moved

now @pristineheartswriting

[anzwrites]

hey folks, i decided to make a new tumblr because ive been feeling the need to start fresh so you can follow me at @pristineheartswriting or not, do whatever you want im not ur mom

[writtenbyanz]

CHARACTER INTRODUCTION → THE CHAOS YOU CREATE

*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ* *✭˚･

full name: vincent javier biancardi

role: secondary protagonist

*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ* *✭˚･

basics

born on september 21st, 2000 (libra), 18, he/him, male, bisexual, puetro rican & italian american, estp-t.

appearance

messy black hair that he lets grow out to his shoulder. his sharp features pair nicely with his deep brown “brooding” eyes and warm-toned skin. he often has a resting glare on his face. he has various scars all over his body from the many fights he’s been in, the most visible a scar on his left eyebrow. he almost always wears his leather jacket and battered doc martins that myranda’s dad gifted to him, even in the heat of the summer. 

personality

charismatic, bitter, reckless, compulsive

vic prefers to keep to himself and doesn’t trust very easily. when people try to get close to him he pushes them away, due to the trauma of his mom dying when he was twelve and being left with his sorry excuse for a father. but if you decided to stick around vic can be the sweetest person you’ve met. he hates to be alone with his thoughts so he’s always trying to find some way to escape them, whether it’s something simple like reading a book or watching a movie or something more extreme like going a little too hard in the pit at nigel’s tavern, drunken makeout sessions that sometimes went too far, or having one too many drinks from the bar and stumbling home way past his curfew just to get a beat in from his father, who was almost drunker than he was. anything is better than the noise in his head.

likes: mosh pits, loud music, getting drunk, things that make him feel in control, quiet moments with someone you trust, his car.

dislikes: rejection, being vulnerable, people can see through his act, his father, the color yellow.

*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ* *✭˚･

theme song: disasterology by pierce the veil

*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ* *✭˚･

tag | playlist | wip tag | wip page

[writtenbyanz]

CHARACTER INTRODUCTION → THE CHAOS YOU CREATE

*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ* *✭˚･

full name: kelsey selene york

role: main protagonist

*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ* *✭˚･

basics: 

born on february 21st, 2000 (pisces), 18, she/her, cisgender female, straight, white; american (irish, britsh, german), insp-t

appearance: 

long brunette hair with messy waves frame her soft features; blue eyes and pale skin covered in freckles. she has a small scar on her right cheek from an incident she doesn’t speak about. she has a simple style compared to her friends, often wearing just a t-shirt and jeans paired with a random jacket or cardigan and chucks. she likes to wear her hair in messy braids and dyes it teal her junior year. 

personality:

kind, stubborn, passive, determined

at a first glance kelsey is a warm and kind person, she can be a bit of a pushover and takes a backseat in her own life and just accepts the things happening to and around her. she forgives too easily and cares too much while she tries to see the best in everyone. she’ll avoid confrontation even if she knows it’s necessary and she’d rather suffer in silence than have the people she cares about worry about her. kelsey would fight for her friends to the end but can’t give herself the same energy. because after all, they all have much more going on than her. 

likes: long car rides, animals, nature, making people smile, laughing so hard you can’t breathe, tumblr textposts.

dislikes: horror movies, missing someone, being the reason for someone’s pain, unnecessary drama.

theme song: why am i like this? by orla gartland

*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ* *✭˚･

tag | playlist | wip tag | wip page

[writtenbyanz]

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟwip introduction ✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ* *✭˚·

status: first draft

genre: ya contemporary

pov: third person, past tense, multiple povs

features: morally grey characters, lgbt+ characters, poc characters, found family, crime, high school drama, abusive parents, punks, camping trips, supportive friendships, not-so-perfect, perfect suburbs, unhealthy relationships and more!

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ* *✭˚·

synopsis:

From the outside most people would say Kelsey York has a pretty nice life. A perfect family in a perfect house with perfect friends. Her only known problem is Meredith Odell, the high school’s resident mean girl, who’s been out to get her since sixth grade.

Now being the victim in a cliche teen movie is the least of her problems. After her ex-boyfriend, Vincent Biancardi, is arrested on prom night everyone learns there is no such thing as perfect in Ridgeview.

Months later, Kelsey is trying to move on, when old memories are brought up by a mysterious notebook filled with letters from none other than Vincent. Will these letters answer some of her questions or will they just make new ones?

