Live, Laugh, Write It

Just here to share the ideas I can't get out of my head :)

[luna-azzurra]

Signs your romance subplot has absolutely no tension (sry)

♡ they meet and immediately like each other (goodbye conflict, we barely knew you)

♡ the only thing keeping them apart is a misunderstanding that one conversation would fix

♡ both characters describe the other as "beautiful" within three pages of meeting

♡ their chemistry is told not shown (the narrator insists they have spark. they don't.)

♡ the love interest has no personality outside of loving the protagonist

♡ they argue once, make up immediately, never argue again

♡ obstacles are external. they always agree with each other about everything.

♡ the rival love interest exists for two chapters then vanishes without explanation

♡ they almost kiss. something interrupts. this happens four times. on the fifth time they kiss. the end.

♡ the love interest is described as funny, clever, and kind. we see none of this.

♡ their big emotional moment is in the rain. it is always in the rain.

♡ the breakup lasts exactly one chapter before they reconcile

♡ "i've never felt this way before" said by someone with no prior emotional history

♡ both confess feelings at the same time. no awkwardness. no stakes. just synchronized emotion.

♡ their first kiss is perfect. no bumped noses. no wrong angle. cinematic and frictionless.

♡ jealousy subplot introduced and dropped without consequence

♡ they have one shared interest and it is the plot

♡ trauma bonding mistaken for romantic chemistry (these are different things)

♡ the side characters ship them loudly. this is not a substitute for actual tension.

♡ one of them dies temporarily. other is devastated. they come back. no lasting emotional damage.

♡ they end up together because the plot ends, not because they chose each other

♡ epilogue: married with children. every loose end tied. nothing left to feel.

[livelaughwriteit]

Love this!!

[nondelphic]

the feminine urge to abandon the novel and start a newer, hotter, less emotionally demanding novel

[glitchedoutpxie]

How to use Em Dash (—) and Semi Colon ( ; )

Since the ai accusations are still being thrown around, here's how i personally like to use these GASP ai telltales. 🦄✨

Em Dashes (—)

To emphasize a shift / action / thought.

They're accusing us—actually accusing us—of using AI.

To add drama.

They dismissed our skills as AI—didn't even think twice, the dimwits—and believed they were onto something.

To insert a sudden thought. Surely they wouldn't do that to us—would they?

To interrupt someone's speech. "Hey, please don't say that. I honed my craft through years of blood and tears—" "Shut up, prompter."

To interrupt someone's thoughts / insert a sudden event.

We're going to get those kudos. We're going to get those reblogs—

A chronically online Steve commented, “it sounds like ai, idk.”

Semi Colons ( ; )

To join two closely related independent sentences / connect ideas.

Not only ChatGPT is capable of correct punctuation; who do you think it learned from in the first place?

Ultimate pro tip: use them whenever the fudge you want. You don't owe anyone your creative process. 🌈

[livelaughwriteit]

Villain <3 Hero

Here are some fun dialogue prompts for a villain that has a crush on another villian/hero/sidekick!

“Oh no, please don’t come into my home I had decorated just for you.”

“Why did you blow up my dentist?” // “I saw what they charged you, that was ridiculous. Now you don’t have to pay.”

“Do you want to kiss me as much as I want to kiss you?”

“I won’t save you.” // “I know. But I’ll sacrifice myself for you.”

“You know what happens when you’ve only heard one side of the story? You’re fighting with one hand tied behind your back.”

“I’m not the bad guy they want you to think I am.”

“Am I a bad person?” // “Not to me.”

“There’s two ways for this fight to end.” // “What? Death or mutual destruction?” // “Close. Since I respect you, I’ll give you a hint. You had death right but the other one ends with in my bed at night.”

“I did this for you.”

Let me know if these are helpful or you like them! Also let me know if you want me to make another one of something completely different!

[livelaughwriteit]

Ways for your characters to be close...while they still hate each other ~~Pt3~~

Another list of ideas that fit this category. Sometimes these ideas come to me while reading and are based off an event that happened in the book, come to me as an alternative (or original idea) while I'm writing, or come based off an event in real life. Let me know what you think!

