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ON HIATUS INDEFINITELY. Writing advice, problems, and other things. If you have a question or problem with your work, feel free to ask! For mobile users, here is my tags page. I'm also willing to read/edit/critique any work (see my guidelines page first).

[riona-is-writing]

Hello all! Unfortunately, due to unforeseen personal circumstances, I will be putting this blog on hiatus indefinitely. I’m not sure when or if I’ll be back. I’m very sad to go, but hopefully my blog can still be of use to all of you even while I’m gone. Thank you for following this blog and for being so supportive! Since I want this blog to continue to help others, I will not be deleting it, but instead leaving it up for you to peruse and use if you need to. Once again, thank you all for your support!

-Ríona

[mortepiacere-deactivated2019032]

A handy list of poisons for writing reference, provided to you by me, Bella

Poisoning is one of the oldest murder tactics in the books. It was the old equalizer, and while it’s often associated with women, historically men are no less likely to poison you. This is not a guide on how to poison people, you banana bunches, it’s a guide on writing about poisons in fiction so you don’t end up on a watch list while researching them. I’ve taken that hit for you. You’re welcome. These are just a few of the more classic ones.

Hemlock: Hemlock (conium maculatum) is one of the more famous ones, used in ancient times most notably in Socrates’ forced suicide execution. So it goes. The plant has bunches of small, white flowers, and can grow up to ten feet tall. It’s a rather panicky way to die, although it wouldn’t show: hemlock is a paralytic, so the cause of death is most often asphyxiation due to respiratory paralysis, although the mind remains unaffected and aware.

Belladonna: Atropa belladonna is also called deadly nightshade. It has pretty, trumpet-shaped purple flowers and dark, shiny berries that actually look really delicious which is ironic since it’s the most toxic part of the plant. The entire plant is poisonous, mind you, but the berries are the most. One of the most potent poisons in its hemisphere, it was used as a beauty treatment, so the story says, and rubbed into the eyes to make the eyes dilate and the cheeks flush. Hench the name beautiful lady. The death is more lethargic than hemlock, although its symptoms are worse: dilated pupils, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, tachycardia, loss of balance, staggering, headache, rash, flushing, severely dry mouth and throat, slurred speech, urinary retention, constipation, confusion, hallucinations, delirium, and convulsions. It’s toxic to animals, but cattle and rabbits can eat it just fine, for some reason. 

Arsenic: Arsenic comes from a metalloid and not a plant, unlike the others here, but it’s easily the most famous and is still used today. Instead of being distilled from a plant, chunks of arsenic are dug up or mined. It was once used as a treatment for STDs, and also for pest control and blacksmithing, which was how many poisoners got access to it. It was popular in the middle ages because it looked like a cholera death, due to acute symptoms including stomach cramps, diarrhea, confusion, convulsions, vomiting, and death. Slow poisoning looked more like a heart attack. The Italians famously claimed that a little arsenic improved the taste of wine.

Strychnine: Strychnine (strick-nine) is made from the seed of strychnos nux vomica and causes poisoning which results in muscular convulsions and eventually death through asphyxia. Convulsions appear after inhalation or injection—very quickly, within minutes—and take somewhat longer to manifest after ingestion, around approximately 15 minutes. With a very high dose, brain death can occur in 15 to 30 minutes. If a lower dose is ingested, other symptoms begin to develop, including seizures, cramping, stiffness, hypervigilance, and agitation. Seizures caused by strychnine poisoning can start as early as 15 minutes after exposure and last 12 – 24 hours. They are often triggered by sights, sounds, or touch and can cause other adverse symptoms, including overheating, kidney failure, metabolic and respiratory acidosis. During seizures, abnormal dilation, protrusion of the eyes, and involuntary eye movements may occur. It is also slightly hallucinogenic and is sometimes used to cut narcotics. It also notably has no antidote. In low doses, some use it as a performance enhancer.

