#writing in my notes/a google doc/a notebook doesn't work???

[theminecraftbee]

1, 6, 16, 24 for the ask game

oh gosh that's a lot at once!

1. Where do you write? (notes app, Google Drive, word, a notebook, directly onto ao3, another word processor, etc.)

it depends! for most of my tumblr ficlets, i wrote them directly into the tumblr text editor, stream-of-consciousness style. for longer fics, it depends on where i started writing them; if i started writing them away from home, there's a chance it was in google docs, but if i started writing it at home and ESPECIALLY if it's a longfic, i probably wrote it in scrivner.

6. Do you like using the mcyt multiverse as a concept? (all SMPS and MC content exists in the same universe)

this is also an "it depends"; sometimes it serves the story and sometimes it doesn't! i kind of pick and choose what smps are canon to a given character/story based on what is or isn't useful to use. this is probably most evident in my handling of the life series; you can probably find an about equal number of fics where hermitcraft and/or empires are fully canon to them, where i treat them as sort of a separate lives deal, or i treat the life series as its own thing on its own. it's just... what works best for me in the moment, really!

16.What do you think is the signature aspect of your work? What do you think readers see and go "Ah of course! [Writer] made this!"

two or more people have a Very Emotional Conversation about either grief, what it means to be human, or survival despite the odds, and also there is surrealist body horror. this is me being facetious but i think it's definitely a combination of "the very specific way i write dialogue and emotional climaxes" and "certain key themes i tend to write a lot" and "also a certain flavor of body horror tends to be a giveaway if it happens to be present".

24.What work would you like to talk more about?

GOOD QUESTION. right now honestly, in deference to saint george! however i acknowledge that one's my ow so it has a much narrower audience, lol. also maybe at this specific moment solving counting sheep? but that's also just recency bias.

[msmargaretmurry]

friend, what do you do when you haven't written (fan)fiction in more years than you can say for sure, and you're bitten by a character arc for a story that keeps spiraling into more and more as you think about it? i am feeling VERY overwhelmed especially as it becomes more about that character arc than the original plot idea. i remember you saying that you thought HAW was going to be like 40k and obviously it ended up much longer - having gone through that process, what did you learn? is there any advice you'd give, especially to someone already nervous to start doing something for the first time?

hello pal! i'm sorry you're having an anxious time of it but i'm excited to hear that you're flexing your writing muscles, and i hope that i can offer some helpful reassurances here!

the short answer is: you just write it. you just do it!!! ultimately the two choices here are write it or don't write it, and not writing it is way less satifying. yes yes WAY easier said than done though, so onto the long answer. 💞

trying to write again when you haven't written in a while can definitely be nerve-wracking, so first of all, i want to say that it's totally fine to be nervous. very normal of you! obviously you want your story to live up to the idea in your head, so it can be really hard to shake the whole feeling of, oh no what if it doesn't? what if my grand foray back into writing is an EMBARRASSING FAILURE?? so i also want to say that it will not be, because there is no such thing as failing at creativity, and i forbid you from being embarassed of anything you create while learning. writing is a never-ending learning process. the best writers you have ever read are the ones who embrace learning something new every time they write. i would say this even if it hadn't been years since you last wrote, but especially since it's been years since you last wrote, but it is imperative to remember that you have to start somewhere. to quote the great sam reich, the only way to begin is by beginning.

my #1 tip for if you're working on a story and it feels like it wants to be long and you have a lot of thoughts and ideas and feelings about it is to WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN. don't make yourself try to remember it all. i use a note in my notes app for this, but you can use a physical notebook or a google doc or whatever works for you.

this isn't for writing the actual fic — you might end up with snippets of scenes in here but nothing more than a few lines. this is for literally anytime you think of something for your story, into the note it goes, as soon as possible, so you don't have to worry about remembering it. a fact you learn, a future story beat you want to hit, a line of dialogue you want to include in a future scene, a lyric that inspires you, a reminder to include a detail or reference. i also use mine to keep a list of subplots/running themes — things you don't want to fall off your own radar and wind up forgotten halfway through.

you don't need to check your note/document/whatever every time you write, but if you're an outliner you can use it to periodically update your outline, and besides that, occasionally referring back to it is great for a) sparking inspiration for where the story goes next, and b) reminding you to go back and be like, hm, how long has it been since i referenced [subplot]? maybe it's time for that to make another appearance!

i also ALSO use mine to keep a list of things i know i'm going to want to go back and edit for once i have a full draft. i don't know about you, but i am a CHRONIC edit-as-i-go-er and doing this has helped me so much with being able to take a deep breath, accept that something in the draft probably needs fixing, and know that i won't forget about it. i no longer have the HAW version of this note (because i delete things out of mine as i address them, so by the end of writing the story the note is empty 😂) but iirc it had things like — make sure it's clear that matthew is kind of a mama's boy, double-check the pacing/frequency of matthew's big intrusive thoughts, make sure we know where bowie is for scenes in leon's house.

regarding the story becoming more about the character arc than the original plot idea, try to let go of your expectations of what the story was supposed to be and instead try to approach it with a mindset of discovering what the story is going to be. this will give you a lot more freedom to let it grow and change without feeling like you're abandoning something. the reason HAW got so long is because, when i started, i had two big plot beats that i knew i wanted to get to (the first breathplay scene and the first kiss scene) and as i was writing, i kept thinking to myself, okay i need x y z and then i get to tackle that big plot beat. so i would write x y z only to discover that i still needed more development to make it feel earned. so i just wrote more development! this did mean letting go of the conception of the story's structure i had going in, when i thought it would be shorter, but it ultimately let the beats fall in the right places.

