Secret Notebook

Resources for writers, by a writer. An anti-social one with lots of time.

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Being a Tactile Writer, or Just Easily Distracted

Hey! So I know a lot of writers, myself included, that have a hard time sitting still or just focusing in general when they’re putting in some hard hours. I specifically have a hard time keeping busy enough to keep myself actively engaged . So, here are a few tips to help you out!

1. Make a plot map! You don’t have to have boring lists of events stored away on your computer, you can draw it out on a big piece of poster board and have it be like a story board timeline

Go ahead and pack it with color, concept art and don’t mind if it gets messy! As long as you can read it, then it will help you

2. Do some of your work standing up in front of a counter or a dresser. That way you can move around and stretch your legs, but at the same time be able to keep writing. 

3. Go ahead and go for a walk when you need to just think up ideas or further develop the ones you’ve already had. Bring a little note pad to write things down on as they come, or just type them into your phone. 

4. This one might seem stupid or awkward, but grab some figurines and make them say the dialogue you’re trying to work out (you can just say it in your head). It’s weird, but will help you stay into it.

5. Don’t force yourself to stay in one place; if you need to pace, do it!

6. Color code your notes or just write in colored pens

Happy writing and I really hope that these help! If you have a trick you know of, feel free to add it, because a post for writers by writers is always better! Have fun!

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Concept art can be helpful when trying to figure out either how something looks or even to put general ideas down on paper in a visual fashion. As seen above your concept arts don’t have to be super fancy or really super well done. Everyone’s quick sketch style will be different, so don’t worry if you think that they aren’t good enough! Their purpose isn’t to be pretty. 

Taking notes on the sides is also a helpful thing to do, especially if you want to remember your thought process later on. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! The reason why your doing this is to help yourself think!

Your drawing don’t have to be detailed if you don’t want them to be, and they can make absolutely no sense. They can be messy. Just Let yourself run with it and see how your ideas grow!

Happy Writing and good luck! You can do it!

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150 World Building Questions!

Geography:

1.      Where is your world located?

2.      Are there any important geographical locations?

3.      What’s the plant life like?

4.      What are the trees like?

5.      What are the animals like?

6.      Are there different regions?

7.      What is the weather like in all the regions?

8.      Are there specific countries? What are their names?

9.      Are there any historical sites? Explain

10.  What kind of natural resources are there?

11.  Does it have temples?

12.  What’s the natural history of the world?

13.  What’s the sun like?

14.  Are there seasons? What are they?

15.  How many kinds of insects are there? How many/ what kinds are important or are eaten?

16.  Are there oceans?

17.  Are there gemstones?

18.  Do the animals carry diseases?

19.  Are there different races/ species living there?

20.  Do they have really big cities?

21. What do their buildings look like?

Culture/Society:

1.      What’s the language like?

2.      What offends people?

3.      What are some swear words?

4.      How many languages are spoken?

5.      How important is education?

6.      What is the most common form of education?

7.      Do people have to have it to survive?

8.      Is education institutionalized?

9.      What are the occupants of this world called?

10.  Is there a derogatory word that they're called?

11.  What are the formal events like?

12.  Is it expensive to live there?

13.  What kinds of pastimes do people have?

14.  How would you make someone hate you in this world?

15.  What kinds of gestures are frowned upon?

16.  What’s considered kind?

17.  What’s the worst thing you can say to someone?

18.  What kind of food do they eat?

19.  What’s considered good manners?

20.  Are manners different in different places?

21.  Are there any fairy tales/ myths/ folk lore? What are they?

22.  What do the sicknesses in this world due and what are they called?

23.  Are people violent or peaceful generally?

24.  Are there healers or doctors or both?

25.  What do people have to do in order to become a doctor/ healer?

26.  How do people make medicines?

27.  How do people act because of the weather?

28.  Do the people have any traditions?

29.  What are the holidays?

30.  What kinds of religion are there?

31.  Is there religion?

32.  How do people celebrate religion?

33.  How are religious people seen?

34.  How technologically advanced are the people?

35.  What’s the transportation like?

36.  How healthy are the people?

37.  Is there any every day dangers?

38.  What are the everyday dangers?

39.  What is considered taboo in public?

40.  What’s considered rude at another person’s house?

41.  Is there a form of high fashion?

42.  Is there magic?

43.  How practiced is the magic?

44.  Do people travel a lot?

45.  What are considered good and bad values?

46.  What are good and bad ethics?

47.  What’s the worst crime you can commit?

48.  What’s seen as shameful?

49.  What are the gender roles like? Do they have any?

50.  How do people communicate?

51.  What are their weapons like?   High or low technology?

52.  Is science recognized?

53.  What do the people consider entertainment?

54.  What do people consider art?

55.  Are there a lot of artists? What are the different art styles? (Realism, impressionism, surrealism ECT.)

56.  Is music popular?

57.  What kind of instruments are there and what are they made of?

58.  What the daily life of the lower middle and high classes?

59.  Do they get to relax on holidays?

60.  Are families typically close or cold?

61.  Are people willing to help others?

62.  You’re walking through a market place/ store/ farmers market; what do you see?

63.  What are the views on fighting? On killing someone?

64.  How much do the people read?

65.  Are books easily accessible?

66.  Is reading and writing common knowledge?

67.  What’s considered trashy and what’s considered conservative clothing wise?

68.  Is there a traditional garb for weddings?

69.  Is PDA ok or frowned upon?

70.  What kinds of weddings are there? Are they arranged?

71.  Are there any wedding traditions?

72.  How is color used in daily life (Do people dress with it, decorate with it?)

73.  How are kids taught to resolve issues?

74.  How are the elderly treated?

75.  What’s their rural vs. their city culture like?

76.  What kinds of people are looked down on?

77.  What places are really dangerous/ safe?

78.  Are there restaurants?

79.  What animals are eaten and which are kept as pets?

80.  Is there a social ranking system? What is it?

81.  Do vegetarians exist?

82.  Are there any stereotypes?

83.  What makes most people angry?

84.  What kinds of houses do different kinds of people live in?

85.  How are children treated?

86.  Are there things that are considered disgusting one place but not another?

87.  How do the people deal with their emotions?

88.  What do they make their clothes out of?

89.  Do people usually make their own clothes?

90.  What’s the foot wear like? What’s it made of and by whom?

91.  What’s the popular fashion?

92.  Do people dance? When/ at what events?

93.  Is love valued?

94.  How is pregnancy regarded?

95.  What kinds of businesses are there?

96.  What things do you find on “Main Street”?

97.  How are artists seen?

98.  What kinds of ‘bad’ drugs are there? What do they do?

99.  What’s the beauty standard for men and woman?

100.                      Is jewelry popular?

101.                      What kinds of things make people worry?

102.                      Do people care about how their houses look?

103.                      How do people interact in public?

104.                      What are taboo dinner table topics?

105.                      Do people usually sit around the table and eat?

106.                      What’s something the people of this world just can’t live without?

107.                      Are there plays? What are they like?

108.                      Is there a regional food? What are they?

109.                      What’s their hygiene like?

110.                      Are there sports?

111.                      What’s considered respectful and disrespectful to parents?

History and Government:

1.      What’s the monetary system?

2.      What’s their history like?

3.      How did their government come to be?

4.      Are there any world changing medicines/ cures? Who found them?

5.      What’s the population like? Where does it get more and less dense?

6.      What are the politics like?

7.      What is their legal system?

8.      Do they have wars?

9.      What is the history of war? Name and describe a few.

10.  What is their calendar like?

11.  Are there any ancient civilizations?

12.  Were there any important ancient rulers?

13.  What are the typical punishments people get and why?

14.  Are there any historical tragedies?

15.  Is terrorism a thing that exists?

16.  Are there any major corporations?

17.  What things are illegal?

18.  Are there any government conspiracies?

19.  Is there a black market?

20.  Is their government over bearing?

21.  Are there any prominent movements?

Hey. feel free to add things if you want, this is just for anyone who wants it!

Happy Writing!

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Detailed Characters ARE Important

So you have an idea of your protagonist and your antagonist, and hopefully, all the other supporting characters. Maybe you’ve even filled out all their details too. But maybe you haven’t and you’re questioning why it’s so important. Why is every detail important? Why do I have to have it all on paper/ written down, why do I have to know them more than I do in my head? Because this: the characters are the biggest driving force in your story.  Knowing them in and out will help you create your beautiful, detailed and rich plot. Knowing them will help your write dialogue. Knowing them will help you build the tone. Don’t forget that their worlds are tied into the characterizations either! But more on that later.  What in the back story makes them care about what they’re doing? What weird habit causes friction between other characters? What makes them make stupid decisions?

When you know your characters you gain knowledge on the plot and the world. You’re teaching the mannerisms of your made up cultures to your readers without having to go into paragraphs of explanations. Your creating the web that is a book (or series.)

Now get out there and you write that back story. Give your main character that weird useless habit. You weave that web. YOU CAN DO IT

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Character Worksheet

World:

Date:

Full Name:

Pronunciation:

Meaning:

Origin:

Title:

Pet Name:

ID Number:

Gender:

Gender Role:

Orientation:

Real Age:

Age Appearance:

Birthday:

Deathday:

Birthplace:

Astrological Sign:

Zodiac Sign:

Signature:

Species:

Ethnicity:

Blood Type:

Preferred Hand:

Facial Shape:

Eye Color:

Hair Color:

Hairstyle:

Skin Tone:

Complexion:

Makeup:

Body Type: (Chubby, lean/delicate or compact/mushed?)

