#writing tips and suggestions

[khajiithaswitchywares]

Go hiking. Fake your death. Become one with the forest. Elevate to forest god. The simple things.

[writerthreads]

Fantasy names ideas (with meanings!)

By Writerthreads on Instagram

I always have trouble coming up with names for side characters, so hopefully this can help you as much as it helped me! The names in brackets are additional ones that are similar.

Male Fantasy Names

Aldric – (Germanic) old ruler / wise ruler

Caelum – (Latin) sky / heaven

Druvan(/Dhruv) – (Sanskrit) steady / immovable

Fenris – (Norse) named after the mythical wolf Fenrir

Kaelen(/Kaelan) – (Celtic) warrior / mighty

Leofric – (Old English) beloved ruler

Maelor – (Welsh) prince / lord

Rurik – (Slavic) famous ruler

Torin – (Gaelic) chief / thunder

Zarion – (Hebrew) full of sadness

Baldric(/Balrik) – (Old Norse) mighty warrior

Garron – (Irish) strength / protection

Ithran – (Arabic) crowned / majestic

Jorah – (Hebrew) autumn rain / early rain

Oberon – (Germanic / French) noble bear, associated with royalty

Female Fantasy Names

Ariella – (Hebrew) lioness of God

Brienne – (Celtic) noble / strong

Elysande – (French) noble / gracious

Isolde – (Germanic / Celtic) ice ruler / beauty

Lyra – (Latin) derived from the constellation Lyra, lyre

Mirabel – (Latin) wonder

Seraphine – (Hebrew) burning one / angelic being

Taliyah – (Arabic) blooming / rising

Yvaine – (Old French) evening star

Althea – (Greek) healer / wholesome

Calantha – (Greek) beautiful flower

Elira – (Albanian) free spirit / liberated

Selene – (Greek) moon goddess / light of the moon

Eleanor – (Greek / French) shining light

Gender-Neutral Fantasy Names

Aeris – (Latin) air / ethereal

Elynor(/Aenor) – (Greek) light / shining

Lior – (Hebrew) my light

Orin – (Celtic) pale / fair

Rune – (Old Norse) secret / mystery

Selwyn – (Old English) good friend / companion

Vesper – (Latin) evening / evening star

Aenor – (Germanic) strength / honor

Ilan – (Hebrew) tree / oak

Soren – (Scandinavian) stern / severe

Next up, country name ideas?

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

50 Dark Academia Names For Your Female Characters + Meanings & Origins

Alecto - unceasing in anger (Greek mythology)

Ariadne - most holy (Greek mythology)

Cassiopeia - she who entangles (Greek mythology)

Circe - hawk (Greek mythology)

Drusilla - dewy-eyed (Roman)

Eris - strife (Greek mythology)

Fionnuala - fair shouldered (Irish)

Galatea - she who is milk-white (Greek mythology)

Hekate - will (Greek mythology)

Idony - ancient wisdom (Scandinavian)

Isolde - ice battle (Arthurian)

Kore - maiden (Greek mythology)

Lenore - light (Spanish/French)

Lilitu - monstrous woman (Mesopotamian mythology)

Maeve - she who intoxicates (Irish)

Nyx - night (Greek mythology)

Orion - rising (Greek mythology)

Pandora - all-gifted (Greek mythology)

Queenie - noble queen (English)

Rhaenyra - dark reign (Game of Thrones)

Selene - moon goddess (Greek mythology)

Themis - justice (Greek mythology)

Ursula - little female bear (German)

Valeria - strength (Roman)

Willow - willow tree (English)

Xanthe - golden flower (Greek)

Yseult - ice battle (Arthurian)

Zelda - dark battle (Germanic)

Zephyrine - from the west wind (Greek)

Aella - whirlwind (Greek mythology)

Brynhild - armored battle maiden (Norse mythology)

Catriona - pure (Scottish Gaelic)

Deirdre - sorrowful (Irish)

Elspeth - God's promise (Scottish)

Felicity - good fortune (Latin)

Gwendolyn - white ring/circle (Welsh)