Curare: Chondrodendron tomentosum is lesser known than its famous cousins, but kills in a very similar way to hemlock. It is slow and terrible, as the victim is aware and the heart may beat for many minutes after the rest of the body is paralyzed. If artificial respiration is given until the poison subsides, the victim will survive.

Wolfsbane: Aconitum has several names; Monkshood, aconite, Queen of Poisons, women’s bane, devil’s helmet) and is a pretty, purple plant with gourd-shaped flowers. The root is the most potent for distillation. Marked symptoms may appear almost immediately, usually not later than one hour, and with large doses death is near instantaneous. Death usually occurs within two to six hours in fatal poisoning. The initial signs are gastrointestinal including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. This is followed by a sensation of burning, tingling, and numbness in the mouth and face, and of burning in the abdomen. In severe poisonings pronounced motor weakness occurs and sensations of tingling and numbness spread to the limbs. The plant should be handled with gloves, as the poison can seep into the skin.

Foxglove: Digitalis is large with trumpet-shaped flowers that can be many colors, but usually a pinkish shade. It may have from the term foxes-glew, which translated to fairy music. Intoxication causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as sometimes resulting in xanthopsia (jaundiced or yellow vision) and the appearance of blurred outlines (halos), drooling, abnormal heart rate, cardiac arrhythmias, weakness, collapse, dilated pupils, tremors, seizures, and even death. Slowed heartbeat also occurs. Because a frequent side effect of digitalis is reduction of appetite and the mortality rate is low, some individuals have used the drug as a weight-loss aid. It looks a bit like comfrey, which is an aid for inflammation. Make sure not to confuse the two.

[kaypier-deactivated20200518]

More often than not I’ll crack into a sprawling fantasy series and, while I appreciate the luscious descriptions of furniture, landscapes, and clothing, all I’m focused on is that I don’t actually know how this world works. I only know what it looks like.  

Including some functionality to your universe can add to immersion and give your reader a strong foundation on which to build their mental model of your universe. 

You certainly don’t need to use all of these questions! In fact, I recommend against that, as all of these certainly won’t make it into your final draft. I personally find that starting my worldbuilding off with 5 to 10 functional questions helps pave the way for glittery and elaborate aesthetic development later on.

How is the healthcare funded in your world?

How does healthcare functionally differ between the wealthy and the poor? (i.e. can only the wealthy go to hospitals? do poor families often have to rely on back-alley procedures?)

Where are health centers (i.e. hospitals, small clinics, etc.) organized in your cities?

Does it differ in smaller towns?

How does this affect people’s ability to get healthcare?

Is healthcare magical, and if it is, how does that affect the healthcare system? 

If healing is instantaneous, how does that affect people’s views on injury, illness, and chronic ailments?

If you have both magical and physical healthcare, which one is deemed superior and how does that affect society? 

What illnesses are common in your world? 

How does this affect daily life? 

What do the people in your world think illnesses are? 

Is it a miasma theory? 

Humor theory? 

Demons? 

Do they know about biological viruses and bacteria? 

How does this affect healthcare?

How do people get water? 

Is the water sanitary and if not, how do they sanitize it?

How does agriculture work? 

Is it large corporations or individual farms?

What sort of agricultural technology exists in your world and how does it affect food production?

Are farmers wealthy or poor?

What sort of natural resources does your world/country(ies) have and how are they obtained?

How does this affect the average wealth of the country?

How does this wealth affect the culture? 

What livestock or beasts of burden are most valued? Least valued? Why?

What is considered a luxury good vs. a regular good?

What forms of transportation does your world have?

What classes use what forms of transportation?

How far has the average citizen traveled, given your transportation limitations?

Which cities are the most accessible and which are the least? Why?

How do popular transportation methods change how cities/towns are laid out?

Does your world have public transportation? What is it?

Is there a coming-of-age aspect to travel?

Describe your world’s postal system or whatever equivalent there is. 

Who pays for it? 

How reliable is it? 

Are there emergency methods for transporting information?

How does your world keep time (i.e. watches, sundials, water clock, etc.)?

