valerielillis

[valerielillis]

I thought I'd do a little bit of style study this week. There are so many different ways to describe something, and each way comes with its own tone and feel.

The picture is five attempts to describe an abandoned house in the countryside. Since my preferred genre is Gothic Fantasy, I stuck with that.

How are some of the ways y'all practice your prose?

[valerielillis]

Em dashes are actually a really good tool to use in writing as long as it's not littered about in every single paragraph and line.

"If you use em dash in your works, it makes them look AI generated. No real human uses em dash."

Imaging thinking actual human writers are Not Real because they use... professional writing in their works.

Imagine thinking millions of people who have been using em dash way before AI becomes a thing are all robots.

REBLOG IF YOU'RE A HUMAN AND YOU USE EM DASH

[valerielillis]

It's nice to meet you. I love southern gothic stories.

Active writeblrs?

Yelling out into the writeblr void because I haven't been active on here in over a year and my dash is super empty, so if you're a writeblr please reblog this ♡

I especially love horror, mysteries, and really anything about queer characters!

My primary project is a southern gothic horror about a girl returning to hometown after more than a decade, which you read more about on my intro post.

[valerielillis]

Ways I Show a Character is Emotionally Burned Out (Before They Even Realize It Themselves)

I love writing characters who think they’re fine but are actually walking emotional house fires with bad coping mechanisms.

They stop doing the things they used to love and don’t even notice. Their guitar gathers dust. Their favorite podcast becomes background noise. Their hobbies feel like homework now.

They pick the path of least resistance every time, even when it hurts them. No, they don’t want to go to that thing. No, they don’t want to talk to that person. But whatever’s easier. That’s the motto now.

They’re tired but can’t sleep. Or they sleep but wake up more tired. Classic burnout move: lying in bed with their brain racing like a toddler on espresso.

They give other people emotional advice they refuse to take themselves. “You have to set boundaries!” they say—while ignoring 8 texts from someone they should’ve cut off three emotional breakdowns ago.

They cry at something stupidly small. Like spilling soup. Or a dog in a commercial. Or losing their pen. The soup is never just soup.

They say “I’m just tired” like it’s a personality trait now. And not like… emotionally drained to the bone but afraid to admit it out loud.

They ghost people they love, not out of malice, but because even replying feels like too much. Social battery? Absolutely obliterated. Texting back feels like filing taxes.

They stop reacting to big things. Catastrophes get a blank stare. Disasters feel like “just another Tuesday.” The well of feeling is running dry.

They avoid being alone with their own thoughts. Constant noise. TV always on. Music blasting. Because silence = reckoning, and reckoning is terrifying.

They start hoping something will force them to stop. An accident. A missed deadline. Someone else finally telling them, “You need a break.” Because asking for help? Unthinkable.

[valerielillis]

[valerielillis]

You were just a bartender—until a portal dropped you into a world of magic. Now, your cocktail skills blend potions like no one’s ever seen. Healing with a twist of lime. Fireballs with a salted rim. You don’t cast spells. You serve them.

[valerielillis]

"I want to be a dragon."

[valerielillis]

On Not Writing

Hi! I'm back. i had a fun two days of doing absolutely nothing writing related, including scrolling this blog. Wife and I played a lot of Valheim. Took a lot of bike rides. Watched Interstellar for the first time - pretty good, kind of silly at the end. It was my first two-day weekend in probably three months, so it was much-needed, hard as it was.

And it got me thinking of some things I wanted to say to the community here. It's especially targeted towards younger writers, of which I used to be one, but I think it can apply to anyone who finds themselves despairing over how much they aren't writing.

Let's imagine you're sitting with me in this coffee shop. It's an overcast Portland morning and I just inadvertently vivisected a croissant. And as we sip our drinks (I ordered a lavender latte), you lament to me. I don't know what to do, Clove. I just haven't been writing!

You know what I say to that?

Good.

This is a new hot take of mine that I, once again, worry about upsetting people with. Because I see a lot of guides here about how to write, or how to write consistently, or how to write through writers block. But I haven't seen a single person talking about the inverse - how to not write. Or - perhaps more accurately - how to exist as a human being separate from your identity as a writer.

This is a problem for me.