Harlow - rock clearing (English)

Idalia - from Idalium (Greek mythology)

Jericho - scent of beauty (Hebrew)

Kalliope - beautiful voice (Greek mythology)

Lumen - light (Latin)

Morana - death (Slavic mythology)

Nerissa - mermaid (Greek mythology)

Octavia - eighth (Roman)

Persephone - bringer of death (Greek mythology)

Quintessa - fifth (Latin)

Seraphina - fiery serpent (Hebrew)

Theda - goddess (Greek)

Umbriel - shade (Roman mythology)

Xenia - hospitality (Greek)

[literaryvein-reblogs]

When are you updating the masterlists? No rush tho! 😊

All edited :)

Word Lists

Writing Basics. Grammar. Refreshers.

Writing Notes & References

Writing Prompts

Writing Worksheets & Templates

Character ⚜ Plot ⚜ Worldbuilding ⚜ For the Poets ⚜ Tips & Advice

[deityoftherain]

tips on how to title your ao3 fic

my tips for trying to figure out a title using some titles I've used before as examples

a short phrase that someone says that is repeated, verbally or in their head (ex. only friends)

something like a phrase or word(s) that encompasses the vibe (ex. phases of the moon, chord crush, or even my favorite color is triangle)

something said or used that is heavy hitting or notable in the story (ex. save a spot for me, let me take care of you, or honeybees, i'm home)

a metaphor (ex. moth to a flame)

the struggle and/or an object close to the plot (ex. (not) just a costume, fireworks, needles)

blank & blank (alt. blank and blank) (ex. helixes & abalone shells, festivals and ferris wheels, or fidgets & flower shops)

puns, silly things and/or references (ex. zombabe or canary wings and pronouns)

lines from lyrics or poems you like (ex. know that all my love will be your breath or all is fair in love and war)

A title can be any combination of these or more! If you have more ideas on how to name something, feel free to reblog this and add to it :D

If you want to learn tips on how to tag, click on this!

[asmoshywrites]

Unique Names for Your Protagonists 

(Because finding good names is a tough job)

FANTASY 

Feel free to mix and match the names to make it more personable for our characters!

Ezra Winters -Helper of the night (Female)

Aurelia -The golden/ chosen one (Female)

Nyx Elowen -Nyx refers to the Greek goddess of night and implies darkness and mystery. Elowen is associated with the Alm tree, meaning strength. (Female)

Niran- Little Fire of Hope. (Unisex)

Verena -To fear, to respect (usually for a warrior related with bravery and power) (Female)

Caligo- Darkness, dimness, gloom (Male)

Caelum -The Sky of Heaven (Male)

Elayne -A ray of light, signifying hope. (Female)

Ophelia- Little moon (Female)

Altair Nocturne- A name embodying pride and strength associated with the darkness of night. (Male)

Azure -meaning the colour blue bonded to a serene blue sky or ocean. (Unisex)

Zephyrine -the name refers to pure little wind, derived from the Greek god Zephyrus. (Female)

Reverie- Daydream (Female)

Just so you know, this post is made with research and the help of sources.

[luna-azzurra]

Witch names Old/New

Old Witch Names:

- Morgana

- Agatha

- Rowena

- Endora

- Elspeth

- Seraphina

- Nimue

- Sybil

- Isolde

- Eudora

- Odessa

- Selene

- Vivienne

- Rosalind

New Witch Names:

- Astrid

- Emberlyn

- Luminara

- Sylara

- Elowen

- Marcella

- Zephyra

- Cassia

- Isadora

- Aurelia

- Lyra

- Solara

- Phoenixia

- Amara

- Willowyn

- Vespera

- Celestia

[bebx]

random don’ts in fanfic writing!

a disclaimer that these are just some suggestions from a fellow fic writer & you don’t have to agree with everything I list here. the intention of this isn’t to shame anyone but to only offer advices I personally take.