Does your world have a currency system, barter system, or something else? 

If you have multiple countries, do different currencies have different values across said countries?

How does this affect travel?

Do you have banks in your world and if so, how are they run?

Who owns the banks? Government? Wealthy? How does this affect the economy and/or class system?

How does credit operate in your universe?

Does your world operate more on big corporations or small business? Something in between?

How are workers/labourers treated in your world? 

Are there workers unions and if so, what are common views on unions? 

Describe your tax system. If you don’t have a tax system, explain why and how your world is affected by that. 

Can certain social classes not own property, certain livestock, certain businesses, etc.? Why?

How are business records kept? Are business records kept?

If your world has technology, does your world prioritize developing entertainment tech, communications tech, transportation tech or something else entirely?

What does this say about your world?

How does this affect your economy?

To the closest approximation, what type of government does your world have? 

How are rulers/presidents/nobles put in place? 

How much power does an individual ruler have? 

Is there a veto process? 

If you have multiple countries, do they have different types of rulers?

Describe any large-scale alliances (i.e. countries, factions, etc.) that are present in your world. 

How did they come about and how are they maintained? 

Are they strained or peaceful? 

How does it affect the greater politics of your world?

Describe how wars are fought both internationally and nationally. 

Do methods of war differ between countries/races? 

What about philosophies about war?

If there is a military, what is its hierarchy structure?

How does the military recruit?

Is the military looked upon favourably in your society?

What weapons are used by each country/type of people during warfare, and how does that affect war strategies?

Describe the sentencing system of your world. 

Is your accused innocent until proven guilty, or guilty until proven innocent?

How are lawbreakers punished? 

If you have prisons, describe how they are organized and run, and who owns them. 

Does differing ownership change how the prisons operate?

What are the major ways in which laws between countries vary? 

Do laws between cities vary? If so, how and why?

How does citizenship work in your world? What rights and privileges do citizens have that others do not? 

Can certain classes or races not become citizens?

Are there certain taboo subjects or opinions that artist/authors/musicians are not allowed to depict (i.e. portraying the official religion in a negative light, explicit sexual material, etc.)? What does this say about your society?

How do people get around these censorship laws?

What is the official hierarchy of duty in your world? (i.e. is family the most important, or patriotism? What about clan?)

How many languages are there in your world, and how many languages share a common origin? 

How many people are multilingual? 

Which language is the most common?

How is multilingualism viewed?

How are different languages viewed? (i.e. is one language ugly/barbaric while another is romantic and sensual?)

Feel free to add your own questions in reblogs or in comments!

[the-writers-manual]

A lovely list for anyone interested in world-building!

[kaypier-deactivated20200518]

can i get some honest opinions about using google docs for original writing? 

my problem is: i only have a desktop and being forced to sit at my computer to write with MS Word is… gross… when i could just be using my ipad and actually go to cafes or go to campus to write.

[writerinhighheels]

Tbh I didn’t hear good things about Google docs in terms of copyright and stuff. I’ve just recently seen a post about it. I can search it up if you want

[writerinhighheels]

@pigeonbooks @thespooniewrites

Found it. Tbh I’m generally not a fan of anything Google because your privacy is pretty much non-existent there but if I’d condemn every company and service like that, I wouldn’t be able to use anything anymore

[taz-writes]

Google docs is kind of a pain for me to be honest, I’ve never liked it. It’s hard to organize and Google’s privacy is Not A Thing.

If you want an alternative program for writing on the go, there’s a free app called Evernote that you should try. It’s a note taking app with some formatting options and an organization system. It works in a browser window, it’s an app for mobile devices, and I think there’s a desktop program version too but I’m not sure. I use it mostly for D&D campaigns and tracking my worldbuilding. It syncs across devices like Google docs does, which is nice, and I think you can format paragraphs decently with it. It’s got way better privacy than Google too.

[tast3of1nk]

I write a chapter in google docs and then copy it over to a word doc when I’m done, save it to my hard drive, then delete the google doc. I just type in google docs because I’m That Person who always forgets to save their work.