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ* *✭˚·

tag | page | playlist | moodboard

[writtenbyanz]

hi folks, it’s anz, again. i decided to do a re-introduction post because i’ve going to to *try* and start posting more content on here.

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ* *✭˚·

about me:

my name is ansleigh but you can call me anz, i’m 19 and i’ve been writing since i was 11.

most of my writing falls into contemporary/coming of age but some of them get a bit dark.

i joined writeblr in sept 2018 on my old acc anzwrites.

my username is the name of a band in one of my wips.

a lot of my writing is influenced by movies and television 

some of my favorites include: 500 days of summer, booksmart, we need to talk about kevin, clueless, and the perks of being a wallflower; prodigal son, the 100, gilmore girls, atla, shameless, the good place, and twin peaks.

a lot of music has also influence my writing and i have playlists for my writing on my spotify! (you can find them if you scroll to the bottom of my public playlists.)

some of my other interests include makeup, fashion and animal crossing.

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ* *✭˚·

my wips:

the chaos you create - a ya coming of age novel with a bit of a dark twist

Vincent writes Kelsey letters from prison as a way to cope with the things he’s done, with the intent of her never seeing them. Somehow these letters find their way to Kelsey and as she reads them she recalls all the events that led up to these letters.

destruction (working title) - the sequel to chaos that gets even darker

In the wake of the events of The Chaos You Create, A group of teenagers find human remains in the redwoods North of Ridgeview. As the FBI opens an investigation, old wounds open for many familiar faces.

possible short story collection - various genres

feat.

deal with the devil - adult crime

Nigel Abbott moves to America after getting in trouble with law the back in England, as he tries to pave his way in a new country his old habits catch up with him and he finds himself making a deal with “The Devil”.

house on fire - gothic

Melaina, a young British woman marries a wealthy American man, Edward Monet; things go well until their mansion mysteriously catches on fire.

the marshall brothers (working title) - thriller

Colin and Dawson Marshall are on the run from the law; being forced to live on their own they find themselves in bigger trouble after leaving Oregon, making their new home unknowingly in the backyard of a cult.

the reckless - a na coming of age novel about the rise and fall of a band (and its members)

Years after The Reckless rose to fame, Noah finds closure for a past relationship, Amber and Greg realize just how hard adulthood is, and Derek gets his shit together and learns what it means to be a good friend.

after the reckless - the sequel to the reckless that wraps up some unfinished arcs

Following the events of The Reckless, three years later. It’s been ten years since the band released their first album, and Derek wants to get the band back together for a reunion tour. But it’s easier said than done.

holy water in a bathtub - a vague concept for a paranormal novel

A group of teenagers band together to solve a murder in their small town but they uncover something much darker

navigation

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ* *✭˚·

what i post or plan on posting:

writing tips

writing positivity

wip introductions

character introductions

moodboards / edits

incorrect quotes / memes about my writing

lil fun facts about my writing / characters

possibly some small excerpts

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ* *✭˚·

thank you all for reading this if you did! feel free to check out my nav (linked above) if you’re curious about any of my wips although as of posting this i don’t have much content up but hopefully that will change!!

[writtenbyanz]

hi writeblr! im anz and this a sort of re-introduction, i used to be @/anzwrites but ive decided it was time for a fresh start bc everything over there was starting to feel a bit messy. 

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ* *✭˚·

here’s a lil bit about me:

i started writing when i was 11 and my main inspiration to start writing at the time was a sims 2 series on youtube called my life (which still slaps) a

my first attempt at a book was very cringey and unbelievably cliche, but im still deeply attached to the characters and general idea so my main wip is a very different, highly revamped version of that 

i decided to actually commit to writing in september of 2018

some of my other interests include makeup, fashion, music, youtube and rewatching shows ive already seen over and over

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ* *✭˚·

here’s some of the wips ive been working on:

the chaos you create - a ya coming of age novel with a bit of a dark twist

Shane writes Kelsey letters from prison as a way to cope with the things he’s done, with the intent of her never seeing them. Somehow these letters find their way to Kelsey and as she reads them she recalls all the events that led up to these letters.

destruction (working title) - the sequel to chaos that gets even darker

In the wake of the events of The Chaos You Create, A group of teenagers find human remains in the redwoods North of Ridgeview. As the FBI opens an investigation, old wounds open for many familiar faces.