I hope you’ll find at least one of these useful.

don’t go “the taller man looks at her with a smile on his face” or “the blonde girl laughs, feeling his eyes on her” on characters whose names are already known by the readers. I admit that this is something I used to do for so long because I thought it was cool, until I learned it’s just unrealistic, because normally, if you know someone; say, if they’re your friend, you don’t call them “the taller man” or “the blonde girl” or “the older man”, you call them by their names. so unless your readers aren’t supposed to know the names of these characters yet, just say “Justin looks at her with a smile on his face” or “Sarah laughs, feeling his eyes on her” — it feels more natural this way.

don’t give readers your personal feelings. “the walls are closing in, and he still has trouble standing up on unsteady legs. panic’s making it hard to breathe as he realizes he’s going to die. what will poor Daniel do now?” — “poor” in this case is the author’s opinion, how they feel about their character. it’s unnecessary to add in your work because, with all due respect, it can make the whole thing sound like a children’s book where readers are not capable of knowing how they’re supposed to feel in this scene and so they need the author to tell them how to feel. unless you’re writing something specifically for kids, don’t do this. don’t insult your readers’ intelligence by constantly guiding them how they should feel about this particular character in this particular situation. your readers are not kids. they are perfectly capable of knowing how they feel. they will feel sorry for the character on their own. they will read your work and think “oh no, poor guy. how will he get out of this now?” on their own. you, as the author, don’t have to tell them to be sorry for the character.

don’t outright underestimate your own work. being humble is a good thing, but sometimes you just have to be proud. don’t directly say “this sucks” or “I don’t really like how this turned out” in the author’s note, it can actually drive readers away from your fic. it drove me away from a fic so many times. and it’s a shame, because I really believe your readers — I really believe I — would’ve loved your fic if they’d — if I had — given it a chance. but the disclaimer that outright says “this isn’t good” from the author themself is unfortunately more than enough a reason as to why readers decide not to read it altogether. so… don’t say that. you can be unsatisfied with your work, but your readers don’t have to know that. hell, they might even love it. so, yeah, be proud.

don’t replace eyes with orbs. I… admit that I frequently did this during my Wattpad phase, and it’s actively haunting my nightmares to this day. I guarantee you that you can just say eyes. “she looks right into his eyes” yes, you can say this, and it will always sound more professional in terms of writing than “she looks right into his beautiful blue orbs” which, if I’m being brutally honest, “orbs” used to describe eyes just makes it all sounds like a school essay where we purposefully use fancy words so that our teachers know we have those words memorized in our vocabulary. but yeah… it’s painfully cringe to call eyes orbs and it almost always makes me want to just stop reading your work, and I mean this with utter respect. don’t make the same mistake I made when I was an emo teenager. if you really must have to use other word that isn’t “eyes” just call them face balls or something (I’m joking, please don’t actually call them face balls). but seriously, literally anything that isn’t orbs. just… call them eyes. it’s already perfect.

don’t replace world with planet, if your work doesn’t include theme about space/sci-fi or if you’re not describing an actual planet (as in climate change towards the planet or a lost planet that’s never been found, for instance). — world and planet give readers two very different feelings. if you’re describing an antagonist, who is not a literal alien from another planet, whose plan is to corrupt or take over the world, just say world. “he knows he will watch the world burn in the end” sounds more aesthetically appealing and more professionally interesting than “he will destroy this beautiful planet” because, honestly, the latter sounds like I’m reading a fic about climate change, which yeah… unless you’re writing a fic about climate change, just avoid using the word planet in context like this and you’re good.

don’t avoid the use of Capital Letters at the beginning of a sentence and when you’re mentioning a specific name while writing a fic. you’re probably thinking I’m being the biggest hypocrite right now, because I’ve literally been deliberately using all lowercase phrases this entire post. I mean that’s because this is just a Tumblr post, not an actual AO3 fic. listen, I know writing fic is a hoppy, not a job. but if you really want to have your readers feel like they’re reading an actual novel while reading your work, I promise you the use of Capital Letters is your best friend, don’t neglect them.