Trapped in a time loop where they are the only ones that noticed

Forced to share a safe house

Detention

Quarantined together

Captured by mutual enemy

Both bodyguards

One is a therapist and one has mandated therapy sessions

Family vacation with my siblings best friend that I hate and all three of us have to share a room

Same prison cell

They’re only survivors/witnesses and converge to come up with one story

Get trapped in a book/video game/movie together and must survive until the end (like the 2019 Jumanji movie)

[livelaughwriteit]

Interesting Reasons for Tension I’ve Never Considered Before

Forced Project Partners – usually use this after it’s already determined they hate each other but what if this is WHY they hate each other

Bodyguard and the person they are supposed to protect against – usually bodyguard and the person they are trying to save but what if they fall for the person they are supposed to be protecting against

Neighbors – I always thought this was too easy but I’ve been exploring this idea for a story I’m working on

Exes Best Friend – I don’t like the second chance or whatnot stories so this has never occurred to me but it has potential

Best Friend’s Ex – I read a story like this on Wattpad, but I forgot it was an option, definitely going to use this!

Assassin and Target – one way hatred between them, assassin falls in love with the target while watching them

Captor and captive – also a one-way hatred with Stockholm syndrome intermixed

Roommates by mistake – what if Character 1 has the same name as the roommate character 2 wanted (maybe like a gender neutral name like Jordan or Skyler) and won’t swap because they were going to be put in a four bed not a two

Criminal informant and Police office – potential for a lot of drama!

 Ex bully and bullied – one wants to make amends, one wants revenge

[livelaughwriteit]

Perhaps if I make myself write I shall find out what is wrong with me. - Dodie Smith

[livelaughwriteit]

Ways to describe your characters face

If I have to read about the perfectly angular face of the MMC I swear to gosh I will...continue reading it because I'm a sucker for a cliche. Anyways, here are some other words to use instead.

Bloated

Sharp

Bony

Chiseled

Delicate

Soft / feminine

Elongated

Pinched

Hawkish

Narrow

Ratlike

Round

Sunken

Square

Wide

Wrinkly

Are there any that you guys hate or wish you saw more of?

[livelaughwriteit]

Waterpark and Amusement Park Names

Here is a series of waterpark or amusement park names that you can use in your story or to branch off of!

Green Meadows Waterpark

Ravenspark Aqua Center

Upper Lake Charter Waterpark

Elk Grove Waterpark

Emberland

Phantomville Horror Park

Castle Waterpark

Underwater Glory Aqua Park

Groovy Animal Park

Adventure Park of Terrors

[livelaughwriteit]

Teasing that give me butterflies

I've developed this list from things I've read when trying to get ideas for my stories. These will eventually be used in whatever book I can work them into! Let me know if there are any others that you like!

Flipping their tie over their shoulder after a teasing argument

Giving their tie a sharp tug when they make an inappropriate comment

 Fixing their clothing for them while they tease (smoothing down suit, smoothing down tie)

Ruffling their hair after saying something

Playing with their tie

Pulling them in for a kiss by their tie

Pulling them in close by their tie until they are just about to kiss to fluster them, saying something, pushing them away and walking away laughing

Stopping them from walking away

Teasing smirks

Playful glints in their eyes

Unfastening their ties slowly as they approach

Pulled close. “If you wanted to kiss me, all you had to do was ask.”

“all you had to do was ask”

“you’re blushing”

Almost caught. Caught by someone

[livelaughwriteit]

Showing instead of telling attraction between your characters:

There are many ways to show attraction. Unfortunately, I usually can't think of a single one. So here's a list when your brain won't work either.

Eye contact. Your character is probably not going to be able to make eye contact for a long time. They may resort to looking at the spot between their eyes to fake eye contact. The other person may not even notice and hold contact.

Mirroring. Unintentionally they will start to mirror the actions of the other person. When they cross their arms, your character will too.

Quirks and Tics. Bring on all the anxious tics you’ve introduced to your character. They make shake their leg, bite their nails, pick off nail polish, etc. just to stay calm. The other person may notice and ask something about it.

Details. Your character may remember small details they don’t even remember telling them. They may ask follow up questions. The other person may be touched they remembered or weirded out they brought it up.

Smiling. They may be unable to stop smiling at the other person. Or have a very difficult time pretending to be angry or annoyed with them. Use this to your advantage.

Glances. Short glances that occur too often are your friend. They may be checking them out, checking on them or just being unable to tear their eyes away.