the reckless - a na coming of age novel about the rise and fall of a band (and its members)

When Noah runs into his former lover, Jessie, they spend the day reminiscing about the time they spent together as teens. Meanwhile Amber and Greg’s plans for the future change when Amber finds out some shocking news. And on the other side of the country Noah’s former band mates, Derek, Trinity and Donovan, are barely keeping things together as truths come out.

after the reckless - the sequel to the reckless that wraps up some unfinished arcs

Following the events of The Reckless, three years later. It’s been ten years since the band released their first album, and Derek wants to get the band back together for a reunion tour. But it’s easier said than done.

holy water in a bathtub - a vague concept for a paranormal novel

A group of teenagers band together to solve a murder in their small town but they uncover something much darker.

wip page

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ* *✭˚·

and finally here are some of my other socials:

instagram & twitter: aaangstypalegirl

personal tumblr: failurebydesig-n

youtube: angstypalegirl

wattpad: angstypalegirl

weheartit: angstypalegirl

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ* *✭˚·

[exih]

I want a mean girlfriend with no morals

[exih]

And I don’t mean in that tumblr “feral” way I mean in a captain of the highschool cheerleading team popular girl way see I’m the cool jock whom she is protective over and she trips your goofy ass for looking at me in economics class

[concerningwolves]

rational me: this story can be told in one book

gremlin brain: but consider........ multiple books

me: w

gremlin brain: stay in this world forever

me: no, wait, don't —

gremlin brain: comfy world. familiar world. many stories

me:

me:

me: comfy world

[meme-templates]

I. I need all the alignment chart memes. All. All of them. My hands are shaking. Please.

AIGHT YALL RB THIS POST WITH YOUR ALIGNMENT CHART BLANKS FOR THIS ANON

[meme-templates]

I’LL GO FIRST

[little-bullheaded-shit]

[meme-templates]

[meme-templates]

[meme-templates]

[michaelbjorkwrites]

125+ themes for your WIP

Theme is the universal idea or topic your story explores. And you know what? There are a lot of them. So many, in fact, your story probably already has a few, whether you realize it or not. The trick is to recognize your story’s themes as you revise, so you can better highlight and explore those ideas in your final draft.

This list of 125+ themes should help. It’s long, but far from exhaustive. Use it to help identify themes in your work, but also to get a better understanding of the wide variety of themes that are at your disposal.

(To learn more about what a theme is, see this post here.)

Experiences

Aging

Childhood

Coming of Age

Disillusionment

Friendship

Growth

Healing

Isolation

Loss

Loss of Innocence

Overcoming Adversity

Parenthood

Rebirth

Redemption

Revenge

Self-discovery

Survival

Tragedy

Emotions

Apathy

Compassion

Despair

Fear

Grief

Hate

Jealousy

Joy

Loneliness

Love

Obsession

Regret

Gender & Sexuality

Femininity, Masculinity, & Androgyny

Gender Identity

Sexuality

Human Perception

Dreams

Identity

Memory

Perception vs. Reality

Subjectivity

Mental Health & Neurodiversity

Autism

Bipolarity

Depression

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Suicide

Tourette Syndrome

Natural Forces

Death

Fate

Nature

Passage of Time

Political & Economic

Capitalism

Communism

Conservation

Democracy

Fascism

Freedom

Justice

Law

Nationalism

Patriotism

Peace

Propaganda

Radicalism

Revolution

Socialism

Totalitarianism

War

Religious & Philosophical

Atheism

Determinism

Epistemology

Ethics

Faith

Free Will

Fundamentalism

Good vs. Evil

Skepticism

Metaphysics

Morality

Nature vs. Nurture

Pacifism

Religion

Soul / Consciousness

Spirituality

Truth

Social Issues

Ableism

Abuse of Power

Homophobia

Immigration

Inequality

Oppression

Poverty

Prejudice

Progress & Regress

Privilege

Racism

Rights of the Oppressed

Sexism

Transphobia

Working Class Struggles

Societal & Cultural

Collectivism

Conformity

Familial Obligations

Heritage

Honor

Individualism

Patriarchal Society

Responsibility

Tradition

Technology & Science

Artificial Intelligence

Augmented / Virtual Reality

Genetics

Human Integration with Technology

Information Privacy

Psychology

Sociology

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Virtues & Vices

Ambition

Corruption

Courage

Forgiveness

Loyalty

Mercy

Power

Pride

Sacrifice

Are there any themes you think should be included or need to be explored more often? Reblog with your own additions!

