julesnichols reblogged
sometimes when I'm writing I'm like oh fuck i dont know what comes next uggghhh guess I'll just have to make it up :////// bitch... ur making the entire thing up ...it's fiction... thats the fuckin premise
julesnichols reblogged
words for when your characters ______
Agree
accede, acceptance, accord, acknowledgment, acquiescence, align, avowal, bear, cohere, compromise, consent, contract, draft, enlist, give in/give up, go along/go along with, grant, negotiate, unanimous, yield
Deny
abjure, abuse, affront, attack, backstab, bad-mouth, belie, blacken, blemish, confront, curse, darn, defamation, defile, demur, denigrate, detract, dig, disclaim, discountenance, disgrace, disown, disparagement, downplay, explode, flout, fulminate, gainsay, gird, invective, jeer, lament, lecture, malign, minimize, mouth, needle, oppose, protest, put down, put-down, rebuff, refute, remonstrate, renunciation, run down, satirize, scold, show up, sit-in, slander, smear, snap, snub, squeal, sully, swearing, taunt, tirade, turn, underestimate, vituperation, write off, yammer
Explain
account for, admit, apprise, cite, clarify, come clean, concede, confirm, corroborate, defense, demonstrate, dilate, elucidate, enlighten, evidence, expand, explicate, gloss, illustrate, itemize, let on, palliate, plea, prove, recite, simplify, speak out/speak up, spell out, translator, warrant
Fabricate
aspersion, belie, disprove, profane
Inform
acknowledge, address, advertise, allow, allusion, apprise, bare, betrayal, blab, breathe, briefing, broadcast, chronicle, clue, come out with, confession, convey, debunk, define, detail, dictate, divulge, expose, feature, furnish, give, gossip, hint, intimate, issue, lecture, newscaster, orate, out of the closet, pass, post, proclaim, promulgate, publication, publish, release, reveal, show up, speak, spill, squeal, talk, tip, uncover, unveil, weatherperson, whisper
Instruct
bar, educate, prescribe
Persuade
advance, argument, bend, budge, carry, coerce, convince, discourage, draw, drum up, elicit, entice, forward, goad, hammer away/hammer into, induce, influence, invite, lobby, motivate, negotiation, pitch, prevail upon/prevail on, prompt, reason, spur, sway, urge, win/win over
Promise
assurance, avow, commitment, ensure, go back/go back on, oath, portend, vouch, warrant, word
Suggest
advice, advocate, ask, come up with, connote, drum into, exhort, fish for, get at, guide, imply, insinuate, moralize, move, nomination, pontificate, preach, propose, recommend, urge
Praise
accent, acclamation, accredit, adulation, apotheosis, applause, benediction, bless, champion, citation, commend, compliment, congratulations, credit, dedicate, deify, elevate, endorse, eulogize, exalt, extol, flatter, flattery, glorify, homage, laud, lionize, obsequy, plaudits, puff, salute, thanks, tribute, worship
Warn
admonish, alert, caution, caveat, defy, enjoin, exhortation, foreboding, foretell, page, remind, warning
NOTE
- The above are concepts classified according to subject and usage. It not only helps writers and thinkers to organize their ideas but leads them from those very ideas to the words that can best express them.
- It was, in part, created to turn an idea into a specific word. By linking together the main entries that share similar concepts, the index makes possible creative semantic connections between words in our language, stimulating thought and broadening vocabulary.