(obviously letting your story sprawl however it wants to isn't always the the best thing you can do for a piece of fiction. but in character-driven stories, in my opinion, it's vital to give the character the space they need. and if it sprawls too much, you can always edit it down later. you can learn stuff about your characters from scenes you wind up cutting or from versions of scenes that don't end up working just as much as from the scenes you nail.)

if you think it'll help with motivation, get yourself an alpha reader. enlist a friend that you trust to be what you need them to be in this role. for me, it's that i can trust when i send them the next 5–10k chunk of first draft that they will read it at their earliest convenience (not letting it sit for days), that they will be invested in following the story (i once had an alpha reader tell me that they had totally forgotten about a major story development in the week or so between one chunk and then next chunk, and it devastated me), and that they will understand that as i'm grinding out the first draft, i need enthusiasm and encouragement, and concrit ONLY if there's a major issue. concrit is the realm of my beta readers.

everyone's writing process is different, so if there's stuff here where you're like, ugh i hate that idea, feel free to ignore it! or modify it! just don't spend so much time tinkering with planning and research and playlists and outlines etc that you don't actually write. occasionally a good writing sesh CAN be 98% tinkering, but most of them should not be.

finally, let yourself enjoy the process. don't put pressure on yourself to finish it quickly so you can feed it to the internet for comments and kudos. comments and kudos are, of course, fantastic, and also it's fine to set yourself arbitrary goals/deadlines if that helps you (e.g. "writing"i'm going to write 3,000 words a week" or "i'm going to finish this section of story by the end of the month") but try not to get stressed if it's taking longer than expected to write, or it turns out you want to add more than expected to the story. it's worth it to have a story you're happy with.

sometimes writing can be really hard and frustrating, but that doesn't mean you're doing it badly. sometimes you need to talk an issue through with a friend. sometimes it takes a few tries to figure out how a scene should go. sometimes you need to let a plot problem rotate like a $2 hotdog on the gas station hotdog roller of your brain for a couple of days before the solution comes to you in a vision at the most inconvenient time possible. (jot it down in your notes app before you forget it.)

anyway. good luck and i believe in you ❤ you know where to find me if you need to complain about writing/talk through something/get a pep talk!

[mrbexwrites]

Writblr Q& A

Tagged by @surroundedbypearls here. Thanks so much :D

1. What motivates you to write?

I don't know...I've always spent a lot of time in my own head, and I've always just written down the stories that my brain likes to make up for me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

2. A line/short snippet of your writing that you are most proud/happy of. If not maybe share a line of someone else's work you love (just please credit them)

I absolutely adore this line by @sarahlizziewrites from her WIP Grey Sky Lark :

"I spent the better part of two decades looking for you. I would do it again."

It's just...it gives me actual chills and I think about this line at least once a week.

5. What part of writing do you think you are the best at? (Yes stroke your own ego it's okay)

I think the strongest aspect of my writing is my dialogue. I used to hate it when characters would speak, and I'd end up having them info dump and the speech would be so stilted and robotic. I worked hard to make my dialogue more realistic, and I (hope) my hard work has paid off, and it's now the best parts of my works!

6. What do you enjoy most about the Writeblr community?

I absolutely love seeing everyone else's creative process, and how generous people are with sharing their skills. So many of you just post massive chunks of knowledge about your own publishing/editing/writing experience to help us all get better at what we do, and I'm just in awe! I love the support that everyone has for one another.

7. A writing tool/device you use that helps you with writing? (It could be speech to text, a writing program etc)

I have a notebook to scribble ideas, names, plot lines etc. I've tried to use flash cards in the past, but I tend to lose them, so a note book it is. I treated myself to Scrivener but I haven't really transferred my WIPs across to it yet, as I've not properly had a chance to sit and familiarise myself with it. So still chipping away with Google Docs due to my own procrastination!

8. A piece of worldbuilding that you like in your own story? (It could be the magic system, a particular place in the story, a law etc)

So, Searching for Starlight, a WIP that doesn't get spoken about often has some excellent worldbuilding imo. I'm especially proud of the concept of 'solar sails' for how my spaceships were powered. Totally impractical and wouldn't be able to work with actual physics, but real-world stuff be damned!

9. What piece of advice would you say to encourage others to write if they are having a rough patch?

Just take it one day at a time. Don't force yourself, and be careful of burnout. Listen to music, walk, partake in media you life, and don't feel guilty for not working on your WIP 24/7. Your story deserves to be told, but not at the expense of your health (speaking as someone who hopitalised themselves a couple of years ago doing NaNo who definitely did not take my own advice- I am older and wiser now. Look after yourselves guys; be kind to yourself!)

Tagging @cee-grice @at-thezenith @sam-glade @scifimagpie @queen-tashie @cowboybrunch and leaving an open invite for anyone else who'd like to join in

[duckprintspress]

Round Table: What Software Do You Find Helpful for Your Writing Process?

We asked our authors what software helps them write - and got a range of answers! 

Contributors: Adrian Harley, B. T. Fish, D. V. Morse, not-gwaenchanha, theirprofoundbond, Tris Lawrence, unforth

*

Discord 

Tris Lawrence: Lately Discord is becoming critical because that's how I'm making notes for my series bible with a combination of private folders and channels to split out information

(B. T. Fish +1, unforth +1)

Evernote

not-gwaenchanha: I use Evernote for all the ideas, makes them easy to sort. One notebook (or even a notebook stack) per WIP. It lets you interlink notes, use tags to sort stuff. It also has a webclipper browser extension which lets you copy websites or parts of them straight into the notebook which is super helpful for research. Free version can be used on two devices.

