keyboardandquill

[keyboardandquill]

yes

Fuckkkk how long are chapters

[keyboardandquill]

I'm sorry your writing strategy is WHAT?? I'm going to need a thorough explanation of this because I'm FASCINATED

[brian murphy voice] I DIDNT SAY ANYTHING WEIRD!!!

okay i did. but also! if it ain’t broke…

here’s how this crumbles cookie-wise. sometimes (as is currently the case) i feel like i am trying to hold onto a whole novel in my brain at once. this does not feel particularly good because the novel doesn’t belong in my brain it belongs Out There. so i make a very detailed outline and then i start at chapter 1, and i write to 100 words (give or take a few). then i move on to chapter 2 and write to 100 words. then to chapter 3 and so on until i have at least 100 words in each chapter. then once i’ve run through the whole book, i go back to the beginning and make sure each chapter is up to 200. then i’m usually in the Meat of each scene so i’ll get everything up to 500, then 1000, then 1500 and then usually i clock out of chapters around or just under the 2k mark.

this appeases the hyperactive part of my brain by making sure i’m never bored, and helps the project manager in my brain so i can keep track of many moving parts in the novel and also ensures that scenes at the end speak to scenes at the beginning since i’m (sort of) writing the whole book at once.

NOTE: sometimes i get lost in the sauce and write way past 100 or wherever im at, and that’s fine. it just means i probably skip that chapter during my next pass since it’ll be past my goal wc for each chapter of the run.

that is all. try it, if you want. i honestly don’t know how to write books any other way

[keyboardandquill]

So Source is like, a pseudo-magical force basically. It's a type of energy that humanity discovered under the earth's crust when they finally broke through to the mantle layer and were getting really weird readings and eventually they figured out it was something they hadn't really encountered before!

It's a science fantasy story because it plays with a lot of fantasy tropes, but in a scientific/futuristic type setting with a few sci-fi tropes thrown in as well. :D

Basically I found the term Athenaeum back when I was figuring out what to call the buried library (which evolved into the Athenaeum network I mentioned as I did more worldbuilding), and "athenaeum" was a synonym. So it's technically named after Athena in that it's named after Athens I guess xD

And, I did see that graphic on my dash, yeah! I did some spitballing with my brother-in-law, who's writing his own fantasy story, about different modes of travel. He suggested sand speeders like in Star Wars and I was like yknow? That might be perfect actually! I haven't done a lot of thinking on it since then though. Other projects taking up my attention, etc. xP

Happy WBW! 🌍 What piece of your world would you say you've done the most work on, and what piece would you like to work on a little more?

Happy WBW! In the world of my distant-future post-apoc science fantasy story Athenaeum, I've done the most worldbuilding on the events that led up to the cataclysm that nearly destroyed humanity. I've got a whole folder in my story wiki about the discovery of Source power, the eras of how it was used/controlled by people, the different factions that vied for power, and how/why that ultimately led to disaster.

I'd like to work a little bit more on the titular Athenaeum itself, which is a dormant global network of Source-powered nodes that has been hidden for a thousand years underground. I know a lot about it but I want to figure out the best way for my characters to discover/interact with it!

I'd also like to work on the geography a bit more, and figure out better travel methods than just walking because the society in my story has reached a fairly advanced state again after rebuilding everything.

Thank you for the ask! :3

[keyboardandquill]

How do the seasons work in your world? How do your characters celebrate the changing of the seasons?

I haven't given a lot of thought yet to weather in Athenaeum, but the weather in Rocket Boosters is pretty integral to the main plot/themes of the story so we'll go with that!

Rocket Boosters is set in a nearish-future where the climate crisis has gone unchecked, and the freakish weather we're seeing even now has escalated to the point where 'seasonal weather' no longer corresponds to the calendar. We've got 'autumn weather' going into January, we've got really bad rainstorms in what used to be the hot months, we've got scorching heat in what used to be the temperate months.

The people in the area where the story takes place don't celebrate the changing of the seasons so much as Prepare for what's ahead. Repairs are made to food storage facilities, the back-up greenhouses are checked for structural integrity, and there are a lot of amateur meteorologists out there keeping a constant eye on the quickly-changing weather patterns that plague the desert and its surrounding areas. They do celebrate the first harvest of their quickest-growing crops, though, because it means they'll have food to wait out the inevitable storm that's just around the corner :D

Thank you for the ask!

[keyboardandquill]

Happy WBW! 🌍 What piece of your world would you say you've done the most work on, and what piece would you like to work on a little more?

