#writers community

[sofiaflorina2021]

Thanks for the images mate, these would be very helpful. I've just known that there is a word "cajole".

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

[luvelydelilah]

Struggling with emotional scenes? Here are some tips for writing emotion!

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1. While you’re writing, try to build an explanation for their feelings. What triggered their emotion? Is their reaction rational or are they overreacting? Do they fight, flight, fawn or freeze when provoked? Do they feel threatened? 

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2. Show, don’t tell. Describe what is happening instead of plainly stating the situation. Try not to use words like sad, happy, devastated, in pain, angry, nervous, scared, or worried. They cut back on the emotional integrity of the scene and make it hard for readers to connect with your characters. Here are some different behaviors for different emotions.

-Eager-

Bouncing up and down

Unable to sit still

Breathing deeply

Fidgeting

Pretending to do something

Trying to stay busy

Constantly looking at the clock

-Nervous-

Red and hot face

Sweaty palms

Voice cracks

Shaky hands

Biting nails

Biting lips/inside of cheek

Wide eyes

Shallow breathing

Heart racing

-Excited-

Wide smile

Squeal/scream

Bouncing up and down

Fidgeting

Playing with hands

Tapping foot

Talking fast

Tapping pencil

Pacing back and forth

-Scared-

Curling up/bringing knees to head

Closing eyes

Covering ears

Stop breathing or breathing quickly

Biting nails

Shaking

Gritting teeth

Hugging/squeezing something tight

-Frustrated-

Stomping

Grunting/mumbling/yelling

Deep breaths

Red and hot face

Hitting/kicking something

Pointing

Straining/veins become more visible

-Sobbing-

Eyes filling up with tears

Eyes burn/turn red

Red cheeks

Face becomes puffy

Pursed lips

Holding head down

Hyperventilating

Fast blinking

Trying not to blink/holding back tears

-Happy-

Smiling wide

Laughing loudly

Cheeks hurting

Talking loudly

Higher pitched voice

Animated/expressive

-Upset-

Walking slowly/shuffling feet

Head down/avoiding eye contact

Biting inside of cheek

Dissociation

Keeping quiet

Fidgeting

-Bored-

Pacing back and forth

Sighing loudly

Complaining

Fidgeting

Blank face

Looking for something to do

Making up stories

Talking about random topics

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3. Try and bring some trauma into your character’s emotions. For example, something might happen that reminds them of a suppressed/traumatic memory. This is an easy way to hook your reader and have them really feel like your character is a real person with real emotions. They might have some internal conflict they need to work through and a certain situation reminds them of that. They might become irritable at the thought of their traumatic experience and they might snap at whoever is nearby. 

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4. Most characters won’t dump their entire backstory or feelings in a conversation. Try and reserve your character’s emotions to make more interesting scenes later on. For example, your character may be triggered and someone may ask them what’s wrong. Will they give in, soften up and share? Or will they cut themself off and say they’re fine? Also take into account that your character might not know the other character very well and won’t be comfortable sharing personal information with them, like details regarding their trauma.

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5. Last but not least, you don’t need to have a major event happen to connect emotionally with your audience. You don’t have to kill off a character every time you need to spice up your story, even simple interactions can just help your readers understand your character better. Show how they react to certain topics or situations. Describe their feelings, their surroundings, their body language. Their defense mechanisms will help the audience to better understand what kind of person they are.

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[abiteofhoney]

Xena’s Share Day

share day !!! let's get back to it ! in honor of me finishing my vampire book, i want you to show me some fun vampire stuff !!! let’s celebrate our bitey friends !!!! if you've got a vampire character, talk about them here. show me a writing snippet you like. do a character intro. show off some art if you have it. all sharing welcome !!

[vasopv-blog]

Before liking another person, you have to like yourself first.

[haru-kuneko]

Remember when people used to post art on the Internet as a hobby and not a full-time job? This is why many artists suffer from burnout 'coz instead of just posting on DeviantArt, Tumblr or their own portfolio website, they have to be on every single platform.

I know everyone is gonna disagree but HOT TAKE: DON'T RELY ON THE INTERNET AS YOUR FULL-TIME JOB. TIKTOK AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA SITES IN GENERAL AREN'T PRIMARILY MADE FOR SHARING ART AND STUFF. IT’S FOR SHARING PHOTOS, VIDEOS AND NEWS. The same logic applies to writers as well. The algorithm can be so cruel that you're pushed to post almost every day.

Before anyone takes this as a spiteful post, just know I'm speaking from experience and not trying to discourage you from actually posting art on social media. Social media can be used for announcements, sneak peeks, selling products, and WIPs but not somewhere you can dump your whole portfolio and books there. Nowadays, you have scammers, art thieves, crypto, and AI bros trying to take advantage of artists and writers. Choose your platforms wisely.

This is also why I don't do a lot of commissions these days and use popular social media sites like Twitter to promote my works because I'd rather be in a place that's actually a place for fandoms and creatives instead. I wanna be able to make art for me and the people who actually support me. Being an online artist full-time is exhausting and not gonna be feasible in the long run.

also we fucked up as a society the moment we started telling teens and aspiring artists to conflate being an artist with building a brand as if the two things are inextricable. the name of the game if you want to share your art is to work a job and sell yourself as aesthetizied content. back in my day we could just POST SHIT. to deviantart! what the fuck!

