writingandprocrastinating

[writingandprocrastinating]

setting the mood

One of the most effective ways to make your readers feel like they’re actually in your novel and feel the emotions of the character is to set the mood! And, of course, who doesn’t like a good old-fashioned post on descriptions? 

I’ll see myself out. 

-

lighting 

Okay, hear me out. Lighting is very important for the mood you’re trying to convey! What do we associate evil with? The darkness. What do we associate good with? The light. Similarly, you can reflect these themes when describing the amount of light in a place. Take, for example--

The corridor was cramped and shadowy, her eyes straining to find a sliver of light to help guide her. 

The corridor was light and airy, golden beams of sunlight pouring in from the cracks in the wall. 

It’s the same corridor--but the amount of light changes the mood! 

Another example? If you see someone in nearly complete shadow, it can give you a very different perception of them than if they were in, say, full daylight. The same goes for places, like the corridor described!

You can also shadow one place and light the other, like in the Lion King, where Simba points out the “shadowy place.” Immediately, we can tell that the “shadowy place” is associated with darkness, mystery, and danger, while the lighter lands are free, safe, and protected. 

A way to use this in your writing is to have your character(s) observe that a certain part of where they are is shadowed, while the rest is illuminated. This can not only create curiosity in the characters/readers, but also can help with symbolism. Does your MC have a gift from a mysterious stranger? Boom, it’s in their room, but the sunlight somehow doesn’t touch it. Symbolism right there--since it’s shadowed, it gives off an aura of mystery. 

-

time of day

Going on from lighting, time of day is a big part of settings and their moods. The night is usually associated with evil, darkness, fear, and uncertainty, while the day is associated with good, light, youth, and innocence. Additionally, sunrises can symbolize new beginnings (a new day), and sunsets the end of an era/danger approaching. Twilight (or dusk) can be shown as the beauty in darkness, because even though the sun is setting and darkness approaching, there is still some beauty left over from the day (the colors in the sky).

An example is a coronation being held in the early morning, just as the sun comes up--this shows how the crowning of a new monarch is bringing changes to the novel. 

-

weather 

I use this one a lot in my work! While sunlight is associated with happiness and rain with sadness, you can also use the culture and sayings of your WIP’s universe to associate meanings to weather. In my novel, Flame and Shadow, snow is associated with the cleansing of the land, and therefore, new beginnings. It can also be used to symbolize coldness (metaphorically) and/or tension. A brewing storm would be a great way to show brewing tensions, and wind to symbolize the “winds of change.” But you can also have your MC bring up a story behind the weather, like mine does, to foreshadow the novel’s events. 

Similarly, the temperature can be used to convey different emotions--warmth for, well, warmth and compassion and lazy days, and the cold for tension and coldness and a fragile atmosphere. Of course, there’s middle ground to work with as well. 

-

colors!! 

Color symbolism can be used to really show the mood that you’re trying to convey! A quick rundown on the colors and their meanings:

Red - Passion, love, violence, war, anger

Orange - Friendliness, youth, confidence, ambition

Yellow - Positivity, curiosity, caution, energy

Green - Nature, originality, growth, relaxation

Blue - Intelligence, calm, freedom, loyalty

Purple - Royalty, imagination, mystery, power

Pink - Beauty, fragility, grace, innocence

Brown - Warmth, comfort, stability, honesty

Black - Mourning, elegance, discipline, authority

Grey - Neutrality, practicality, quiet, formality

White - Purity, perfection, clarity, simplicity

These colors can be shown in objects and in the setting around a character to reflect the situation that they’re in, or their personal mood. Suppose that they’re in a lot of danger and have found a safe refuge. Well, you could choose between a calming atmosphere, or a place that reminds the character of the trouble they’re in. 

If you go for the first option, you might have the walls of the refuge painted brown, with little to no vibrant, bold colors. You might choose the opposite and have accents of red (standing for violence) and black (for lives lost). 

Of course, you don’t want to include a whole lot of vibrant, happy colors in the middle of a war, or black during a happy occasion. But at the same time, you can, from time to time, include some objects whose colors have a contrasting connotation to the event. These create foreshadowing for the readers/characters, and dread/hope, respectively, during good and bad times. 

Example 1 (Good in a bad time) - Elyse walked through the woods, exhausted from the weight of the world and the war upon her shoulders, when she saw it--a brilliant yellow flower, a dandelion poking through the snow. She thought it as a sign, and decided not to pick it, a new surge of courage and energy coursing through her as she continued through the forest. 

Example 2 (Bad in a good time) - Elyse hummed to herself as she sat in the field, picking flowers and working them into a colorful crown of pink carnations and daisies. Everything was perfect--she was to be married to the love of her life, her parents approved of him, and she did not need to worry about money for the rest of her life. As she reached for another flower, something possessed her to stop and look up from her handiwork. There, among the daisies and the carnations, was a wilting rose the color of the sky at midnight. Elyse shook her head, ignoring the flower, and continued picking flowers for her crown, the wilted rose forgotten by morning. 

Color symbolism can also be used in clothing chosen and gifts given by/to our characters, and, like weather, can have different meanings depending on your WIP’s universe. It’s all about the placing :)

-

So there you have it! Four ways to set the mood in your settings. There’s almost definitely more to add to the list, and keep in mind that these are only a few :D

[writingandprocrastinating]

omg

Ben and Jerry’s is not playing.

[writingandprocrastinating]

random oc asks :)

