some writing

keeping some stuff here

[akleewrites]

Support this writer by buying my book!

The Kaedin Secret follows Rilt Arald as he enrols in Kaedin Hall against the wishes of his father, the duke of Enthin. At Kaedin Hall, Rilt overheads a conspiracy to murder a nobleman... and Rilt is the highest ranking of all the new students. Finding these would-be murderers would be challenge enough, except Rilt has also fallen in love with his roommate, the brilliant and sweet Kayle, while being engaged to a pretty and clever young woman, Galena. Everything comes to a head when Rilt finds out a secret Kayle has been hiding from him...

Buy from Amazon

(yes I know they're evil but they have the reach, help a writer from Singapore out okay?)

You can reach me via my website www.akleewrites.com or my Instagram @akleewrites should this site become unusable

[akleewrites]

Notes to self:

Turn constraint into direction - focus attention and resources within the limits

Design for the third year, not the first

Leave space for the user - give them space to add their input

Present a sense of calm and control - remove all the distractions and fluff

[akleewrites]

July Writing Prompts

Prompt 1: Heat

Prompt 2:

Prompt 3: Toxic by Britney Spears

Prompt 4:

"Poison goes where poison's welcome." - Terry Pratchett

[blondebrainpowered]

Vintage runway Lanvin turquoise enamel knotted snake Medusa necklace.

Source

[toyastales]

Art Nouveau vase from the 1900s, Munich

[luciawestwick]

[emziess]

@buckweek - Day 5 - outfit(s) in Season 9

[oobbbear]

[andreviernes]

Fiction Writing Exercises Using Backstory

My Websites:

My Book Reviews

Art History

Author Website

[nocturnus33]

Creative Prisons: The Bowie Method for Unstuck Fanfiction

Ever feel like you’re stuck in a loop? You open your document, and suddenly every interaction feels the same. Your characters keep having the same types of conversations in the same types of settings, and you find yourself leaning on the same crutch words and tired tropes. You’re not a bad writer: you’re just too comfortable. When you know your fandom inside and out, it’s easy to cruise on autopilot.

That’s exactly when you need to sabotage yourself.

On Creating "Constraints"

David Bowie once said he’d force himself to write using only five chords to avoid falling into his own predictable habits. He knew that total freedom can actually be a cage; if you can do anything, you often end up doing nothing interesting.

The secret is to build yourself "writing prisons." Here are a few ways to force your brain out of its rut:

The Lipogram Challenge: Try writing a 200-word scene without using the letter 'e'. It sounds absurd, but it forces you to drop the flowery adjectives and find stronger, more precise verbs.

The Silent Treatment: Set a 500-word limit where no character is allowed to speak. You have to convey all the tension, subtext, and character development through body language, environmental detail, and internal monologue alone.

The "One-Location" Lockdown: Force a high-stakes emotional confrontation to happen in a mundane, low-stakes setting (like waiting for a bus or standing in line at a grocery store). It creates a "pressure cooker" effect where the setting's normalcy clashes with the dialogue's intensity.

When you artificially restrict your tools, your creativity has to work twice as hard to fill the gaps. You stop relying on your "greatest hits" and start finding new, weird ways to solve narrative problems. And honestly? That struggle is usually where the best writing happens.

What is the one "autopilot" habit you catch yourself falling into when you’re mid-draft, and what constraint could you set to break it?

[allelitewrestlings]

EDDIE KINGSTON Close Up with Renee Paquette | Oct. 21, 2025

[whentherewerebicycles]

saw this on twitter and wanted to save it here

[hauntedselves]

Image transcript:

Thriving: "I got this"

Calm and steady with minor mood fluctuations

Able to take things in stride

Consistent performance

Able to take feedback and to adjust to changes or plans

Able to focus

Able to communicate effectively

Normal sleep patterns and appetite

Surviving: "Something isn't right"

Nervousness, sadness, increased mood fluctuations

Inconsistent performance

More easily overwhelmed or irritated

Increased need for control and difficulty adjusting to changes

Trouble sleeping or eating

Activities and relationships you used to enjoy seem less interesting or even stressful

Muscle tension, low energy, headaches

Struggling: "I can't keep this up"

Persistent fear, panic, anxiety, anger, pervasive sadness, hopelessness

Exhaustion

Poor performance and difficulty making decisions or concentrating

Avoiding interaction with coworkers, family and friends

Fatigue, aches and pains

Restless, disturbed sleep

Self-medicating with substances, food, or other numbing activities

In Crisis: "I can't survive this"

Disabling distress and loss of function

Panic attacks

Nightmares or flashbacks

Unable to fall or stay asleep

Intrusive thoughts

Thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Easily enraged or aggressive

Careless mistakes and inability to focus

Feeling numb, lost, or out of control

Withdrawal from relationships

Dependence on substances, food, or other numbing activities to cope

End transcript.

[akleewrites]

New Prompts

If you missed out on the monthly Writing Prompts, they will be posted to the website in the third week of the month, together with my respon

June Prompt answered! Also, there's a sale on Threadless so drop by my store if you wanna get some crosshatched art, or RedBubble if you prefer their stuff

[akleewrites]

June Prompt: Somewhere over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World

I'd like to go over there someday. There where? Over there. Blue skies, bright sunshine, lots of green. Lots of wildlife. Warm and balmy. Safe and happy. If there's lots of green, you're gonna have lots of rain. Can't have one without the other.

[Read More]

[huariqueje]

In the Early Summer Forest - Paula von Goeschen-Rösler

German , 1875-1941

Paper cut, gouache on Japanese paper , 40 x 38 cm. 

[chxrry-bombs]

6 Quick Writing Exercises to Wake Up Your Imagination

We all hit those blah writing days. Your fingers are ready, your doc is open... and your brain goes static. That’s where writing exercises come in — small creative boosts to shake off the dust and get back into your story flow. Here are six to try when your words feel stuck in traffic.

1. The 5-Minute Word Sprint

Pick a random word (use a generator or close your eyes and point at a book), set a 5-minute timer, and write anything involving that word. No stopping, no deleting.

2. Dialogue Without Context

Write a short convo between two people. No descriptions. No setting. Just back-and-forth lines.

3. Rewrite a Scene in Another Genre

Take a scene from your current story and flip the genre. Drama becomes comedy. Fantasy becomes sci-fi. Romance becomes horror.

4. Describe a Place Using the Five Senses — No Sight Allowed

Can’t mention what anything looks like. Only sound, touch, smell, taste, and intuition.

5. Character Swap POVs

Write a paragraph from the POV of a side character reacting to your main character. Bonus if the POV is brutally honest or completely wrong.

6. One Line Story Hooks

Write 3 one-sentence story starters that make you want to keep writing. (Example: “I woke up married to my enemy, and worse — he knew it before I did.”)

You don’t need to write a masterpiece every day. But showing up — even for a silly exercise — keeps the creative part of your brain warmed up. Try one of these before your next writing session, and see where it takes you. 🍒

[eleanor-hugo]

Gutted to learn that the incredible Anthony Head passed away. I need everyone to see thos incredible edit of him