Image from the Evernote website...they didn't have anything writing-related, apologies.

Google Suite (G Docs, G Sheets, G Keep)

Hermit: Gdoc for me because my writing tends to happen on my couch/at the coffee shop and thus on my phone a lot (I am totally the person who brings a wireless mechanical keyboard to the coffee shop). I also make use of Google Keep for research notes. And a notebook with some frixion pens.

D. V. Morse: At the moment, I'm tracking things in Google Sheets, which is great (except there's a lot of functionality from Trello that I'm missing).

not-gwaenchanha: I use gDocs to write, mainly because I don't have to worry I'll lose everything if technology decides it hates me, but it also allows me to write from my phone and easily share with my beta. Google keep is where all the "darlings" go when I kill them a.k.a scraps of text that are good but don't fit. It's got a nice integration with google docs, you can send stuff there straight from the doc from the context menu and then move all the scraps into one "scraps" doc 

(unforth +1, theirprofoundbond +1, Adrian Harley +1)

Microsoft Word

Adrian Harley: I have been using the same laptop since 2012, and when the hard drive gave out in 2020, my independent computer repair shop was kind enough to reinstall the 2010 versions of Microsoft Office so I didn't have to pay a subscription for them. It's what I'm used to. The "styles" function lets me find chapters easily, and it's easy for me to leave comments for myself when I see an issue and don't want to resolve it right at that moment. I think the free Microsoft Word, whatever they're calling it, has those basic features too, though I'm not positive.

(unforth +1)

Miro (formerly RealTimeBoard) 

not-gwaenchanha: it’s an endless white board. Great for visual plotting. You can put in sticky notes, tables etc. I also like to upload images to it to make a private moodboard for the story.

Image is from the Miro website.

Notes App (IOS, Android)

Adrian Harley: I prefer to use the Notes app on the go. It's just as easy as Google Drive, it doesn't freak out if I'm not connected to the internet, and I have to copy and paste the text from any portable software to my document record of choice anyway. 

(B. T. Fish +1, unforth +1)

Notion

theirprofoundbond: There is a desktop version and an app, with syncing between both. You can use it for writing but I prefer Google Docs for that. Instead, I've built myself a wiki, basically. My "Writing HQ" contains: current editing projects; word count table to track my daily word counts; gallery of my WIPs, which is pretty and motivating, and each "card" contains metadata and promotional info for each project; calendar for my posting schedule; and a gallery of completed work. Notion is incredibly customizeable with great documentation to help you get your head around all the possibilities. It'd be a great home for a worldbuilding bible, too, I think!

(B. T. Fish +1)

Scrivener

unforth: I use Scrivener for organizing my notes and research, its flashcard system is great for that.

Tris Lawrence: I live and die by a combination of Scrivener and Sprinting. Scrivener was the first piece of software I found that works the way my brain works, from the scrap documents to writing in the margins to index cards, and being able to organize it roughly but have it export pretty when I need it.

D. V. Morse: The main software I use is Scrivener, right up until it's time for critique/beta reading. Then everything goes into GDocs. I've experimented with mind-mapping apps with variable results.

Adrian Harley: Scrivener was incredibly helpful for my novella when I decided to turn it into a novel. It let me keep track of different drafts by chapter, so I could note which versions my writing group had already looked at. It also was easy to add in the "flashback" narrative that I've interspersed throughout the book.

Image from the Scrivener website.

SmartEdit Writer (formerly Atomic Scribbler)

B. T. Fish: It's a free word processor that has all the functions of Scrivener that I need and none of the confusing extras, is default dark mode, tracks my word count by scene and by entire project, and allows me to document and organize my writing projects from one-shots to novel length works. I use Discord for collaboration and have occasionally used Notion to organize writing prompts and story bible information, but most of that I also keep in Smart Edit, so it ends up being a bit redundant.

Image from the SmartEdit Writer website.

Spotify and Pandora:

not-gwaenchanha: because music helps my brain switch into the writing mode

unforth: I definitely use Pandora, music helps a lot

(theirprofoundbond +1)

Sprinto

Tris Lawrence: I cannot survive without a timer somewhere, because that's how I can force myself to focus in 20-30 minute spaces. 

StayFocusd

unforth: it's an extension that shuts off internet access for a specified amount of time, and it helped me not get distracted by All The Social Media. (I don’t use Chrome anymore, but when I did…)

@/porcupine-girl chimed in from the comments to mention that Leechblock is a similar extension for Firefox!

Trello

D. V. Morse: I've always loved Trello for organizing workflow and really need to get on that again. 

Tris Lawrence’s Word Tracking Spreadsheet

Adrian Harley: I have also tried a bunch of different software to track word count, because Number Go Up makes my brain happy. Can I recommend Tris's spreadsheet? That got me through a few months.

Tris Lawrence: I am slightly laughing that I didn't call out my own tracking spreadsheet. Probably because I've been SO focused on notes lately that I haven't gotten new words in uhhhh months. But obviously, yes, when writing I live and die by that as well! I love my charts. I loved the charts on the old NaNo site and wanted them year round. I wanted to be able to set goals and see how I was doing. I wanted to do comparisons. I wanted to see writing across weeks, months, and years, and it helped me learn that zero days and fluctuation were OKAY.