seventy, to be exact :o

-

1. What is their full name?

2. What is their zodiac sign?

3. What’s their birthday and age?

4. Describe their personality. 

5. What’s their favorite ice cream flavor?

6. Where do they feel safest?

7. Their physical appearance?

8. What’s their favorite childhood memory?

9. Who do they love/trust the most?

10. What inspired their name?

11. Describe them from the point of view of another character. 

12. What are their pet peeves?

13. What’s something that makes them angry?

14. What are they scared of?

15. When and where are they happiest?

16. What color do you associate with them and why?

17. A song that fits them?

18. What’s their favorite color and why?

19. What is something they’ve never told anyone?

20. What element suits them best: Earth, water, fire, or air?

21. What’s their heart’s desire?

22. On average, do they listen more to their heart or their head?

23. What’s their “fatal flaw?”

24. What do you and them have in common?

25. What do they regret?

26. Who are they when no one is watching?

27. What’re some of their hobbies?

28. What’s a secret talent of theirs?

29. Share a line of dialogue from them!

30. What’s something they learn during the story?

31. What annoys them?

32. What high school stereotype do they fit?

33. Describe them in five words or less. 

34. What’s their role in the story?

35. Favorite food and drink?

36. What’s their favorite place?

37. Are they more of an extrovert or introvert?

38. Are they more book-smart or street-smart?

39. What’s a random fact about them?

40. What gave you the inspiration to create them? 

41. Would they die for anyone/anything? If so, who/what?

42. What is their greatest nightmare?

43. What do they like about themselves?

44. Who do they look up to?

45. Do they usually listen to their head or heart?

46. How do they show they care?

47. Who do they hate the most?

48. When was and what happened on the best day of their life?

49. What about on the worst?

50. What’s a bad habit they have? 

51. Are they a good liar? 

52. What do they look for in a friend? 

53. What, to them, is most important in a relationship?

54. Did they have a good childhood?

55. What are some of their strengths?

56. What are some of their weaknesses?

57. Do they have a good relationship with their family?

58. How many siblings do they have?

59. Do they show/talk about their emotions often?

60. If they were granted a single wish, what would they wish for?

61. Are they more of an optimist or pessimist?

62. Would they sacrifice themselves for their beliefs?

63. Do they believe in second chances?

64. What motivates them?

65. What’s the bravest thing they’ve ever done?

66. Where do they see themselves in ten years?

67. What do they do for fun?

68. What’s something most people don’t know about them?

69. Tell us about their relationships; Family, friendships, romantic. 

70. What are their strengths and weaknesses?

~

[writingandprocrastinating]

decisions

Number 32 on things I’m not good at.

-

Decisions, decisions, decisions. They’re so important for the course of your novel, as well as determining your character’s personality and how they handle situations. But how do you know when a decision that a character takes will strengthen the plot, or have your readers on the edge of their seats? And how do decisions relate to personality at all? And most importantly, how do you, as the author, make the right decision for your characters, and the characters for their situation?

Well, let’s begin with some questions to ask yourself.

-

questions to ask yourself 

(there’s almost definitely more, but these are a few! also applicable if you don’t want to read this whole thing.)

-is this a decision for the better or the worse of the plot?

-if it’s for the better, how so?

-if it’s for the worse, how so, and how will the character recover?

-what are the morals/values/past knowledge put into making this decision?

-how will this decision propel the plot?

-is this decision related to the overall conflict of the story?

-is this decision inspired by an internal or external source?

-how does this decision reflect the personality/flaws of this character?

-who does this decision affect?

-what are the pros and cons of this decision?

-what can the character learn from this decision/its effects?

-

mirroring a personality

One of the most subtle yet effective methods for showing characterization is decision-making. You’ve probably seen one of those questions��‘you’re in the middle of the ocean, by yourself, what do you do?’ and whatnot. Well, your reaction to said situation reveals a part of your personality—do you accept your fate, fight for your life, or force yourself to calm down? Similarly, your character’s reaction to situations, especially obstacles, thrown at them and the decisions they make as a result truly show their intentions, thought process, and a lot more. It’s especially fun to put your characters in those hypothetical positions and ask yourself what they’d do--it also helps develop them!

Ask yourself what the conflicts are in your story. Let’s take the example of my story, Flame and Shadow. One of the conflicts that one of my protagonists, Lysandra, faces the internal struggle between her own morals and the good of her kingdom. The way she deals with this conflict, as well as what she chooses in the end, shows a lot about her personality—she tends to walk the line between her own wishes and the kingdom’s needs, and experiences great difficulty in choosing just one option, showing that she is not quick to make decisions, and therefore, the reader can draw the conclusion that she is prudent, responsible, and thinks ahead.

Your characters’ decisions regarding and responses the conflicts in your story are just as important as the conflict itself, as it can make or break the plot, and, really, their future.

Next, there’s choosing the ‘right’ decision for your characters, as a writer. 

-

how to write the right decision

See what I did there? Okay, whatever.

There’s a difference between you, as the writer, writing what you think is the right choice for your characters, and your characters making the decision. You see, as the writer, you have the key to make your ocs do whatever you like, even if it isn’t true to character. You can make them do anything—but what would be the right thing to do? And the answer is:

There is no such thing as the ‘right’ thing to write.

“Well, thanks a lot! That helped!” Okay before you hit unfollow, hear me out. You have so many options that could go so many ways that there isn’t exactly a handbook to tell you what the best option would be—that’s one of the most amazing things about storytelling, it can be such a tangled, complicated web of emotions, thrill, and adventure, every scene connected, and yet each knot of a story is so different that it’s almost beautiful. 

Every decision your character makes has a consequence—it’s up to you whether that consequence will propel your plot or not. That, ultimately, is the “right” decision to make as a writer. Will it shape your character’s personality, change the course of your novel? 

Of course, there are minor decisions, such as what they wear or what they eat, but even some of these can be made the slightest bit more important with symbolism and ties to different people. (For example--are they angry? Wearing red could help further this.)

And—writing your characters making decisions that reveal things, change things—that is what you can do as a writer, whether those decisions change the plot for the better or for the worse. If it’s for the worse, how will your character recover? What will they learn from their choices?

Another example--a character makes a decision to go with the mysterious stranger to explore the ruins, leading to the discovery of a relic that could save her village. This propels the plot! This changes things! Alternatively, she could choose not to go and have her village overtaken by darkness. Now, she has to recover from her mistake and learn something from it, which propels the plot as well!

Really, there is no “right” way to write—that’s sort of the beauty of it.

-

characters making decisions

Okay, awesome, so your character has to make a choice between two things, presumably two things that both have their pros and cons and are hard to choose from. Well, let’s think about this. Let’s say Option A benefits themselves and people they love, while Option B benefits the world as a whole. Right off the bat, we know that if this character chooses option A, that shows that he or she cares for people they know more than the world as a whole. There, personality! If they make more decisions following a similar pattern, we can get the vibe that they’re more selfish and protective of their loved ones/themselves.

BUT what’s that I hear? “Omg, we already went over this! How can a decision make or break a character, other than personality? How do I make my characters make the right decisions—”

Lemme stop you right there. Your characters will NOT always make the right decisions. They do not know what you, as the author, has in store for them, and therefore, they cannot be perfect. That is what makes them human, and that is what makes them realistic. They have to mess up from time to time, and that will lead to either their downfall or their triumph.

