#Creative writing

[sourdough-seal]

“omg you’re so creative. how do you get your ideas” i hallucinate a single scene in the taco bell drive thru and then spend 13 months trying to write it

[novlr]

Don't wait to write. Just start.

Don’t wait until your idea feels “good enough” to start writing. There is no such this as the perfect idea, or the perfect time.

The best stories often begin as messy, uncertain thoughts. Just a note in the margin of a notebook.

Start before you’re ready. The process of writing is how you figure out what you’re really trying to say. Clarity comes through the process, not before it.

[thewordsarestuckinmyhead]

me when the plot won't plot like it should

[literaryvein-reblogs]

some more commonly confused words

Aggravate - make something worse Irritate - to annoy

Alternate - to take turns Alternative - an option

Ambiguous - something unclear or vague Ambivalent - about something, you can take it or leave it

Aural - refers to the ear or hearing Oral - refers to the mouth or speaking Verbal - expressed in words, either spoken or written

Definitely - for emphasis Definitively - for the final say

Didactic - teaches a lesson Pedantic - just shows off the facts

Envy - when you want what someone else has Jealousy - when you’re worried someone’s trying to take what you have

Fortunate - lucky Fortuitous - by chance or accident

Gambit - a kind of sacrifice* Gamut - a range

Gibe - to sneer or heckle Jibe - to agree** (but, jibe is a variant spelling of gibe)

Historic - has a great importance to human history Historical - something is related to the past

Holistic - treatment of the whole person Holy - having a divine quality (e.g., related to a god)

Partially - implies bias in favor of one or the other Partly - more precise when portion or proportion is meant

Rob - focuses on the place or person from which the thing is taken Steal - focuses on the thing that is taken

Sound - something which you can hear Noise - when a sound is unwanted or unpleasant

Tortuous - marked by repeated twists, bends, or turns Torturous - describes something painful

Voracious - describes someone super hungry Veracious - means truthful

Who - acts (like "he" or "she") Whom - receives (like "him" or "her")

Wreck - to ruin something Wreak - to cause something to happen Reek - to smell bad

Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ⚜ More: Writing Basics ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

EDIT

*specifically: Gambit - a chess opening in which a player risks one or more pawns or a minor piece to gain an advantage in position

**in sailing: Jibe (US) or Gybe (Britain) - a sailing maneuver whereby a sailing craft reaching downwind turns its stern through the wind, which then exerts its force from the opposite side of the vessel

Thank you to @introvertia & @anumberofhobbies for these additions!

[tenderwatches]

sometimes you need dialogue tags and don't want to use the same four

[merlot-and-rainstorms]

The distant ocean of the tavern rose as the door opened. I grimaced, but looked up eagerly all the same—it was Morn. I froze. He grinned, giving a salute in greeting.

I raised my hand, haltingly, in return and gave a little wave. Would a smile—yes, a smile would be appropriate. A small one. That would be—but how would—nothing major, of course, just something simple, was the moment past? I dropped the attempt, the Weave too much of a muddle to produce anything decent, and Morn laughed a little, wandering closer.

--

"No need to thank me; I'm just happy it worked." Morn smiled, his humor recovering through the concern. "The Raven Queen must be fond of you, Gaul."

I breathed a laugh, turning my head aside a moment. "Must be..." There was a tremor in my hands as the nervous energy fled me, and I fought to still them, holding them close.

Morn looked at me, at Kari, at me again. He stood. "I should, ah...I need to go. Had a thing, uh...over there, need to... Have a good evening." He raised a hand in farewell, swiftly departing for the tavern.

"Oh, you...don't need to go," I said too late, and sighed.

- The Autobiography of Gayle Hunter // continue reading on AO3 or Wattpad

Honestly? My main piece of advice for writing well-rounded characters is to make them a little bit lame. No real living person is 100% cool and suave 100% of the time. Everyone's a little awkward sometimes, or gets too excited about something goofy, or has a silly fear, or laughs about stupid things. Being a bit of a loser is an incurable part of the human condition. Utilize that in your writing.

[moninils]

Cause of my insomnia number one:

[hayatheauthor]

100 Dialogue Tags You Can Use Instead of “Said”

For the writers struggling to rid themselves of the classic ‘said’. Some are repeated in different categories since they fit multiple ones (but those are counted once so it adds up to 100 new words). 

1. Neutral Tags 

Straightforward and unobtrusive dialogue tags: 

Added, Replied, Stated, Remarked, Responded, Observed, Acknowledged, Commented, Noted, Voiced, Expressed, Shared, Answered, Mentioned, Declared.

2. Questioning Tags 

Curious, interrogative dialogue tags:

Asked, Queried, Wondered, Probed, Inquired, Requested, Pondered, Demanded, Challenged, Interjected, Investigated, Countered, Snapped, Pleaded, Insisted.

3. Emotive Tags 

Emotional dialogue tags:

Exclaimed, Shouted, Sobbed, Whispered, Cried, Hissed, Gasped, Laughed, Screamed, Stammered, Wailed, Murmured, Snarled, Choked, Barked.

