Lauren Writes Stuff

// Author // -What Is Hidden -What Is Lost -The Fairest Poison

[lyralit]

subtle ways to include foreshadowing

one character knowing something offhandedly that they shouldn't, isn't addressed until later

the crow rhyme

colours!! esp if like, blue is evil in your world and the mc's best friend is always noted to wear blue...betrayal?

write with the ending in mind

use patterns from tragic past events to warn of the future

keep the characters distracted! run it in the background until the grand reveal

WEATHER.

do some research into Chekhov's gun

mention something that the mc dismisses over and over

KEEP TRACK OF WHAT YOU PUT. don't leave things hanging.

unreliable characters giving information that turn out to be true

flowers and names with meanings

anything with meanings actually

metaphors. if one character describes another as "a real demon" and the other turns out to be the bad guy, you're kind of like...ohhh yeahhh

anyways add anything else in the tags

[waterloou]

🌪Leigh Bardugo Drabble Prompt List 🌪

I would have come for you. And if I couldn't walk, I'd crawl to you,

We never stop fighting.

I will have you without armor. Or I will not have you at all.

The heart is an arrow. It demands aim to land true.

"It's not natural for someone to be as stupid as he is tall, and yet there you stand.

“My ghost won’t associate with your ghost,”

When everyone knows you’re a monster, you needn’t waste time doing every monstrous thing.

Fear is a phoenix. You can watch it burn a thousand times and still it will return.

When the world owes you nothing, you demand something out of it anyway

The water hears and understands. The ice does not forgive.

We are all someone's monster.

I missed you every hour. And you know what the worst part was? It caught me completely by surprise.

When people say impossible, they usually mean improbable.

The problem with wanting, is that it makes us weak

Fine. Make me your villain

I have been made to protect you. Only in death will I be kept from this oath.

I am not ruined. I am ruination

The less you say, the more weight your words will carry.

You’re better than waffles

She wouldn't wish love on anyone. It was the guest you welcomed and then couldn't be rid of.

What is infinite? The universe and the greed of men.

Men mock the gods until they need them

Greed may do your bidding, but death serves no man.

“What do you want, then?” You

I will strip away all that you know, all that you love, until you have no shelter but mine.

This action will have no echo.

Better terrible truths than kind lies.

“I don’t like this.” “To be fair, you don’t like much”

“You can’t spend his money if you’re dead.” “I’ll acquire expensive habits in the afterlife.” “There’s a difference between confidence and arrogance.”

You’re weak because you’re afraid of people seeing your weakness. You’re letting shame decide who you are.

Everything is a negotiation with you. You probably bartered your way out of the womb

“I’m not used to people trying to kill me” “really? I hardly notice anymore”

Maybe love was superstition, a prayer we said to keep the truth of loneliness at bay.

Weakness is a guise. Wear it when they need to know you're human, but never when you feel it.

I want to kiss you,But I won’t. Not until you’re thinking of me instead of trying to forget him.

Brick by brick, I will destroy you.

Do you have a different name for killing when you wear a uniform to do it?

I'm perfectly capable of being stupid on my own.

Facts are for the unimaginative.

Death fucks us all.

I like to have powerful enemies. Makes me feel important.

A liar, a thief, and utterly without conscience. But he'll keep to any deal you strike with him.

Sometimes, the only way to get justice is to take it for yourself.

You two have a bad habit of acting like fools and calling it heroic.

You wouldn't know a good time if it sidled up to you and stuck a lollipop in your mouth.

We were not made to please princes.

[nyaacatboy]

i think the problem with most widespread writing advice is that it's meant for writers just starting out and not meant to be applied to All Levels Of Writing.

like "show don't tell" is meant to encourage a new writer to think of different ways to describe something beside The Obvious and push them to observe how different uses of words can affect the reader. it does NOT mean "never outright state what is going on ever."

the common advice to cut out things that aren't essential to the story is to give new writers a better handle on how to PLOT a story-writers generally have to start out telling stories with Very Obvious conflicts and plot beats before they gain enough control of the form to tell more subtle ones. it doesn't mean characters talking to each other casually is evil.

