Fics From The BlackCat

Fanfic sideblog to Dragonblood1313, current fandom: Lego Monkie Kid and transformers, AO3: Blackcat1313

[black-cat1313]

A little information about each option from my poll earlier:

Rosemary’s baby au: Xiaotian moves in into an apartment with his boyfriend Shen, but strange things start to happen

Christmas Carol au: takes place in the original story but the characters are played by the Monkie Kid characters with a few changes

Past lovers: Xiaotian and Red Son were lovers in a past life. Until DBK rampaged Xiaotian’s village and got Xiaotian killed. The same village that Wukong traps DBK under…..

The Forsaken Bride au: based off the grim legends computer game where Yan travels to see her twin sister’s wedding until a Red Bull kidnaps her sister.

The Teacher and the Prince: Local Prince Red Son falls in love with Xiaotian, the village teacher and caretaker of the orphanage, while disguised as a peasant.

[black-cat1313]

The broken trine au: Orion Pax

It’s my birthday and I wanted to post more about my au right before the end of it. (I love world building so you might see more posts of like it)

Long ago, Orion Pax was a laborer who lived in Iacon. At night, he would sneak into the main archives/library to read and learn as much as he can. Until one night, he was caught by Alpha Trion. He feared that he would be imprisoned, but Alpha Trion saw potential in the young mech and made him an archivist.

Over time, Orion Pax saw and learned more about the past and current corruption of Cybertron. (He’s not native as people think) It also didn’t help when he once met the current prime, the creep. After that, Alpha Trion tried very hard to keep Orion separate from him.

But once an archivist, Orion wanted to do more, to help more. He hated when he saw his friends trying to scrape by, or dealing with the crushing weight from the system. Bee kicked out of one job to the next, Jazz being exhausted sometimes from deliveries, Prowl having a deal with corruption in the enforcers, and Ariel, strong Ariel, practically a slave at the docks. (He tried to offered better jobs at the archives for them, but sadly didn’t work even when Alpha Trion tried to give some advice.)

One day, he learned about some writings and poems that were getting very popular outside of Iacon, including a piece called “Towards Peace”. All created by a mech under an alias.

While Ariel was visiting Orion, she noticed that Orion had collected the mysterious mech’s work. She told Orion that she actually knew the author because he was training her, and asked if he wanted to go see him. Orion asked her to make sure the mech would be ok with it and soon, they planned a meet up.

And- holy Primus he was hot!

Orion couldn’t help himself looking at the gladiator up and down. Even though many mechs were not a fan of the gray color; Orion became attracted to both his color, build, and scars. He saw a mech in front of him that went to the pit and back with an unbroken spirit.

And let’s just say that seeing Ariel and Dee training and spar, it made him have feelings that grew over time.

Over time, Orion and Ariel sneaked into the gladiatorial arena to secretly train with D-16 or to watch his matches with bated breath. They traded comms and courted each other secretly with dates, sparkflowers, and love. They worked with Dee’s friends and their own on the inside and out to find a way to free Dee from his masters.

Eventually, they found a way, but it almost cost Dee his life.

When he was finally free from the arena, Dee proposed to the two of them in a field of spark flowers. He asked them to be his conjunx endura, a trine.

And how can Orion say no? He loved both of them with all of his spark.

They soon had the ceremony in secret. Only their closest friends saw their conjunx endura ceremony. (Young Bee couldn’t stop crying tears of joy through the whole thing)

Afterwards, D-16, now Megatron, started his campaign against the corrupt government with Ariel and Orion at his side.

Orion wanted to help as much as he could without getting caught by the corrupt enforcers. He passed along any information he overheard or learned about the senate and the prime to Megatron and the others. While Ariel helped with getting supplies from the docks or help sabotage any illegal projects created by the corrupt senators.

But during that time, cracks started to appear. Ariel and Megatron become more and more busy with the Decepticons, that they soon spent less and less time with Orion. He tried to stay positive, as soon as a new senate or government was created, things would settle down, right?