[brynwrites]

The very best writing tip you will ever hear is this:  

              Analyze stories.

Don’t just listen to what other storytellers say you should do, figure out what you like about the stories you enjoy and learn to replicate that.

Want to learn about pacing? Examine stories you think flow fantastically. Want to learn about description? Study your favorite author’s descriptions. Want to learn about characterization? Critique your favorite characters.  Want to learn about foreshadowing? Explore how it’s done in stories where the plot twist blew your mind.

Storytellers giving advice to other storytellers is fantastic and useful, but you will never know something as thoroughly as you know the things you figure out for yourself. 

And by analyzing the stories you love instead of listening blindly to advice, you’ll never be swayed by the bias of other writers and you’ll never take in advice that’s suited for a story you wouldn’t enjoy writing.

So put on some thinking caps and go analyze those stories.

[thecaffeinebookwarrior-deactiva]

The Secret To A Relatable Villain:  An Illustrated Guide

@moonsp1r1t​ asked:

Do you have any advice for writing villain motivations, especially making them relatable?

A while ago, I made a realization that was life changing:  

Villains can – and frequently do – have exactly the same motivations as heroes.  

Think of them as the shadows, the inverted versions, of benevolent desires.  

I’ll show you what I mean:

1.  Love

(GIF source.)

The hero:

The hero wants love and validation, and earns it through their actions – namely, treating those they care about with support and value.

Examples:  Megamind, Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, Quasimodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

(GIF source.)

The Villain:

The villain wants love and validation, and believes others owe it to them.  They’ll frequently get enraged and violent when the objects of their affection deny them.

Examples:  Tighten from Megamind, Severus Snape from Harry Potter, Frollo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Ross from Friends.

2.  Power

(GIF source.)

The hero:

The hero wants power in order to gain agency and autonomy for themselves and/or promote justice and improve the lives of others.

Examples:  T’Challa from Black Panther, Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones.

(GIF source.)

The villain:

The villain wants power in order to dominate others and to do what they want without consequence.

Examples:  Killgrave from Jessica Jones.  

3.  Family

(GIF source.)

The hero:

The hero will do whatever it takes to protect their family, while abiding by a code of underlying morals that they will not violate.

Examples: Dean Winchester from Supernatural, Joyce Byers from Stranger Things, Marlon from Finding Nemo, the man and the boy from The Road.  

The villain:

The villain will do whatever it takes to protect their family, including taking away their freedom, abusing them, or hurting and killing other innocent families.

(GIF source.)

Examples: Eddie’s mom from IT, John Winchester from Supernatural, Mother Gothel from Tangled, whoever Bruce Willis’ character in Looper was.

4.  Safety

(GIF source.)

The hero:

The hero was raised in an abusive, violent environment.  They’ll do whatever it takes to never have to experience that again, and to make sure others never have to suffer in the same way.

Examples:  Finn and Rey from Star Wars, Katniss from Hunger Games.

(GIF source.)

The villain:

The villain was raised in an abusive, violent environment.  They’ll do whatever it takes to never experience that again, including doing the exact same thing to other people.  

Examples:  That one dude from A Series of Unfortunate Events, Severus Snape (again.)

5.  Justice

(GIF source.)

The hero:

The hero wants a remedy for injustice, and goes about it by attacking the source of the corruption or providing a platform for the truth to be told.

Examples:  Every classic superhero, Robin Hood, The original trio from Star Wars, Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter from The Help.

(GIF source.)

The villain:

The villain wants a remedy for injustice, and goes about it by hurting innocents to get an audience or power.

Examples:  Killmonger from Black Panther, Magneto from X-Men.

The realization that evil or destructive people are human, and, essentially, want the same things as good people, is a realization that makes them easier to write in an identifiable way.