[writersbloxx]

Backstory

Things to keep in mind when building a character’s past/backstory:

Before plotting a character’s backstory- Ask yourself if it's relevant. Your story doesn't need unnecessary details that don't fuel the plot/character. Sometimes, a characters entire life story isn't what's best for the plot. 

You don't need to know it all at once- The process is nonlinear/messy. It's okay to go back and forth.

Start with core memories- Smaller details can be great but it's easier to remember the big picture when you start with the corner pieces.

Timeline- use these core parts/events for your character to build a timeline to better understand the character/story. 

Don't dump it all in one place- We don't need to know everything about a character in chapter one. Don't forget to put thought into how you present this information. Flashbacks, dialogue, and playing with transitions can make a memory more vivid.

[tofubutter27]

Should I call it love by now and not infatuation if my mind is still filled with thoughts of you after all this time?

[includedisco]

When writing motivation strikes at an awkward time...

Like when you're busy, about to go to bed, in public, at the dinner table, at work etc.

Try not to dismiss it the wave. If you can, try to spare a few moments to write something down. Anything.

Be it Brief plot points, a sentence, a scenario, or a piece of dialogue that can't get out of your mind.

Something.

Writing is way more than just having five hours to yourself to write a big, delicious story. Writing is the literal act of recording a story or the makings of one. A sentence is writing. Writing down/voice recording your plot points is part of writing.

If you can carve out a few minutes to do at least that, you'll feel better and more productive as a writer. You'd have scratched the itch a bit. Something is better than nothing

[222quinn]

I need to do this

Name the character.

[222quinn]

The clock ticks closer to midnight and when I thought I might retire for the night I have the urge to write.

[kiisuuumii]

@kiisuuumii (hopeless)

[macverse]

I actually read this the other day. It was more enjoyable than I remembered.

Do any other writers feel like they won't enjoy rereading their work but then are surprised like "I wrote that? It's good. Good job past me!"?

spoilers...

“Can you take your shirt off?” you asked Chris suddenly, closing your laptop and putting it aside.

“What?”, Chris looks up at you, startled by your sudden request. He had been occupied scrolling through something on his phone while idly petting Dodger who was curled up at his side.

“Can you take your shirt off?” you repeated.

Chris stares at you knowingly, a mischievous smile begging to form on his face, “You and I both know that's not a good idea.”

“Yup,” you reply cheerfully while an equally mischievous smile forms on your lips. You look at him appreciatively, unconsciously licking your lips. Lustfully you softly demand, “Take it off.”

INKED

coming soon

[luvelydelilah]

Struggling with emotion? Here are ten angsty starters!

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1. “Not like this… No, I won’t let you leave like this!”

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2. “You have no idea what I’ve put myself through to keep you happy!”

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3. “You’re nothing but a liar! I never want to see you again!”

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4. “Please. I know you’re hurt but just give me another chance!”

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5. “I thought you cared. Turns out you’re just using me to get closer to her…”

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6. “I know you’re tired. Just stay awake a little while longer…”

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7. “I sacrificed everything for you and this is how you repay me?”

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8. “I don’t know how to do this without you… Don’t leave…”

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9. “You’re not a bad person. You just have bad intentions.”

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10. “Oh god! What did they do to you?” 

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Remember to try and keep things realistic, especially working with emotions! Tap into your own feelings and maybe get in character for writing emotional scenes.

[celesteablack]

No matter what anyone says, nothing will ever make me hate Ron Weasley. People criticize him for fighting with Harry over things that weren’t even Harry’s fault, but have you ever stopped to think about what Ron was feeling in those moments? His whole life, he was made to feel like he wasn’t good enough, always in someone else’s shadow. In his family, he was often seen as the second best, the one who didn’t quite shine as brightly as the others. At school, most people knew him as “Harry Potter’s sidekick.” But was he really just a sidekick?

Think about it: would Harry even have survived without Ron? It was Ron who first introduced Harry to the world of love and belonging, bringing him into his family’s home, the Burrow. Ron gave Harry not just a best friend, but a second family; a sense of home he had never known. And yet, despite all this, Ron often stood by watching as everyone showered Harry with love and admiration, sometimes forgetting that Ron was right there too, deserving of the same care.

Some people say that Ron didn’t do anything extraordinary compared to Hermione’s intelligence or Harry’s bravery, but do you really think they could have accomplished everything they did without Ron? His loyalty, humor, and heart were the glue that held their trio together. Let’s not forget the countless moments when Ron risked everything for his friends, the chess game in their first year, where he sacrificed himself so Harry and Hermione could go on. The battle at the Ministry, where he fought alongside them despite the odds. The final hunt for Horcruxes, where he returned to save Harry and destroy one himself.

Ron wasn’t perfect, but who is? His flaws made him real, and his struggles only showed how deeply he cared. Yes, he had moments of insecurity and jealousy, but who wouldn’t, growing up in his shoes? What matters is that he always came back. He always chose his friends.

So no, Ron Weasley wasn’t “just a sidekick.” He was the heart of the Golden Trio, the friend Harry didn’t just need but deserved. And anyone who thinks otherwise hasn’t truly understood him.

[bunnie-tells-stories]

If you’re having writers block…READ!!!! CONSUME MEDIA

I feel like I don’t hear that given enough as advice for writers block..just read? Watch tv? Movies? Find inspiration in media.

Writers block is a lack of inspiration, so go collect more.