abrainlesswriter

[abrainlesswriter]

israel is bombing rafah. as you read this, israel is bombing the one place they told palestinians was safe. they kept pushing the palestinians south and now they are bombing the only "safe" place left. israel is bombing rafah.

[abrainlesswriter]

Ref Recs for Whump Writers

Violence: A Writer’s Guide:  This is not about writing technique. It is an introduction to the world of violence. To the parts that people don’t understand. The parts that books and movies get wrong. Not just the mechanics, but how people who live in a violent world think and feel about what they do and what they see done.

Hurting Your Characters: HURTING YOUR CHARACTERS discusses the immediate effect of trauma on the body, its physiologic response, including the types of nerve fibers and the sensations they convey, and how injuries feel to the character. This book also presents a simplified overview of the expected recovery times for the injuries discussed in young, otherwise healthy individuals.

Body Trauma: A writer’s guide to wounds and injuries. Body Trauma explains what happens to body organs and bones maimed by accident or intent and the small window of opportunity for emergency treatment. Research what happens in a hospital operating room and the personnel who initiate treatment. Use these facts to bring added realism to your stories and novels.

10 B.S. Medical Tropes that Need to Die TODAY…and What to Do Instead: Written by a paramedic and writer with a decade of experience, 10 BS Medical Tropes covers exactly that: clichéd and inaccurate tropes that not only ruin books, they have the potential to hurt real people in the real world. 

Maim Your Characters: How Injuries Work in Fiction: Increase Realism. Raise the Stakes. Tell Better Stories. Maim Your Characters is the definitive guide to using wounds and injuries to their greatest effect in your story. Learn not only the six critical parts of an injury plot, but more importantly, how to make sure that the injury you’re inflicting matters. 

Blood on the Page: This handy resource is a must-have guide for writers whose characters live on the edge of danger. If you like easy-to-follow tools, expert opinions from someone with firsthand knowledge, and you don’t mind a bit of fictional bodily harm, then you’ll love Samantha Keel’s invaluable handbook

[abrainlesswriter]

I've read your post on manipulative characters, and it helped a lot! Could you explain how to write manipulated characters?

Creating a character who is under the influence or control of another is a challenging feat for any writer. To effectively portray this dynamic, it’s crucial to understand the manipulator’s goals and the methods they use to exert their influence. Let’s explore how a character’s dynamics might change when they are being manipulated.

Behaviour

Behave inconsistently with the decisions they would usually make.

Second-guess themselves or hesitate before acting.

Gradually change their behaviours to align more with the manipulator’s interests.

Show confusion or self-doubt.

Rationalise or defend the manipulator’s actions even when they are harmful.

Suppress their true desires to please the manipulator.

A declining interest in hobbies or activities that they once loved.

Signs of stress or anxiety, especially when the character is around the manipulator.

Increasingly isolating from their support network.

Making excuses for the manipulator’s behaviour to others.

Interactions

Unequal power dynamics, with the manipulator often interrupting or speaking over them.

A lack of reciprocal communication – the manipulator talks, the character listens.

Physical touch that seems controlling or guiding rather than comforting.

They are asked to keep secrets or lie on behalf of the manipulator.

Receive subtle threats or backhanded compliments from the manipulator.

Show an obligation to tend to the manipulator’s needs.

Are willing to compromise their morals under manipulative influence.

The manipulator may use personal information against them to keep them in line.

Have other characters note changes or express concern about their changed behaviour.

Have moments of realisation or clarity that are quickly squashed by the manipulator.

Body language

Closed off, with crossed arms or averted gaze.

Physical withdrawal or flinching.

Display nervous habits, like nail-biting, or fidgeting.

Make themselves smaller or trying to go unnoticed.

Have trouble maintaining eye contact.

Forced smiles or laughter to mask their true feelings.

Physical tension that doesn’t ease, even in supposedly relaxing environments.

Mimicking the manipulator’s body language subconsciously.

Physical exhaustion due to emotional strain.

Contrast in how they act around the manipulator versus others.

Attitude

A gradual erosion of the character’s optimism or hope.

Displays unwarranted hostility towards others.

Is overly apologetic, especially for things not their fault.

A shift from self-assuredness to self-deprecation over time.

A sense of helplessness that they struggle to overcome.

A fatalistic or defeatist outlook on their future.

A growing reluctance to make decisions independently.

Show internal conflict between their beliefs and the influence of the manipulator.

Repetition of the manipulator’s opinions as if they were their own.

A lost sense of identity through a disinterested or detached demeanor.

Positive story outcomes

An eventual recognition of manipulation as a moment of empowerment.

