words

Liv • 26

[candles-n-cobwebs]

Just a place to dump writing tips and things that inspire me.

Main blog: @itspastmidnight

[thecalloffantasy]

Compiling a scene when you don't know what it needs:

Something that helps me when I’m piecing together the components of a scene, figuring out what to keep at the forefront and what should just be an undercurrent, is comparing it to a song.

Not always a specific song, just the process of building one. Songs differ across styles and genres, so this maps pretty well onto creative writing as a whole.

The baseline is your foundation (not necessarily the literal bass) but the base melody, the pace, the instrument everything else is built on top of. In a scene, this is your core beat: what is actually happening, plot-wise, right now. The action, the conversation, the event driving the scene forward. It's the thing you could summarise in a sentence if someone asked "what happens in this scene." everything else exists to support it, but it can't be only this; a song that's just the baseline on loop gets boring fast, and a scene that's only plot beats reads like a summary, not a story.

The layers are the second beat that echoes the first, the harmonies, the instruments you don't consciously register until your second or third listen. This is your subtext, tension between characters that isn't stated outright, the emotional undercurrent beneath the dialogue, the pacing choices that make a moment feel rushed or drawn out. It's also your sensory detail and atmosphere: the way tone of voice, body language, or the setting itself is quietly doing work on the reader without announcing itself. Take it out and readers might not be able to say exactly what's missing, but they'll feel that the scene falls flat, like when some songs are stripped of their electric guitar. Technically still the same song, but not the one you fell in love with.

The lyrics are the plainly seen part, the thing people notice and remember first, even though they were never the whole song. In a scene, this is your dialogue, your prose style, the actual words on the page. It's what the reader consciously engages with, but it only lands because of everything underneath it holding it up. Lyrics without a melody are just words. Dialogue without subtext and pacing underneath it is just people talking.

So when I don't know what a scene needs, I ask: do I have a baseline (is something actually happening)? Do I have layers (is there feeling and texture beneath the surface)? And are my lyrics, my actual prose, doing justice to both, or are they trying to carry the whole song alone?

[creativepromptsforwriting]

Dialogue Responses

"I can fix this!"

"No, you can't."

"No, no one can."

"Please, just leave."

"I just want it to end."

"It's not even worth it."

"It's too late for that now!"

"I would like to see you try."

"There is nothing left to fix!"

"Can't fix what is not broken."

"Some things should stay broken."

All the Dialogue Responses can be found here.

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[hayatheauthor]

50 Words to Use Instead of "Walked"

For the writers stuck describing every single scene transition as someone "walking" somewhere. Some words are repeated across categories since they fit more than one, but those are counted once, so it adds up to 50 new words.

1. Neutral Tags

Walked, Strolled, Paced, Wandered, Roamed, Moved, Ambled.

2. Slow / Leisurely Tags

Sauntered, Meandered, Dawdled, Loitered, Moseyed, Ambled, Wandered.

3. Fast / Urgent Tags

Hurried, Rushed, Hastened, Scurried, Dashed, Bolted, Scampered.

4. Confident / Purposeful Tags

Strode, Marched, Swaggered, Stalked, Strutted, Paced.

5. Quiet / Sneaky Tags

Crept, Tiptoed, Slunk, Slipped, Padded, Prowled, Sidled.

6. Tired / Struggling Tags

Shuffled, Staggered, Stumbled, Hobbled, Limped, Trudged, Plodded, Dragged, Wobbled.

7. Angry / Aggressive Tags

Stormed, Stomped, Barged, Charged, Thundered, Stamped, Marched.

8. Nervous / Hesitant Tags

Inched, Edged, Sidled, Tottered, Faltered, Crept.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks?

Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!

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[promptcalender]

Filler Words to Cut from your Writing

start / begin ➙ they either do or don't do an action, even if it is interrupted

somehow ➙ find a way to describe it or, if it matters that they don't know how something happened, make it its own sentence. somehow is very lackluster

that ➙ if the sentence makes sense after you remove it, do it

useless modifiers (really, very, certainly, probably, actually, quite, ...) ➙ emphasis on useless: many can be helpful, but many are not

dialogue tags ➙ don't cut them always, but you can leave them out or replace them with action tags for more variety

down / up ➙ often times they are not needed (I sat down vs. I sat)

wonder, think, realize, understand, feel ➙ especially in narration, these are signs of telling, not showing. Instead of "I wondered where he was." you can write "Where was he?"

"There is/was..." ➙ very formulaic and getting rid of as many as possible will make for more variety in sentence structures

Find your own! Every writer will have individual habits, so when you are proofreading your stuff, try to notice your own patterns. Feel free to add onto this post :)

Disclaimer: these words definitely can be very useful when they are used intentionally, especially if they are not overused. When I say to "cut" these words, I mean to question whether they are strengthening or weakening the sentence in every instance.