Wrong, things went downhill fast. Very fast.

One day, Orion uncovered a secret, buried deep, deep in the archives. A datapad from a previous prime, who spoke about his failure with losing the matrix after murdering his prime, the original 13th prime’s chosen successor. With he felt it, Primus’ judgment against him for his sin and how he was unworthy, and never will be worthy of being a prime. He explained that his chosen council had come up with a plan by creating a fake matrix, powerful enough to almost mimic the original. At the end, he finally explains that he knows what waits for him in the allspark and that Primus will not be kind to him.

Orion is numb, he doesn’t know how to feel about this. But the first thing on his mind was to show Megatron and the Decepticons this datapad. He thinks that if they plan a mass distribution of the information of the data pad, then they can finally overrun the prime and the Senate.

Unfortunately, Megatron doesn’t take this information well and neither does the rest of the Decepticons. Orion chases after them as they raise hell on Iacon and catch up to Megatron.

But what he sees next breaks his spark.

As he watches Megatron aim his cannon at Ariel with blind hatred and anger in his eyes.

Orion doesn’t hesitate, he never does, as he sacrifices himself to save his beloved Ariel.

With that sacrifice, he then awakens not as Orion Pax, but as Optimus prime.

[cupsoupenjoyer003]

[Dan the man!]

[black-cat1313]

The broken trine au: The beginning

There was once three Cybertronians, Orion Pax, Ariel, and D-16.

Ariel was a young dockworker who longed to be a warrior, a hero. And idolized the gladiator D-16, watching his battles against many foes.

While D-16, a former miner turned gladiator, longed to break his chains and be free. Until one day, a cute but tough femme came to him, eager to learn from him. To learn how to fight, to defend themselves.

The two became close with Dee teaching Ariel in secret. Until they met their missing half, Orion Pax. Whose spark and love were as big and bright as Primus’ core. They both fell for him instantly. Fighting each other for his affection and attention. (It also didn’t help that Orion had a smoking frame that could make anyone crazy)

However, soon Orion fell for them both, for his love had no bounds. He fell in love with Dee’s poems and speeches, lighting the spark of freedom and fairness in his spark. While he fell in love with Ariel’s honesty and fighting spirit to protect others. He fell in love with their kindness and burning sparks.

With D-16’s friend’s help, Ariel and Orion were able to free Dee from the arena. They soon formed a trine, a conjunx endura. One that seemed unbreakable.

Dee started his campaign against the corrupt government. Fighting and protesting against the senate and current prime bit by bit. Ariel gained the cause with Dee, now Megatron, but Orion grew worry with each act against the senate. Afraid of losing what he held dear, and losing his trine.

Until one day, the Decepticons, mainly Megatron, Ariel, and a few others; learned the truth about the matrix and how their prime was a false one, created by the senate. All pit broke loose, with Megatron going on a rampage on Iacon. Ariel first tried to stop him, to take a breath and think, to calm his rage.

Yet in blind anger, Megatron shot at her, but Orion sacrificed himself and took the shot, killing him. With Ariel watching in horror.

When Megatron came to, he looked at what he did in shock, trying to apologize. Ariel didn’t stay and carried Orion’s gray frame away, away from him. She then did what she could only think of, she traveled deep down to Primus’ core, hoping for a miracle.

And a miracle came, Primus gave Orion the real matrix, for his sacrifice to protect Ariel. He transformed into Optimus Prime while Ariel renamed herself as Elita one, to cut her last tie to Megatron.

They soon formed the Autobots, and thus started the Cybertron civil war between the Autobots and Decepticons.

(Thought I write a small “prologue” of this au so people know a bit of the backstory of Optimus, Elita, and Megatron in my au. Hope you like it! Feel free to ask questions about it if you are curious!)

[black-cat1313]

I know I just did a poll earlier but I thought about when Unicron finds Optimus. What if Unicron forced Optimus to wear Unicron’s own creation of the matrix? That transforms him into Nemesis Prime.

