hi! i love your contrapuntal poems so so much, and i was wondering if you had any advice on how you write them? like what your process is like and how you match them up!
- @cowboy-heart
Hey there! Okay, in my experience, writing two poems and then trying to match them up so that it makes a third one is almost impossible. What I do instead is this:
I write one poem (usually the left side, for some reason), so it looks like this
And THEN I start to write both the second and third poems and the same time
From here ^^ you start to write it diagonally, I guess? Every time you add a line to the right side, it has to make sense both vertically in the second poem by itself, and horizontally in the third poem.
This version of the left side is what I consider to be the "raw" version- all of the line breaks are completely arbitrary
- don't be constrained by these line breaks! make your own! see the difference i made between the first picture and the second picture? "he is our brother;" works better with "he never let me play alone."
Pro tip: semicolons are your FRIENDS because they can act like commas or periods
Hey! So one of my characters has fibromyalgia and I have her using crutches for it. My problem is that I was on crutches a while aback and I remember them being like really painful on the hands (grip wise). Is there any way to like make the handles softer to stop the grip from hurting other than buying a custom set of crutches (from what I’ve seen they’re ridiculously expensive). Thanks for answering :p [emoticon of a smiley face sticking its tongue out]
Hello!
If your character is using crutches long-term (Such as for a chronic condition/permanent disability), they would likely be using forearm crutches, which are different from the kind of crutches you use for a temporary injury.
Forearm crutches are much better for longer use because they are more comfortable and can help prevent damage caused by long-term use of regular crutches.
That said, if you're referring to regular crutches, there are several options available to make them more comfortable. Virus mentioned a few products for padding below so I'll just add that there's also DIY ways to improve the comfort when using regular crutches.
One of the main ways that I've seen it done (And I've used myself back in the day) is to take a hand towel and secure it around the top via duct tape. It helped a lot to prevent bruising around my armpits/upper arms when using them.
Virus covered most of what I wanted to go over below so I'll end my part here!
Cheers,
~ Mod Icarus
Hello lovely asker!
I use regular crutches on and off! 😃 Forearm crutches and canes don't work too well with my body but normal crutches have always been comfortable for me!
They actually make these paddings that go around the part for under the arm and for around the handle part, usually secured with Velcro or a button clasp. Some have like memory foam, some are more of a stuffing texture (sorta fluffy), there's some gel ones, some are more like moleskin where they're not padded but they prevent friction, and sometimes there's a neat little bag that comes with that hangs on the side of them. Of course the hand made option is always very good too, which a lot of people do. Having the crutches decorated/customized is an cool option which I mean a lot of us do with stickers, washi tape, charms, keychains, other things that you can safely decorate mobility aids with.
But Icarus is very right though. I don't use my crutches everyday I use them whenever I injure myself or need support. My body is very loosy goosy for a lack of better words and so I often injure my lower body very frequently, so I often just need the support. But I also lean on everything around my house and use things for support. My old medical pole, I do this with my wheelchair, the counters, the handles on doors and the fridge. Most everything I named comes up to right below my shoulder or higher so I don't have to lean over to lean on anything or in an uncomfortable position.
I think this is an interesting to think of: does this work for your character?
If it's no, maybe not, and you still want to show regular crutches being used, one thing you can do actually is show the character start with underarm crutches and then change to forearm crutches as their long term aid. Or even show that they change in between them; using their forearm crutches for most of their movement/activities while using the underarm ones for something quick or as a quick grab or if their forearm crutches break etc.
But also if you're doing a situation where it's like post-apocalytic setting, poor area/the character grew up poor, or other situations like that, it is very likely for the character to use underarm crutches rather than forearm crutches. Forearm crutches can be about double to triple the price of what normal crutches are so they are a bit more expensive. These are all little factors to consider.
I remade this guide to be a bit easier to read, less info dumping, a bit more specific info and stuff for you to understand, and also some stuff to help people decide which chair would be best for their characters!
“Unless you are following the dialogue with an action and not a dialogue tag.” He took a deep breath and sat back down after making the clarifying statement.
“And–” she waved a pen as though to underline her statement–“if you’re interrupting a sentence with an action, you need to type two hyphens to make an en-dash.”
“The speech tag is still part of the previous sentence,” she explained, ‘so it isn’t capitalised.“
“What do you mean?” he asked. “But there’s a full stop as part of the question mark!”
She nodded gravely. “I know!” she said. “A lot of people find this confusing. But the speech tag belongs to the line of dialogue, it’s still part of the sentence, so it’s wrong to capitalise it.”