I hope this helps, and happy writing!  <3

[fictionadventurer]

We writers often categorize ourselves as “plotters” or “pantsers”, based on how much of our story we prefer to outline before we begin writing actual scenes. As I consider my writing process, I’m beginning to think this framework isn’t very useful for describing how I turn my ideas into a full-fledged story. But I think I’ve discovered a more useful way to frame this difference. Instead of “plotter vs. pantser”, consider: are you a deductive storyteller or an inductive storyteller?

Deductive reasoning starts with general premises and draws specific conclusions. In a similar way, deductive storytellers start with general concepts and work their way down to specific details.The Snowflake Method is the purest form of deductive storytelling–you start with the most basic overview, and at each level, you add more details and get more specific, until you wind up with a first draft.

To a deductive storyteller, the overarching framework is necessary in order to develop the small details. For example, if I were writing deductively, I’d decide that Suzie is a brave character, and then write scenes that show Suzie’s bravery. I’d also needs to figure out the steps of the plot before coming up with the details of any specific scene–I’d need to know that Suzie will argue with Dave so I can set up the tension that will lead to that scene. The big picture needs to come first, and any necessary details can be logically drawn from this framework.

In contrast, inductive reasoning starts with specific data and draws general conclusions. Therefore, inductive storytelling starts with specific details of a scene, and from that, draws general conclusions about the characters, plot, and setting. This type of writer aligns more closely with the “pantser” end of the spectrum, and is likely to get more ideas from writing scenes than from writing an outline.

An inductive storyteller needs to write out scenes, and use the small details in the prose to figure out broader facts about the plot, characters, and setting. For example, if I were writing inductively, I might write a scene in which Suzie was the only person in her party to enter a haunted house without hesitation. From this, I’d determine that Suzie was brave, and would use this insight to inform Suzie’s behavior in future scenes.  I’d also use the details of early scenes to figure out the next logical steps of my plot. For example, Suzie and Dave are having tense interactions across multiple scenes, so it’s logical that it will erupt into an argument in the next scene. The small details have to come first, so they can be combined logically to draw larger conclusions about the story.

This framework has given me insight into why I write the way I do. The “plotter vs. pantser” argument is generally framed as “do you get bored if you know the story beforehand”? But the difference goes much deeper than that–it ties into which method of story building feels more logical to you. I find that detailed outlines often destroy my stories. I might have a plot plan and character sheets that work extremely well in summary form, but I find I can’t use those big pictures to extrapolate the small details I need for a scene–the resulting story feels vague and artificial. It works much better if I write at least a few scenes first–see the characters interacting in their environment–and then dig deeper into what those details tell me about my characters, plot, and setting so I can further develop the story. Other people might find that they can’t come up with useful details unless they know the larger picture. Neither way is better–it just depends on your preferred storytelling strategy.

Obviously, writers will fall on a spectrum somewhere between these two extremes. But I feel that the “inductive vs. deductive” terminology is a more useful distinction than plain old “plotter vs. pantser”. The important thing isn’t whether you outline, but why an outline may or may not help you create the story you want to tell.

[nonbinarypastels]

anyway most writing advice is frequently contradictory to other writing advice you might receive from people who have just as much/more writing ~expertise~ and a lot of writing advice is just flat-out terrible even if it’s coming from an ~expert~ so if you’re a writer consider this post a reminder that

writing advice that comes up on your dash should be looked at as tips you can choose to follow or discard as it suits you, not hardline rules you MUST abide by or else you’re a ‘bad writer’

you’re allowed to look at a piece of writing advice and say, “wow, that’s a shit idea and i don’t want write like that” and forget about it – even if the post has thousands of notes full of other people agreeing with it

there is no One True Right Way to write, your writing does not have to be just like everyone else’s – if all stories were written the same way and with the same style, reading would be a much more boring thing to do

if you try to write in a way that pleases everyone, you will fail because pleasing everyone is not possible – your own satisfaction with your work, your own desire to write a story, and your own enjoyment of writing are more important than that

[highladymorrigan-deactivated201]

20 Unique Book asks

Bored so I’ve decided to make one :) Share it around if u wanna try it :)

