Today is a wonderful day to remember that resting, taking care of yourself, and allowing yourself to become re-inspired and re-invigorated, is a vital and necessary part of the creative process!
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Posts Tagged writing advice
114 results.
Uuuuuhhhh….. >_> I think we may unfortunately be the wrong person to ask for good advice about this, unless you just want a pep talk. Almost everything we write (and post!) is short fics, drabbles, and fics under a thousand[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Letting yourself write and post scenes from your grand masterwork story timeline out of order is so freeing, actually. It removes that evil barrier that makes it feel like it’s impossible to get to the fun parts. The audience doesn’t[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
For writing to happen you need all of these at once: the idea the time the energy the focus Don’t beat yourself up if you’re having difficulty writing because you’re missing one or more components.
vinecoveredgarden: the-bar-sinister: Due to the way that fandom was at the time AO3 was being conceived and organized, pseudonyms do NOT hide your work from your main identity in any way. All pseuds of one account link back to the[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
addicted2coke-theothercoke: And then when we can’t think of how to start it, we create memes Start it in the middle. Start it with whatever scene pops into your head first.. It’s okay to start in the middle. It’s okay to[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
gailynovelry: Sometimes it’s useful to look at your dialogue and ask yourself, “would a real human being talk like that?” But it’s also good to ask the follow-up questions of “would the way a real human being talks sound good[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
✨ Write the stories you want to write. ✨ Don’t let anyone shame you for the type of stories you write. ✨ Don’t let anyone shame you for writing fanfiction, or for writing any other fiction that isn’t seen as[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Great question, anon! The answer is– it depends. If I know what I want to/am supposed to write next, but I’m having trouble motivating myself to write my strategy is: get up and do something physical. Take a walk. Do[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Getting started writing when you first sit down to write and there’s a blank page– whether for a new story, a new chapter, etc– that’s the hardest part of writing for me. This is why I find it easier to[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Hey friend! We’re always happy to talk and answer questions about writing! First of all, I want to say 800 words in a session is a great wordcount, especially if you can work on your consistency! 800 words a day[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Queer coding exists because queer relationships and characters were (and to some degree in some places still are) considered too taboo and too illegal by society to portray directly in fiction. If there are other types of coding that legitimately[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
No, there isn’t. Queer coding is *literally about* stereotypes. Its when you use stereotypes to make your audience assume the character is queer without saying it directly or having them do anything queer. The word you are looking for is[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Oh. Ooog. Urgh… 😅😅😅 I’m sorry, anon, character writing is probably the only area of writing where we are unqualified to give advice to people. “Have 25 different people in your head and use them as a "commedia dell’arte” style[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
💖 You don’t have to write for a specific audience. 💖 You don’t have to write for any audience. 💖 You don’t have to write for mass market appeal. 💖 You don’t have to know who your audience will be.[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
as far as I know there is no ‘rule of style for this as of yet. Personally, I would use either parentheses (text) or brackets [text] or more likely I would describe what the person was signing, rather than using[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
The world is never worse for having your fiction writing in it. Every story you choose to tell and share improves the world a little bit.