SEE  MORE  POSTS  ABOUT WRITING WITH MEANING

Sources

Writersedit.com

Literarydevices.net

Simple.wikiquote.org

My own literary dives over the years

Photo courtesy of Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

[maxkirin]

me: i hate clichés

author: the title of the novel and the final line are one and the same

me, losing my shit: the title of the novel and the final line are one and the same

[foolblue]

me: i hate cliché

author: the starting line of the novel and final line are one and the same

me, fucking sobbing: the starting line of the novel and final line are one and the same

[caffeinewitchcraft]

Me: I hate cliches

Author: they were roommates

Me, wholly invested in this slow burn romance: oh my god they were roommates

[eric-fi]

Giving Your Character the Introduction They Deserve

The simple directness of Neil Gaiman

Shadow’s Introduction from American Gods

I think the way Gaiman introduces Shadow is just near perfect.

“He was big enough and looked don’t-fuck-with-me enough that his biggest problem was killing time. So he kept himself in shape, taught himself coin tricks, and though a lot about how much he loved his wife.

The best thing — in Shadow’s opinion, perhaps the only good thing — about being in prison was a feeling of relief. The feeling that he plunged as low as he could plunge and he’d hit bottom. He didn’t worry that the man was going to get him, because the man had got him. He was no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, because yesterday had brought it.”

In the opening page, Gaiman describes:

Shadows appearance.

Shadow’s passion.

Shadow’s Mentality.

I think the way Gaiman introduces Shadow is just near perfect. It’s nothing too flashy and Gaiman just comes out and states “Shadow loved his wife.” 

Now you try! Emulate shadows intro. What does your character look like? What is his passion, how do they think? Write two sentences about each and mold them into a paragraph. See how it turns out. What? You already have an agent?? Good job.

Bod’s Introduction from The Graveyard Book

“Bod was a quiet child with sober eyes and a mop of tousled, mouse colored hair. He was, for the most part, obedient. He learned how to talk, and, once he had learned, he would pester the graveyard folks with questions”

From this we have.

Bod’s appearance. (Sober eyes/ mouse-colored hair)

Bod’s actions. (Obedient)

Bod’s mentality. (He loves to ask questions and learn about the world around him)

Again, three characteristics all rolled up into a direct introduction. 

It’s ok to be direct with appearance, but show how your character thinks when you are introducing them. It can be as simple as, “so and so loved to ask questions.“

Richard Mayhew’s Introduction form Neverwhere

“The night before he went to London, Richard Mayhew was not enjoying himself.”

If you don’t see that pattern yet, then I’ll tell you. Neil Gaiman is simple and direct. This is really all we need to know about Richard: “He was not enjoying himself,” because once Neil contrasts Richard’s mood with the scene (they are in a bar celebrating), then we get an idea of what type of person Richard is. So the advice from Neverwhere is:

Be direct

Contrast how your person is feeling and thinking about to what is going on around him.

Final Thoughts:

It’s ok to be simple. It’s ok to tell.

“Bod was a quiet child.”

“Richard Mayhew was not enjoying himself.”

“[Shadow] kept himself in shape, taught himself coin tricks, and though a lot about how much he loved his wife.”

Here are some examples I wrote just now:

The thing Susan thought about the most, was how she was going to die.

Elliot liked to punch people in the gut. Elliot was an asshole.

Woah, slow down there Neil

More!

How to tackle the middle of the book - 4 tips from Neil Gaiman Novels

[starry-eyed-wander-deactivated2]

things i love in books:

imperfect grammar in dialogue - my grammar isn’t always fantastic when I’m talking to someone. sometimes seeing little grammar mistakes in character dialogue makes it feel more real. 

character ticks - characters who have a chronic cough, or who have a bad habit of chewing their nails, or popping their knuckles. It fleshes them out.

characters with actual passions - I love seeing a character get really excited about something they are passionate about. And when another character shuts them down on that subject it’s heart breaking. I can totally relate.

puns and stupid jokes in first person narration - don’t tell me you’ve never made a little joke to yourself and then laughed at it. I think it’s cute. 

random easter eggs in books - an author’s favorite recipe, a trivia fact that they’re throwing in just because, things that may relate to the plot but are also an extra little surprise for the reader. 

newspaper clippings / articles - i just think they’re neat..

surprise handwriting (ex: on a note mentioned in the text or something) - i’ve only seen it in a few books. it makes finding a random note or something easier to imagine. Makes it a little more real. 

platonic character relationships - i just really think they’re neat too. 

