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kelsey 23, she/her, writeblr! helpful writing advice to make your work easier!

[alphacrone]

the 7 deadly sins of being a writer

self-doubt

procrastination

sleep deprivation

jealousy

wailing (despair)

notebook lust

horrifying comma use

[writeness]

REID CONOR MONOGHAN III

AGE: 17 

OCCUPATION: Prince 

POWERS: Compulsion 

HOME: Galdare, Mir Dorain

TRAITS: Anxious, pensive, reserved

NEEDS: Validation, to be seen, freedom

EXCERPT:

Reid kneeled down, his knees pressing into the new-fallen snow. Cold seeped through the thin fabric of his trousers, chilling his skin. The world hushed around him, even the sounds of the birds falling quiet. And above it all, the sense that someone was listening—that any words he spoke would truly be heard by the Dáine Mir. 

“Hello,” he whispered to the rock, feeling foolish and yet somehow peaceful. “I don’t do this often—ever, really, so I apologize if it’s not how it’s supposed to be.” He cringed retroactively, hating how court etiquette slipped into his words. He was talking to a rock, not an ambassador. “Anyway. I’m sorry I never prayed to you before, or thanked you, or anything.” 

He’d never spoken this long to anyone except Saraya. Still, he found the words coming easier and easier, pouring out of his mouth the longer he spoke. “My father always told me that mages were bad. I never liked being one. I never used my magic, either, which....I suppose you would know. Or not.” He paused, contemplating. “I don’t really know how all of this works.” 

Stupid. He sounded so stupid. He rested his head against the rock, the Dáine Mir’s name digging into his forehead. Maybe it would leave an impression. “I’m sorry that I’ve shunned your gift for so long. I still...I still struggle with it,” he got out, his lashes fluttering against the cold stone, pieces of snow getting caught among them. “I don’t know if I’ll always struggle with it. But I hope you’re not really slipping, like everyone here seems to think. I hope you’re okay, and that the world isn’t ending. And I hope I won’t be ashamed for much longer.”

[writeness]

IM H*GH. should i make moodboards? 

prepare for character moodboards

[writeness]

“What were you doing?” she asked as they walked back to the clearing, following their own frantic footsteps. Ara’s tracks were mechanical, turning at odd angles to cut through the trees. 

“I heard a baby crying,” Ara replied. “It was terrible, the most awful sound.” Saraya loved the way her accent cupped each word, dancing around the syllables and sounds. “I couldn’t leave it there, and once I started walking...I couldn’t stop.” She rubbed at her eyes, though she wasn’t crying. Saraya felt like she should be, though her chest only felt hollow. 

“There was no baby,” Saraya said, trying to keep her voice even. 

Ara scowled. “I know that.” The girl huffed, storming ahead several paces, leaving Saraya trailing behind.

Something in the giant mess I wrote today. I know you guys know nothing about this story or these characters. I’m sorry. oop ! im just bloggin 2 blog

[writeness]

don’t know if ANYTHING i wrote today was coherent, but it WAS 6k words. so i’ll TAKE IT !

[writeness]

hit 32.6k in my WIP!

for nano :^) and 3.7k of that was today!! n e way, i still dont know if it’s a good idea for a novel or if it makes any sense at all. it might be way weird. but ! it’s all planned out so we’ll see!

[writeness]

hit 50k 😎

[writeness]

hows nano going for everyone ? i didnt write for 4 days straight and today i wrote 5600 and im still going 😺🧃🧍‍♂️crazy! 

[brynwrites]

The very best writing tip you will ever hear is this:  

              Analyze stories.

Don’t just listen to what other storytellers say you should do, figure out what you like about the stories you enjoy and learn to replicate that.

Want to learn about pacing? Examine stories you think flow fantastically. Want to learn about description? Study your favorite author’s descriptions. Want to learn about characterization? Critique your favorite characters.  Want to learn about foreshadowing? Explore how it’s done in stories where the plot twist blew your mind.

Storytellers giving advice to other storytellers is fantastic and useful, but you will never know something as thoroughly as you know the things you figure out for yourself. 

And by analyzing the stories you love instead of listening blindly to advice, you’ll never be swayed by the bias of other writers and you’ll never take in advice that’s suited for a story you wouldn’t enjoy writing.

So put on some thinking caps and go analyze those stories.

[raevenlywrites]

I cannot agree with this enough! And also–

GO LISTEN TO SOME AUDIOBOOKS.

Hearing a story really shows a different side of it. If you’re struggling with your own work, read it aloud. It will make such a different I swear!