Listen - I started young. I was 12 when I wrote my first novella, and 13 when I completed my first novel the next year. Adults in my life were impressed by the big-eyed child writing so many words. They encouraged me. I wrote two more novels, and they continued to encourage me. Because of the potential, right? I could be successful. I could be famous.

People stopped pushing me to try other things. I saw I was getting validation as a writer, so that only pushed me to continue fixating over something I was already enjoying and getting pretty good at. Dad had me writing two thousand words every day, because that's what Stephen King did. At 16 I finished four full-length novels, which everyone thought was really cool and interesting. I was also sporting dual hand braces every day throughout the winter to cope with the carpal tunnel I still struggle with to this day.

There is encouraging a person in their passion. There is also poisoning them with the belief that their self-worth comes from pursuing that passion. This is entirely, absolutely, even more true for younger writers and artists.

I am enraged for the young writer in my heart and in my head. Because they worried about a lot of the same things I see people worry about on here. Oh, if I don't write I'm not a writer! And to an extent they're right, as to be a writer you need to at some point write some stuff.

But here's the fucking thing, Young Clover - a child should not strive for the work ethic of a professional adult. You did not need to write 2k words a day to be a writer. You were a writer as soon as you updated that terrible Invader Zim fanfiction you wrote when you were 10.

And more than that, though, the most important thing to a person should not be their job and aspirations. If you don't write every day, you're still a writer. If you've never written anything, you aren't - and that's fine. You might write something later down the line, or you might not. Either way you are still entitled to exist on the planet and capable of living a full and passionate and wonderful life.

Hear my words: being a writer is not more important than being a human being.

If you aren't writing right now, maybe you're not supposed to be. Maybe you're meant to be nurturing your relationships, or nurturing yourself. Maybe you're supposed to be volunteering. Or meeting new people. Or gaining a new field of knowledge. Or getting really good at making focaccia bread. Or watching every Mark Wahlberg movie.

I don't like to hear this any more than you do. If I was told that I, for some reason, was not allowed to write for the rest of my life, I would be miserable for maybe a long time. After that passed it's my hope that I would move on and do other things, because my worth is not dependent on being a writer. I like doing it. I like being it, and I hope to be one for the rest of my life. But I never want it to be the first thing people see when they look at me. I don't even like bringing it up in conversation with people I don't already know.

So yeah, if you have "writer's block", maybe consider putting down the pickaxe and getting some rest. Step away entirely from the large boulder that stands between you being the next Stephen King or Brandon Sanderson or Teen Dystopia Writer no. 2321. Take a break, and I mean an ACTUAL break, not the kind where you spend the whole time sulking about work.

I am legitimately begging the writers on here to have developed lives and interests outside of writing. I am begging because I do not have that and it has consistently been one of the hardest things of my life.

You prioritize living outside your writing and it will improve the quality of your writing when you get back to it, as it'll allow you a frame of reference that extends beyond our niche industry. Or it might make you realize that, while you enjoy writing, what you really love is ceramics. Or game developing. Or mutual-aid activism. Or the movies of Mark Wahlberg.

It is not your job to treat yourself like you already have a dozen deadlines and an audience teetering on the edge of disappointment. That's ultimately not going to help you. Your job on this earth is to exist fully, for the sake of the universe that wants so desperately to live vicariously through you.

So breathe. Breathe and calm down. You aren't a failure and there's nothing you have to prove. All you have to do today is drink some water and have a nice snack while you look at a cloud.

Please be kind. All of us need to be kinder to each other and to ourselves.

That's all I want to say. I love you dearly. Please let me know if you need anything.

[valerielillis]

The symbolism of flowers

Flowers have a long history of symbolism that you can incorporate into your writing to give subtext.

Symbolism varies between cultures and customs, and these particular examples come from Victorian Era Britain. You'll find examples of this symbolism in many well-known novels of the era!