I looked it up and was surprised that there are dark matrixes, like the opposite of the matrix of leadership. I thought about using the matrix of chaos since that is what has Unicron’s life force. But the matrix of Oppression also sounds so cool! I couldn’t decide.

Which Matrix should Unicron use in the au?

Matrix of Chaos

Matrix of Oppression

Voting ended onJun 6

[black-cat1313]

What should I call my Megoplita au?

The broken trine

Double broken hearted

The war of heartbreak

Voting ended onMay 30

If anyone else though has any ideas, let me know!

@tyriq-edits

[black-cat1313]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Hello everyone! I have updated that just one of my fics but all of them! Hope you enjoy it!

[black-cat1313]

Megoplita au: (haven’t come up with a name for it yet)

Orion, Ariel, and D-16 were once a married trine. They seemed inseparable, strong.

Well, until D-16 basically blew up the government and went to war, breaking Orion’s and Ariel’s sparks. (Soundwave: Why? Just why? You literally had it all.) And then Optimus decided to leave Cybertron, so Megatron would tail him away from the planet for it to recover. Elita was furious at him, thinking he was giving up on Cybertron. She demanded to stay because someone had to lead the rebellion on their home planet. And with that, Optimus’ spark broke twice.

After many years in space and on earth with the war, Optimus’ spark was taking a toll. Megatron and Elita weren’t affected by as much because they weren’t close to each other as Orion was to the both of them. (Basically Orion/Optimus having a bleeding or big heart combined to the two of them)

And it cracks more and more over time from Megatron’s dagger words to Elita ignoring his attempts to have a personal talk. And it kills Ratchet seeing Optimus in this state, and it makes him want to knock some sense into those two spark breakers!

Until one day, Optimus just breaks. No one knows what the final nail in the coffin was. Some say maybe Megatron went too far, or Elita questioned his decisions and orders.

Optimus disappears and leaves earth.

Ratchet finds Optimus’ room empty, except for the matrix of leadership (covered in energon) and a datapad to Megatron and Elita. Telling them if they want to end this war so badly, then let the matrix decide who they both want to listen to. He’s done being their prime and done with them.

Optimus drifts in space aimlessly, and feeling like there is a hole in his chest since he basically carved his heart out. And unfortunately for him, he isn’t alone for long when Unicorn finds him. Even though Optimus didn’t have the matrix of leadership with him, Unicorn can sense that Optimus could be useful. So, even though Optimus refuses, Unicorn makes Optimus his herald:

Nemesis Prime.

And sends him to destroy the Cybertronians and Cybertron. Meanwhile, everyone is going crazy while Elita and Megatron fight over the matrix since obviously Optimus left it to one of them to become the new prime. (No he didn’t)

And everyone not realizing that their doom is coming for them. And those two are going to have a lot of apologizing to do in the future

I wrote this au to @tyriq-edits to share it with them, and a lot of people liked it so I thought I post it here. That way, people can ask questions about it. I may write a fic for it, but I never wrote a transformers fic before and I am unfortunately very slow on updates.

[mikestersufoxo]

The cutie patootie

Anyways idk what to post and idk if I posted thsi alr

[black-cat1313]

Which fic to post a new chapter?

Dangers from the Darkness

Minnow vs Shark

Rekindling Embers

Voting ended onFeb 6, 2025

I thought I post a poll to help decide which of the fics to update next. Ask any questions if you want about them but no spoilers.

[black-cat1313]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Hi Everyone! Finally got around to posting the new chapter! Hope you enjoy it!

