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WEBSITES FOR WRITERS {masterpost}

E.A. Deverell - FREE worksheets (characters, world building, narrator, etc.) and paid courses;

Hiveword - Helps to research any topic to write about (has other resources, too);

BetaBooks - Share your draft with your beta reader (can be more than one), and see where they stopped reading, their comments, etc.;

Charlotte Dillon - Research links;

Writing realistic injuries - The title is pretty self-explanatory: while writing about an injury, take a look at this useful website;

One Stop for Writers - You guys... this website has literally everything we need: a) Description thesaurus collection, b) Character builder, c) Story maps, d) Scene maps & timelines, e) World building surveys, f) Worksheets, f) Tutorials, and much more! Although it has a paid plan ($90/year | $50/6 months | $9/month), you can still get a 2-week FREE trial;

One Stop for Writers Roadmap - It has many tips for you, divided into three different topics: a) How to plan a story, b) How to write a story, c) How to revise a story. The best thing about this? It's FREE!

Story Structure Database - The Story Structure Database is an archive of books and movies, recording all their major plot points;

National Centre for Writing - FREE worksheets and writing courses. Has also paid courses;

Penguin Random House - Has some writing contests and great opportunities;

Crime Reads - Get inspired before writing a crime scene;

The Creative Academy for Writers - "Writers helping writers along every step of the path to publication." It's FREE and has ZOOM writing rooms;

Reedsy - "A trusted place to learn how to successfully publish your book" It has many tips, and tools (generators), contests, prompts lists, etc. FREE;

QueryTracker - Find agents for your books (personally, I've never used this before, but I thought I should feature it here);

Pacemaker - Track your goals (example: Write 50K words - then, everytime you write, you track the number of the words, and it will make a graphic for you with your progress). It's FREE but has a paid plan;

Save the Cat! - The blog of the most known storytelling method. You can find posts, sheets, a software (student discount - 70%), and other things;

I hope this is helpful for you!

(Also, check my blog if you want to!)

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Words to describe facial expressions

Absent: preoccupied 

Agonized: as if in pain or tormented

Alluring: attractive, in the sense of arousing desire

Appealing: attractive, in the sense of encouraging goodwill and/or interest

Beatific: blissful

Black: angry or sad, or hostile

Bleak: hopeless

Blinking: surprise, or lack of concern

Blithe: carefree, lighthearted, or heedlessly indifferent

Brooding: anxious and gloomy

Bug eyed: frightened or surprised

Chagrined: humiliated or disappointed

Cheeky: cocky, insolent

Cheerless: sad

Choleric: hot-tempered, irate

Darkly: with depressed or malevolent feelings

Deadpan: expressionless, to conceal emotion or heighten humor

Despondent: depressed or discouraged

Doleful: sad or afflicted

Dour: stern or obstinate

Dreamy: distracted by daydreaming or fantasizing

Ecstatic: delighted or entranced

Faint: cowardly, weak, or barely perceptible

Fixed: concentrated or immobile

Gazing: staring intently

Glancing: staring briefly as if curious but evasive

Glazed: expressionless due to fatigue or confusion

Grim: fatalistic or pessimistic

Grave: serious, expressing emotion due to loss or sadness

Haunted: frightened, worried, or guilty

Hopeless: depressed by a lack of encouragement or optimism

Hostile: aggressively angry, intimidating, or resistant

Hunted: tense as if worried about pursuit

Jeering: insulting or mocking

Languid: lazy or weak

Leering: sexually suggestive

Mild: easygoing

Mischievous: annoyingly or maliciously playful

Pained: affected with discomfort or pain

Peering: with curiosity or suspicion

Peeved: annoyed

Pleading: seeking apology or assistance

Quizzical: questioning or confused

Radiant: bright, happy

Sanguine: bloodthirsty, confident

Sardonic: mocking

Sour: unpleasant

Sullen: resentful

Vacant: blank or stupid looking

Wan: pale, sickly

Wary: cautious or cunning

Wide eyed: frightened or surprised

Withering: devastating

Wrathful: indignant or vengeful

Wry: twisted or crooked to express cleverness or a dark or ironic feeling

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hello! i hope you’re doing well. i had a question regarding your writing: how do you manage to be so descriptive? i absolutely love how vivid your stories always are; i never have trouble picturing any scenery in your works, like, practically ever. how do you know the names of so many plants? do you garden/are you a botany enthusiast? and did you have to read a manual on motorcycles for astra inclinant? currently reading that right now, by the way, and i think it’s so incredibly lovely.