She reblogged the post again, because she had recently read far too many potentially enjoyable stories marred by poor dialogue punctuation.
“There are two more ways"—she pointed to the blackboard—“to punctuate interruptions. One is with the em dashes outside the quotations marks to indicate continuous speech. The action occurs at the same time as speech. The other—” she sipped from a glass of water “—is em dashes within the quotation marks to indicate interrupted speech.”
„WICKED!”, he yelled loud enough for everyone to imagine it in capitals. „Sorry”, he added, „I shouldn’t have yelled at you guys… Guys?” He looked around and saw his best friend holding a bloody sword in one hand and ‘Writer’s handbook’ in the other.
A common problem writers face is "white room syndrome"—when scenes feel like they’re happening in an empty white room. To avoid this, it's important to describe settings in a way that makes them feel real and alive, without overloading readers with too much detail. Here are a few tips below to help!
Focus on a few key details
You don’t need to describe everything in the scene—just pick a couple of specific, memorable details to bring the setting to life. Maybe it’s the creaky floorboards in an old house, the musty smell of a forgotten attic, or the soft hum of a refrigerator in a small kitchen. These little details help anchor the scene and give readers something to picture, without dragging the action with heaps of descriptions.
Engage the senses
Instead of just focusing on what characters can see, try to incorporate all five senses—what do they hear, smell, feel, or even taste? Describe the smell of fresh bread from a nearby bakery, or the damp chill of a foggy morning. This adds a lot of depth and make the location feel more real and imaginable.
Mix descriptions with actions
Have characters interact with the environment. How do your characters move through the space? Are they brushing their hands over a dusty bookshelf, shuffling through fallen leaves, or squeezing through a crowded subway car? Instead of dumping a paragraph of description, mix it in with the action or dialogue.
Use the setting to reflect a mood or theme
Sometimes, the setting can do more than just provide a backdrop—it can reinforce the mood of a scene or even reflect a theme in the story. A stormy night might enhance tension, while a warm, sunny day might highlight a moment of peace. The environment can add an extra layer to what’s happening symbolically.
Here's an example of writing a description that hopefully feels alive and realistic, without dragging the action:
The bookstore was tucked between two brick buildings, its faded sign creaking with every gust of wind. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of worn paper and dust, mingling with the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee from a corner café down the street. The wooden floorboards groaned as Ella wandered between the shelves, her fingertips brushing the spines of forgotten novels. Somewhere in the back, the soft sound of jazz crackled from an ancient radio.
"Show, don’t tell" means letting readers experience a story through actions, senses, and dialogue instead of outright explaining things. Here are some practical tips to achieve that:
1. Use Sensory Details
Tell: "The room was cold."
Show: "Her breath puffed in faint clouds, and she shivered as frost clung to the edges of the window."
Tell: "He was scared."
Show: "His hands trembled, and his heart thudded so loudly he was sure they could hear it too."
2. Focus on Actions
Tell: "She was angry."
Show: "She slammed the mug onto the counter, coffee sloshing over the rim as her jaw clenched."
Tell: "He was exhausted."
Show: "He stumbled through the door, collapsing onto the couch without even bothering to remove his shoes."
3. Use Dialogue
What characters say and how they say it can reveal their emotions, intentions, or traits.
Tell: "She was worried about the storm."
Show: "Do you think it'll reach us?" she asked, her voice tight, her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt.
4. Show Internal Conflict Through Thoughts or Reactions
Tell: "He was jealous of his friend."
Show: "As his friend held up the trophy, he forced a smile, swallowing the bitter lump rising in his throat."
5. Describe the Environment to Reflect Mood
Use the setting to mirror or hint at emotions or themes.
Tell: "The town was eerie."
Show: "Empty streets stretched into the mist, and the only sound was the faint creak of a weathered sign swinging in the wind."
6. Let Readers Infer Through Context
Give enough clues for the reader to piece things together without spelling it out.
Tell: "The man was a thief."
Show: "He moved through the crowd, fingers brushing pockets, his hand darting away with a glint of gold."
7. Use Subtext in Interactions
What’s left unsaid can reveal as much as what’s spoken.
Tell: "They were uncomfortable around each other."
Show: "He avoided her eyes, pretending to study the painting on the wall. She smoothed her dress for the third time, her fingers fumbling with the hem."
8. Compare to Relatable Experiences
Use metaphors, similes, or comparisons to make an emotion or situation vivid.
Tell: "The mountain was huge."