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

100 Vocabulary Words for Gothic Fiction | For Writers

Hello Writers! I've put together a list of 100 words to help you expand your vocabulary for writing gothic fiction in October. I categorized the words for easy reference. I did some research using thesauruses and dictionaries to compile this list for you. I hope you find it helpful! 👻🎃

Atmospheric Words

Tenebrous - dark and gloomy

Oppressive - overwhelming and unpleasantly powerful

Ominous - suggesting evil or harm is imminent

Eerie - strange and frightening

Uncanny - mysterious and unsettling

Nefarious - wicked or criminal

Malevolent - having evil intentions

Sinister - giving the impression of evil

Melancholy - deep sadness

Lugubrious - mournful or dismal

Sombre - dark and gloomy

Dreary - dull and depressing

Desolate - empty and lonely

Bleak - cold and depressing

Dank - unpleasantly damp and cold

Character Descriptions

Pallid - abnormally pale

Gaunt - thin and bony

Haggard - looking exhausted and unwell

Cadaverous - corpse-like

Wan - pale and sickly

Spectral - ghost-like

Enigmatic - mysterious and difficult to understand

Brooding - appearing darkly thoughtful

Tortured - suffering mentally or physically

Macabre - disturbing due to focus on death or injury

Architectural Features

Gothic - relating to medieval style architecture

Dilapidated - in a state of disrepair

Decrepit - worn out or ruined due to age

Crumbling - breaking into small fragments

Decaying - rotting or decomposing

Ramshackle - in a state of severe disrepair

Crypt - underground room or vault

Turret - small tower on a building

Parapet - low protective wall along the edge of a roof

Buttress - structure built against a wall for support

Supernatural Elements

Apparition - ghost or spirit

Phantasm - figment of the imagination

Specter - ghost or phantom

Wraith - ghost or spirit

Revenant - person who returns as a spirit after death

Ethereal - extremely delicate and light

Otherworldly - belonging to an imaginary or spiritual world

Paranormal - beyond normal explanation

Preternatural - beyond what is normal in nature

Occult - supernatural or magical

Emotions and States of Mind

Dread - great fear or apprehension

Foreboding - fearful apprehension

Trepidation - fear or anxiety about something that may happen

Anguish - severe mental or physical pain

Despair - complete loss of hope

Melancholia - deep and long-lasting sadness

Hysteria - exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion

Delirium - state of confusion and hallucination

Madness - state of severe mental illness

Obsession - persistent disturbing preoccupation with an idea or feeling

Gothic Settings

Moor - area of open, uncultivated upland

Wasteland - barren or desolate area

Labyrinth - complex maze-like structure

Catacomb - underground cemetery

Dungeon - dark underground prison

Mausoleum - building housing a tomb or tombs

Sepulcher - small room or monument where a dead person is laid

Necropolis - large cemetery, especially an ancient one

Citadel - fortress that commands a city

Monastery - building occupied by a community of monks

Weather and Natural Phenomena

Tempest - violent windy storm

Miasma - unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor

Fog - thick cloud of tiny water droplets

Mist - cloud of tiny water droplets in the air near ground level

Gloom - partial or total darkness

Twilight - soft glowing light from the sky when the sun is below the horizon

Umbra - the fully shaded inner region of a shadow

Penumbra - the partially shaded outer region of a shadow

Crepuscular - resembling twilight; dim

Tenebrous - dark, shadowy, or obscure

Literary Devices and Narrative Elements

Foreshadowing - warning or indication of a future event

Omen - event regarded as a portent of good or evil

Portent - sign or warning that a momentous or calamitous event is likely to happen

Harbinger - person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another

Presage - sign or warning that something will happen

Doppelganger - look-alike or double of a living person

Grotesque - comically or repulsively ugly or distorted

Gothic double - character representing the duality of human nature

Unreliable narrator - narrator whose credibility is compromised

Frame narrative - story within a story

Liminal Spaces and Concepts

Threshold - strip of wood or stone forming the bottom of a doorway

Liminal - occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold

Betwixt - in between

Interstitial - of, forming, or occupying interstices (small spaces between things)

Twilight zone - undefined or intermediate area between two distinct states

Purgatory - place or state of temporary suffering or expiation

Netherworld - imaginary subterranean world of the dead

Abyss - deep or seemingly bottomless chasm

Void - completely empty space

Chthonic - concerning, belonging to, or inhabiting the underworld

Miscellaneous Gothic Terms

Sublime - of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire awe

Ineffable - too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words

Eldritch - weird and sinister or ghostly

Atavistic - relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral

Numinous - having a strong religious or spiritual quality; indicating the presence of a divinity

