laurel

@sincerely_laurel on instagram ♡︎

[sincerelylaurel]

a guide to habit stacking

what is habit stacking?

habit stacking is an important life hack to help you form new habits more efficiently. to put it simply, you are taking an already existing habit and adding (or stacking) another behavior on top, pairing it with a current habit. habit stacking comes with a very simple formula: after/before [current habit], i will [new habit]. eventually you can turn a habit stack into a long chain of behaviors that come almost naturally to you and require little to no effort. this can also be a basic structure for creating routines in your daily life.

habit stacking examples

after i make my coffee in the morning, i will meditate for a few minutes

after i change out of my work clothes, i will immediately change into my workout clothes

after i sit down to dinner, i will say one thing i’m grateful for that day

my morning routine habit stack

after i get out of bed to turn off my alarm, i immediately brush my teeth

after i brush my teeth, i make coffee

after i make coffee, i plan out my day and write a to do list

my night routine habit stack

after i make tea, i read for about 30 minutes

after i read, i take a shower

after i take a shower, i do my skincare

time and location

this strategy will only be successful if the time and location of your habit are suitable for that habit to happen. don’t ask yourself to do something every day at a time when you’re likely to be occupied by something else. you should also consider if the current habit you are stacking your new habit on is aligned with the new habit you are trying to create. they should have the same frequency and allow a natural flow to the next behavior.

finding the right trigger

to find the right trigger for your new habit stack, brainstorm what habits already exist in your life. create a list of the habits you do each day without fail (for example: brush your teeth, make a cup of coffee). then, create another list of things that happen to you each day without fail (for example: the sun rises, you get a text message). the key here is to look for specificity. provide yourself with specific instruction on when, where, and how to do this new habit.

sources:

jamesclear.com

[sincerelylaurel]

how to make your readers hate a character

@sincerely_laurel on instagram <3

source: helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com

just like how readers love to love the protagonist, they also love to hate the antagonist. your antagonist is equally as important as the protagonist, so make sure you develop them well! although your antagonist isn’t 100% evil, you’ll have to be intentional with how you portray them if you really want your readers to hate this character. that being said, here are 10 ways you can make your readers hate a character!

cruelty

we all know a few characters who are cruel just because they can be. we all hate pain (physical, emotional, and mental), so the thought of a character who purposefully inflicts pain just because they can is simply despicable.

hypocrisy

hypocrisy is loathsome. it’s one thing to be cruel and be proud of it, but it’s another level of abominable when they pretend to be a saint.

relatability

this one can work both ways. although making a protagonist relatable will make them more likeable, making an antagonist relatable will make the readers reactions to this character so much stronger because they can glimpse “bad” parts of themselves in this character.

arrogance

we all know arrogance is obnoxious. have the antagonist be perfectly aware of the power they hold— have them rub it in and let them act smug about it.

dominance

when a characters holds power over the protagonist and abuses that power, that character becomes not only obnoxious but also terrifying. bonus points if this character is a family member.

frightening

some of the best antagonists are those we not only hate but also fear. serial killers, sociopaths, and psychopaths are all scary and creepy, and would also make great antagonists. “you always fear what you don’t understand” —carmine falcone.

imperturbable

also this trait can sometimes make a character boring, but when done correctly, it can make a character seem inhuman to the point where your reader will be infuriated and terrified. although every character has their weaknesses, this character seems unstoppable and it makes them worthy of all the hate in the world.

skills

your protagonist will need an antagonist who is equally skilled or more skilled than them to create suspense and raise the stakes. when a character is skilled, readers are intrigued; when a character is skilled and uses their skills for evil, readers are compelled.

insanity

insanity means unpredictability. unpredictable evil puts the protagonist at a disadvantage, because it’s unexpected and goes places the sane protagonist would never dream of. insanity makes the antagonist 10 times scarier.

traitor

nothing hurts more than having a loved one suddenly turn against us. “hate is often just love flipped on its head”. if the readers loved this character at first, they will hate the character so much more when they unexpectedly “betray” the reader and turn evil.

