Writing

YA fantasy author, reader, and Tolkienite. I post writer memes, prompts and advice. Please give credit where it's due.

[furiouslywriting]

Writing process masterlist (21/8/22)

Titling

Outlining

POV

Editing

Edit suggestions

More edit suggestions

Grammar mistakes

Beta reading

Beta reading advice

When you're stuck

Motivation

Sequels

Finishing

Querying dot points

Querying tips

Formatting

Marketing

Character masterlist (old)

World building masterlist (old)

Fighting masterlist (old)

Prompt masterlist (old)

[furiouslywriting]

Writing prompt #48

When the world ended, I smiled.

[creativepromptsforwriting]

Prompt #1092

"If I had asked, would you have stayed?"

"You didn't ask. So we'll never know."

[furiouslywriting]

Masterlist of prompts (31/1/22)

Tropes:

Chosen one

Chosen one 2

Mentor

Squad

Trope subversion

Trope subversion 2

Heroes and villains:

Villains

Heroes and villains

Hero and villains 2

Hero and villains 3

Fantasy:

Powers

Fantasy

Fantasy 2

Fantasy 3

Time travel:

Time travel

Last words:

Last words

Last words 2

Banter/humour:

Banter

Banter 2

Banter 3

I also have a writing prompt series of just one random one each time, but I haven't linked those as I think I'm up to about 30? But you can find those under #writingprompts

I'm also taking suggestions! But I'll only do ones I'm comfortable with 🙂

[furiouslywriting]

Writing tips: power escalation

I love a good power escalation (also called a power crawl or creep). When someone starts off as a novice and by the end they are scary talented, whether in magic or combat. I live for it. But how do you write a good power escalation?

Firstly, let's look at an example so you can see what I mean. Katara from ATLA. Episode one we're introduced to the only waterbender in the tribe and she can't even maintain a bubble of water. Season 3. Oh boy. Katara is doing all kinds of crazy water bending, including blood bending; controlling people by the water in their blood. Katara went through a serious power escalation.

But here's the thing. Her power escalation had a defined roof, and walls. There were things we knew she could never do. She's a water bender. So she couldn't start controlling fire. But things like mist, snow and even blood (with the proper explanation- we know that waterbending is tied to the moon. She can only blood bend depending on the position of the moon which can increase power) are absolutely possible.

So, it's important to establish the limits of the power that you want your character to grow in. Characters that have no limits are often boring and hard to write for. Superman is a notorious example: there are only so many ways to get in trouble with kryptonite. (There are ways around this of course; Lois getting into trouble, or him losing his powers etc. But that's unrelated 🙂)

Define where your character is and where they need to be to achieve their goal. Maybe the villain is an expert in magic. Maybe the prophecy states the MC will be able to raise the dead. Define the highest rung on the ladder, so we can see just how low they are. And then make them climb.

Introduce a struggle. Power escalation can also introduce personal struggles. Katara herself nearly used her waterbending, when she'd become powerful, to take revenge for the death of her mother. Or maybe your OC becomes blocked because of emotional upheaval. A power crawl should have struggles and low notes just like any arc.

What's your favourite power escalation?

[furiouslywriting]

Hey! I know I haven't done any new posts in a while! I feel like I've exhausted the well of creative advice. I've covered a lot! If there's anything you'd like to learn more about let me know

[furiouslywriting]

Writing advice: naming places

Similarly to naming characters, we writers often have trouble naming places. Now there are name and place name generators that you can use but I find these unsatisfactory. So here are some ideas for naming places yourself!

Consider the language

If you have your own language, or conlang, for a species in you wip, consider the sounds of the language and the words you've made as you try to name places. For example, I had a city in a forest, so I fiddled around with the words for tree, city, forest etc. to name the place.

Also remember that if your language doesn't use particular sounds, then the place name shouldn't have those sounds! It seems obvious but it can be easy to forget.

Fiddle with/combine words

If your world contains elves, gremlins and unicorns, you might take letters from each, mush them together and form a name for your world! Consider also the themes for your story, like faith, redemption etc. Grab that 'f', the 'el', the 'de' and the 'n' and you've got 'Felden'.

The ol' keyboard smash

If all else fails a good ol' keyboard smash (preferably using the fingers, but in times of great stress the head may work). Get your random letters (lsvrlo) and fill in the blanks (Lasvarlon).