Image from Tris's 2022 spreadsheet blog post

*

What is your favorite software to use to help you write? We'd love to hear from you!

Have a question for us? Drop us an ask anytime!

Love what we do? Consider supporting us on Patreon or ko-fi.

Note that none of these comments should be interpreted as Duck Prints Press endorsing these products.

[impossibleprincess35]

For the weird ask game! 22, 24, and 25 (for dearest Caepo, if you have anything!)

Heyyyyyyy friendooooo, thanks for the ask! :D

22. How organized are you with your writing? Describe to me your organization method, if it exists. What tools do you use? Notebooks? Binders? Apps? The Cloud? I basically live on Google Docs until the piece is finished, and I use the Notes app on my iPhone to write down ideas that come to me. Once I'm totally done with the story/oneshot, I back it up onto my personal hard drive.

24. How much prep work do you put into your stories? What does that look like for you? Do you enjoy this part or do you just want to get on with it? In terms of prep work, with me writing SW fics, it's a lot of Googling or looking through the books/media I have access to, and then trying to be as factual as I can within the SW world. I don't do a whole lot of prep. I kind of like to see the story unfold a bit. You know how people say the story writes itself? That's what I've always experienced, so I just sorta.. wing it. It all somehow comes together in the end.

25. What is a weird, hyper-specific detail you know about one of your characters that is completely irrelevant to the story? Caepo was baby Korkie's favorite person when he was little, and although Caepo doesn't brag about it because it hurts Kal Vhett's feelings, he is really proud of that fact. When he would travel with Satine, he would always bring back something for his cetar'ika, or "little boot," the term of endearment he gave Korkie when he was just a toddler. Now with Korkie older, they bond mostly over giving Satine a hard time.

[antitheticaally]

Answer the questions and tag five fanfiction authors you know!

tagged by the wonderful wonderful @asteria-argo

Wow hi everybody I know I vanished off the face of tumblr for a good 6 months, and I'm hesitant to say I'm "back" but... hi!

1. How many fandoms have you written in?

Well, I've written in a lot of fandoms over the years (almost everything I've ever hyperfixated on I've written fic for), but I've only ever published in one. As you all know, it is my one and only Ted Lasso fic. I've written a lot for Buffy the Vampire Slayer - that's probably the other big one, and then I definitely wrote some Percy Jackson fics in my youth, as well as *sigh* so much Harry Potter at the age of like, 10. But those are all (thankfully) buried in the recesses of my google drive and will never see the light of day.

2. How many years have you been writing fanfiction?

I think I probably wrote my first "fic" around the age of 6 or 7, and I'm 21 now, so... 15-16 years? Wow.

3. Do you read or write more fanfiction?

I definitely read wayyyy more than I write. When I'm really into something I can go through like, 3 fics a day, but it's a lot harder for me to write consistently.

4. What is one way you've improved as a writer?

My grammar and just like, use of language and developing my own style has improved immensely just from writing for soooo long. I think I've definitely found my own voice whereas, when I was younger, I used to kind of take on the tones of other writers I liked. I've also gotten a lot more confident in sharing my writing, especially since I joined tumblr and published something in the last year. That doesn't exactly have to do with the quality of the writing itself, but like, the relationship I have with what I write.

5. What's the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project?

Oh boy, well, I did a lot of football research when I was writing for Ted Lasso, because I am not a sports girly. But back in middle/high school when I was super into Buffy I ended up doing a weird amount of research on 17th century England for some AU thingy I was working on. I think I still have the notes on that haha

6. What's your favourite type of comment to receive on your work?

I love all comments, because I crave validation way too much. But long ones especially. Like, when people go through and pick out all their favorite bits and lines and take the time to tell me how much they like them... it's very Special To Me. <3

7. What's the most fringe trope/topic you write about?

Hmm.... I feel like I'm lowkey kind of basic in terms of what tropes I write... But I guess I write a lot of stuff that focuses mainly on like, friendship and platonic love and intimacy and usually not a lot of romance, which, like, I've found a niche of people who love that shit for sure, but I guess maybe it's not asssss common? Idk

8. What is the hardest type of story for you to write?

Oh god I can't write happy. I literally have never successfully written a story where nothing goes wrong. How?

9. What is the easiest type?

Angst. But like, angst with with comfort. Is it projection? Is it being a psychology student? We'll never know.

10. Where do you do your writing? What platform? When?

I'm a google docs girly through and through. I do have a notebook that I jot down drafts in a lot of the time, but if I'm typing its on google docs. As for where and when... basically anywhere private. So, anywhere within my room. I can't write if there's even a smidgen of a chance that someone could walk by and peek at my computer screen. If I'm super into writing something I'll work on it all day, but unfortunately for my sleep schedule, most of my ideas come to me at 12 am when I'm trying to go to sleep.

11. What is something you've been too nervous/intimidated to write, but would love to write one day?

Honestly, at this point, I'll write almost anything as long as I think I can do it in a tasteful and respectful way. But there was a while where I was terrified of writing anything sexual or "smutty", I've kind of gotten past that as I've embraced my sexuality a lot more, and I have written sexual content. None of it is published, because a lot of it is from original short stories or older fics, and because I usually write platonic relationships, but I've done it!

12. What made you choose your username?

Aahaha... this is actually the second iteration of my tumblr username. A lot of you previously knew me as @antitheticallyargumentative, which came from a Taylor Swift song. I am a huge Swiftie, which I haven't realllly talked about on here, but I love her music and lyricism a lot. So the username came from a line in a song that was "argumentative, antithetical dream girl", and I just thought it was kind of fun so I messed around with it a bit and eventually came up with "antitheticallyargumentative." Then I revamped my account and shortened it a bit. So yeah.