[sincerelylaurel]

how to write the resolution of a story

@sincerely_laurel on instagram <3

source: masterclass

the resolution of a story is the conclusion of a story’s plot. also known as the denouement, the resolution is a literary term for the final plot points that occur after a story’s climax and falling action. a resolution can be a scene or series of scenes that tie a narrative arc together near the end of the story. here are some tips on how to write a strong resolution!

first, make sure the resolution contains these three traditional elements:

1. the story’s main conflicts are resolved

stories typically conclude with the resolution of a central conflict. this central conflict between the protagonist and antagonist usually comes to a head during the climax of the story and gets resolved by the end.

2. the character arcs are completed

throughout a story, the main character typically embarks on a series of challenges that transform them from beginning to end. resolution is the part of the story where the main character comes to terms with their new internal, external, or philosophical revelations.

3. lingering questions are answered

although many stories end with ambiguous plot points, the resolution often ties up major loose ends and resolves subplots with minor characters.

identify your genre

different genres contain different kinds of expectations for the resolution of a story. research the genre you’re writing and familiarize yourself with any tropes so you can confirm or subvert them in your resolution.

wrap up your plot

identify unanswered questions and loose ends throughout your story. use resolution to reveal mysterious plot points and pay off narrative setups from the beginning of the story.

resolve your main character’s arc

the resolution is a great place to highlight how your protagonist has changed throughout the story. to better understand how to conclude your main character’s arc, develop their needs, desires, and weaknesses.

clarify your story’s theme

pinpoint your story’s thematic question and use it as a guiding light for your resolution. use your ending to reinforce your story’s central theme.

experiment with different resolution styles

there are nearly endless ways you can resolve your story. try several styles and techniques to discover the right conclusion for your narrative. for example, if you’re writing a fantasy series, an unresolved ending with a cliffhanger may suit your story better than a traditional resolution.

[sincerelylaurel]

how to create an unforgettable antihero

@sincerely_laurel on instagram <3

source: masterclass

an antihero is a central character who lacks the characteristics an audience associates with a conventional hero. antiheroes are ambiguous protagonists—complex characters who have a dark side. despite a flawed exterior, a history of bad decisions, and even a questionable moral code, an antihero is ultimately guided by good intentions. here are 4 tips for writing antiheroes!

create a main character who is complex

think of how you would write a traditional hero. create your antihero by giving them the opposite attributes. if a hero is an idealist, your antihero is a cynic. make them mysterious so their character is revealed bit by bit. a great antihero has flaws just like a real person. but despite an antihero’s weaknesses, their good side is illuminated as the story progresses. these contrasting qualities make an antihero more complex and interesting.

give your antihero internal conflict

every great antihero has an internal struggle driving their actions. before you begin writing, sit down and flesh out the character. what event is the source of their internal struggle that informs their behavior in the story? severus snape’s love for harry’s mother persists long after her death and impacts his treatment of harry. you eventually need to explain the antihero’s behavior by revealing their inner conflict. as you write, slowly reveal your antihero’s backstory to let readers know what makes them tick.

don’t confuse your antihero with the antagonist

for the antiheroes with misguided morals, the ends justify the means. they can explain away the bad things they do if the result is ultimately good and they emerge a hero. when writing an antihero, you can bring them to the edge of evil, but they’re never as evil as the true villain of your story. unlike an antagonist, an antihero ultimately believes they are acting for a noble cause. some characters, like the dc comics character harley quinn, alternate between being an antihero and an antagonist, depending on the context.

use supporting characters

in the tv show the sopranos, antihero tony soprano had his therapist, who showed tony’s vulnerability and made the audience have a soft spot for a guy who ordered a hit as easily as he ate a bowl of pasta. create a side character who can illuminate your antihero’s redeeming qualities. the best antiheroes are the ones readers can’t believe they’re rooting for.

[sincerelylaurel]

how to write grief

source: masterclass

grief is a challenging emotional state that can play an essential role in developing characters. for example, incorporating grief into your story might imbue your character’s arc with loss, yearning, and emotional depth. the elasticity and nuance of grief make it an appealing figment of a writer’s craft; one day, the main character may be moving about happily, and the next, they may find it challenging to get out of bed.

let characters experience grief in their own ways

grievers may show their emotions differently; some may turn to drink, others may move away from where the suffering began, and another may seek therapy. how characters exhibit grief should be true to their nature and reveal their humanity.

let characters go on a journey

grief is sometimes the definitive part of someone’s day, and sometimes it is not. varying the stages and embodiments of grief makes for more dynamic writing, and letting your character grow through grief can make for a more compelling character.