"start in the middle" is a piece of advice meant for beginning writers who often have much bigger story ideas than they can feasibly put to paper. they don't have the writing experience to know which parts of their ideas they can execute well (or at all). starting in the middle then means writing the part with the most conflict and interesting things happening first (which is easier for a beginner) and, most importantly, gets them out of the planning stage and actually writing. it does not mean exposition is evil and your story should always start with something Big and Dramatic.

the thing with writing advice is that it's not one-size-fits-all, and writers should discard any advice that they've outgrown or doesn't serve them any more. the craft of storytelling is about learning how good stories are built and made from the smallest to the largest scale, not following a bunch of arbitrary rules to the letter.

[tenoko1]

Guys, stop being crap to creators. You aren’t hurting Amazon. You’re stealing from writers.

[promptful]

Meaningful Gestures Prompts

Welcome to my side-prompt blog! Ask me anything from writing, to prompt requests, and even join my discord where I can be frequently found!

Smoothing your fingers down your lover's tie, fixing where your lover couldn't tie it right.

Brushing your lover's waist/shoulder as they pass.

Instinctively pressing your hands against your lover's cheek as they passionately rave, only for them to stop talking and gape, completely distracted by the lack of distance.

Hooking your ankles together underneath the table.

Linking your hands together as you walk through school/a building/the streets--finger rubbing over your lover's knuckles softly.

Putting your hand on your lover's chest as they doze peacefully into the couch arm, focusing on the subtle beat of their heart on your hand.

Unflinchingly settling your head into your lover's lap while they watch television/are reading a book/doing their favorite hobby. Then asking your lover to explain what's going on/what they're doing.

On a whim, pulling your lover into an alley and pressing your lips firmly against theirs, getting lost in each other's touch while the streets bustle outside.

Holding your jacket over your lover's head as they hide from the rain, finding their formal outfit more important than your casual wear.

Whispering jokes/loving words in a lecture/school/church/a meeting. Trying not to laugh/flirt back in fear of disturbing everyone else who's trying to pay attention.

Putting your hand on your lover's thigh and feeling their eyes on you as they try to figure out your motives. Whether the touch is teasing or just for fun.

Mapping out your lover's features while they sleep in your arm, smoothing your thumbs down their cheeks, throat, collarbones, chin and nose.

Hooking a thumb into your lover's belt loop/pocket as a crowd surrounds you, making sure that you don't lose them in the people.

Pressing tiny kisses against your lover's shoulder while they're bent over a desk, trying to focus even though your touch is distracting them.

Wrapping your arms around your lover's waist and pressing your forehead against their back/resting on their shoulder, swaying to music only the two of you can hear.

At your lover's complaining, rubbing a spot where they ache, smiling as they lean into your touch and melt at both the touch and warmth.

Standing still as your lover rubs smudged lipstick/lipstick stains off of your skin, catching them off guard by pressing a kiss against their fingertip.

Pushing your lover against a wall after one too many teasing comments, but being met with unsaid tension instead of the quiet. Both of you unable to continue with the jokes.

After coming home from work/a long trip, finding your lover sobbing on the couch/in bed after a hard day, wiping away their tears with soft touches and gentle words--trying to convince them it's okay, and that you're there for them now.

Softly resting a hand on your lover's shoulder as they face something more difficult than ever, not bothering to exchange words as the touch does it all the same. You've got this in the bag.

Having your lover list everything they're insecure about, and responding with gentle caresses, kisses, and compliments about those areas.

While someone demeans your lover, standing up for them. Either in word, or by physically placing yourself right in front of them as a protective barrier.

Carding your fingers through your lover's hair after a bad nightmare, not caring that it's sweaty or matted, but just that they'll be able to get a good night's sleep, even if it's at the sacrifice of your own.

Protecting your lover's sleep as they doze on your lap, making sure nobody bothers them as they entrusted their peace to you.

Reading up on the things your lover enjoys so that when they talk about them, you'll understand a little better and be able to hold a conversation.

Tracing invisible shapes on your lover's skin as they're busy doing something stressful, keeping their attention half on what they're doing, and half on you.

Very softly placing butterfly kisses on your lover's skin up the length of their arm, either stopping at their neck, or drifting back down to their pulse point.

Reassurance in the form of food/movies/games, forcing them to take a second away and relax with you.

Not accepting that it's time to start the day, and pinning them onto the mattress with either your whole body, a leg, or more risque touches.

Visiting them at work, either with lunch, or just to spend the afternoon with them as they try to get things done. Whether they actually get things done, or thing devolve into flirting/romantic gestures is up to you.