I do not know whose already been tagged or whose already done it so.... whoever sees this... go ham.

Love ya!

[acertainmoshke]

Happy STS! What are your go-to/preferred writing tools? Favorite pen types, notebooks, keyboards, etc, but it doesn't have to be limited to just those things. Writing programs, favorite reference books, thesauruses, dictionaries, TTS software, whiteboards, corkboards, flash cards, encyclopedias, anything goes!

Nooooooooooo Nopal you don't know what you've done! How could you know I have an actual special interest in this??

So I am obsessed with notebooks but also REALLY picky about them. My handwriting is teeny so I don't like big lines, and I think it looks neater and prettier with smaller lines anyway. The covers can have a cool pattern or be plain if it's a nice color and high-quality enough. I do occasionally make exceptions; my current journal is fairly cheap with large lines, but it's a rare older Batman one in my favorite color with bat-tech designs on all the pages and a light-up bat signal on the color, so it was worth it. My newly discovered favorite notebook aspect is ones that are designed so the pages lay flat and it's easier to write. Oh, and I LOATHE spiral notebooks. The big school-style ones are ok for random notes or anything unimportant, but the smaller little ones that are normal book size are absolutely worthless. The spirals always come undone before I'm done with them.

I'm also picky about writing utensils. I keep a journal strictly in pen so it can't fade and I can't get embarrassed and erase it. I write stories strictly in pencil because I WILL need to erase and try out lines. But, although I'm using one currently for my big-lined Batman journal, in general I can't stand large ballpoints. By which I mean 0.7, which is pretty standard. 0.5 is ok, but I much prefer the rarer smaller pens. I used to have a Japanese friend who I would get to send me 0.35 pens because they are normal there but expensive over here. In pencils anything under 0.5 is impractical, but I like the fancy mechanical pencils with a nice grip and a dent that lets you dig out the eraser even after it's erased down. My current one is teal.

None of that answered your question but it was necessary anyway. And this is getting too long so the actual answer is going under a cut.

We'll see how long I can keep it going, but I like to write my stories on paper. Of course, it's not worth starting a nice new notebook if I'm unlikely to finish it and it's impractical if I don't have a clear idea of the basic story, because jumping around out of order is impossible. I like it though because it forces me to slow down and think about each scene; I can't rush the way I do when typing. It also gives me a built-in edit when I copy it up, so by the time I'm editing a full draft it's already technically a second draft. And it's convenient because I can take it to work and write on my breaks, or if I'm waiting in line at the post office, or anywhere I happen to find myself.

I do still write on the computer, of course, for fanfiction or just-for-fun things I'll never finish or stories I'm still figuring out. When I do truly long-form things I like to use work because I hate the way Google docs looks (controversial, I know). But for short things, or worldbuilding, or fanfic, I like to use Notion. I like that I can nest pages within each other endlessly. It makes my autistic organizing brain buzz.

I recently discovered that I enjoy using actual notecards pinned to a corkboard for initial plot planning. I can't always do this, and I make outlines too for more detail, but being able to physically move stuff around in real space helps my brain focus on what is actually important to include.

Thank you sooooo much for giving me a chance to ramble about this!!

[mysticstarlightduck]

Happy STS! What are your go-to/preferred writing tools? Favorite pen types, notebooks, keyboards, etc, but it doesn't have to be limited to just those things. Writing programs, favorite reference books, thesauruses, dictionaries, TTS software, whiteboards, corkboards, flash cards, encyclopedias, anything goes!

Happy Storyteller Saturday! Thank you for the Ask, @writernopal!

What are your go-to/preferred writing tools?

I pretty much only write on my computer/laptop. Due to my eyesight issues, it is difficult to write on my phone/tablet (too small lol) or small notebooks, plus writing on the computer helps me stay focused (and listen to my playlists while I do it)! I also have a travel journal/paper notebook which I use to write on when I'm not with my laptop, not at home or the internet isn't working, but its mostly reserved for these situations.

+ Writing Programs = I'm still using Google Docs, namely because it saves the work automatically, but I am working on moving all my WIPs and notes to Scrivener.

[a-tale-never-told]

This is why you NEED to note down ideas you have, especially if you have a bad memory. People with amnesia carry notebooks all the time with them to make sure they can function day to day. Heck even a checklist on how to write a certain character can work.

//I don't possess that type of amnesia, as I don't think that my memory loss is THAT severe. Regardless, I honestly think I need to start writing down and noting ideas for not only the Practical Exams Arc but also the rest of any future arcs in general, especially for Season 2, where it's going to be completely original storylines going forward.

//Since this is the first arc that I've ever written, obviously I would be unaccustomed to how writing a story arc functions, or just writing a story blog in general. Now, this doesn't mean I don't have any writing talent, as there are a few story chapters that have been well written and well received, albeit they could've been expanded upon greatly.

//The main situation that I have with this blog is massive inexperience. I started this blog in September of 2023, and I would start the story near the end of the month. Considering that it's officially near the end of November, and we have been through so much plot progression(For better or worse), I'll have to admit that I was out of my depth when it came to writing this arc, as I didn't know how to handle certain types of characterization, like with Ibuki or Sato.

//And the dialogue absolutely reflects the amount of inexperience that I had going into this, as most of the dialogue is a really divisive bag between actually decent to completely weak and idiotic, and the amnesia wasn't helping things either.