make the loss specific

grief is grounded in deep loss, and for readers and audiences to better understand the grieving process of the characters, that loss should be hyper-specific. it should be clear who the character is mourning, how long the process has been going on, and how grief moves through the character’s body and emotions.

make the reader care about the character

grieving may automatically help make a character a sympathetic character. still, you should not define the character by their grief. give them passions, hobbies, relationships, and other features that create a well-rounded and interesting character.

try employing flashbacks

a flashback is a narrative technique writers may use to highlight simpler times for characters where they get face time with the person they are grieving. this fleshes out the dynamic between the main character and the one they are missing.

[sincerelylaurel]

writing characters with trust issues

trust issues need a legitimate source

trust issues can come from trauma and other experiences that might make them hesitant with trusting in the future. these experiences don’t have to be extremely severe, as all kinds of things can affect a person, but at least have the source and the trust issues correlate a bit so that the trust issues are believable and realistic.

emotions are valid

make your character struggle with it. allow them moments to feel frustrated with themselves, as well as moments where the character is forced to confront the trust issues. make the reader feel these emotions. characters with trust issues won’t annoy readers if they can feel those same emotions.

variation

people do not always react to their trust issues the same way every time it comes up. having your character constantly repeating the same words or actions in a situation where they are forced to confront their trust issues will become redundant and annoying to the reader.

understand how it affects the character

understand how their experiences shaped their trust issues. why do they react that way? the character’s past will help you know what their reactions will be to certain situations. get to the root of their trust issues in other to write them well.

trust issues are a defense mechanism

do some research on the psychology behind trust issues. you don’t have to explain it in the story, but the tone of your writing will change once you have a better understanding on how trust issues really work. readers can tell whether or not you know what you're talking about!

trust issues should not be the character’s entire personality

as with any disorder/character trait/etc, trust issues do not define a character! it is a part of them, maybe even an important part of them, but they are their own person before anything else. develop them to be as realistic as you can.

[sincerelylaurel]

meet the writer / i’m back!

before i say anything, i should probably start with an explanation as to why i diseappeared off the internet for a few months. sadly instagram disabled my writing account sincerelylaurel and i was unable to get it back. it was very upsetting but after taking a short break i’ve decided to return to writergram with a new account. so…(shameless self-promo) please consider sharing this post so i can reach my old audience and try to get as many followers back as i can. thank you :)

introducing myself

for those who didn’t follow my old account, i’m laurel (pen name) and i write! i also love reading, making art and music, and being in nature. i’m a senior in high school and a future english & psychology major. on my account you’ll find writing tips and resources, reading content (book reviews + annotations?) and probably some other things that i previously did not post, such as wellness content and maybe some of my own writing if i’m brave enough!

my writing journey

it’s been a bit of a bumpy road. i’ve been writing since i was about 5 or whatever age i learned how to type. it was all i did as a little kid, and when i was in 8th/9th grade i wrote my first (novel-length) book! in high school i had significantly less time and i also went through a bunch of transitions so my life was very hectic and as a result i didn’t write much. i’ve had plenty of exciting story ideas though, and after abandoning a few semi-good ones, i came up with one that i will hopefully stick with and write (my goal is to finish the first draft before i graduate!)

introduce yourself

since i’ve been away for a while i’m kind of out of touch with the writergram community :( so whether you’re one of the og's who’s followed me since 2020 or if you’re seeing my name for the first time - introduce yourself / say hi in the comments or dm me! please <3 i’d love to get to know you all more!

[sincerelylaurel]

how to write great characters

source: masterclass

in fiction writing, character development is the process of building a unique, three-dimensional character with depth, personality, and clear motivations. character development can also refer to the changes a character undergoes over the course of a story as a result of their actions and experiences. like real people, fictional characters have hobbies, pets, histories, ruminations, and obsessions. these characteristics inform how a character reacts to and feels about the things that happen to them. it’s essential to your novel that you understand all aspects of your characters so that you are equipped to understand how they may react under the pressures of events they encounter.

develop characters who reflect your interests

you’re going to be spending a lot of time with your characters, so the fiction rule “write what you want to know” applies to them as well. don’t be afraid to invest your protagonist with familiar qualities, but prioritize your passions and make sure that your main characters emerge from the setting and topics you’ve developed so far.