Good/constructive critique is critique that helps you strengthen your story by making it better as the story that YOU want to tell. Any critique you receive that tells you that you should change the story in ways that take away[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
So you’re stuck trying to solve a writing problem. Maybe you’re trying to figure out what comes next in a scene. Maybe you’re trying to work out how a conversation should flow. Maybe you’re just trying to come up with[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
♥️ It’s okay to write or read about sex and romance. ♥️ It’s okay to write or read about sex without romance. ♥️ It’s okay to write or read about romance without sex. ♥️ It’s okay to write or read[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
✏️ There is no reason to assume that an author’s intention with dark elements and evil characters is to sway their audience into believing that those things are good. ✏️ There is no reason to assume that every dark element[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
someone said: “I don’t want to live in a world where people write nasty fiction about (insert horrible thing here, such as murder, rape, csa, etc)…” ☝️ Understandable, but we all live together in a world where all of these[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
First of all– the binary “for horror” vs “for romance” idea is completely fake. Just take a look at the slasher villain fandom. You can put elements in for horror all you want and people will still be turned on[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
I am so glad that they are inspiring to you, and I’m so glad that you’ve gotten the courage to write again! People–especially authority figures– who squash the creativity of others are inexcusable in my mind. We had a similar[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🖤 Your story idea is not too weird to write or share. 🖤 Your story idea is not too self-indulgent to write or share. 🖤 Your story idea is not too embarrassing to write or share. 🖤 Your story idea[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
💖 Write the fiction that you want to write. 💖 Write any fiction that you want to write. 💖 Don’t let other people discourage you from writing the fiction that you want to write. 💖 You are never a bad[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Hey friend! Yes, I am a writer, you have come to the right place 😉 My advice for you is to explore and discover how other authors and creators have handled these dynamics in the past. ✏️ Seek out fiction[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
A few years ago we would not have had a good answer for this question, but having finally got back into fandom writing and really dug into it, I can tell you with clarity the definitive answer. Start with the[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Some realizations that I had about outlining that helped me write: 💫 You don’t actually have to outline the entire story from start to finish. 💫 You can ‘outline’ just by noting down thoughts, elements, scenes or ideas that stand[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
“make an outline!” they said “It’ll make your writing easier!” they said. and I hate that they are right. I hate that, for me at least, not having to decide what’s going to happen next while I’m actively staring at[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Hey friend. Honestly I have been in pretty close to your position before. You can get back into it! There are some ways to help ease yourself back in if you have a partner or someone willing to listen to[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
⭐ Fiction writers are allowed to put elements in their work that make their audience uncomfortable. ⭐ Fiction writers are allowed to put elements in their work that are tasteless or crass. ⭐ Fiction writers are allowed to put sexual[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
💞 If you keep at it, you will finish writing your story. 💞 You don’t have to write a lot at a time to finish your story. 💞 You don’t have to make sure everything is perfect, or even good[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
❣️All fiction writing is serious writing. ❣️Alternately, no fiction writing is serious writing. ❣️Don’t let people shame you for what you want to write, or tell you you should be writing something else. ❣️You are not ‘wasting’ your talent by[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🟢 You are still a writer even when you haven’t written in a while. 🟢 You are still a writer even when you feel like you aren’t writing enough. 🟢 You are still a writer when you feel like your[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
💖 Write fiction without being ashamed of the story you want to tell. 💖 Create characters without feeling embarrassed about the traits you want to give them. 💖 Craft stories without being nervous what other people will think of them.[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
✨ Writing slowly does not make your a bad writer. ✨ Needing to do a lot of editing on your writing does not make you a bad writer. ✨ People expressing dislike of the themes and ideas in your writing[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