Happy writing, and Happy October! 📜🕯️- Rin T.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Word List: Said

Said—to express in words; state

Alleged - asserted to be true or to exist

Argued - to give reasons for or against something

Articulated - to utter clear and understandable sounds

Asked - to seek information

Asserted - to state or declare positively and often forcefully or aggressively

Babbled - to talk enthusiastically or excessively

Bellowed - to shout in a deep voice

Bragged - to talk boastfully

Commented - to explain or interpret something by comment

Communicated - to convey knowledge of or information about

Complained - to make a formal accusation or charge

Cried - to utter loudly

Declined - to refuse especially courteously

Demanded - to call for something in an authoritative way

Denied - to declare (something) to be untrue

Encouraged - to attempt to persuade

Expressed - to represent in words

Giggled - to utter with a giggle

Growled - to utter angrily

Inquired - to ask about

Mentioned - to make mention of; refer to

Moaned - lament, complain

Nagged - to irritate by constant scolding or urging

Rebuked - to criticize sharply; reprimand

Rebutted - to contradict or oppose by formal legal argument, plea, or countervailing proof

Rejected - to refuse to accept, consider, submit to, take for some purpose, or use

Replied - to respond in words or writing

Retorted - to answer back usually sharply

Roared - to utter or proclaim with a roar

Scolded - to censure usually severely or angrily

Shrieked - to utter a sharp shrill sound

Shrugged - to raise or draw in the shoulders especially to express aloofness, indifference, or uncertainty

Stated - to express the particulars of especially in words; report

Taunted - to reproach or challenge in a mocking or insulting manner

Voiced - to express in words; utter

Vowed - to promise solemnly; swear

Warned - to give admonishing advice to

Whined - to complain with or as if with a whine

Whispered - to speak softly with little or no vibration of the vocal cords especially to avoid being overheard

Yelled - to utter or declare with or as if with a yell; shout

More: Word Lists

[creativepromptsforwriting]

How to show emotions

Part V

How to show grief

a vacant look

slack facial expressions

shaky hands

trembling lips

swallowing

struggling to breathe

tears rolling down their cheeks

How to show fondness

smiling with their mouth and their eyes

softening their features

cannot keep their eyes off of the object of their fondness

sometimes pouting the lips a bit

reaching out, wanting to touch them

How to show envy

narrowing their eyes

rolling their eyes

raising their eyebrows

grinding their teeth

tightening jaw

chin poking out

pouting their lips

forced smiling

crossing arms

shifting their gaze

clenching their fists

tensing their muscles

then becoming restless/fidgeting

swallowing hard

stiffening

holding their breath

blinking rapidly

exhaling sharply

How to show regret

scrubbing a hand over the face

sighing heavily

downturned mouth

slightly bending over

shoulders hanging low

hands falling to the sides

a pained expression

heavy eyes

staring down at their feet

Part I + Part II + Part III + Part IV

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! And check out my Instagram! 🥰

[creativepromptsforwriting]

Masterpost: How to write a story?

Compilation of writing advice for some aspects of the writing process.

How to motivate myself to write more

How to get rid of writer’s block

Basic Overview: How to write a story

How to outline a story

How to come up with plot

How to create a character

How to make a character unique

How to name your characters (Masterpost)

How to start a story

How to write a prologue

How to write conversation

How to write witty banter

How to write the last line

How to write a summary

How to write a book description

How to write romance

How to write friendships

How to write emotions (Masterpost)

How to write an argument

How to write yelling

How to write anger

How to write betrayal

How to title fanfiction

How to write an unreliable narrator

First Person vs. Third Person POV

How to write character deaths

How to use songs in a fanfiction

How to name fictional things

How to write self-insert fics

How to write multiple points of view

Introducing a group of characters

Large cast of characters interacting in one scene

How to write dual timelines

Redemption arc

Plot twists

Fatal Character Flaws

Good Traits Gone Bad (x)