For example, if they keep choosing things similar to option A throughout the novel, we can go beyond a personality trait and assume that one of their flaws is selfishness. These decisions can lead to consequences that the character can grow from, or that’ll cost them something dear, which will not only further develop them, but also the plot.

-

the “right” decision 

That being said, the “right” decision is subjective; Technically, as long as no one dies, it’s not the “wrong” choice. There is no choice that’s completely “good” or “bad,” but the actions your character makes afterwards can determine if that choice caused their downfall or triumph.

You also have to consider WHY they made this decision—their motivation. This could relate to their motivation throughout the story, or something stemming from it. This could show a lot about their flaws, and maybe even make the audience sympathetic if they’ve made a very bad choice. Let’s say the villain makes a bad decision, the motivation behind it would help the audience sympathize with him or her.

Alternatively, let’s say that a character is in the middle of a disaster—people are screaming, dying, chaos is everywhere. Let’s say that there’s many options there: They could go hide, help strangers who’re trapped under rubble, try to find their loved ones. In this case, there’s no “right” decision, but the choice this character makes shows their morals and values, and can essentially change the plot of the story—it’s like one of those choose your own adventure novels! My point is, as long as the character doesn’t die, there is no right decision, as every decision has its pros and cons.

-

summary

So essentially, there’s goods and bads to every decision that your character makes, and the reason why and what happens after is truly what will make or break themselves and the plot of the story.

-

I hope this helped! Remember that my advice is not professional, and that it’s just that--advice, and not something that’s necessary to follow. Other than that, be kind to your ocs, try not to procrastinate too much, follow me on Instagram     ( @writing.and.procrastinating ), and I’ll see you guys in the next one!

[writingandprocrastinating]

positive personality traits/adjectives to describe people! :-)

adjectives !! we love adjectives !! so here’s a list of...about 80 adjectives and their definitions for your writing :)

-

disclaimer: this list was compiled of different adjectives found from various lists across the internet, and the definitions based off that of the oxford dictionary or my own understanding. this post as a whole is my own content.

-

-adaptable: having the ability to adjust to different circumstances

-adventurous: willing to try new ideas and experiences and take risks

-ambitious: showing/having a strong will to succeed

-analytical: using logical and analytical reasoning 

-assertive: showing/having a confident, get-it-done attitude

-balanced: keeping a balance, usually between two or more situations in life

-bold: not afraid to take risks/try out a new method; confident 

-bubbly: lively, high-spirited, cheerful, having a positive air

-calm: not showing strong emotions; level-headed

-creative: having or showing an original imagination; inventive

-courteous: polite, well-mannered, respectful

-charming: friendly, likeable; attracting others with personality/words

-charismatic: having an air/charm that attracts others

-classy: having class; being stylish and/or sophisticated

-clever: intelligent/having the ability to understand concepts quickly 

-compassionate: concerned or sympathetic for others

-confident: certainty about oneself; self-assured

-curious: eager to know/learn something new

-daring: willing to take risks; adventurous or exceptionally bold

-dignified: having dignity, self-worth; having a composed or serious air/manner

-dutiful: fulfilling one’s duty, regardless of whether one enjoys it or not; obediently completing a task

-elegant: a graceful or sophisticated manner/appearance

-eloquent: having the ability to speak/write in a fluent, graceful, and/or persuasive manner

-elusive: deceptive; difficult and/or puzzling to accomplish, find, or catch

-empathetic: having or showing empathy (the ability to understand others’ thoughts/feelings)

-enthusiastic: having or showing eagerness/excitement for something or someone

-fiery: passionate, and/or (of a person) angry; quick-tempered

-friendly: amiable, outgoing, and/or kind towards others

-generous: ready to give, whether it be time or material possessions, more than needed

-graceful: showing/having an air of elegance or dignity 

-grateful: thankful, appreciative

-honest: free of lies and insincerity; fair 

-humble: modest about one’s importance or success

-imaginative: showing/having a great imagination/inventiveness; creative

-impulsive: acting without thinking

-innovative: good at coming up with original solutions/ideas

-intelligent: exceptionally smart or knowledgeable

-kind: considerate, friendly, and/or caring towards one and their needs

-laid-back: relaxed, unbothered, and/or easygoing

-logical: relating to logic, capable of clear reasoning and/or formal argument; sensible

-loving: feeling or showing love, compassion, or care

-loyal: showing or giving continuous support or allegiance to a person or group

-noble: aristocratic/high-class; having or showing a fine personality, mannerism, ideals, or principles

-observant: sharp-eyed; alert and swift to notice things

-open-minded: unbiased, willing to hear/consider new thoughts and ideas

-opportunistic: making sure to make the most of a situation

-optimistic: looking on the positive side of things

-orderly: organized, neatly arranged; meticulous

-outgoing: eager to meet new people; friendly/sociable

-passionate: showing/having strong feelings about someone or something

-patient: able to tolerate inconveniences with little to no annoyance

-persevering: continuing to do something without giving up, despite any delays or problems

-practical: showing practicality, concerned with the reality of a situation rather than theories and ideas

-quick-tempered: quick to get angry; irritable

-quiet: discreet; making very little noise 

-realistic: sensible; having a pragmatic outlook on the world/what can be expected or done

-regal: having a composed, elegant air that is respected; relating to royalty or nobility

-relaxed: at ease; without anxiety or worry

-responsible: trustworthy, level headed

-romantic: dreamy, amorous, or, when used as a noun (she is a romantic), referring to a person who has romantic attitudes or ideas

-sarcastic: marked by sarcasm (irony used to emphasize contempt or humor) 

-selfless: acting not for the good of themselves, but for others

-sensitive: offended or upset easily (also can mean ‘quick to find/react to changes’ when referring to one’s behavior)

-silver-tongued: having a eloquent and persuasive manner of speaking 

-sincere: being genuine; saying what one really thinks or feels

-sociable: cordial; enjoys talking to and engaging in social activities with others

-sophisticated: having or showing knowledge of culture and having much experience in the world. (also can mean highly complex when describing a technique)

-spontaneous: having an open, unpredictable manner

-talkative: talking a lot, mostly to the point of others’ annoyance

-thoughtful: showing consideration for others’ sensitivities/needs (also can mean absorbed in thought)

-traditional: following tradition, or a specific tradition

-trusting: unassuming; believing in a person’s honesty

-unique: original; different from others 

-unusual: different from or better than most, and remarkably so

-vivacious: (especially when describing a woman) attractively lively 

-warm: having a welcoming or kindly disposition/air 

-witty: showing a quick sense of verbal humor

-wry: expressing/using dry humor, especially to mock someone or something

-zealous: passionate or enthusiastic about a cause

[writingandprocrastinating]

writer asks

@writing.and.procrastinating

🖤 why do you write?

