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this comic panel is giving the 'lets take ibuprofen together' meme

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How to Stop Hating Everything You Write

1. Don't be afraid of making mistakes.

Quit judging yourself for every mistake you make along the way. Whether you're writing fiction, fanfiction, or nonfiction, just write. If you can't correct your errors as you go, that's okay. When I don't have the brainpower to multitask, I focus on the writing stage one step at a time. Just write!

2. Don't aim for perfection.

"It's not ready if it's not perfect." That's a lie. When you're in the process of writing, it's best to concentrate on getting your thoughts on paper.

3. Seek feedback and learn to receive it.

Join lively communities with active writers or forums that host events inviting writers to share their work for critique. Not every critique is constructive; learn to discern which feedback to take on board and which to ignore.

4. Read, read, read.

You can't give what you don't have. You learn a lot from reading similar pieces in your chosen genre. Reading is also a source of inspiration that fuels your writing process.

5. Cut yourself some slack.

Writing is no small feat. It takes talent to formulate a story with your mind and skill to visualize it for others to see. Do you love writing? Then keep doing it because it takes practice.

Looking for a supportive community dedicated to helping you grow as a writer? Join the Writers Universe server and thrive!

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you ever start describing a character and accidentally give them an entire anthropology backstory? like, why does this random baker suddenly have a tragic past involving forbidden love, a war, and a cursed necklace? who is this for?

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Quick Writing Tip: Make a Note to Your Future Self in Your WIP

This one saves me on the regular. When you’re done with your writing session, make a note to yourself in your document about what you were working on and what you intend to do the next time you open your WIP. It helps if you make this note right at the spot you were working on, and another reminder at the top of the document. I like to change the font color and increase the size so I see it right away the next time I open my document.

You might not always go back to what you were working on before. But this trick can save you a lot of time reading through your WIP and trying to remember where you were going. Plus it can keep your WIP from becoming a giant mess of half-started ideas and editing tweaks.

Some examples of recent notes I’ve made to myself in my WIP:

“…working on adding more detail to the dormitory scene. Two more paragraphs to go… left off HERE.”

“…got confused about the layout of the house and stopped to make a map. Refer to map and finish editing this scene.”

“…changing scene from past to present tense… left off HERE”

“…finish writing the breakfast scene”

At the very least, making a note to yourself will give you a clear direction the next time you approach your WIP. If you choose not to follow it, that’s fine, but it’s nice to have the option, and it only takes a few seconds to jot down a reminder to yourself.

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Your First Draft Can Be Amazing

I know, that's not what I'm supposed to say, right? I'm supposed to tell you it's okay if it sucks. Well, there's enough people telling you that, and I don't want you thinking you have to hate it.

It can be amazing. It can be the most wondrous feeling as a new story slowly reveals itself to you. You can laugh and cry and rage and sing as it comes together on pages, created from your mind, your thoughts given form.

It won't be perfect. The second draft will be better, the third improve even on that.

But it can be good and even if it's not, you are allowed to love it.

It's your baby after all.

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‪@DEADLINE: Anthony Mackie gives shoutout to Sebastian Stan at #GoldenGlobes : “We’re still friends 🫶”‬

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Writing the five senses: Taste

Taste is a convention that shockingly few writers use in their work. It is, in part, due to how limiting it can be as a descriptor. However, there are plenty of workarounds that will keep your readers immersed and help them understand your meaning.

Use texture

One of the most important parts of any food is its texture. Many of us (myself included) are very sensitive to texture, and it is the first thing we notice when we try a new dish. So, when describing what a character is eating, describe how it might feel. Is it chewy? Tough? Smooth and runny? Dry? Crumbly? Is it warm or cold? How easy is it to chew? While this can make readers uncomfortable if used at length, a few quick descriptions can help make your writing more realistic.

Figurative language: the simile

Has a friend ever told you that a dish they ate "tastes like chicken"? You can use similes like that in your writing, too. Maybe an exotic fruit tastes "as sweet as a grape," or "feels like chewing on leather." Both of these are great examples of simile and give your readers a better understanding of what you're trying to describe.

Emotional/physical reactions

Sometimes, a food is so bad that it elicits a strong physical or emotional response. If you eat something that tastes like dirt, your first instinct might be to spit it out and complain about the bad flavor. Realistic characters can respond this way, too. The same can be said for delicious foods. Your characters might close their eyes while savoring a food, vocalize their delight, or use another physical signal to explain how they feel.