Amaryllis: Pride

Black-eyed Susan: Justice

Bluebell: Humility

Calla Lily: Beauty

Pink Camellia: Longing

Carnations: Female love

Yellow Carnation: Rejection

Clematis: Mental beauty

Columbine: Foolishness

Cyclamen: Resignation

Daffodil: Unrivalled love

Daisy: Innocence, loyalty

Forget-me-not: True love

Gardenia: Secret love

Geranium: Folly, stupidity

Gladiolus: Integrity, strength

Hibiscus: Delicate beauty

Honeysuckle: Bonds of love

Blue Hyacinth: Constancy

Hydrangea: Frigid, heartless

Iris: Faith, trust, wisdom

White Jasmine: Amiability

Lavender: Distrust

Lilac: Joy of youth

White Lily: Purity

Orange Lily: Hatred

Tiger Lily: Wealth, pride

Lily-of-the-valley: Sweetness, humility

Lotus: Enlightenment, rebirth

Magnolia: Nobility

Marigold: Grief, jealousy

Morning Glory: Affection

Nasturtium: Patriotism, conquest

Pansy: Thoughtfulness

Peony: Bashfulness, shame

Poppy: Consolation

Red Rose: Love

Yellow Rose: Jealously, infidelity

Snapdragon: Deception, grace

Sunflower: Adoration

Sweet Willian: Gallantry

Red Tulip: Passion

Violet: Watchfulness, modesty

Yarrow: Everlasting love

Zinnia: Absent, affection

[valerielillis]

Edit Note: I'm really amazed by how much love this post got. Guess it just shows we're all in the same boat. I do have other humorous writing memes on this tumblr under the same tag, if you're interested. Never give up writing! ❤️

Edit Note 2: I can't believe this has reached 10000+ notes. Been on tumblr for almost ten years (different account) and nothing like this has ever happened before. Thank you! 😊

[valerielillis]

Mile

Change a single letter and change the word game

I want to play a game with you all.

You have to make a new word by changing only one letter of the last word.

Dirt

[valerielillis]

why do we have butt cheeks i dont understand why did we evolve this way

what use do butt cheeks have 

[valerielillis]

Mid-April Update!

I actually made a (very crude) ConLang!

It's been wild on the writing side this month. I've begun the third installment of Grimm's Retellings and decided to tackle the challenge of making a conlang (constructed language). It's interesting and overwhelming, but so far better for the setting and it avoids the tricky ground of pulling out-of-context words from marginalized languages (ngl the latter was the driving factor).

In addition to getting the full scene-by-scene breakdown written, I'm also two full chapters into the first draft.

On the cooling tray we have:

-Grimm Retellings #2: Requiem of a Queen (short novel | cooling before final edits)

-The Nephilym Chronicles #4 (novelette | also cooling before final edits)

[valerielillis]

Deep dives into folklore: Greek plays

Ancient Greek plays, primarily produced during the 5th century BCE, hold a significant place in the annals of world literature and theatre. These plays, often performed in grand amphitheaters like the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens, served not only as entertainment but also as reflections of societal values, norms, and political ideologies. In this essay, we delve into the societal influence and impact of three iconic Greek plays: "Antigone" by Sophocles, "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles, and "The Oresteia" trilogy by Aeschylus. Through an analysis of their plots and themes, we uncover their profound implications on ancient Greek society.

"Antigone" by Sophocles:

"Antigone" tells the story of a young woman, Antigone, who defies the orders of King Creon by burying her brother Polynices, who died fighting against Thebes. Creon has declared Polynices a traitor and decreed that his body should remain unburied, but Antigone believes in the divine law and the duty to bury her brother. Despite warnings and pleas from her sister Ismene and Creon's son Haemon, Antigone persists, leading to tragic consequences for herself and those around her.

"Antigone" reflects the tension between individual conscience and the laws of the state. In ancient Greece, the concept of divine law, or the unwritten laws of the gods, often clashed with human-made laws. Sophocles uses Antigone's unwavering commitment to burying her brother to critique the tyrannical nature of absolute power and the importance of moral duty. The play serves as a cautionary tale against unchecked authority and the consequences of hubris, resonating with audiences then and now.

"Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles:

"Oedipus Rex" centers on King Oedipus of Thebes, who unknowingly fulfills a prophecy by killing his father, King Laius, and marrying his mother, Queen Jocasta. As Oedipus investigates the murder of Laius to rid Thebes of a plague, he gradually uncovers the horrifying truth of his own identity and actions. Despite his efforts to evade fate, Oedipus cannot escape his tragic destiny, leading to his downfall and exile from Thebes.

"Oedipus Rex" explores themes of fate, free will, and the consequences of ignorance. In ancient Greece, the belief in fate, or moira, was deeply ingrained in the cultural psyche. Sophocles uses Oedipus's tragic journey to illustrate the limitations of human knowledge and the inevitability of destiny. The play prompts audiences to contemplate the complexities of the human condition and the hubris of challenging divine will. "Oedipus Rex" thus serves as a timeless examination of the interplay between fate and agency, leaving a lasting impact on Greek society and beyond.