reveal their physical world through detail

different writers focus on different details to evoke character, whether deliberately or not. Balzac focused on his characters’ physical appearance. Dashiell Hammett never fed his characters, while Charles Dickens fed his extravagantly. some writers are interested in revealing character via clothing, as Flaubert did, while others attend to mannerisms or physical appearance. whatever details you choose, it’s important for you to know your characters' physical world intimately, and how they relate to it.

give them the right skills

your characters should have skills that will allow them to function in your setting. if you’ve chosen to set your novel on the moon, then make sure your character has a space suit or learns how to use one.

create memorable characters

when creating important characters that the reader is going to meet more than once, be sure that they’re memorable in some way. try to give each one a quirk or quality that can be used later to help readers recall who they are. this could be a title like “chief of police” or a physical attribute like “ginger-haired.”

give the reader access to their inner conflict

one way to create intimacy with your reader—and to get them to care about your main character—is to use internal monologue. this means letting the reader see a character’s thoughts as they happen, which exposes that person’s inner conflict, motivations, opinions, and personality. internal monologue not only reveals character: it’s a neat way to convey information about your setting, events, and other characters.

subvert your reader’s expectations

the most interesting characters will surprise your readers. think about it: we don’t have to pay attention to things that are stable. but when something unexpected happens—a wolf comes out of the woods, for instance—we pay attention.

[sincerelylaurel]

how to write anger

source: bryndonovan.com

anger can be a hard emotion to write. although it’s more important to show that the character is angry (for example through their actions, facial expressions, thoughts or speech), sometimes it’s better to simply tell the reader that the character is angry. but how? here is a list of 100 vivid phrases and words that you can use in your descriptions of anger. disclaimer; this is not a comprehensive list, and there are so many more ways to show anger. and remember making up your own unique and original phrases to show emotions are always best :)

he smoldered with resentment

rage flowed through her

molten anger rolled through him

rage gripped her

anger poured through her

her temper sparked

anger stirred within her

his fury sprang to life

rage nearly consumed her

raw anger shot through him

rage pulsed through his veins

anger thrummed through her veins

anger flooded his veins

rage quickened her blood

she felt a flash of irritation

he felt a flicker of irritation

his anger spiked

anger rushed through her

anger overpowered her

rage overtook him

fury overcame her

he swallowed down his frustration

she tamped down her irritation

he mastered his anger

he kept his frustration in check

fury roared through her mind

a fresh swell of rage rose in her

anger rose in him like a tide

anger welled up in his chest

fury vibrated through her being

he burned with anger

irritation pricked at him

inwardly, she was seething

he trembled with rage

she shook with fury

he was quivering with anger

her resentment grew inside her like a tumor

his resentment festered in him

anger spread through him

rage filled her

his irritation flared

it roused her anger

it woke her anger

his edge of irritation had returned

fury surged through her

he went cold with fury

she was breathless with anger

he was wordless with rage

he was almost choking on his rage

nearly suffocating on her fury

she was simmering with anger

he was boiling with anger

a wave of fury crashed through her

he was running on sheer anger

her frustration kicked in

fury twisted inside of her

she was a ball of pure anger

she was about to explode with rage

he felt about to burst from rage

she was in a red rage

rage ran red through his brain

he stoked his anger

a vortex of anger swirled inside him

she fought the chaos of her rage

he tried to still his rage

he pressed down his anger

she struggled against her anger

he bit back his anger

anger heated her blood

rage seared through him

anger swept over her

resentment clouded her thoughts

he was blind with rage

she felt a jolt of anger

anger hardened her heart

rage beat at her heart

rage churned inside of him

he felt drunk on his rage

anger ripped through him

anger rippled through her

fury tore through her

inside, he was smoking with anger

his anger was mounting

her anger coiled in her stomach

he felt a stab of anger

she felt the anger building

he could taste blood

her irritation crackled

she was immobilized by fury

he was brimming with hostility

anger settled over her

rage throbbed in her like a heartbeat

rage pounded in him like a drumbeat

flames of anger licked through him

rage seized her

resentment blossomed within her

his anger felt good

she felt a cleansing anger

he felt a sick anger

he marinated in resentment

[sincerelylaurel]

how to make your writing flow

source: masterclass

writing flow refers to the pace, cadence, or rhythm of a piece of writing. good writing flow allows a reader to ease into the text without expending much mental energy—it has a natural feel that makes reading a breeze. texts without good flow feel choppy and lack cohesion. the best way to establish good writing flow is to focus on word choice, varied sentence structure, and ensure solid coherence between your main points. these tips don’t apply to only fiction but to any type of writing!