julesnichols reblogged
me: *writes fic*
me: great! time to post to ao3-
ao3 summary box: *exists*
me:
ao3 summary box:
me:
ao3 summary box:
me:
Ooh, this is actually kinda a neat thing, because you can think of it as a checklist:
- Who: Main character(s)
- Why: Character goal or desire (stated)
- Why: Character need (implied)
- When: Inciting Incident
- What: Means (that achieves the goal/need)
- Where: Place A >> Place B
- How: The Plan
- Obstacle(s): antagonist or challenge
For example:
- Who: Bilbo Baggins, a respectable hobbit of Hobbiton
- Why: Treasure, wealth (stated)
- Why: Adventure, self-respect (implied)
- When: After supper
- What: Quest
- Where: Hobbiton >> The Lonely Mountain
- How: A company of dwarves, a wizard, and an ancient map and key
- Main antagonist(s): a dragon
Thus, in less than 100 words:
- Bilbo Baggins is a respectable hobbit in Hobbiton, never making any trouble or having any adventures. But when a wizard and a company of dwarves invite themselves to dinner, Bilbo finds himself joining their quest from the shires of Hobbiton to the legendary Lonely Mountain, the home of a long lost treasure, and quite, possibly, a dragon.
~~~~
The Anatomy of Story by John Truby is a really good book by the by, if anyone’s interested in this sort of thing.
This is super helpful!’
julesnichols reblogged
Things That May Be Causing Your Writer's Block- and How to Beat Them
I don't like the term 'Writer's Block' - not because it isn't real, but because the term is so vague that it's useless. Hundreds of issues all get lumped together under this one umbrella, making writer's block seem like this all-powerful boogeyman that's impossible to beat. Worse yet, it leaves people giving and receiving advice that is completely ineffective because people often don't realize they're talking about entirely different issues.
In my experience, the key to beating writer's block is figuring out what the block even is, so I put together a list of Actual Reasons why you may be struggling to write:
(note that any case of writer's block is usually a mix of two or more)
Perfectionism (most common)
What it looks like:
- You write one sentence and spend the next hour googling "synonyms for ___"
- Write. Erase. Write. Rewrite. Erase.
- Should I even start writing this scene when I haven't figured out this one specific detail yet?
- I hate everything I write
- Cringing while writing
- My first draft must be perfect, or else I'm a terrible writer
Things that can help:
- Give yourself permission to suck
- Keep in mind that nothing you write is going to be perfect, especially your first draft
- Think of writing your first/early drafts not as writing, but sketching out a loose foundation to build upon later
- People write multiple drafts for a reason: write now, edit later
- Stop googling synonyms and save that for editing
- Write with a pen to reduce temptation to erase
- Embrace leaving blank spaces in your writing when you can't think of the right word, name, or detail
- It's okay if your writing sucks. We all suck at some point. Embrace the growth mindset, and focus on getting words on a page
Lack of inspiration (easiest to fix)
What it looks like:
- Head empty, no ideas
- What do I even write about???
- I don't have a plot, I just have an image
- Want to write but no story to write
Things that can help:
- Google writing prompts
- If writing prompts aren't your thing, instead try thinking about what kind of tropes/genres/story elements you would like to try out
- Instead of thinking about the story you would like to write, think about the story you would like to read, and write that
- It's okay if you don't have a fully fleshed out story idea. Even if it's just an image or a line of dialogue, it's okay to write that. A story may or may not come out of it, but at least you got the creative juices flowing
- Stop writing. Step away from your desk and let yourself naturally get inspired. Go for a walk, read a book, travel, play video games, research history, etc. Don't force ideas, but do open up your mind to them
- If you're like me, world-building may come more naturally than plotting. Design the world first and let the story come later
Boredom/Understimulation (lost the flow)
What it looks like:
- I know I should be writing but uugggghhhh I just can'tttttt
- Writing words feels like pulling teeth
- I started writing, but then I got bored/distracted
- I enjoy the idea of writing, but the actual process makes me want to throw my laptop out the window
Things that can help:
- Introduce stimulation: snacks, beverages, gum, music such as lo-fi, blankets, decorate your writing space, get a clickity-clackity keyboard, etc.