//One thing I've been doing is trying to write down my ideas for certain characters and plot ideas for each story arc on Google Docs, observing their characterization from ASOOT, their interactions with other characters, and how they would behave and be characterized in this alternate world, which has far more significant issues besides the corruption of Hope's Peak, despite being one of the main important parts of the story to me.

//Another thing is that while I'm wholeheartedly enjoying writing the arcs for the season, I honestly didn't have the motivation to write this arc, as I felt it was just repeating the same formula that many other moderators for story blogs have executed far better than I'm doing. It's not wrong if you want to use an already existing idea for your introductory arc, but considering that the Twilight Syndrome Arc is one of the main introductory ideas fellow story moderators tend to write when it comes to Danganronpa 3 rewrites, it feels kind of repetitive to me, as I feel that I haven't really come up with anything truly original or noteworthy to set this blog apart from its predecessors.

//I had a conversation with Mod Bubbles on DM, and he brought up some incredibly valid points, saying that I shouldn't be afraid to take things in my own direction, and I actually agree with that point. Considering that the general consensus around the rest of the audience is pretty much everyone thinking "This is ASOOT, but with alternate history", I want this blog to be SO much more than that conception.

//Luckily, I've been trying to write down my notes on how to conduct future arcs on Google Docs, and it's been really helpful for my ability to write as a writer so far, considering that I started to do it yesterday. I'm going on the sole notion that I don't even have a clue as to how to correctly plan out a story arc and how to make better writing and dialogue for the rest of the story, so I've resorted to the most indigenous methods on planning out the story, by using Google Docs to take down important notes of information I researched and bring them into life in the story.

//If there's any advice for future story blog moderators, it's that before you start to officially begin a story arc, always make sure you planned your idea out for your story arc in advance, in terms of writing, characterization, dialogue, plot moments, conflict, lore, and resolutions, and take your notes in whatever different kind of format you want to save them in, so you don't forget what you conceptualized. I'm learning this experience the hard way, so consider this writing advice for how not to officially start a story, because otherwise, people don't really get invested that much in your story to even begin with.

[writinglittlebeasts]

Happy STS! What are your go-to/preferred writing tools? Favorite pen types, notebooks, keyboards, etc, but it doesn't have to be limited to just those things. Writing programs, favorite reference books, thesauruses, dictionaries, TTS software, whiteboards, corkboards, flash cards, encyclopedias, anything goes!

oh happy sts !

this is gonna be like super boring, because i don't really have any favorites, i just sort of have Things I Use, and pretty sparingly. ive got one of those branded marble notebooks (the current one is green) and i've been drawing and taking notes in these notebooks for a few years, sticking to one until i literally run out of space + using multiple ink colors to keep different notes and images identifiable over/under each-other. not a lot of writing-writing happens in them, but when i actually want to try outlining or when i'm trying to work out a snag in one of my stories i'll start trying to unstick myself there. right next to my little drawings of claire redfield or whatever. i would show you a little bit of my notes but my handwriting is quite literally illegible

i do actually have favorite pens, though! i really like these pilot v5 rolling ball pens that come in a bunch of colors (i do prefer the black ink by far, but it's nice to have options when i'm feeling whimsical) because they line very thinly and evenly + they lend themselves to the way that i like to draw. they do nothing for my handwriting, and i write in them primarily because i don't keep my office supplies and my art supplies separate, but they're just so [chefs kiss]. they're also very permanent, so i also keep a stash of post-its in the front of my notebook so that i can pile them on endlessly as needed. images attached because it's kind of crazy

i don't have multiple keyboards, but my school required i buy a macbook and the thing still works. sort of. so my hands are really, really used to these flatter laptop keys, and trying to use any other sort of keyboard is strange as hell. i write primarily on my cell phone in our beloved google docs, because that program is both free and cross-platform , so it's convenient if i'm going to be writing on both my phone *and* my laptop. i back things up on microsoft word because docs can get a little screwy and does delete untouched documents over time.

[ghostoftheyear]

I just read a comment on a post that made me very concerned, so I wanted to put out a PSA.

Someone was panicking during the recent AO3 outage, where the DDoS was trying very hard to put the site under for good, because they didn't have any way to recover their fics. Which is terrifying, sure... if all you ever do is write directly into the draft page on AO3.

But. Why would you do that?

Like. OK. I know I'm old, and I'm also privileged to have a desktop PC that I use for the majority of everything online. I understand this is not as common a circumstance as it used to be. But if you're using a laptop or PC, you should REALLY be writing somewhere else first. Even if it's just the native notepad program. Anything that allows you to save the file. You don't need something expensive like Scrivener. I personally use a text-based program called NoteTab, which is inexpensive, reliable, and has lots of nice little extras. Of course there's Word and OpenLibre and things like that. Even Google Docs if you're in a pinch (though I can't recommend it given that they're now starting their own AI-theft program).

I'm not as well versed in apps for phones and tablets. But even so, I beg you to find something to write on that isn't directly into AO3. The notes program? Email yourself? A physical notebook?

And there is a reason for this. Purely aside from the fact that the draft will only save your text for 30 days -- and was NEVER meant to be used as a word processor to begin with! -- you should always have a backup of your work somewhere, in the exact case of circumstances like this.

Many moons ago, I used a free site called Crosswinds to host my website. (There were a lot of these, like geocities, tripod, & so on.) One day, there was a server glitch and lots of my files were wiped from creation. I didn't keep copies of them anywhere else, and so they were just gone. I was able to recover some of it, but most of it was just. Gone. Forever.

