sheepfilms
Sweet Seals For You, Always
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Not today Justin
Kaledo Art
Mike Driver
we're not kids anymore.
Discoholic 🪩
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her
occasionally subtle
⁂
NASA
cherry valley forever
Today's Document
❣ Chile in a Photography ❣
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Xuebing Du
JVL
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
Claire Keane
seen from Malaysia
seen from Bangladesh
seen from Australia
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Russia
seen from Brazil
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from Germany
seen from Malaysia
seen from Poland
seen from United States
@lazymashedpotato
I could,
sleep a thousand nights
and still,
I’d dream of you.
- Lost Heart
I could,
live an infinite lives
and still,
I’d want to spend each, with you.
- Fragments
I could,
break forever more
and still,
I’d reach for you.
I could,
be dying inside
and still,
with every breath I’d live for you.
- Fragments
I could
be a hundred miles away,
and still,
I’d chase for you.
writers
write that sentence, that dialogue, that scene that terrifies you
don’t delete shit, just move it to another document
have a “bits and pieces” document for all the odds and ends you can’t fit anywhere else
think of the color of a person’s eyes, imagine something reflected in them, now write that scene
fiction doesn’t have to be 100% accurate, don’t research yourself to boredom
i’m being serious there’s a thing called suspension of disbelief and it’s magical (yes that’s me making a joke)
write something that makes you cry
write something that makes you laugh
write something you can’t explain to other people
write something you won’t remember until you read it the next day
don’t read about the publishing industry until you really, really need to. all it will do is make you unbelievably tired
listen to music from open world RPG video games, you’re welcome
always take a small journal or some paper and a pen with you
write by hand in a journal every once in a while
put the ending of your story in the beginning and see what happens
listen to input from other people. yes you’re the writer, but they’re the reader and they want to help you make something spectacular
said is not dead dude like wtf
the thesaurus is shiny and lovely and a great resource but don’t let words get in the way of your story telling, you don’t need to write prose as poetry for it to be beautiful
just finish the draft first, worry about perfection after
yes, you do have talent
yes, you can do this. you already are
Prompt #416
They were failing so beautifully.
Top 20 Most Popular Submissions (Part 1)
I’m so thankful for everyone who ever submitted prompts to this blog and who wanted to inspire us.
As a thank you here’s part one of the top 20 most popular prompts that you guys submitted! (Couldn’t find some of the blogs, if there are new blogs from the submitters feel free to tell me)
1. Prompt #345 by hamilfact
“So this doesn’t bother you?”
“Honestly the wings are kinda disconcerting.“
2. Prompt #313 by prettygayyyyyy
“So from the bottom of my cold, dead heart, screw you.”
3. Prompt #269 by ouilah
There is a common saying about the calm before the storm. But no one ever talks about the deafening silence after the storm hit.
4. Prompt #288 by serein-serene
“I like my coffee as black and bitter as my soul.”
“So, pink and sparkly then?”
5. Prompt #292 by punishingspace
“I still see him, you know? Like, in the corners of my eyes and such, little flashes; I’ll see him as I turn, but then he’s just gone.”
6. Prompt #359 by stringsoff
People aren’t made for each other; they make themselves for each other.
7. Prompt #327 by kubajznica
“You can’t just waltz in here like you own the place! There are regulations!”
“Relax, nobody saw me..”
8. Prompt #334 by ouilah
“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
I take a sip of my 4 am Whiskey Cola drink.
“At this time…probably in bed.”
9. Prompt #338 by themalenovelist
It was not what was said that ended their relationship - it was what went unsaid.
10. Prompt #402 by peaceandwaronplanetearth
“I’ve never seen a time traveler look so lost in his own era, but there’s a first time for everything I guess.”
Top 20 Most Popular Submissions Part II
Fic authors deserve more credit.
Story time: I started reading a book about 23 hours ago and just finished it. Also in that time, I slept for 10 hours, spent time with family, was at work, etc. Anyway, I enjoyed the book (Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda,) but it felt like it flew by. So after I finished I looked up the word count because what are pages? Pages are meaningless. I only function in word counts anymore.
The estimate I found was 58,580. My immediate reaction was “oh, that’s why. That’s nothing!” But what a shitty response. Because no. That’s not nothing. That’s a whole. Damn. Book. An entire novel! And fic authors regularly bust out 30k, 50k, 100k, 150k words. AND THEY DO IT FOR FREE. WHILE WORKING AND LIVING THEIR LIVES.