ensure that paragraphs have a clear organizational structure

solid paragraph structure is crucial in academic writing. the first sentence of every body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that tells the reader the paragraph's main point. specific examples should then support the topic sentence. if necessary, end the paragraph with a transition sentence leading to the proceeding paragraph.

link sentences with pronouns

clear pronoun references can create cohesion in your writing. pronouns like “he,” “she,” “it,” and “they” refer to previously mentioned nouns (aka antecedents). for example, “the writing center provides helpful tools for first-time writers. it can also help experienced writers overcome writer’s block.” in this case, the pronoun “it” helps these two sentences flow together.

use transition words

transition words—known as “signposts”—create a coherent train of thought by signaling to the reader that the next sentence is in some way related to the previous sentence. Some common signposts include “for example,“ “furthermore,” “therefore,” “however,” and “as a result.” make sure that not every sentence begins with the same transition word. for example, if you start one sentence with “therefore,” use another word when starting the following sentences.

use varied sentence lengths

a combination of short and long sentences gives a piece of writing rhythm. in fiction writing, short sentences create forward movement. in academic writing, varied sentence lengths improve the flow of information by making the text easy to digest.

use varied sentence structures

break up the monotony of a text by using different types of sentence structures. good sentence flow makes use of simple, compound, and complex sentences. simple sentences have a single independent clause: “i chopped the carrots.“ compound sentences have two or more independent clauses: “i chopped the carrots, and karen peeled the potatoes.“ complex sentence structures have a single independent clause and one or more dependent clauses: “i added the vegetables to the pot after the water came to a boil.”

[sincerelylaurel]

how to develop characters

source: masterclass

in literature, character development is the craft of giving a character a personality, depth, and motivations that propel them through a story. character development is also defined as how a character evolves throughout the course of a story. believable characters are unique and three-dimensional. each has real attributes, like appearance, personality, and a backstory, that make them relatable. a character’s motivations inform their actions and decisions, creating the narrative arc in the story.

establish a character’s motivations and goals

great characters are driven by a deep-seated motivation and have a goal they are trying to reach. this creates interesting characters and also creates a story arc. the main character’s driving force should be one of the first story elements you figure out, since the subsequent action will be driven by this motivation.

choose a voice

who will be telling the story? first person point of view allows a character, usually the main character, to narrate the story using the pronouns “i” and “me.” third person point of view is a voice that is outside of the action. the perspective of the narrator will determine how a character’s information is revealed over the course of the story.

do a slow reveal

refrain from revealing too much the first time you introduce a character. reveal information bit by bit as you tell the story—not unlike the way people get to know one another in real life.

create conflict

conflict is a literary device that pits opposing forces against one another, most often involving the main character. there are different kinds of conflicts that will impact your character’s decisions. for example, if you have strong characters, test their resolve by putting them against something that reveals their weaknesses. a conflict can be external—create a bad guy to go up against a good character. a character can also have an internal struggle when they have to act against their morals or grapple with opposing beliefs. conflict creates tension and is used to move a story forward by forcing characters to make decisions.

give important characters a backstory

we all have a backstory, and your fictional characters each need one, too. dig into your characters’ lives and flesh out their histories. even if most of it won’t make it onto the page, a character’s backstory will help you figure out what makes them tick and will inform their decisions in the story.

describe a character’s personality in familiar terms

to create believable characters, create a personality for your main and secondary characters based on characteristics of real people—that will help you create a multi-dimensional, round character with recognizable personality traits and quirks.

paint a physical picture of your characters

describe your character’s physical appearance: hair color, eyes, stature. what are their mannerisms? what is their body language like? describe them to help readers envision a more realistic image of your character.

develop secondary characters

create different types of characters that contrast with one another. a sidekick or a foil can illuminate the main character’s traits, strengths, or flaws. if you create a static character—a flat character arc that does not evolve much—contrast them with a dynamic character, one who undergoes a metamorphosis throughout the story.