Hello anon! So glad you’re enjoying Astra Inclinant 🥰

To answer your question:

R E S E A R CH. So much research.

When I’m writing, I don’t stop to fix things along the way. My descriptions are actually pretty flat. “He leaned against a tree, listening to a bird call,” I’ll write as I focus on the plot and dialogue. Later, during the editing process, I’ll go back and write in the proper descriptions.

So, for example, I’m editing Astra Inclinant and I come across the description, “James leaned against the tree,” and decide to fill it out.

Writing tips for descriptions below, if you’re interested —

1. Pick a theme

Let’s say this scene is occurring on the eve of James’s Hogwarts graduation. I want the scene to convey a sense of youthfulness, lightness, and optimism. I want the mood to be calm and happy. I need to include descriptions that subtly build on these themes. The sunshine streamed through the large leaves might be a pretty description, but it has few words relating to youth/light/happy. Whereas the sunlight played along green leaves has more subtle theme words: light, played, green.

2. Be accurate/specific.

This is the straightforward part: I research common trees and birds in the northern Scottish highlands in the June-July months, and narrow down the results. Oak trees are common, but they’re traditionally associated with wisdom and old age. Pine trees are common, but they’re tall and dark and tend to tower over the landscape. Similarly, crows are a common bird but they’re typically used as omens and are large, domineering birds. Hawks are predators. Pigeons are ungainly and more reminiscent of an urban setting. In the end, I choose an aspen tree (pale in colour, tall but not overbearing, slender but sturdy) and a starling (quick on its feet, small, energetic).

This is why the themes of the scene are important. You need to understand not just what you’re describing, but why you’re describing. Descriptions aren’t just decorations; they’re tools to build atmosphere and mood.

3. Make sure all the words match.

Something is still off with my description. I’ve got the specific bits (aspen, starling). I’ve got subtle descriptions of youth/light: young, sunlight, played, green, smooth, flitted, summer. I go through the whole description word by word, and end up stopping at a sentence I’ve written: the bark is smooth and soft as silk.

Soft just doesn’t work when describing a tree. And silk is a word associated with sensuality, indulgence, and luxury — none of which are present in this scene. I think of other options — delicate as tissue paper, or smooth as glass. But delicate and glass both subtly convey fragility, a chance of shattering, breaking, or falling apart — and I don’t want those associations in a scene that’s supposed to be happy and carefree. I spend a while thinking about the possibilities, and eventually settle on smooth and thin as parchment. This eliminates the ill-matched soft while parchment also subtly reminds readers of the setting — James is preparing for his Hogwarts exams.

5. Use all senses.

This is what helps make descriptions so vivid. Look at this description:

He closed his eyes, enjoying the cool shade of the tree. A warm breeze stirred the air lazily. In the distance, he heard the song of a blackbird.”

Compared to:

The tree was large and shady. The air felt warm and pleasant. A breeze briefly stirred the air. A blackbird sang in the distance.

Using senses also helps you avoid that dreaded ‘grocery list’ description: The tree, the air, a breeze, a blackbird.

6. Eliminate unnecessary words.

Most readers get bored very quickly with descriptions. Make it short. In the earlier (bad) example, you’ve got air repeated twice: the air felt warm and pleasant, and a breeze briefly stirred the air. This could easily be combined: a breeze briefly stirred the warm air. I see this a lot, including my own writing. Think critically about your descriptions and what could be removed or combined. You especially want to look out for those vague filler words, too. Pretty, beautiful, lovely, attractive. These words tell the reader nothing. Their idea of beautiful might be very different to yours. Instead, describe what makes something pretty or beautiful.

