Arilynn

A crappy fanfiction writer. A fabulous Baker. A lazy person.

[tkkatherineblog]

[monstersah]

this is the place you’d find your selkie SO

[admelioraa]

reblog if you’re

- scared for avengers 4

- scared for avengers 4

- scared for avengers 4

- scared for avengers 4

- scared for avengers 4

no one will know which one

[midnightstarlightwrites-deactiv]

“How do I write intimate scenes?” “How do I start a fanfiction?” “What’s your advice for creating/adding OCs?”

All of this and more on today’s ep of fanfiction writing for beginners- today I’m answering YOUR questions!

[deceasedtony]

I honestly cannot believe that there are so many of you😭 In my more than 6 years on this hellsite, I’ve been so so lucky to have joined this community and gotten to know some of you. This is just a little thank you for sticking with me through everything and coming along for the ride💕

All winners will be winning the exact same prize consisting of:

🌷5 MUJI GEL INK BALLPOINT PENS 0.38MM (in any color of your choice*)

🌷5 MUJI SMOOTH WRITING GEL INK PENS 0.5MM (in any color of your choice*)

🌷2 MUJI A5 RECYCLED PAPER NOTEBOOKS

🌷1 MUJI WATER-BASED HEXAGONAL COLOR PEN SET W/ 10 COLORS

🌷1 PILOT JUICE 0.5MM PEN SET W/ 6 COLORS

🌷5 ZEBRA MILDLINER HIGHLIGHTER (in any color of your choice*)

🌷5 UNI-BALL SIGNO 0.38MM GEL INK PENS (in any color of your choice*)

🌷A SET OF ANIMAL POST-ITS

🌷3 ROLLS OF PATTERNED WASHI-TAPE

FOR EVERY 100 NOTES THIS POST GETS, I’LL BE ADDING ANOTHER WINNER

*Please note that colors are subject to stores’ availability

Rules:

You must follow me (this giveaway is my way of thanking my lovely followers)

Only reblogs count! Likes are for bookmarking only

You can reblog as many times as you want (but please don’t spam your followers)

Giveaway blogs don’t count!

Winners will be picked by the random generator

I ship to anywhere in the world

You need to have an open ask box so that I can contact you if you win. 

You need to be comfortable with giving me the address to wherever you want the gift sent to

If winners don’t respond within 24 hrs, a new winner will be chosen

Deadline:

Giveaway closes on September 10th (my birthday!) and winners will be selected soon after

Message me if you have any questions! Goodluck💕

[ariscribblelynn-blog]

Hi, I feel like I'm dying inside just a little bit.

Dreaming is a natural thing for me. I dream almost everyday and almost everyday there's a new world waiting for me that I've never seen before. So I go into that go into that world and have the time of my life. I'm dreaming and when I realize even the slightest bit that this world of mine isn't real, everything stops. My world stops. There are times when I wake up and wish that I could've stayed there forever. I could've just not woken up. I can feel that emptiness inside of me. The loss of something that's so much better than the life I currently live. The only reason why I read fanfiction rather than write it. I can't put those words, those feelings, on paper or in this case device. It hard on me even with my efforts, nothing seems "real" enough. But it's not real, and no matter how much I wish it was and no matter how many times I write it down nothing sticks and nothing will ever stick because it's not something I can experience ever again. I can't go back in time to experience it, and I can't remember it sometimes. And it's draining me. There are times, like right now, where I feel empty. Lethargic and bored. I can't physically do anything, I can't even watch videos because that emptiness just piles up. It doesn't go away. Right now I'm venting, because that's all I can do. Vent. It's hard. I feel like I can't do a lot of things now. It just won't let me. I try to read and read or watch YouTube to get rid of this emptiness, but I feel like it got worse. The emptiness got bigger when I started to dream again. I can't stop dreaming and there are times where I wish I could. There are also times where I miss dreaming, being in a nonexistent world in my head. I just want to get rid of this disgusting feeling, this emptiness. I just want to feel whole again.

