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okay so there are three types of writers when it comes to dialogue tags.
the first type writes this:
"i can't believe you did that," she exclaimed breathlessly, her voice trembling with barely concealed emotion.
the second type writes this:
"i can't believe you did that," she said. "i just — i can't." "i know," he said. "do you?" she said. "yeah," he said.
and the third type has been told "said is invisible" so many times they've started doing this:
"i can't believe you did that," she whispered-yelled, her eyes flashing.
all three of these are wrong. (sorry.)
this is what's actually happening in each case.
1. the purple tagger
"you BETRAYED me," he snarled furiously.
the problem isn't the snarl. the problem is furiously. if he's snarling, we know he's not delighted. the adverb is doing work the verb already did, which means you don't trust your own writing. and your reader can feel that.
also: people cannot hiss words that don't have an s in them. "i love you," she hissed. no she didn't. she CAN'T have.
fix: one strong verb OR one adverb. never both. and only when said genuinely doesn't cut it.
2. the said-only purist
said IS invisible. that's true. but a page of nothing but "said" in a tense scene creates this weird flat affect where everything feels equally weighted. the invisibility is the problem, not the solution.
"get out," she said.
versus
"get out." she didn't look up from the counter.
the second one has no attribution at all. we know who's talking. and now we know she's not even giving him the dignity of eye contact. that's CHARACTER. that's free.
action beats do more work than tags. use them.
3. the said-is-dead convert
this one genuinely pains me because it usually comes from good advice received badly. someone told you to vary your tags, and now your characters are interjecting, conceding, deflecting, and sighing their dialogue like a victorian novel.
"we need to leave," he urged. "i'm not ready," she hedged.
hedged. HEDGED. what is she, a financial advisor.
the rule isn't "never use said." the rule is: your tag should disappear, and the line itself should carry the weight. if you need urged to tell me he's urgent, the line isn't doing its job.
the actual framework (one sentence)
ask yourself: does this tag add information the line doesn't already have, or am I patching a weak line with a strong verb?
if it's patching, rewrite the line.
- rin t. ✨
Hey tumblr, a close friend of mine and her family are going through a really difficult time right now. I don't usually share things like this, but seeing what she's been facing, especially alongside her mother and siblings, has been heartbreaking. her mother just created it and asked me to share it!
If you're able to donate to her GoFundMe to help prevent their eviction, it would mean so much. If not, sharing is appreciated too. ❤️:
Since 2022, my family and I have faced homelessness on and off, struggling to find stabi… Leandra m needs your support for Help My Family St
this has got to be the first time i saw someone refer to the size of their fanfiction by kilobytes instead of something standard like cws, word count, pages or even chapters - why say "600kb" ? 👀
Because it’s written in Chinese. I don’t know how big it is in English.
Struggling with emotional scenes? Here are some tips for writing emotion!
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1. While you’re writing, try to build an explanation for their feelings. What triggered their emotion? Is their reaction rational or are they overreacting? Do they fight, flight, fawn or freeze when provoked? Do they feel threatened?
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2. Show, don’t tell. Describe what is happening instead of plainly stating the situation. Try not to use words like sad, happy, devastated, in pain, angry, nervous, scared, or worried. They cut back on the emotional integrity of the scene and make it hard for readers to connect with your characters. Here are some different behaviors for different emotions.