7. Use manuals and articles sparingly during research.

This is kind of separate from the other bits of advice, since it’s more about authenticity than description. But you asked if I’d read a motorcycle manual for Astra Inclinant — I didn’t, because a manual would have given me very wooden, formal-sounding examples of “motorcycle language”. Instead, I went into online forums to read the casual discussions between motorcycle riders trying to repair their bikes. This gave me very authentic, realistic examples of how people might think or talk during the motorcycle repair scenes. I used more formal sources to understand how motorcycles worked, but I drew on the forums for the dialogue and ‘feel’ of the scenes.

Anyway.

So you can see the thought that goes into word choice and descriptions. In a romantic world, I’d no doubt gaze dreamily into my imagination and then type out a perfect description. Whereas in reality, I begin with “James leaned on a tree” and then spend 30 minutes revising that and frowning at stock images of crows until I get to:

“James leaned against a young aspen tree, and tilted his head back as he listened to Scorpius talk. Beneath his fingers, the bark felt smooth and thin as parchment. Overhead, sunlight played through green leaves. A starling flitted from branch to branch.

He wished this summer would last forever.”

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Something that’s been really pissing me off lately

The fact that Namjoon had to turn around and look at the screen to see what member the crowd was cheering for— like he must I have thought “there is no way they are screaming for me like that.” — and the face he made when he realized the screams were for him.

That broke my heart that Namjoon is used to people not cheering just as loud for him. He looked so shocked when he realized those cheers were for him.

Some of you really have the nerve to call yourself an army and not cheer for Namjoon? Stop lying to yourself you’re not a part of army.

The fact that he has to encourage people to sing along— you’re pathetic for not doing so in the first place

Namjoon should be getting loud cheers just like all the others, he shouldn’t have to tell people multiple times to sing with him at a concert.

Namjoon has done so fucking much for us and if you don’t appreciate him you are not part of this fandom— there are literally two requirements to be an Army

~ Love all 7 equally

~ enjoy the music

It’s not that fucking hard.

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calum hood deserves the world

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Nerve || Crush Imagine

Pairing : you / your crush

Warnings : Cursing (as usual)

Word count : 907

✩

The wind rushes through my hair as Haley speeds down the road, the stars twinkling above us.

Ashley turns her phone towards me, "Guys, this is y/n! Aka the Calum to my Luke!!"

I smile at her camera knowing that over 7 thousand people are watching me from their phones currently.

She turns the camera to Calleigh and continues on introducing us to the new viewers.

Haley suddenly lets out a weird noise, "I need chicken nuggets right now!"

"Heyy! Stop at McDonald's! I want a frappe!" Ashley screams from the back of the old yellow convertible, as if she wasn't loud enough already.

"Kk"

A couple minutes later, Haley is pulling up to order and also turning down Ashley's music, which mainly consists of the high school musical soundtrack.

"Aww come on bro, I was about to get lit!"

Haley quickly orders and the voice on the other side confirms her order.

Ashley turns the music back up and starts screaming to her viewers. "Okay guys, give me some more dares. I'm feeling it tonight!"

"Okay, we're going with Suzy's dare! Calleigh, you have to text your crush right now and tell him that he "makes you feel some type of way"! Do it, come on!"

I laugh at her as Haley pulls up to the window. I look over to make direct eye contact with the most attractive guy ever. Okay. Well maybe not ever, but you get the point. His dirty blond hair is messed up perfectly and his dark blue eyes are illuminated under the light of the McDonalds sign. Basically all that cliche twilight stuff packed into one scene. I need to take action right now before I miss my shot.

Taking a deep breath I lean over Haley, halting her from driving away.

"This is going to be super rushed, but can I get your number?" I search for his name tag, "Y/c?"

I smile and hope my awkwardness isn't shining through too badly.

He looks kind of hesitant, but then smiles and the cutest thing happens. His cheeks turn a light shade of red and a dimple appears on his left cheek. Even in the darkness I can see he's flustered.

"Uh, yeah." He looks quickly around the small compartment he's working in and grabs a pen. He looks up, his cheeks still burning bright and smiles, "Uh, your name?"

"Y/n." I smile back kind of freaking out, but trying not to show it since my friends are around. Gotta maintain that rebellious reputation I've got.

He nods, smiling and starts to write on a napkin.

