When Inspiration Strikes

Writing library sideblog for the-sassy-sister AO3: fallen_angel_ashes7 with pseuds: the-intelligent-blonde and SeducedBlondie Fic Requests: [Closed]

[gimmickbook]

[lillie-garden]

not enough people talking about this

[skribblegurl]

some people think writers are so eloquent and good with words, but the reality is that we can sit there with our fingers on the keyboard going, “what’s the word for non-sunlight lighting? Like, fake lighting?” and for ten minutes, all our brain will supply is “unofficial”, and we know that’s not the right word, but it’s the only word we can come up with…until finally it’s like our face got smashed into a brick wall and we remember the word we want is “artificial”.

[heywriters]

I couldn't remember the word "doorknob" ten minutes ago.

[bumblewyn]

ok but the onelook thesaurus will save your life, i literally could not live without this website

[breelandwalker]

REBLOG TO SAVE A WRITER'S LIFE

[random-questions-fairy]

Oh my gosh. I just found this website that walks you though creating a believable society. It breaks each facet down into individual questions and makes it so simple! It seems really helpful for worldbuilding!

[theredscreech]

Heads up that this is a very extensive questionnaire and might be daunting to a lot of writers (myself included). That being said, it is also an amazing questionnaire and I will definitely be using it (or at the very least, some of it).

[octoswan]

I made these as a way to compile all the geographical vocabulary that I thought was useful and interesting for writers. Some descriptors share categories, and some are simplified, but for the most part everything is in its proper place. Not all the words are as useable as others, and some might take tricky wording to pull off, but I hope these prove useful to all you writers out there!

(save the images to zoom in on the pics)

[dontwritethatone]

I needed this

[wordsnstuff]

Tips on Introducing Backstory

Patreon || Ko-Fi || Masterlist || Work In Progress || Studyblr || Studygram

–

Only Share Details That Shaped The Characters

Backstory is one of those things that really irks readers when it’s obviously unnecessary. Yes, you can argue that all backstory has contributed to a character’s personality, but it’s important to make the distinction between what’s relevant to the character overall and the character during this specific conflict. 

Telling Can Be Okay

Clarity is important when it comes to backstory, and when you’re telling the reader information that was revealed in a moment prior to the current timeline, you want to be concise. Long-winded flashbacks full of irrelevant details are often irritating. Yes, there’s a right way to do it but it takes lots of practice and reworking to get it right, and flashbacks are frequently used by writers who would rather show the moment than cleverly work the information into a present situation, and it’s very easy to tell when this is the case. 

Showing Can Be Better

Again, things like flashbacks or scenes that are obviously reminiscent of past events are perfectly okay when it comes to providing information, but you must accept that it takes more work, time, and snipping in order to make it concise and effective. 

Its Purpose Is To Create Context

Context is everything, and when you introduce backstory, it should reframe the current situation and conflict with new, relevant information for the reader. There should be an “oh shit” moment when a reader connects the dots between two things that didn’t quite make sense until they knew the context. That’s the purpose and effect of backstory. As you can tell, this is a delicate, strategic device. 

Weave Sparingly

Backstory should be placed strategically and very sparingly. You shouldn’t use backstory to explain everything, because that leaves no room for interpretation or for the reader to ask questions of the plot. Weave carefully, use sparingly. 

–

Support Wordsnstuff!

FIND MORE ON WORDSNSTUFFBLOG.COM

If you enjoy my blog and wish for it to continue being updated frequently and for me to continue putting my energy toward answering your questions, please consider Buying Me A Coffee, or pledging your support on Patreon.

Request Resources, Tips, Playlists, or Prompt Lists

Instagram // Twitter //Facebook //#wordsnstuff

FAQ //monthly writing challenges // Masterlist

MY CURRENT WORK IN PROGRESS (Check it out, it’s pretty cool. At least I think it is.)

[watergirl-writes]

Imma tack on here. Yes, there are lots of land mines littering the path to Good Writing™. Bloating with narrative, exposition or backstory can jam a reader’s flow.

BUT. Many stories are told across time, with equal weight being given to a story arc in the past, present or future. Totally my opinion…but I love seeing characters at different ages and in different contexts. I like seeing when they repeat patterns of behaviour, or break them. I like Easter eggs. Examples of this abound in books, film and TV.