Slow burn

Explanation posts about writing terms

What is…

AU ideas

Favourite tropes

Tropes of the day

List of Genres

Drabble vs. One-Shot

Advice for writing relationships

Masterpost: how to write relationships + romance

More specific scenarios

How to write a bilingual character

How to write a character with glasses

How to write heterochromia

How to create a villain

Reasons for becoming a villain

How to write a morally grey character

How to write an inferiority complex

How to write a road trip

How to create and write a cult

How to write amnesia

How to write being stabbed

How to write a stratocracy

How to write a heist

How to write the mafia

Criminal past comes to light

Ideas for traumatic experiences

How to create an atmosphere: Coffee Shop

How to create an atmosphere: Library

How to create an atmosphere: Supermarket

How to write a college party

How to write royalty (Masterpost)

Paramilitary Forces/ Militia

Superpowers Masterpost (Hero x Villain)

Inconvenient things a ghost could do

A Queen’s Assassination Plot

Crime Story - Detective’s POV

Evil organization of assassins

Evil wins in the end

Causes for the apocalypse

Last day on earth

Liminal Spaces

Workplace AUs

Signs of co-dependency

What to wear in a desert

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! And check out my Instagram! 🥰

[sparrow-and-seed-scrawls]

How to Write Strong Dialogue

(from a writer of ten years)

So you’re back in the writing trenches. You’re staring at your computer, or your phone, or your tablet, or your journal, and trying not to lose your mind. Because what comes after the first quotation mark? Nothing feels good.

Don’t worry, friend. I’m your friendly tumblr writing guide and I’m here to help you climb out of the pit of writing despair.

I’ve created a character specifically for this exercise. His name is Amos Alejandro III, but for now we’ll just call him Amos. He’s a thirty-something construction worker with a cat who hates him, and he’s just found out he has to go on a quest across the world to save his mother’s diner.

1.) Consider the Attitude and Characteristics of Your Character

One of the biggest struggles writers face when writing dialogue is keeping characters’ dialogue “in-character”.

You’re probably thinking, “but Sparrow, I’m the creator! None of the dialogue I write can be out of character because they’re my original characters!”

WRONG. (I’m hitting the very loud ‘incorrect’ buzzer in your head right now).

Yes, you created your characters. But you created them with specific characteristics and attitudes. For example, Amos lives alone, doesn’t enjoy talking too much, and isn’t a very scholarly person. So he’s probably not going to say something like “I suggest that we pursue the path of least resistance for this upcoming quest.” He’d most likely say, “I mean, I think the easiest route is pretty self-explanatory.”

Another example is a six-year-old girl saying, “Hi, Mr. Ice Cream Man, do you have chocolate sundaes?” instead of “Hewwo, Ice Cweam Man— Chocowate Sundaes?”

Please don’t put ‘w’s in the middle of your dialogue unless you have a very good and very specific reason. I will cry.

Yes, the girl is young, but she’s not going to talk like that. Most children know how to ask questions correctly, and the ‘w’ sound, while sometimes found in a young child’s speech, does not need to be written out. Children are human.

So, consider the attitude, characteristics, and age of your character when writing dialogue!

2.) Break Up Dialogue Length

If I’m reading a novel and I see an entire page of dialogue without any breaks, I’m sobbing. You’re not a 17th century author with endless punctuation. You’re in the 21st century and people don’t read in the same way they used to.

Break up your dialogue. Use long sentences. Use one word. Use commas, use paragraph breaks. Show a character throwing a chair out a window in between sentences.

For example:

“So, you’re telling me the only way to save my Ma’s diner is to travel across five different continents, find the only remaining secret receipt card, and bring it back before she goes out of business? She didn’t have any other copies? Do I have to leave my cat behind?”

vs.

Amos ran a hand over his face. “So, you’re telling me the only way to save my Ma’s diner is to travel across five different continents, find the only remaining secret recipe card, and bring it back before she goes out of business?”