Happy WBW! In the world of my distant-future post-apoc science fantasy story Athenaeum, I've done the most worldbuilding on the events that led up to the cataclysm that nearly destroyed humanity. I've got a whole folder in my story wiki about the discovery of Source power, the eras of how it was used/controlled by people, the different factions that vied for power, and how/why that ultimately led to disaster.

I'd like to work a little bit more on the titular Athenaeum itself, which is a dormant global network of Source-powered nodes that has been hidden for a thousand years underground. I know a lot about it but I want to figure out the best way for my characters to discover/interact with it!

I'd also like to work on the geography a bit more, and figure out better travel methods than just walking because the society in my story has reached a fairly advanced state again after rebuilding everything.

Thank you for the ask! :3

[keyboardandquill]

Work training is super boring! Time for WORLDBUILING WEDNESDAY

reblog this post if you want asks!

[keyboardandquill]

Reading dialogue of the way people actually talk would be tedious. Stylized speech is good and fine for the sake of story actually

writing dialogue is easy until you realize real people don’t actually talk like your characters

[keyboardandquill]

EmberWrite Beta Testing is open!

For the past few months I've been part of the alpha (and then the beta) testing for EmberWrite, and it's been a lot of fun! I've enjoyed putting it through its paces, giving feedback, and seeing a lot of that feedback implemented.

The beta is now open for general sign-ups, and there's a server to hang out in where you can give your feedback, make feature suggestions, and connect with other writers!

Check it out!

ps this isn't sponsored or anything I've just enjoyed being part of this process :)

[keyboardandquill]

Showing 'Anticipation' in Writing

Fingers tapping rhythmically on a surface.

Shifting weight from one foot to the other.

Checking the time frequently.

Eyes darting to the door or window expectantly.

Taking deep, excited breaths.

Biting the lower lip in nervous excitement.

Rubbing hands together eagerly.

Whispering, “I can’t wait” to themselves or others.

Fidgeting with objects, like twisting a ring or playing with a pen.

Heart pounding with eagerness.

Perking up at any noise that might signal the anticipated event.

Smiling slightly, as if imagining the future moment.

Knees bouncing up and down while seated.

Glancing at their phone or watch repeatedly.

Clutching a piece of clothing or accessory tightly.

Standing on tiptoe to get a better view.

Ears straining to catch any sound.

Swallowing nervously, throat dry with excitement.

Humming or softly singing to pass the time.

Practicing a speech or action they are looking forward to.

[keyboardandquill]

[keyboardandquill]

OC Alphabet Soup

Send me a letter of the alphabet A-Z, and if I have an OC starting with that letter, I'll tell about them.

[keyboardandquill]

If it doesn’t impact the rest of the story, you didn’t raise the stakes

              I recently went back to a chapter at the midpoint of my novel and changed a huge detail of it because I thought it didn’t raise the stakes enough as it was. Because of this change, I had to go through every single scene and chapter beyond that point and edit it to fit in and make sense. It was annoying, but that’s how I knew I achieved what I wanted to.

              Raised stakes change everything about a story.

              If your characters can continue on as they were, then you didn’t really raise the stakes at all. This heightened pressure or danger has to be heightened enough that their lives as they know them are different now.

              Consider this: at the midpoint, you introduce a mutated form of a monster your characters have been facing that’s more deadly and intelligent than its predecessor. It’s a super scary scene, but after that, your characters go back to their safe house to talk over how best to kill it.

              Suddenly, this new monster doesn’t feel as much of a threat. It’s just another element of the same threat they’ve already been facing.

              To properly use this element as a way to raise the stakes, it should take away something the characters rely on—safety, allies, powers, etc. Something they can’t get back, and don’t get back for the rest of the story. They now have to adapt to new circumstances, and things will never be as easy for them again.

              So maybe instead, they flee to their safe house only to discover that it’s no longer safe—the monster is smart enough to get through their hidden entrance and corner them. Now they’re stuck out in the open, taking turns keeping watch and slowly deteriorating to sleeplessness and stress.

              That’s a delicious steak.

[keyboardandquill]

“Silver, gold, riches beyond your wildest dreams!” the portalkeeper called as I passed. He held out a handful of shiny metal tokens in demonstration.

“More like pyrite, tin, and debt beyond all comprehension,” I muttered as I kept walking. I’d been warned about the scammers in this realm.

---

1 Year of Flash Fiction | day 1/365

[keyboardandquill]

what if I wrote a little daily flash fiction thingy for a year. maybe i'll do it.