1. What book did you love when you were younger, but now are not very into?

2. What character do you hate that is overall a popular character?

3. What book would you be glad to never hear of again?

4. Which book has the protagonist you relate most to?

5. Have you ever liked a book but not liked the author?

6. What fictional world would you most like to live in?

7. Are you ever embarrassed when asked about your taste in books?

8. Do you get excited when a book you read is turning into a movie/ tv franchise? Or do you cringe.

9. Have you ever judged someone on their book taste?

10. How do you organise your book shelf?

11. Are you a sucker for book merchandises?

12. If you could ask your favourite author 2 questions what would they be?

13. In three words, how would you describe your taste in books?

14. Have you made genuine friendships through the books you’ve read?

15. Do you prefer reading outside or in the solitude of your room?

16. If you had the chance to spend the night with your favourite book character, what would you guys do? (And who would it be with)

17. What character do you think would be cool genderswapped?

18. What’s the book you’ve reread the most in your life?

19. How far would you travel to see your favourite author?

20. If your top 3 book characters (from different series) met for the day, who would you think would get along the best with each other?

[riona-is-writing]

Writer Ask Meme

1. Tell us about your WIP!

2. Where is your favorite place to write?

3. What is your favorite/least favorite part about writing?

4. Do you have any writing habits/rituals?

5. Top five formative books?

6. Favorite character you’ve written?

7. Favorite/most inspirational book?

8. Do you have any writing buddies or critique partners?

9. Favorite/least favorite tropes?

10. Pick an author (or writing friend) to co-write a book with

11. What are you planning to work on next?

12. Which story of yours do you like best? why?

13. Describe your writing process

14. What does it take for you to be ready to write a book? (i.e. do you research? outline? make a playlist or pinterest board? wing it?)

15. How do you deal with self-doubt when writing?

16. Cover love/dream covers?

17. What things (scenes/topics/character types) are you most comfortable writing?

18. Tell us about that one book you’ll never let anyone read

19. How do you cope with writer’s block?

20. Any advice for young writers/advice you wish someone would have given you early on?

21. What aspect of your writing are you most proud of?

22. Tell us about the books on your “to write” list

23. Most anticipated upcoming books?

24. Do you remember the moment you decided to become a writer/author?

25. What’s your worldbuilding process like?

26. What’s the most research you’ve ever put into a book?

27. Every writer's least favorite question - where does your inspiration come from? Do you do certain things to make yourself more inspired? Is it easy for you to come up with story ideas?

28. How do you stay focused on your own work and how do you deal with comparison?

29. Is writing more of a hobby or do you write with the intention of getting published?

30. Do you like to read books similar to your project while you’re drafting or do you stick to non-fiction/un-similar works?

31. Top five favorite books in your genre?

32. On average how much do you write in a day? do you have trouble staying focused/getting the word count in?

33. What’s your revision/rewriting process like?

34. Unpopular writing thoughts/opinions?

35. Post the last sentence you wrote

36. Post a snippet

37. Do you ever write long handed or do you prefer to type everything?

38. How do you nail voice in your books?

39. Do you spend a lot of time analyzing and studying the work of authors you admire?

40. Do you look up to any of your writer buddies?

41. Are there any books you feel have shaped you as a writer?

42. How many drafts do you usually write before you feel satisfied?

43. How do you deal with rejection?

44. Why (and when) did you decide to become a writer?

45. First or third person?

46. Past or present tense?

47. Single or dual/multi POV?

48. Do you prefer to write skimpy drafts and flesh them out later, or write too much and cut it back?

49. Favorite fictional world?

50. Do you share your rough drafts or do you wait until everything is all polished?

51. Are you a secretive writer or do you talk with your friends about your books?

52. Who do you write for?

53. What is the first line of your WIP?

54. Favorite first line/opening you’ve written?

55. How do you manage your time/make time for writing? (do you set aside time to write every day or do you only write when you have a lot of free time?)

[anniethebisexual-deactivated201]

Reblog this if you are a small blog (under 10k followers)

Let’s follow each other and gain more followers

[theguildedtypewriter]

Who you calling small!? Oh it’s me.