🖊 when did you start writing?

🌑 how does your wip begin?

🗻 how long have you been working on your wip?

🐘 what is your favorite genre to write?

🌫 what usually comes to your mind first--plot or characters?

🕊 do you write or read more?

☁ when do you write best?

🌨 what are your favorite and least favorite tropes?

💨 describe your story’s plot in five words or less. 

🌊  are you a plotter or a pantser?

💎 what’s your current word count?

❄ what’s your favorite line of dialogue that you’ve written?

🌿 what has been/will be your favorite scene to write?

🌾 what’s a song that describes your wip?

✨ what inspired your wip?

🌟 what was the first story you remember writing about?

⭐ what is your favorite genre to read?

🥂 do you prefer one pov or multiple?

🌙 have you ever participated in nanowrimo?

💫 do you have any advice for new writers?

🎃 have you ever completed a draft?

🍊 do you want to self-publish or publish traditionally?

🍓  if you could write a spin-off for one of your side characters, who would you write it about and why?

🥀 and finally, who are some of your favorite authors?

[writingandprocrastinating]

how to get back to writing

*disclaimer: these are methods that have worked for me, and since everyone is different, they may not work for you.*

We’ve all been there, haven’t we? We’ve felt out of touch with our writing, and suddenly, writing doesn’t seem as fun as it was before. Or perhaps you really wanted to write, but for some reason, you can’t seem to form sentences and words as well as you did before? Or maybe you’ve lost all inspiration and have come to Instagram/Tumblr for support and guidance and you would sell your soul to get a single idea?

The point is, we’ve all been through what many call “writer’s block.” I think the main sources of writer’s block are lack of inspiration and procrastination—and I’m here to provide you with the best ways to get back to writing as possible! *jazz hands*

So let’s begin.

-

1)       Social Media: While you’re on here, you might as well use what you can in order to kickstart your inspiration. Whether you’re on Instagram or Tumblr as you read this post, there’s tons of accounts with several writing prompts and challenges as well as questions for your OCs and novel. These have helped with not only a consistent flow of inspiration, but also more plot and character development :).

2)       Competitions: There are plenty of writing competitions that you can take part in all over the internet, not just on social media. Though you may not win, there’s plenty that offer cash prizes, and really, it’s a great way to use your talent for something big! Competitions with a theme are especially good for helping with writer’s block.

3)       AUs (Alternate Universes): Sometimes, the setting of your WIP can get boring. In this case, imagine your characters in a modern setting (if your story takes place in the future, past, or alternate timeline), during a certain time period, or in a certain setting (coffee shop, library, etc.) This is fun to do if you want to change up the environment that your OCs are in, or if you want to explore how they may act in a different place.

4)       Different POV: If you only have a certain amount of POVs in your WIP, imagine the story through another character’s eyes, whether it be an antagonist or a side character. It could also be interesting to have the protagonist look back on the story and add in comments of their own.

5)       Epilogue: This is something that I do, but it’s helped me get back into writing my WIP. For this, simply imagine the future events that’ll take place after the story’s events, or at least have an idea of what’ll happen. What are your characters doing? How have the events in the story affected them? It’s also important to know your story’s end, so you can also write that if you know how it’ll all work out.

6)       Develop Characters: This was mentioned in #1, but it’s important to have well-developed characters in order to have a good story. One of the best ways to do this is to make a character profile! For this, get a document or a sheet of paper and write down basics like a physical description, age, name, zodiac sign, and personality for each of my characters. If you want to take it a step further, you can take personality tests and quizzes in the perspectives of your OCs and write that down as well. You can also add how your characters would react to certain situations, and add in family members, a backstory, and other details, too. This doesn’t exactly count as writing, but it certainly helps you want to do so!

7)       Planning & Plotting: Saving the one with the most work for last. It’s always a good idea to know what’s ahead for your story, and arguably the best way to do this is to have a written plan for how your WIP is going to play out. Chapter outlines are great—simply write down the events that’ll take place in a chapter, whether it be big or small, and there you go—you have something to work with when you decide to write. A plot diagram is also great for planning out the big picture in your WIP and will help you feel more secure and accomplished as you work towards the ending. Again, this doesn’t really count as writing, but will help you do so.

-

Now that you have seven ways to get back to writing, the only beast left to conquer is procrastination. My best advice for you is to push yourself to get up and start writing—whatever you write, at least you’ve made progress, whether you’ve written 50 words or 500.

I hope that these tips help you get to writing-- remember that my advice is not professional, and that it’s just that--advice, and not something that’s necessary to follow. Other than that, be kind to your OCs, try not to procrastinate too much, follow me on Instagram ( @writing.and.procrastinating ), and I’ll see you guys in the next one!

[writingandprocrastinating]

a note on characterization

When someone opens your book, chances are that you won’t attach a full character profile sheet with the story. That’s why it’s important to show a character’s personality and nature through dialogue, internal dialogue, actions, as well as reactions to different events. 

1) Dialogue - One of the best pieces of writing advice I’ve ever heard was this: A character’s first line should define who they are as a person. Do they make their first impression on the reader in a rush, easily angered, sarcastic, or shy? It’s also important to consider how much they talk. What do they stand for? What do they fall for? Take into consideration what they say to the protagonist(s) if they are a side character, and if this helps or harms them, and remember the tone of their words matter, and that it’ll change depending on who they’re talking to. 

*side note: For your protagonists, it may be better to use internal dialogue to reflect their private thoughts and opinions. Also be sure to highlight the differences between what they say and what they think, as well as their opinions on different matters!*

2) Actions - How far will your character go for something they believe in? What actions are they willing to take in order to get what they want? What is the reasoning behind their actions in the story? What will they do in certain situations (we’ll get to this later)? What are the effects of their actions, and are they important to the plot? Keep in mind that the severity and the amount of thought put into an action will depend on the personality of the character--if they’re more analytical and careful, they are less likely to do stupid things. If they’re more reckless, they’re prone to, well, stupid things. 

