#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)

[cj-etc]

Nervous Quirks for your Characters

Here's a short list of nervous quirks/habits for you to give to characters in your stories! Feel free to add on with more!

Lip biting (may result in scabbed lips)

Leg bouncing

Nail biting/picking

Skin picking

Nose scrunching

Adjusting clothing

Tapping feet/hands

Rubbing hands together

Rubbing feet together

Pacing

Stuttering/stammering

Losing track of time

Forgetting what they were talking about

Laughing

Nausea

Going silent/refusing to talk

Picking at face/skin

Constantly readjusting clothes

Rambling

Itching

Sweating/feeling hot

Distracting themselves

[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.

[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.)

[em-dash-press]

50 Story Title Ideas

The Fearful Hero

The Night's Sun

Astronauts Of Glory

Oceanic Officers

Pirates And Thieves

The Lion's Lies

Agony's Reaping

Journeys Without Name

Battling The Mountains

The Graveyard's Call Home

Vengeance's Girl

Nymph Of The Pond

Pilots With Silver Bullets

Friends Of Earth

Assassins And Their Fish

Foes And Lows

A Century Of Plague

The Eclipse's Sword

Breath Of The Galaxy

Hiding The Past

Goddess Of Light

Changeling Of A Painting

Witches In The Woods

Hunters Of The Nether

The King's Doctor

The Legendary Witches Army

Puzzles In The Caves

Revival Of The Winds

A Catapult Dream

Corrupted By Good

Ladylove With A Cheeky Smile

Rumor Of The Evening

Truelove's Gutting

Admirers Of The Arbitrary

A Good Day to Give Up

Lovers And Visitors

Hug Of The Solstice

Disruption Of The North

Temptations Of The Chocolatier

Escaping Eternity

Man Of The Forsaken

Enemy Of Dawn

Soldiers Of Misfortune

Wives Without Time

Serpents And Aliens

Deceivers And Monks

Extinction Of The Ancestors

Fruit Of The Dungeons

Origin Of The Catacombs

Nothing At All

If you like what you see, please consider using the tip feature on my posts! I run this site for free, but will always appreciate the financial support. 💙

[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!!! 🎂🥳

[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!

[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(?)

[ghostboyhood]

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

[sunsoaked-living-blog]

Ok so this is an update/addendum to my original inquiry post back here

I’ve started playing around with writing little blurbs here and there, but I’ve found it really difficult to write what feels right about characters I know and love and read SO MANY GOOD fanfics of. I’m still sort of playing around with it, but I think what I’ve found easier is coming up with my own OC characters and writing my favs interacting with that OC, and having my favs cast in more of a secondary/supporting role.

I’m not sure how to quite shake the criticisms that run through my mind when I’m trying to write as my favs. I just feel like when I try to write with them as my central focus/protagonist of my story, it’s like pulling teeth, or putting on a piece piece of clothing that doesn’t quite fit right and doesn’t looks as flattering on as you thought it did on coat hanger. It’s really quite frustrating bc I feel like I have so many ideas for fics I want to write, but then I try to sit down and write them and it’s just ✨nothing✨

It’s rather annoying actually. Still open to thoughts, suggestions, wisdoms, and other prayers y’all would like to share

[luna-azzurra]

Sweet italian nicknames

- Tesoro mio (My treasure)

- Amore mio (My love)

- Caro/cara (Dear)

- Cuore mio (My heart)

- Dolcezza (Sweetness)

- Angioletto (Little angel)

- Bambino/bambina (Baby/child)

- Stellina (Little star)

- Principessa (Princess)

- Tesorino (Little treasure)

- Piccolo/piccola (Little one)

- Fiorellino (Little flower)

- Dolcetto (Sweetie)

- Cucciolo/cucciola (Puppy)

- Mio/a (Mine)