[Prompt Calender: July 23rd, International Yada, Yada, Yada Day]

[writersisland]

flower symbolisms ❀

american starwort: welcome to a stranger

arbor vitæ: live for me

austrian rose: thou art all that is lovely

belvedere: i declare against you

branch of currants: you please all

campion rose: only deserve my love

coltsfoot: justice shall be done

currant: thy frown will kill me

daily rose: thy smile i aspire to

four-leaved clover: be mine

hemlock: you will be my death

honeysuckle: generous and devoted affection

ice plant: your looks freeze me

japan rose: beauty is your only attraction

justicia: the perfection of female loveliness

love lies bleeding: hopeless, not heartless

maiden blush rose: if you love me, you will find out

mourning bride: i have lost all

peach blossom: i am your captive

purple lilac: first emotions of love

spindle tree: your charms are engraven on my heart

tussilage: justice shall be done to you

vernal grass: poor, but happy

volkamenia: may you be happy

white rose (dried): death preferable to loss of innocence

yellow rose: decrease of love

zinnia: thoughts of absent friends

source: greenaway, kate: language of flowers. london 1884.

[promptcalender]

Responses to "I'm sorry."

"I already forgot what we were fighting about."

"Come here, let me hug you. I'm sorry too."

"I know. Me too."

"I'm the one that should be apologizing."

"You've always made it hard for me to stay mad at you. Come here."

"You did nothing wrong."

"It's okay."

"It wasn't your fault."

"Don't apologize."

"I can't believe you."

"Cut the bullshit."

"Don't lie to me."

"When I said I never wanted to see you again, did you not know what the word 'never' means?"

"You're either stupid or brave to be showing your face here."

"Fuck off."

"Did you expect that to be even remotely enough to fix this?"

"You're about to be."

*immediately escalates to physical violence*

[Prompt Calender: June 27th, National Forgiveness Week Day]

[soluksuret]

[creativepromptsforwriting]

Reactions to… an almost kiss

"Oh."

"Oh, I didn't mean, like, ok..."

"Nothing happened here, right?"

"So, that almost happened..."

"You were really about to kiss me, weren't you?"

"...Were we just about to do something stupid?"

"Why did you stop?"

"Tell me you felt that too."

"Okay, wow. That was close."

"You leaned in first."

"I panicked, alright?"

"I thought you were going to kiss me."

"I wanted to."

"Don't look at me like that."

"So we're just going to pretend that didn't happen?"

"Right. Cool. Totally normal."

"My heart is beating ridiculously fast right now."

"If someone walked in right then, we would've had some explaining to do."

"You hesitated."

"We need to stop having moments like this."

"If I kissed you, I don't think I'd be able to stop."

"I almost ruined our friendship just now." (or made it better...)

"Can we talk about what just happened?"

"Can we never talk about what just happened?"

"You know, for a second there, I thought you were finally going to do it."

More: Reactions to… Masterpost

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

[promptcalender]

Moments of Secret Kisses

pulled into small alleys or alcoves

grabbing their hand to pull them back from the group and giving a quick peck before someone can notice

blowing a kiss from across the room

sliding over a paper with their lipstick imprint on it or a request to meet somewhere private

quickly in passing for just a fraction of a second

before going out, to get their fill before mingling with others

having their designated spot to meet where they don’t have to hide for a minute or so

no physical move, but their eyes speak volumes about how much they want to kiss

[Prompt Calender: June 15th, Sneak a Kiss Day]

[promptcalender]

Mentor & Apprentice Banter

“You made it. Wanna tell me how?” “Badly, then gradually less badly.”

“Confidence is good.” “Then I’m doing great!” “Overconfidence is not.”

“I taught you better than that.” “You didn’t show me though.”

“And what did you learn from you little stunt?” “That consequences come faster than I can run.”

“You seem nervous for me.” “I’m trying a new strategy called ‘caring too much.’”

“You’re getting better.” “Don’t sound so surprised.”

“Are you even listening?” “Oh, totally. I’m just… deciding right now what to try and remember.”

“You need to learn patience.” “Is there a faster way to get it?”

“Mistakes happen.” “Excellent, because I made several.”

[Prompt Calender: June 17th, National Thank A Teacher Day]

[livelaughwriteit]

Writing Sexual Tension

Some tips and tricks I’ve seen on Tumblr, on Pinterest or have learned the hard way while writing. These are pretty basic but sometimes basic is good!

Realizing they can feel the person touching them. Maybe they’re not touching but they can feel the warmth.