So anyway, thank your favorite fic author today because they deserve it. Because they’re amazing. They’re the MVPs.
when you put on some nice music for writing, but you end up feeling the music more than the writing
This is exactly why I don’t do playlists for my WIPs and only listen to one thing on the occasion that I need to listen to music. I’ll get too distracted!
HAHAHAHA
Character A: You have a crush on me, don’t you?
Character B: The only crush I have is the crushing weight of my existence.
Character B: And you.
(submitted by honeystarsyt)
“I’m finally going to write! I have a great idea!”
LAUGHS LOUDLY
HAHAHAHAHA
reminder that it’s okay for writers to have chapters that are ten pages long
reminder that it’s okay if your chapter is only one page long
reminder that it’s okay if your chapter is only one sentence long
as long as you can get across the point of your chapter, be it with ten thousand words, or just ten, then you do it.
your book is yours to write. there is no set formula.
Tips and Advice For Aspiring Writers, Authors, and Poets
Inspiration
Take inspiration from your surroundings.
Don’t ignore the ordinary. The mundane can turn into something amazing if you shift your perspective.
Save all of your ideas. Store them on post it notes in a shoe box under your bed if you please, but save them.
Be Open-Minded
Experiment with all aspects of writing. It’s art, after all.
Don’t get stuck in the planning process. That’s the most common spot writers crash and burn on the journey to writing something meaningful.
Be open to changing the story you’re writing, or ditching it altogether in search of something better.
Learn
Get real experience. Try freelance writing gigs if you’re into that sort of thing.
Collaborate with other writers.
Learn from successful writers. Read other people’s work and nitpick it to find the do’s and don’ts.
Be Realistic
Don’t write to be famous or to earn money (unless writing is your job, but in that case, I assume, it isn’t your first time doing this).
Practice writing, even when you’re not in a write-y mood.
Remember that writing is hard work, and that sometimes, it’s going to be difficult as hell to sit down and force yourself to work, but that’s part of the gig.
Chill Out
Try to enjoy it. Writing is fun, even if it’s your job
Don’t be discouraged by writer’s block. It happens to everyone, and it goes away eventually. You just have to try to work through it.
Reach out for help and advice when you need it. There are lots of people out there who want to help you.
“Tide my dreams up so they couldn’t run away when you said that I wasn’t good enough”
— Niki and Gabi - Out From Under You
This reminds me of Blue Sargent in The Raven Boys, for some reason.
“I guess, I have been dreaming for a long time and even now, I haven’t fully woken up.”
— Airra Lynn A.
5/7 Short Stories: Never Heed the Mermaid’s Song
Synopsis: once upon a time, there was a girl who woke up to the song of a mermaid and to the orders she issued in her entrancing voice. She couldn’t remember her past or how long she’d been lying on the beach. And the girl’s fuzzy enchanted brain wouldn’t notice it, but her prospects aren’t good, since siren’s don’t make kind masters…
Other short stories here.
For the best girl, @novelistcore, and the new people: @fannistwrites, @hiddswritingrefs, @missrobinswritings @reeseweston
The 15 PLOT POINTS of Story Structure
To all the writers who have ever been told they need to outline their story, and privately thought “Great. But how do you DO that? What exactly does that mean?! Is there a map? WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC DEFINITION OF THE VAGUE WORD ‘OUTLINE’?”
Good news. Stories have structure. Structure that can be learned. And a fantastic place to start learning structure?
Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need by Blake Snyder. This book gives a simple outline that most stories follow. And as an introduction to story structure, it can’t be beat.
In Save the Cat, 15 plot points are spelled out in something called a beat sheet. During the outlining process, these “beats” or plot points can be used as an armature or skeleton that your story is built upon.
So what are those 15 plot points?
Opening Image: A snapshot of the hero’s problematic ordinary world, right before the story starts and changes everything.
Set-Up: Further establishing that ordinary world and what the hero does every day, impressing upon the audience or reader what’s wrong, and the idea that something needs to change.
Theme Stated: The truth that the hero will learn by experiencing the story, the statement that will be proven to the audience. But upon first encountering this truth, in this story beat right in the beginning, the hero doesn’t understand or outright refuses to believe it. The theme stated is asking a question, a question which the story will answer.
Catalyst: The ordinary world is shattered. Something unexpected happens, and this event triggers all the conflict and change of the whole story. Life will never be the same after this moment. This is the Call to Adventure.
Debate: But for a moment, the hero won’t be quite sure about answering that call. Leaving behind the ordinary world is difficult – even if the catalyst has come along and disrupted everything – because the ordinary means safety, it means not being challenged, it means avoiding conflict and heartache. Yes, that existence they’re stuck in might be stagnant and unpleasant, but it protects them from facing the intimidating task of growth, of becoming something better.
