DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN
- a character who is physically strong
- a character who is mentally strong
- a character who is emotionally strong
ABSOLUTELY MEANS
- a character who makes her own choices, even if they’re mistakes
- a character whose point of view is explored at least briefly
- a character who is the hero of her own story whether she knows it or not
And that’s just a strong character, really.
(via thesoapboxist)
(Source: amandaonwriting, via beatwritersbane)
Because writers have various ways of writing, a variety of things can cause a writer to experience anxiety, and sometimes this anxiety leads to writer’s block. Often a solution can be found by speaking with your instructor (if you are in school), or a writing tutor. There are some common causes of writer’s block, however, and when you are blocked, consider these causes and try the strategies that sound most promising:
(via beatwritersbane)
I’ve been lacking motivation lately and I’ve been having a lot of trouble focusing on one project. I usually like to see something through, but I just haven’t found the one story idea I can stay connected to. So, I started thinking about whether or not it’s ever a good idea to set a story aside for a while to work on something that inspires you more. Will that just lead to a lot of unfinished manuscripts as I float from one project to the next?
One of the hardest obstacles you will face as a writer will be committing to something until you finish. Many writers fail because they give up at some point. Loads of writers don’t even make it through their first drafts. You need to be able to see something to the end if you ever want to get published. You need to be able to focus your talents and energy. I’m a firm believer in pushing yourself because it will only make you a better writer. However, there’s a difference between pushing yourself and forcing yourself.
If you’re really not connecting with whatever you’re working on, you’re probably not writing under the best circumstances. If you’ve started a new story and you realize that you just don’t like the idea as much as you first thought, it’s okay to move on. Not all of your ideas will work out. Not everything you think of will be a winning story idea.
I do urge you, however, to finish a story if you’ve invested a lot of time in it. If you’re twenty pages away from completing something that you’ve already spent months on, try to find that motivation you had when you started. That story is worth finishing and you should give yourself that extra push. If you wrote that much already, chances are you really care about that story. Try to judge by the time invested.
-Kris Noel
(via beatwritersbane)
There have been a few guides floating around on ‘how to play a cancer patient’ though I haven’t seen any on how to play a sibling of a cancer patient. It is equally important. Disclaimer: There is no specific way of how people react this is just from research and personal experience.
(via beatwritersbane)
DO:
- Repeat whatever you’re writing at least three times. If you only do it twice, it usually looks like an accident.
- Repeat for emotional effect or to show similarities between two otherwise different things.
- Use the same sentence structure for each repetition.
DON’T:
- Repeat something because you don’t think your readers will get it the first time.
- Repeat so you can *really* establish something as opposed to just establishing it.
- Get annoying.
(via beatwritersbane)
A short list of several types of poison and their effects.
(Source: ink-moth, via beatwritersbane)
A Guide To Writing A Character With A Hangover:
We’ve all read the guides where we learn how to be drunk, but what about the aftermath? Is the truth really as dramatic as the movies? Let’s not talk about the Hangover, or Hangover 2, or Hangover 3. Let’s talk about real actual effects and feelings you have when you have a bit too much to drink.
(via beatwritersbane)
asked writingbox:I really want to start writing my first original story but I have no idea where to start! I’ve written lots of fanfiction stories because it’s easier when you already have a starting point and characters to work off of; but I’m ready to start something completely from scratch. Where do I start?
First, good on you! The leap from fan fiction to original work can be a daunting one.
Second, where to start. Any story begins with an idea. Just the one; that really is all you need to kick things off. It might be a character idea, or just a character’s name, a setting, a single plot idea.
One really good place to start with this is prompts. Here are a few Tumblr blogs that post regular writing prompts:
There are many more; search the tags for ‘writing prompts’. There are other great ways to find inspiration too. Try visiting Flickr and exploring ‘recent photos’, see if anything sparks off an idea. Visit Wikipedia and pull up a random article. Visit coffee shops and eavesdrop on conversations. Visit a junk shop and find an interesting object; think about the person who might have owned it.
Try using a Character Chart to build up an understanding of who your characters are.
And start small. you don’t need to jump straight into writing a novel. Try writing flash fiction, or just individual scenes.
Hope all that helps. Good luck!
(via beatwritersbane)
We know you’ve been working very hard on your screenplay, but before you go looking for some professional feedback, you…The story described was clearly of great importance to him, but he had done nothing to convey its specifics to an impartial reader. What I was handed was, essentially, a barely coherent list of events, some connected, some not so much.
This is literally how I feel every time someone asks me to look over an art piece and completely ignores all redlines, suggestions, etc.
If you do not want an honest opinion and real help to improve then do not waste a person’s time.
Just read it.
It is important.
Trust me, this is good to keep in mind.
A place for all things pertaining to my writing. Please feel free to leave feedback and other thoughts. Blessed Be.