I'm suddenly pulled out of my trance when I hear Ashley’s screams from the backseat.

"Oh my gosh guys, Y/n is literally getting someone's number right now!" She points the camera at me. And what a scene. I'm basically over top of Haley, spread out across the front seats.

I wave at the Camera and y/c looks up confused, but laughs when he sees the phone in Ashley’s hands.

He holds up the napkin and I lean out of the window to grab it, but he pulls it back.

"You better actually text me. It’s not everyday a pretty girl asks for my number." He slips the napkin into my hand and now it's my turn to blush.

"Oh trust me, I'll be making use of this.” I wink trying to be flirty but most likely end up looking like I just got a raindrop in my eye or something.

He smiles back and Ashley suddenly screeches in the backseat, laughing hysterically.

"You just got a new dare Y/n! Ruby says, "kiss him!" Ha, you have to do it or you'll break your dare streak!"

Well shit. My eyes widen in terror, but I keep myself calm and shrug my shoulders. I look over at y/c who looks just as flabbergasted as I feel on the inside. He quickly puts his calm demeanor back on and puckers his lips jokingly.

Everybody in the yellow car is either screaming or laughing and its really distracting.

I quickly set the napkin down and pull myself towards Haleys window, almost sitting on her lap. I lean out the window and towards y/c, who also leans out of his window. He sets his hand underneath my chin and guides my lips towards his as I quickly slip my arms around his neck.

His lips press to mine hesitantly at first, but as our lips move in sync the sparks start to fly. The hooting and hollering never dies down as I wrap my arms tighter around his neck and he pulls me closer. Both of us leaning into the kiss, needing more. The sting of the kiss is still on my lips as I pull away, needing air. He positions himself back in his window, cheeks burning bright, lips swollen and tries to act casual.

I prop my elbows up on the door and Ashley starts freaking the fuck out. "Shit, it looks like they both want a round two."

My cheeks burn again as a car horn suddenly goes off. Everyone jumps and turns to see a white minivan with a very angry looking middle aged woman behind the wheel.

Well shit.

Haley starts laughing hysterically while pushing me back into my seat.

"Make sure you call me!" Is the last thing I hear as Haley speeds up to the next window.

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Not just another high school play || Crush Imagine

Pairing : you / your crush

Warnings : cursing (will probs be in all of my imagines sorry), light fluff, mushy stuff (ish)

Word count : 1,295

✩

The paintbrush accidentally falls from my hand and onto the stage with a plop. Oh shit! I run to the supply closet and grab drop cloths to wipe it up with quickly, looking around to make sure my director isn't witnessing the mess that is me.

Not just another high school play. That's the high school play were doing this year. And I, as lucky as I am, am playing the part of actress number one while also living a double life as the set design manager.

Today is the day before the first show and everyone's freaking out, as per usual. Most people are back stage, getting fitted and practicing their lines. Some are even getting their makeup done already. But me, yes, me, I'm the only one actually doing anything productive. There was a last minute mix up and I have to repaint a whole slide, by myself. Well, for now. Y/f should be here anytime to take over for me so I can go get ready.

Y/c, my crush who works in the construction area (ik hot) walks by to see me cleaning the floor suspiciously and laughs.

"Aw, did you drop another paint brush?" He's teasing me, obviously. That's what we have, a love hate relationship.

"Possibly." I avoid eye contact at all costs. Behind his chunky glasses, he has these bright green eyes and I just know that if I look up I might start stuttering again. And how pathetic would that be?

"Clumsy clumsy y/n" he tsks, shaking his head disapprovingly before leaving me alone on the stage.

I let out a sigh of relief when he's finally gone, happy I made it through that without completely embarrassing myself. Adding the finishing touches to the slide, I nod in approval. The doors to the school suddenly fly open and I glance over to see who entered.

One look at the duo and I'm gone. Bolting, I run backstage. I slightly open the door and slide in to see that it's completely empty.

Where the legit fuck did everyone go? No joke, five seconds ago everyone was back here. It was so crowded I could barely move, or breath really!

As if reading my thoughts, Y/c suddenly appears next to me, leaning up against the hallway wall, "Most of them moved to the hallway by the locker room because it was too crowded."

