If you have ADHD or ASC or are some other flavor of neurodivergent, the 'rules' many big name authors post about how they've reached success can actually make you feel REALLY BAD because you can't always do the same thing.
Building a positive relationship with writing can make all the difference in getting you writing more.
'Write every day.' - Don't write every day, write when the mood strikes. But you can trick your brain into work mode by trying different things. Put on your shoes when it's time to write. Light a candle. Put on the same playlist every time. After a while, it'll be like a light-switch. When you light the candle, your brain will find writing easier. Just don't force it. When you try to force writing, you build up frustration and resentment if you don't get anything out. Some days just won't be writing days. That's FINE, lots of authors don't write every day (even if they say they do).
'I write 1000 words every day!' - Well, if you WANT to write and are struggling, a goal of 1000 words seems really far away. So do incremental goals. One sentence. One paragraph. 100 words. Usually by then you're in the flow of things and you can write 1000 words pretty easy. And again, celebrate every single one of those goals so you want to keep doing it. If you have to? One sentence, walk away, come back later, add another, GOOD JOB, two whole sentences!
'Sit down and block out x hours every day just for writing.' - Actually, the best way I've found to write is to tell my brain the deadline or end time is really, really soon - so I write in 20-30 minute chunks, and then walk away or take breaks and come back if I want to later. By setting that arbitrary shorter deadline, my brain can see an end and will work harder and focus more because it knows it's just for a little bit. If 20-30 minutes is too long, start with 15 minute chunks.
I am so incapable of writing anything short. I look at my word count and sometimes I say to myself how the hell do I have two books' worth of words already and not even at the end of the story. There are at least five more chapters to go.
Although when I google how long fantasy romance novels usually are and see the 80-150k, well... I'm still getting to the upper limit.
I read so many epic length fanfiction and such over the years I forgot how published books manage to introduce a whole cast of characters, give them enough time to get to know them (and love them), and keep the plot and worldbuilding going and not hit the stars with the word count.
Like, I had multiple chapters mostly taken up by dates, others just action scenes, thousands of words of various sex scenes, intimate conversation or arguments.
I guess if the age rating is lower both sex and violence is trimmed down significantly.... but where's the fun in that.
hi there! can you tell me a bit about your WIP "Limbo"?
Oh, you mean this Limbo right here?
Oh, this is gonna be fun ★
So, the thing is, Limbo isn't a work in progress anymore. After sixteen years— yes, you heard me right, sixteen YEARS (and change)— of drafting, writing, rewriting, abandoning, returning, revising, and finally running at like a bull on coke, I got it done. It took more effort and pain than I'll admit and yes, I cried when I realized it was over, but let's talk about the actual story, yeah?
So the basic idea is this: paranormal podcaster/amateur ghost hunter JK Tailor goes out of his way to do a story on Hawthorn Hills, allegedly the most haunted town in America. And he gets there, and it's not quite what it's cracked up to be, but he starts digging a little after receiving a mysterious note and finds something worth investigating; namely, how the town "stopped existing" in 1959.
Unfortunately, that something ends up with him dying. But luckily, death isn't quite the end of his story, because he wakes up in 1959. With a wife and a job he didn't have while he was alive. In Hawthorn Hills, a town that shouldn't exist.
And that's where the horror really begins...
Anyways.
As of right now, I don't have anywhere to read it, but I'm working on that. And it's obviously a story I'm very proud of given how much I've put into it since grade 10. The story has changed a lot, but the core has been the same: what does it mean to be dead?
I hope this has piqued any sort of interest in the work, and I hope this answered the question because I forgot I was supposed to answer a question ★
This cropped up in my head and I basically just expanded upon it. This concept was inspired by the aftermath of everything that went down in Tales of Miracles;
Marinette x Lucien's Twin Boys;
Chandra - the Pyrokinesis
Marcel - the Protector
Marinette x Lucien's Girl (Youngest);
Elise - the Phoenix
Chandra Veil;
The oldest twin brother of Marcel, he inherited the gift of flame that mirrors Lucien's innate affinity towards fire. He is considered to be a social butterfly, always eager to make friends and tends to accidentally overextend into people's boundaries. He's incredibly passionate in things like art and music, specifically towards the violin and painting. He's considered to be impulsive, good-natured, and overall gives any task either 110% or none at all.
Marcel Veil;
The youngest of the twin brother, but is considered to be the more matured brother. With intellect beyond his years, he's capable of learning skills at a faster rate with an IQ of over 150. In contrast to Chandra, Marcel is the counterbalance as he tends to rationalize decisions and obstacles through logic. Marcel holds an affinity towards magic focused on defense such as barriers and wards. That being said, he's the type to think first before acting.
Elise Veil;
The youngest daughter of Lucinette, and arguably holds the greatest potential in magic that rivals Lucien's at an early age. She embodies the spitting image of a phoenix, much like her father, and her use of flame magic isn't used to harm, but to heal. Her hobbies consist of arts, including but not only tagging walls with spray paints, making new designs, and essentially takes after her mother's side in fashion designing.