[sincerelylaurel]

how to write grief

source: masterclass

grief is a challenging emotional state that can play an essential role in developing characters. for example, incorporating grief into your story might imbue your character’s arc with loss, yearning, and emotional depth. the elasticity and nuance of grief make it an appealing figment of a writer’s craft; one day, the main character may be moving about happily, and the next, they may find it challenging to get out of bed.

let characters experience grief in their own ways

grievers may show their emotions differently; some may turn to drink, others may move away from where the suffering began, and another may seek therapy. how characters exhibit grief should be true to their nature and reveal their humanity.

let characters go on a journey

grief is sometimes the definitive part of someone’s day, and sometimes it is not. varying the stages and embodiments of grief makes for more dynamic writing, and letting your character grow through grief can make for a more compelling character.

make the loss specific

grief is grounded in deep loss, and for readers and audiences to better understand the grieving process of the characters, that loss should be hyper-specific. it should be clear who the character is mourning, how long the process has been going on, and how grief moves through the character’s body and emotions.

make the reader care about the character

grieving may automatically help make a character a sympathetic character. still, you should not define the character by their grief. give them passions, hobbies, relationships, and other features that create a well-rounded and interesting character.

try employing flashbacks

a flashback is a narrative technique writers may use to highlight simpler times for characters where they get face time with the person they are grieving. this fleshes out the dynamic between the main character and the one they are missing.

[sincerelylaurel]

amanda gorman on how to get rid of writer’s block

source: masterclass

writer’s block is a common phenomenon that writers experience when they feel stuck in the writing process; it can come as an overwhelming feeling that impedes them from moving forward and writing anything new. writer’s block can come from an overarching problem—like struggling with plot or character—or something smaller, like failing to find the right words to describe a scene.

activate the right signals in your brain

amanda says having several rituals around your writing time can help get your creative juices flowing. “maybe there’s a set playlist you listen to when you’re writing. maybe there’s a set location, a candle that you light when you’re writing. maybe there’s a specific flavor of tea you’re drinking,” she says. if you create a ritual around your writing routine, your brain can more easily switch into writing mode.

commit to a writing practice

amanda recommends sticking to a writing schedule that helps encourage you to do hard work. “the more that you can structure and carve out time in your life that's set and specific and guarded and safe where you can write, the less so you'll have writer’s block,” she says. “start thinking about the time, the place, and the style in which you want to keep writing and revisiting this work. and try to do so every day for at least ten minutes.” make your writing sessions regular as a way to commit to working hard for your project.

freewrite

amanda says that sometimes, she just needs to sit at a blank page and use a writing exercise to begin a new project. “i just write the alphabet until something comes to my head,” she explains. “or i’ll write the sounds or the noises I hear in the room. i’ll just write a stream of consciousness section, and it’s my way of cluing my brain into the fact that it’s okay to fail here. it’s okay to try here. it’s okay to be messy right now because that mess is what's gonna get me writing.” brainstorm a list of writing prompts that will help kickstart your brain whenever you feel a creative block.

go out

it may seem counterintuitive, but sometimes, sitting down at a blank page isn’t the best place to feel inspired. “inspiration typically comes . . . when i’m living through the world as a human being,” amanda explains, “which is why I say that procrastination and having time away from the page is really actually helpful as a writer.” if you’re feeling particularly stuck, take a break and find inspiration elsewhere before returning to your short story or poem.

release perfectionism

amanda suggests you release perfectionism and embrace the creative process to get your first draft on the page. “one of the biggest things that leads to writer's block isn't actually not having anything to say; it’s being afraid to say it,” she says. “it means that, as we stare at that blank sheet, we're worried about whether what we have to say is anything of value, whether our voice, what we’re writing, is any good.” let go of your fears and let the first draft of your writing project be rough.