DIALOGUE

"Hold on, let me fix this for you."

"God, you look so good."

"I'm... uh, dammit, your lips are so distracting. Are you doing this on purpose?"

"Your hands are always so warm."

"Be real with me, love. Do you really care about what I'm doing, or do you just want me to talk you to sleep?"

"If we get caught kissing in a small, dark, kind of shady alleyway, it's on you."

"Couldn't you wait to kiss me at home?"

"Please, I don't want the rain getting both of us sick. I volunteer to be tribute--take my jacket."

"Stop, stop! We're going to get in trouble, and I refuse to be yelled at because of you!"

"I am trusting you with that hand, darling. I hope my trust isn't misplaced."

"I promise I'll stay close."

"You know, I am trying to focus... but I can't deny that it doesn't feel good. Keep going, please."

"Take a small break, for me?"

"Never thought I'd have someone to sway with me in the kitchen... I'm glad I was wrong."

"You have lipstick on your cheek, here let me-- oh."

"I-- you-- where we we?"

"Kiss me, please."

"It's going to be okay, I promise."

"Let yourself cry, I'm here now. You're safe."

"You may think differently, but I love this about you."

"Every part, no matter how you feel, is amazing to me. I could spend all day explaining everything I love about you."

"You want to get to them, you go through me."

"Don't worry, I'll keep you safe."

"They're just a jerk, why don't we just go somewhere else?"

"I won't let them put their hands on you."

"I'm right here; I won't leave your side. Go back to sleep, darling."

"C'mere, I don't mind letting you sleep on me."

"Hey, leave them alone. They just fell asleep."

"Don't you dare wake them up."

"Wow, you really did your research, huh? That's amazing..."

"Next time, we can talk more about--"

"You know, you make these kinds of things not so painful, so thank you."

"Hmm... I don't whether to appreciate or complain that you're distracting me."

"I love how your pulse races for me..."

"Do I make your heart jump?"

"Come on, watch this movie with me. I promise it won't be as bad as the previous one."

"I bought this really cool game. Come and play it with me?"

"Hey, I got some food. Why don't we go eat in the kitchen for once?"

"Hrmg, I'm not moving. Don't make me."

"It's far too early for this..."

"Please, we need to get up."

"Touch me again, and I'm pushing you off the bed."

"I'm staying here, and I'm not moving. I do not care about your empty threats! Hey-- wait-- what are you doing?"

"I bought two sandwiches... by total accident, of course. Thought I might come give one of them to you, and maybe while I'm here spend some time with you, hm?"

"This... isn't doing work. But I don't think I mind."

"Thank you for joining me, love."

[novelbear]

jealousy dialogue starters

"no way.... you're actually jealous."

"oh come on, you and i both knew what he was doing."

"what are you laughing at? i don't see anything funny.."

"you're cute.."

[laughing] "i've never seen you that mad before."

"woah, where are we going?"

"i thought we were supposed to stay a little longer."

"kiss me." "what-"

"you didn't have to say anything, y'know.."

"the hell was that??"

"i just thought you would have called, that's all..."

"i'm not upset."

"hey, you okay? you look off..."

"what is your problem?"

"i didn't know you were the jealous type.."

"we need to talk about that little stunt you pulled earlier."

"do you ever ask why i get this way? maybe it's because- y'know what, nevermind.."

"you don't do that with me.."

"she looked at you funny..."

"c'mere, let's talk about this."

"i just didn't like that too much, alright?"

[writers-hq]

[kiramartinauthor]

WHY YOU SHOULD WRITE HORRIBLY:

1. You’ll never write anything if you don’t

[caffeinewitchcraft]

I have a mute character in the story I’m writing and one of my beta readers suggested I use italics when they sign so that I don’t have to keep peppering “they signed” or “their hands flashed” throughout the piece.

But like…I always read italics in a different tone like they’re thoughts. It seems quieter than using normal quotations which makes what they say look less significant on the page than other character’s dialogue.

I really don’t think my audience needs me to use completely different punctuation around a mute character. There’s no need to act like they’re speaking a different language since their muteness isn’t a focal point in the story.

So really this reader’s comment has done the complete opposite of what they intended. Now I’m actively taking out as many of my “hands flashed” notations as possible and just writing in normal body language because, clearly, the other characters understand them and my audience doesn’t need to be coddled.

