majority of surfaces or the slight must in the air.

After such a long mission surely Kyōjurō would like to at least sleep in a comfortably made futon, or be able to relax in his room without breathing stale air. So, Senjurō got to work.

When Kyōjurō got home later the next day he was pleasantly surprised to come home to such a clean room, he expected the half abandoned look that had become ever present. Kyōjurō thanked his little brother profusely for doing such a good job, promising to get the little firecracker something special next time he was at the markets for being so thoughtful.

When Kyōjurō had finally gone to lay down in his futon he didn't certainly didn't expect to feel something poking at his back. Nor did he expect it to be the plush doll that he'd cared so much for as a child. Cradling the old yet perfect condition plush in his scarred hands.

Kyōjurō found himself reminiscing of the doll and the book they were based off. Senjurō must have found you when he was cleaning. Kyōjurō was grateful he did as the peaceful memories played in his mind. The time your character was first introduced, the way your character departed, when his mother noticed his infatuation and decided to oh so lovingly craft the beautiful plush doll that now sat cradled in his once soft hands.

Looking over to the books that'd been carefully arranged on his desk, Kyōjurō found your's. Going over and picking it out from the rest Kyōjurō sat back down on his futon with you cradled comfortably in his arms as he opened the pages to your world.

[mysteryshoptls]

SSR Vil Schoenheight - Birthday Jacket Voice Lines

When Summoned: Each passing year is like another rung on a ladder; I move one step closer to achieving my ideal beauty. Don't expect anything less.

Summon Line: I will always continue to cherish these events. It's something that can only been experienced while in school, so you should make certain to enjoy it too.

Groooovy!!: That was a pretty fine celebration. Thank you, I'll never forget this day.

Home: How do I look? I tried to loosen up my appearance slightly.

Home Idle 1: The aroma oil Cater gave me has such a nostalgic scent. It gives me the sensation of a forest view from back in the Shaftlands.

Home Idle 2: In celebration of my birthday, the Pomefiore students spruced up the dorm even more beautifully than usual. I'm pleased at how thoughtful they were.

Home Idle 3: People send me birthday gifts to my agency from all over the world. I'm unable to thank each and every one of them individually, but I appreciate every single gift.

Home Idle - Login: Oh, have you come to celebrate my birthday too? Thank you. Make sure you enjoy the party.

Home Idle - Groovy: It will be nice to be able to refresh my body during the little free time I have in my busy schedule. I think Trey's gift will absolutely prove to be useful.

Home Tap 1: I received a push-up bar from Silver. Nice of him to notice that I am constantly working on improving my physique.

Home Tap 2: Each of the Dorm Leaders all wished me a happy birthday before our regular meeting. Of course, there's always that one person who just can't help his shyness and instead hides behind his biting cynicism.

Home Tap 3: I received an antique film projector from the film research club. The design itself is quite stylish, so it will most likely make for a nice interior decoration.

Home Tap 4: Malleus shared with me a rare medicinal herb native to Briar Valley. He must have remembered my comment that they were hard for me to come by.

Home Tap 5: You found a magazine that featured me on the cover? Oh, yes, that must be the special birthday edition... Of course, you did purchase it, yes?

Home Tap - Groovy: Is there something wrong with my face? Oh, you're saying that I look beautiful even when covered in cream... Well, naturally. No matter the scene, I will always be captivatingly beautiful.

Duo: [VIL]: Thank you for the well wishes, Trey. [TREY]: Vil, I hope you have the best birthday!

Birthday Login Message: I can’t imagine why you’d call out to me like this… If it isn’t for anything important, I won’t forgive you. Don’t worry, I’m only kidding. Come, I’ll join you for a moment, so hurry and tell me what it is you need. I’m pretty sure I already have an inkling, anyway. Well, of course I figured it out! It’s written all over your face. So? Should I expect a grand celebration?

Requested by Anonymous.

[coffeedrgn87]

5 Movies, 4 Songs, 3 Essentials, 2 Books, 1 Quote

Ah, my lovely lovely @wolfpants -- I'm so so so very excited about this tag, let's see what I can contribute...

5 Movies -- and I'm doing this in no particular order

Call Me By Your Name (trailer)

I mean, not only is Timothée Chalamet an absolute dream in this (and I don't even mean that looks-wise) but also I wept absolutely ugly tears for ages after the ending. I'm not entirely sure if that admission is the greatest way of plugging a movie, mainly because I wasn't prepared for feelings of that magnitude, but by gosh the intensity was so so so perfect.

Shelter (trailer)

That scene when Shaun comes down the stairs to open the door and finds Zach there gets me every single time and I swear I've watched this movie at least 10 times. It doesn't get old, it never will. Also, the soundtrack is pretty cool. Couple of really amazing tracks by Shane Mack. A personal favourite is 'Remember to Forget'. Always wanted to write something to that song, but never had an idea that stuck. If someone feels inspired and wants to surprise me, I'm always game ;-)

Our Flag Means Death (no trailer but 6 mins of Lucius being a MOOD)

Shush, it's a movie. All you need to do is string all 10 episodes together and you have an extended edition movie and I will not accept anyone even trying to disagree with me on that. Also, do I *really* need to give any reason at all as to why OFMD is so damned fabulous??? I mean, come on! If you haven't seen it yet, what rock have you been hiding under?