[wilfcrd]

When your friend spills the tea

[brixtonlore]

so how do I make a fanfic neutral?

if any other authors got more to add to this, go crazy :)

mainly, it’s just practice, my dude. be conscious about what you’re writing. ask yourself, am I including certain specifications like white-knuckled grip, BLUSHING, long hair? if you’re gonna write a reader insert, ask yourself if all kinds of people can relate to it, not just those who are blonde, leggy and white.

But if you’re gonna write something along the lines of it, just put it in the description of your story.

[cherrynat]

don’t specify hair lengths, hair styles or hair colors

don’t describe nipples as pink and perky pls i beg yall

don’t use blushing 

[samingtonwilson]

stop calling thighs “milky” (for god’s sake, dude)

if you’re giving the character you’re writing for and the reader children, don’t make those children blonde-haired because that isn’t very likely to happen if the reader is a person of color

STOP WITH THE BLUSHING AND TURNING PINK OR RED

stop making the reader the child or sibling of a character unless you’re specifying that the reader is adopted.

also some of y’all have really bad taste in clothes so stop specifying what the reader is wearing unless you have good taste. this has nothing to do with making the reader insert suitable for all people, it just pisses me off a lot

[cherrynat]

POINT 4 IS SO IMPORTANT OH MY GOD

[brixtonlore]

addition: @wordsinwinters sent me this a1 post

And also this highlight from @lancefvcker : keep your physical descriptors for your established characters (bucky, steve, thor etc.) and focus on the emotional side and how it physically feels for the reader

[welcomedhappiness]

Farewell online privacy

[tikalgirl]

What happened?

[welcomedhappiness]

Trump happened.

[pizzaalle]

just get a VPN?

[earth-ruins]

You can’t just tell people to ‘get a VPN (Virtual Private Network)’. Buying a VPN is like buying a house. It’s very very important. Having no VPN or having a ‘wrong’ one can seriously damage your life. Especially for Americans because their privacy laws are garbage. I am going to try explain why you should get a VPN but bare with me, I am from Germany and my English is far from perfect. 

Let’s start with a simple test. Click this link here: https://whatismyipaddress.com/ It will tell your IP adres, your ISP (internet service provider), and your location. The location might not be very accurate, but then again, it’s just a simple website. Imagine what the government can do!

So basically, everyone can find out where you live. But there is more danger. Your ISP. Your ISP logs your every move online and they are required to keep it in case the government wants access to it (or if a 3rd party wants to buy your data (yikes). They have everything. What websites you visit. How long you stay on a website. What you download. Your search terms. European laws are more subtle on this but if you are from the US you are #@*#&, especially because Trump doesn’t support the open internet. It’s scary but maybe in the future you can’t get a job because the recruiter knows your searched on ‘how to deal with depression’ or anythings else that’s supposed to be private because it’s your f*cking right. Or you get a $100k fine because you pirated a movie 15 years ago. You need a VPN. You’re dumb for not using one. but what does a VPN do?

A VPN encrypts all your data so if it were be intercepted no one can ‘crack the code’ and damage your privacy. 

Usually being online goes like this (simplified): Your computer —-> ISP (—–> keeps data —–> sells it)

But with a VPN it goes like: Your computer —–> VPN (encrypts data)—–> ISP (ISP can’t see shit)

Furthermore, a VPN hides your IP address and location by giving you another IP address located in Spain for example (you can often choose from a list and change as many times as you want).  

Now that you know why you should get a VPN and what is does it is important to educate yourself because people often choose the wrong VPN. VPN providers are also businesses and have to obey the law. If you choose a VPN provider located in the US then you are throwing your money away because the laws in the US shits on your privacy. If the US gov wants the provider to give all their logs they have to obey.  The ISP  still can’t see what you are doing online and sell your data but the US gov can interfere with your VPN provider so NEVER CHOOSE A PROVIDER LOCATED IN THE US. 

I just wanted to make that very clear so my followers don’t buy false security.