[fanarchoslashivist]

As an HOH reader and writer I can affirm that once the signing has been established it can just be treated like “said”.

You can add little things for emphasis though, like how fast or flippant a sign is given, also a lot of our “punctuation” is in facial expressions, so wild looks is kind of normal. Also messing up signs and just.. pushing them aside. Like, you mess up a fingerspell and just take both hands and shove the air in front of you to your side, people who sign eventually end up doing this for other things, like a “forget it” motion. It’s like a “wave it off” gesture.

Body language for someone who signs is a lot more animated than someone who speaks, as we use our upper body a lot in our conversations, so the act of “signing” is more than just hand signals.

[caffeinewitchcraft]

Yes….yes GOOD this is the good stuff right here. I’m going to incorporate some of these ASAP ESPECIALLY the pushing the air but to clear it of your mistakes

[novelbear]

some more domestic fluff prompts

scenarios: 

 lying on the couch on top of eachother, one combing their fingers through the other’s hair as they watch a movie 

 waking their partner up for work when they notice their alarm didn’t go off 

 alternatively: allowing their partner to sleep in because they were overworked anyway and need the rest. 

 one waking up before the other, so they make up their side of the bed and can’t help but tuck in their sleeping lover as they do so. 

 giving the other a spoonful of the meal they’re cooking to test it out, holding their hand under their chin so nothing falls. 

 one is sick, so the other heats up a blanket in the dryer to give it to them while they rest on the couch. 

 listening to music together while they both take the day to clean around the house (maybe even getting a little distracted to dance instead)

 calmly reassuring the other it’s okay when they drop a glass, gently checking their hands for any injury. 

 wiping a bit of frosting (or smth else) off of their cheek while eating and taking it for themself

 smiling across the table when their cheeks are full of food and look quite cute. 

dialogue:

 “can you turn the heat on? i’m getting cold…” 

 “you were talking about that table there being a little…bare, so i got you some flowers to put in it’s space.” 

 “stop singing into the broom and hurry so we can watch this movie!” 

 “you always fall asleep halfway into the episode.” 

 “move your blanket, i wanna lay down on your lap.” 

 “sweetheart, you look cute, but i’m gonna need the sweater.” 

 “i know we had it for dinner last night, but…” *sighs* “the things i do for you.” 

 “did you just put my hoodie in the wash?!” “yeah.” “love, my phone was in there!” 

 “come here, hold my hand.” “you’re washing the dishes.” “..i can do both…” 

 “i hope you don’t mind that i took that painting down, but i thought that picture of us looked a little better…” 

[jacubesilvora]

Writing is not about 'telling an epic story' or 'making something that will outlive you'. Writing is about going "You know what would be fucking awesome?" and then committing word crimes

[homunculus-argument]

 Hey, to you sci-fi/fantasy writers out there (and maybe some others, but this is mainly for things that can’t really be researched irl), if you want to write a character who is a driven, passionate expert on something, don’t write about them rambling indifferently about some boring, mundane part of it. Give them a deep, intense hatred of some oddly specific wow-I-did-not-even-know-that-was-a-thing-and-it-would-have-never-occurred-to-me-that-it’s-a-bad-thing thing they’ll gladly rant about.

 Write a dragon rider who really fucking hates it when a dragon is trained to bow while being reined. A space ship engineer who is pissed off when perfectly good antimatter ship has been adapted to run on neutral matter. A historian who is still not over the massive failures of a general who lost a specific battle 300 years before she was born.

 The guy currently giving us a series of lectures on the restoration of historical buildings really, really hates polymer paint. At the artisan school our stained glass teacher really hated this one specific Belgian artist - we never really figured out what did that guy even do, but he’s been dead for over 200 years and our teacher was glad that at least he’s dead.

 Experts don’t just know things you’ve never thought about. They’ve got strong opinions about it.

[derinthescarletpescatarian]

This is a great way to not only make your experts more realistic and give them personality and lively rivalries, but a good way to sneak some exposition in. It’s important for your readers to know how the fuel in your spaceship is refined but there’s no way to sneak it in without it sounding like a lecture? Give your fuel tech VERY STRONG OPINIONS on it and have a running gag where any time someone mentions fuel they immediately have to start trying to shut him up.