No no no, don’t you know? Reading and writing fiction with scary topics in it turns you evil through the scary mind controlling power of fiction! You know, like reading Harry Potter caused people to become witches and get possessed,[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
❣️ The fiction you write is valuable and important. ❣️ No one else can write the story you came up with the same way that you would. ❣️ No story idea is totally original, it’s okay to tell a story[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
💖 Writing requires rest. 💖 You cannot be actively writing all the time. 💖 Do not feel bad about needing to take time from your writing to rest. 💖 Rest is an important part of the creative process. 💖 Rest[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
ooh! We have this all the time, luckily for fanfic specifically there is a great solution. You take the one scene, or couple of scenes, in your idea that’s the most intense and interesting, and you make a one shot[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
❣️ Don’t be afraid of being earnest in your writing. ❣️ Don’t be afraid of putting your desires and fears in your story. ❣️ Don’t be afraid of writing the story that you want to read. ❣️ Don’t be afraid[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
⭐ There’s no such thing as failure when you’re writing as long as you’re actually getting words on the page. ⭐ Writing that has to be edited or deleted later still gives you practice and makes you a better writer.[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🤯 Don’t write stories that you think are boring. 🤯 Leave boring parts out of the story you’re writing. 🤯 If you think the ‘boring parts’ absolutely must be there, then find a way to make them as short and[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
✏️ Sit down, put the words on the page. ✏️ Sit down, put the words on the page. ✏️ They don’t have to be good words. ✏️ They don’t have to be many words. ✏️ They don’t have to be[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
dduane: Actually, I don’t think anyone’s ever asked me about this. 🙂 So no sweat. Briefly: I think you’re wise in not attempting wordcounting in this phase of dealing with an MS—or trying to push yourself into a structure so[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Your first draft is like the “alpha” version of a video game. ⭐ It doesn’t have to be perfect– it doesn’t have to be good. ⭐ It’s not a finished product– no one is going to be judging your finished[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
⭐ Challenge yourself: to write what you want to write, rather than what you think other people want to read. ⭐ Challenge yourself: to write at a pace that works for you, rather than one that will burn you out.[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
“I like to write about it in fiction” does not mean “I desire it to happen in real life”, and never has. What you want to write about doesn’t necessarily mean anything about you, besides that you want to write[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
👉 Sometimes, what one audience interprets as horror, another audience interprets as romance. 👉 Sometimes, what one audience interprets as romance, another audience interprets as horror. 👉 As an writer, you have to accept that every audience brings their own[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
💕 Don’t be afraid of putting your ‘self’ into your writing. 💕 Don’t be afraid of writing what you want. 💕 Guessing at what other people are looking for in a story is always a worse path than writing what[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Things that don’t matter when you’re writing a story: what will critics and detractors say about this? is this as marketable as I can possibly make this? Things that do matter when you’re writing a story: is this story meaningful[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
👉 Any kind of evil you can make a character commit or go through is no worse than torturing your NPCs in a game. 👉 Don’t assume that acts in fiction indicate the real life desires of the author or[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Important NaNoWriMo reminders: ✍️ Avoiding burnout is your most important goal as a writer. ✍️ Taking care of yourself is more important than meeting arbitrary word counts and deadlines. ✍️ Every time you take care of your mental and physical[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
It’s always okay to use the fiction you write or read to explore negative feelings, experiences, and topics. Stories don’t have to be uplifting or happy, characters don’t have to be virtuous or admirable or relatable. And it’s still okay[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
✨ All fiction is art and has artistic merit. ✨ Yes, including the novel you hid in a drawer. ✨ Yes, including Marvel movies. ✨ Yes, including soap operas. ✨ Yes, including slasher flicks and torture porn. ✨ Yes, including[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
✍️ The goal of creating fiction is not always to craft a story that is comfortable or fun for the reader. ✍️ Likewise, not all readers will find the same subject matter and topics comforting or fun. ✍️ It is[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
With NaNo approaching please remember: 💌 It’s okay to work hard to meet a wordcount. 💌 but it’s also okay to write at your own pace. 💌 Being able to write a lot in a short amount of time is[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
