Fic Writer Resource Hub

Do you ever find yourself over-using the word “cry” (or “cried” or “crying”) in your writing? Try using these words instead:

sob / sobbed / sobbing

wail / wailed / wailing

weep / wept / weeping

bawl / bawled / bawling

whimper / whimpered / whimpering

howl / howled / howling

blubber / blubbered / blubbering

snivel / sniveled / sniveling

squall / squalled / squalling

yelp / yelped / yelping

whine / whined / whining

shed tears / shed tears / shedding tears

burst into tears / burst into tears / bursting into tears

tear up / teared up / tearing up

choke up / choked up / choking up

well up / welled up / welling up

break down / broke down / breaking down

let it out / let it out / letting it out

turn on the waterworks / turned on the waterworks / turning on the waterworks

1. Interesting- note worthy; thought-provoking; fascinating; attracting; appealing; attention-grabbing; captivating; gripping; invigorating; engrossing; engaging; electrifying.  

2. Beautiful- striking; stunning; magnificent; lovely; charming; gorgeous; radiant; dazzling.

3. Good- acceptable, wonderful, exceptional; positive; brilliant; first-rate; notable; stellar; favorable; superb; marvellous; prime.

4. Bad- awful; lousy; poor; unacceptable; crummy; dreadful; rough; inferior; substandard; atrocious; appalling; dreadful; defective.

5. Look- glance; fixate; observe; stare; gaze; peer; scan; watch; study; browse; eye; glimpse; review; inspect.

6. Nice- lovely; superior; pleasant; satisfying; delightful; likeable; agreeable; correct; adequate; swell; fair; okay; approved.

7. Very- extremely; exceedingly; exceptionally; immensely; tremendously; abundantly; particularly; remarkably.

8. Fine- satisfactory; worthy; respectable; exquisite; suitable; well; imposing; decent; admirable; praise-worthy; decent.

9. Happy- cheerful; delighted; pleased; content; amused; thrilled; elated; thrilled; ecstatic; on cloud 9. 

10. Really- genuinely; truly; honestly; actually; undoubtedly; certainly; remarkably; incredibly; downright; unquestionably; extremely.

11. Sad- miserable; gloomy; devastated; down at heard; distraught; distressed; dispirited; sorrowful; downcast; feeling blue; desolate.

12. Big- massive; huge; giant; gigantic; enormous; large; colossal; immense; bulky; tremendous; hefty; sizable; extensive; great; substantial. 

13. Shocked- taken aback; lost for words; flabbergasted; staggered; outraged; astonished; astounded; stunned; speechless; appalled.

14. Small- tiny; petite; mini; miniature; microscopic; minuscule; compact; pocket-sized; cramped; puny; undersized; limited; meager; modest; minute; pint-sized. 

15. Angry- irate; enraged; touchy; cross; resentful; indignant; infuriated; wound-up; worked-up; seething; raging; heated; bitter; bad-tempered; offended; frustrated. 

16. Know- understand; comprehend; realize; learn; perceive; recognize; grasp; sense.

17. Change- alter; transform; replace; diversify; adjust; adapt; modify; remodel; vary; evolve; transfigure; redesign; refashion; advance; transition; shift; adjustment.

18. Old- aged; ancient; matured; elderly; senior; veteran; decrepit; seasoned; venerable; past one’s prime; doddering; senile.

19. Think- ponder; reflect; conceive; imagine; contemplate; consider; determine; realize; visualize; guess/assume; conclude; envision. 

20. Funny- comical; ludicrous; amusing; droll; entertaining; absurd; hilarious; silly; whimsical; hysterical; joking; witty; facetious; slapstick; side-splitting; knee-slapping.

21. Go- move; proceed; advance; progress; travel; walk; journey; depart; exit; flee; make one’s way; clear out; get underway.

22. Give- grant; donate; hand-out; present; provide; deliver; hand over; offer; award; bestow; supply with; contribute to; send; entrust.

23. Get- acquire; obtain; receive; gain; earn; gather; collect; buy; purchase; attain; score; secure; take possession of; grab.

24. Easy- effortless; simple; clear; smooth; straightforward; uncomplicated; painless; accessible; apparent; basic; plain; child’s play; facile; elementary; cinch. 

"I like your stupid face. It’s so stupid. It’s so… I like it. Can I touch it?"

"You're all I ever wanted. I'm sorry I can't say it sober."

"I can't wait for the room to stop spinning, so I can focus on your face again."

"I would love to hear those words in any other place than this bathroom, holding your hair back."

"You're cute. And a bit blurry. But definitely always so cute."

"I think I love you." "And I would love to answer you accordingly, but I think I would appreciate it more when you’re actually able to understand my answer."

"Don't tell my sober me that I told you I love you. It was a secret."

"I…I want to give you my heart. It belongs to… to you. How… how can I give it to you? I don’t want it anymore." "Let’s wait until tomorrow with the surgery."

"Oh I'm dreaming of you again. If I wouldn't be dreaming and if you would be really here, then I would tell you I love you."

"I love you. But that's a secret. So I won't tell you about it."

"You're drunk." "Yes. And hopelessly in love with you."

"I'm seeing you twice. Oh, now I can give all my love to even more of you."

"Say that again after two coffees at least and I will be yours."

"You're so adorable. I want to pick you up and never let you down."

"I've always loved you. But I will never tell you."

"This is not a dream, I think. In my dreams we're usually kissing."

"I’m not drunk. Can a drunk person do this?" "You’re not doing anything." "But… I sent you my love. Did you… did you not get it?"

"Can you keep a secret? I am madly in love with you. But psshh."