How do you name places in your world? Do any of these work for you?

[furiouslywriting]

Writing tips: fairytale retellings

Know the difference between a retelling and inspired by

Make sure it's public domain

Only draw from the original (eg. if it has a Disney retelling do not draw from that. Disney is not public domain and you'll breach copyright)

You can sprinkle references or go fully into it

Retellings are more than just the events of the story. Look at the themes, the messages behind it

You can change setting, genders, genres! Anything you can think of

[author-a-holmes]

While the fact that Disney's Robin Hood is what inspired my love of the legend, when I decided I wanted to write a Fairytale Retelling of Robin Hood, the first thing I did was go and look up what remained of the original legends and tales.

But now I do have to go and check the literary definition/differences between retellings and inspired by's, just to be sure I'm not crossing a line I don't want to be, so thank you for this post <3

[furiouslywriting]

I love Disney's Robin Hood ❤️❤️ So underrated!

[furiouslywriting]

Writing tips: fairytale retellings

Know the difference between a retelling and inspired by

Make sure it's public domain

Only draw from the original (eg. if it has a Disney retelling do not draw from that. Disney is not public domain and you'll breach copyright)

You can sprinkle references or go fully into it

Retellings are more than just the events of the story. Look at the themes, the messages behind it

You can change setting, genders, genres! Anything you can think of

[furiouslywriting]

Writers getting ready to kill off a character:

[furiouslywriting]

I killed off one of my favourite characters... And yes, I was looking forward to it 😂

[furiouslywriting]

[furiouslywriting]

*evil laugh*

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Shipping characters like:

[furiouslywriting]

Writing tips: formatting

One of the great things about indie publishing is that you can do things yourself. But please know that just because you can, doesn't mean you should! Things like editing and cover design MUST be done by professionals. But the cool thing is that formatting is fairly accessible to the average person, but you'll be swapping out spending money for spending time.

So here are some basic formatting tips:

Learn industry and genre standards

Every new paragraph except for the first in the chapter and scene must be indented

Use drop caps, lead in small caps or both for the first sentence of each chapter

Chapter should start at least a third of the way down the page. But usually about half

Page numbers typically go in the footer

In the header have your name on one page and your book title on the other (alternate the whole way through). These do not go in the front matter or on the first page of each chapter

Make sure your formatting is consistent the whole way through!

Front matter is everything before the first chapter, back matter is everything after the actual book (acknowledgments etc)

Justify text to both sides (so it's even). You can use hyphens to help with this

Check what the minimal requirements for margins are with your publisher (Ingram, kdp etc)

Use a normal, easy to read font. Times New Roman is the standard.

Use hyperlinks in your ebooks! Link directly to your other books, author socials and website. List them in your print copies

I'm using Atticus to format my debut and it's been fantastic so far.

[furiouslywriting]

Writing prompt #7

"There's only one thing I want from you," the vampire says, staring hungrily at the girl. She whimpers. He races forward and the girl shakes in terror. The vampire sits in the empty seat beside her and leans forward.

"What do I look like?"

[furiouslywriting]

Writing prompt #13

Character B: you'd make a great father

Character A: oh, yeah? Which part of this lifestyle screams parental figure? The murder or the assassinations?

Character B: YoU tOld Me YoU "TAKE CARE" oF pEoPLe!

If you write anything based on my prompts, don't be afraid to tag me, I would love to read it! Especially this one 😂

[furiouslywriting]

Writing prompt #20

"Did you see that, mum?" The old man asked.

"Yes, honey," the young woman said.

[furiouslywriting]

More hero and villain prompts 💪⚔️

'You defeated me but somehow you can't tie your shoelaces?!'

"is it really so bad that you love me, Hero?"

"I have to kill you. I don't have a choice."

"shhh, it's ok Hero. I'm sorry, but this is the end."

"why are you doing this?" "Do you really have to ask, Hero? I'm doing this for you! For us!"

The sound of a gun echos through the night, and Villain spins in place to find Hero dead on the ground. Hero's Sidekick stands over him, gun in his hand. "Am I the only one who was getting tired of all the speeches? I mean, wow! I'm sorry it took me so long to kill him."

"I'm sorry, my love," Love interest says, sliding a knife into Hero's side. "But I was Villain all along."

"You can't really think you're making things better!" Hero shouts. "Actually," Villain says, "I am."