Just a little faery bathing in dirty teacups

one character knowing something offhandedly that they shouldn't, isn't addressed until later

the crow rhyme

colours!! esp if like, blue is evil in your world and the mc's best friend is always noted to wear blue...betrayal?

write with the ending in mind

use patterns from tragic past events to warn of the future

keep the characters distracted! run it in the background until the grand reveal

WEATHER.

do some research into Chekhov's gun

mention something that the mc dismisses over and over

KEEP TRACK OF WHAT YOU PUT. don't leave things hanging.

unreliable characters giving information that turn out to be true

flowers and names with meanings

anything with meanings actually

metaphors. if one character describes another as "a real demon" and the other turns out to be the bad guy, you're kind of like...ohhh yeahhh

one for sorrow,

two for mirth.

three for a wedding

four for a birth

five for silver

six for gold

seven for a secret never to be told

eight for a wish

nine for a kiss

ten a bird you should never miss

eleven for health

twelve for wealth

thirteen beware

* i just used the songs on some of my playlists, change pronouns / wording as needed .

Curses. 

❝  every word i say is kindling. ❞

❝  but the smoke clears when you’re around. ❞

❝  won’t you stay with me, my darling, when my walls start burning down. ❞

❝  the devil’s after both of us. ❞

❝  lay my curses out to rest, make a mercy out of me. ❞ 

❝  all my aching bones are trembling and I may yet fall apart. ❞

Never Love An Anchor .

❝  on some level I think I always understood, that these hands of mine were clumsy not clever. ❞

❝  try as I might I could not bring myself to hold you. ❞

❝  it’s a secret I keep tucked inside my chest, with this heart of mine that’s guilty not remorsefu.l ❞

❝  there are times where I still wonder about you. ❞

❝  you are someone I have loved but never known. ❞

❝  and you’ll never see the reasons I had, for keeping my claws away when they were close enough to hurt you. ❞

❝  i am selfish i am broken i am cruel. ❞

Ribs .

❝ but no one gave up a rib for me and mine. ❞

❝  time has changed the metaphor. ❞ 

❝  oh my precious child, how lucky you are. ❞

❝  the dark doesn’t frighten me, i chose to close my eyes. ❞

❝  the night doesn’t frighten me, i chose to let it thrive. ❞

❝  don’t let them sell you any armour, your ribs are still your own. ❞

Metaphor .

❝  you can’t trust a single thing i say ❞

❝  i keep my closet free of skeletons ❞

I've noticed this huge trend where creators on tiktok and tumblr who will be explaining how to use Archive Of Our Own to new users and they always say "and make sure to scroll down and click completed only" or how people will go out of their way to mention they only read completed fics 'because they were traumatized when they forgot to check the dates and didn't realize this fic hadn't been updated since 2012'.

The thing is - I think by not engaging with and/or actively avoiding writer's WIPs readers are potentially adding to the aggregate of abandoned works. Now this obviously isn't the case for all abandoned fics, anything from major life events, to loss of interest, to getting busy can be a reason for a fic getting abandoned - but at least on some level I just know that writers are quitting while they're ahead when they aren't garnering any response or feedback because reading WIPs has become unpopular. If you're worried about reading something that hasn't been updated since 2012 then you can use the date updated function to sort out old fics.

it’s very much appreciated !

i don’t necessarily have any like ‘don’t write this’ or ‘only write this’ kind of dos and don’ts but here’s a few tips that may help!

don’t listen to the ‘i hate when writers use this word for that body part’ or etc, because you can’t please everyone. use the words that feel most comfortable and best for you. if people don’t like it they do not have to read it, or worse case they skip over the word and continue reading the fic. there’s only so many words to describe a dick!!!

and with the above said: don’t try to appease/please anyone but yourself. at the end of the day YOU are the writer, if you’re writing what does not feel right with you it’s going to show in your work and the words will not flow. if you want to write smut but only explain the feelings? go for it. if you want to write toe curling i need jesus smut using the word rod for dick? do it! write what feels right to you and ONLY you!

there are so many posts and masterlists on here on how to write smut for beginners and they have tons of tips, whether that may be reading others works to get the vibes and how scenes flow, or going on the hub and seeing how the mechanics work to help you put it into words. so i highly suggest utilizing those sources (a simple search on here or google will put you in the right direction)

but here’s an excellent ‘smut guide’ that i came across years and years ago that can also help!

a little something that i personally think adds an extra umph to smut is adding the inner monologue / feelings of it all. we know what’s happening but how is it making the characters feel? what are they thinking when character a makes that noise etc etc

don’t be afraid to reach out to your fav writers and ask for tips from them as well, this community may seem intimidating but some of us are so welcoming and ready to help <3

anticipation - bouncing legs - darting eyes - breathing deeply - useless / mindless tasks - eyes on the clock - checking and re-checking

frustration - grumbling - heavy footsteps - hot flush - narrowed eyes - pointing fingers - pacing / stomping

sadness - eyes filling up with tears - blinking quickly - hiccuped breaths - face turned away - red / burning cheeks - short sentences with gulps

happiness - smiling / cheeks hurting - animated - chest hurts from laughing - rapid movements - eye contact - quick speaking

boredom - complaining - sighing - grumbling - pacing - leg bouncing - picking at nails

fear - quick heartbeat - shaking / clammy hands - pinching self - tuck away - closing eyes - clenched hands

disappointment - no eye contact - hard swallow - clenched hands - tears, occasionally - mhm-hmm

tiredness - spacing out - eyes closing - nodding head absently - long sighs - no eye contact - grim smile

"You have done many things right and I want to kiss you on the mouth for them."

"I... I can't forgive myself. I've made too many mistakes."