[malus-syl-vestris-deactivated20]

If you want realistic biologists, let them argue passionately about taxonomic classification. Biologists have OPINIONS about taxonomic classification and discovering alien life is guaranteed to bring even more opinions to the field so

[allthingslinguistic]

Also, the more someone has expertise in a particular area, the more PAINFULLY they’re aware of all the slightly adjacent areas they don’t have expertise in and exactly who does. 

I’m tired of fictional linguists who know all the things about all the languages, give me more linguists who are like “hmm, looks like Proto-Alpha-Centaurian, probably from the 28th century, which I don’t know anything about really, but I did meet this linguist who works on it back when I was a grad student and we get coffee every year at the galactic conference and you know I disagree with their entire theoretical approach but their data is very solid and they’re very supportive of their students, here’s their contact info, you can tell ‘em I sent ya.”

[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

[littlewhispersofsolitude]

OTP Flu/Cold Prompts

Scenarios

A carrying a stubborn B back to bed after they find them trying to be productive.

B wrapped up like a burrito in between A's legs, drifting in and out of consciousness as A reads quietly to them.

A putting on B's favourite movie and giving them all their favourite snacks in bed, knowing 100% that B will fall asleep within the first fifteen minutes because they always get so tired when they're sick.

A peppering kisses along B's fevered face as they rest underneath the covers with the heater on.

Under usual circumstances, A isn't a light sleeper, but the moment B gets up to puke, they're right there with a towel and a glass of water to wash their mouth out with.

A couple days after B starts to recover, A gets sick as well, and B is excited to be giving A all the special attention they gave them when they were sick.

A cancelling any group plans they had with friends so B doesn't have to.

A Gently massaging B's arms, legs, shoulders, hands, etc. as they cuddle to try and distract them from their growing discomfort.

A lightly teasing B about their bright red nose and kissing it when they start to childishly pout.

While B doesn't enjoy being sick, they love all the extra attention and care A gives them.

Dialogue

"You can't keep asking me for things." - "Why?" - "-because I can't say no to that face you make and you know it."

"Here; I made you your favourite meal and a hot cup of tea for you to sip on."

"You're so needy when you're sick, you know that?"

"If I have to haul your ass back to bed just so you can get some sleep, I will."

"I'm sorry you're sick, my love. I wish there was more I could do to help."

"Stop whining and take the medicine, B." - "It's disgusting." - "Yeah, well so are the dozens of used tissues you keep leaving scattered around, yet you don't hear me complaining."

"Can I have a kiss?" - "I'll get sick if you kiss me." - "That's okay, I'll survive."

"Can we watch more movies?" - "You're minutes away from falling asleep." - "Nu-uh."

"Shh, It's okay. Let me take care of you."

"Oh, how the turn tables." - "I don't remember making stupid remarks like that when you got sick."

[anexperimentallife]

[petermorwood]

This. :-P

Always keep a notebook and a pencil handy, or know how to turn on your phone’s recording app while three-quarters asleep.

You’ll also need a cryptologist and a language expert handy, to interpret what the 4AM seismograph squiggles or mumbles of “quafal nabblik dnurbly prosh, guffny bla?” actually mean…

[antikate]

Current mood

[spartanlocke]

mood. and alternatively: 

[frenchsiren]

[suburbanmomromanceclub]

File this under “super obvious yet I always seem to forget it.”

[iamwordsandpixels-deactivated20]

I don’t write romance (I totally respect people who do, though!) but this is also great writing advice in general! What is preventing the protagonist from achieving their goal?

Why can’t these two people be together now?

Why can’t the mystery be solved now?

Why can’t they overthrow the evil overlord now?

If you don’t have a solid answer for these questions, that’s a good indicator that the plot could use some more work.

[megan-cutler]

Also test your answer a little bit. If it’s as thin as they’re just refusing to sit down and have a simple conversation, you might want to re-think how things are going.

[operahousebookworm]

As a beta reader/editor, I tend to ask this question a lot: “Why are they doing it this way when there’s a much easier path available?” That’s not to say that they should take the easier path, because that would usually be boring. Instead, the point is that the question needs an answer–either eliminate the easier path or give them a very clear reason for not taking it. (And if I’m asking the question, that reason isn’t as clear as you think it might be.)

I find it very difficult to root for characters who have a sensible option available and just don’t take it. If the only reason is “Because there wouldn’t be a story otherwise,” you haven’t actually found the story yet.

[riptidepublishing]

And this is why the Big Misunderstanding as a primary plot device is almost universally disliked.