- Add variety: write in a new location, try a new idea/different story for a day or so, switch up how you write (pen and paper vs. computer) or try voice recording or speech-to-text
- Gamify writing: create an arbitrary challenge, such as trying to see how many words you can write in a set time and try to beat your high score
- Find a writing buddy or join a writer's group
- Give yourself a reward for every writing milestone, even if it's just writing a paragraph
- Ask yourself whether this project you're working on is something you really want to be doing, and be honest with your answer
Intimidation/Procrastination (often related to perfectionism, but not always)
What it looks like:
- I was feeling really motivated to write, but then I opened my laptop
- I don't even know where to start
- I love writing, but I can never seem to get started
- I'll write tomorrow. I mean next week. Next month? Next month, I swear (doesn't write next month)
- Can't find the time or energy
- Unreasonable expectations (I should be able to write 10,000 words a day, right????)
- Feeling discouraged and wondering why I'm even trying
Things that can help:
- Follow the 2 min rule (or the 1 paragraph rule, which works better for me): whenever you sit down to write, tell yourself that you are only going to write for 2 minutes. If you feel like continuing once the 2 mins are up, go for it! Otherwise, stop. Force yourself to start but DO NOT force yourself to continue unless you feel like it. The more often you do this, the easier it will be to get started
- Make getting started as easy as possible (i.e. minimize barriers: if getting up to get a notebook is stopping you from getting started, then write in the notes app of your phone)
- Commit to a routine that will work for you. Baby steps are important here. Go with something that feels reasonable: every day, every other day, once a week, twice a week, and use cues to help you remember to start. If you chose a set time to write, just make sure that it's a time that feels natural to you- i.e. don't force yourself to writing at 9am every morning if you're not a morning person
- Find a friend or a writing buddy you can trust and talk it out or share a piece of work you're proud of. Sometimes we just get a bit bogged down by criticism- either internal or external- and need a few words of encouragement
The Problem's Not You, It's Your Story (or Outline (or Process))
What it looks like:
- I have no problems writing other scenes, it's just this scene
- I started writing, but now I have no idea where I'm going
- I don't think I'm doing this right
- What's an outline?
- Drowning in documents
- This. Doesn't. Make. Sense. How do I get from this plot point to this one?!?!?! (this ColeyDoesThings quote lives in my head rent free cause BOY have I been there)
Things That Can Help:
- Go back to the drawing board. Really try to get at the root of why a scene or story isn't working
- A part of growing as a writer is learning when to kill your darlings. Sometimes you're trying to force an idea or scene that just doesn't work and you need to let it go
- If you don't have an outline, write one
- If you have an outline and it isn't working, rewrite it, or look up different ways to structure it
- You may be trying to write as a pantser when you're really a plotter or vice versa. Experiment with different writing processes and see what feels most natural
- Study story structures, starting with the three act structure. Even if you don't use them, you should know them
- Check out Ellen Brock on YouTube. She's a professional novel editor who has a lot of advice on writing strategies for different types of writers
- Also check out Savage Books on YouTube (another professional story editor) for advice on story structure and dialogue. Seriously, I cannot recommend this guy enough
Executive Dysfunction, Usually From ADHD/Autism
What it looks like:
- Everything in boredom/understimulation
- Everything in intimidation/procrastination
- You have been diagnosed with and/or have symptoms of ADHD/Autism
Things that can help:
- If you haven't already, seek a diagnosis or professional treatment
- Hire an ADHD coach or other specialist that can help you work with your brain (I use Shimmer; feel free to DM me for a referral)
- Seek out neurodiverse communities for advice and support
- Try body doubling! There's lot's of free online body doubling websites out there for you to try. If social anxiety is a barrier, start out with writing streams such as katecavanaughwrites on Twitch
- Be aware of any sensory barriers that may be getting in the way of you writing (such as an uncomfortable desk chair, harsh lighting, bad sounds)
And Lastly, Burnout, Depression, or Other Mental Illness
What it looks like:
- You have symptoms of burnout or depression
- Struggling with all things, not just writing
- It's more than a lack of inspiration- the spark is just dead
Things that can help:
- Forget writing for now. Focus on healing first.