[dreamwishing]

Me! I’m close to hitting 200 though, and it’s exciting!

[zombieheroine]

The real writer experience is standing in the shower and coming up with the most authentic dialogue with perfect phrasing and raw emotion in your head, then stepping out and drying your hair, putting on some clean pajamas and opening a word document to write down all your perfect ideas only to realize everything has evaporated. 

[monzterzack]

[kdxart]

I FEEL CALLED OUT

[thelibrarina]

Never lose a perfect shower line again.*

*Remember to erase promptly if you share a bathroom with anyone.

[survivablyso]

I’ve used these to outline term papers. nothing like a bath to get your brain to finally kick into gear and figure out your damn thesis

[polyhorde]

[thebibliosphere]

WHAT

[riona-is-writing]

Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly — they’ll go through anything. You read and you’re pierced.

Aldous Huxley

[riona-is-writing]

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.

Anton Chekov

[riona-is-writing]

The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.

Mark Twain

[riona-is-writing]

Question

What kind of computers/laptops do you guys use as writers? I ask because I’m looking for a new laptop, and I’m looking for a inexpensive one (since, y’know, I’m broke). 

Macs and Chromebooks are out, because I have to use apps/programs for school that don’t work very well (or even at all) on those two. I also just prefer PCs in general. But it’s difficult sorting through all the reviews and articles to find a decent PC for a good price.

Thoughts?

[thehikingastronomer]

“Writing a book is so easy” - Volume 3

Read the original viral sensation: Writing a book is so easy The somewhat sensational sequel: Writing a book is so easy - the Sequel

Now, prepare for the third volume, the most in-depth behind-the-scenes of writing books yet…

Every book that you read has a story to tell. Not just the one in the pages, but so too the behind-the-scenes hell.

I documented what writing a book looks like from Day 1 to Release Day. The work never ends. You write wherever and whenever you can.

And when I say write, I mean, you have to WRITE

Like….DON’T STOP.

Here’s a secret: the more you write, the longer the book gets!

Sometimes you’re gonna be absolutely STUMPED. Like the entire universe is just being petty and conspiring against you.

When all else fails, drink coffee. Worship coffee. Sacrifice your first-born child to coffee.

Sometimes you’ll show up at your regular writing spot AND SOMEONE WILL HAVE STOLEN YOUR SEAT, THE STUPID, FAT HOBBITSEES

So you’re forced to write out of your element, totally distracted as you figure out ways to make it look like an accident…

And remember how your teachers always said you’d need to use math everywhere in life? Well, they weren’t wrong…

Every day, you persist. Inching closer. And closer. Every word pushing the story toward its close.

It might take a week, or a month or two or three, but every time you add another 10k, you can’t help but feel a swell of pride.

There will always be the days you miss writing, but that’s absolutely okay! Don’t beat yourself up! You can make time for it. Writing is art, and art takes time, and shouldn’t be rushed.

And one day you’ll sit down and stare at your screen and realize….the end is near. You can feel you’re closing in on those final words, those last sentences with the characters you’ve spent the past year with.

When you write those last words, a wave of relief will slam into you. You might shed some tears, because writing a book is difficult, and finishing the first draft is an incredible feat to achieve. Treat yo self. You deserve it.

Then…..take a break. Take as long a break as you need. Some people might need a month, some a year. Whatever your rhythm is, find it, stick to it, and never give it up.

No matter if you edit by hand or by computer, print out that first draft. Hold it in your hands, feel the weight of the words you wrote. The words that were stuck in your head for months, even years. Flip through those pages and look at what YOU created.

Then, when the time is right, edit that book.

Maybe you’ll finish editing a chapter in a day. Maybe it’ll take a week. For me, it’s usually an hour per page! Edit at your own pace. It’s not a race!

And then…..voila. You’ve edited the first draft!…….