-Eager-
Bouncing up and down
Unable to sit still
Breathing deeply
Fidgeting
Pretending to do something
Trying to stay busy
Constantly looking at the clock
-Nervous-
Red and hot face
Sweaty palms
Voice cracks
Shaky hands
Biting nails
Biting lips/inside of cheek
Wide eyes
Shallow breathing
Heart racing
-Excited-
Wide smile
Squeal/scream
Bouncing up and down
Fidgeting
Playing with hands
Tapping foot
Talking fast
Tapping pencil
Pacing back and forth
-Scared-
Curling up/bringing knees to head
Closing eyes
Covering ears
Stop breathing or breathing quickly
Biting nails
Shaking
Gritting teeth
Hugging/squeezing something tight
-Frustrated-
Stomping
Grunting/mumbling/yelling
Deep breaths
Red and hot face
Hitting/kicking something
Pointing
Straining/veins become more visible
-Sobbing-
Eyes filling up with tears
Eyes burn/turn red
Red cheeks
Face becomes puffy
Pursed lips
Holding head down
Hyperventilating
Fast blinking
Trying not to blink/holding back tears
-Happy-
Smiling wide
Laughing loudly
Cheeks hurting
Talking loudly
Higher pitched voice
Animated/expressive
-Upset-
Walking slowly/shuffling feet
Head down/avoiding eye contact
Biting inside of cheek
Dissociation
Keeping quiet
Fidgeting
-Bored-
Pacing back and forth
Sighing loudly
Complaining
Fidgeting
Blank face
Looking for something to do
Making up stories
Talking about random topics
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3. Try and bring some trauma into your character’s emotions. For example, something might happen that reminds them of a suppressed/traumatic memory. This is an easy way to hook your reader and have them really feel like your character is a real person with real emotions. They might have some internal conflict they need to work through and a certain situation reminds them of that. They might become irritable at the thought of their traumatic experience and they might snap at whoever is nearby.
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4. Most characters won’t dump their entire backstory or feelings in a conversation. Try and reserve your character’s emotions to make more interesting scenes later on. For example, your character may be triggered and someone may ask them what’s wrong. Will they give in, soften up and share? Or will they cut themself off and say they’re fine? Also take into account that your character might not know the other character very well and won’t be comfortable sharing personal information with them, like details regarding their trauma.
=========
5. Last but not least, you don’t need to have a major event happen to connect emotionally with your audience. You don’t have to kill off a character every time you need to spice up your story, even simple interactions can just help your readers understand your character better. Show how they react to certain topics or situations. Describe their feelings, their surroundings, their body language. Their defense mechanisms will help the audience to better understand what kind of person they are.
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Note this is how to utilize them in your story and not going into the physical details how how to write every type of injury, because that second one would both stretch my medical knowledge and be way too expansive for a tumblr post.
1) Research
Knowing about the malady you are afflicting your character with is important. In the most optimal case this involves talking to an actual medical professional who is well-versed on that type of injury. However, since not all of us have doctors at our beck and call, a few articles from decent sources can suffice. Typically you're going to want these pieces of info:
symptoms (description fodder)
mechanism (how could this injury be sustained?)
level of impairment (know how and to what level the injury would reasonably impair someone. This info might need more digging around than the others)
healing time (know how long it takes to heal from this injury)
treatment (potentially including symptom management)
Having this knowledge will help ground your story in at least a touch of realism. Make sure your symptoms match the injury, make sure the mechanism of the injury is sufficient and just overall makes sense for the injury, don't have someone with a broken leg strolling around like nothing happened, don't have the healing time unexplainably short or long, don't treat shock by trying to cool them off, etc.
A quick note, if you are doing a fantasy/not-real injury or illness you don't get to necessarily skip this step. In fact, imo, it can become even harder since you have to fill in these details yourself. Remember, internal consistency is key.
2) Attach Relevance
You want the injury to matter to the plot or character development. Does the broken leg prevent a character from joining a big battle? Does the flu present an extra challenge to going to their daughter's dance recital? Does being weak or out of the action aggravate their hero complex or self worth issues prompting growth or self-reflection? Does a captive's injuries complicate a rescue mission? Does having their dominant arm injured force a usually brunt force reliant powerhouse to be more creative in their strategies? Does the overpowered character have to rely on their friends/allies more because of a certain injury?
Use the injury to show the level of a character's commitment or mental toughness, use it as an obstacle they have to work around, use it to up the stakes, use it to force them to be vulnerable or else show how unwilling they are to being vulnerable, use it to thwart the main team's perfect plan, use it to push a situation into even more dire straits, use it as an alternative to character death, etc etc. These are just a few ideas, there are numerous different ways you can use different injuries/illnesses in stories. Really think about how it could affect or reveal things about the plot, characters, and relationships.