- Seek professional help
- If you feel like it, use writing as a way to explore your feelings. It can take the form of journaling, poetry, an abstract reflection of your thoughts, narrative essays, or exploring what you're feeling through your fictional characters. The last two helped me rediscover my love of writing after I thought years of depression had killed it for good. Just don't force yourself to do so, and stop if it takes you to a darker place instead of feeling cathartic
julesnichols reblogged
three person poly relationship made up of two people who are already dating trying to coax someone with horrific self worth issues into a loving relationship. stray cat style
they’re all laying together in bed and the couple are both thinking to themselves like good, he stayed the night to cuddle and talk when we offered, he should know that we genuinely care for him and want this to be more then a handful of one night stands. and the stray cat guy is like wow this sure is nice i think i’m falling in love with them. it’s really too bad that they don’t actually give a fuck and hate me and probably want to kill me with hammers for no reason
julesnichols reblogged
if we want the rewards of posting our fic we must submit to the mortifying ordeal of editing the damn thing
if we want the rewards of posting our fic we must submit to the mortifying ordeal of writing the damn thing
julesnichols reblogged
Random question for my fanfic writing friends:
When you go to AO3, what’s your total word count?
julesnichols reblogged
i just saw the tag “canon complicit” instead of “canon compliant” and im laughing its like “canon is a criminal act that i unfortunately support with this fic”
The Three Grades:
Canon Compliant: “This fic goes along with canon.” (Because I like it? Because I’m too tired to disagree by writing my own fic? Who knows? The author may or may not tell us.)
Canon Compatible: “Listen, I know it ISN’T canon, but think of it as Microsoft Office for Mac, it’s COMPATIBLE with canon, and that counts.”
Canon Complicit: “I have not died a hero, so I have become an accessory to the Villainy of Canon.”
actuallyfeanor
Canon Compatible is a great term for when your fic is Probably Not What Tolkien Would Have Wanted but it doesn’t really contradict anything in canon either
casa-neurotica
Canon Composite: “This is made up of the pieces of canon I accept, while discarding the stupid stuff.”
Canon Complaint: “I do not like these parts of canon, and I am going to make it everyone else’s problem.”
Behold, my most evil creation yet! A post canon POI fic to fulfill the prompt "watching the recording of a tragic event".
Warning for canonical major character death.
#person of interest#poi fic#root#sameen shaw#the machine#root x shaw#root x the machine#shaw x the machine#fic#writing#my fic#my writing#halloween horror bingo 2024#hhb 2024#read the bolded warning here the tags the summary and the beginning notes#if none of those mesh with you keep scrolling clowns will be blocked
Hi hello! I am doing yet another bingo challenge; here's my first fic for @ao3tagbingo
Fandom: Mission: Impossible
Pairing: Ilsa Faust/Ethan Hunt/Benji Dunn
Rating: M
Warnings/tags: established relationship, scars, nudity, suggestive themes
Prompt: scars
julesnichols reblogged
Listen I understand the humor behind “oh yes this smut shot is definitely necessary as a character study, the way they suck dick is integral to understanding them as a person” but like also……this is not incorrect!! You can do a lot in literature with various narrative devices, including and especially sex! Your character study is not less poignant just because it’s framed through the lens of sex! Sex has been used historically in literature as a way to explore character and plot and narrative themes and I just think we’re missing out on a lot if we dismiss anything smutty out of hand instead of giving it the credit it deserves for being one of the most useful storytelling devices of all time.
julesnichols reblogged
You should only write in present tense with extreme caution.
not because it's bad or anything but because if you do it even once you're going to be editing the bits where you shifted tenses out of your writing for the rest of your life
if u write in present tense enough times in a row, you can switch this problem around & get confused when your present-tense narrator is talking abt something that happened in Their past. I recommend this bc it keeps u on ur toes
guys i made my first blackout poetry
julesnichols reblogged
writing fanfiction is just fingers clenching over a keyboard as you ferally mutter i just want this little guy to be held, damn it and proceeding to hurt said little guy (gn) for about 10k words before you actually give them their hug
julesnichols reblogged
using emdashes and a semi colon in the same line. this sentence will end when i do
julesnichols reblogged
i could fix him (the piece of media i just consumed that was poorly executed but had a good premise)