The Writer's Hideout

All the writing stuff. Prompts | Writing help | Quotes

[the-writer-s-hideout]

Just popping in to let you know that I probably won’t be posting on this account again. My interests have gone in another direction in the past year, and I’ve felt more and more detached from writing tips and prompts. I’ll leave it there as a archive, but won’t be active on it anymore.

I hope you all have an awesome writing journey!

[mordinette]

Comments on fanfics are important, but so are replies to readers’ comments

I’ve just reblogged another post about how important comments are to writers, but I have some other thoughts about this that I’d like to add.

Comments are wonderful. I don’t think there’s a writer out there who doesn’t like receiving them. They let us know what our readers think of our work, and they motivate us to keep going.

Readers who comment on every chapter of a multi-chapter fic are precious, and I appreciate them so much. I remember them, and it makes me happy to see their feedback. I love talking to them, and every friendship I made in this fandom happened because of this back-and-forth about either my fics or theirs if I had been the one leaving the comments.

But I noticed that there are authors who don’t reply to reviews and comments, and I really think that they are missing out. Not only on that connection with the readers and the possibility to make friends who like the same things, but also on the possibility of getting more feedback on their stories. Sometimes writers say that they feel like they are shouting into the void when they post a chapter, but I think readers can feel the same way when they leave a nice comment, or several nice comments, on a fic and the author doesn’t reply.

Several of my fandom friends have told me that if they get no response from the writer of a fic, they stop commenting. I have to say that I’m much less likely to keep commenting myself if the author ignores their readers. I know some readers don’t really care about this, but I see so many very well written fics by these authors that don’t get the number of comments their stories would deserve, and I can’t help but think that if only they responded to their readers and had a dialogue with them, it would encourage more people to comment on their work.

Even just a simple “Thank you” would show that they are reading the feedback and appreciate it, and it might lead to more communication from the readers.

[the-writer-s-hideout]

One-line prompts

“There’s no place for you here.”

“I’m not a boy anymore. I can handle my own.”

“He’s from a country of fallen leaves where the trees are still blooming.”

“My heart is made of stone and covered in a pretty layer of ice.”

“This country doesn’t need change. Just a better ruler.”

“I stripped you of everything you had, yet you still want to fight?”

“I am NOT laughing!”

“There’s something about you I can’t quite replace…”

“She has built an empire of driftwood. All I’ll need is a little spark…”

“I am a woman of promises.”

“I know who you are. They call you the Firebird, don’t they?”

“Go! I can only buy you so much time…”

“I don’t want to repeat the mistakes of the past. I’m sorry.”

“He’s a coward, hiding behind a mask made out of lies.”

“No amount of tears will solve it. Now stand up and run.”

“I hope they’ll build a statue of you one day.”

“Today will make or break us. It’d rather it be the first option.”

“She’s fiercer than the wind, yet weaker than a strangled breath.”

“Oh, is that true? Too bad I’ll have to kill you now…”

“In doubt… look up at the sky.”

“You’re too good at this for just a simple sailor.”

“In the end, home is just the place I want to come back to.”

“I’m not crying, it’s just the rain.”

“If you can’t live without someone, then learn how to.”

“The raging sea never takes pity.”

“So what if it was me? What if you’ve been looking for me all along?”

“You’ll know they’re coming if ashes mix with the snow.”

“A mere blade won’t protect you and you know it. Why, then?”

“Revenge is a rotten thing.”

“She’s the eldest, and she doesn’t care about the consequences.”

[the-writer-s-hideout]

Even Weirder Chapter Titles

So… Context? I saw this and this post by the wonderful @happylilprompts and just wanted to add some chapter titles of my own. Here they come!

Error: Friends Not Found

I Hate Dungeons

So Vampires DO Sleep In Coffins

I’ll Die At Supper

Time For A Bit Of Improvisation

A Bloody Encounter With Hairpins

I’m Taking A Break, Thank You Very Much

Sea Foam And Shattered Dreams

Practice Really Doesn’t Make Perfect

I Die Less Than Before

My Cat Is A Demon– You Know, From Hell

Will Bombs Stop Going Off Near Me?

I’m Not Even Trying Anymore

I May Hate Snow Even More Than My Stepdad

I Lose My Temper… Again

This Is Why I’m Failing Physics

Dance Battle Of Death

Doomsday Or Not, I’m Staying In Bed

Have fun writing them!

[the-writer-s-hideout]

Here’s the (probably, I hope) long-awaited part two!

Confirmed: I Was Wrong And My Cat’s NOT From Hell

How My Sappy Life Story Started, A Saga

How Not To Watch [insert random movie/show]

What’s The Thing With Seahorses Anyway?

19289224 Reasons I Hate The Sun

Why Does Sad Music Make Me Weirdly Excited?

Guess What, Action Movies Are Widely Inaccurate

Chocolate Mousse Is (Apparently) A Godly Dessert

I Learn Wayyyy Too Much About The Korean War

Just Don’t Ask Why, Okay?