As always, remember writing advice is highly subjective. Find what works for you. My number one writing advice is always to not take writing advice as hard truths :) happy writing!
How many drafts should you go through before deciding your novel is ready?
There's no specific (official) number, but to create a foundation that ensures you don't burn out quickly, overwork yourself, and get tired of your work, I'll say four. It's the same number I use for my students since most of them have other engagements outside writing that take up a copious amount of their time.
1. Initial or Zero Draft:
This draft is also called the 'just write' draft. Focus on putting that idea down. As the creative juices flow, let it all out. Don't worry about perfection or coherence; the goal is to capture your raw ideas and get the story out of your head and onto the page.
2. Second Draft:
This is the plot draft. Read through what you have written to see if every detail you added was meant to be. Here, you focus on the structure of your story. Ensure that the plot makes sense, the pacing is right, and there are no major plot holes. This is where you might add, remove, or rearrange scenes to improve the overall flow of the narrative.
3. Third Draft:
Character development draft. In this stage, you look deeper into your characters. Make sure their motivations, backgrounds, and arcs are well-defined and consistent. Flesh out their personalities and relationships, ensuring they are compelling and believable. This is also a good time to refine dialogue and make sure it sounds natural and true to each character. That's for this drafting stage.
4. Fourth Draft:
Grammar and punctuation draft. This is the polishing stage. Focus on correcting grammatical errors, punctuation, and spelling mistakes. Pay attention to sentence structure, word choice, and overall readability. This draft is about making your manuscript as clean and professional as possible.
Keep in mind that the goal is to define what completion means for each draft. Once you reach the goal, take a break and return to it for the next drafting stage.
Some writers pay people to carry out some of the drafting stages for them, so if you fall into that category, you might have fewer drafting stages to handle yourself!
Other Words for "Look" + With meanings | List for writers
Many people create lists of synonyms for the word 'said,' but what about the word 'look'? Here are some synonyms that I enjoy using in my writing, along with their meanings for your reference. While all these words relate to 'look,' they each carry distinct meanings and nuances, so I thought it would be helpful to provide meanings for each one.
Gaze - To look steadily and intently, especially in admiration or thought.
Glance - A brief or hurried look.
Peek - A quick and typically secretive look.
Peer - To look with difficulty or concentration.
Scan - To look over quickly but thoroughly.
Observe - To watch carefully and attentively.
Inspect - To look at closely in order to assess condition or quality.
Stare - To look fixedly or vacantly at someone or something.
Glimpse - To see or perceive briefly or partially.
Eye - To look or stare at intently.
Peruse - To read or examine something with great care.
Scrutinize - To examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
Behold - To see or observe a thing or person, especially a remarkable one.
Witness - To see something happen, typically a significant event.
Spot - To see, notice, or recognize someone or something.
Contemplate - To look thoughtfully for a long time at.
Sight - To suddenly or unexpectedly see something or someone.
Ogle - To stare at in a lecherous manner.
Leer - To look or gaze in an unpleasant, malicious way.
Gawk - To stare openly and stupidly.
Gape - To stare with one's mouth open wide, in amazement.
Squint - To look with eyes partially closed.
Regard - To consider or think of in a specified way.
Admire - To regard with pleasure, wonder, and approval.
Skim - To look through quickly to gain superficial knowledge.
Reconnoiter - To make a military observation of a region.
Flick - To look or move the eyes quickly.
Rake - To look through something rapidly and unsystematically.
Glare - To look angrily or fiercely.
Peep - To look quickly and secretly through an opening.
Focus - To concentrate one's visual effort on.
Discover - To find or realize something not clear before.
Spot-check - To examine something briefly or at random.
Devour - To look over with eager enthusiasm.
Examine - To inspect in detail to determine condition.
Feast one's eyes - To look at something with great enjoyment.
Catch sight of - To suddenly or unexpectedly see.
Clap eyes on - To suddenly see someone or something.
Set eyes on - To look at, especially for the first time.
Take a dekko - Colloquial for taking a look.
Leer at - To look or gaze in a suggestive manner.
Rubberneck - To stare at something in a foolish way.