Brokeback Mountain

Go ask @phoebe-delia if you absolutely need an explanation of why this is on the list. 😸 😸 😸 This lovely sweet angelic devil will gladly spell it out for you.

Lan Yu 藍宇

This is an LGBTQ romance set in Beijing, China in 1988/89. Liu Ye is an absolutely brilliant actor and he's made me weep more than once (I recommend A Beautiful Life). As far as love stories and plots go, it is far from perfect but given the time it was filmed and the topics explored, it's a firecracker. It was also one of the first Chinese-language LGBTQ movies I watched and actually understood after I started learning the language and that made me appreciate it even more.

4 Songs -- again in no particular order

Hurricane - 30 Seconds to Mars

I cannot live without this song. It's a perfect walking song, I've exercised to it, I've had it play on repeat while in a writing frenzy and it's accompanied me during the one or other Shibari scene. There is such greatness to this song but writer or not, I do not have the words to explain what it does to me and why. Sharing the acoustic version for your listening pleasure.

G.E.M. - 你把我灌醉 (Intoxicated)

One of the few Chinese songs I can sing where I hit the notes mostly right. At least in the beginning. Apart from that, the lyrics, the voice!!! <3 <3 <3

JJ Lin 林俊杰 -女儿情 (A Daughter's Love)

I have a very soft spot for JJ Lin's voice in this song. Especially in the live version, which I have to listen to every couple of weeks and the mood usually strikes me right out of the blue. If you're interested in a rough translation of the lyrics, here is one that's not half bad.

Frank Sinatra - My Way

I remember, when I was a very little spruce I was always obsessed with my Papa's vinyl records. When he played them for me, when he took the record out of its sleeve and moved the needle and the music started, oh gosh, I was gone. My Papa never admitted to having a bit of a soft spot for good old Frankie but I distinctly remember Papa picking me up and twirling me around to the tunes of Mack the Knife. And later I discovered 'My Way' and it's always been a bit of a soundtrack to my life.

3 Essentials

Coffee (I mean, I have you met me?) writing (again, have you met me???) memories of my dad not necessarily in this order

2 Books -- why am I only allowed two???

Captive Prince Trilogy

Shush, it's one book. End of. And if you need any reasons as to why that's on this list, check out all the fanfic I wrote about those Kings.

The Great Wall by John Man

One of the first non-fiction books I read that truly impressed me in the sense that I realised informative works need not be dry and boring at all. John Man has such a refreshing way about him when writing about historic events that reading it not only feels like a journey back in time, but I distinctly remember having a good few laughs.

1 Quote

The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon. You can always do it better, find the exact word, the apt phrase, the leaping simile. (Robert Cormier) This always struck me as particularly inspirational because it reminds me that I don't have to strive for perfection when I write my first draft. Getting there is a journey of edits, reaching out and asking for help, learning from others, researching, of saying to myself (repeatedly) that right now, this is as good as I am and that continuing to write will only result in improvement.

[lostadrianda]

The house of wolves

Part II

Ссылка на русскую версию: https://ficbook.net/readfic/8551009

I move on along the familiar path. My feet are dragging themselves. I’m getting closer to the aim. I know it, but I won't admit it to myself. I bend the branches of trees that block the road. I scratch my foot on some sticks and don't even pay much attention. My head is spinning… Yes, but no wonder, with such a life it is easy to go mad, it was I who held on for a long time. The noise gets louder. I go to it — the most accurate reference point. It's already rumbling in my ears. I climb up on a black rock, my foot slides a little, but I hold on, jumping on until I reach the edge. The water breaks down, whipping up white foam. Small drops keep falling on my skin. I shiver from the cold. And the answer is so simple. Waiting for five years is, of course, a very long time. I should have met you then, Death. You know, you too have the power to defeat the Fox. But you keep waiting and taking only my loved ones. Here I am! Maybe you needed me all this time.

The river breaks on sharp rocks. It pulls leaves and small twigs down with it. I can't look away. And my heart is so calm… I can't remember the last time this happened to me. I can still control something in my life. What's the difference? A month or two, they'll be done with me soon anyway.

"Have you decided to go down?"

I look back at the voice. Among the spruce branches, the guy stands, only his skin turns white. I look at him and give him some time. Everyone recognize me. But he doesn't say anything. Too bad, I'd like to get this over with.

"Are you a son of the Tsar's?"

"I am. Since when is it customary to talk to traitors?”

Come on, you know what to do. Are you too young and not brave enough yet? No, you're about my age. The guy steps forward.

“I was trained to shoot traitors like mad dogs”.

