#creative writiing

[winters-chills]

On feedback and comments

So a couple of days ago I found Scribophile (by searching 'nanowrimo alternatives' bc jesus christ what is going on over there) and signed up. The system they have is a fairly good exchange: you critique others work to build up karma, and then once you've built enough karma you can post your own writing for critique. Nice little cycle.

So I've been offering critiques here and there, and finally today managed to hit enough karma to post my own work, so I posted the Prequel to The Nameless - there are a few small bits in there that I'm not happy with, but I can't quite put my finger on why.

it's been up about 6 hours, and it's already had 7 critiques, all of which raise some excellent points, while also being encouraging and respectful.

It only took 1 critique for my writing apathy to start slipping away, for the dreaded writer's block to crumble. 7 critiques has me positively champing at the bit to create and edit and finish the damn work!

Please, if you like what your writer is doing:

Comment.

Only critique if that's what's been invited, but honestly, so much interaction on just one piece of work has cleared my skin, watered my crops, brought about world peace, and I am writing again!!

[fenrir-kin]

Please tell me that hatred of writing a synopsis is a universal writerly experience, and I'm not just Bad At Being A Writer? Because oh good GODS I currently feel like I'd rather break all my fingers than try to write this damned thing.

[inkneverdies]

Ode to John Donne

Love and fear are intertwining forces, yin and yang, Each plays a vital role, where emotions can mangle.. Fear, a necessary instinct, guides us from harm, Helping us survive in a world forever in alarm.

While fear may protect, it should never bind, From experiencing new things that life may unwind. Love, on the other hand, propels us to soar, Driving all living things beyond mere survival’s door.

It’s the force that unites, creates, and sustains, True love, when unburdened, courses through our veins. As John Donne suggests, when love meets with fear, Its purity fades, becoming less clear.

But when love stands alone—pure, brave, and bright— It transcends all boundaries, transforming the night. In this way, love guides not just humankind, But every life form, in connection we find.

It’s in selfless acts and compassion we show, Even when nothing is expected to flow. Acts of unconditional love, purest in form, Bring joy, fulfillment, a deeper sense to warm.

Living this way, with love as our guide, We grow closer to purpose, with nothing to hide. It lets us see past the illusions that bind, Revealing the truth in our hearts and our minds.

Just as Donne wrote, love's power is grand, To turn dreams into truths, to help us withstand. In the face of fear, love's strength is our shield, A force that unites us, a truth unconcealed.

[strangerays]

Crafting a rewarding plot

(@lighthearted.writer on IG)

If you take the right amount of time and give yourself patience, you can construct a well-working plot in a matter of months. But how can you ensure that you won’t run into any roadblocks when it comes time to actually get into the writing process?

Genre-awareness: All plot points are used in almost every genre, it’s just a matter of the different ways they are used and when. Be aware of the plot points that every fantasy book need. Understand how a villain is woven into a contemporary novel. What tropes are fair game? Know what makes your genre it's own. 

First vs. third act: Are you introducing insubstantial things early on that have the potential to be used later? This can not only be a way to trick readers but also to show logical growth and change. Lay down clues. You can also think about unpredictability and the butterfly effect. When does your main character have a revelation?

Jumpscare: Your readers know something is about to happen. Stress them out about it. Build up emotion and suspense in a way you can break it later. Make use of it. 

Vault: Don’s show us our own world. Show us the cool shit you’ve got going on in your world! Choose only the elements of everyday life/backstory that set characters up for disaster. Instead, show how your magic system affects everyday life.

Character cohesion: Emotional range is great, but make sure you’ve set up your character’s growth in a way that makes sense. 

If you can take out a beat of your plot without disrupting the story as a whole, consider if you really need it in the first place. Of course, it’s perfectly acceptable to include scenes of banter and down-time, but be aware of how many you’re including and if they come in at the appropriate time. 

[mildreflections]

Book of Rhymes

Life is like a book of rhymes,

Not easy to decipher.

At times,

You must ruminate twice,

Before you see the answers.

Words and phrases are disguised,

Nothing is as it seems.

You must read between the lines,

To understand what it truly means.

And it doesn’t matter that in a few words,

Your moments and dreams,

Are splayed in full.

Life is like a book of rhymes,

And poetry is always beautiful.

- Mild Reflections

[thesteamgoth]

Last Line Tag

I was tagged by @arwallace, thanks for tagging me! Sorry this took me so long to post.

Rules: Tag the last line you wrote, then tag the same number of people as there are words.

“I know she is the one I have sought for centuries,”

I tag the following (feel free to ignore if you don’t want to do it):

@cassandra-maher-writes, @atelierwriting, @forlornraven, @moiraaward, @allthatpurpleprose, @writeontheedge, @authordai, @byriamallo, @goforwardgreenwriter, @temporarysentences, @storyinspoforwriters, @idreamonpaper and anyone else who wants to do it!

[winters-chills]

For some reason, links aren't working when I try to embed them no matter which way I try, which is very annoying.

Anyway, there's a special bonus short story up on my Patreon about my LARP character, Sparrow. It's free to all members, all you need to do is subscribe.

This is Sparrow (in the middle) reconsidering their life choices the next day:

And this is the (really fucking HEAVY) rock that I dragged 400 metres in midday sun ON MY OWN for my feat of strength:

It's a faux-rock, so thankfully it's made of nice light things like polystyrene, chicken wire, and 2 bags of cement mix -_-

Gratifying to see other people try to lift it themselves and have a very out-of-character moment of of 'oh shit that's heavy-heavy, not pretend-heavy'

[winters-chills]

Yesterday the first excerpt from Oathsworn: The Nameless went up on Patreon! You can read this and the rest of the novel-in-progress for as little as £1 a month:

Cautionary Rhymes | Winters Tales

Get more from Winters Tales on Patreon

The one downside of non-meta social media so far is that I can't schedule posts, so I forget to let people know the post is up on Patreon (where I can schedule posts). Anyway this is the... pre-prologue? A little bit of worldbuilding to get the reader in the zone.

Enjoy, and if you have any questions then please do comment/send asks/let me know, and I'll use those questions in a Worldbuilding Wednesday post!