I'm gonna use the tag #1 Year of Flash Fiction

please feel free to join me if you want :3

starting today btw

[keyboardandquill]

The patron

The alien came to the library again, shortly before closing time, and quickly found a book.

"May this entity borrow The Complete History of Knitting?"

They always return the book they borrow after five minutes, but the ritual of checking it out seems important to them. 

"Of course. Did you bring your card?"

I looked them up, after the first time I saw them for real. They first registered with us over ninety years ago. The senior librarian who first told me about them said I shouldn't stare, or pry.

"Whatever else they are, they are a patron, and should be treated as such," she said. "If they seek knowledge, it is our duty to help them find it."

There isn't an ancient and secret code of librarians, but that is definitely a core part of it. If such a code existed.

I scan the card and the book. "There you go," I say and hand them over. "Please return it within two weeks."

They tilt their head. "This entity will honour your terms."

"Oh! That reminds me, we have updated the terms since your last visit." I hand them the pamphlet we got from the printers last week. "It's mostly about internet usage, but I'll need you to read them and agree."

They study the pamphlet.

"These are terms this entity can abide by." They pause. "Is there no requirement to keep your existence secret?"

"Of course not," I say, "we always welcome new patrons."

They stand silent, long enough for me to realise the implications of what I have just said. 

"This entity had made an assumption, based on prior experiences on countless worlds, where knowledge is always closely guarded and costly to obtain" they say at last. "You will provide knowledge for free to all who seek it?"

In my mind, I weigh humanity's ignorance of those countless worlds of alien civilisations against the code.

"Yes," I say, "this is a library."

[keyboardandquill]

One of my favourite questions for figuring out a character’s motivations is which qualities they most fear being assigned to them. Are they afraid (consciously or unconsciously) of being seen as stupid? Ungrateful? Weak? Incompetent? Lazy? Cowardly? Intimidating? Like they actually care? etc.

It’s such a fun way to explore into who they are, why they do what they do, what they don’t do out of fear, and how they might be affected by the events of the story. And I love when characters have negative motivations—trying to avoid something (in this case, being seen a particular way) as much as they’re trying to achieve a goal.

[keyboardandquill]

May I ask the software you use to write?

Congratulations on getting so much done!

Thank you so much. And, of course.

I use the Reedsy Book Editor for all of my writing projects, and I've been using it for about three years now. I also have experience with other amazing softwares, and I would love to create more tutorials on them if you need me to.

Here's a quick tutorial on how to use the Reedsy Book Editor.

When you visit the website, the first thing you'll come across is this page. It's a completely free writing tool with a fantastic interface. All you need to do is sign up with your Google or Facebook account.

After you've completed the sign-up process and provided some information about yourself, you will be directed to this page. Please locate the "Books" option in the website's header.

Feel free to give your book/WIP (Work in progress) a title. Remember, it's okay if it's not your final title, as you can always change it in the settings of your book later.

Once you've created it, you can take your time and when you're ready, you can click "Write.”

Once you click "Write," you'll be directed to the next page. There, you'll find your chapters, the space to write your manuscript, and a sidebar with various helpful features provided by Reedsy.

Then, you can choose any name for your chapter that feels meaningful to you.

You can also track your writing goals for your specific manuscript or book. This feature provides insights into your writing habits, such as the days you've written and the number of words you've written. You can also set a target word count goal for the manuscript, and you also have the option to set manual writing goals. Additionally, you can check the word count in your current chapter from the bottom of the widget.

You have the option to set a deadline and choose the days that work best for you to write. This will help Reedsy estimate a realistic word count goal for you.

Remember that on Reedsy, there's a new beta feature that allows you to plan and outline your novel without having to leave the website. It offers note cards for you to jot down the plot and scenes from your novel, which can serve as a helpful guide and provide a simple outline to support your writing process.

Also, don’t forget the various features available to you when creating your book in Reedsy. For instance, you have the option to include preset formatted pages such as a dedication page and an epigraph that resonates with your story. These features can add a lot of value to your book, and I encourage you to explore them further.

Hopefully this can help you understand the basics of Reedsy Book Editor. One of my favorite writing softwares that is completely FREE!

Hey fellow writers! I'm super excited to share that I've launched a Tumblr community. I'm inviting all of you to join my community. All you have to do is fill out this Google form, and I'll personally send you an invitation to join the Write Right Society on Tumblr! Can't wait to see your posts!