"The Oresteia" Trilogy by Aeschylus:

"The Oresteia" trilogy consists of three interconnected plays: "Agamemnon," "The Libation Bearers," and "The Eumenides." The trilogy follows the cursed House of Atreus, plagued by a cycle of violence, betrayal, and vengeance. "Agamemnon" portrays the return of King Agamemnon from the Trojan War and his subsequent murder by his wife Clytemnestra in revenge for sacrificing their daughter Iphigenia. "The Libation Bearers" depicts the avenging actions of Agamemnon's son Orestes, who kills Clytemnestra to avenge his father's death. Finally, "The Eumenides" explores the trial of Orestes by the Furies and his eventual acquittal by Athena, marking the transition from primal vengeance to a system of justice in Athens.

"The Oresteia" trilogy grapples with the themes of justice, retribution, and the evolution of legal systems. Aeschylus uses the tragic saga of the House of Atreus to examine the cyclical nature of violence and the necessity of breaking free from the cycle of vengeance. The trilogy reflects the changing societal values in ancient Greece, particularly the shift from personal vendettas to the establishment of democratic institutions. By advocating for the rule of law and civic order, "The Oresteia" resonated with Athenian audiences and contributed to the cultural and political discourse of the time.

Ancient Greek plays like "Antigone," "Oedipus Rex," and "The Oresteia" trilogy continue to captivate audiences with their timeless themes and profound insights into the human condition. Through their exploration of societal norms, moral dilemmas, and political ideologies, these plays left an indelible mark on ancient Greek society and continue to influence literature, theatre, and philosophy to this day. As enduring classics of world literature, they serve as reminders of the enduring power of storytelling to provoke thought, inspire change, and transcend the boundaries of time and culture.

[valerielillis]

During the most poor and homeless period of my life, I had a lot of people get angry with me because I spent $25 on Bath and Body Works candles during a sale. They couldn’t comprehend why the hell I would do that when I had been fighting for months to try and get us on our feet, afford food, and have an apartment to live in.

Those candles were placed beside wherever I slept that night. In the morning, I would move them and set them wherever I’d have to hang out. At one point I carried one around in my purse - one of those big honking 3-wick candles. I never lit them, but I’d open them and smell them a lot.

I credit that purchase with a lot of my drive that got me to where I am today. I had been working tirelessly, 15+ hour days with barely any reward, constantly on the phone or trying to deal with organizations and associations to “get help at”. It’d gone on for almost a year by the end of it, and I was so burnt out, to the point that I would shake 24/7. But I could get a bit of relief from my 3-wick “upper middle class lifestyle” candles. They represented my future goals, my home I wanted to decorate, and how I would one day not be in this mess anymore.

When we moved into the apartment, and our financial status improved, I burned those candles every single day. When they were empty, I cleaned them out, stuck labels on them, and they became the starting point of my really cute organization system I had ALWAYS planned to have.

So whenever I hear about someone very poor getting themselves a treat - maybe it’s Starbucks, maybe it’s a home deco item, maybe it’s a video game… I don’t judge them. I get it. I get that you can’t go without anything for that long without it making you go crazy. You need to pull some joy, inspiration, and motivation from somewhere.

[valerielillis]

It doesn't seem to be stated enough that balancing writing and a full-time job is both difficult and possible.

There are many, many people out there working multiple jobs to pay the bills, and being a dedicated writer "on the side" is no different.

It can be hard. It can be exhausting. But at least it can also be enjoyable.

So keep writing. You can complete your projects, and be the bread winner too.

[valerielillis]

I am so excited to push the 3rd part of this series out. More information on the series can be found on this tumblr page or on my website here.

Click below if you'd like to read the blurb!

“We don’t know what we’re facing.” Carthys and Valiant, the first Nephilym to serve the crown in generations, is sent to find the source of problems plaguing the construction of the king's aquifer and put a stop to it. However, a magical plague, collapsed crypts, and a curse from beyond the grave threaten to uncover secrets the two aren't ready to hear.

Cursed and Forgotten is available on amazon as well as other ebook distributors.