Accidentally saying something flirty and both of you freeze. Or saying something flirty and the other person panicking and running away

Eyes dropping to lips. Eyes looking them up and down. Eyes unable to look away. Eyes unable to make contact without blushing. Eyes are you best friend.

Mirroring. When people have crushes or like someone (or want someone to like them) they do what is called mirroring. If character 1 crosses their arms and character 2 has a crush on them, have character 2 cross their arms too.

New Girl taught me about toes. If their feet are facing you, they want to stay. If their feet are pointed away, they want to leave. I’ve found its not always true but its something you can mention or use.

Unable to stop smiling. Unable to stop laughing.

Touching the other one when you laugh. Touching them to move them out of the way. Touching them and not moving your hand away

Hugging them when you see them. Sharing a bed. Trying to be near them at all moments.

Looking at their lips and fantasizing about kissing them.

Watching others interact in some way with them or how they act around them and being super jealous, wondering why they don’t act that way with you.

[sleepyappleidiot]

Character Dynamics I like (Part 2)

Platonic pairings :3

Very sharp and friendly/excitable x very soft and antagonistic with almost everyone

Cocky and overconfident x hates them because they see their old self in them

Avoidant (but wants to be friends) x clingy (but thinks they don't like them)

Ragebaiter x VERY easily ragebaited

Could end the world easily, and hides that fact x Knows their secrets, but still befriends them and hides the fact that they know

Villain who genuinely doesn't understand that what they're doing is wrong x someone from their past who is horrified and disturbed by what they've turned into

Strong and overconfident x their personal hype man (who sees them as everything they say they are)

Evil scientist x ai they created (and treat like their child)

Sees ghosts x refuses to believe in ghosts

Always wearing bandages and gauze x always wearing colorful bandaids

Siblings who look like they're from two completely different pieces of media

"I'd die for you." x *You probably will...*

Rescued child who has never witnessed love (of any kind) before x a couple who saved them from their previous situation (and has basically adopted them)

[goth-queen]

[ariesrin]

Alternatives to 'said'

When character is angry:

Snapped

Spat

Snarled

Hissed

Barked

...or sad:

Choked

Mumbled

Managed

Croaked

Murmured

...or if they're feeling nervous:

Stammered

Babbled

Rambled

Muttered

Squeaked

...and even when flirting:

Coaxed

Purred

Teased

Hummed

Crooned

[luna-azzurra]

Lies Your Character Tells Themselves!!

✶ "I don't need anyone." (Reality caves when they're sick, alone, and no one checks on them because they trained everyone not to.)

✶ "I'm over it." (Caves when they see their ex happy with someone else and realize they've been paused for three years.)

✶ "It wasn't that bad." (Caves when they see someone else experience the same thing and feel protective rage they never felt for themselves.)

✶ "I work better under pressure." (Caves at 4am when their hands won't stop shaking and they can't remember the last time they ate.)

✶ "They'll come back." (Caves when someone new sits in their usual spot and the world didn't actually stop turning.)

✶ "I'm not like my parents." (Caves mid-argument when they hear their mother's exact words coming out of their mouth.)

✶ "I just need to be thinner/richer/smarter/better." (Caves when they achieve the goal and the emptiness is still there, unchanged, patient.)

✶ "I can quit whenever I want." (Caves when they try to stop for one day and their body betrays them with withdrawal, need, panic.)

✶ "Time heals everything." (Caves on the ten-year anniversary when it hurts exactly the same.)

✶ "I'm protecting them by staying away." (Caves when they find out the person spent years thinking they weren't wanted, weren't loved.)

✶ "It's not abuse if I provoked it." (Caves when they see a child get yelled at for nothing and want to shield them from everything.)

✶ "I don't deserve better." (Caves when someone treats them with basic kindness and they break down crying in a Starbucks bathroom.)

✶ "Asking for help is weakness." (Caves when they physically can't do it alone anymore and pride becomes a luxury they can't afford.)

✶ "People leave, that's just how it is." (Caves when someone stays through the ugly and they realize they've been the one pushing everyone away.)

✶ "I'm too damaged for love." (Caves when someone looks at their scars and doesn't flinch.)

✶ "Success will make me happy." (Caves at the top of the ladder when the view is just lonelier, higher up.)

✶ "They didn't mean it like that." (Caves when the same pattern repeats and excuses run out and they're tired, so tired of translating cruelty into kindness.)

✶ "I'm fine being alone." (Caves during a random Tuesday evening when the silence becomes a physical weight crushing their chest.)

✶ "Emotions are weakness." (Caves when they feel nothing at their own parent's funeral and realize they've amputated part of their humanity.)

✶ "I'll deal with it later." (Caves when 'later' becomes 'never' and the rot they've been ignoring finally consumes the foundation.)

[soluksuret]