Here’s Why I Banned ‘Awesome’ From My Language

I Give Up (Part 6)

The Weird Fire Lady Is Actually… Nice?

Not On MY Watch

Who Even Buys CDs Anymore?

Apparently History Classes Were Useful? Damn.

*Panicked Noises Intensify*

[concerningwolves]

Full offense but your writing style is for you and nobody else. Use the words you want to use; play with language, experiment, use said, use adverbs, use “unrealistic” writing patterns, slap words you don’t even know are words on the page. Language is a sandbox and you, as the author, are at liberty to shape it however you wish. Build castles. Build a hovel. Build a mountain on a mountain or make a tiny cottage on a hill. Whatever it is you want to do. Write.

[micdotcom]

This is what it’s like to have dyslexia. Web developer Victor Widell is hoping to shine a light on the learning disorder with this creative coding simulation.

[6teeth-deactivated20200318]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is what it looks like for me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So accurate !!!!!!

[cameoamalthea]

This! It can be so hard for people to get it. I’ve been told “you can’t have a disability” because I did well in school or because I have a law degree, because I scored high on the LSAT (which was despite not being able to finish it). Learning disabilities don’t = stupid, it’s just slower and more difficult to read/spell.

[aquilacalvitium]

Oh wow

I think every single person without dyslexia should see this

[the-writer-s-hideout]

got any tips on writing a character with anemia??

My first reflex when writing about a reality that’s not mine would be to do some research. It doesn’t need to be an extensive, doctorate-worthy investigation, just quickly googling the main effects, limitations, history, etc. of it.

Take a few notes too, it’ll be useful in the future to refer to them instead of researching everything all over again! 

I’d also get thinking on why you want your character to have anemia. Is it relevant to your story? If you’re writing about war, vampires, illness, or anything related to blood and injury, for example, then I’d say it is. Think also of how this will influence the plot and your character’s view of the world. They might be afraid of needles or getting hurt, and it might get dangerous for them if they don’t tell anyone about their anemia and get hurt badly. That is, again, something that has good potential plot-wise because you’ll be able to create a lot of twists and emotional scenes from it.

If you’re coming out blank about plot elements related to their anemia, then I’d suggest looking into it a bit more: check out the history of the Russian imperial family or the English royal family, for example. Since anemia is a hereditary disease and royals often married with one another (to keep the blood pure, hahaha sorry), anemia was often a big problem for them. You’ll probably get a lot of interesting anecdotes to use from their history.

About actually writing a character with anemia, now: I don’t think you should treat that character any differently than you do the others, honestly. Just keep in mind what you know about anemia when you write them and how you’ve decided it’ll affect them, and you’ll see the difference in your writing.

I hope this helps!

[the-writer-s-hideout]

There’s great info in the responses as well @ anon!

[the-writer-s-hideout]

Even Weirder Chapter Titles

So… Context? I saw this and this post by the wonderful @happylilprompts and just wanted to add some chapter titles of my own. Here they come!

Error: Friends Not Found

I Hate Dungeons

So Vampires DO Sleep In Coffins

I’ll Die At Supper

Time For A Bit Of Improvisation

A Bloody Encounter With Hairpins

I’m Taking A Break, Thank You Very Much

Sea Foam And Shattered Dreams

Practice Really Doesn’t Make Perfect

I Die Less Than Before

My Cat Is A Demon– You Know, From Hell

Will Bombs Stop Going Off Near Me?

I’m Not Even Trying Anymore

I May Hate Snow Even More Than My Stepdad

I Lose My Temper… Again

This Is Why I’m Failing Physics

Dance Battle Of Death

Doomsday Or Not, I’m Staying In Bed

Have fun writing them!

[the-writer-s-hideout]

Here’s the (probably, I hope) long-awaited part two!

Confirmed: I Was Wrong And My Cat’s NOT From Hell

How My Sappy Life Story Started, A Saga

How Not To Watch [insert random movie/show]

What’s The Thing With Seahorses Anyway?

19289224 Reasons I Hate The Sun

Why Does Sad Music Make Me Weirdly Excited?

Guess What, Action Movies Are Widely Inaccurate

Chocolate Mousse Is (Apparently) A Godly Dessert

I Learn Wayyyy Too Much About The Korean War

Just Don’t Ask Why, Okay?

Here’s Why I Banned ‘Awesome’ From My Language

I Give Up (Part 6)

The Weird Fire Lady Is Actually... Nice?

Not On MY Watch

Who Even Buys CDs Anymore?

Apparently History Classes Were Useful? Damn.

*Panicked Noises Intensify*

[adorhauer]

The most dangerous game (writers edition): looking through old WIP ideas when you have too many WIPs that you’re currently working on already.

[curiousgemstone-deactivated2016]

Reblogs > Likes | It truly does make a difference for us

[artmodelsphoto]

This is true.

[posereference]

Please reblog. Share share share share share

[wubbalubbabullshit]

THIS COUNTS FOR FICS TOO YOU GUYS reblog. It’s really not that hard

[the-writer-s-hideout]

Saw your book asks: addendum and appendix

Thank you! Here they are:

Addendum - What is a book trope you can’t stand?