Make out - To manage to see or read with difficulty.
Lay eyes on - To see or look at.
Pore over - To look at or read something intently.
Ogle at - To look at in a lecherous or predatory way.
Pry - To look or inquire into something in a determined manner.
Dart - To look quickly or furtively.
Drink in - To look at with great enjoyment or fascination.
Bask in - To look at or enjoy something for a period of time.
Calling all aspiring storytellers with hearts full of whimsy! Get ready to sprinkle a touch of enchantment into your scenes with my Scene Wo
683 members, 435 posts about #creative writing #creative writers #helping writers • Guiding Writers to New Heights
being a hobbyist writer means oscillating between 'i don’t care if no one reads my work, it’s just for me' and 'i need my debut novel to outsell tolkien and rowling combined.'
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Hi. Since I always encounter with people here asking about writing motivation and staying focused on one project, I’d like to share some experiences of mine on this. Hope they’ll be helpful to you.
My approach is quite traditional, but it really works for me:
1. I start by creating a rough story outline and then turn it into a list of scenes/events to ensure I stay on track with the overall direction and trajectory of the story. This helps me avoid falling into logical dead ends or plot design issues. Which once is taken care of, I can shift my focus to writing individual scenes (this part involves free writing, where I freely construct the specific content and elements of each scene, as long as the story’s direction remains intact). I make sure to write a little every day, no matter how little, and even if I don’t get much done, I at least open my computer, pull up the document, and stare at it for a while.
2. I always make sure my tablet, keyboard, and mouse are together in the center of my desk, so I can start writing immediately just by turning on my computer. Additionally, I only work on one fanfiction at a time. If I get other ideas, I jot them down in the notes app on my phone or in a notebook and save them for later, only starting them after I’ve finished my current story.
3. When inspiration doesn’t come in the order of the story, I jot it down in the notes document for each scene. (Yes, I number every scene/story event and create a notes document as well as a draft document for each.) This way, I don’t have to worry about forgetting the idea or being unable to find it later.
4. I roughly outline each scene and record them, numbered, in the scene notes document.
5. With all of this in place, I start writing from whichever scene I feel is easiest to complete (yes, I don’t write the story in order). I work through each scene/event one by one, treating them as smaller tasks to accomplish. After completing a scene, I allow myself a few days off as a reward. Starting a new scene is always the hardest part, so whenever I begin a new one, I first add some pre-recorded fragments, a sentence I wrote earlier, or even just the scene number at the top of the document. This helps me avoid the intimidation of a completely blank page and prevents my brain from going into full avoidance mode.
6. I have a card notebook where I list all the scene numbers. Every time I finish a scene, I circle the corresponding number. This allows me to clearly see my progress and accomplishments. Additionally, I keep track of all the dates I write, even if I only write a single word that day.
7. I make sure to get enough sleep and proper nutrition for my brain, and I try not to stay up late writing. I believe that writing and imagining are extremely energy-intensive mental activities, so it’s essential to keep my brain healthy and well-fueled. A strong body is equally important, so I also do some exercises to maintain a clear mind.
8. If I get ideas for other stories while working on one, I usually jot them down roughly and archive them for later use. Additionally, I don’t think that unrelated story fragments can’t be connected and combined into a longer, cohesive narrative. Generally, a story isn’t made up of just one single idea or element. If you have multiple fragments, you can try blending and linking them together. This might even lead to something like Inception or Cloud Atlas.
(In fact, I believe that an inability to focus on writing a single story is often due to difficulties encountered in the current plot development or the lack of a basic story framework during the planning stage. The author of Story mentions that not every idea is strong enough to develop into a complete narrative. Therefore, brainstorming and refining the core theme of a story in advance is equally important. It serves as a foundational blueprint, helping us avoid getting stuck or losing direction later on.
More importantly, if you aim to complete a full-length story, do not shift your attention when facing with temptations or obstacles. Instead, accept the reality of being stuck and give yourself some downtime. Revisit your script or characters, explore other works in the same genre, and absorb more content. Soon, new inspiration will find its way to you.);)
By this way, I write for about an hour each day, and so far, I’ve been doing it consistently for a year and eight months And focusing on one object.