There is still more danger!  Who says your VPN provider isn’t selling your data? You need to check their logging policy. Do they keep logs? If yes, what for? For how long do they keep them? Tip: Choose a provider who doesn’t keep logs

More about law  The US is part of the Five Eyes program (the worst):  

The Five Eyes, often abbreviated as FVEY, is an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. These countries are bound by the multilateral UKUSA Agreement, a treaty for joint cooperation in signals intelligence (source)

There is also a Nine Eyes (bit better) and Fourteen Eyes Program (better).  You don’t want a VPN provider who is located in one the Five Eyes countries.  If you had to choose go for a provider located in a country that’s part of the Fourteen Eyes Program or even better, go for a country that isn’t part of any program! 

I know this is a shitty explanation and please pardon my english but now it’s time to do your own research. Take your privacy seriously. Maybe WWIII breaks out and you get killed for liking the ‘wrong’ FB-page.  

Go to this website: https://thatoneprivacysite.net/simple-vpn-comparison-chart/

Make sure that your future VPN provider both has green boxes for Privacy Jurisdiction and Privacy Logging. 

I recommend ovpn.se and trust.zone. ovpn is located in Sweden so they are part of the 14 Eyes Program and they keep minimal logs. Their business ethics, however, are alright. 

Trustzone is located in the Seychelles. No country can interfere and their privacy jurisdiction is the best you can get. The US want your data but needs to get it from Trustzone? The Seychelles will simply give them the finger and wave them goodbye. However, this makes this provider very appealing for people who torrent and criminals because they keep no logs (and that is how it shoud be) Also,  there are almost no marketing efforts so this provider is one the cheapest)

Also, often providers such as ExpressVPN are being called ‘The Best’ on websites about VPNs but know that this is just marketing which also makes those provider more expensive (and they too shit on your privacy)

This must be the worst article you have ever read but please, please take your privacy very seriously.

EDIT: I got many people asking me which provider I use. For those who want to know, I use Trust Zone. They offer a free 3-day trial with no strings attached. But still do your own research! 

[writing-prompt-s]

I am also with Trustzone but I think you forgot to explain one of it’s most important features. It protects you when you are using someone else’s Wi-Fi. If you are at Starbucks and you use their Wi-Fi your privacy is at risk. Anyone with ill intentions could steal your information. Especially if you are using an unsecured Wi-Fi hotspot. With a VPN your data gets encrypted so no one can steal it. 

[rabbittiddy]

Wait, what’s going, on? Did trump destroy internet privacy with a bill or something? Where’s the news? Oh wait, why am I getting visions of Alex Jones and selling water purifiers?

[thecrystalfems]

He hasn’t yet but he says he wants to. And if he is serious about it it would be really easy to do. Since all our data is already recorded, as the person above explained.

[coltrer]

Trump wants more surveillance of Muslim Americans. This in a country where internet privacy is already close to non-existent. 

Trust.Zone has a free trial. Use it. 

btw this post only has 11k notes? That’s quite disappointing for something this important. 

Don’t reblog this post to save a life. Reblog this to protect an entire family!

[imthedoctor12]

@earth-ruins @writing-prompt-s Should I get trustzone for my mobile device?

[writing-prompt-s]

If you use public Wi-Fi, then yes. Which VPN you use is up to you, amigo. Take @earth-ruins advice. Do your own research first. 

[writing-prompt-s]

@elvesfromthedeep​ just brought the current situation in the US to my attention (March 30, 2017). 

Sources

Anger as US internet privacy law scrapped 

Congress just voted to let internet providers sell your browsing history 

To all my friends in the US, please read this entire post. Making everyone aware of VPNs is going to be my mission. Your privacy matters. Please reblog this post.

[greeneyespurpleheart]

Don’t tell me you just wanted to scroll past this. Stop looking at pictures of cats for a moment, okay? Don’t you realize how important this is? This is dangerous! ‘America, the best FREE country in the world’ my ass.

