aaahhhh

How did Selwyn become your favorite? I’m genuinely asking and not trying to insulting. I need insight.

I’ve just finished LegendBorn and as of right now he is good friend if anything but I can not even bring myself to ship him with the m.c. or find anything romantic about him because he was , for lack of a better term, so mean for SO MANY (too many) CHAPTERS.

Maybe it’s because I haven’t been exposed to that many enemies to lovers, especially in book series but…I don’t get the Selwyn hype.

But it’s not like Sel was solely targeting her for because she was black, Bree stuck out like sore thumb based on her actions alone, clearly had no clue what was going on and Sel having this protector type role in within this org (especially when it came to Nick) his suspicion is justified…just way too intense.

sure he only been around white people and only white people have been on the order but to assume only white people can use magic in the world and anyone not white using magic would be a shadowborn…that in itself is racist.

Bree stuck out because she was black no other reason why she stuck out so much so that does mean he was after her because she was black just with extra steps really. Plus he said it himself how ashamed he was to think she was a shadowborn…hm maybe he’s ashamed for another reason too or he should be.

Again, not saying that Selwyn’s actions weren’t inherently racist due to the fact that the entirety of this society and how it functions is racist which is a major plot point of the book.

Which why there was the Nick route of his interactions with Bree (a helpful nature)

And the Selwyn route of interactions with Bree (treating everything he doesn’t understand as a threat) I.e the borderline racist route which just reiterated the plot of the book

Maybe because if I were put in those shoes I wouldn’t even pay attention to the extra steps I would just noticed that “your family has never been here before so clearly you don’t need to be here either no matter what their skin color was” but would definitely NOT be as hostile as Sel😭

How did Selwyn become your favorite? I’m genuinely asking and not trying to insulting. I need insight.

I’ve just finished LegendBorn and as of right now he is good friend if anything but I can not even bring myself to ship him with the m.c. or find anything romantic about him because he was , for lack of a better term, so mean for SO MANY (too many) CHAPTERS.

Maybe it’s because I haven’t been exposed to that many enemies to lovers, especially in book series but…I don’t get the Selwyn hype.

But it’s not like Sel was solely targeting her for because she was black, Bree stuck out like sore thumb based on her actions alone, clearly had no clue what was going on and Sel having this protector type role in within this org (especially when it came to Nick) his suspicion is justified…just way too intense.

This is a worksheet for people like me, who see the dreaded Triangular Mountain of Plot Points and curl up inside. Stories don’t always need to form the shape of a triangle with their conflict, climax, and resolution.

Try these steps out to make a rough draft of your first plotline.

(I say first because most writers always go back and add or delete ideas along the way! What you plan with these steps doesn’t have to be permanent.)

Step 1: Set the Scene

Filling out these points will expand your story and make it seem more real in your mind, if it isn’t something that you have a good concept of already.

This is the step you’ll want to return to if you’re struggling to write later because there aren’t enough concrete details about your fictional world/cast of characters.

My story takes place in (city, country, kingdom, world, universe): __________

The year is: _____

My character(s) is(are): __________

Their current situation is: __________

Step 2: Pinpoint Your Theme

Stories have themes, even when you don’t realize it. Concrete themes, like survival, love, or death, are more straightforward. In Room, the story is about how the main characters survive through a testament to their love for each other.

Or you could want to write about something more fluid, like the experience of growing up. A coming of age theme (like in The Perks of Being a Wallflower) will demonstrate how the young protagonist matures in their identity or their world view by the end of the book.

Whatever your theme is, write it at the top of your planning page or document. I’ve found that I have to return it while outlining when I feel lost or stuck. It’s easy to wander away from your theme when you get excited or if it’s been a while since you got your initial idea. (And you’ll need a concrete theme if you decide to pitch your manuscript to literary agents, so you’re saving your future self a bit of extra work.)

Step 3: Create Your Initial Conflict

Every story needs an initial conflict to kick things off, even if your outline would look more like the line on a heart rate monitor than a triangle. Think about Georgie sailing his boat down the street and going missing in It or Prim getting selected at the reaping in The Hunger Games.

__________ will happen to X character(s) and cause them to react by doing __________.

Because my character(s) had that reaction, the world starts changing by __________.

Step 4: Make Each Chapter a Bullet Point

Chapter One

This will likely include all of the information you planned from Step 1 and 2. The initial conflict is often the hook at the end of the first chapter, but it can happen before or after too!

Chapter Two

When my character sees the world changing in the above ways, they respond by doing __________.

Chapter Three (etc.)

Keep in mind that each chapter needs to have a point that drives your character or plot towards your main theme or conclusion.