[sincerelylaurel]

book review: heartless by marissa meyer

i first read this book in august and recently reread it, so i thought i should try posting a book review. lmk if you want more book reviews <3 also spoiler alert!! don’t read this review if you don’t want to spoil the book for yourself lol

rating: 5/5

first of all, this book broke my heart.

the first half of the book was a little slow but the subplots kept me hooked, and by the time i got to the second half of the book i couldn’t put the book down and finished it in one night. i also really love marissa meyer’s writing style, i read a few of her other books and it’s genuinely beautiful. it’s not very flowery or profound but i am always very in touch with her characters’ emotions and inner thoughts even when it’s not in first person pov.

i’ve always been a fan of fairytale retellings, but this one by far is my favorite. she brought alice in wonderland to life in the most magical way possible. every single one of the characters was so well developed and complex in their own way.

likes

- cath’s character arc was SO well done

- the character dynamics overall

- JEST LOVE OF MY LIFE

- it initially gives off a magical fairytale vibe but it’s secretly so dark and sad

- the writing style is enchanting

dislikes

- the plot could have used a tiny bit of polishing

- made me cry :(

- i can’t think of any more dislikes so let’s leave it here

favorite quotes

“‘mind my words, cheshire, i will have you banished from this kingdom if you tempt me.’

‘an empty threat from an empty girl.’

she rounded on him, teeth flashing. ‘i am not empty. i am full to the brim with murder and revenge. i am overflowing and i do not think you wish for me to overflow on you.’

‘there was a time’ — cheshire yawned — ‘when you overflowed with whimsy and icing sugar. i liked that catherine better.’

‘that catherine was a fool.’”

.　 . • ☆ . ° .• °:. *₊ ° . ☆

“it is a dangerous thing to unbelieve something only because it frightens you”

.　 . • ☆ . ° .• °:. *₊ ° . ☆

“sometimes your heart is the only thing worth listening to”

.　 . • ☆ . ° .• °:. *₊ ° . ☆

“if i am not to have happiness, let me at least have a purpose”

.　 . • ☆ . ° .• °:. *₊ ° . ☆

“she is a rose, jest. lovely on the eyes, yes, but such thorns are not to be ignored. she belongs in a king’s garden, not yours.”

[sincerelylaurel]

name bank: dark academia edition

adeline • adrian • agnes • alastair • alice • allen • ambrose • annabelle • aspen • atticus • auburn • aurelia • aurora • avery • basil • beatrice • beau • bernard • blair • bridget • brooklyn • camilla • catherine • cecelia • celeste • charles • charlotte • claire • clarence • claude • clementine • darcy • diana • dorian • edison • edgar • edmund • edward • eleanor • elizabeth • evelyn • fleur • florence • francis • george • glenn • guinevere • henry • hermoine • ivy • james • josephine • layla • lennon • leonora • louisa • lucien • madeleine • mallory • margaret • margot • matilda • matthew • maude • meredith • milton • montogomery • myrtle • nathan • neil • noah • norman • oliver • ophelia • oscar • percy • peter • phoebe • quinn • remus • richard • rory • rowan • sage • simon • simone • sylvester • theo • thomas • tillie • todd • victor • victoria • vincent • violet • virgil • william • winona • wren

[sincerelylaurel]

how to transition between scenes

@mywordsricochet on instagram

source: me <3

hello and welcome back! this was a post request, so i hope it’s helpful! transitioning between scenes is something i really struggled with as a young writer, although i think i eventually learned how to do them just by reading a lot and seeing good examples. to be honest i’m still not great at writing them (aka i forget they exist) but i hope my knowledge can be useful to you!

intermission

there’s nothing wrong with leaving a few blank lines and indicating a scene transition with three asterisks (unless you want to get into those fancy line things, i won’t stop you— they’re very fun)! although chapter breaks are an easy and common way to divide up scenes, you can’t make every chapter one scene and then skip to the next (yes i’m looking at you old wip i abandoned). nevertheless, chapter breaks are great for dividing up bigger scenes, especially if they’re told from a different pov. however if intermissions make you feel uncomfortable (they can sometimes come off as lazy) then it might be a good idea to learn how to do transition scenes. 

transition methods

summaries of the time skipped is a common method for writing transition scenes, but you can also switch over by using something that connects the two scenes. for example if your character is relaxing under a tree on a sunny afternoon and you want to transition into a gloomy room in a haunted castle (idk bear with me):

“mellow sunlight danced in dappled patterns on the warm sand under my toes. as the sun sank lower in the sky, the golden remains of daylight stretched the shadows longer, until they swam before my eyes in inky ripples and morphed into the enveloping darkness of the armor room at midnight. the place reeked of danger, likely due to the rodents and ghosts that called this castle their home. candlelight chased shadows around the room in capricious movements to the beat of the eerie chanting that arose from somewhere below. the cold seeping into my bones felt like a a steel-bladed warning, making me long for the comfortable evening spent under the almond tree which suddenly seemed so far away.”

