#writersofigs

[five-sided-dice]

Tips for Beginner Writers

1 - Make a chapter out line as you go, so if you need any sort of information about what's happened in the book, you don't have to scroll through each and every paragraph you wrote.

2 - Your first draft is not Your published book, you're gonna have to revise it and edit it a lot over the while, so Let it Suck. It'll turn into a second, third draft, and published book in the end.

3 - What matters is that you wrote, not how much you wrote. Try to set a daily number of words for you to write, that way you get consistency and it gives you a routine to follow.

4 - Remember that many books have been written, many with the same premise, but by different people. If you worry that your idea is too average or too oversaturated remember this:

5 - Don't make scenes too long, dont detail what you don't need to. If your character is going to develop via an event, detail it where needed, don't detail every little thing because it makes the scene unnecessarily long.

This Idea has been written before, but not by you.

[bunnyswritings]

Some meet cute prompts

A power outage traps two strangers in an elevator together.

A accidentally sends a text meant for their ex to a wrong number, and the recipient, B responds.

Two people both reach for the same book at a bookstore, striking up a conversation about their shared interests.

One person accidentally spills coffee on another while rushing to catch a train, leading to an unexpected conversation.

Two acquaintances from high school years ago end up sitting next to each other at a wedding reception and bond over their mutual dislike of weddings.

Two people both end up waiting for the same delayed flight and strike up a conversation to pass the time; it turns out that they are also plane seat mates.

[shareapoetry]

I thought I never experienced love,

The rush in your veins,

The racing of your heart,

Things that people call butterflies;

But the love I found was nothing like that,

He was like a fine wine getting better with age,

While I was like a bird rotting in its cage.

He was full of calmness inside,

While I was like a turbulent storm;

Talking with him was all I needed to feel alright,

And his shoulder felt like home;

When he was with me I desired no more,

Because love is found in comfort;

Not in chaos.

Saumya Thapliyal

(Do follow @shareapoetry on Instagram💕)

[hayatheauthor]

How To Write And Create A Subplot

A subplot is an essential aspect of any book. It helps drive your story forward and hook your readers in with a compelling narrative. A good subplot raises the stakes for the main character by introducing side characters, creating plot twists, adding another dimension to the story or revealing information from the past or future. 

However, if executed incorrectly subplots can overshadow your main plot and deviate from the heart of your story. Unsure how to create and execute a subplot? Here are some helpful tips to get you started! 

Why Are Subplots Important? 

A subplot is a narrative thread that supports the elements of your main plot. They often build conflict or shed light on a secondary character’s story. Subplots help you create multilevel narrative arcs and build complexity and depth. 

Your readers certainly don’t need to know what your antagonists were doing while the protagonist underwent secluded training, but adding this subplot builds tension, heightens the stakes and easily portrays personality traits and character flaws. This is especially true for genres such as SFF or horror where your characters often don’t know their enemy’s plan until the last moment. 

Subplots are often what make your readers connect with your characters and world-building. To put it simply, if Harry Potter was written without any subplots Rowling could have wrapped up the entire series in one book. 

Types Of Subplots 

It’s important for authors to branch out and implement more than one subplot in their manuscript. Sticking to one subplot can often result in a poor portrayal of an important moment or make an interesting arc fall flat. A simple way to avoid this is by combining different subplots when working on your manuscript. 

Mirror Subplots

Mirror subplots are essentially a subplot that mirrors what your protagonist or antagonist is going through in order to illuminate their personality traits and how they dealt with said situation. A great example of a mirror subplot would be Sophie and Agatha’s dynamics during the first book of A School For Good and Evil. 

Sophie and Agatha both start off with essentially the same introduction to characters like Tedros, the faculty, their roommates, etc. but while Sophie uses a negative outlook to harm those around her Agatha focuses more on a problem-solving approach. 

Contrasting Subplot 

A contrasting subplot is when a smaller character faces the same situation as your protagonist/antagonist but handles the situation differently. For example, a protagonist allowed themselves to be injured in order to safely evacuate a nearby citizen but an antagonist in a similar position used the civilian to shield themselves from the attack. 

Contrasting subplots cannot exist unless both characters undergo the same situation, which is why it is important to plan this subplot out before executing it. 