Dressing for them. They may dress a certain way to see If the other person notices. They may think about it and smooth out the outfit before the other person arrives.

Obsessively talking about them. They may mention them constantly to friends and family, so much so that friends and family recognize the name when introduced. Maybe they used to mention them all the time and suddenly stop, causing friends and family to wonder what happened.

Touching. They may accidentally (or accidentally on purpose) bump into them and then think about it and what it meant for hours or days later.

Stalking. They may look at the person’s social media for hours to see their photos and find out about their lives.

[livelaughwriteit]

Flirty Banter

Here are some ideas for banter between your love interests. I imagine them to be used in rivals to lovers or enemies to lovers but can be used in any trope!

“you nervous?” // “About beating you? Not really.”

“Are you asking me out?” // “To date you, I’d have to lower my standards.”

“Are you always this annoying or do I just bring it out of you.” // “Nope, only when youre around.”

“Sounds like you missed me.” // “Don’t flatter me.”

“Trying to impress me?” // “Still assuming everything is about you?”

“Jealous?” // “Of you? There’s not much there.”

“You’re late.” // “you’re still here.”

[livelaughwriteit]

College Romance Tropes I Want to Read

Here is a list of tropes I’ve seen floating around that I really want to read or write. Lately, I’ve been wanting to expand from writing high school aged stories to college and young adult.

Enemies to Lovers

Friends to Lovers

Secret Crush

Secretly famous/royalty/etc.

Fake Relationship

Study Buddies

Club/Team Romance

Opposites Attract

Secret relationship

Campus Crush

Misunderstanding

Bad Boy x Straight A Student

Roommates to Lovers

Athlete x Straight A Student

Rivalry Romance

Scholarship Rivalry

Best Friends siblings

Late Night Library Meetings

Unknown talking to rival online

Neighbors to Lovers

Rival Club Leaders

Double Life Romance

Road Trip Romance

Forced Proximity

Different Teams Romance

Unexpected Roommates

[livelaughwriteit]

Ways for your characters to be close...while they still hate each other ~~Pt2~~

Here are some more ideas I thought up or have seen/read. There are a few basic ones and a few not so basic ones that i think, when paired well, could create a whole new type of story that is super unique! Let me know what you come up with!

Carrying the other after getting injured

Tutoring or training for a sport

Get stuck somewhere (like outside when cold out or wet out) and have to huddle for warmth

Get stuck somewhere (like outside when cold out or wet out) and have to huddle for warmth – bonus points if they have to do it while naked or in underwear

One of their lives is tied to the other

Bodyguard

Unexpected Coparenting

Get locked in a keycard entry only room during a power outage

When live powerlines hit the puddle, they are stranded on the only island in the puddle

Live powerlines on the ground and stuck in the house/school/room/car

Escape room after their friends bail

Same secret class they take at nights

Bosses like the work they produce together so contantly put them together

[livelaughwriteit]

Enemies in Love #2

Character A: I don't like kissing you Character B: Don't lie to yourself Character A: I only kiss you back so I don't hurt your feelings Character B: I thought you hated me, why would you care about hurting my feelings?

[livelaughwriteit]

Advice on Endings

I hate ending my stories. I will drag a story on long after it should have ended even though I know it should be done with. If anyone else struggles as well, here is a list of the different types of endings that are common.

Full Circle – Mirror the beginning of the story, show how the tone has shifted from start to end

Bittersweet – Character wins at the cost of something else, creates emotional depth

Emotional resolution – Focuses more on the growth of the characters than the events of the story

Twist – reveal something that changes the readers perspective or understanding

Open – doesn’t answer all the questions or solve all the conflicts of the story, leaving room for interpretation

Quiet – Subtle, reflective ending rather than a dramatic event

Sacrifice – The character has to give something up to achieve a greater goal

Hopeful – Despite the events of the story, there is a distinct sense that everything will be okay

Consequence – Shows how the characters choices throughout the story impact the world or their relationship

Character choice – centers on a decision that defines who the character has become through the story

[livelaughwriteit]

Finish Friday -- Finish this story

I grew up knowing one thing: when I got old enough, I’d be sold to the highest bidder. That person was CHARACTER ONE, the eldest son of my father’s business partner. We’d been promised to each other since before we could walk. Only, it’s his brother’s bed I sneak into every evening when his house goes dark.