#editing for authors

[badolmen]

People against piracy fail to realize that no, I can’t just ‘buy it.’ They stopped making DVDs and Blu-Rays. They’re barely offering digital copies for download. I am not spending money I could use for food or bills to pay for a subscription service just so I can always have access to a beloved piece of media. Especially not when the service will remove media on a whim without concern for how the loss of access to that piece will make its artistic conservation nigh impossible.

For example, I recently learned that Disney+ had an original film called Crater. It’s scifi, family friendly, and seems cool - I would love to buy it as a holiday gift for my little brother! But: it’s exclusive to D+ and THEY REMOVED IT LITERALLY MONTHS AFTER ITS RELEASE.

The ONLY way I can directly access this film is through piracy. The ONLY available ‘copies’ of this film are hosted on piracy websites. Disney will NEVER release it in theaters, or as something to buy, and it may NEVER return to the streaming service. It will be LOST because we aren’t allowed to purchase it for personal viewing. If I can’t pay to own it, I won’t pay for the privilege of losing it when corporate decides to put it in a vault.

So yes, I’m going to pirate and support piracy.

Edit: if you are able, use $5 you would otherwise use for a streaming subscription to donate to a GazaFunds campaign.

[that-butch-archivist]

"Lesbian Weddings" by Wendy Jill York

source: The Femme Mystique, edited by Lesléa Newman

[crispyliza]

I've got you all figured out fanartists

[ariamarks]

Discover Liane Mahugh, a talented Canadian author specializing in cozy mysteries. Explore her expertise in editing and proofreading for authors, making your stories shine. Connect with a fellow cozy mystery author today. https://www.lianemahugh.ca

[cbmagus49]

Hey guess what it's time for a big ol' Relativity screenshot edit sketchdump!!!!

[plaidcowboy]

༘˚⋆𐙚｡𖦹✧ rafe losing you at his mansion party

✿ ۪⋆

content: you were okay with just sticking by his side but man do you wander

author stamp: party at the mansion we ‘bout to flood the spot!

“yeah? you sure you want to?” rafe was fine with you trailing behind him the entire party like a lost puppy, and you were most comfortable doing so, but now you kind of wanted to branch off and actually explore the party. there were some groups of girls chatting that you thought looked nice. maybe you could lounge around the pool. you weren’t the biggest fan of parties and when rafe told you he was hosting one, you pushed down the weariness creeping in and told him you were excited about it.

rafe saw through it of course. so he tugged you around while chatting with guests and fixing himself a drink.

“i.. i can go and talk to those girls over there” you weren’t sure if rafe still wanted to pull you around no matter if you really liked it.

rafe glanced at the girls you were referring to down below the balcony you two were standing on, then back down at you. those aren’t the type you would talk to. rafe knew you were making an excuse to walk away. rafe sucked his teeth, tilting his head. “i don’t think you would like those girls. i think you like it more being with me”

you gaped at him with wide eyes, not excepting him to shut your idea down. “oh. i do.”

rafe smiled, leaning down to place a peck on your hairline.

“country club!” you both turned to see barry walking up, hand outstretched to dap up rafe. rafe returned the bro hug and barry turned to you, ruffling a hand through your hair. “wassup little rafe” you scrunched up your face in a faux pout. “hi barry.”

rafe fixed the mess for you, smirking at your reaction. he squished your cheeks to fix your pout, poking out his own bottom lip. “aw, barry messed up your hair?” you nodded, a little smile forming at his cooing.

“let me go talk to him, that wasn’t cool, huh?”

“mm mm” you shook your head definitively. rate let you go, turning to talk to barry about other matters, not really about your hair. he knew you weren’t actually upset, you and barry already having that poking-fun dynamic. you knew that was just rafe saying he was going to talk with barry about things you didn’t have to hear.

you went to sit on the sofa, observing the commotion below. twiddling your fingers, you thought this was a perfect time to go wander. maybe not with those girls who now looked to be whispering and pointing around at other girls, giggling at their looks. icky. you turned your gaze over to the entrance that led back into the house from the balcony.

the noise was starting to get a little overwhelming. the more so quiet inside seemed tempting. and temped you were, getting up and walking inside, the boys unaware of your fleeting presence. the music got quieter the further you walked into the house. that’s better. there was no one else here, everyone crowded outside.

you walked to rafe’s room, looking around. maybe you could tidy up a little for him? you picked up little scattered items, putting them back in their places. you headed over to his closet, browsing through his shirts. replacing what you currently had on with one of them, you sighed in content. even better. you felt good enough that you gave the party a try. anything rafe was happy about, you were over the moon for. and the same went for him. but settling down in his bed now looked appealing.

you spent a few minutes mindlessly entertaining yourself with fiddling with rafe’s duvet and pillows. so soft. the sudden sound of thumping through the house grabbed your attention. maybe someone was looking for the bathroom. you shrugged, having closed the bedroom door when you came in, assuming they wouldn’t wander in.

but when the door burst open, you startled, letting out a little squeak, but turning to see rafe standing at the threshold.