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someone I follow on the bird app just announced they’re starting a very exclusive private fic server because they and a bunch of other people want to talk about how much they love the fics they’re reading, and as an author can I just say that a really great place to talk about a fic you love is in the comments for that fic
I understand that people are trying to create safe spaces, but as the number of comments that I get on my fics dwindles with each passing year, knowing these spaces exist where my fics are being discussed, places that I am excluded from, makes me want to write fic LESS
I mean I guess who cares, right, because if I stop writing, there’s 10,000 other people that will continue…but if you participate in a fic “book club” server and you say nice things there about a fic you loved, maybe copy and paste that into a comment on AO3?
the only thing fanfic writers are asking for in return for hours of hard work is attention. please don’t rob us of the one thing that we hope for when we hit “post”
this is directly related to this post I made about how fanfic authors now are treated like content mills, and not like valued members of a creative community who thrive on interaction. for the past decade, we’ve watched the fandom ecosystem disrupted over and over, as NSFW fan artists seek safety by putting their work behind paywalls, and self-conscious fic readers squirrel away their feelings in invite-only communities
an easy way to do your part to fight against the evils perpetrated by social media is to leave a comment on a fanfic you love
The fact I had a fic that was fairly beloved and NO ONE commented on it because it was all being done in a fucking book club server made me want to scream.
I cannot express enough how imperative it is to show the writer how much you love their work. The comments don’t have to be novels themselves - even just an “I loved this so much!” Or keyboard smashing works wonders to keep the writer going. Please, we need to bring back supporting writers and artists now more than ever!!!
PLUS, plus…if people are talking about fic in private servers and not telling the authors, those people get the idea that the fic writer is “big.” Meanwhile the fic writer is sitting there, staring at a Google doc, struggling to find the motivation to write the next chapter, with 2 comments on a 20k fic.
They don’t feel big. They don’t feel appreciated. They don’t feel motivated. And they might stop writing or shelve their fic, never knowing that people were loving it in private.
Honestly this is the same for social media threads or even on this very app. If you can, tag the author. A lot of us have our socials in our AO3 profiles.
Like, it’s not even really about getting “repaid” so much as it is that we want to be part of the conversation and community too. That’s why we wrote and posted the fic - we want to have those discussions about characterization and omg that one moment in the last episode and etc. The fic is our opener. And when no one says anything where we can see, how can we be part of the discussion and community we want so badly?
Writing Tip - How To Make Fight Scenes Interesting
More writing tips
So, when it comes to writing fight scenes, as I have done quite a few of them, there's some things I keep in mind.
Ensure Consistent Character Abilities: Characters should fight consistently throughout the scene. They shouldn’t magically become stronger or weaker without a clear reason. Consistency in their abilities helps maintain believability.
Avoid Making Heroes Invincible: I prefer not to portray heroes as invulnerable, as seen in many 80s action movies. Instead, I include moments where the hero gets hit, shows visible injuries, and shows fatigue. This makes them feel more human and improves the significance of their victories. It’s hard to create a sense of urgency if the characters don’t seem to be in real danger.
Portray Antagonists as Competent: I avoid depicting random cannon fodder as foolish by having them attack one at a time or easily get knocked out. Instead, I show them employing smart tactics such as ganging up on the hero and even getting back up after being knocked down.
Incorporate the Environment: Don’t forget to include the surroundings. Whether the fight takes place in a cramped alley, on a rain-soaked rooftop, or in a collapsing building, use the environment creatively. Characters can use objects as weapons, find cover, or struggle against challenging terrain.
Highlight Self-Inflicted Pain: Characters can hurt themselves just as much as their opponents. For instance, after landing a powerful right hook, a character might need to pause and shake off their hand in pain. This not only adds realism but also highlights the toll that fighting takes on the body.
Show Consequences After the Fight: Consider what happens after the battle concludes. Do injuries slow the hero down and limit their abilities for the rest of the story?
These are just a few tips for now. I am planning to release more tips on how I write my fight scenes with some examples included. See you then!
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