"I fell in love with you." "No, you fell down the stairs. You should really learn to hold your liquor."

"You're so perfect. How can anyone be so perfect? Maybe you're just a dream."

Some angsty dialogue prompts for your next story!

“Don’t you trust me?”

“How much of this did you hear?”

“Why are you mad?”

“Do you love me?”

“How can you do this to me?”

“Why are you asking me this?”

“Is it worth it?”

“Were you ever going to tell me the truth?”

“How does it feel to not get your way?”

“Why are you lying?”

“Is this your revenge?”

“Am I not good enough?”

“When did it all go wrong?”

“Do you miss us?”

“Are you happy now?”

“Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?”

“How is any of this ok?”

“Is this really too much to ask for?”

“What are you trying to achieve here?”

“Do you care at all?”

Word prompts to use for doodling or writing

ruffled hair

apple scent

full of colors

walks in the forest

autumnal

falling leaves

chestnuts

umbrellas

ravens

Oktoberfest

pumpkin spice

cornfields

black cat

spooky

first wine

flying kites

whispers

picking apples

ghosts

sweater weather

acorns

pile of leaves

harvest

fog

Jack-o-lanterns

campfire

witches

samhain

stormy days

seance

Part II

How to show happiness

big smile

eyes going wide

corners of the mouth going up

showing teeth

squealing

speaking rapidly

laugh lines appearing

smiling

being animated

direct eye contact

How to show sadness

shoulders slumped

looking down

turning head away

frowning

not seeing properly anymore

slow movements

corners of the mouth going downwards

quivering lips

eyes filled with tears

running nose

breathing fitfully

How to show disgust

wrinkled nose

gagging

eyes narrowing

no eye contact

upper lip pulled up

How to show fear

wide eyes

heart pounding

feeling paralyzed

shaking / clammy hands

trying to close eyes

open mouth

heavy breathing

cold and clammy hands

clenched hands

tensing up

eyesbrows going together

trying to look for an exit

How to show surprise

raised eyebrows

jaw going slack

open mouth

eyes widening

gasp

How to show frustration

groaning

rolling eyes

throwing arms in the air

pacing up and down

huffing

tapping your foot

tapping your fingers

crossing your arms

stomping

checking watch

More: Part I + Part III

“I don’t know what I would do without you and I really don’t want to find that out.”

Part IV

Two hands longing for each other's warmth - Still, Daughter

I wish everyone knew what's so great about you - This is the last time, The National

You will still haunt me - Tessellate, alt-J

Thought I learned my lesson - me & ur ghost, blackbear

I know my heart would break - Francesca, Hozier

All my lovers were there with me - Pyramid Song, Radiohead

You are the solution - You are the solution, Loving Caliber

Save me once again - Lifesaver, Sunrise Avenue

Mess with us (you messed up) - The girls, Blackpink

Please take me home - I'm a liar, Amy Shark

I can't remember to forget you - Can't remember to forget you, Shakira ft. Rihanna

They own this town - They own this town, Flora Cash

My sweetest downfall - Samson, Regina Spektor

Someday, we'll both be older - Using you, Mars Argo

'Cause I will be the death of you - Breath, Breaking Benjamin

They were lost and never found - Fallen leaves, Billy Talent

So long, my luckless romance - Almost lover, A Fine Frenzy

I'm gonna kiss you like the sun - Every other freckle, alt-J

Like a lonely lover's charm - Get some, Lykke Li

You′re the sweetest I've ever tasted - Dark Side, Blind Channel

I will love you without any strings attached - Two, Sleeping at last

Holding hands while the walls come tumbling down - Everybody wants to rule the world, Tears for Fears

Why do I keep getting attracted? - Case 143, Stray Kids

I will hold you in my arms like a friend - World falls apart, Dash Berlin

Making me come (to my sinful senses) - Using you, Mars Argo

Someone who'll set my heart free - Hope there's someone, Avicii

Dancin' in the dark (in the pale moonlight) - Summertime sadness, Lana del Rey

Pushing past the limit - Hallucinogenics, Matt Maeson

Let's dance the dance that lovers do - Soul mate, Flora Cash

It's the long goodbye that gives us away - Mess her up, Amy Shark

Je vous/te laisse imaginer… : imagine… (He hadn’t slept in two days, je te laisse imaginer how long he napped)

Je te le donne en mille : You’ll never guess (And what do you think she did? Je te le donne en mille: she said no and ran!)

Je te prends au mot : I take your word for it

Je te connais par cœur : I know you perfectly

Je ne te le fais pas dire : You’re telling me!

Je crains/j'ai peur que non : I’m afraid not

Je ne sais pas : I don’t know

Je regrette : I’m sorry, I wish I hadn’t (Je regrette de t'avoir fait mal)

Je t'ai posé une question : i asked you something (angry)

Je te le rends bien : It’s mutual

Je t'en prie : You’re welcome

Je t'en supplie : I’m begging you

Je t'en foutrai, du/de la/des x : I’ll give you x (angry)

Je t'en veux : I’m mad at you

Je compte bien… : I fully intend to…

Je m'en fiche/fous (rude) : I don’t care

Je veux bien : I’d love to

Je le jure : I swear

Je fais de mon mieux : I’m doing my best

Je garde espoir que… : I remain hopeful that…

Je demande à voir : I’ll believe it when I see it

Je disais donc que… : As I was saying…

J'ai envie de : I want, I feel like

J'ai tout laissé tel quel : I left without changing/touching anything

J'ai failli lui dire : I almost told him/her

J'ai changé d'avis : I changed my mind

J'ai besoin d'y réfléchir : I need to think about it