Complicating Subplot 

Complicating subplots are the most common subplot used in literature. They’re pretty self-explanatory and involve a secondary character creating complications for the protagonist. This can be as simple as your love interest’s sister spreading gossip about the protagonist, or as complicated as a grand political scheme created to turn the protagonist’s allies against them. 

Romantic Subplot 

Romantic subplots are often confused with romance written as a subgenre. The difference between the two is simple—a book with romance as a subgenre simply includes romantic themes, however, a romantic subplot uses romance to deviate from the main plot. 

For example, if your protagonist left their usual environment to attend an event with your love interest for a couple of chapters, that counts as a romantic subplot. However, a character simply having a romantic moment does not constitute as a subplot. 

Things To Keep In Mind When Creating A Subplot 

Now that I’ve divulged all of the facts associated with writing a subplot, here are some personal tips writers should take into consideration when creating a subplot. 

A Subplot Is NOT Its Own Story 

This is an important factor many writers often forget when creating a subplot. Subplots are meant to tie into the main plot and move the story forward. They are supposed to be an arc in your story, not a story of their own. 

Subplots are a great way to foreshadow events, drop hints, reveal character traits, etc. however, you need to consider whether or not your manuscript needs to have these characters. Your deuteragonist’s tragic past with the antagonist might make for a good story, but you could probably summarise those events within one chapter. 

The same can be said for past love interests, ex-friends, training arcs and backstory arcs for minor characters. These factors would all propel your plot forward, however, incorrectly implementing them can ruin your reader’s immersion and deviate from the actual plot. 

If you’re unsure whether or not your subplot should be included in your novel, take the time to consider these few questions: 

Does your subplot help your protagonist accomplish their main goal? Or does it drastically deviate them from their initial purpose? 

Does this subplot introduce a new character, a new side to an old character, or the ‘true’ version of a seemingly good/bad character? 

Would your character be unable to attain their long-term goal without this subplot? 

Would your world-building, character development, or a certain aspect of the main plot feel confusing if not for this subplot? 

If your answer to these was yes, then you probably have a valid subplot on your hands. If not, then you should genuinely consider questions and take into account why you want to include this subplot, to begin with. If your answer is something along the lines of ‘it has so and so scene/dynamic which I really enjoyed or think the readers will like’ then your manuscript would probably do better without that subplot. 

Create Conclusive Arcs 

Unlike your main plot, subplots are supposed to have a start and finish. They need to have a complete arc and some semblance of a conclusion. 

For example, if you were writing a contrasting subplot where the side character decided to abandon another character in order to save themselves, you need to consider what happens once you write out this scene. How do the other characters react to it? Does this impact your side character’s position in the story? And most importantly, how does this impact the rest of your plot? 

You need to know where you’re going to go with your story once you have concluded your subplot, and figure out a way to tie your subplot into your main plot. 

I hope this blog on how to create and execute a sub plot will help you in your writing journey. Be sure to comment any tips of your own to help your fellow authors prosper, and follow my blog for new blog updates every Monday and Thursday.  

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Haya’s book blog where I post writing and marketing tools for authors every Monday and Thursday. 

[justthoughts03]

This year I’ve prepared myself to lose a lot of people in my life

Because I finally have the courage to say out loud that

Even though I am loved I don’t like the way some people love me.

They may think they are doing a good job but I don’t feel that’s what I deserve.

I deserve to be loved better.

And if you can’t do that and commit to it… there’s the door

-this is what courage looks like-

[9divine9]

I walk underneath your shadow

no matter where I walk it's under your shadow. right beneath yours, intertwined. I don't know whether to be grateful or not. whether or not it's something I need. but on days where I need your shadow to keep me away from the sun, you walk a little farther, never there when I need it most. these days it seems that through distance, as you walk each step a little faster and farther, I can no longer feel your warmth. and your shadow has been making me feel colder. so maybe it's time to just stop moving and let your shadow walk alone. because I think I'm ready for this shadow to finally be my own.

[knbpoetry]

Glow ✨

[almaaspoetry]

Hey, sweethearts :)

It’s been 7 years since I started this blog. But I realised I’ve never given an introduction of myself to you all!

So there you go. I’m Fathima Almas ; an Indian girl raised in Saudi Arabia. I started writing when I was 15. Yes, right when I started this blog.