4. Descriptive Tags 

Insightful, tonal dialogue tags: 

Muttered, Mumbled, Yelled, Uttered, Roared, Bellowed, Drawled, Spoke, Shrieked, Boomed, Snapped, Groaned, Rasped, Purred, Croaked.

5. Action-Oriented Tags 

Movement-based dialogue tags: 

Announced, Admitted, Interrupted, Joked, Suggested, Offered, Explained, Repeated, Advised, Warned, Agreed, Confirmed, Ordered, Reassured, Stated.

6. Conflict Tags 

Argumentative, defiant dialogue tags:

Argued, Snapped, Retorted, Rebuked, Disputed, Objected, Contested, Barked, Protested, Countered, Growled, Scoffed, Sneered, Challenged, Huffed.

7. Agreement Tags 

Understanding, compliant dialogue tags: 

Agreed, Assented, Nodded, Confirmed, Replied, Conceded, Acknowledged, Accepted, Affirmed, Yielded, Supported, Echoed, Consented, Promised, Concurred.

8. Disagreement Tags 

Resistant, defiant dialogue tags: 

Denied, Disagreed, Refused, Argued, Contradicted, Insisted, Protested, Objected, Rejected, Declined, Countered, Challenged, Snubbed, Dismissed, Rebuked.

9. Confused Tags 

Hesitant, uncertain dialogue tags:

Stammered, Hesitated, Fumbled, Babbled, Mumbled, Faltered, Stumbled, Wondered, Pondered, Stuttered, Blurted, Doubted, Confessed, Vacillated.

10. Surprise Tags

Shock-inducing dialogue tags:

Gasped, Stunned, Exclaimed, Blurted, Wondered, Staggered, Marvelled, Breathed, Recoiled, Jumped, Yelped, Shrieked, Stammered.

Note: everyone is entitled to their own opinion. No I am NOT telling people to abandon said and use these. Yes I understand that said is often good enough, but sometimes you WANT to draw attention to how the character is speaking. If you think adding an action/movement to your dialogue is 'good enough' hate to break it to you but that ruins immersion much more than a casual 'mumbled'. And for the last time: this is just a resource list, CALM DOWN. Hope that covers all the annoyingly redundant replies :)

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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[chirp-a-chirp]

Good guy/girl characters are not automatically boring.

Evil characters don’t need to have nuances to justify reading them.

SAY IT LOUDER FOR THOSE IN THE BACK.

some of you think ‘nuanced’ only means ‘morally grey’ and I’m here to tell you that actually straight up good characters can still be nuanced and unapologetically evil characters can still be nuanced. the character doesn’t have to be an anti hero or morally dubious to have depth. they don’t even have to feel sorry about their crimes to have depth.

[sourdough-seal]

“how did you get into writing” girl nobody gets into writing. writing shows up one day at your door and gets into you

[prompt-heaven]

a list of 100+ buildings to put in your fantasy town

academy

adventurer's guild

alchemist

apiary

apothecary

aquarium

armory

art gallery

bakery

bank

barber

barracks

bathhouse

blacksmith

boathouse

book store

bookbinder

botanical garden

brothel

butcher

carpenter

cartographer

casino

castle

cobbler

coffee shop

council chamber

court house

crypt for the noble family

dentist

distillery

docks

dovecot

dyer

embassy

farmer's market

fighting pit

fishmonger

fortune teller

gallows

gatehouse

general store

graveyard

greenhouses

guard post

guildhall

gymnasium

haberdashery

haunted house

hedge maze

herbalist

hospice

hospital

house for sale

inn

jail

jeweller

kindergarten

leatherworker

library

locksmith

mail courier

manor house

market

mayor's house

monastery

morgue

museum

music shop

observatory

orchard

orphanage

outhouse

paper maker

pawnshop

pet shop

potion shop

potter

printmaker

quest board

residence

restricted zone

sawmill

school

scribe

sewer entrance

sheriff's office

shrine

silversmith

spa

speakeasy

spice merchant

sports stadium

stables

street market

tailor

tannery

tavern

tax collector

tea house

temple

textile shop

theatre

thieves guild

thrift store

tinker's workshop

town crier post

town square

townhall

toy store

trinket shop

warehouse

watchtower

water mill

weaver

well

windmill

wishing well

wizard tower

[my-castles-crumbling]

Me: You cannot start another WIP. You barely can handle one!

My reflection in the mirror: But....the brainrot!

[delusional-fantasising]

I love writing for myself so much, I dont care if it sounds clunky at times because I know i came up with it and it brings me such great joy

if it's good enough for you, then it deserves to be made. don't let anyone else decide if your story is worth it or not.

[theaftersundown]

*writes two paragraphs after months of literally nothing and it took three hours*

[ellipsus-writes]

We’re always building toward a creative space that works the way you do.

If you’re a visual thinker, a fan of fan art, or like to keep 53 reference pics of your favorite characters close at hand... you'll love our latest update. ✨🖼️ Illustrations, visual inspo, or a few cursed memes—you can upload them all (or any other image) to your docs and drafts!

- The Ellipsus Team xo