These days, I edit my stuff on my PC first, and then upload it. I should also probably have another backup of some kind, because I have had catastrophic hard drive failures and lost everything. You think it won't happen to you. Then it does, and your stuff that you've labored on is just gone.

Plus, it's just good to be able to have the text in a location where you can easily read and edit; on top of that, you know that trick of putting it in another font so you can catch mistakes? That is exactly what happens when I get the fic into the preview page on AO3 and I'm able to see all those goddamn typos and missed italics tags and so on.

For the love of whatever you love, friends, you must keep your own backups. You will lose your data at some point. It's going to happen. Or a site will go down. Or something crashes. And it'll all be gone. You really can make sure that doesn't happen, and it'll take less time than you think.

But I will be over here begging on my arthritic, ruined knees for the rest of time: NEVER WRITE DIRECTLY INTO THE AO3 PAGE. EVER. DON'T FUCKIN DO IT.

[screadingchallenge]

Behind the Keyboard Volume 37

Behind the Keyboard is a series of interviews with different Schitt’s Creek fanfic authors. The series will last as long as there is interest (from authors) and capacity (from me). If you are an author from the Schitt’s Creek fandom who would like to participate, send a DM to this account.  

Each author was given ten questions. The first five questions are the same for every author, the last five will vary.

If you'd like to do an interview, let me know!

Let’s meet our next author:

@demora00 / Demora00

How many fics have you written?

I have 16 published fics. A few for SC aren’t published anywhere and many more for other fandoms have died with ancient websites or disappeared the way physical notebooks have a way of during various moves.

When did you publish your first fic on AO3?

January 7th, 2022

Describe your writing process from “Oh, I have an idea” to pushing publish on AO3. 

First thing, if it’s a line, or a quote, or a picture, I’ll open my prompt folder and just stick it in there to marinate and come back to when I know how to use it. 

A few times, I’ve been lucky enough to go “oh wait” and open a brand new doc right away and just start writing. Sometimes I’ll take voice notes or send voice memos to friends if I’m driving and tag them #carthoughts for quick reference. 

I rarely write in order. Most of the time, I'll start a scene, get stuck but know how I want another to go, so I'll swap. More often than not there's some frankensteining. I'll moan and whine about it to @doug-judys-blog or Trickiwoo about it throughout. I know it's finished when I've edited it so much I hate it. Finally one or both of them will beta. @doug-judys-blog is the best cheerleader I could have dreamed of. They always know how to get me out of a "no words just vibes" spiral.

Tell me about your most recent fic? What do you love about it? Is there anything you think you could have done better?

The last fic I wrote that wasn’t a drabble was about selective mutism. [Some things I still can't tel you] It’s a physical manifestation of anxiety that isn’t often spoken about except as a trauma response and I feel like I managed to capture all the other little things that come along with it in a very tangible way.  I love that Patrick, who is still a person used to struggling in private with so many things, can trust David and show vulnerability without it being a stress point for their relationship. There's something really soft about that kind of trust that ultimately very romantic to me.

What advice would you give to someone who’s thinking about publishing their fic for the first time?

Do it. Get a beta. Get a cheerleader. (One can do both!) Hell, ask that compatible weirdo you kinda sorta vibe with in that fandom space to be a sounding board. Our fandom is so welcoming and talented, there's always someone willing to help.

In your mind, what’s the most important element of good writing?

I need writing to make me feel things otherwise what’s the point? I don't mean 'tear out my heart' intensity every time, but if the writing doesn't evoke something for me, I'll be hard pressed to keep reading. 

Tell me about a story that you wish you could write but that you’re not quite ready to tackle.

The last night Ted and Alexis have together and the aftermath of that. Really deep dive into Alexis' feels and sit with it for a while. It's somehow more tragic because we as the audience know that they are incompatible, but the love they have is real. But sometimes love isn't enough, and it's a real sign of growth for both of them, if a tragic way of doing it. 

Weirdest thing you’ve googled as research for a story?

Cowboy and rodeo terms. I don’t know that that’s weird in and of itself, but the reasons for the research were unorthodox.

Outlines - yes or no?

Yes, if not in a classic way. I usually do just point forms and terrible broken sentences, vibes, placeholders with attached comments and that works just fine. Sometimes whole conversations that need to happen but I don’t know quite where to put yet.

Tell me about your current WIP if you have one.

I have a few I’m working on and flip between as my attention span wanes, but I’m most involved in my first long fic. I don't want to give too much away, but it's a cerebral sci-fi mystery with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vibes. I started working on it a few weeks ago and it's taken over. It's completely different than anything I've done so I'm quite nervous about it, but I've been reassured it could be as amazing as I see it in my head. I’ve already written myself into and out of a corner, so you could say it’s going well lol.

[on-noon]

For the writer asks!

3. What is your writing ritual and why is it cursed?

I wouldn't say I really have a ritual. Sometimes I listen to my main playlist, sometimes my writing playlist, sometimes nothing.

I also write in different formats/softwares (some more cursed than others), I've written in notebooks, on my laptop (in google docs, libre office, and for short stories straight in the tumblr post editor). i've also written bits on my phone while on vacation (google docs/tumblr post editor). one story I'm toying around with now, I'm writing on my ipod touch (second generation) in the notes app. it annoys me so much that it doesn't have swipe typing.