apologies for the strange scene transition i had to come up with just now but you get the point.

know what to include and what to cut

a common mistake in writing is overly describing every detail. remember when you were little and tried to keep a diary? and you described every single detail from your day until it bored you to death and you forever lost the motivation to start a diary ever again? yeah. that’s what happens when you include too much detail. it also doesn’t create the space you need to write good scene transitions. however, you don’t want to exclude or simply summarize something important. learn which scenes are important and which ones to cut!

set the stage asap

once you start a new scene, make sure to establish the speaker, location, and time right away. it’s a good idea to introduce the reader to the mood and tone of the scene right away too, although you’ll have to be more subtle with this. make sure the readers are aware of the emotions circulating the room so they don’t feel left out.

pacing

“arrive late, leave early”. you might have heard this writing advice somewhere, and i’m here to explain it. this goes for the entire novel as well as chapters as a whole, but it works for any chunk of narrative. “arrive” to the scene when things have already happened, the reader feels like they’re late to the party and are thrown into the scene in the middle of the climax. this hooks their interest and keeps them reading for more information, trying to get caught up and understand what’s going on. when you “leave” the scene, make sure there are loose ends, unfinished conversations, etc. basically, leave off every scene with a cliffhanger. it doesn’t have to be super dramatic all the time, especially since it’s unrealistic for your characters to be in that much trouble all the time. but make sure to leave the reader wanting for more.

flow

and finally, make sure it flows. you don’t want your novel to sound like it was chopped up into pieces and then put together without any adjustments. your writing doesn’t have to be completely seamless, but you know — blend a little bit. pull at the edges. smush some things together. yes i’m aware i sound like a lunatic but if you’ve ever done pottery you understand. keep the flow going throughout scene transitions — remember the word transition implies a somewhat smooth passing through. read it aloud if it helps. but remember you can always edit later! focus on cohesion in the next draft.

[sincerelylaurel]

how to write consistently

@sincerelylaurel on instagram

source: me <3

hello and welcome back to my page! this post is coming from someone who writes 30k in a month and then takes a 7-month hiatus from writing but i hope it can help some of you!

make writing a habit

it’s always hard at first to make something a habit. most of your habits were difficult at some point, but now you can do them as a regular part of your day. try to make writing a habit. it will be really hard at first, but it takes 3 weeks to develop a new habit and once you’ve reached that point, it will be easier. trust me.

enjoy writing, but don’t let a bad day screw you up

write because you love it. it’s easier to make a habit out of something that you already enjoy doing. however, one bad day doesn’t mean you get to skip. try to push through and write on the bad days too. once you can do this, writing will be easier to do, no matter the circumstances.

set aside time for writing

waking up 20 minutes earlier to write can make a huge difference. personally i love to wake up early, but figure out what time works best for you! carve out a 20-minute block of time for writing and writing only. limit distractions during this time and set an achievable goal for those 20 minutes.

set attainable goals

start small. even if 200-300 words a day seems like nothing to you, it means you can write a chapter a week, which isn’t nothing. getting started is the hardest part of doing anything, so just try to write for 2 minutes. write a few sentences. once you get in the flow, it’s so much easier to keep going!

accountability

find an accountability buddy. if you don’t like humans you can pick a stuffed animal to be your “writing buddy” and have them watch you as you write. share your goals with people and celebrate your progress as you go! if you have a writergram account, you can make a highlight with your progress, for example. hopefully this will allow people to encourage you as well :)

don’t let yourself get stuck

this is probably the most common source of writer’s block. you can’t write consistently if you’re stuck in your writing. every so often, you’ll stumble across a scene you simply cannot bring yourself to write, either because it’s too boring or you just can’t think of the words needed to write this bit. don’t let yourself get stuck. skip the scene and come back to it later, or write out the basic things that need to happen in this scene. you could even write only the dialogue, if it helps. some people like to write scenes out of order, which can help with this situation. however if you’re a chronological writer like me, just get something down on paper (or document) and move on. keep your momentum and flow going!