Show: "The mountain loomed above them, its peak disappearing into the clouds, as if it pierced the heavens."
Practice Example:
Tell: "The village had been destroyed by the fire."
Show: "Charred beams jutted from the rubble like broken ribs, the acrid smell of ash lingering in the air. A child's shoe lay half-buried in the soot, its leather curled from the heat."
🐚⚓️🫧List of Random Things For Your Dark Coastal Settings | For Writers🐚⚓️🫧
Since you all loved the list of random things for Dark Academia, here’s a list of items, things, sights etc.. you might find in a Dark Coastal setting.
The Cliffside 🌊
Jagged slate-gray rocks jutting out from the churning sea
Swaths of wild, windblown grasses and mosses clinging to the cliffs
Crumbling stone ruins half-hidden in the fog
The eerie cries of seabirds circling overhead
Gnarled, salt-weathered driftwood scattered across the shoreline
The Cove 🐚
A small pebbly beach tucked into a sheltered inlet
Seaweed-covered tide pools teeming with mysterious marine life
Centuries-old fishing nets and lobster traps hung to dry
Weathered wooden rowboats moored at a rickety dock
The salty, briny scent of the sea lingering in the air
The Lighthouse 🗼
A tall, round stone tower with a flickering lantern on top
Faded nautical charts and weather-beaten log books inside
An antique brass telescope trained on the horizon
The heavy thump of the lighthouse bell in the distance
Coils of fraying rope and a tarnished brass spyglass on the windowsill
The Shipwreck 🛥️
The rusted, half-submerged hull of an ancient sailing vessel
Tangled knots of kelp and barnacles clinging to the metal
Fragments of shattered wood and twisted metal debris
The eerie, echoing creaks and groans of the wreckage in the waves
Fragments of weathered, sun-bleached bones glinting in the murky depths
The Coastal Cottage 🏠
A small, weathered wooden house with peeling paint
Tattered sheer curtains fluttering in the salty sea breeze
Shelves lined with antique glass bottles and driftwood sculptures
A wood-burning stove with a teapot whistling softly
The distant sound of foghorns cutting through the mist
The Shipwreck Cove 🚢
Jutting black cliffs, their bases strewn with the bones of broken ships
Seaweed-covered ribs of an old shipwreck, barnacles clinging to the wood
Rusted metal and shattered glass glittering in the crashing waves
Cawing of crows circling overhead, their shadows flickering on the rocks
The hollow, echoing sound of the wind whistling through the caves
The Seaside Cemetery 🪦
Rows of crumbling tombstones covered in moss and lichen
Twisted, windblown trees casting long, ominous shadows
The faint scent of night-blooming jasmine on the breeze
A rusted wrought-iron gate creaking open to the path
Fog rolling in, obscuring the distant sound of the surf
Calling all aspiring storytellers with hearts full of whimsy! Get ready to sprinkle a touch of enchantment into your scenes with my Scene Wo
646 members, 419 posts about #creative writing #creative writers #helping writers • Guiding Writers to New Heights
So @itsdancingquen did me the incredible honor of drawing a commissioned piece based on my Hellcheer Western AU, Among the Willows, and to say I’m impressed with it would be an understatement. She was an absolute delight to work with! 💕
I don't know that anyone HAS written this (if they have, SEND ME THE LINK, PLEASE?!?), but someone DEFINITELY SHOULD!
Actually, just a fic where Chrissy has like, dormant witch powers, and Vecna hunting her triggers them, and she turns into an absolute badass who helps the Party beat him... 😃😃😃😃😃
A Hellcheer piece I've been noodling on for like half a year now and I finally got the courage to finish it! Honestly, after seeing the BS that Grace Van Dien went through with some shitty people, I wanted to try and put something happy out there. I can't stop people from being shitty, but at least I can promote happy things and nice things.
Here's my ultimate character profile template that helps define crucial details of any important character in your story, may additionally help with outline, plot holes, and even writer's block if you're stuck or losing interest:
Name:
Gender:
Personality type: (unnecessary, but may be helpful with making your cast diverse and assigning more realistic fears and desires, e.g., enneagram)
Desires: (what does your character want?)
Fears: (what keeps them from getting it?)
Beliefs and misbeliefs: (what does your character need to change their mind about in order to overcome their fear and get what they desire? There's also beliefs in this part, because some things your character believes in don't necessarily change, but if they can somehow affect the plot, why not mention it? It doesn't necessarily have to be bad)
Social life: (how does your character behave around their family? Their friends? Strangers? Rivals? Enemies?)