💫 It’s okay to write fiction you would not want your grandmother to see. 💫 Different stories are for different audiences. 💫 You do not have to appeal to everyone. 💫 Don’t sacrifice the story you want to tell for[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
My authorial intent is to tell a cool and exciting story. If my cool and exciting story makes you want to abandon your morals and commit evil acts, that’s your problem, not mine. EDIT: TERFS AND RADFEMS FUCK OFF GET[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
You don’t have to apologize, or perform authorial disgust, for dark, violent, sexual, cruel or problematic topics in the fiction you create. Fiction does not exist to teach an audience a moral lesson. You as an author are not required[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
♦️ Your fiction is worthwhile. ♦️ Your fiction is art. ♦️ Your fiction has artistic merit and value. ♦️ Your fiction is important. ♠️ Even if people call your writing worthless. ♠️ Even if people call your writing disgusting. ♠️[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🎉 Write characters that you find interesting and compelling. 🎉 Don’t worry about making characters too over the top, or ‘too much’. 🎉 Write characters who want big things. 🎉 Write characters with conflict between what they want and what[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🌺 All art and fiction should be self indulgent. 🌺 Allow your being and your ideas and your heart to come through in your art and writing. 🌺 Create what moves you. Create what is truthful to you. Create what[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
⭐ There is no problem with adults writing stories about child characters. ⭐ There is no problem with adults writing stories about child characters for an audience that isn’t children. ⭐ There is no problem with adults writing stories about[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
♠ Ugly art has value. ♠ Ugly fiction is art. ♠ Art and fiction can reflect the ugliness of the world. ♠ Writers and artists don’t have an obligation to tell you what parts of their art are supposed to[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
💖 Coddle your darlings instead of killing them. 💖 Create self-indulgent works of fiction. 💖 Write the stories you want to see in the way you want to see them. 💖 Luxuriate in detail and description when you want to.[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
💬 You are allowed to use diverse ‘said tags’ in your writing. 💬 You are allowed to not use said tags, or use them sparingly in your writing. 💬 You are allowed to use adverbs in your writing. 💬 You[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🌠 An author writing something that someone else not forced to read is not harassment against the person reading it. 🌠 An author writing something about trauma or abuse has nothing to do with an unconnected reader’s trauma or abuse.[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🌟 Fiction isn’t brainwashing. 🌟 Enjoying dark, abusive or disturbing fiction doesn’t override your morals or willpower. 🌟 Fiction doesn’t turn people into criminals or abusers.
Hi friend! I’m happy to tell you that you, like many other people are misinformed. Original fiction is absolutely allowed on Archive of Our Own. There is in fact, a canonical works tag for it that you can see right[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
📖 It’s okay to write fiction that is florid, verbose, lengthy and extremely descriptive. 📖 It’s okay to write fiction that isn’t. 📖 Many people like to read fiction that is florid, verbose, lengthy and extremely descriptive. 📖 Many people[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
💥 It’s great to write fiction that’s weird. 💥 It’s great to write fiction that provokes disgust. 💥 It’s great to write fiction that’s difficult to understand. 💥 It’s great to write fiction that crosses social boundaries. 💥 It’s great[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
♦ It’s good to write fiction and make art about queer characters. ♦ It’s good to write romantic fiction and make romantic art about queer characters. ♦ It’s good to write sexual fiction and make sexual art about queer characters.[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
It’s okay to write about whatever you want. Write what moves you. Write what interests you. Write what you’re curious about. Write what is fascinating and disgusting to you. Write to discover what will happen. Your writing does not have[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🌠 It’s okay to take inspiration from other works of fiction. 🌠 It’s okay to see a plot and decide to write your own take on it. 🌠 There is nothing wrong with writing works that are heavily inspired by[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🌠 It’s okay to take inspiration from other works of fiction. 🌠 It’s okay to see a plot and decide to write your own take on it. 🌠 There is nothing wrong with writing works that are heavily inspired by[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🔹 You are allowed to write fiction in whatever style you want. 🔹 Your fiction writing does not have to conform to academic writing standards. 🔹 You are allowed to repeat words. 🔹 You are allowed to use dialects, incomplete[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🔹 You are allowed to write fiction in whatever style you want. 