Read all you can, listen all you can, and listen to your own work aloud.

[jazbaaati]

Czeslaw Milosz, Orpheus and Eurydice.

[introvert-unicorn-deactivated20]

Words to use instead of Happy :

contented

content

cheerful

cheery

merry

joyful

jovial

jolly

joking

jocular

gleeful

carefree

untroubled

delighted

beaming

grinning

glowing

satisfied

gratified

buoyant

radiant

sunny

blithe

joyous

beatific

blessed

Light-hearted

Good-humoured

Over the moon

As happy as a sandboy

On top of the world

Blissed out

In high spirits

Thrilled

[ashiiknees]

Too Cold: How do you handle writers’ block?

Short answer: I don’t. 

I know that this is a normal part of the creative process, but for some reason, I’m always hard on myself when I find myself in a rut. I always try to force myself to write, and then I end up hating everything I write after that. And I stay that way until my brain decides to cooperate again. 

I’ll be the first to give my friends advice when they’re going through the same thing, but I never take it. I’m assuming you want to know ways in which you can get over a creative block, so I can share a few tips that I know work for others.

Watch movies or tv shows: sometimes seeing other forms of media can strike some sort of inspiration. It may not be related to what you were writing before, but anything is better than nothing at all.

Read: this works for the same reason movies and tv shows work.

Listen to music: anything that relates to the theme of your book, reminds you of a character in your book, or is just tied to a specific scene. Listen to it until you can break down every lyric. You will either become annoyed at the song, or you’ll be inspired to approach your writing from another angle (it’s a risk, but it could work)

Read bad reviews on Goodreads: I know this sounds odd, but just hear me out. Most of the time writers’ block is stemming from imposture syndrome. We don’t think our writing is good enough and we get into our own heads. We tend to be our own worse critic, and writers’ block serves to remind us of that. Reading bad reviews in a way will give you some motivation to know that your story, and your writing,  isn’t as bad as you think it is. (This could always backfire, but if you’re able to sit and laugh at yourself, I think this would work for you)

Give yourself time: sometimes it’s not about getting over writers’ block. Just admitting that you aren’t in the right head space to write that day, week or month is good enough. Don’t push yourself to do something if you know you’re going to be suffering through it. At the end of the day, writing is art, and art is beautiful and fun. Take a step back and allow yourself to go through the motions. You’ll be back better than ever!

I hope this helps!

[writeness]

hit 32.6k in my WIP!

for nano :^) and 3.7k of that was today!! n e way, i still dont know if it’s a good idea for a novel or if it makes any sense at all. it might be way weird. but ! it’s all planned out so we’ll see!

[writeness]

a bit of writing i did that i liked today :^) part of my nano wip. have you guys heard of 4thewords? im doing their free trial and i wrote 3.7k today!

[BLACK TEXT ON PINK BACKGROUND READING:

“So…do you want to try?” 

“Praying?” Reid asked. He hoped it was praying. 

“Magic.” Ara said it so plainly. It didn’t bother her one bit, to be a mage. She was so at peace with the pieces of herself that Reid only shattered more.]

[wordsofpaintandsmoke-deactivate]

Road to Obsidia | Side characters

DEAKEN // 300+• [REDACTED]

↳ unknown | asexual

BASIC INFO

birth › unknown nationality  › unkwnon appearance › shoulder-length long black hair, dark brown eyes, tall, slender build | 7′0

Deaken has been alive for years and is constantly fighting himself on whether or not it is worth it. Humans are fragile creatures and they can be fascinating, but they’re also a pestilence. He can’t remember if he must protect or destroy them, so for now he will observe. Observe until he remembers. 

TROPES

amnesia, bookworm, healing factor, polyglot, tranquil fury, who wants to live forever.

FACTS

doesn’t like shoes

prefers books to people

apparently cats hate him

↳ PLAYLIST | PINTEREST BOARD

AZADEH “JINX” AHMMAD // LOOKS 30 • NAGA

↳ iranian | aromantic

BASIC INFO

birth › October 13th. Hornbaek, Denmark nationality  › unkwnon appearance › armpit length brown hair, brown eyes, average build | 5′8

Azadeh knows everything about any subject, or at least she likes people to think she does. In another life she was a spy, but that’s over now. From her little bookshop, she observes the world as it moves around her, waiting for it to blow up, or fix itself, whichever comes first. 

TROPES

aloof dark-haired girl, friend to all children, loners are freaks, prehensile tail.