*smut below the cut*

don’t replace cock with penis. I won’t go too deep here (no pun intended HELP💀) but cock sounds sexy, exciting and fun. while penis sounds like you’re describing a human anatomy during a lecture. smut is supposed to make readers feel aroused. it’s not supposed to make them feel like they’re reading a text book or are studying for an exam.

don’t replace cunt with pussy. in my very humble opinion, while talking about smut, cunt sounds explicit, raw, erotically mysterious and is overall a turn on while… I don’t know, reading the word pussy just doesn’t make me go AAAAAAHHHH the way reading the word cunt does (just my guess but maybe it’s because the word “pussy” is overused; we call everything a pussy nowadays that it just lost its meaning). also, from 99% of the smut I’ve read, it’s more professionally written if the author uses cunt instead of pussy.

***also, for the same reason why we don’t replace cock with penis in a smut fic, please don’t use the word vagina unless you’re preparing your readers for their anatomy class.

[cj-etc]

Uncommon injuries for your characters

This is just a small collection of injuries that I don’t see often/haven’t seen in writing! TW: This post may contain subjects/descriptions of blood, gore, and other uncomfortable subjects

Kicked by a horse/other large animal

Appendages run over by skate blades

Laceration via high heel

Choking (food, foreign object, etc.)

Teeth knocked out

Animal bites (namely by a pet)

Accidental poisoning

Falling/tripping resulting in skinned knee

Vehicle accidents

Injury via friends/family

Burns via cooking

Cut by glass

Impaled by fishing hook

Body parts crushed by heavy objects

Frostbite

Heatstroke

Poison ivy

Concussions

Dehydration

Medical side effects

Ancient weaponry

Curses(?)

[enchanted-lightning-aes]

I think a potential way to make a compelling protagonist is... imagining scenarios where they are a side-character or supporting character. Bc I've seen fandoms go 'what i'd give to have *insert side or supporting character here* be a protag for a spin-off!" at times.

Bc sometimes, I feel like ppl just imagine their main protags as just their main protags without also putting them in a situation that isn't fully about them. There can probably be plotlines or side plot that focuses another character instead of the protag, who can probs be second fiddle. Yes, the story is about the protagonists but if you see ppl wanting a side main character to be a protag instead of the actual protagonist... well... 😶

(But also I suppose if the particular media focuses on a character that isn't a man or white, and someone else wants a white man who's a side character as the protag instead... that's probably a diff topic. But that's also something to be careful of as well.)

[cepetriwrites]

Me: I’m going to get so much writing done tonight!

*ends up spending 40 minutes on the phone with my anthropologist sister assigning languages to the different free cities to give me a better reference when writing*

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

The Ultimate (short) Guide to Crafting Captivating Book Titles: A Writer's Journey into Naming Novels

Embracing the Power of a Book Title

Greetings, fellow writers and wordsmiths! As we embark on the magical journey of storytelling, there exists a crucial milestone—bestowing our creations with a name, a title that encapsulates the essence of our narrative. The quest for the perfect title can be as thrilling as drafting the story itself. In this guide, we will unravel the art and significance of titling a novel, exploring strategies, tips, and the creative process behind crafting an engaging and magnetic book title.

Understanding the Importance of a Book Title

The Gateway to Reader Connection

A book title is the beacon that beckons readers to explore the universe you've crafted. It's the first impression, a snapshot that encapsulates the soul of your narrative. A compelling title can captivate an audience, generating curiosity and inviting them to step into the world you've woven within your pages.

Reflecting the Essence of Your Story

A well-crafted title encapsulates the core theme, mood, or central conflict of your novel. It should resonate with the narrative, teasing elements without revealing too much, leaving a trail of intrigue that entices readers to delve deeper.

The Art of Title Creation

Embrace the Journey: Start with a Working Title

Begin with a placeholder, a working title that captures the essence of your story in its rawest form. Let it evolve and grow as your narrative does. This title might serve as a guiding light until you uncover the perfect one.

Exploring the Heart of Your Story

Consider the central themes, characters, or pivotal moments within your book. Delve into the emotional core of your narrative and unearth words or phrases that resonate with its essence.