[justawritingaid]

Creating Romantic Feelings Between Characters

Romance is hard to write for some people because it’s one of those things that is so different for every individual. It’s also highly tied into feeling which can be hard to show for certain characters, so having multiple forms of expression is important. There are five general factors that can be charted in stories to help readers believe that characters are falling for each other romantically.

The character falling for someone else (or both characters) generally feels at least one of these five things, though the way they express them will be influenced by their personality and attitudes about love. The more things they feel, the more ‘in love’ they typically are:

They feel important.

The character should feel like their thoughts and opinions matter to their love interest, and that they are prioritized and considered in either a short or long term future. This can be verbal (“I want to ask your opinion on something”) or non-verbal (the love interest waits for the protagonist to react to a situation). It can also be blatant (the protagonist fantasizes about moving in with their love interest) or subtle (waiting for a smile as a sign of approval).

They feel fun, or joy in shared experiences.

Generally noted by laughing, joking around, or smiling, but can vary by character and situation. It’s common for people to be attracted to those they have positive experiences with, and when those experiences are tied into a tension-filled plot, it’s a great start for a romance.

They feel attractive.

This can be both physical and mental and caused by any number of traits, usually shown with prolonged eye contact, miming of movement, or chosen close proximity. Depending on the characters, there can be flirting or innuendo, as long as both parties are feeling good about the interaction. Part of attraction is related to feeling important or like the characters easily have each other’s attention.

They feel understood.

Similarities of situation, past experiences, or ways of thinking all contribute to empathy and character bonding. Even if the characters don’t initially share these feelings, they can be found through conversation and learning.

They feel loved.

This is beyond the other factors and hits the idea that the characters feel like they are cared for by each other. They support each other and generally want to keep each other company. Love can be displayed in many different ways depending on character and situation, so it’s important to really look into background and current events to see how they would interact.

Note: These factors alone are not enough for romance because close friendships can also cause similar feelings, but they can be important signs of comfort and well-being in budding relationships. Well-written romance goes beyond “this person is attractive” into a genuine kinship that overlaps with friendship in many ways.

Creating a connection between characters, platonic or romantic, starts with a point of interest, then develops using the 5 factors mentioned above. The factors can be used for friendship or romance because there are different types of love and attraction, but romance typically has a deeper level of understanding than the average friendship and usually comes with physical intimacy.

————————

Thinking of asking a question? Please read the Rules and Considerations to make sure I’m the right resource, and check the Tag List to see if your question has already been asked. If you can give back, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or via Venmo Username: JustAWritingAid

[badassunicorn2016]

Writing Tip June 4th

A list of body language phrases.

I’ve included a very comprehensive list, organized by the type of body movement, hand and arm movements, facial expressions etc. In some cases, a phrase fits more than one heading, so it may appear twice. Possible emotions are given after each BL phrase unless the emotion is indicated within the phrase. (They are underlined for emphasis, not due to a hyperlink.)

Note: I’ve included a few body postures and body conditions as they are non-verbal testimony to the character’s physical condition.

Have fun and generate your own ideas.:-)

Eyes, Brows and Forehead

arched a sly brow:  sly, haughty

blinked owlishly:  just waking, focusing, needs glasses

brows bumped together in a scowl:  worried, disapproving, irritated

brows knitted in a frown: worried, disapproval, thoughtful

bug-eyed:  surprised, fear, horror

cocky wink and confident smile:  over confidence, arrogant, good humor, sexy humor

eyes burned with hatred: besides hatred this might suggest maniacal feelings

eyes flashed: fury, defiance, lust, promise, seduction

eyes rolled skyward: disbelief, distrust, humor

forehead puckered:  thoughtful, worried, irritation

frustration crinkled her eyes

gaze dipped to her décolletage: sexual interest, attraction, lust

gimlet-eyed/narrowed eyes: irritation, thoughtful, mean, angry

gleam of deviltry:  humor, conniving, cunning

kept eye contact but her gaze became glazed: pretending interest where there is none/bordom

