manna tries to write

she/they/her/them trying to conjure up cosy words and worlds from mangoes

[thedeadreaderslibrary]

So. I never got over Netflix cancelling First Kill. Ever since then, I’ve been compiling a list of sapphic vampire books to hit that spot for me. And after a lot (and I mean a LOT) of my friends decided to ask me for sapphic vampire books recs, I decided I might as well as compile and post an official list.

(Also thanks to my lover @eurydices-carnation774 for being just as weird about sapphic vampire books as I am and for helping me out with finding some of these!!)

[mannaveyil]

hello! i've (she/they) been a lurker on writeblr for a bit and finally gathered enough courage to sign up and post here. currently working on my first draft of a south asian cosy fantasy mystery with sapphic romance and experiencing all the joys and doubts and thrills and hair-pulling-outness that comes with it.

so i guess i'll be posting about all that because i'd love to be part of a community who gets it. still learning how tumblr works so please excuse any faux pas 🙏

also, if you're writing anything cosy/ whimsical/ sapphic/ south asian, please say hi!

[rychillacases]

Hi. I'm an Australian author who's also writing fantasy mysteries, however they're not south asian based. They're set in a separate world, with fairies, elemental magic and steam powered vehicles.

Two of my main characters, Tenora and Karis, will have a sapphic romance and end up happily together. It starts when they comfort each other when their fears catch up with them, and develops from there.

(Art by Pamonyaart & Rait Visual Works.)

[mannaveyil]

Such an exciting premise! And gorgeous art <3 looking forward to more!

[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

[quietlyfamous]

"You either face your demons, or they raise your children."

Unknown

[antlered-vixen]

I am so tired of short-attention-span, trim-the-fat culture. All writing advice these days is for how to write like Chuck Palahniuk. "Cut 'think', cut 'feel', cut 'wonder' - only action, only pushing forward, show and move and move and move." What if I could emulate this style, and still don't want to? What if I want to write like Henry James, with three paragraphs of introspective musings between each dialogue line? The music advice is, "make it shortform, make it Tik-Tok compatible, make it punchy, hit the refrain as soon as possible." What if I want that 10-minute prog rock piece? What if I want that symphony? What if I want it slow and luxurious and lazy? Movies. Series. Poetry. Bodies. Everything is "trimmed trimmed trimmed trimmed, stripped bare, you have three seconds to win me over, make it airport chic." I don't want to win you over, then, I guess. I want the fat left it. I want the pleasure and the indolence and the indulgence. Fuck this art-advice that's always "your art needs Ozempic."

[chxrry-bombs]

5 Tiny Writing Tips That Aren’t Talked About Enough (but work for me)

These are some lowkey underrated tips I’ve seen floating around writing communities — the kind that don’t get flashy attention but seriously changed how I write.

1. Put “he/she/they” at the start of the sentence less often.

Try switching up your sentence rhythm. Instead of

“She walked to the window,”

try

“The window creaked open under her touch.”

Keeps it fresh and stops the paragraph from sounding like a checklist.

2. Don’t describe everything — describe what matters.

Instead of listing every detail in a room, pick 2–3 objects that say something.

“A half-drunk mug of tea and a knife on the table”

sets a way stronger tone than

“There was a wooden table, two chairs, and a shelf.”

3. Use beats instead of dialogue tags sometimes.

Instead of:

"I'm fine," she said.

Try:

"I'm fine." She wiped her hands on her skirt.

It helps shows emotion, and movement.

4. Write your first draft like no one will ever read it.

No pressure. No perfection. Just vibes. The point of draft one is to exist. Let it be messy and weird — future you will thank you for at least something to edit.

5. When stuck, ask: “What’s the most fun thing that could happen next?”

Not logical. Not realistic. FUN. It doesn’t have to stay — but chasing excitement can blast through writer’s block and give you ideas you actually want to write.

What’s a tip that unexpectedly helped with your writing? Let me know!! 🍒

[beeonaspiderweb]

⸺girios aplink mus bunda.

Hello and welcome to my writing grove, where the birds are always dancing up in the trees, and the forest is full of stories if you listen closely! I’m Solveiga (she/her), a European-based folk horror writer, in my late twenties. This space is where I ramble about my WIPs and writing projects, discuss Lithuanian mythology and folklore, and I also love chatting with others about their stories, too!

⸺tekėk, saulele, anksti rytelį.

I’ve been writing for about seven years now, and I mostly write horror and folklore-inspired stories. I genuinely love, love, love to read and I read a lot, across pretty much every genre. Some of my favourites are horror, mysteries and detectives.

Lithuanian language is my native language, and I'm happy to be able to share more of our culture with the others. You can always ask me any questions that you might have. I'm always happy to be of help.

Favourite horror movies: Rocky Horror Picture Show, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Ready or Not, The Evil Dead, Misery, Ginger Snaps, Fright Night, House on Haunted Hill, 28 Days Later, The Cabin in the Woods, It Follows, Southbound.

Some of my favourite fictional characters are: Frank N Furter (RHPS), Grace (Ready or Not), Ash Williams (Evil Dead), Jane Hudson (WEHTBJ?), Carrie White (Carrie), Annabelle Loren (House on Haunted Hill), Annie Wilkes (Misery), Prue Halliwell (Charmed), Lilly Rush (Cold Case).

I enjoy taking walks, exploring weird corners of history and collecting fun linguistics facts. As well I'm a huge tea lover (and Earl Grey is my love).

I don't really like thunderstorms, but I tend to write about them a lot.

⸺prisimink kaip šokom valsą, autobusų stotelėj.

Found family, platonic love, and complex sibling relationships is mostly what I write about. I hold these themes close to my heart.

Grief, abandonment wound and intergenerational trauma also play a big role in my stories.

I can go on for hours describing nature, especially autumn and spring settings, which are also my favourite seasons.

While I adore writing horror and darker themes, I like my stories to have happy endings, with characters still having some hope left.

Ask and tag game friendly. Conversations and chatting are always welcome!

credits for a header and pfp goes to @zaldyrenders

[mannaveyil]

hello! i've (she/they) been a lurker on writeblr for a bit and finally gathered enough courage to sign up and post here. currently working on my first draft of a south asian cosy fantasy mystery with sapphic romance and experiencing all the joys and doubts and thrills and hair-pulling-outness that comes with it.

so i guess i'll be posting about all that because i'd love to be part of a community who gets it. still learning how tumblr works so please excuse any faux pas 🙏

also, if you're writing anything cosy/ whimsical/ sapphic/ south asian, please say hi!