Build:

Height:

Weight:

Cup Size:

Facial Hair:

Shoe Size:

Birthmarks/scars:

Unique Features:

Health:

Energy:

Memory:

Senses:

Allergies:

Handicaps:

Medication:

Phobias:

Addictions:

Mental Disorders:

Clothing Style:

Mode of Dress:

Grooming:

Posture:

Their Walk:

Coordination:

Habits and Mannerisms:

Scent:

Mood:

Attitude:

Stability:

Expressiveness:

When Happy:

When Depressed:

When Angry:

Wardrobe:

Equipment:

Accessories:

Trinkets: (Pocket Rock?)

License Plate:

Collections: Most valuable possession:

Prized Possession: Lovers:

First Kiss: Marital Status: Sex Life: Turn-Ons: Turn Offs: Position: Plays: Fetishes: Virginity: Element:

Insecurities: IQ: Education: School: Grade: Special Education: Social Stereotype: Degrees: Intelligence: (Linguistic/logical/spatial/kinesthetic/musical/interpersonal/intrapersonal/naturalist) Extracurricular Activities: Religion: Morals: Crime Record: Motivation: Priorities: Philosophy: Political Party: Etiquette: Culture: Influences: Relates to: Traditions: Superstitions: Career: Desires: Wishlist: Accomplishments: Greatest Achievement: Biggest Failure: Secrets:

Fears: Regrets: Worries: Best Dream:   Worst Nightmare: Best Memories: Worst Memories: Hobbies/Interests: Skills/Talents: Likes: Dislikes: Sense of Humor: (Dark/dry/witty/sarcastic/dirty/childish/sophisticated/ironic) Pet Peeves: Superstitions/Beliefs: Dreams/Nightmares: (What are their dreams/nightmares like?) Quirks: Savvy: (What is your character particularly well-informed of? [Ex: Politically, nature)

Can't understand (Just not into): Closet Hobby: Guilty Pleasure: Cleanliness: Strengths: Fatal Flaws:

Perception of the world:         Inner Conflicts: Instincts: (What they are unconsciously driven to do) Lures: Soft Spot:

Cruel Streak: Powers/Abilities: Origin of Abilities: Source: (How do their powers work?) Ability/ skill with powers: Weaknesses: Immunities: Restrictions: Alternate Forms: Extra Anatomy: Favorites:

Least favorites:

Languages: Accent: Voice: Speech Impediments:

Greetings and Farewells: State of Mind: Compliment: (Have your character say something nice) Insult: (Have your character insult someone) Signature Expletive: Laughter: Tag Line: (Ex: Lol, dude, uh) Signature Quote: Reputation: First Impressions: Stranger Impressions: Friendly Impressions: Enemy Impressions: Familiar Impressions: Compliments:

Insults:             Self-Impression:

Temperament: Enneagram: Ego/Superego/Id: (Superego is aims for perfection, society, and the idea of right and wrong. Id is unconscious desires and instincts - Which of these are they most driven by? The Self: (The center/core of your character) The Shadow: (The opposite qualities your character themselves does not believe they possess, but do subconsciously) The Anima/Animus: (The part of the character of the opposite gender) Persona/Mask: (What they present to the world, or the side they use to protect themselves) Alignment: (Good/Evil/Neutral/Lawful/Chaotic) Comparisons:

Symbol: (Does your character have any kind of recurring symbol that represents them?) Their Song: Vice: (Pride/Greed/Gluttony/Lust/Envy/Sloth/Wrath) Virtue: (Patience/Diligence/Chastity/Temperance/Charity/Kindness/Humility) Defining Moment: Cliché’s: Originality:

One Word:

Background

Immediate Family: Distant Family: Parenting: Upbringing: (What morals and ideals were your characters raised with?) Infancy: Childhood: Adolescence: Adulthood: Coming of Age: Evolution:

Life

Current Residence: Community: Family: Friends: Enemies:

Bosses: Followers: Heroes: Rivals: Relates to: Pets/Familiars:

Funds: Home: Neighborhood: Transportation:

Occupation: Work Ethnic: Rank: Income: Wealth Class:

Job Experience: Organizations/Affiliations:

Story

Main Goal:

Minor Goals/Ambitions:

Breaking Point: Story Role: Fulfillment of Role: Significance:

Relationships with other characters?:

Important Questions:

Where does your character want the story to end?

Who do they love?

What’s their happy place?

Where do they want to be buried?

If cremated, where do they want their ashes?

Are they afraid of death?

What’s is their garbage, refrigerator, nightstand ect.?

Look at their feet, what do you see?

What smells resonate with them?

What things do they have a hard time throwing out?

What do they spend their Saturdays doing?

What is their most powerful memory?

What’s their idea of a perfect night out?

What makes them laugh hard?

How well do they know themselves?

Are there any traits your character hates? That they don’t know about?

When and where were they the happiest?

Favorite journey?

Idea of perfect happiness?

Most desired talent?

What trait do they hate in others?

Most valued trait in a friend?

Favorite character?

What would they change about themselves?

How do they want to die?

What would they want to come back as?

Do they have a motto? What is it?

How do they learn?

What embarrasses them?

Feel free to copy and paste, and use as you please!

I drew somethings from other worksheets and I added what I thought was needed.

Happy Writing!

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