Don’t panic if you don’t have all the details of your plot in mind yet! Remember, this bullet point stage is for rough draft planning. You could come up with five chapters that end the book. That’s awesome—go write what you plan!

You’ll get more ideas as you start writing. When inspiration strikes, jump back into the heart of your bullet point list and thread ideas in wherever they fit best. That’s what’s so great about working with a list form instead of writing everything in a simple shape. You have endless room and the eternal ability to expand your fictional world.

Sometimes this part of novel outlining takes me a month. Sometimes many. It depends on how vivid the story is to me when I think about it.

Most of the time, I let my outlines marinate. Make this bullet point list or one without chapter headers. Open your notes when you get an idea for a scene detail, a conflict, dialogue, or anything else. When you want to organize, you’ll have pages of thoughts that came to you while you were working out or grocery shopping. Use them as inspiration to piece together a longer story (or throw out the ideas that aren’t as great as you thought they were).

Step 4: Read Through Your Outline

You’ll have quite a few things going on within your outline at this point, so review everything when you feel like you’ve reached the halfway point or end of your story. You’ll get a feel for the flow, see if the thematic threads or character arcs connect where they should, and spot gaps that need more details.

Writers who don’t typically plan—don’t worry. Read through your bullet point list to refresh yourself.

If you don’t get any ideas like the list above, just start writing. You can update your list with what you write in each chapter as you go, just so you’ll always know where you are in the plot when you sit back down to write again.

Step 5: Check Your Theme or Point

After reviewing your outline, consider if it carries and fulfills your theme or main point that you listed at the top of your document. It should! That’s what creates the bliss of closing a book and knowing every loose end got tied up.

Step 6: Write Your Heart Out

Writers who haven’t written with an existing outline might panic a bit here too. Let me set the scene—when I have a working bullet list outline, I keep it open in its own tab. Then I have another tab with my manuscript.

I usually split my screen in half so I can see both documents, but the manuscript takes up more space so I can see the entirety of each paragraph. I review where I’m at in my outline, then jump into the writing process. The outline is always a click away if I can’t quite remember where the chapter is going, what specific details I planned, or where it’s supposed to end.

Optional Step: Include a “Possible Plot Points” Section

I love letting outlines sit so I can add to them over the course of weeks or even months. At the same time, it creates tons of random ideas that don’t always fit into my outline when I sift through everything and make chapter headings.

The ideas or details that don’t make my outline go in a separate section that I call “Possible Plot Points.” If a chapter is noticeably short, boring, or just plain missing something, I’ll go back to this section. There’s usually something that I can add into my current chapter. Most of the time, I get inspired by the old ideas.

Nothing you write down during your outlining is a waste! Save it all. The stuff you don’t use will become useful later, I promise.

***

How did Selwyn become your favorite? I’m genuinely asking and not trying to insulting. I need insight.

I’ve just finished LegendBorn and as of right now he is good friend if anything but I can not even bring myself to ship him with the m.c. or find anything romantic about him because he was , for lack of a better term, so mean for SO MANY (too many) CHAPTERS.

Maybe it’s because I haven’t been exposed to that many enemies to lovers, especially in book series but…I don’t get the Selwyn hype.

lads if i ever have to type “pin against the wall” ever again in this lifetime, it’ll be too soon, but i really hope you enjoy these!! if you think of more that you would like to be added, let me know! please do NOT add more in the reblogs, it is VERY likely that i can and will be making a second part to this list! now go drink some water and i hope y’all enjoy the memes!

[ KISS ]:     sender pins receiver against the wall and kisses them passionately.

[ ANGER ]:     sender pins receiver against the wall out of anger.

[ CHALLENGE ]:     in a motion designed to challenge the receiver’s authority, sender pins receiver against the wall.

[ TRAINING ]:     during a sparring match, sender ends up pinning the receiver against the wall.

[ HEAT ]:      while in the middle of a make-out session, sender pushes the receiver up against the wall, unwittingly heating things up even more.

[ SHIELD ]:     in order to protect them from physical harm caused by a third party, the sender shoves the receiver against the wall and shields them with their body.

[ COVER ]:     while hiding from persecutors, sender pushes the receiver against a wall and uses their body to hide the receiver’s face from view.

[ HIDE ]:     while on the run, the sender hastily grabs the receiver and pins them against a wall that’s hidden from public view to avoid being seen.

[ STOP ]:     in order to stop the receiver from walking away, the sender guides them back and pushes them against a wall.

[ FIGHT ]:     while in a physical fight, sender shoves the receiver against the wall in an effort to gain the upper hand.

[ RESTRAIN ]:     sender pushes the receiver back against the wall to stop them from physically fighting the sender.

[ STEADY ]:     sender gently catches and guides the emotionally distressed receiver against a wall in order to physically steady them.