I'd say the cursed part is probably the variaty of different formats I write in (makes it hard to find everything I've written)

words written for this ask: 118

total words for motivation experiment: 14,916

project worked on Countdown to Magic

[jomatto]

Some people are logical while others are free spirits, and then there are those who can be both. I'd like to count myself as one of them. You'd think a freewheeling endeavor such as writing would bear little similarity to something as rigid as coding, but as someone who kind of does both for a living, there's actually a lot of crossover.

Code does not work if you're missing a key element and the same applies to story writing. If you don't take the time to lay down the foundation and build up the thematic elements brick by brick, your big money scene will lack the oomph to really move readers.

As much as I want to sit down, be struck by a bolt of inspiration, and start pumping out pages of content by sheer force of artistic will, some semblance of structure is required to make everything fit together perfectly.

I've used many different writing tools over the years, from an old-school typewriter to my phone, and new tools and software are constantly being developed. While there are enduring masterpieces of storytelling that were born from a simple quill and inkpot, that doesn't mean you can't produce something equally as compelling by taking full advantage of today's technology.

We no longer have to carry around a notebook and pen (unless you're analog like that, which I'm sure some old souls still are) because our phones offer everything we need to put our thoughts into words. However, I'm beginning to feel the limits of my current setup.

I used to use MS Word to write, but ever since it went on subscription, I jumped ship to Google Docs. Then once I got an iPhone, I started using Apple Notes. Still, each of these 3 platforms share a critical weakness insofar as they offer no integrated support for structuring and outlining stories like you could with a good ol' fashioned corkscrew board and index cards.

While searching for better writing software, I landed on an app called Scrivener. I just started the tutorial, but this thing seems quite deep so far, which can be intimidating for some. As a lifelong gamer, digging into the mechanics is something I do every time I load up a new title, so a little learning curve doesn't scare me.

I've always considered myself more advanced than a newbie but not as in-depth as a professional. I've always gotten my skill level to a point where people would come to me for advice even though, in my mind, the things they're asking about are so easy to grasp that even a caveman can do it.

There's a weird disconnect and feeling of imposter syndrome when certain things come easy while other people seem to have the darndest time trying to wrap their heads around it, and it makes you wonder if you're living in a parallel universe where easy shit is hard, and everything else is backwards.

You're only as good as your tools, and depending on what you use, you may get stuck or go even higher. How many peoples' potential have lain dormant because the tool needed to unlock it hasn't been made yet? That's why I'm always looking for something better because there's no reason to think that my current state is the most optimal.

My experience has shown me that the vast majority of people are surprisingly hesitant and unadventurous, and because of that, they risk being left behind. That sort of conservative approach just doesn't cut it these days.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it, they say, but if you can go even faster and harder with less effort, why not give it a shot?

[astatia-ghast]

Blog Update

I'm still here, and I'm still determined to get this blog off the ground! I just lost my steam for a bit.

After I made my introduction, I wanted my next few posts to be a ficlet and some art, but the moment I began to craft these things, they began to feel like work, and I lost my motivation. In the time since, I've realized that I need to dial things waaay back and not have such high standards for the ~legendary~ first five posts on my blog. Sure, it would be amazing if post #2 was a banger of a fanfic, but that doesn't matter if it means I can't even touch my blog because I'm paralyzed.

So I'm going to chill and refocus on connecting with the Phandom and having fun, which to me means reblogs and fanfic reviews. When a fanfic happens, it happens.

. . . That said, I do have something on the smaller side I'm going to post soon. Before I do, I want to introduce the series that will be the backbone of this blog: Moments in Time.

Moments in Time

As a creative person, story ideas of all kinds fall into my head every single day, but not every idea is one I would have the interest and energy to turn into a fully blown fanfic. However, they still make for thrilling thought exercises and scenes.

That's where my Moments in Time come in. This series is like a catalog for those scenes. The goal isn't to write full fanfics; it's to explore one idea within a single scene, and allow that scene to stand on its own. Sometimes, I might not even "write it" per se, but just spitball my own thoughts.

If that sounds confusing, don't worry; I'm going to post one soon, and hopefully many more in the years to come. You'll be able to browse them with the tag #Moments in Time.

Between a 100-page notebook, a Google Doc, a note on my phone, several voice recordings, and my own memory, I've recorded the bases of nearly a hundred Moments of Time. Hopefully, we'll get to them all one day, but for now, in my next post, we're going to explore a conversation between Danny and Clockwork about how one gets to the Elsewhereness.

I hope you'll enjoy and stick around for more. :)

[daisy-bugs]

howdy!! for the ask game: 1, 7 and 16!

have a great day :D

howdy!!! thank you, you too!! <3

1. Where do you write? (notes app, Google Drive, word, a notebook, directly onto ao3, another word processor, etc.)

I have always written on Google docs, though I tried switching to my notes app recently. Only reason I still use Google at all for it is because my notes app doesn't let you check the word count and I don't like Word. 👍

7. How long does it take for you to go from an idea to the end product? (be it drabble in tumblr or fully published multichapter fic in ao3)

It's pretty inconsistent honestly! I have a WIP that was started while I was watching HC7 when it was actively uploading, and then I have works I wrote in one sitting immediately upon having the idea, spent maybe half an hour proofreading, and then cast into the void of ao3. Counting out the WIP I have from 2020 (...absolutely wild to think about that-), it probably averages out to around two to three weeks?

16. What do you think is the signature aspect of your work? What do you think readers see and go "Ah of course! [Writer] made this!"

Probably my diction (word choice) and sentence structures, if I had to guess! I like to keep my structuring comfortably various. I imagine I have some favorite words or phrases you can spot in different works, too! From what I've read, I think I have a somewhat distinct way of writing kisses also!