narrowed to crinkled slits:  angry, distrust

nystagmic eyes missed nothing (constantly shifting eyes):  Shifty

pupils dilated:  interested, attraction to opposite sex, fear

raked her with freezing contempt

slammed his eyes shut:  stunned, furious, pain

squinted in a furtive manner:  fearful, sneaky

stared with cow eyes:  surprised, disbelief, hopeful, lovestruck

subtle wink:  sexy, humor/sharing a joke, sarcasm

unrelenting stare: distrust, demanding, high interest, unyielding

Place To Place, Stationary Or Posture

ambled away:  relaxed, lazy

barged ahead:  rude, hurried

battled his way through the melee:  desperate, anger, alarm

cruised into the diner:  easy-going, feeling dapper, confident

dawdled alongside the road:  lazy, deliberate delay for motives, unhurried, relaxed

dragged his blanket in the dirt:   sadness/depressed, weary

edged closer to him:  sneaky, seeking comfort, seeking protection, seeking an audience

he stood straighter and straightened his tie:  sudden interest, sexual attraction

held his crotch and danced a frantic jig: demonstrates physical condition – he has to pee

hips rolled and undulated:  sexy walk, exaggerating for sex appeal

hovered over them with malice/like a threatening storm: here it’s malice, but one may hover for many reasons.

hunched over to look shorter:  appear inconspicuous, ashamed of actions, ashamed of height

leaped into action feet hammering the marbled floor:  eager, fear, joyous

long-legged strides:  hurried, impatient

lumbered across:  heavy steps of a big man in a hurry

minced her way up to him: timid, sneaky, insecure, dainty or pretense at dainty

paced/prowled the halls:  worried, worried impatience, impatient, diligently seeking pivoted on his heel and took off:  mistaken and changes direction, following orders, hurried, abrupt change of mind, angry retreat

plodded down the road:  unhurried, burdened, reluctant

practiced sensual stroll:  sexy, showing off

rammed her bare foot into her jeans: angry, rushed

rocked back and forth on his heels: thoughtful, impatiently waiting

sagged against the wall:  exhausted, disappointment

sallied forth:  confident, determined

sashayed her cute little fanny:  confident, determined, angered and determined

shrank into the angry crowd:  fear, insecure, seeking to elude

sketched a brief bow and assumed a regal pose: confident, mocking, snooty, arrogant skidded to an abrupt halt: change of heart, fear, surprise, shock

skulked on the edges of the crowd: sneaky, ashamed, timid

slithered through the door:  sneaky, evil, bad intentions

stormed toward her, pulling up short when: anger with a sudden surprise

swaggered into the class room:  over confident, proud, arrogant, conceited

tall erect posture:  confidence, military bearing

toe tapped a staccato rhythm:  impatience, irritation

tottered/staggered unsteadily then keeled over:  drunk, drugged, aged, ill

waltzed across the floor:  happy, blissful, exuberant, conceited, arrogant

Head Movement

cocked his head:  curiosity, smart-alecky, wondering, thoughtful

cocked his head left and rolled his eyes to right corner of the ceiling:  introspection

droop of his head: depressed, downcast, hiding true feelings

nodded vigorously: eager

tilted her head to one side while listening:  extreme interest, possibly sexual interest

Mouth And Jaw

a lackluster smile:  feigning cheerfulness

cigarette hung immobile in mouth: shock, lazy, uncaring, relaxed casualness

clinched his jaw at the sight:  angered, worried, surprised

curled her lips with icy contempt

expelled her breath in a whose:  relief, disappointment

gagged at the smell: disgust, distaste

gapped mouth stare:  surprised, shock, disbelief

gritted his teeth:  anger, irritation, holding back opinion

inhaled a sharp breath:  surprise, shock, fear, horror

licked her lips:  nervous, sexual attraction

lips primed: affronted, upset, insulted

lips pursed for a juicy kiss

lips pursed like she’d been chewing a lemon rind: dislike, angry, irritated, sarcasm