Break Into 2: And this is when the hero decides to answer the call and cross the threshold of act two, determined to pursue their goal.
B Story: This is when the relationship – which usually carries and proves the theme – starts in earnest.
Fun & Games: This is just what it says: the premise promised a certain type of pure entertainment, and this beat is where we get to experience it fully.
Midpoint: This is either a false victory or a false defeat. Something really really good happens. Or something the exact opposite.
Bad Guys Close In: Forces of opposition and conflict begin to converge on the hero and his goal. Everything begins to fall apart for the hero, the defeats piling up one after another, the main character punching back.
All Is Lost: This is the sequence where absolutely everything falls apart for the hero. The plans fail, the goal is lost, the mentor dies, the villain wins. All is, quite literally, lost.
Dark Night of the Soul: The hero’s bleakest moment is right here. In addition to all of the tangible things that have been lost, hope and the gumption to continue with the story have also vanished. There is usually a hint of death here, of some kind. An actual death, or an emotional or spiritual death.
Break into 3: Ah, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Inspiration occurs, hope is rekindled, courage to pursue the story returns. Usually, this is the moment where the main character learns what they NEED, the truth which will heal them, and allow them to fix their own lives. With this, they are able to snatch victory from defeat.
Finale: And in here, the story goal is pursued once more, but this time from the stronger version of the hero – the version that has learned the theme, and committed to act accordingly.
Closing Image: The opposite of the opening image. This is a snapshot of life after the story, the problems of the ordinary world solved or banished, a new world opening up for the hero. If the opening is the equivalent of “once upon a time” this is saying “And every day after … “
So let’s see how that works! And to see it, let’s look at my favorite short film of all time – Paperman (because this gave me an excuse to watch it several times and listen to the music while writing it.)
1) Opening Image
We see George, a twenty-something in a sixty-something’s suit and tie, obviously on his way to work, and not looking at all enthused about it. He stares straight ahead, expression bored, lifeless, right on the edge of depressed. Wind from a passing train pushes him slightly, and he lets it, demeanor unchanging.
2) Set-Up
But then a sheet of paper, caught on the wind, hits his shoulder. The paper flies off again, and a young woman appears onscreen, chasing after the paper, as the surprised George watches.
After catching it offscreen, the girl returns, tucking the paper into the stack she carries, smiling slightly. They both face forward, waiting for the train side-by-side, in silence. She’s glancing sideways at him, he’s smiling and fidgeting nervously, but still resolutely facing forward; they’re both aware of each other, seemingly hoping the other will be braver, but neither able to overcome their shyness and the unspoken rules of everyday life.
3) Theme Stated
As a train charges into the station, a paper from George’s stack is snatched by the wind and lands flat on the woman’s face. When he pulls the paper away, she laughs: her lipstick left a perfect kiss mark on the sheet. When George spots it, he laughs too …
but when he opens his eyes, she’s gone. She’s boarded a different train. The kiss-mark paper flaps in the wind as the train begins to move, taking her away. He watches, crestfallen. She glances back. Looks of regret and disappointment are exchanged, both a little wistful. The paper, the symbol of their fleeting memorable meeting, waves goodbye.
Through this little sequence of images, the question of the whole story is asked: Was there a connection between them? Will they find each other again? And on a wider level: What does it take to find love?
Further Set-Up:
And cut to George behind a desk, in a gray office, dark file cabinets towering behind him, clocks on the wall ticking away his life. Miserable again, he stares at the lipsticked paper. A stack of documents slams onto the desk from on high. The grim-faced boss of the office scowls down at him. George frowns at the stack, then at his boss, who stomps away.
4) Catalyst
Breeze pulls the kissed paper off his desk and out the open window. He catches it just in time, breathing a sigh of relief. And then he sees something. The girl! She’s there! She’s right across the street!
5) Debate
He needs to get her attention! He dithers for a moment, then throws the window wide and enthusiastically waves his arms.
An ominous “ahem” from the boss brings him back inside, and back to his desk. But his attention is still on the girl, and the need to get her attention. He folds a paper airplane, stands before the window, poises the airplane to fly … but he glances at his boss’s office before he throws it. Should he?
6) Break Into Act 2
Yes. Yes, he should. He sends the little airplane messenger to bridge the distance between himself and the girl.
7) B Story
What he should have done while waiting for the train, he’s committed to do now. Talk to her. The relationship of the story has started officially.