Utilizing Literary Devices and Techniques

Explore metaphors, alliteration, symbolism, or even poetic verses. Experiment with wordplay, juxtapositions, and contrasts. These literary devices can infuse depth and intrigue into your title.

Testing and Refining Your Title

The Power of Feedback

Share your title ideas with trusted friends, writing groups, or beta readers. Gather feedback on their impressions and the emotions evoked by the titles. Use this input to refine and narrow down your choices.

Alignment with Your Target Audience

Consider your intended readership. Does your title resonate with the genre and expectations of your audience? Ensure it's not only enticing but also aligns with the preferences of your potential readers.

Finalizing the Perfect Title

Distillation of Essence: Keep it Succinct and Evocative

Aim for brevity and impact. A concise yet evocative title can linger in the minds of readers. Often, the most powerful titles are those that say much with few words.

Research and Avoiding Clichés

Investigate existing titles in your genre to ensure your title stands out. Steer clear of clichés and overused phrases, aiming for originality and uniqueness.

Embrace the Artistry of Title Crafting

Crafting the ideal book title is an art in itself. It's the literary cloak that shrouds your creation, inviting readers into the tapestry of your imagination. Embrace the journey of titling your novel with the same passion and creativity you pour into your storytelling. Let the title be a herald, whispering the promise of a remarkable journey that awaits within the pages of your book.

As you venture forth, remember, the perfect title awaits—a key to unlock the hearts and minds of your future readers.

Happy writing and titling!

This comprehensive guide aims to take writers through the journey of creating an impactful and engaging book title, emphasizing the importance of a title and offering practical strategies to craft one that truly resonates with a novel's essence. If you need further insights, examples, or specific advice on any aspect of titling a novel, feel free to delve deeper into each section. Happy titling!

[noh07]

list of mixed name ideas (oct 27, 2024)

i sorted them into three categories: androgynous, feminine and masculine.

in this list, there's any type of names (mostly for english-speaking people though): typical first names, noun names, mythology names, etc.

if you have more ideas of names for trans folks, writers, etc, just lemme know! (Can also be not-so-cool names for the writers, we need them for the asshole side characters :3)

i will update the list every time I have a lot of new name suggestions. this is not the newest version, but you can find it under the tag #updated name list on my profile.

(alphabetical list with 398 mixed names under the cut)