“oh. hi rafe” you gave him a little wave.

his gaze skimmed the room, then trailed over you, noticing the shirt you were in and that you were safe and sound in his room. he let out the breath he was holding, moving from the door over to you. you swung your legs over the side of the bed, kicking your feet a little, giddy to see rafe again. rafe came to kneel between your legs, grasping your waist. “hi, baby. why didn’t you let me know you were coming in here?”

you stopped your swinging feet. “oh um.. you were talking with barry.. i wanted to give you guys a little space.”

rafe licked his lips, letting out a little sigh. he hands rubbed up and down your sides. “i didn’t like not knowing where you were.. i’m not upset” he quickly grabbed the sides of your head at the sight of your forming pout. “just let me know next time, kid, i don’t wanna have to worry.”

who knows rafe thought. he had hoped you didn’t wander off to talk to those girls he told you not to, not sure if you somehow managed to hurt yourself from bumping into sharp corners throughout the house.

you shook your head in a nod, “’m sorry rafe. it was just quiet in here..” you voice trailed off, becoming softer.

“you want it quiet? i’ll shut this down and kick everyone out.”

“no! you’re having fun, go back” you slightly pushed at his chest, not budging him. this is what you didn’t want. your desire to trail off to affect rafe having a good time.

“just say the words.. i don’t really like these people anyway. i like you more” rafe poked your tummy with his finger, causing you to have a fit of giggles.

“no, ’m okay. go, go” you returned a peck to his hairline from the one he gave you earlier.

rafe grinned. “mm.. okay. you stay in here. call me if you want me.”

you nodded again, chewing at your lip. “mm mm”

rafe stood, softly shaking his head at you. he tugged at his shirt slipping down your shoulder. “cute.”

[wingupingu]

[sudaca-swag]

these days only a few fantasy books stand truly unique, most just seem to be following very strict writing styles and filling in the same plot points, maybe its because fantasy has been dominated by usamerican and european writers who tend to see the world in a very lineal way and who crave immediacy, these authors are honestly scared to "break the rules" (there are no rules in art imo) in terms of time-space and such because most of their readers will get mad if they dont understand everything the series stands for in 60 pages or less

[nibbelraz]

Prompt fill for @/Snowflake_Daze!

Mobei-Jun and Shen Qingqiu as friends! They love discussing about Shang Qinghua's hobby 🤭 (Hopefully, their neglected husbands can get along too...)

[arcanegifs]

me, after seeing emo vi in her s2 teaser

[burntblueberrywaffles]

[vivicantstudy]

[that-butch-archivist]

"Dyke March 1994" by Morgan Gwenwald

source: The Wild Good: Lesbian Photographs & Writings on Love, edited by Beatrix Gates

[writers-potion]

Storyediting Questions to Ask

As You Read the First Draft:

Are there place that surprised you as you read your first draft? - Why do you suppose that is? - Is there material there you'd like to expand?

What are the character really doing in this story? - Might they have issues you haven't explored fully yet?

Look to the places that drag. - These might be scenes where you have avoided dealing with something deeper. - What are the characters really thinking in these places? - What are their passions, frustrations, and desires?

Imagine alternative plotlines. - How might your plot be different if ti headed off on another tangent from various points in the story? - You don't have to follow them, but they might suggest other streams that can flow into the main plot.

Think About Structure:

Does you story play out naturally in three acts?

Is there an immediate disturbance to the Lead's world?

Does the first doorway of no return occur before the one-fifth mark?

Are the stakes being raised sufficiently?

Does the second doorway of no return put the Lead on the path to the climax?

Does the rhythm of the sotyr match your intent? If this is an action novel, does the plot move relentlessly forward? If this is a character-driven novel, do the scenes delve deeply enough?

Are there strongly motivated characters?

Have coincidence been established?

Is something happeing immediately at the beginning? Did you establish a person in a setting with a problem, onfronted with change or threat?

Is the timeline logical?

Is the story too predictable in terms of sequence? Should it be rearranged?

About Your Lead Character:

Is the character memorable? Compelling? Enough to carry a reader all the way through the plot?

A lead character has to jump off the page. Does yours?

Does this character avoid cliches? Is he capable of surprising us?

What's unique about the character?

Is the character's objective strong enough?

How does the character grow over the course of the story?

How does the character demonstrate inner strength?

About Your Opposition:

Is your oppositing character interesting?

Is he fully realized, not just a cardboard cutout?

Is he justified (at least in his own mind) in his actions?

Is he believable?

Is he strong as or stronger than the Lead?

About Your Story's Adhesive Nature:

Is the conflcit between the Lead and opposition crucial for both?

Why can't they just walk away? What holds them together?

About Your Scene:

Are the big scenes big enough? Surprising enough? Can you make them more original, unanticipated, and draw them out for all they are worth?

Is there enough conflict in the scenes?

What is the least memorable scene? Cut it!

What else can be cut in order to move the story relentlessly forward?

Does the climactic scene come too fast (through a writer fatigue)? Can you make it more, write it for all it's worth?

Does we need a new minor subplot to build up a saggin midsection?

About Your Minor Characters:

What is their purpose in the plot?

Are they unique and colorful?

Polishing Questions:

Are you hooking the reader from the beginning?

Are suspenseful scenes drawn out for the ultimate tension?

Can any information be delayed? This creates tension in the reader, always a good thing.

Are there enough surprises?

Are character-reaction scenes deep and interesting?

Read chapter ending for read-on prompts

Are there places you can replace describing how a character feels with actions?

Do I use visual, sensory-laden words?

For a Dialogue Read-Through:

Dialogue is almost always strengthened by cutting words within the lines.

In dialogue, be fair to both sides. Don't give one character all the good lines.

Greate dialogue surprises the reader and creates tension. View it like a game, where the players are trying to outfox each other.

Can you get more conflict into dialogue, even emong allies?

If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! 📸

[sayruq]

[reallybadblackoutpoems]

a treatise on government (c. 350 bc) - aristotle

"there are some persons who think, eurgh"