FACTS

feral defender of muslim girls

definitely not a spy

wears blazers without a bra, always

↳ PINTEREST BOARD

CAESAR MONGKUT HANSEN // 22 • VAMPIRE

↳ thai-danish | asexual

BASIC INFO

birth › October 13th. Hornbaek, Denmark nationality  › unkwnon appearance › black hair (buzzcut), dark brown eyes, pierced nose, slender build | 5′7

Caesar is definitely not the best guy there is, but because he knows his younger brother looks up to him he tries. Maybe he should have tried harder after rehab… maybe joining some sketchy cult was not the best idea. But being a vampire is better than being dead, right?

TROPES

asexuality, big brother instinct, life drinker, mixed ancestry, pro-human transhuman, sticky fingers.

FACTS

coffee addict

secretly a softie

he’s trying his best ok!

↳ PINTEREST BOARD

JOSEPHINE “JOSIE” BISHOP // 24 • BEAR SHIFTER

↳ afro-canadian | bisexual

BASIC INFO

birth › January 25th. Winnipeg, Canada nationality  › canadian appearance › black curly hair (dyed pastel pink), dark brown eyes, freckled face and shoulders, hour glass silhouette | 5′9

Ever since she became Caesar’s roommate, Josie has been dealing with a lot of shit. As much as she likes the little idiot, she didn’t sign up to be a nurse for an addict. Now she’s more than that, she’s his blood supplier. How will she explain that to her girlfriend, huh?

TROPES

animorphism, big beautiful woman, big eater, ethnic magician, the social expert.

FACTS

not a witch but kinda

hibernates in winter

signature pink fro!

↳ PINTEREST BOARD

HYUN SONG-GI // 19 • KUMIHO

↳ korean | gay

BASIC INFO

birth › March 6th. Osan, South Korea  nationality  › Korean appearance › curly black hair, dark brown eyes, slender build | 5′6

Hyun is a little mischievous spirit, he was when he was a life, and even in death, that’s what he is. Maybe that’s why he’s still here? Because whoever’s up there doesn’t want to deal with him yet. That doesn’t entirely bother him. No one can see him, so no one can stop him.

TROPES

animorphism, barred from the afterlife, deadpan snarker, friendless background, kitsune.

FACTS

happy that he got to keep is fox mask when he died

has a sweet tooth

cannot handle spices

↳ PLAYLIST | PINTEREST BOARD

[wordsofpaintandsmoke-deactivate]

TAGLIST

send an ask to added/removed

if you change your username, let me know

@chayscribbles @firesidefantasy @writeness @outcastedangel @permissiontobreathe @rainydaydarling @tenacious-scripturient @lottieiswriting @carmina-solis @alecsaltylightwood @anika-writes @piyawrites @musicofglassandwords @lady-redshield-writes @spellboundinks @phiwrites @jamie-can-read @imintheunderworld @aepreall @qelizhus @alicewestwater @bookish-actor @novel-novelist @sautrns @wildswrites  @wrenstarlight @daltoneering @eloandrianos @feanor @livvywrites @winnieleighwrites @sunwornpages @sybil-writes @lostwriterjd @woodlights @reeseweston @viawrites-andacts @cometworks @chazza-writes-sometimes @feathered-inkling @catandwitch

[writeness]

oooh these r so cute !! i think josie is my favorite

[aye-write]

[writeness]

just made some fun little graphics for my nov. 2020 nanowrimo project! this is one the one ive been talking about when i tag “ddc” :^) the one i plotted!!! might make some character moodboards for tonight to distract from the el*ction :(

TITLE: At the Edge of a Dark, Dark Cliff

GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure

STATUS: First Draft

POV: Third Person past, dual POV between Reid (Prince) and Saraya (Thief)

TROPES: Enemies to Lovers, Pirates, Worldbuilding, Original Fantasy World, Magic, Apocalypse, Legends, Prince

“The gods are gone, and the world is ending.”

Magic users from across the continent must come together to find the mythic City of Secrets: the Land of the Gods, before the world meets its fiery end. 

Except people are keeping secrets, and past betrayals keep standing in the way of present goals. It’s a long, difficult journey that they might not make.

I need to work on a better summary, i know. but basically, it’s like avatar meets six of crows, except theyre finding a secret city of gods instead of pull of a heist. If they can’t find the city and save the gods, the world will end! 

happy nano guys. let me know if u want on some sort of tag list !

[writeness]

anyone want some enemies to lovers ? anyone ? 

(aka a piece of today’s nano wordcount that i enjoyed writing)