3) Reactions - Perhaps one the most human things to do is to react. If there is a situation, it is encoded in us to react to it, fight or flight, run or hide. What are some major plot points in your outline, and how does this particular character handle it--a careful, methodical approach, or a go-in-and-fight-like-a-boss approach? Do they just run away? Do they pluck up the courage to face a challenge? If you enjoy making your characters’ lives terrible, take into consideration how that will change them and their initial reactions to a particularly horrible event. This will show a character’s true colors, as you can really see what someone is made of at their worst point. 

I hope this helped! Remember that my advice is not professional, and that it’s just that--advice, and not something that’s necessary to follow. Other than that, be kind to your ocs, try not to procrastinate too much, follow me on Instagram     ( @writing.and.procrastinating ), and I’ll see you guys in the next one!

[writingandprocrastinating]

Building A Character: Creating a Personality

Coming up with a character in and of itself is easy. Let’s use for example a tough chick who grew up on the streets and steals, kills, and spies to make ends meat. So I’ve created an ends justifies the means, self-preserving, and probably loner rogue archetype. So congrats, I’ve made a character. What she lacks however, is a personality. She has no depth or anything interesting about her. For this exercise, I’ll be referring to her as Samantha Pole.

Something that works for me that might not work for others is that I tend to form base personalities and character arcs from characters I’m reminded of when I think of the character I’m creating. With regard to Sam, characters like Raven from Teen Titans and Emma Swan from Once Upon a Time are great models for her character because both are closed-off loaners who have a hard time letting people in. This is helpful for me personally as a way of recognizing traits I see in this character in other similar characters. Then I can evaluate their characters and their arcs and see how the writers handled their characterization, and how I might have handled it differently. This might also be when I look at their character’s tropes on TV Tropes to see what might work for the character of Sam.

Now that we have a base template and outline of who Sam is, let’s start analyzing ways and methods to help give her depth. For me personally, it really helps me to sort my characters. Such sorting includes:

Myers-Briggs Test 4 Temperaments Hogwarts House Avatar Element Game of Thrones Play style Astrological Sign Sense of Humor

MYERS-BRIGGS TEST

The Myers-Briggs test divides people into 16 personality types in 4 fields of traits and dynamics. The first letter is either I (Introvert) or E (Extrovert). What this means is not whether they’re sociable. I myself can be very friendly and outgoing. However, at a big social gathering with lots of strangers, I feel uncomfortable and would rather stay close to someone I know. Thus, I am an Introvert. The second qualifiers are N (Intuitive) or S (Observant). Intuitive types think about the world in the abstract and what could be rather than what is. Observant types see the world for what it is and take the world more literally, focusing more on the present than daydreaming about what might be. The third category is T (Thinking) or F (Feeling). Do they act more on logic or emotion? Do they lead more with their head or their heart? Thinkers tend to plan ahead while Feelers tend to act first. Thinkers are more practical while Feelers are more empathetic. Finally, we reach J (Judging) vs P (Prospecting). Judging types are orderly, procedural, predictable, and well-structured. Prospecting types live on a whim doing whatever feels right in the moment and meeting challenges when they arise. So based on these traits, I would have to label Sam an ISTP type. She’s a loner so she’s not going to like large groups or put her trust in others. She’s in a bleak and realistic situation, so she’s probably not going to have her head in the clouds if she wants to survive. Being a thief and sneak is going to require some forethought, and being able to overrule emotion with logic. And because she’s probably always on the move, she can’t really let herself fall into routine. This may be her most balanced trait, as there would likely need to be a lot of judging in order to look out for herself, but I feel that due to the unpredictable state of her life, she can’t really rely on structure and order. So now that you’ve learned what your character’s Myers-Briggs personality is, it’s time to figure out what that means. But while there are plenty of websites that have tried to paint out exactly what each trait could mean, I personally found a lot of value in videos put out by IDRlabs on Youtube that all follow the format of ISTP in 5 minutes. They use cute little cartoon cut outs to explain in a dry but informative way how a personality type works best when problem solving, figuring something out, how they go about putting their trust in others if they do at all, etc. I recently sorted one of my own characters as an INFJ, and their video helped me figure out when he’d seek the advice of others and when he would seclude himself to try and work through problems on his own, which I found to be very useful.

FOUR TEMPERAMENTS

The four Temperaments or the Four Humors is a construct straight out of Ancient Greece, and was even still upheld in Medieval Europe. It was believed that these personality types were actually caused by contents of the body, and that letting out certain fluids would change one’s temperament. Those being Choleric (Yellow Bile) Sanguine (blood) Melancholic (Black Bile) and Phlegmatic (Phlegm). Cholerics are aggressive leaders who charge into danger, but can be bossy dictators. Sanguines are jolly and cheerful, if not a little immature. Melancholics are reflective artists, but can be aloof and worrisome. Phlegmatic are calm and level-headed mediators, but can be shy and meek. Fun fact, in Medieval medicine, women were always supposed to be Phlegmatic, and being too much of the other three meant she must have been unbalanced and it was time to call the doctor to come bleed her or pull out some bile so that she could return to normal. TV Tropes has a page listing all the different associated traits, and some do overlap so it’s a good idea to arrange these into a graph. It’s also worth noting that unlike other personality tests, this one is not so much about just picking one. Everyone has all 4 types inside of them, it’s more a question of how these traits rank in order of relevancy to one’s personality. For Sam, I would say that she’s primarily Choleric with that aggressive drive to survive, followed by a stoic and reflective Melancholic, a compassionate Phlegmatic, and then at the bottom a jovial Sanguine.

HOGWARTS HOUSE

Everyone already knows this one, I don’t really need to explain it. But if you’re not sure where a character would be sorted, Mawrti on Youtube made videos for Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff that sort multiple fandom characters into houses and have much longer lists of character traits to really help you get a feel for where your character belongs. While I don’t agree with every sorting myself, I still think it’s a useful guide. For Sam, I’d say she’s a Slytherin. She doesn’t have time to let emotion cloud her actions, and she does what she feels is necessary in the name of self-preservation. It doesn’t mean she’s heartless, it just means she knows when to set emotion aside and do what needs to be done. Slytherins understand that sometimes completing the goal is more important than sparing someone’s feelings.

