kim!

[literarylovebug]

tips on writing subplots

[ intro ] hello there! naturally, subplots are all good fun. we all know authors that do them well and maybe we too want to gain this insight. it’s not a failsafe but this is what i have noticed in books in which i did like the subplots. 

so where to start, considering subplots often revolve around a side character it’s important to flesh them out well even if you won’t dive into their pov for the writing of the story itself. 

quick questions to ask yourself: 

why is this subplot happening and how does it impact the main storyline the mc has?

why is it happening now? 

what character development or journey do they have to go through and again, how does that influence the main character?

subplots and the main plot are not two seperate entities coexisting, they influence each other and they influence the main character. things usually do not start mattering to the reader unless it matters to the main character (i know there are a lot of empaths out there so that is why i said ‘usually’ hahah). needless to say, subplots are the most fun if they influence the main storyline and if it matters to the main character. that’s how to keep readers hooked. 

again, i have a lot to learn in this as well so do not take my words of wisdom too seriously. generally, i would advise you not to take me too seriously. want to know more? comment ofc :)

kisses,

literarylovebug

[literarylovebug]

what in the world is roleplay?

well, allow me to enlighten you on the few things i know about roleplay! before i started writing a book, i mostly roleplayed and i had a great time, most of the time i was in the selection rp world and thus my knowledge is limited to that for the most part. 

1) let’s start with the basics, most have an idea when someone mentions roleplay. it has a bad name to some degree as most associate it with 18+ content. this can, in some cases, of course be the case, but there’s so much more to it. roleplaying is essentially creating a story together with the characters you both supply (thus usually you need a partner to roleplay with or even a group). for the most part you can do this by writing each other bits and pieces back and forth, interacting with each other’s characters and setting the scene. unlike writing your own story you need some communication as to where the scene will take place etc. 

2) you can get to know a great many people and hone your writing skills in another way that writing to yourself, it is super inspiring to write with someone else and have to react to what they bring to the table. this also forces you to actively think about what your characters would do in a situation you, writing on your own, might have never thought about. 

3) as i previously mentioned there is such a thing as group rps. these go by the name of rpgs (roleplay groups), academies or selections. rpgs can have any theme and are hosted by a certain person who sets the scene and sometimes comes up with certain characters already. academies are usually more in the sense of actual academies, academy of witchcraft etc. in which you make your own character and get to interact with others that have signed up to be in the academy. selections on the other hand have a competitive edge to them (for those who have read ‘the selection’ by kiera cass might know what’s coming). in this style of rping you can host or join. if you host it you have a member of royalty (usually but people are getting more creative), that people have to fight for. you’d also have to set the scene and come up with plot points in the selection that could bond your characters with those that have joined. if you’d join, you join with your character in the hopes of winning the love of the person you are competing for. this equals being active, being original and of course your character needs to click with their possible beloved. 

4) it’s done on countless platforms: discord, instagram, kik messenger and likely others i do not know about. 

ps: if you guys want a little more explanation on roleplay, i could perhaps make a bigger post about this if there is anyone that is interested :)

a youtuber that explains a lot about roleplay (mainly on discord) is: https://www.youtube.com/c/KarenTerry

[literarylovebug]

tips on writing pregnant characters

despite the fact there are quite a few among us that cringe when the word pregnancy falls, here are some quick tips on how to write pregnancy. mild disclaimer, i have never been pregnant but i have spoken to so many pregnant women as a med student that i can almost imagine it. 

1) first off, metabolism goes through the roof, which equals hunger. a baby and a full grown human? yes, that will take some calories to sustain. therefore, pregnant women are hungrier. (your base metabolic rate rises by like 60%, oof)

2) hormones, dear me, high levels of both progesterone and estrogen (especially in the first trimester) can cause the mood swings we have seen on tv. feeling emotional, angry and frankly generally upset is a very normal thing during pregnancy and thus not odd if your character experiences this. 

3) heavily pregnant people (3rd trimester) are advised not to sleep on their backs, as it will cause their uterus to compress the inferior vena cava. this in turn can cause hypotension (which is not good and can cause dizziness but in the worst circumstances issues with placental perfusion which is not good for fetus).  this is why doctors often advise people to lay on their left side during their third trimester. so if your character ends up on their backs for a longer while, during their pregnancy, it is really common for them to experience discomfort. 

4) the bladder, both mechanical pressure from the uterus and the renal function that heightens causes the typical image of women needing to pee constantly during their pregnancy. it’s also not non-frequent that pregnant people pee a little when they laugh, cough or do anything else that increases abdominal pressure. 

[disclaimer] this is all explained a little roughly and if you have questions i would love to answer them, i would of course other than read this post do other research alongside it. this is just a few points that i thought would be fun. my sources are the slides my professors give me so it is a little harder to share with you all, but of course if you think i am wrong and have better sources. let me know! i can only learn more :)

[literarylovebug]

seven fun & quick questions to ask yourself about your side characters

1) if your side character had been in the main characters’ shoes, what would’ve gone differently in the book?

2) what is overall their perfect day?

3) what is the absolute worst thing that could happen to them?

4) what is the no.1 stupid thing they do that others would roll their eyes at?

5) are they content with the people they surround themselves with?

6) do they cringe away from children or do baby toes make them happier than anything?

7) how does your character react to people they do not like?

[literarylovebug]

tips on writing fat characters

[ disclaimer ]  if you have never been fat, of course i would advise you write fat characters as they are not written a lot unless they’re the funny fat girl or the butt of the joke. i have even seen them pass by as gluttonous villains. from what i have seen it is easy to write fat characters as overindulgent, unattractive parts of ones story. this however does not mean that as a non fat person it is right to write about the fat experience. 

[ onto the tips! ] 

1) much like any other human being, there’s a wide variety of personalities that someone that is fat can have. in stories, there’s a wide variety of terms you can use for a fat person: curvy, chubby, plus size etc. some people have reclaimed the term fat and some still feel awkward when it comes to that term and that is completely alright! as long as fat is not used in a negative hateful way, it can be a descriptive word! 

2) another part of writing fat characers is based on what the community around them thinks of fatness. they often receive criticism for what they eat, when they eat and in which amounts, especially in modern settings and in certain cultures around the world. more acceptance has come but there are still plenty of hateful things being spewed. 

3) not equating being fat with generally negative things is also important, someone for example can be both athletic and fat, or beautiful and fat. this also ties in again to the first tip. not using fat as a descriptor for some people can feel like beating around the bush out of not wishing to offend. for others, the word fat is stigmatizing and thus they prefer not to use it, some others might have that same feeling about the word curvy. 

conclusion: give your fat characters the same love and attention your would others and don’t forget to include them in a positive way sometimes :)

[ sidenote! ] 

a book that in my opinion did well writing a fat main character was: spoiler alert by olivia dade. while still loving and admittedly 18+, it still is nice to see how the character deals with the views of the outside world on themselves.  

kisses, 

literarylovebug