If you are trying to write a linear narrative that only “borrows” from the past, then yeah, perhaps don’t get lost in the backwoods of childhood, particularly if the details don’t inform the current narrative.

However, if you love either writing or reading stories that bounce around in time, you’ve got lots of company!

[stcrlghts]

latin phrases worth knowing:

(in case you wanted to know because i fucking love this language) 

ad astra per aspera - to the stars through difficulties 

alis volat propriis - he flies by his own wings 

amantium irae amoris integratio est - the quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love 

ars longa, vita brevis - art is long, life is short 

aut insanity homo, aut versus facit - the fellow is either mad or he is composing verses 

dum spiro spero - while I breathe, I hope 

ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem - with the sword, she seeks peace under liberty 

exigo a me non ut optimus par sim sed ut malis melior - I require myself not to be equal to the best, but to be better than the bad

experiential docet - experience teaches 

helluo librorum - a glutton for books (bookworm) 

in libras libertas - in books, freedom 

littera scripta manet - the written letter lasts 

mens regnum bona possidet - an honest heart is a kingdom in itself 

mirabile dictu - wonderful to say 

nullus est liber tam malus ut non aliqua parte prosit - there is no book so bad that it is not profitable in some part 

omnia iam fient quae posse negabam - everything which I used to say could not happen, will happen now 

poeta nascitur, non fit - the poet is born, not made 

qui dedit benificium taceat; narrat qui accepit - let him who has done a good deed be silent; let him who has received it tell it 

saepe ne utile quidem est scire quid futurum sit - often, it is not advantageous to know what will be 

sedit qui timuit ne non succederet - he who feared he would not succeed sat still 

si vis pacem, para bellum - if you want peace, prepare for war 

struit insidias lacrimis cum feminia plorat - when a woman weeps, she is setting traps with her tears 

sub rosa - under the rose 

trahimir omnes laudis studio - we are led on by our eagerness for praise

urbem latericium invenit, marmoream reliquit - he found the city a city of bricks; he left it a city of marble 

ut incepit fidelis sic permanet - as loyal as she began, so she remains

[wordsnstuff]

Dark Quotes & Prompts

Anonymous said: Hi, thank you for all you do! I was wondering if you would have some dark quotes? I feel like there’s only light, airy ones floating around

Some of these are very negative and, well, dark, so if you’re not one for this sort of thing, please proceed warily.

Love

“She’s a saint with the lips of a sinner. She’s an angel with a devilish kiss.”

“If you don’t fight for what you love, you cry for what you lose.”

“I love you, as certain dark things are to be loved. In secret, between the shadow and the soul.” - Pablo Naruda

“Light is easy to love. Show me your darkness.” - R.Queen

“Hell sent us the most evil disease, and we humans called it “love” “- Conny Cernik

“You know that place between asleep and awake; that place where you can still remember dreaming? That’s where I will always love you. That’s where I will be waiting.” - Peter Pan

“But my dreams aren’t as empty as my conscience seems, to be. I have hours; only lonely. My love is vengeance that’s never free.”

“They told me not to play with fire, and I should’ve listened because I got burned by your soul and you left me in the ashes.”

“Until we’ve seen someone’s darkness we don’t really know who they are. Until we’ve forgiven someone’s darkness, we don’t really know what love is.” - Marianne Williamson

“We’re all searching for someone who’s demons play well with ours.”

“He saw the darkness in her beauty. She saw the beauty in his darkness.”

“I don’t really get why everything has to end. Nothing can be perfect but instead of quitting, People should try to fix their problems instead of leaving. Love is a really wonderful feeling but most people don’t know the real meaning.”

“He looked at me as if I were the only star in her darkest night and he kissed me as if I were the air that filled her lungs.”

“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.” - Mary Oliver

Keep reading

[wafflewarrior111]

So... I found this and now it keeps coming to mind. You hear about "life-changing writing advice" all the time and usually its really not—but honestly this is it man.

I'm going to try it.

