Wisdom from a Whimsical Writer

Hi! I'm Zac Walker, here to share my love for writing, and give some advice as I do. Use my ask box, or submit your writing in that other box. I love to edit! Email: [email protected]

[psliterary-deactivated20190419]

If at first you don’t succeed–write more!

Nikki Bee Williams (via psliterary)

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Something new!

In light of a new year upon us, I’m trying something new. I just started a secondary blog for me to post some of my writing!

Here’s the link: mylifethroughpaper.tumblr.com

Happy writing everyone!

Zac Walker

[redleafhaiku]

The solution to 

many modern problems is 

to not click at all. 

—haiku by John Clark Helzer

[justbadpuns]

What did the kleptomaniac do in the bathroom? Nothing special, he was only taking a shower

[oliviapaigewrites-deactivated20]

I made another chart! Look at me go! ((I love charts, okay?))

This one is about defeating writer’s block! Enjoy everyone!

[lifethroughpaper-blog]

Great chart, and all the points are completely valid. Happy writing, everyone!

Zac Walker

[kassidy-writes-blog]

The accuracy in this is too dang high

[writingbonesblog-blog]

Make up a story… For our sake and yours forget your name in the street; tell us what the world has been to you in the dark places and in the light. Don’t tell us what to believe, what to fear. Show us belief’s wide skirt and the stitch that unravels fear’s caul.

Toni Morrison (via writingbonesblog)

[fictionwritingtips]

How to Give Your Antagonist a Little Humanity

There is such a thing as your antagonist being too over-the-top. There’s a possibility that they can become static or one-dimensional if you don’t understand why they’re the protagonist. Not many people in the world are evil for the sake of being evil. There’s usually a reason behind what they’re thinking and feeling, so try to explore that with your own characters. Remember, the antagonist is usually the hero in their own story.

Focus on background

Knowing your antagonist’s personal background should add more dimensions to your story. Do they have a family? Is there something specific that happened that shaped them? Understanding where each of your characters came from and how they came to be the way they are will really help add depth. Your readers will begin to see what makes them tick.

Know what they want

Antagonists have wants and needs, just like any other character. You should always know what your protagonist wants if you want to drive the story forward and the same can be said for your antagonist. What are they searching for? Why do they want to stop the protagonist? Do they want the same thing as the protagonist? This will help you figure out your conflict.

Is there someone they care about?

Knowing what your antagonist cares about will reveal a lot about them.  Sure, sometimes mindless unstoppable villains are exciting, but it doesn’t work for every story. Smart antagonists that care about something are usually more enticing. You can make them a bit more humane if you reveal what they care about. Do they believe what they’re doing will actually save the world? Do they think they’re doing the right thing? Consider these questions.

What do they think about the protagonist?

It’s not necessary for the antagonist to absolutely hate the protagonist. Sometimes it’s more interesting if they respect each other or if they already have a relationship. Do they think the protagonist is completely wrong? Do they understand their point-of-view? Knowing what your antagonist thinks will help form a realistic relationship between the protagonist and antagonist. It will help you shape your story into something better.

-Kris Noel

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Everyone loves a good villain. The above brings up many good and pertinent questions- it’s worth a read. -Zac

[createandnarrate]

Make art.

[justbadpuns]

The policemen said if I didn’t pay my library fine he would have to book me

[writingbonesblog-blog]

Isn’t it odd how much fatter a book gets when you’ve read it several times?“ Mo had said…"As if something were left between the pages every time you read it. Feelings, thoughts, sounds, smells…and then, when you look at the book again many years later, you find yourself there, too, a slightly younger self, slightly different, as if the book had preserved you like a pressed flower…both strange and familiar.

Cornelia Funke, Inkspell (via writingbonesblog)

[markgillespiewriter-deactivated]

Beware of too much formula in your writing.  Rules are meant to be broken.

[lifethroughpaper-blog]

Our insane & chaotic minds got drawn to each other that they slightly lightened up some of our darkness & the connections that they shared explained our chemistry, which consumed both of our souls. The sprinting thoughts that rush back & forth in our brains that never give us a break, were able to go in a slow motion mode when they interacted together. I was never comfortable in releasing my demons because they would destruct & damage whatever they would pass which clarifies why they were related to fucking turbulent tornados; but your monsters were able to rewind them to just a minor drizzle, & in return my demons caressed your monsters to distract your head from the grey shadows that chased after your spirit like a vision of gloomy & steamy fog; & all of a sudden the cloudiness that followed you blew to different directions & made a clear pathway behind the outline of your exquisite body. Between the endless number of personalities & moods that both suffocated parts of our brain, my demons & your monsters took charge in convincing & persuading those sections into making our brain chemically balanced, enough for us to be considered ‘normal’. Although I didn’t want 'normal’; I wanted fucking crazy & passionate heightened emotions that make me unstable & you all over the place. 'Normal’ wasn’t for me & it definitely wasn’t for you because I craved you driving me up the walls as it kept me sane & including all of my madness we created tsunamis & earthquakes that swam through our veins & crumbled out of our bodies, shooting nothing but deep, intoxicating & thrilling love; piercing through the centre of our hearts that have become so addictive & wild concluding to completely turning our worlds upside down in nothing but absolute euphoric & exhilaration with a large side of positivity, dominating our whole perspective of every little thing in the universe. Nothing has ever fit so imperfectly perfect together than our souls & energies have.

Karina Rossi

[lifethroughpaper-blog]

Let’s Write #49

Take a road trip, in your head. Describe what passes by and how you feel about it.

Happy Writing!

Zac Walker

[tastefullyoffensive]

Look out George R.R. Martin. (via s1nclare)

[sarahs-delights]

Let it pass; April is over, April is over. There are all kinds of love in the world, but never the same love twice.

F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Sensible Thing  (via h-o-r-n-g-r-y)

[story-dj]

A writer is someone who has taught their mind to misbehave.

Oscar Wilde (via story-dj)