AVATAR ELEMENT

Water is the element of change. It is the element of adaptability and balances offense with defense, able to turn one into the other. Water follows the path of least resistance, spreading in every direction until it finds the shortest and quickest route to the sea. The people of the Water Tribe use wolf symbolism frequently in their culture, as they are focused on the benefit of the group rather than the individual which is crucial for surviving in their arctic home. Earth is the element of substance and defiance. Its people are determined, stubborn, and unyielding. Their spirit and will is as solid as the very earth they bend. Earth benders are hard to rattle, and when something goes wrong, they’ll dust themselves off and push forward. Rather than avoiding obstacles, they ride it out and overcome. Fire is the element of Will. Firebending is the act of taking ones desires and willing them into affect. Firebenders are passionate, ambitious, and merciless in pursuit of goals. They have the foresight to envision what they want to achieve and the drive to make it happen. Air is the element of freedom. The Air Nomads value peace, harmony, and oneness with nature. They are pacifistic, valuing spirituality and mediating tensions between the other three elements. But they can also be too detached, avoiding problems and running away from responsibilities rather than dealing with them. Sam is tricky because she has the drive to survive and accomplish this goal of a Firebender, the resilience and fortitude of an Earthbender, and the adaptability of a Waterbender. However, I would ultimately rule that she is a Firebender, as she is most heavily characterized by her will to live and overcome by any means necessary.

ZODIAC SIGN

There are multiple websites dedicated to this stuff, so I won’t really bother to go into it here. But something I personally enjoy doing is combining Zodiacs with alchemy ideas to decide someone’s “Core Element” as I like to call it. What I mean is that each Zodiac basically comes with 3 elements. Each Zodiac itself is tied to Water, Earth, Fire, or Air. Each season is tied to an element as well. Spring is Air, Summer is Fire, Autumn is Earth, and Winter is Water, at least in Medieval alchemy. And each zodiac is aligned with a celestial body, each of which is also tied to an element. Combine this with the 4 Temperaments: Phlegmatic (Water), Melancholic (Earth), Choleric (Fire), and Sanguine (Air); and with Harry Potter Houses: Slytherin (Water), Hufflepuff (Earth), Gryffindor (Fire), and Ravenclaw (Air); and the Avatar element you gave them and the element that appears the most frequently across the board is their true “Core Element”. For Sam, I would say that she is a Scorpio. Scorpio is a Water sign starting in November. Sept, Oct, and Nov are the three Autumnal months, so she’s seasonally Earth. Neptune and Pluto sort of both rule Scorpio. Neptune is Water aligned and Pluto is Earth aligned. She’s Choleric, a Slytherin, and a Firebender. Her final element tally would come to: Water (3), Earth (2), and Fire (2). Thus her core element is Water.

GAME OF THRONES PLAY STYLE

Each of the houses in Game of Thrones tend to play the game differently. House Stark are the honorable rule-followers. They keep their oaths, and are very traditional. They bow to the way things are, and tend to die because of this honor. They only start to thrive when they break this honor system and play the game like the rest of Westeros. Their words Winter Is Coming implies a readiness to face hard times, and a determination to survive as a group. A single wolf hunting alone in Winter is far less likely to survive. House Lannister is about upward mobility and maintaining their place. They are cunning and manipulative, able to play the chess game to put themselves into positions of power and influence. But that can also be a corrupting force. Their words Hear Me Roar speak to their ferocity, and their sigil of the lion showcases that with them, Family is about the survival of the pride. But that word pride is also a major flaw of the house, and their pride is one of their biggest detriments. House Tyrell strikes a balance between the two. Like the Starks, House Tyrell is unified with a genuine familial love for one another, like branches of a tree that all share the same roots. Like House Lannister, the Tyrells know when it its time for sweet honeyed words, and when it is time to wrap a thorny vine around their enemy’s throat. Their words of Growing Strong implies that they tend the garden of their schemes and they reap what they sow. They have an eye for the long game and the patience of a gardener to bring that plan to blossom. The exact counter is House Grayjoy, who take what others have made for their own. They are as hard as iron and as cold as the salty sea. They are raiders who take what they must to survive. Their words We Do Not Sow speaks to this willingness to take what is not theirs by right and reflects the pirate and viking origins they get their historical basis from. House Targaryen is the near extinct house of Daenerys, characterized by Machiavellian strategy, cunning, and a merciless iron fist to opposition of authority. While Danny fights for just causes, yelling and burning is a primary method of dealing with her problems, and her stubborn pride causes her to be unreasonable and arogant at times, especially when she was the Queen of Meereen. House Baratheon are really better soldiers than politicians. They make better walls than scholars, and have a temper about them. It is only Renly, who lacks many of the Baratheon traits, who is a genuinely fitting politician. Their words Ours is the Fury speaks to their aggression and wartime tactics. Their sigil of the deer is fitting not only as the king of the forest, but that deer fight a lot among themselves during mating season. Frankly, I don’t know the playstyles of House Martell, Tully, or Arryn. They’re smaller houses in the narrative of the show. If you want to know more, check out their house symbolism videos on Youtube. As far as Sam goes, I think she’s a Grayjoy. Not necessarily looking to claim the Iron Throne, just working to keep herself alive no matter who she has to hurt to do so.

SENSE OF HUMOR

Everyone has some sense of humor. Some have more than one. But the kinds of things they find funny says a lot about the kind of person they are.

Sarcasm (snide remarks, usually pessimistic. Think Daria.)

Irreverent (nothing is sacred, anything can be made fun of. Think Family Guy)

Toilet/Low-Brow humor (bathroom and sex jokes, think Teen Titans Go!)

Gross-out Humor (comedy from making people cringe at the disgusting nature of what they’re seeing.)

Slapstick (physical comedy, laughing at pain. Think Three Stooges)

Satire (parodying and mocking other things, often centered on a theme or running gag. Think South Park.)

Social Commentary (An exaggerated or satirical jab at real world issues facing the modern world at the time the product was made.)

Dry Humor (often pairs with Sarcasm, it’s a witty remark that’s often either a veiled, subtle, or clever jab at someone or something. Think Olenna and Tyrion in Game of Thrones.)