He couldn’t believe his luck. That was sarcastic, of course. This was ironically horrible.

“She didn’t have any other copies?” He leaned forward over the table and frowned. “Do I have to leave my cat behind?”

The second version is easier to digest, and I got to add some fun description of thought and action into the scene! Readers get a taste of Amos’ character in the second scene, whereas in the first scene they only got what felt like a million words of dialogue.

3.) Don’t Overuse Dialogue Tags.

DON’T OVERUSE DIALOGUE TAGS. DON’T. DON’T DON’T DON’T.

If you don’t know what a dialogue tag is, it’s a word after a sentence of dialogue that attributes that dialogue to a specific character.

For example:

“Orange juice and chicken ramen are good,” he said.

‘Said’ functions as the dialogue tag in this sentence.

Dialogue tags are good. You don’t want to completely avoid them. (I used to pride myself on how I could write stories without any dialogue tags. Don’t do that.) Readers need to know who’s speaking. But overusing them, or overusing weird or unique tags, should be avoided.

Examples:

“I’m gonna have to close my diner,” Amos’ mother said.

“Why?” Amos growled. “It’s been in the family forever.”

“I’ve lost the secret recipe card, and I can’t keep the diner open without it!” She cried.

“The Bacon Burger Extreme recipe card?” Amos questioned.

“Yes!” Amos’ mother screamed.

“Well, that’s not good,” Amos complained.

vs.

“I’m gonna have to close my diner,” Amos’ mother said, taking her son’s hand and leading him over to one of the old, grease-stained tabletops with the ripped-fabric booths.

Amos simply stared at her, frozen in place. “Why? It’s been in the family forever.”

“I’ve—” she looked away for a moment, then took in a breath. “I’ve lost the secret recipe card. And I can’t keep the diner open without it.”

“The Bacon Burger Extreme recipe card?”

“Yes!” She still wouldn’t meet his eyes, and her shoulders were shaking. “Yes.”

Amos sat down heavily in the booth. “Well, that’s not good.”

The first scene only gives character names and dialogue tags. There are no actions and no descriptions. The second scene, however, gives these things. They give the reader descriptions of the diner, the characters’ actions, and attitudes. Overusing dialogue tags gets boring fast, so add interest into your writing!

So! When you’re writing, consider the attitude of your character, vary dialogue length, and don’t overuse dialogue tags.

Now climb out of the pit of writing despair. Pick up your pen or computer. And write some good dialogue!

Best,

Sparrow

[deception-united]

Writing Tips Master Post

Character writing/development:

Character Arcs

Making Character Profiles

Character Development

Comic Relief Arc

Internal Conflict

Character Voices

Creating Distinct Characters

Suicidal Urges/Martyr Complex

Creating Likeable Characters

Writing Strong Female Characters

Writing POC Characters

Building Tension

Plot devices/development:

Intrigue in Storytelling

Enemies to Lovers

Alternatives to Killing Characters

Worldbuilding

Misdirection

Consider Before Killing Characters

Foreshadowing

Narrative:

Emphasising the Stakes

Avoid Info-Dumping

Writing Without Dialogue

1st vs. 2nd vs. 3rd Perspective

Fight Scenes (+ More)

Transitions

Pacing

Writing Prologues

Dialogue Tips

Writing War

Writing Cheating

Worldbuilding:

Worldbuilding: Questions to Consider

Creating Laws/Rules in Fantasy Worlds

Book writing:

Connected vs. Stand-Alone Series

A & B Stories

Writer resources:

Writing YouTube Channels, Podcasts, & Blogs

Online Writing Resources

Outlining/Writing/Editing Software

Writer help:

Losing Passion/Burnout

Overcoming Writer's Block

Fantasy terms:

How To Name Fantasy Races (Step-by-Step)

Naming Elemental Races

Naming Fire-Related Races

How To Name Fantasy Places

Ask games:

Character Ask Game #1

Character Ask Game #2

Character Ask Game #3

Miscellaneous:

1000 Follower Post

2000 Follower Poll

Writing Fantasy