Addiction: (what habits does your character possess? What or who do they depend on? Do they always need something in their hands to fidget with? Or do they often ask for a light?)
Self image: (how does your character view themselves personally? What are their imperfections they feel bad about? What are the parts of their appearance they're proud of? Do not confuse with physical description!)
Physical decription: (do not confuse with the former! What does your character look like to others?)
Backstory: (here's your time to shine by using everything we established in previous parts by explaining the reason behind each (but not necessarily every single one) part. For example: where did your character's fears come from? Their desire? Their misbeliefs? The ugly scar they're so uneasy about? Why do they smoke or need fidget toys? Why are they more friendly to strangers than their own family? Etc.)
Here's the blank version to copy and paste into your projects. Feel free to use, change, ignore some parts, or add your own:
Hamlet. A dirty rind of black coffee dried against a porcelain mug. An apple bitten down to its pit. An empty stomach.
As You Like It. Basil and thyme. Nibbled cheddar cheese and rocket leaves. Wild mushrooms that taste of lush moss and dirt after rain.
Romeo and Juliet. Graffiti of broken hearts on concrete. Coca-Cola in glass bottles, at gas stations. Ice-cream splattered like a moon on tarmac. The noonday sun, the heartlessly blue sky.
The Tempest. Salt in the air. Wild berries and pickled roots. Feral. Sharp, rancid sourness numbing your tongue. The tasteless gray where the sky meets water.
Macbeth. Red meats roasted across splendid platters. Blood and gravy and oil, oozing like water across your metal plate, sluicing your sleeves. The potato speared on your fork, the artichoke stopped by your knife, the mouthful of spinach congealed on your spoon. They all taste like ash.
A Midsummer Night's Dream. A pill that someone slipped in your drink. Licorice. Grenadine syrup and lime. Silver moonlight and purple bruises from unknown mouths.
Much Ado About Nothing. Raspberry sorbet, one spoon for two. Oranges. Lemon meringue. Vinegar. Onions that make you cry. Closing your eyes and not knowing whether the kiss will be sour, or sweet.
Othello. Olives, sliced strawberries and sparkling pink champagne. Crushed mint, crushed ice that look like broken glass. Bloody Marys lanced with too much spice, your tongue on fire. Love's to get drunk on, and none of us know how to hold our liquor.
King Lear. Hardened crusts of stale bread. Red wine splattered by shattered glasses. The lonesome, herbal warmth of a cup of tea in your hands as the storm tears the rest of the world apart.
Twelfth Night. Roasted crab from a street-vendor. Lemonade with a dash of rum, margaritas rimmed with salt. String lights by the beach, dampened wooden docks, waves murmuring against sand. Hangovers. Lazy summer evenings.
The Merchant of Venice. A bowl full of purple grapes. Dried cranberries and spices curated in jars. The rich, tantalizing aroma of wood in the pantry. The remnants of whiskey at the bottom of a tumbler, beside the dying fire.
Titus Andronicus. Mandrake roots and bloodworms. Raw eggs, fresh brains dashed out into a bowl. Foie gras. Pork fat and a sheep's heart. A bloody dishrag wrung dry.
⋆ “i know you said you weren’t hungry, but i made you something anyways.”
⋆ “you seemed a little off on the phone, so i wanted to make sure you had something nice to come home to.”
⋆ “i heard you reminiscing about it the other day, so i called your mom and got the recipe.”
⋆ “hey, hey- i know you always say you don’t have time to eat breakfast before you leave, so i got up early to make you something you could eat on the go.”
⋆ "you know i don't mind that you can't help me while i'm cooking. wanna help me plate it up now?"
⋆ “of course i remembered what you like, why do you think i always have it made fresh when you come over? i’m not actually a psychic.”
⋆ "well you said you were craving [insert food] and it's too late to run to the store to grab it so yeah, i made it for you."
⋆ “come on, i can see you’re starving. just let me make you something, you know i don’t mind.”
-ˏˋ. actions / scenarios ˊˎ-
⋆ practising cooking a dish from their friend/partner's childhood in secret before serving it to them for the first time
⋆ gently reminding them to eat
⋆ always having the ingredients for their comfort meal on hand in case they have a bad day
⋆ navigating around their sensory issues with food while cooking for them without being asked
⋆ dropping off food for them during a stressful day
⋆ being patient as they teach the other how to cook
⋆ learning how to prepare food from their home country for them
⋆ wordlessly setting a meal down in front of them after they come home at the end of a long day