I love to read. Been reading ever since I was a kid. I love the colour red. I love the smell of new books. I love the smell of soil after a heavy rain.

I’m an introvert with an intense love for reading and writing. I have been working as a content writer for 3 years now.

It’a been quite sometime since I have been active here. My inbox is always open if you want to talk or send in any prompts.

This has been the safest space for me to express myself. I’ll forever be grateful for 19K of you!

[interrupted-poetry]

excerpt from a poem (2022)

[vintagemalapicolla]

TYPEWRITER, Olympia Robust, Germany 1941

[five-sided-dice]

"Answer three questions for every character: - Who is this character, - What do they want, - And How can I stop them from getting it."

-Someone once said something like this

[bunnyswritings]

A few Bookshop AU ideas

A works at a small hole-in-the-wall bookstore, where they meet B one day, a new customer who just moved to this part of town. They bond over their shared love of books. But both are unaware that B has actually moved into the apartment unit opposite A, and that they were already neighbours from the get-go. (Bonus: B is an actually the author of A's favourite book series; overtime, B realises that A has been a huge fan of their books for years, but tries to keep his identity a secret.)

A works in a book subscription service where subscribers are linked up with an employee for personalised book recommendations, based on factors like personality traits, TV show / movie preferences, hobbies etc. B joins as a subscriber, and A and B communicate with each other through email to find out B's book genre preferences. This emailing back and forth goes on; it starts off as once a month but becomes more frequent along with their growing bond. One day, A asks B out for a date to a book / writing exhibition.

A is a writer who has suffered from writer's block for months, but finds inspiration in B, a bookshop owner whom he ultimately falls in love with. B teaches A how to let loose a little, and take things as they come. A eventually bases his next book on their journey and love story, and surprises B with the first copy of their published book.

A is a doctor with a huge love for reading, and intends to attend a fan-sign event with their favourite author. Unfortunately, A runs late on the event day due to an emergency at work, and only makes it at the last minute. To A's dismay, however, B takes the last remaining spot for the fan-sign, making A upset as they leave in a huff. B senses A disappointment, and runs after A to gift them the signed copy of the book.

A discovers B in A's usual spot at the bookstore, one that they have been going to every week without fail, for the past year.

[shareapoetry]

But I could never hate you,

Despite all that you did,

I could never think of your name,

And feel that loving you was a sin;

All my memories of you,

Consist of happy times,

The times when you gave me butterflies.

And I could never hate you,

Not even in my wildest dreams,

Because no matter how bad you hurt me,

It would never be enough,

For you to be unloved my me.

[wordsofaworld]

When I Look At You, I See Me.

For quite some time now,

Eye contact has really freaked me out.

Looking into peoples eyes I tend to get lost.

So I try to glaze myself over, if that makes sense.

I don't want to see into your soul.

I don't want to connect.

I'm afraid,

Terrified actually... of people.

But that one person...

Whose eyes I look into

And I feel the whole world unfolding inside me,

I feel like a flower losing all its petals at once.

I break free from the straight jacket that is social masking.

Looking into your eyes is freedom.

I am me again.

My mind unwinds,

And I am unafraid, like a child,

Unaware of the harsh realities of life.

[msafflictus]

Give Your All

[9divine9]

Everyday

Today my mom asked me why I haven’t eaten all day. This cycle goes on everyday.

Today my dad asked me why I didn’t want to eat all day. This question gets asked everyday.

Today my sister knocked on my door, dragged me out of bed, and asked me why I haven’t moved all day. This happens everyday.

Maybe I’m broken. No, I know the choices I made have been decided.

Maybe I’m frozen. No, I know the world is still moving on without me.

I don’t eat because I want to be pretty. The answer is simple really— I sit in my room staring at my wall because I simply don’t want to exist anymore. And some part of me hopes that one less meal means one less day of my life. I linger for just one day where I don't feel terrible anymore.

I don’t move because I don’t want to get hurt, I don’t say anything because I’m afraid of being a bother. I see the way people ignore my eyes, see my smile and think, "oh they’re fine." I hear the way people are afraid to ask how I’m doing. I hear the way they fumble their words of reassurance. I can see their schedules filled with plans that don’t include me. Or maybe— it's all in my head again & people don't hate me, I do.

So here I sit, staring at the wall, hoping that maybe tomorrow isn’t like everyday.