If you have other books out, don’t let them fall to the wayside! Keep marketing, keep telling people about them (and showing them your work on the newest one!!), and get book signings and events whenever you can! Bookstores are ALWAYS looking for authors to feature. Just ask!

And of course, make it fun for yourself, too! Book flare and merchandise? Um, YES PLEASE.

Aaaaaaaaaaand now you need to focus again, and, you know, actually put all those edits in. Which usually turns into an entirely new round of editing in-and-of itself.

Keep putting those edits in….

And more, and more, and more edits…

Did I mention sometimes you’ll need to go to extreme lengths to fit in writing days?

Although art itself is so, so, so rewarding, we’re all still human. Some days will be more difficult than others. Some days, your mind will weigh you down. These can be the hardest days, but push through. Find an anchor and hold tight and take care of yourself.

Other times, you’ll be traveling! Take your writing with you. I find that when I’m on vacation, I’m a much more productive writer! The atmosphere is usually more relaxed. You’re not in a familiar place, so it gets your creative juices flowing stronger!

When you’ve edited your book a few times, FIND BETA READERS. These can be friends, followers on social media, or someone random you meet in your coffee/tea shop! Get fresh sets of eyes looking at your work! They will make suggestions, edits, and faun over your book.

Sometimes they’ll make corny jokes.

You will get a TON of feedback, and you will have to compile them all together, chapter by chapter, reading and considering every single comment and comma.

Your beta readers will love you forever when they finish reading your book. Guaranteed. Always. So in love. Yes.

Eventually, your beta readers will finish, and the countdown to publication will begin…

As you near the end, the Universe might have some surprises in store for you. Me? It took me back to the exact seat and window where I wrote the entire first draft of the first book in the series….a very poetic twist of fate.

Finally, the day will come when every major edit is done. When you’ve skimmed and scanned and combed and proofed. When you have a cover design and formatted all the pages to books, it’s time to order those first copies.

And then….the day comes….when your book finally arrives. You see the mail truck pull up and you see the boxes, and you just KNOW it’s for you.

And then you open them and look inside….

And you get to hold it in your hands for the first time ever…..

And you get to put it next to the other books that come before it….

And then you get to ship some of them out to ARC readers who will be reviewing your book before it’s released!!!!

And then you get order an entire shipment for upcoming book signings, and copies to send out to people who pre-ordered, and seeing them all stacked together will ALWAYS be a beautiful sight. Cherish it. Take a picture to show off to potential readers, that image of YOUR books all stacked together.

This is what writing is like. This is what goes into all those thousands of hours of sitting behind a computer. This is how books come into existence. It’s not the same steps for everyone, but the process for all of us is similar. It’s not easy. You won’t see a dime for your work for years, unless you already have books being sold.

But it’s worth it. Pouring your soul into writing a book, or making music, or graphic art… This is the beauty, the struggle, the dedication, the pain, the hours of lost sleep, the gallons of caffeine, the barista friends you make along the way….

Even though they might catch you in your candid element…..

But you will form a bond with them. They will learn your favorite order, have it ready the moment you walk in the door. And if you ever leave, it will be a heart-wrenching day…

They might give you a keepsake, too, to remember them by….

Stay humble, and remember every moment. Every experience. Appreciate everyone who helped you along the way, from giving you free drinks and food, to all the support and encouragement, to the avid fans who rave about your books. They’re all here for you, following your journey as you write.

For this particular book, the journey was 23 months, from December 2015 to October 2017. It takes a long time, even when you work every single day, and stick to a strict schedule. Some days you won’t want to write at all. Some days you won’t want to stop. That’s okay. Just hold true to your passion, and celebrate your accomplishments.

Don’t let anyone tell you not to write. Don’t let anyone tell you you’re doing it wrong. We all live through the same process, from the great artists to the starving artists. If you want to write a book, this is what it looks like. Though writing a book isn’t easy, the reward of holding it in your hands is worth the days, the months, the years. You will have created something beautiful. You will have created art.

[if-only-we-could-read-it]

… aaaaaand the (so far) finale.