[missroserose]

I love the lawyer metaphor, because whenever I see “John knew that...” in prose writing I immediately think “how?  How does he know it?”  Interrogate your witnesses.  Cross-examine them.  Make them explain their reasoning.  It pays dividends.

[heck-in-a-handbasket]

All of this, but also feels/felt. My editor has forbidden me from using those and it’s forced me to stretch my skills.

[the-noxxi]

Some writers will understand

[writing-prompt-s]

Relatable

[crow-queen-art-deactivated20210]

Please share this!!!!! As you resident vitiligan and fellow artist I am here to educate people on how to properly create a character with vitiligo and other things to keep in mind about the disorder.

Only 1% of the entire world’s population has vitiligo but I see so many artists making characters with it when they sometimes don’t even know what vitiligo is and pass it off as “skin pigmentation”. Like— what does that even mean??? XD

It’s not an aesthetic and it won’t get you “diversity points” so stop romanticizing vitiligo!

[rosamusing]

HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE STARTERS

Disclaimer: Feel free to change any of these in order to suit your needs if needed be!

❝ It’s all flames now. ❞

❝ I have this weird feeling you’re going to leave. ❞

❝ You sabotaged me! ❞ ❝ Your hair looks just like starlight. ❞

❝ I give up. ❞

❝ I’m going up to my room now, where I may die.  ❞ 

❝ I assure you, my friends, I am cone sold stober. ❞

❝ I’m so sorry but that would be confidential information. ❞

❝ They say that the best blaze burns brightest when circumstances are at their worst. ❞

❝ I see no point in living if I can’t be beautiful. ❞

❝ A heart’s a heavy burden. ❞

❝ Didn’t I teach you better? ❞

❝ You’re by far the tackiest thing here. ❞

❝ There you are sweetheart, I’m sorry I’m late. ❞

❝ Seems everyone in this family’s got problems. ❞

❝ Yeah, I kinda missed you guys. ❞

❝ It looks like it’s gonna rain ❞

❝ I'ts all so familiar yet I know I’ve never been here before. ❞

❝ The night thing about being old id you’ve got nothing much to lose. ❞

❝ Whatever you don’t want me to clean, better hide it now! ❞

❝ I saw him do this once before when a girl dumped him. ❞

❝ When you’re old, all you want to do is stare at the scenery. ❞

❝ Finish your breakfast. ❞

❝ They won’t recall they ever were human. ❞

❝ I’m just setting things up so all of you can live a comfortable life. ❞

❝ It looks like your true love is in love with someone else. ❞

❝ I’ve never once been beautiful in my entire life!  ❞

❝ So you think you’ve got it bad? I’ve never once been beautiful in my entire life! ❞

❝ I can’t stand the fire and gunpowder. ❞

❝ I feel terrible. Like there’s a weight on my chest. ❞

❝ I’d appreciate if you wouldn’t torment my friend. ❞

❝ That boy is extremely dangerous. ❞

❝ Don’t be alarmed, but I’m being followed. Act normal. ❞

❝ Now I’ve got something I want to protect. It’s you. ❞

❝ Are you sure you’re not a witch? ❞

❝ Here’s a(nother) curse for you; may all your bacon burn. ❞

❝ I was looking everywhere for you. ❞

❝ He’s calling the spirits of darkness. ❞

❝ I don’t cook! ❞

❝ No-one else does any work around here. ❞

❝ You can’t even break your own spell. ❞

❝ I didn’t let [him/her/them/it] in here! ❞

❝ Knowing you’d be there gave me the courage to show up. ❞

❝ They’ll never change back into humans. ❞

❝ One thing you can always count on is that hearts change. ❞

❝  I think we ought to live happily ever after. ❞

❝ My shining dishonesty will be the salvation of me.  ❞

❝ A fickle heart is the only constant in this world. ❞

❝ Help me, someone! I’m dying from neglect up here! ❞

❝ Interesting things did seem to happen, but always to somebody else. ❞

[battlestar-royco]

underrated fantasy/sci fi tropes

protagonist drinks some magical substance that either tastes different to everyone or tastes different every time you drink it

just got this cool power…. would be a shame if it corrupted me

on the other hand, letting marginalized characters be all-powerful without getting corrupted