"Ohh, and where did Miss Fille go?" I lean back against the wall opposite him, so that we're facing each other.

"She went to get pizza."

"Finally, I'm so hungry I could eat a small animal." 

He's laughing when I hear the voice of my worst enemy from outside of the hallway. Whom I may have possibly pissed off earlier today and am now completely ignoring. Thus the running away from the stage.

"Oh shit." I crack the door to the makeup closet and turn around to face my handsome companion, "I'm not here."

"Wait what?" With a confused look on his face, he approaches the closet, where I'm trying to hide.

"Kaitie an-"

I'm cut off my the sound of the door knob jiggling.

"No time to explain." I grab his hand and pull him into the closet, shutting the door softly behind me.

"Ya know, if you wanted to be in a closet alone with me you could've just waited until later. Logan's hav-"

"Shhh," I press my finger against his lips. His soft, plump, luxurious, dang it I'm off task again! That's when it hits me what he just said, "wait what?" I whisper.

"I may have possibly asked Logan to rig the games at his party tonight so we could be together."

"What, why?" Even though he can't see me, I hope my cheeks aren't completely red from the news that he might actually like me.

"Y/n, I really like you."

"Really?"

"A lot actually."

The smile spreads on my face by accident and I can feel my cheeks turning red.

"I like you too."

"Seriously? Like you're not just messing with me?" He comes to life beside me and for a second I forget why were here in the first place.

Giggling to myself I slightly shush him, "No, I'm not messing with you. I just didn't think you liked me back."

His hand reaches out to grab mine and I can't help the butterflies filling my stomach as he intertwines our fingers. He tugs on my hand to pull me closer and my the smile on my face turns into an ear to ear grin.

One hand around my waist and the other intertwined with mine, he leans in, his lips just barely hovering over mine when I lean in to meet him in the middle.

My lips crash into his and the fireworks start exploding. Not literally, but you get what I'm saying. Our lips move in sync, slow and soft, almost like we're testing the waters. I let go of his hand and wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He moves his hands down to my waist, goosebumps appear on my skin as he pulls me against him.

The kiss intensifies as his tongue slips into my mouth. I absent mindlessly moan into the kiss and this clearly gives him some confidence as he detaches our lips and starts to leave rough kisses on my neck. I try my hardest not to moan, knowing anybody could be outside of the closet. Though this proves difficult as he starts to nibble on the sensitive skin. I run my fingers through his hair and tug slightly at his blond ends, earning a groan in return.

Our lips reconnect and we're both leaning into each other, needing more. My back hits one of the closet walls with a soft 'oomph' as he leans over me, supported by the wall behind me.

He's pushed up against me and yet my arms are wrapped around his neck, deepening the kiss. An accidental moan slips out of my mouth when we're so rudely interrupted.

"Pizzas here!" It's Nate, and he sounds far away but that's how it works when you have a loud voice.

We pull apart and I make sure to tug on his bottom lip with my teeth slightly.

He groans, leaning down to leave butterfly kisses on my neck.

"So, Logan's party..." He mumbles it between kisses and I don't have to see his face to know there's a joking smirk etched across it.

“Maybe we should think about how were gonna get out of here before we start thinking about that." I whisper lightly.

He mumbles an agreement against my neck and the vibrations send chills through my body.

Beep beep

He pulls away and rests an arm on the wall behind me, propping himself up to watch me pull my phone out.

I squint at the bright light but see I have multiple messages from Lexie

From: Y/f

Um, where are you?

From: Y/f

I'm just going to start putting things up, you finished the slide??

From: Y/f

Okay so Kaitie says you were here but then randomly disappeared, are you okay? Were you kidnapped?????

"Follow me, I think I've got this." He grabs my hand and creeps the door open slightly. Looking through the crack, he decides it's good enough and opens the door wide enough for us to get out.

Nobody is backstage, they’re probably eating pizza or something. Still holding my hand, he starts to lead me out of the drama hallway when I catch my reflection in the mirror in the prop room.

My hair is okay but my face is completely flushed and my lips are obviously swollen. The icing on the cake is the small, purple mark on my neck. Just great.