Try it yourself!

If you're having trouble writing a character's reaction to a particularly strong-tasting food, try eating it yourself! Or, if you don't have access to the specific food, eat something that you think might elicit a similar reaction. I don't recommend eating something you despise, but if you're truly desperate, it can be a quick solution.

This is not a comprehensive list, nor is it a set of rules. Lots of my suggestions are things that have worked for me in the past, so maybe they'll help you, too! As always, do what you think is best for your writing. Let me know if you try any of these!

Have a writing question? Send me an ask!

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Sometimes, you need to stop to move forward

The best way to overcome writers block is to stop. If you simply can’t be creative, just stop trying and do something else.

Go for a walk. Do some chores. Drink your favourite beverage and listen to some music. Read a book or watch a film. Creativity often strikes when we least expect it.

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A Gallery of Jordan

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was established in 1946, but the region has a history stretching back thousands of years. From the megalithic dolmens through the rise of cities, the reign of the Akkadian Empire, and on through the Kingdom of Nabatea and annexation by Rome, Jordan is among the most historically significant regions in the world.

Amman, the capital city of modern-day Jordan, dates to c. 7500 BCE, and archeological excavations in the Black Desert unearthed remains of charred bread dated to c. 11,600 BCE, suggesting Jordan as the region where bread was first baked (though this claim has been challenged). The oldest dam on earth is the Saad Jawa Dam, dated to c. 3000 BCE (though the oldest still in use is Lake Homs Dam in Syria), and there are over 100,000 other archeological sites throughout the region, including Petra, easily the most famous, which was popularized by the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Equally famous, at least in some quarters, is the ancient site of Qumran, where, in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Jordan is also well-known from the many references to it in the Bible; 180 times in the Old Testament and 15 times in the New Testament.

The following gallery presents a brief sample of some of the most striking images of Jordan, illustrating its impressive past and the diversity of those who lived, and still live, in the region.

Continue reading…

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GUARDIANS OF THE DAFENG 大奉打更人 (2024) Dir. Deng Ke – EP. 1

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Little Malvern, Worcestershire, England

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OP found a much easier way to write couplets for the Chinese New Year, if people are not good at using calligraphy brush, this way can make their calligraphy looks a lot better (cr 马颖慧书法）

Adding a cup to the beauty egg will make it even easier and more stable

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Writing Codependent Characters

Codependency

The state of being mutually reliant (e.g., a relationship between two individuals who are emotionally dependent on one another).

A dysfunctional relationship pattern in which an individual is psychologically dependent on (or controlled by) a person who has a substance use or non-substance-related disorder (e.g., alcohol use disorder, gambling disorder).

Signs of Codependency

Some things found to correlate with codependency include (Marks et al., 2012):

Low self-esteem

Low levels of narcissism

Familial dysfunction

Depression

Anxiety

Stress

Low emotional expressivity

Other signs of codependency (Lancer, 2016; Mental Health America, n.d.):

Having a hard time saying no

Having poor boundaries

Showing emotional reactivity

Feeling compelled to take care of people

Having a need for control, especially over others

Having trouble communicating honestly

Fixating on mistakes

Feeling a need to be liked by everyone

Feeling a need to always be in a relationship

Denying one’s own needs, thoughts, and feelings

Having intimacy issues

Confusing love and pity

Displaying fear of abandonment

Differentiate between a Healthy & a Codependent Relationship

In a healthy relationship, both individuals have a sense of autonomy and independence. Both are able to maintain their own identities while still being connected to their partner.

While in a codependent relationship, one person may sacrifice their own needs and wants in order to please their partner, or they may become overly enmeshed and lose a sense of self.

Additionally, in a codependent relationship, there is often an imbalance of power, with one person being overly controlling or dominant.

Overcoming Codependency

Research has been conducted into group, individual, and family therapy modalities for overcoming codependency, with one systematic review showing a significant reduction in symptoms when long-term post-intervention follow-ups were conducted (Abadi et al., 2015).

The main emphasis of these various treatment modalities is on altering how the codependent person views themselves and their relationships.

This can involve interventions with various (or numerous) goals:

Building Self-Esteem. Low self-esteem is a well-established symptom of codependency (Cermak, 1986; Whitfield, 1991). Building the codependent person’s self-esteem is a main focus of many counseling interventions, with evidence supporting their efficacy (Abadi et al., 2015).