With this new law your ISP can sell your Internet history which could include passwords, usernames, religion, credit card numbers, race and much more to the highest bidder. So here is what I want you to do. You are going to read the whole thing and before you think ’this is so important. Let me reblog this real quick and go back to admiring cats again-’ NO! Don’t reblog this. Take action first. Then reblog. Sign up for a free trial! Trust.Zone offers one (here). Yes. It might be difficult to set up a VPN for some people. But is that going to stop you from protecting yourself and your family? 30 minutes. 30 minutes is all that it takes. 5 if you know how to install software. The problem with some of you is that you see ‘difficult’ as something negative. I want you to see difficult differently. I need you to push through this stuff. You are going to protect yourself. There is nothing negative about that. VPNs are fun and costsaving too! A VPN bypasses geographical restrictions so you can access websites you normally can’t or you could start Netflix’s one month free trial over and over again- forever. And it’s legal! (unless you use it to buy weapons etc.,) Don’t tell yourself that you are too tired and that you will do this tomorrow. Because that isn’t going to happen and you know it. You have to do this right now. You only have to click on it. Don’t let this/shit/life just happen to you. Take yourself seriously. Get a VPN.

Privacy is not a privilege, it’s a fundamental human right

[tthatonefangirl-deactivated2019]

Ok sorry that it’s so freaking long and also sorry for the language, but this is extremely important. Please reblog!

[li-ionsandtigersandbears]

Reblogging again bc this is important

[ariscribblelynn-blog]

DESPERATELY NEED LIGHT NOVELS/WUXIA NOVELS

Okay, what I mean is I need stuff to read that are romance. This is mainly towards light novels and wuxia novels. I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY/GREATFUL/THANKFUL/AMAZED IF YOU CAN SHOW ME A ROMANCE NOVEL WITH LIKE 2000 CHAPTERS PLS THANK YOU. LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE TRANSLATED THO COS I DON’T UNDERSTAND ANY MANDARIN. I MEAN I COULD SLOWLY LEARN IT, BUT IT WOULD BE HARD AF. AGAIN THANK YOU.

[everydaylouie]

hello, world (a test of some virtual singer software!)

(soundcloud)

[plotlinehotline]

Writing x Characters When You Aren’t x, A Masterlist

x: a variable used to represent something unknown.

We’ve seen an influx of questions about how to write stories based around characters of color, disability, non-binary, etc. when the author does not fall into these categories. Rather than have these posts take over the site, we’ve decided to compile a list of resources to help our fellow writers become more educated about writing what they do not immediately know. However, this list is not the end-all-be-all of knowledge; one should always try to learn from someone with first hand experience in any topic. The world is constantly growing and changing, and because of that, there will always be more to learn. The admins at Plotline Hotline want to help writers form respectful, informed, and realistic characters that broaden the narrow range we see in literature today. 

*Be wary that some of the topics listed below contain sensitive material. Reader discretion is advised.* 

As always, the links I found to be especially apt will be in bold. Topics are listed alphabetically, excepting the “other” section.

Culture

Appropriate Cultural Appropriation

What is Cultural Appropriation? [1,2,3]

Cultural Appropriation Is, In Fact, Indefensible

Voice Appropriation & Writing About Other Cultures

Diversity, Appropriation, and Writing the Other [List]

Disability

Writing Disibilities [1,2,3,4,5]

Guides to Writing Deaf or Hard of Hearding People

National Association of the Deaf - Resources [List]

World Federation of the Deaf

Using a Prosthetic Device

Prostehtic Limbs (Character Guide)

How NOT to Write Disabled Characters

A Guide to Disibility Rights Law (United States)

Timeline of Disibility Rights in the United States

Social Security Disability: List of Impairments, Medical Conditions, and Problems [List] (United States)

How to Write Disabled Characters: An Opinion Piece

Artificial Eye Resources [List][Various]

Adapting to the Loss of an Eye

Misconceptions and Myths About Blindness

Blind Characters: A Process of Awareness

Writing Blind Characters [List]

Types of Learning Disabilities [List]

Diversity

A Guide to Spotting and Growing Past Stereotypes

How to Prepare to Write a Diverse Book

The Diversity of Writing

Why Diversity Matters for Everyone

Writing a Driverse Book [1,2,3,4,5]

Diversity, Political Correctness and The Power of Language

Diversity Book List [List][Books]

Basic Tips To Write Subcultures & Minority Religions Better 

Basic Tips to Avoid Tokenism

Gender

GLAAD Media Reference Guide - Transgender

Creating Well-Written Trans Characters

A Few Things Writers Need To Know About Sexuality & Gender Expression

Trans (Character Guide & Bio Building)