Dark Comedy (humor that comes from joking about a dark subject matter, or making light of a serious topic. can overlap with self-deprecating humor and aggressive comedy.)

Wholesome (jokes that don’t make fun of or belittle anything to make the joke. Think knock-knock jokes.)

Vaudevillian (comedy that often comes in the form of routines or running gags. Coyote and Roadrunner, Bugs and Elmer, and Tom & Jerry are all examples of Vaudeville style comedy routines.)

Self-Deprecating (comedy at one’s own expense.)

Pranks/ Deprecating (comedy at someone else’s expense)

Aggressive (comedy aimed at telling jokes that would upset certain types of people, often with little regard for how they’d respond. Think Ron White or Lewis Black.)

Sight Gag (comedy that is found in facial expressions, costumes, etc. Looney Tunes is a master of expressive sight gags, and Monty Python is no stranger to costume gags.)

Situational (comedy that comes from telling real life events where something funny happened. Think Gabriel Iglesias.)

Pop Culture Reference (jokes that acknowledge other works. Often overlaps with parody or in-universe play-on-word. Think Bojack Horseman.)

Torture Porn/Butt Monkey (comedy focused around torturing and kicking around a single person repeatedly, even when they didn’t do anything to prompt just comeuppance. Think Jerry Smith on Rick & Morty or Squidward in later seasons of Spongebob Squarepants.) 

Conversing with the Camera (fourth wall breaking jokes that recognize the media that the story is set in. Ed Edd ‘n’ Eddy and Chowder both used this type of joke a lot.)

Once you’ve completed this step and have a solid idea of your character’s personality, it’ll be time to move on to motivations and character traits, but that’s for a later post.

[writingandprocrastinating]

character foils

*source: wikipedia*

I recently learned of this concept but realized that I’ve been using it in my writing as far as I can remember. Foils are essentially characters made in order to contrast the traits of other characters in order to further show the difference between them/highlight each of the characters’ traits. 

Let’s take my WIP. In my WIP, my main character, Lysandra, is closed-off, graceful, and tends to stick to the safe side. However, my deuteragonist, Caden, is the opposite--He’s adventurous, open, and a bit chaotic. The two bring out the best in each other, but also highlight each others’ strengths and flaws. Therefore, they are foils to each other.

An example from literature is from Pride and Prejudice. In the novel, Mary Bennet, being serious and engrossed in her studies, is a foil to her sister, Lydia, who’s flirty and a bit ditzy. 

Some examples are differences in age, experience, gender, class, philosophy on certain topics, manner and composure, physical differences, what they value, etc. I’m sure that you have several character foils in your writing, but aren’t aware of it.

I hope this helped! Be nice to your ocs, and follow me on Instagram for more advice ( @writing.and.procrastinating ) !

[writingandprocrastinating]

personalize your ocs!

If you follow me on Instagram (which you totally should if you haven’t already), then you should remember that I mentioned putting a piece of myself in almost every oc I create. For example, my deuteragonist, Caden, represents my love of photography, and one of my side characters, Shikha, represents how I like to speak my mind. 

I heard once from an art teacher that artists usually put part of themselves in their artwork in order to make it personally theirs. You can do the same with your OCs, too!

Think of some traits or quirks that you personally have--do you laugh at your own jokes, have a liking for weird food combinations, or especially love airports? I’m saying that you can break pieces of these traits into your OCs to make them more related to you, and you especially. 

I’ve found that if I give my OCs traits that I personally have, whether they make up a big part of their personality or not, I have a deeper “connection” to them, if that makes sense, and find myself imagining them as real people. This also applies to incorporating traits of people you know in your OCs as well. 

Essentially, this makes your OC more authentic and makes the character-building process much easier!

I hope this helped! Be nice to your ocs, and follow me on Instagram for more advice ( @writing.and.procrastinating ) !

[writingandprocrastinating]

Farewell online privacy

[writingandprocrastinating]

the branches of third-person

Okay, so, last time, I gave a rundown of the three povs (point of view[s]). Now, we’re going to be focusing on third-person especially to explore its two branches and explain them. 

But first, to review: 

Third Person - A Point of View (POV) in which the narrator is outside of the story and is telling the tale of the characters. Uses words like they, he, she, them, theirs, hers, his, and character names. (Ex. Lysandra glared at Caden, and he responded with a neutral expression.)

Now that we’ve got the basics of third person, we can further advance onto Third Person Limited, Third Person Objective, and Third Person Omniscient.

-

Third Person Limited 

This is probably the most common form of the third person. Third Person Limited is written in the third person, but only focuses on the thoughts and feelings of one specific character. It’s used quite often, in series like the Harry Potter, Heroes of Olympus, and The Maze Runner. It’s great for focusing on one character through another perspective other than their own!

For example: “Vivien’s heart dropped to her stomach; She had forgotten the papers, and now she would have to pay the price. Frenzied thoughts rushed through her mind, each more terrifying than the last.” 

This excerpt shows the thoughts and feelings of Viviene only, which makes it Third Person Limited. 

- 

Third Person Objective 

This POV is less common. It does not show the emotions or internal thoughts/opinions of any character, but rather just what an outsider can see. The narrator simply describes what they see. It is not used often for this reason, but it is a good choice for stories that don’t really rely on emotions/thoughts for its plot.

For example: “Lucien set the books on the desk, then turned to return to his room without a sound.” 

In this, the narrator only tells what Lucien is doing, not what he is thinking or feeling as he does so, which makes it an example of Third Person Objective. 

-

Third Person Omniscient

Finally, we get to Third Person Omniscient. This POV is told through a narrator who sees all, knows all. This narrator tells the emotions and thoughts of every significant character in the story. This can get confusing at times and might reveal too much of a plot, but it’s really interesting to see how different characters think differently.

For example: “Soren studied the notebook carefully, holding it in his hands as though it may break at any moment. This notebook may be the answer to the mystery surrounding this house, he thought to himself, and stashed the notebook in his satchel for later. Across the room, Lydia eyed Soren from the shadows, her eyes widening in fear--If he takes the notebook, not only will the house disappear, but I will too!” 

This excerpt shows the thoughts and feelings of both Lydia and Soren, therefore making it in Third Person Omniscient.  

-

I hope these tips helped! As always, thanks for tuning in, be nice to your ocs, and follow me on Instagram ( @writing.and.procrastinating ) for more writing tips!