--- androgynous ---

Aki

Alex

Alexis

Ares

Ari

Artemis

Aster

Bennie/Benny

Blair

Charlie

Chrissy

Crimson

Eli

Evie

Finn/Fynn

Frances/Francis

Hayden

Jackie/Jacky

Jess

Jessie

Lou

Louie

Mag

Maggot

Max

Mika

Miko

Noah

Ollie

Quinn

Rafa

Robin

Shilo/Shiloh

Sky/Skye

Val

Vin

Vinnie/Vinny

Wilson

--- feminine ---

Abby

Abigail

Aileen/Eileen

Aimee/Amy

Alessia

Alexa

Alexia

Alexandra

Alice

Alissa

Amalia

Amber/Ember

Amelia

Amelie

Angie

Anna

Anne

Annie

Anastasia

Andrea/Andreea

Antheia

Astra

Audrey

Bailey

Becky

Bella

Belle

Bettie/Betty

Brie

Carla/Karla

Carolina

Caroline

Catherine

Celina/Selena/Selina

Celine

Charlotte

Christina/Kristina

Christine/Kristine

Claire

Cora/Corah

Daniela/Daniella

Danielle

Dalia/Daliah

Debbie

Debora/Deborah

Delilah

Diana/Diane

Dora/Dorah

Eburia

Elena

Eleanor/Elenor

Elisa/Eliza

Elizabeth

Ella

Emery

Emilia

Emilie/Emily

Emma

Eva

Evie

Evelyn

Fenya

Finya

Fiona

Francisca/Franziska

Gaia

Gina

Hanna/Hannah

Harmony

Hecate

Hera

Hestia

Hope

Irena

Irene

Iris

Isa

Isabel/Isabelle

Isabela/Isabella

Ivory

Ivonne/Yvonne

Ivy

Izzy

Jasmin/Jasmine

Jenna

Jenny

Jolene

Julia

Julianne

Julie

Juliet/Juliette

Katarina/Katharina

Kathy/Katy

Laura

Lauren

Laurel

Lara

Lena

Leia/Leya

Levina

Levinia

Liara

Lili/Lilli/Lilly/Lily

Lilian/Lilien

Lisa

Livia

Lola

Lorelei

Louisa/Luisa

Louise/Luise

Luce

Lucy

Luna

Madeline

Maggie/Meggie

Meg

Marlene

Maira/Myra

Margaret

Marge

Marlene

Maria/Mariah

Marie/Mary

Melanie

Melissa

Mellie/Melly

Mia

Milly

Mina

Minerva

Minnie

Miriam

Naira/Nyra

Natalia

Natalie

Natasha

Nellie/Nelly

Nessie

Nina

Nora/Norah

OIiv/Olive

Olivia

Ollie

Paula

Peggy

Penelope/Pinelopy

Penny

Philippa

Polly

Poppy

Rebecka

Robin

Roxanne

Sara/Sarah

Stella

Stephanie/Stephany

Tara/Tarah

Tina

Valerie/Valery

Vanessa

Veronica

Victoria

Viona

Vivian

Viviana

Willow

Yasmin/Yasmine

Zoe/Zoé/Zoey

--- masculine ---

Aion

Alex

Alexander

Amon

Anthony

Anton

Ares

Ben

Benjamin

Bennie/Benny

Bill

Billy

Brian

Calvin

Carl/Karl

Chad

Chris

Chrissy

Damian

Dan

Daniel

Davon/Devon

Dorian

Elia/Elijah

Elio

Eliot/Elliot/Elliott

Emilio

Erion

Evan

Felix

Finn/Fynn

Icarus

Jack

Jackie/Jacky

Jona/Jonah

Jonas

Jones

Julian/Julien

Julius

Justin

Kevin

Leo

Linus

Louie

Louis/Luis

Lucc/Luke

Lucas/Lukas

Luigi

Marc

Marco

Mario

Max

Michael

Mickey

Mike

Milo

Nathan

Nick

Nico/Niko/Nikko

Noah

Oliver

Ollie

Paul

Pete

Peter

Robin

Sebastian

Steve

Steven

Theodore

Tim

Toby

Tom

Tommy

Tony

Valentine

Victor

Wilson

Zach/Zack

If you want me to add things like meanings, origins, etc you can just tell me!!

[jacksworddoodles]

How to show or tell appropriately

People scream show don't tell at writers all the live long day, but honestly, we need a little tell with our show. Just like in real life I can't read minds to know exactly what something means, I can't read the character's minds even when I can. Having the thoughts of the character certainly helps, but unless we can also put the thoughts of the author in there?

When people say show don't tell, they're usually telling people to write in a way that suggests without blatantly telling someone something. Instead of "She was sad"; "Her eyebrows creased and tears welled up in her eyes" or "The corner of her lip tugged down in a frown and she looked at the ground." Depending on your levels of sad, of course.

Without context though, without knowing that the author thinks people look down at the ground when they're sad, and that the author is not using that to convey confusion or embarrassment, or any of the other things that description might convey, readers just hope they've guessed correctly. Context helps to set the scene, but when context could have multiple reactions (being rejected is a great example of eliciting sadness or embarrassment) just stating the obvious might work better. "The corner of her lip tugged down into a frown and she looked at the ground, crestfallen." Saying she was crestfallen, even with the flowery description is technically a tell, not a show, but it still gives the scene more visual than it would have without it.

Contrariwise, if we had just said, "She was crestfallen" we don't see the physical reaction that turns the story into a mind movie. It can still tell the story, but it doesn't paint the picture.

[the-arachnid-queen]

Happy birthday to the number 1 best boy! Yet another year of wishing you were real 😢

Happy birthday!!! 🎂🥳

[ghostboyhood]

i wanna write a saw fic.. if anyone has any suggestions pleaseee do tell!!