🔹 Your fiction writing does not have to conform to academic writing standards. 🔹 You are allowed to repeat words. 🔹 You are allowed to use dialects, incomplete[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🔷 Art and creativity can be just for fun! 🔷 Even art and creativity that depicts sex, suffering, harm and/or taboo topics. 🔷 Its okay for art to be just for fun! 🔷 Art for its own sake is still[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🔷 Art and creativity can be just for fun! 🔷 Even art and creativity that depicts sex, suffering, harm and/or taboo topics. 🔷 Its okay for art to be just for fun! 🔷 Art for its own sake is still[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🌟 It’s okay to make bad art. 🌟 It’s okay to make art in bad taste. 🌟 You have a right to make art that others consider to be of poor quality. 🌟 You have a right to make art[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🌟 It’s okay to make bad art. 🌟 It’s okay to make art in bad taste. 🌟 You have a right to make art that others consider to be of poor quality. 🌟 You have a right to make art[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
✨ Your art and creative works matter! ❤️ Create the art that you want to, no matter what anyone else says. 🌺 Every creative work speaks to someone. Every work of art is the art that someone needed to see.[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
✨ Your art and creative works matter! ❤️ Create the art that you want to, no matter what anyone else says. 🌺 Every creative work speaks to someone. Every work of art is the art that someone needed to see.[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🌟 You can write whatever fiction you want to. 🌟 You should write whatever fiction you want to. 🌟 There are no limits to the fiction you should write. 🌟 Your fiction does not have to teach a moral lesson.[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🌟 You can write whatever fiction you want to. 🌟 You should write whatever fiction you want to. 🌟 There are no limits to the fiction you should write. 🌟 Your fiction does not have to teach a moral lesson.[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Your creative work is meaningful. Your creative work is important. Your creative work should be shared with the world. 💕 Even if it’s off-putting or weird. 💕 Even if it’s ‘just’ fan work. 💕 Even if some people vocally hate[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Your creative work is meaningful. Your creative work is important. Your creative work should be shared with the world. 💕 Even if it’s off-putting or weird. 💕 Even if it’s ‘just’ fan work. 💕 Even if some people vocally hate[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
👉 The fiction you write, the art you create, the ships you enjoy; none of them have to please anyone but yourself. darkheart-despairs
👉 The fiction you write, the art you create, the ships you enjoy; none of them have to please anyone but yourself.
💘 It’s okay to write about toxic, unhealthy and illegal relationships in fiction. 💘 There is nothing wrong with enjoying toxic, unhealthy, or illegal relationships in fiction. 💘 Its okay even if someone accuses you of ‘romanticizing’ or ‘glorifying’ toxic,[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
💫 Create and share whatever fiction and art that you want to. 💫 Even if you think no one else is interested. 💫 Even if you think it’s unmarketable. 💫 Even if you think people will call it self-indulgent. 💫[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
⭐ There’s nothing wrong with writing fiction with dark and awful themes and elements. ⭐ There’s nothing wrong with enjoying fiction with dark and awful themes and elements. ⭐ There’s nothing wrong with enjoying writing fiction with dark and awful[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🌠 It’s okay to write or enjoy that type of fiction. 🌠 Yes, that type of fiction, too. 🌠 Yes, even that type of fiction. 🌠 Yes, the type of fiction you’re thinking of right now. 🌠 Yes, the fiction[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
💖 There is nothing wrong with writing about sex. 💖 There is nothing wrong with writing erotica or smut. 💖 Not all writing about sex is erotica or smut. 💖 Fiction about sex has just as much artistic merit as[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
⭐ There is no problem with adults writing stories about child characters. ⭐ There is no problem with adults writing stories about child characters for an audience that isn’t children. ⭐ There is no problem with adults writing stories about[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
💖 It’s okay to create any art or fiction that you want to, for any reason. 💖 It’s okay to enjoy any art or fiction that you enjoy, for any reason. 💖 Your taste in art and fiction do not[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🔸 It’s okay to write fiction for a small audience. 🔸 It’s okay to write fiction you don’t think many people will understand and connect to. 🔸 It’s okay to write fiction that isn’t intended to be mass market or[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
🔹 It’s okay to struggle with your writing. 🔹 Every writer sometimes struggles with their writing. 🔹 It’s okay to struggle to get words on the page. 🔹 It’s okay to feel like your writing is not up to your[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…