[writingandprocrastinating]

about povs

Okay, guys, here’s a quick run-down of POVs, because some people don’t know this/don’t understand it, so I’m here to help!

-

There are three main POVs: First, Second, and Third person. (Third person has some branches but that’s another story) POVs, or Point of View(s) are the perspective from which a story is being told. Basically, it’s the narrator’s involvement/role in the story. 

-

First Person

In a First-Person story, the narrator is involved in the story they tell in some shape or form. From their POV, they’re the main character, and they tell their tale from their standpoint. 

You know you’re reading a first-person story when you see the words I, me, we, or us. Some examples of first-person stories are Percy Jackson, Jane Eyre, and The Hunger Games. 

An example of a first-person sentence: “I walk off the end of the street, leaving my future behind.”

-

Second Person

In a Second-Person story, the narrator is telling the story to you as if you were in the story. To better visualize this, imagine that you’ve woken up from a coma and missed a lot--if someone wrote down what they told you to catch you up on what you missed, that would count as a second-person story. 

You know you’re reading a second-person story when you see the word you or your.  when referring to the reader. Most second-person stories are Choose Your Own Adventure stories, the kind where you’re being told the story and choose what to do as a result. 

An example of a second-person sentence: “You walk down the street, saying hello to your best friends, Nina and Matthew, and then you continue walking.”

-

Third Person

In a Third-Person story, the narrator is not involved in the story they tell. They tell the story as an outsider observing the story, without actually interfering with the characters. 

You know you’re reading a third-person story when you see the words he, she, they, them, her, his, or their. Some examples of third-person stories are Harry Potter, Pride and Prejudice, and The Maze Runner.

An example of a third-person sentence: “He listened to her words, and, as a result, safely escaped.” or “Amelia rushed down the corridor, papers in hand.”

-

I hope this helped! Next time, we’ll be going more in-depth about the branches of third person. Until then, be nice to your ocs, and follow me on Instagram ( @writing.and.procrastinating ) for more writing tips :)

[writingandprocrastinating]

a note on describing people

The thing about descriptions is that if you dump it all in one paragraph, it’ll be overwhelming for the reader. However, if you don’t say enough about the person you’re describing, it will not supply the reader with the picture you’re trying to paint. 

It’s good to start off your reader with a brief description of them that tells them about their personality. Their first introduction/first line should tell the reader about their character. 

For example - The girl in the corner of the lively party had dark hair covering the side of her face, and eyes of the same color, figure stooped over, as though the weight of the world was on her shoulders. 

From this description, you already know that this girl probably doesn’t want to be talked to, or is uninterested in speaking to others at the party mentioned. The reader can make the inference that this character does not like her surroundings, or is uncomfortable in it, further emphasizing her character.

Now, that’s the first description. As the story goes on, you want your narrator to note special things about the person they’re describing as they get to know them. If they notice everything in the first introduction, it’ll just be redundant to say it again and again. That’s why first introductions need to be vague, brief, but meaningful.

For example, the narrator could say about this girl (let’s name her...Lily.) as they get to know her that “she had a constant blush to her, very light, but always there.” This helps the reader understand in more detail the character’s appearance without being told all at a time. 

But what if you need to describe Lily’s personality and not her looks? Well, let’s go back to the first example. The “stooped shoulders at a party” are good, but what else? How about “eyes bright with excitement” in a park? Or “hands shaking” in front of a crowd? 

I’m just saying that there are more subtle, gradual ways to describe someone, rather than to bring it all in one go. 

I hope this helped! Be nice to your ocs, and follow me on Instagram for more advice ( @writing.and.procrastinating ) !

[writingandprocrastinating]

your vs. you’re / their vs. they’re

I get really annoyed when people unknowingly make this error, so I’m going to try my best to explain the difference between these words. 

-

your/their:

-used to show possession

-your: directly speaking to someone (about their possession[s]), usually only one person

-their: speaking about someone’s possesion(s), usually more than one person

-’your’ and ‘their’ are always before the object in a sentence. by doing this, your sentence shows that said object belongs to the person the narrator is speaking to or about.

~ex. This is your dog. / This is their dog.

-The above example shows that the dog belongs to the person/people the narrator is speaking to or about. 

-correct: Your mother’s name is Eliza. / Their mother’s name is Eliza.

-incorrect: Your the reason why she’s upset. / Their the reason why she’s upset.

~~~~~~~~

you’re/they’re:

-used to show the state of being

-you’re: contraction of you and are, usually referring to only one person

-they’re: contraction of they and are, usually referring to more than one person

-’you’re’ and ‘they’re’ are always in front of an adjective. this shows the state of being of the person or people the narrator is speaking about. 

~ex. You’re early. / They’re early. (You are early / They are early.) --> What are they? Early. 

-These examples show that the subjects of the sentences are early (You are / they are early.) The difference between these two are that one speaks directly to a person/group and the other sort of observes from afar, not directly speaking to them. 

-correct: You’re the new girl. / They’re the new family. (What are they? The new family.)

-incorrect: Your the meanest person I’ve ever met! / Their asking stupid questions, as usual.

**also note: There refers to a location. (ex. She is sitting over there. --> Where is she sitting? She is sitting there.)

-

I hope this cleared up any confusion! 

[writingandprocrastinating]

the three faces

source: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/mask-wearing

There is a Japanese quote that goes like this: You have three faces--One that you show the world, one that you show your family and close friends, and one that you only show yourself. 

This is not only true with people in general, but also with characters in your world, and is an excellent way to build their character! Take into consideration the following:

Who is your character in the eyes of the world? It’s important to remember prejudice in this sense, as well as their reputation. Are they a scheming villain or a selfless hero? Have they left their “mark” on the world yet? Do more than family and friends know their name? For what reasons? And how do these reasons paint a picture of who they are? Are they feared? Are they accepted?

Who is your character towards loved ones? Do they have any loved ones? Who do they keep close? Are they open and loving or closed off and cold? It’s also worth noting that experiences can affect the answers to these questions. This face is also constantly changing, as people develop as years pass by.

Who truly is your character? This face is the most frightening out of them all, as it is the true face. It is something that your character cannot change, for their entire person is rooted in said face. That being said, this can either make or break their relationships, decisions, and other important aspects of their lives. 

I hope this helped! Be nice to your ocs, and follow me on instagram @writing.and.procrastinating :)