A journey towards reclaiming agency and self-worth.

Forming new, healthy relationships that contrast with the manipulator’s treatment.

Using their experience with manipulation to help others in similar situations.

The development of stronger personal boundaries and assertiveness.

Creative or professional achievements as they break free from manipulation.

Gaining insight and wisdom from their experiences.

Finding support systems that validate and uplift them.

A renewed sense of hope and direction in life post-manipulation.

Finds resilience and new strengths.

Negative story outcomes

Continued struggles with self-esteem and trust issues.

Setbacks and challenges in the aftermath of manipulation.

Potential for downward spirals as a result of the manipulative relationship.

A lasting impact of manipulation on the character’s relationships with others.

A psychological toll, such as anxiety or depression, that may linger.

Becomes wary of future relationships, romantic or otherwise.

Inadvertently emulates manipulative behaviours learned from the manipulator.

Might sabotage their own success due to ingrained beliefs planted by the manipulator.

Struggling to regain autonomy and make independent choices.

Increased tendency to isolate themselves to avoid being hurt again.

Helpful vocabulary

Coercion

Gaslighting

Subjugation

Compliance

Devious

Subtle

Undermine

Exploit

Domineering

Manipulate

Discredit

Influence

Contrived

Obedience

Suppression

Dependency

Guilt-trip

Intimidation

Passive-aggressive

Psychological warfare

[abrainlesswriter]

taking off a mask to reveal what lies beneath as a romantic gesture is overdone, and besides i want to see the romantic or even platonic potential of protecting someone's identity beneath the mask, without any expectation of ever being allowed to see what's under it. picking it up and holding it gently to their face when it's knocked off and they're in danger of being exposed, without trying to catch a glimpse of what they "really" look like under there. throwing yourself in front of them to hide them from view while they put themselves back together without taking advantage or looking back to see what you're protecting. learning to read them by body language, tone of voice, and behaviour so well that you never need to see their face to feel like you know and understand them.

[abrainlesswriter]

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 text-to-speech

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 and neurodiverse writing 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 motivation- 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

[abrainlesswriter]

Iron flame spoiler (ending)

Wow… wow! I’m not okay!

But also, I am. As devastated as I am after finishing Iron Flame, it was also so satisfying.

Xaden turning venin is exactly what I expected to happen during this series. (My personal prediction was for at the end of book three, but since book two was divided in two parts, I’ll take that, too.) But that’s not even it.

Xaden and Violet were both in the exact same situation, quite possibly at the exact same time. After fighting for so long, they were burning out, putting everything they had into the one task they had to accomplish. They were at the absolute end of their strength, at the ground, defeated, hopeless. They both felt the power of the earth beneath their hands, both knew how wrong it was to use it… yet also that it would be the one thing that could save them. And they both would have made the same decision.

But while Violet had her friends and family around them, the people she loved, the people she couldn’t cut out of her life even when it would have been for the best, Xaden was alone. And where Violet had people fighting for her, keeping her from doing the unthinkable, sacrificing themselves for her… Xaden had no one.

It’s tragic poetry, this parallel to how they live their lives.

[abrainlesswriter]

I love writing characters who want quite literally the exact opposite of what they need. Especially if they have a moment where they're like "oh. this is Making Me Worse, Actually." Never gets old.

[abrainlesswriter]

Want to write a novel in a year? Join us for our community writing challenge in 2024 where we go from idea to publication-ready in only 12 months!

You'll find a link to join our Discord server through your Novlr dashboard. We'll have regular check-ins and accountability buddies ready to keep you motivated.

We can't wait to see all the stories you'll tell this year!

[abrainlesswriter]

Prompt #11

A shadow drifts among the dead, closing their eyes and remembering them. A soft song floats in the air, notes of pain and loss and death. These men, these dead men, had fought bravely in the war for freedom, and that wouldn’t be forgotten. No living soul has ever seen her—the shadow of death—but they know her well. They whisper stories and tell tales, but no one knows the truth of her. She waits, always waits, until the dust has settled. She arrives moments before the vultures descend and honors the warriors’ sacrifice. She honors the dead.

[abrainlesswriter]

Prompt #10

Her hands keep moving, her focus not breaking for a second as he speaks. His voice raises to a panicky pitch, but still her concentration does not waver. Her eyes move slowly across what she is doing, nothing breaking through her determined state of oblivious work. Not a single word phases her or moves her from her place as she sits and continues on.

[abrainlesswriter]

Prompt #9

"I'm not scared of you!"