A Non-Binary Person’s Guide to Invented Pronouns

Gender Neutral Writing [List]

Keeping a Trans* Person a Person  

Suggestions for Reducing Gendered Terms in Language [Photo]

How to Review a Trans Book as a Cis Person

Writing Characters of Different Genders [List]

Understanding Gender

Gender Spectrum Resources [List]

Gender History

Illness 

Writing Chronic Illness [1,2]

The Spoon Theory - Also pertains to disibility

About HIV/AIDS

Sexually Transmitted Diseases [List]

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sex and Gender Differences in Health [Study]

All Chronic Illness Topics [List]

Coping with Chronic Illness

All Cancer Types

A Day in the Life of a Home Health Aide/Health Coach

Fiction Books With Chronically Ill Main Characters- Not Cancer [List][Books]

Neurotype (Including Mental Health)

Writing an Autistic Character When You Don’t Have Autism

Depression Resources [List]

What to Consider When Writing Mental Illness

Stanford Psychiatric Patient Care

Inpatient Psychiatric Questions and Tips

Don’t Call Me Crazy [Documentary]

(Avoid) Romanticizing Mental Illness [1,2]

A Day in the Life of a Mental Hospital Patient

State-run vs. Private Mental Hospitals

Mental Disorders

Mental Hospital Non-Fiction [List][Books]

National Institute of Mental Health - Mental Health Information [List]

Writing Autistic

What Causes PTSD?

Remember, Remember: The Basics of Writing Amnesia

ADHD Basic Information

What is a Learning Disability?

What is Neurotypical?

Race

Writing Race: A Checklist for Authors

Transracial Writing for the Sincere

Is my character “black enough”

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

Challenge, Counter, Controvert: Subverting Expectations

Writing With Color: Blogs - Recs - Resources [List]

Writing People of Color (If you happen to be a person of another color)

7 Offensive Mistakes Well-Intentioned Writers Make

Description Guide - Words for Skin Tone

Religion

Religion in Novels: Terrific or Taboo?

How to Write a Fantasy Novel that Sells: The Religion

Writing About Faith And Religion

From Aladdin to Homeland: How Hollywood Can Reinforce Racial and Religious Stereotypes 

Sexuality

Understanding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity [List]

Writing Gay Characters [1,2,3]

American Civil Liberties Union - LGBT+ Rights

LGBT+ Rights by Country or Territory

History of Gay Rights

Gay Rights Movement

LGBT+ Culture

Gay Myths and Stereotypes

LGBT+ Studies Web Sites [List]

LGBTQ Youth Issues

LGBTData.com

Overview of Gay and Lesbian Parenting, Adoption and Foster Care (United States)

Other

How Doctors’ Offices—and Queer Culture—Are Failing Autistic LGBTQ People

Five Traps and Tips for Character Development

Developing Realistic Characters

I hope that this list will provide topics a writer may not initially think to research when writing. If there are any resources that you think would be fitting for this list, please let us know! We want to have as many helpful sources as possible to maximize learning opportunities. 

Stay educated,

xx Sarah

[1000storyideas]

Ambient sounds for writers

Find the right place to write your novel… 

Nature

Arctic ocean

Blizzard in village

Blizzard in pine forest

Blizzard from cave

Blizzard in road

Beach

Cave

Ocean storm

Ocean rocks with rain

River campfire

Forest in the morning

Forest at night

Forest creek

Rainforest creek

Rain on roof window

Rain on tarp tent

Rain on metal roof

Rain on window

Rain on pool

Rain on car at night

Seaside storm

Swamp at night

Sandstorm

Thunderstorm

Underwater

Wasteland

Winter creek

Winter wind

Winter wind in forest

Howling wind

Places

Barn with rain

Coffee shop

Restaurant with costumers

Restaurant with few costumers

Factory

Highway

Garden

Garden with pond and waterfall

Fireplace in log living room

Office 

Call center

Street market

Study room from victorian house with rain

Trailer with rain

Tent with rain

Jacuzzi with rain

Temple

Temple in afternoon

Server room

Fishing dock

Windmill

War

Fictional places

Chloe’s room (Life is Strange)