8) Fun & Games
In this moment, he becomes the “paper man” of the title. He folds and throws paper airplane after paper airplane. The boss shows up, shoves him back and slams his window. George pauses until he’s gone, then just keeps sending airplanes. They sail over the street, but are intercepted or miss their mark every time.
9) Midpoint
He reaches for more paper … and knocks an empty tray off the desk. He’s run out. Except for one paper, the kissed one, the only one he’s held onto. With a determined look, he folds it precisely into an airplane, stands before the window, breathes to steady himself …
And the wind steals the airplane from his hand, sending it spiraling to the street below, George reaching out pointlessly. On top of this defeat, the girl leaves the office.
10) Bad Guys Close In
Immediately, the boss emerges from his lair. The other office workers hurriedly return to their scribbling, hunched to avoid drawing attention. The girl is leaving the building across the street! George turns from the window … and finds the boss looming above him, glowering, delivering another tall pile of meaningless work.
George sinks into his chair, defeated. But something happens as he watches his boss walk away, as he sees the office workers in neat rows; all of them older versions of George, reflections of what he will become … if he doesn’t do something right now.
He runs, sending paper from the perfect stacks flying in his wake.
11) All Is Lost
But when he escapes the building, and attempts to cross the street, cars nearly kill him. And when he finally makes it to the opposite sidewalk, the girl is nowhere in sight. She’s lost again.
And all he manages to find is the little traitorous paper airplane. The paper he’d believed might mean something, might have signified something important and maybe a little magical. Which it obviously never did.
12) Dark Night of the Soul
Angry, he grabs the plane and throws it with all his strength. He’s lost his job, he’s lost the girl, he’s lost all faith in the magic he’d just started to believe might be real. He stomps towards the train station, returning home.
13) Break Into 3
But fate has other plans. The airplane glides over the city, almost supernaturally graceful and purposeful. It dives between buildings, and lands in the middle of the alley where all the paper planes have collected.
It sits immobile. Then it moves. Moves again. And jumps into flight. The airplane flies over the rest, stirring them into motion, into the air. In a place where not even a breath of wind could reach, there is now a whirlwind of George’s airplanes.
Though the forces of mediocrity tried to keep them apart, something greater has recognized George’s efforts and is going to see things through.
14) Finale
A parade of airplanes follows George down the street.
The leader attaches to his leg. He brushes it off, mad. A flurry of them attach to him, then carry him down the street, unfazed by his fighting.
The leader airplane rockets over the city purposefully, finds the girl, then lures her to follow.
She chases after.
Somewhere else in the city, George is being pushed wherever the paper airplanes want him to go. We switch back and forth between George and the girl, as the airplanes push him and beckon her.
Until they’re both on different trains, which stop simultaneously, on opposite sides of the platform. The girl gets out. She fiddles with the airplane, like she’s trying to get it to work again. And just then, a breeze brings hundreds of paper planes skittering all around the platform.
She looks up …
15) Closing Image
And there’s George, covered in paper planes.
He lurches towards Meg, and the airplanes falls away, their work done.
George and Meg face each other, smiling, the barriers of routine and shyness overcome. Exactly what should have happened, exactly what was meant to happen. Putting effort into connection and love prevailed in the end, defeating the allure of life spent in safety and mediocrity. The closing image is the opposite of the opening: he’s not alone, he’s not facing the train leading to his mundane job, he’s not looking miserable and hopeless. He’s facing the girl, his bright and meaningful new future. ***
So! Those are the 15 plot points. This is a fantastic way to begin learning what story structure is, why it works the way it does, and how to precisely pull it off.
For a more in-depth explanation, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Save the Cat. (It holds a special place in my heart; it was the first screenwriting book I ever read, and started obsessive study of storytelling.)
attn @petermorwood
What other people think writing is like: The scene perfectly plays out in my head like a movie scene. Every character knows their lines, the lighting is on point, the acting is brilliant. I know every single detail of the setting, every prop as I write down the scene and I obviously know every line of dialogue because I let the characters have conversations in my daydreams all the time.
What it’s actually like: Wait, didn’t you talk about this earlier? Dammit, that was with a different character. Shit. Find a different topic. Uuuhm, yes. Yes, that’s good. Okay, no. No! Something that makes sense for the story! And don’t just stand there in the middle of the room while the other character is already busy with stuff. What position where you in last? You were over there, right? No, no, over there. Okay. Now, sit down. And no one changes their expression five times in a row! And where are your hands? Wait, didn’t you just have something in your hands? Put that away. Aw, shit there’s no table close by, why are you still standing there, sit down! And where the fuck did you get that water from, THERE’S NO PIPING IN YOUR HOUSE!