magical doors or gateways (ie you have to close the door behind you or else monsters will follow, walking beyond a threshold into a completely different environment and turning backward to see no sign of the place you just left)

spells or curses with weird time constraints or conditions (ie you only have power in the moonlight, you have until the solstice to complete the task)

character you thought was kind of a loser comes into some ability that completely turns the tables

women older than 35 having magical powers and not being evil and/or being wise or badass mentor figures

superorganism hive minds

there are both upsides and downsides to immortality; conditional immortality (ie you’re immortal except you can die under xyz condition)

prophecies that wouldn’t have come true if the protagonist didn’t try so hard to avoid it

mentor you thought you could trust shows their morally ambiguous side either to protect themselves or protect their mentee

person you thought was evil does one good deed for the protagonist, for whatever reason

random background character was actually guiding or spying on the protagonist the entire time

that’s all i could think of for now but feel free to add more :)

[transxfiles]

me: *writes fic*

me: great! time to post to ao3-

ao3 summary box: *exists*

me: 

ao3 summary box:

me:

ao3 summary box: 

me:

[rooksandravens]

[rjeddystone]

Ooh, this is actually kinda a neat thing, because you can think of it as a checklist:

Who: Main character(s)

Why: Character goal or desire (stated)

Why: Character need (implied)

When: Inciting Incident

What: Means (that achieves the goal/need)

Where: Place A >> Place B

How: The Plan

Obstacle(s): antagonist or challenge

For example:

Who: Bilbo Baggins, a respectable hobbit of Hobbiton

Why: Treasure, wealth (stated)

Why: Adventure, self-respect (implied)

When: After supper

What: Quest

Where: Hobbiton >> The Lonely Mountain

How: A company of dwarves, a wizard, and an ancient map and key

Main antagonist(s): a dragon

Thus, in less than 100 words:

Bilbo Baggins is a respectable hobbit in Hobbiton, never making any trouble or having any adventures. But when a wizard and a company of dwarves invite themselves to dinner, Bilbo finds himself joining their quest from the shires of Hobbiton to the legendary Lonely Mountain, the home of a long lost treasure, and quite, possibly, a dragon.  

~~~~

The Anatomy of Story by John Truby is a really good book by the by, if anyone’s interested in this sort of thing.

[syntactition]

a tbh posting a few sentences from the fix works pretty well for me because I feel like, at least if they’re chosen well, they’re more intriguing and a better representative sample. Out of genuine curiosity, how do people feel about the above sample vs:

“If you have a pipe about you, sit down and have a fill of mine! There’s no hurry, we have all the day before us!” Then Bilbo sat down on a seat by his door, crossed his legs, and blew out a beautiful grey ring of smoke that sailed up into the air without breaking and floated away over The Hill.

“Very pretty!” said Gandalf. “But I have no time to blow smoke-rings this morning. I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it’s very difficult to find anyone.”

“I should think so—in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner! I can’t think what anybody sees in them.”

From my perspective, I would click on this sooner than I would click on the actual *summary* summary (no shade to the above writer! this is really good advice for actually writing a summary!) because it gives me the general idea of location, an introduction to two of the main characters, a “show-don’t-tell” concept of who the characters are based on how they interact with each other, the beginning of the plot (incitement to adventure), and a sense of the prose style. That’s a valuable way of drawing in readers.

[noshitloki]

IF YOU LOVE WRITING BUT DON’T HAVE THE INSPIRATION FOR A 10-PART BOOK SAGA YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SITE

IT’S INCREDIBLY HELPFUL AND CAN FOR INSTANCE GENERATE TOPICS AND FIRST LINES, CONTAINS LOADS OF EXERCISES AND YOU CAN FIND PLENTY OF WRITING TIPS.

[shadowstep-of-bast]

BLESS YOU I LOVE YOU OH MY GODS I’VE NEEDED THIS

[impishtubist]

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?

[swellio]

ways your characters can show varying emotions

to show sadness (grief, sorrow):

- sharply sucking in a breath

- hiccuping from crying so hard

- uncontrollable sobbing

- slumped shoulders, head down

- weather can be used to show emotions — not just rain, but a shining sun and birds chirping contrasts well with a grieving character

- depending on the person, sadness can result in lashing out at others for no reason or shutting everyone out

to show anger (rage, frustration)

- red face, fists clenched

- narrow eyes

- sharp comebacks, gritting teeth

- the air around them is tense

- others may be silent, ignoring whoever they’re angry at

- inhales

- angry. tears.

- kicking, punching, slapping

to show shock (hurt, confusion)

- wide, confused eyes

- freezing in place

- collapsing to their knees

- silent and blank-faced

- ignoring everything else happening around them

to show happiness (joy, delight)

- bright eyes

- crinkles around their eyes from smiling so much

- laughter!

- optimism

- playful, laid back nature

- the weight being lifted off their shoulders

- relaxed sigh

if you’d like me to do more of these, please like and reblog, and follow for more!

[snreads]

A Writing Cheat Sheet: for linking actions with emotions. 

As always, click for HD.

[athenaresource]

CHARACTER FACIAL EXPRESSIONS (WRITING REFERENCE)

EYES/BROWS

his eyes widened

her eyes went round

her eyelids drooped

his eyes narrowed

his eyes lit up

his eyes darted

he squinted

she blinked

her eyes twinkled

his eyes gleamed

her eyes sparkled

his eyes flashed

his eyes glinted

his eyes burned with…

her eyes blazed with…

her eyes sparked with…

her eyes flickered with…

_____ glowed in his eyes

the corners of his eyes crinkled

she rolled her eyes

he looked heavenward

she glanced up to the ceiling

she winked

tears filled her eyes

his eyes welled up

her eyes swam with tears

his eyes flooded with tears

her eyes were wet

his eyes glistened

tears shimmered in her eyes

tears shone in his eyes

her eyes were glossy

he was fighting back tears

tears ran down her cheeks

his eyes closed

she squeezed her eyes shut

he shut his eyes

his lashes fluttered

she batted her lashes

his brows knitted

her forehead creased

his forehead furrowed

her forehead puckered

a line appeared between her brows

his brows drew together

her brows snapped together

his eyebrows rose

she raised a brow

he lifted an eyebrow

his eyebrows waggled

she gave him a once-over

he sized her up

her eyes bored into him

she took in the sight of…

he glared

she peered

he gazed

she glanced

he stared

she scrutinized

he studied

she gaped

he observed

she surveyed

he gawked

he leered

his pupils (were) dilated

her pupils were huge

his pupils flared

NOSE

her nose crinkled

his nose wrinkled

she sneered

his nostrils flared

she stuck her nose in the air

he sniffed

she sniffled

MOUTH

she smiled

he smirked

she grinned

he simpered

she beamed

her mouth curved into a smile

the corners of his mouth turned up

the corner of her mouth quirked up

a corner of his mouth lifted

his mouth twitched

he gave a half-smile

she gave a lopsided grin

his mouth twisted

he plastered a smile on his face

she forced a smile

he faked a smile

her smile faded

his smile slipped

he pursed his lips

she pouted

his mouth snapped shut

her mouth set in a hard line

he pressed his lips together

she bit her lip

he drew his lower lip between his teeth

she nibbled on her bottom lip

he chewed on his bottom lip

his jaw set

her jaw clenched

his jaw tightened

a muscle in her jaw twitched

he ground his jaw

he snarled/his lips drew back in a snarl

her mouth fell open

his jaw dropped

her jaw went slack

he gritted his teeth

she gnashed her teeth

her lower lip trembled

his lower lip quivered

SKIN

she paled

he blanched

she went white

the color drained out of his face

his face reddened

her cheeks turned pink

his face flushed

she blushed

he turned red

she turned scarlet

he turned crimson

a flush crept up her face

WHOLE FACE, ETC.

he screwed up his face

she scrunched up her face

he grimaced

she winced

she gave him a dirty look

he frowned

she scowled

he glowered

her whole face lit up

she brightened

his face went blank

her face contorted

his face twisted

her expression closed up

his expression dulled

her expression hardened

she went poker-faced

a vein popped out in his neck

awe transformed his face

fear crossed her face

sadness clouded his features

terror overtook his face

recognition dawned on her face

SOURCE