Blackwell dorm (Life is Strange)

Two Whales Diner (Life is Strange)

Star Wars apartment (Star Wars)

Star Wars penthouse (Star Wars)

Tatooine (Star Wars)

Coruscant with rain (Star Wars)

Yoda’s hut with rain ( Star Wars)

Luke’s home (Star Wars)

Death Star hangar (Star wars)

Blade Runner city (Blade Runner)

Askaban prison (Harry Potter)

Hogwarts library with rain (Harry Potter)

Ravenclaw tower (Harry Potter)

Hufflepuff common room (Harry Potter)

Slytherin common room (Harry Potter)

Gryffindor common room (Harry Potter)

Hagrid’s hut (Harry Potter)

Hobbit-hole house (The Hobbit)

Diamond City (Fallout 4)

Cloud City beach (Bioshock)

Founding Fathers Garden (Bioshock)

Things

Dishwasher

Washing machine

Fireplace

Transportation

Boat engine room

Cruising boat

Train ride

Train ride in the rain

Train station

Plane trip

Private jet cabin

Airplane cabin

Airport lobby

First class jet

Sailboat

Submarine

Historical

Fireplace in medieval tavern

Medieval town

Medieval docks

Medieval city

Pirate ship in tropical port

Ship on rough sea

Ship cabin

Ship sleeping quarter

Titanic first class dining room

Old west saloon

Sci-fi

Spaceship bedroom

Space station

Cyberpunk tearoom

Cyberpunk street with rain

Futuristic server room

Futuristic apartment with typing

Futuristic rooftop garden 

Steampunk balcony rain

Post-apocalyptic

Harbor with rain

City with rain

City ruins turned swamp

Rusty sewers

Train station

Lighthouse

Horror

Haunted mansion

Haunted road to tavern

Halloween

Stormy night

Asylum

Creepy forest

Cornfield

World

New York

Paris

Paris bistro

Tokyo street

Chinese hotel lobby

Asian street at nightfall

Asian night market

Cantonese restaurant

Coffee shop in Japan

Coffee shop in Paris

Coffee shop in Korea

British library

Trips, rides and walkings

Trondheim - Bodø

Amsterdam - Brussels

Glasgow - Edinburgh

Oxford - Marylebone

Seoul - Busan

Gangneung - Yeongju

Hiroshima

Tokyo metro

Osaka - Kyoto

Osaka - Kobe

London

São Paulo

Seoul

Tokyo

Bangkok

Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)

Alps

New York

Hong Kong

Taipei

[guysimbeingfollowed]

Beautiful

[queerenbian-deactivated20190515]

@icanneverbesatisfied @maybe-mikala I HAVE FOUND THE ULTIMATE RESOURCE

[icanneverbesatisfied]

I LOVE YOU FOR THIS

[queerenbian-deactivated20190515]

HONESTLY I CAN DIE HAPPY NOW

[sketchbookthingz-deactivated201]

omg @luvmesumsherlock

[iwearapentagrambtch]

This helps if you’re drawing too!

[youreallyshouldtalkmore]

I’m sure there is some inspiration in one of these, but this is a great masterlist! 

[bot-dad]

Hello sure there is some inspiration in one of these, but this is a great masterlist, I’m Dad!

Dad^bot^1. Your murder won’t last forever ^_^ | PayPal | Patreon Beep-boop!

[ironwoman359]

This is perfect

[pixelenchanter]

This isn’t just for writing! I’ve used several of these when working on homework or studying for exams. If having absolute silence bothers you, or makes it hard for you to concentrated like it does for me, please check some of these out!

[a-tale-of-two-comics]

This morning I woke up with nervous apprehension. By 1:30 my entire fandom was turned upside down. I’m billing the Russo Brothers for my therapy. I loved it. But it hurt me.

[ariscribblelynn-blog]

I woke up at 8 to watch infinity wars by 9 am only to get my heart torn out by 11.