“Then why do you hesitate?"

“You're not a traitor".

My foot slides down and I have to jump off the rocks. I haven't heard anything like this in a long time. I squint my eyes and can't find any good words.

“Who are you?"

"Go back, or they'll start looking for you in the camp. Tomorrow at dawn, come to the house on the edge of the forest”.

“Why would I do that?"

“What else can you do?"

The grass under my feet rustles, clinging. I turn deeper into the dark trees, and the guy still stands there and looks at me. Where did he come from? Is it possible that someone sent by the Fox wants to check me out? Then I should stay away. But the guy is right, even though he knows nothing about me. What else can I do?

I lay there all night with my head up. Highlights move on the walls of the tent and some vague shadows appear. The camp life is not easy. While we were in the houses, not everything went smoothly either. But here it is unsettling. You are never alone; somebody all the time is keeping an eye on you. You can't hide. And if our camp has already been found and they decide to attack at night, they will kill everyone. The whole life is in constant fear. I thought I got used to it. I turn over from side to side and listen. All the sounds seem to be strange to me. The mind is inflamed, irritated by feelings. It's overreacting to everything now. I don't like these woods. I may not know much about the Islands, but I've heard that there are scary creatures here. I close my eyes. It feels like the world is swaying. I hear the drops begin to hit the tent, one at first, and then dozens, and the trickles run down. I’m about to fall asleep, but thoughts don’t let go. I'll have to leave early tomorrow because of this weather. If only it would be quiet by morning. I don't want to get wet from head to toe. For some reason, of all the troubles, this is the only one that bothers me. People may be digging a hole for me and I'm worried about the rain. But I'm tired of thinking about other things. I'll take my rifle with me, and then come what may come.

Drops clatter… A little quieter, but the storm does not calm down. And it hits the leaves of the trees; you'll see all the fires will be extinguished. Tomorrow the camp will be filled with mud. They can see my tracks, too... that's enough, that's enough with me. Strange, it turns out, I still want to live. I'm still hoping for something. Probably, you can never break it in a person. Why the dream is not…

The first bird screams somewhere. In the morning, drops hang on the needles of fir trees. I brush my shoulder against them as I pass. Everything is silver, and the air is damp. There is no sun yet, but it is already light, and the sky is as smoky as all the days before. How can you tell when it's dawn? A rifle is slung over my shoulder. It keeps hitting my back and I pull it closer to me. A little out of the woods, and on a hillock you can see the house. It is an old, low house that goes into the ground. I am about to get up to it.

“Your sister came to us before she disappeared”.

I turn around. All the way I thought I was being followed by someone from the camp. I thought the Fox was watching. But no, it is the same guy. His eyes are as light as the sky, but his gaze is heavy. And everything about him is so... right. He's not one of the squads, he's local. Too used to everything. He doesn't carry a weapon. And while we were standing on the Islands, one thought each of the camp learned well: a man without a weapon here is more dangerous than ten to the teeth stuffed.

“Why would she need you?" — I say 'you' and I wonder who they are. My sister didn't trust people easily.

“She had to hide something. Something your chief needs so much, that he has thrown all his forces to that place. But he can't find it without your sister”.

So, she went to the teachers, those who govern the Islands. She is a smart girl.

“The Fox, like everyone else in the camp, thinks she's dead”.

“The Fox is more afraid of your sister than of fire. And he'll never forgive you for saving her, do you hear? He prays that she is dead, even though he doesn't believe in any of the gods above. Only he'd already found out that she'd cut him off. He needs you because he knows your sister will come back for you. And without her, the Fox will get nothing”.

“Why do you have such bold thoughts?”

“Those are observations from afar. To make sure, we need you. Your chief is building a permanent camp, decided to lay low here. And soon he'll be looking for your sister. He's desperate. We need to know what actions he is preparing before he covers the whole earth from the South to the North Sea with blood.

“The words are beautiful. But — I look back to where the water runs, further down, among the tall grasses — why would I do that?”

“Your sister still needs you”.

“No, the dead don't need anyone," — I say, not looking at the guy.

"Then help the once who is alive".

All of them, these teachers, are like that. They believe everything is fine. Beautiful phrases are selected. They think high and talk about high. But they don't know life as I have seen it. As if they exist in their own fairy tales. My sister believed them, but I did not…

“I have no one left alive”.

“It just seems to be that way. There is always something to lose and someone to lose”.

I think, closing my eyes. The river is still noisy.

“You want to make a spy out of me?"

“Yes, until you jumped off the cliff."

How desperate I was. But the guy is right, something is wrong with the Fox lately. Not from a good life, he went into the woods and climbed on the enemies. If he knows something, I should know it.

Slowly, slowly, but no matter how solid it seems, this house of wolves will fall brick by brick. The walls will start to crumble until everyone is buried under the rubble. I'll wait for it. I'll do anything to spite everyone, but I'll survive.

Dawn glowed over the mountain, like my sister's eyes once did.