how to make yourself write if you don’t know where to start
1. don’t expect too much of yourself
2. write down whatever you know about your idea
3. don’t format it to make it look pretty
4. use paragraphs whenever you get a new idea
5. don’t read back on what you’ve written before
6. if it helps, set your font color to white or light gray
7. don’t skip around. when you have a new idea, it goes on the end of the document
8. write sample dialogue if you have any
9. link to resources you find while googling
10. don’t delete anything. if you want to disregard something, use strikethrough
Tag: writing advice
Adverbs aren’t evil; said isn’t dead
Please stop hitting the wall with your headActive is grand but not always the best
Sometimes it’s passive that passes the testSome write with style, others write plain
Let’s all agree that writing’s a painThe ‘rules’ can be broken, twisted, or bent
All that matters is that you are contentMake your own story and write your own way
This has been a writer’s PSAThe only writing rules I will accept.
fuck the idea that your stuff is “too weird to write”. your concept isn’t “too obscure”. your worldbuilding isn’t “too niche”. fuck this whole idea that writing success is measured in copies sold or kudos or mainstream appeal. sometimes writing success is just making whatever the heck you wanted to make.
Weird is interesting! If we only ever wrote the same things over and over it would be boring.
Pros of writing gay relationships:
– gay
Cons of writing gay relationships:
– they both have THE SAME FCKIN PRONOUNS SO I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO NAME BOTH CHARACTERS BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHO’S DOING WHAT OR WHO’S SPEAKING WHO WILL SAVE ME FROM THIS HELL
I CAN’T BELIEVE THERE’S A POST ABOUT THIS. THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.
Worst way to deal with this: use epithets (the taller man, the blonde) DO NOT
Best way to deal with this: Use the pronouns a teensy bit more than you maybe feel is sufficient. Leave the fic for two days before editing (i.e. allow yourself to forget it a little). Come back and re-read. If at any point YOU can’t tell who’s doing what to whom, put names in. Leave the rest of the pronouns.
Also, for dialogue: use characterization instead of names. Let it be clear by the things that are said, the way they are said, who is saying them.
Readers are smart, let them infer sometimes. 🙂
So many people have asked me about this when writing same-sex relationships. I’ve been looking for this post for so long, I hope it helps, darlings!
For all of you slash and femslash writers!
In bigger letters for those in the back:
As a critiquer, your job is not to “make this piece of writing better” but to understand what the writer wants to achieve and help them to achieve it
Applies beyond writing as well.
Also applies to editing. I was recently talking to another writer whose editor (at a publisher) almost destroyed her desire to keep writing. Writers, know the signs of a shitty editor versus one who actually wants to help you achieve your vision, and don’t be afraid to ask for a different one. (Or fire a bad one if you’re indy.)
Mostly reblogs and random words 