[wordsnstuff]

Tips On Writing A Blurb

– This was supposed to be an answer to an anonymous ask, but in the middle of typing up the physical draft, I accidentally posted it and had to delete it. Anyways, here’s a post dedicated to the subject because why not expand, you know? Hope this is helpful to you all. Happy writing!

Blurb: The brief summary on the back of a book that lets the reader know a bit about what the story is.

What It Should Include

When it comes to writing a synopsis, focus on identifying the following four things for the reader:

The overall setting

The main character(s) 

The main conflict

The overarching challenges the protagonist must overcome through this conflict

Don’t

Overload the reader with information. They shouldn’t have to know the entire layout of your book to want to read it. You’re trying to hook them so they want to learn more. 

Name every single character in your book. This is like telling a story to one friend about 9 other friends with a complicated background when they have no clue as to who they are or what the context is. 

Feel the need to explain your whole magic system/society to your potential reader in the case of a fantasy or science fiction work. This is part of eluding to the setting, but you just need to let them know what the jist is, not how everything works and how it effects the characters. That’s for later.

Do

Explain the cause and effect of events in your story. If you’re going to divulge an important plot point, you need to specify why it happened and what it leads to. Simple as that.

Use simple words as often as possible. You don’t need to wow them with your writing style quite yet. Just make it easy to understand and focus on hooking them with the actual plot.

Use the rules of writing fiction. It is still story, just very very condensed with the majority of details left out. You still need to show instead of tell, develop character, and draw the potential audience in. 

Length

In terms of length, it depends. I personally prefer about a 30 second synopsis. More specifically, about 2-4 sentences or around 100 words. Go with any of these options and you’ll be golden.

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[krfbooks]

hi! this might be kind of a strange ask, but i was wondering how to ¨recover¨ from being a fanfic author. i don't think there´s shame in someone writing it, but i personally feel like i´m too old for it now, and i can't take it seriously. there is one unfinished fic of mine that i am very proud of. i just can't decide if i should change it to a more original story or if i should keep it the way it is. should i just learn to be more confident about writing fanfic? how do i do both? ahaha help pls

Hey there!

I don’t think you’re ever too old to write fanfiction! I actually used to write fanfic as a kid, but I sort of phased out of it as I grew up (but only because I began writing my own books and stories– I still read fanfic in my spare time, but I never have enough time to write it). So I personally feel like fanfic helped shape me into the writer I am now; so I embrace my ‘origin story’ as it were haha. 

But I do understand the flip side of this; it can be hard in a professional environment to also be a fanfiction writer, as sadly it isn’t taken seriously. There are some amazing fics out there, but media tend to like focussing on the…er… less than savoury ones. I can imagine if your author name is tied to your fanfics, then it can bring up some unwanted attention if someone googled your name and stumbled across your explicit Drarry fics you wrote when you were thirteen. (Not a story from personal experience mind you…I never used my real name on my accounts and made sure to private my old fic years ago…) 

As for this unfinished fic, the one you’re really proud of… don’t delete it (or rather, make sure you keep a copy of it somewhere. I can’t tell you how much you’ll regret not saving old fics, they’re also great to look back on how much you’ve progressed and improved). There are cases of published authors who started off as fanfic writers who’ve adapted their fanfic into books by changing character names, details, etc. Two that immediately come to mind are Cassandra Clare and her Mortal Instruments series which started off as a Harry Potter fanfic, and the probably infamous 50 Shades series by E. L James which started off as a Twilight fanfiction. I’m not going to go into the moral ramifications of this as it’s a sort of grey area as to whether turning a fanfic inspired by an existing series is plagiarism or new content. Either way, both series were very successful, but both had a fair amount of negative attention thrown their way. 

In the end, I think it’s really up to you to decide what to do with your fic. Sorry, I know that’s a frustrating answer! I’ve known people who have completely erased their previous fanfic lives from the internet, while others have left it all up and heartily embraced it (and continue writing fic). I sort of took the middle road– I deleted some cringey fic I wrote when I was eleven, but I still read it regularly. No matter which route you choose, I wish you good luck with your writing! 

-Katie @krforsyth

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Late spring at Barton Farm (WRITING AMBIENCE)

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Avenger’s Tower (WRITING AMBIENCE)

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