"I know! But, I am terrified of you. I am scared to love again. I am scared of being hurt again. I'm scared of being lied to again. And, more than anything, I'm terrified of you. I'm terrified because I know you won't hurt me—not the way I've been hurt—and you'd only lie to protect me. The scariest thing is that I know without a doubt, without question that if it came down to—if you had to choose—your life or mine, you would choose mine. You'd choose me, and I'd hate you for it. I'd hate you because it'd break me. I'm scared of you because I'm afraid you'll change your mind eventually, like everyone else. I'll be too much to deal with, too distant, too quiet. I won't be enough to love, and you'll stay anyways. I'm scared of you because, right now, it is taking every single ounce of control I have not to give you the only thing you don't already own—the one thing I haven't let you have—the complete truth. If it was anyone else—anyone else, I could just—but it's you, and I'd never hurt you."

"Tell me what to do. We'll do whatever you want—whatever you need—just, please, tell me what to do."

"I don't know. I don't—leave. Just, please, leave. Go home."

"Anything but that. Don't push me away. Don't ask me to leave because I can't. I can't leave you, I can't stop loving you, and I can't go home—not alone, not again. So, please, just anything else."

[abrainlesswriter]

Prompt #8

“So, marry me.”

“What?”

“Marry me. If marriage is the only way to save you from him, marry me.”

“No.”

“No?”

“No, I’m not going to marry you. Not to save myself. Do you know what it is that you’re saying? What you have to give up? You’ll never be able to go home, to see your family. You’ll be a traitor to your country. And - “

“I already am. I’m already a traitor.”

“No one has to know that you helped me. You can go home and pretend like none of this ever happened. You - “

“I can’t. I can’t do that. I’m not a traitor for helping you, for helping any of you. I’m a traitor because I love you. I love you, and I have been trying not to say it. But, I am so in love with you that it hurts. It hurts to look at you, to be in the same room as you. It hurts in the best way possible, and I don’t want it to stop. I know what I’m giving up, but I can’t quite find it in me to care.”

“I - I don’t know if I can give you what you deserve. A family - I don’t know if I can.”

“I don’t care about that. I just want you. And if you’ll have me, I’d like to marry you. Thorns and all.”

“Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you. Yes.”

[abrainlesswriter]

Prompt #7

"Get up! Get up! Take another hit...and another and another and another---until you're laying in a pool of your own blood. Until you can't see straight---can't think straight. Just get up. Get up because you can take another hit. You can take another beating...but what if they can't? What about them---because it's never about me. Not me. I'm the one bleeding and struggling just to breathe. I'm the one being beaten down and broken. But...they're the ones screaming, and screaming is what draws attention. Not the one who stood back up. Not the one who doesn't sound hurt."

[abrainlesswriter]

Prompt #6

“Why are you doing this?”

“I can’t keep doing this.”

“Doing what—us? Why? What—you and me—we were doing good. I don’t—I don’t understand.

“There is no ‘you and me’! No ‘us’!”

“Would you at least tell me why? Why?”

“Because it’s her. It’s always been her. You have always been in love with her. I tried to forget that, deny it. Tricked myself into thinking that you love me now.”

“I do love you! I love you.”

“It’s not the same! You don’t love me the way I want to be—the way you love her. It will always be her.”

“That’s—“

“Don’t say it’s not true! We both know I’m right. And the worst part is, she knows it. She knows and won’t have you. But still, you love her without condition, without question. And—don’t look at me like that. You know I’m right.”

“Don’t do this. I love you.”

“It’s over. I can’t—I’m sorry.”

“Please. I—I screwed up. I get that, but please, let me—“

“You didn’t screw up. And, this isn’t something you can fix. So stop—stop trying to make this better. You can't, okay? You can’t.”

[abrainlesswriter]

Prompt #5

“So...you two…”

“It’s complicated.”

“Is it?”

“Well...uh, he doesn’t know. But, I love him. He thinks this is all a ploy.”

“Then, it’s not that complicated. You're just an idiot.”

[abrainlesswriter]

Alright lads, here's one for any and all writers: what are the top five things readers can basically always expect to see in your work?

[abrainlesswriter]

Prompt #4

“I don’t know! I don’t know. I let him in. I don’t let people—I don’t let them get close because this always happens. I love them and I love them. And then, they’re just gone, and there’s nothing. I have nothing but another empty space. And, I can’t help thinking that maybe it’s me. Maybe it’s—maybe I’m the reason that everyone I love dies. Maybe it’s me! Just make it stop. Please, make it stop. It hurts. It hurts so much. I can’t survive this. Not again. I can’t. Make it stop. I’m begging you, just end it.”