lips screwed into: irritation, anger, grimace, scorn

lips set in a grim line: sorrow, worried, fear of the worst

pursed her lips:  perturbed, waiting for a kiss

scarfed down the last biscuit:  physical hunger, greed

slack-mouthed:  total shock, disbelief

slow and sexy smile:  attraction, seductive, coy

smacked his lips: anticipation

smile congealed then melted into horror

smile dangled on the corner of his lips: cocky, sexy

smirked and tossed her hair over her shoulder:  conceit, sarcasm, over confident

sneered and flicked lint off his suit: sarcasm, conceit

spewed water and spit: shock

stuck out her tongue: humor, sarcasm, teasing, childish

toothy smile:  eagerness, hopeful

wary smile surfaced on her lips

Nose

nose wrinkled in distaste/at the aroma

nostrils flared:  anger, sexual attraction

nose in the air:  snooty, haughty

Face in General

crimson with fury

handed it over shame-faced

jutted his chin: confident, anger, forceful

managed a deadpan expression:  expressionless

muscles in her face tightened:  unsmiling, concealing emotions, anger, worried

rested his chin in his palm and looked thoughtful

rubbed a hand over his dark stubble:  thoughtful, ashamed of his appearance

screwed up her face:  anger, smiling, ready to cry, could almost be any emotion

sneered and flicked lint off his suit: conceit, derision, scorn

Arm and Hand

a vicious yank

arm curled around her waist, tugging her next to him:  possessive, pride, protective

bit her lip and glanced away:  shy, ashamed, insecure

brandished his fist:  anger, threatening, ready to fight, confident, show of pride

clamped his fingers into tender flesh:  anger, protective, wants to inflict pain

clenched his dirty little fists: stubborn, angry

clapped her hands on her hips, arms crooked like sugar bowel handles:  anger, demanding, disbelief

constantly twirled her hair and tucked it behind her ear:  attracted to the opposite sex, shy crossed his arms over his chest: waiting, impatient, putting a barrier

crushed the paper in his fist:  anger, surrender, discard

dived into the food: hunger, eager, greedy

doffed his hat:  polite gesture, mocking, teasing

doodled on the phone pad and tapped the air with her foot:  bored, inattention, introspection

drummed her fingers on the desk:  impatient, frustrated, bored

fanned her heated face with her hands: physically hot, embarrassed, indicating attraction

fiddled with his keys: nervous, bored

firm, palm to palm hand shake:  confident, honest

flipped him the bird: sarcastic discard

forked his fingers through his hair for the third time:  disquiet/consternation, worry, thoughtful

handed it over shame-faced:  guilt, shame

held his crotch and danced a frantic jig:  physical need to relieve himself

limp hand shake:  lack of confidence, lack of enthusiasm

propped his elbow on his knee: relaxed, thoughtful

punched her pillow:  restless, can’t sleep, angry

rested his chin in his palm:  thoughful, worried

scratched his hairy belly and yawned:  indolent, bored, lazy, relaxed, just waking

shoulders lifted in a shrug:  doubtful, careless discard

slapped his face in front of God and country:  enraged, affronted/insulted

snapped a sharp salute:  respect, sarcastic gesture meaning the opposite of respect

snapped his fingers, expecting service:  arrogant, lack of respect, self-centered

sneered and flicked lint off his suit

spread her arms wide: welcoming,  joy, love

stabbed at the food: anger, hunger, determined

stood straighter and smoothed his tie:  sudden interest, possible sexual interest

stuffed his hands in his pockets: self-conscious, throwing up a barrier

sweaty handshake:  nervous, fearful

touched his arm several times while explaining:  sign of attraction, flattery, possessive

wide sweep of his arms:  welcoming, all inclusive gesture, horror

Sitting or Rising

collapsed in a stupor:  exhausted, drunk, drugged, disbelief

enthroned himself at the desk:  conceit, pronouncing or taking ownership

exploded out of the chair:  shock, eager, anger, supreme joy

roosted on the porch rail like a cock on a hen house roof:  claiming ownership, conceit, content

sat, squaring an ankle over one knee:  relaxed and open

slouched/wilted in a chair and paid languid attention to:  drowsy, lazy, depressed, disinterest, sad, totally relaxed, disrespectful

squirmed in his chair: ill at ease, nervous, needs the bathroom

Recline

flung himself into the bed: sad, depressed, exhausted, happy

prostrated himself: surrender, desperate, miserable, powerless, obsequious, fawning, flattering