How did Selwyn become your favorite? I’m genuinely asking and not trying to insulting. I need insight.

I’ve just finished LegendBorn and as of right now he is good friend if anything but I can not even bring myself to ship him with the m.c. or find anything romantic about him because he was , for lack of a better term, so mean for SO MANY (too many) CHAPTERS.

Maybe it’s because I haven’t been exposed to that many enemies to lovers, especially in book series but…I don’t get the Selwyn hype.

> synopsis: He was a risk. Top rank, known in the world, heavy decision maker, professional. A slick spoken Boston, tattooed, 6’1, blue eyed risk. What could proceed past professionalism? Does love and lust exist in the same world? And how intact could it stay?

> cast: cast: President! Chris Evans, Black! Female! White House Intern, (reader is Sawyer Reneé Love)

> warnings: (in general): 18+ series (MINORS DNI), age gap (reader is 23, Chris is 40 and greying/ semi silver fox), presidential settings, angst, very mild obsession and infatuation, risky behavior, smut, daddy kink/ trope, heartbreak, reader has attachment issues, swearing, rpf fic, president to intern relations.

> warnings for this part: oral sex (m receiving), president to intern relations, a little less plot more spice, age gap relations, dirty talk, daddy kink/ trope, swearing, sub! Chris if you squint, hair pulling, light spanking, and smut. overall filth.

> author’s note: hey all! thanks to those that enjoyed the prologue, here’s the official first part to be linked in the masterpost! Listen, we’re gonna be off to a wild start w this one! Heed the warnings! But, I hope y’all enjoy this one! A like and feedback/ reblog would be much appreciated 💜

CURRENTLY

You walked with a pep in your step as you entered the White House grounds having gotten through the semi rigorous security entrance. Your favorite guy on the mind as you balanced your bags back on your arms and the mini breakfast you bought for you and him. 

It was Dunkin, two bacon, egg, and cheese bagels with a normal hot coffee and an iced matcha latte, the creamer and sugar for Chris in the same bag. This was your first time doing something like this and you were here early before the briefing, had anyone seen you being personal, they’d ask questions you didn’t want to answer. 

You’d made it to the hallway of his office, your heart racing wildly. You got a quick glimpse of yourself for good measures, you were satisfied. You dressed yourself in a thin black turtleneck sweater and a plaid pencil skirt, a simple black heel to compliment the look. Your ginger red hair was in its natural: big, curly, fluffy, and full of life. 

You dressed for yourself but a little part of you tingled in excitement at what Chris would say whenever he saw you. That had the butterflies in your tummy raging. 

Hi! :)

So — come the writing — I rarely start out by outlining, or planning, for that matter. Chronological order doesn't really exist to me.

When I start a new script, whether it's for a movie or a TV-show, I start by writing scenes — tons of them. That's it. I come up with a short premise, either it's a character or a certain plot I want to explore, and then I write whatever comes to mind — and I continue writing until I know enough about the plot and the characters to know what the general story is going to be about, and how it all fits together. Then I start piecing it together.

Usually by that time I’ll have a clear view of how I want the story to start, and how I want it to end. Some scenes will stick with you, some will fade away into the background — the more you write, the more accustomed you get to your world, the easier it will be to write scenes that naturally falls into place with the plot.

When it's time to start putting the script together, I like to do a checklist of everything that needs to be included in the script — partly to make sure I don't miss out on anything important, but also to have a clear view of what it is I'm working towards. When I've done that, I start scripting the scenes.

Here's a guide to some posts on screenwriting:

screenwriting tips for beginners (new)

how many pages should my script be?

A quick guide to screenwriting

What words in a script should be capitalized?

How do you plan your screenplays?

What is a beat?

How did you learn how to write scripts?

The importance of mundane scenes (TV-shows)

Implying tone and using parentheticals

How do you write action lines?

Serialized or episodic TV? (TV-shows)

What is better? Serialized or episodic TV? (TV-shows)

Tip for writing plot twists

Scripts I read

*All of the novels listed here are own voices

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Nigerian/ Yoruba inspired

Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron

West African inspired

The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter

South African inspired

Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi

Nigerian/Yoruba inspired

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

Ghanan inspired

A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy

North African inspired

Daughters of the Nri by Reni K Amayo

Igbo inspired

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

West African inspired

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Nigerian/ Yoruba inspired

Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

South African inspired

*All of the novels listed here are own voices

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Nigerian/ Yoruba inspired

Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron

West African inspired

The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter

South African inspired

Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi

Nigerian/Yoruba inspired

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

Ghanan inspired

A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy

North African inspired

Daughters of the Nri by Reni K Amayo

Igbo inspired

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

West African inspired

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Nigerian/ Yoruba inspired

Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

South African inspired