All those tropes that objectify female characters! I just think they’re not okay.

Appendix - Overdone book trope that you still love?

The chosen one. I just absolutely love how you can reinvent it so easily and how well it fits tons of story… Chosen by the Gods, chosen by a magical object, chosen by their peers, chosen by a random monster, etc. It’s definitely one I’m overusing too!

[bookbibook]

📚book related asks

Epilogue: What is a book that made you cry? Princeps: Popular author you don’t like? Index: What book character would you like as your best friend? Author: What is a book you really regret buying? Bibliophile: What popular book series haven’t you read yet? Volume: Last book you dnf? Prologue: What is a book that hasn’t been released that you want to read? Bookish: What is your reading goal for this year?  Addendum: What is a book trope you can’t stand? Literature: Top 3 books you want to read this year. Manuscript: What is a book you want to read but are intimidated by? Autobiography: Who is the protagonist you most relate to? Epeolatry: What is your favorite book quote? Book-bosomed: what is a book you feel everyone should read?  Appendix: Overdone book trope that you still love?

[thependragonwritersguild]

Prompt #5645

“What would it take for shapeshifters to stay in one form for good?”

[trueka]

PSA for everyone thinking abt opening a patreon:

create and launch ur patreon before may. it doesnt have to be the final version, u don’t have to publicly announce it yet if ur not ready, just launch it for now. patreon is implementing creator plans wherein it will take a bigger portion of ur revenue if u wanna make award tiers & join after may. to keep the revenue where it’s at now & keep its current benefits, launch one soon, even if ur not sure u want to open a patreon yet. (“Creators who launch on Patreon before the plans become available will have founder’s status, and will automatically be enrolled in the Pro plan, with their current pricing.”)

[the-writer-s-hideout]

Random fantasy prompts

A blind prince who was locked up and refused his birthright. He didn’t mind. Didn’t mind to be spared the long hours stuck in a classroom when he could care for his hidden garden. Sheltered and secluded, he wasn’t ready to rule when his family was all wiped out, leaving him as the sole heir to the throne.

A witch with the power to draw magic from the night sky, one star at the time. When her significant other/a family member/a friend gets sick, she has to drain the Milky Way to cure them. She is now known as ‘The Sky Thief.’

A pirate captain who can make inanimate objects bend in and out of shape. Their ship is the terror of the seas, known as ‘The Devourer’ for how they shape its hull into a gaping mouth with jagged metal teeth to attack other vessels.

[she-who-fights-and-writes]

So I was scrolling through AO3 and...

Just so you know:

When you check a story’s stats and it has 11 kudos, 6 comments, and 107 hits, assuming that those who left a comment also left kudos, there are 96 complete assholes among that group who don’t deserve to read fanfiction.

Same goes for fan art.

I know I’m being frank here, but if you just consume content without ever giving anything back, you suck.

As a consumer of content, you are obligated to leave something in return, something as easy as CLICKING A BUTTON; this stuff is “free” only in the technical sense.

Your payment is letting the creators know you have enjoyed their content and letting them know that their work is worthwhile.

Don’t be greedy.

Sincerely,

A decent-ass human being who always leaves likes/reblogs/comments/kudos on stuff I like :)

[thesuninperigee]

Two things:

Hits include rereads, but kudos can only be left once, so the ratio of interaction:hits will always be skewed on a work that people love.

No one owes you anything.

Just like how a writer doesn’t owe the audience updates, the audience doesn’t owe the author anything for reading their fic.

Are kudos and comments nice? Do they encourage writers and artists to do more of what they love? Yes, absolutely, but this transactional perspective makes me uncomfortable, especially because a lot of people I know use fandom as a way to destress and distract from their day-to-day.

Comments can take a lot of emotional energy and a lot of people read fic as a coping tool or low-energy activity, so I don’t think it’s fair to declare that people are being “greedy” if they don’t leave a comment on every fic they read.

By all means, if there’s a fic you like, leave kudos! Leave fourteen comments! Bookmark it and tell your friends! But maybe don’t act like you’re better than people who (for whatever reason) don’t.

Sincerely,

A fanworks creator/consumer with some empathy :)

[she-who-fights-and-writes]

Sorry to brew tea but it’s literally clicking a button that says “kudos” or “like.”

The audience DOES owe the creator stuff for consuming their product. Reading without commenting/leaving kudos is like pirating books or movies; it only benefits the consumer and not the producer.

It is clear that you’ve never thought about quitting writing because you never thought you were good enough as a result from no likes or comments or reblogs.

If it wasn’t for reader validation, I wouldn’t have this blog that I love so much and have discovered how much writing means to me; i would’ve stopped writing right at the outset because no one was giving me compliments or feedback, and this whole “let someone else do it” mentality is very, very toxic to the writing community tbh.

Some people need that validation, especially young/new writers, and if everyone has this mentality, these writers will stop writing because they think they’re terrible because NO ONE IS TELLING THEM THEY’RE GOOD

[apolohgy]

things that make you go hmm