Improving Boundary Setting. Weak or unclear boundaries are another reason codependent people are often willing to compromise their personal needs and happiness to satisfy a partner. Interventions aimed at building self-awareness, self-expression, and communication skills can help an individual’s ability to set and enforce healthy boundaries (Abadi et al., 2015).

Encouraging Self Care. Boundary-setting is just one form of self-care. People with codependent tendencies can also benefit from learning to prioritize their self-care, needs, and happiness before taking care of others (Beattie, 2008).

Originally, “the term ‘codependent’ described persons living with, or in a relationship with an addicted person” (Lampis et al., 2017).

A psychological construct involving an unhealthy relationship that people might share with those closest to them.

It was originally thought to involve families of substance abuse but has since grown to include other types of dysfunctional relationships.

Modern understandings of codependency: “a specific relationship addiction characterized by preoccupation and extreme dependence—emotional, social and sometimes physical—on another person” (Lampis et al., 2017).

The concept of codependency does still apply to families with substance abuse issues but is also used to refer to other situations too.

The main consequence of codependency is that “[c]odependents, busy taking care of others, forget to take care of themselves, resulting in a disturbance of identity development” (Knudson & Terrell, 2012).

To sum up, codependency is a psychological concept that refers to people who feel extreme amounts of dependence on certain loved ones in their lives, and feel responsible for the feelings and actions of those loved ones.

Codependency is not recognized as a distinct personality disorder by the DSM-5.

That said, research shows that while codependency does overlap with other personality disorders, it appears to constitute a distinct psychological construct. The best way to learn about codependency is to review some signs of codependency (examples above).

Sources: 1 2 ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

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Vintage cocktail napkins 🍸

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Cnetizens post old photos of their parents, grandparents and family

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THOR: RAGNAROK (2017) dir. Taika Waititi

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12 Red Herrings to Keep Your Readers Distracted

I’ve seen mystery/thriller authors use the same handful of red herrings too many times to count. So here are some (hopefully not as common) red herrings for your writing. 

1. The Unreliable Narrator's Bias

Your narrator can play favourites and scheme and twist the way your readers interpret the story. Use this to your advantage! A character portrayed as untrustworthy can really be someone innocent the narrator framed, vice versa. 

2. The Loyal Traitor

A character with a history of betrayal or questionable loyalty is an obvious suspect. They did it once, they could do it again, right? Wrong! They’ve actually changed and the real traitor is someone you trusted. 

3. The Conflicted Expert

An expert—like a detective, scientist, or historian—analyses a piece of evidence. They’re ultimately wrong, either due to bias, missing data, or pressure to provide quick answers.

4. The Overly Competent Ally

You know that one sidekick or ally who’s somehow always ahead of the curve? They’re just really knowledgeable, your characters know this, but it makes it hard to trust them. Perfection is suspicious! But in this case, they’re actually just perfect. 

5. The Misleading Emotional Clue

Maybe one of your characters is seen crying, angry, or suspiciously happy after xyz event. Characters suspect them, but turns out they’re just having a personal issue. (People have lives outside of yours MC smh). Or it could be a cover-up. 

6. A Misleading Alibi

At first this character’s alibi seems perfect but once the protag digs into it, it has a major hole/lie. Maybe they were in a different location or the person they claimed to be with was out of town. 

7. The Odd Pattern

Have a seemingly significant pattern—symbols left at crime scenes, items stolen in a specific order, crimes on specific dates. Then make it deliberately planted to mislead.

8. The Misinterpreted Relationship

A character was secretly close to a victim/suspect, making them a suspect. Turns out they were hiding a completely unrelated secret; an affair, hidden family connection, etc.

9. A Forgotten Grudge

Create a grudge or past feud and use it to cast suspicion on an innocent character. Introducing an aspect of their past also helps flesh out their character and dynamics as a group + plant distrust. 

10. The Faked Death

Luke Castellan, need I say more (I will)? A supposedly innocent character dies, but turns out they faked it and were never a victim in the first place. They just needed to be out of the picture. 

11. The Mistaken Eavesdropper 

A character overhears a threat, argument, etc. They suspect B based on this convo, but turns out they just came to a false conclusion. (Or did they?)

12. The Forgetful Alibi 

Someone confesses to hearing/seeing a clue, but turns out they were mistaken. Maybe they thought they heard a certain ringtone, or saw xyz which C always wears, but their memory was faulty or influenced by stress.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!

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