rewatched bridgerton s1 and now i'm trying to understand why it's bad (spoilers) from a writer's perspective
* criticisms about the inaccurate costumes or over the top music or lots of ballroom scenes or lack of serious worldbuilding are silly to me tbh the show makes no pretense to be sth its not, this is like criticizing YA for having emotional teenagers or horror for being bloody. just say its not yr thing and move on
* obviously the interesting themes of sexual education and agency and empowerment are completely fucking ruined by the sexual assault scene that's not framed as such just because the perpetrator is a woman. there's no coming back from that
* even beyond that though the romance is badly done. there are some seeds of sth that could be interesting but it all stays so shallow and underwhelming. the actors have little chemistry i don't like the way Daphne is played
* the scene with Daphne saying she likes Simon's mom's favorite painting bc it reminds her of the peace of early mornings in the countryside and feeling alone yet at one with the world is very charming but also i was like....yes and ? are they gonna bond over liking the peace and quiet together? nature ???? sth else ??? as if it comes across as very...Omg Surprise Woman Capable of 1 deeper thought = hot !!!!! or is it just about her being like his mom (ew). good example of how attempts at depth can fail if they're not connected to deeper themes and character dynamics
* they make each other laugh with sarcastic observations about the behavior of the people around them and the shallowness of social games. like the prince complimenting all the other women's dresses. this would work with characters who are outspokenly critical of society around them. But their connection is that same kind of shallow. And so much of their romance needs us to buy into the social rules and games. The appeal is omg Daphne is the Prettiest and the Diamond and the most specialest girl ever and Omg Simon is this important Duke and isn't it romantic that they're forced to get married for stupid reasons because of honor based rules. And Daphne visibly cares so much about making a good marriage within the rules of society. So these moments feel disingenuous or like they're just being assholes (but without even truly commiting to it and making it fun!)
* the Duke talks about how they're best friends. but i never got that sense of begrudging respect that develops when antagonists start to like each other. Or that they actually liked spending time together. The only thing that i can think about is her punching Berbrooke (he likes boxing so that's an interesting parallel) and making moves on the Prince that force him to consider she's not just a naive little doll. And the bits of witty dialogue. but that's just not enough.
* this is supposedly about Daphne's sexual awakening but yet there is so little real sensuality. she stares at his arms a bit. he tells her to touch herself. its so basic and bland. giving "everyone is hot and no one is horny" vibes. every romance at its core, even the more chaste ones, eroticize something, and the deeper it goes into their characters the more impactful it is. i don't know what this is eroticizing beyond the fact that they're both hot and it's a Good Match tm. the appeal of the innocent virgin vs. rake who is supposed to educate her and show her the wonders of sex is cut down by the fact that he's witholding information, lying and manipulating her the whole time. and not teaching her much either tbh. that's not hot. it's a story that could be interesting if done properly but tbh it doesn't belong in a fluffy wish fullfillment romance, it's too sordid and psychologically complex and unpleasant (like that is horror romance territory lmfao)
* the sex scenes are a key part of this. i'm not against explicit scenes on tv when well done it can really contribute to the dynamics and be really hot (there's nothing wrong w that) but here there is just this fundamental disconnect btw what they're trying to sell us - the focus on Daphne's pleasure, the sense of freedom and liberation after all that repression - and what is actually happening in the plot, him trying to distract her and lying to her. that's not hot and it's weird. secrets and fucked up dynamics can be hot in a sex scene but you have to acknowledge it somehow, not present it as perfect honeymoon bliss. Unless you're in the close pov of a character who's completely unaware - which is not the case here. We know what Simon is doing ! we can't just set it aside.
* the conclusion scene where they're both standing in the rain and she tells him he doesn't need to be perfect to be worthy of love is beautiful in itself. it's a beautiful message. what is so disappointing is how they get there. Simon isn't given the time to heal from his own trauma - he's strongarmed in a way that feels extremely manipulative. She tries to force him to impregnate her against his consent, then she goes through his private correspondence and tries to guilt trip him into changing his mind, judging his deep and private pains and trauma in a flippant way and telling him he should get over it if he actually loves her. of course he shouldn't have lied to her, but that doesn't make her actions ok. the whole thing is just incredibly unromantic to me. there is no genuine growth happening. Simon ends up being a nothingburger of a character bc he is so reactive and one note. when he's pissed he gets drunk and hits stuff. that's basically it until Woman Shows him the Way. the actor tries his best with the smoldering soulful looks. but that only works for a bit.
* there is absolutely an uncomfortable racial element to this. she's an incarnation of this image of white womanhood that is supposedly morally and emotionally superior and is going to teach silly men how to live properly ; i don't like this dynamic much already. it's bioessentialist it puts women on this pedestal that's actually a burden and makes it impossible for them to be truly human ; it's terfy and smug and self righteous and honestly insufferable. And it's much worse when it concerns a man of color
* really it's mindboggling to me that so many people gave the green light to this. but i think it's a testament to the idea that there are some "normal" elements of sex that couples owe to each other, and also that marriage and having babies is the one right way to happiness and health. ofc this wouldn't be strange for the time period - the weird thing is more that they assumed modern viewers would find this romantic, because, again, this is designed to be wish fullfillment, not historically accurate, and the kind of wish this is fulfilling is yucky honestly.
* Daphne is just not a very appealing character by modern standards, tbh. she's very passive, and she cares the most about following the mores of her society and getting the picture perfect ending that is mandated for her as a woman ; whatever agency she develops is strictly in pursuit of that, and she goes about it in this manipulative way with a sense of her own superiority that comes from privilege, sticking to social rules and gender norms. she will have her babies and insure the triumph of the aristocratic heteronormative family. it's, again, not a surprising narrative for the era, but it feels deeply incongruous for a show that handwaves accuracy for the sake of diversity and female empowerment and wish fulfillment everywhere else
* i still remember enjoying the show on first watch until ep 6 - because its light silly frothy tone is just so fun and entertaining, and the side characters are really compelling, and there are just not enough rom coms these days. it's really the saving grace of the show they're able to listen to criticism and were able to change the way they did romance for s2