punched her pillow:  can’t sleep, anger, frustrated

threw himself on the floor kicking and screaming: tantrum

Entire body and General

body stiffened at the remark:  offended, anger, alerted

body swayed to music:  dreamy, fond memories, enjoys the music

bounced in the car seat, pointing:  excitement, fear, eager

cowered behind his brother:  fear, shyness, coward, desperate

curled into a ball:  sorrow, fear, sleepy, defensive

heart galloping:  anxiety, joy, eager

held his crotch and danced a frantic jig

humped over his cane, each step shaking and careful: pain, aged

inhaled a deep breath and blew out slowly: buying time to find words/thoughtful, reconciled

quick and jerky like rusty cogs on a wheel:  unsure of actions, self-conscious, tense, edgy

rocked back and forth on his heels:  impatient, cocky, gleeful

manhandled the woman into a corner:  bully, anger

slumped shoulders: defeat, depressed, sad, surrender

stiff-backed:  priggish, haughty, affronted

stood straighter and straightened his tie:  sexual interest, wants to make an impression

stooped and bent: aged, arthritic, in pain

stretched extravagantly and yawned:  tired, bored, unconcerned

sweating uncontrollably: nervous, fear, guilt

tall erect posture:  confidence, military bearing

was panting now at:  afraid, exhausted, out of breath, sexual excitement

-Sharla Rae

[candy-m-s-deactivated20180720]

Reblogging for future everyday use

[just-my-thoughts-here117]

Holy blankets, Batman–

[valtsv]

im reading about cowboy phrases and sayings and like 95% of them are just solid life advice

[valtsv]

like idk how accurate these are but somehow they manage to be both peak shitposting humor and genuinely helpful suggestions

[valtsv]

fuck self-help books and therapy, all i need to make it in life is my trusty Cowboy Tips™

[letswritesomenovels]

How to Get the First Chapter Right

The first chapter of your novel is the most important chapter of your novel. Anyone who picks up your book will read the first page, but unless that first page is good, there’s little chance they’ll make it to Chapter Twenty-Three, the the best piece of writing ever set down on a page. 

So how do you get it right? 

By remembering three things: 

1. The first chapter is a promise to your reader.

Your first chapter is a promise to your reader that this is what this book is going to be–that there’s not going to be a sudden switch in focus in chapter fifteen. 

It’s important that the first chapter accurately sets up the rest of the book–that it lets the reader know what they’re in for, whether they’ve read the synopsis on the back or not. 

If your book is a murder mystery, don’t start the book with a funny, romantic scene featuring your detective’s love interest. Instead, set a sinister tone, display your detective’s ability to perceive things others can’t, use imagery that suggests violence, show the murder victim being a jerk to the detective soon to be investigating their death. Set up a murder mystery. 

What’s the best way to do this? By remembering that…

2. The first chapter focuses on introducing three essential story elements. 

There are three essential story elements your first chapter needs to focus on:

The protagonist: who they are, what they want, and why we’re reading about them.

The world: whether the world is Middle Earth or Minneapolis, we need a sense of what we can expect of the setting - what its “rules” are

The plot: this might not come until the very end of chapter one, but we need a hint as to where the story’s heading before the words “Chapter Two.” 

But it shouldn’t linger too long explaining them because….

3. The first chapter’s primary job is to hook the reader. 

Your first chapter needs to hook your reader by intriguing and engaging them.

Intrigue your reader by taking your readers directly into a scene that shows off how interesting your protagonist, and world are, by ending on some sort of plot point that turns everything on its head - a revelation or action that will make us go “ooh, what’s going to happen next?” 

Engage your reader, however, by using your protagonist, plot, and world by showing them in action, not description.

Don’t stop to explain that this is a fantasy world–have your protagonist summon fire from her fingers when she goes to light a candle. 

Anything that takes us too far away from the main action of the first chapter, should be put on hold. 

Any time you pause the action to explain what’s going on, what the world is, who the main character is, stop and save it for the second chapter, or third–once you already have your reader’s attention and their trust that you’re going somewhere with this. 

Because that’s what your first chapter is all about: showing you reader that you’re going somewhere with this, and that somewhere is going to be good.

Once you’ve done that, there’s a much better chance your reader will make it to that perfect Chapter Twenty-Three.