Ghost Doggo

First, decide whether you’d like to have a loose retelling or not. A loose retelling is one where the story it’s inspired by is very loosely present, but still there. A hard retelling is one where the original story is highly visible, and it may be easy for the reader to say, “oh! This is a ——- retelling!” without too much trouble. It truly doesn’t matter which one you write, but write whichever you will have the most fun with!

Come up with your own twists. That’s something I know many love to see in retellings. For example: what would have happened if Belle was the beast, and a common townsperson was sent to kill her? Or what if Aurora hadn’t been cast into sleep, but cursed with wicked powers and used to the queen’s advantage? (wait brb gonna go write that last one omg that’s a fun idea)

Know which story you’re retelling, and know it well! Sure, your version of the story will be different, but you want to know the story enough where you can make it clear that it’s a retelling if that’s what you want

Note your favorite elements, and note what you didn’t like about the story! Make the story into something you love and is unique to you.

If you’re someone like me, you write with heavy description. I know developing a style with good description is something that can take time for newer writers, but that’s alright! Sometimes I look back at my old work and I can realize how far I’ve come, and one day you’ll be able to do the same. Or you already do. Us writers are constantly growing and learning, and it’s an exciting journey, no matter where you are in it.

Describe only what’s necessary. If you spend a paragraph describing a random vase and table that don’t actually serve any purpose, the readers will just think, “well, what was the point of that?” Sure, you may have worded that description well, but your overall descriptions will improve if you only focus on what’s relevant. It also helps you keep an appropriate word count!

Use synonyms. Instead of using the word large, use colossal. Instead of upset, use devastated. Now, of course, you can use the less powerful words! Use the more powerful words for the more impactful scenes, and if you’re writing a general description and find yourself repeating words, you can always look up, “synonyms for _____”

Experiment! Create a random document, find some kind of image online (ex- maybe a castle, a ship, a person, even just an emotion) and practice your descriptions! Or you can write short stories, which you may not be into, but if you’re willing to try it, then you may realize that they help a lot! I spent some time writing short stories a while ago, and I noticed that because I had to keep them short, I was able to crank out better descriptions but still maintain an appropriate length for them.

Read! Read a lot! Don’t copy what’s written, obviously, but notice how authors describe things. Figure out what you like in their descriptions, and what you don’t like. Rewrite what they’ve written in your head, if you want to try that! (I actually have a bad habit of doing that, but it helps my own descriptions develop faster while writing)

Not everyone who reads your book will like it. I was once told that a story I had written was bad because the reader didn’t like the genre. This criticism is stupid.

A PERSONS INDIVIDUAL PREFERENCES DO NOT REFLECT THE QUALITY OF YOUR WORK.

Your story will not please everyone. Not even super successful best-selling books are enjoyed by all of their readers. Go on any Amazon page and you will see tonnes of negative reviews and

That is ok.

You do not have to please everyone.

You do not have to be perfect. Your book does not have to be perfect.

Our books are so closely linked to our sense of self that it can be hard to separate criticism of your work, or people disliking your work, from personal criticism. Someone can love you but just not be excited by the style or genre you write in, and that doesn’t lessen how they feel about you. Criticisms of your book are not criticisms of you, and they aren’t even criticisms of you as a writer- they are criticisms of the writer you were at the time you wrote that book, and that is a different person to who you are now post-book. 

Do not work yourself into a panic because one or two beta readers, or family members, or friends, just can’t get into your book. Focus on the objective feedback and the feedback given to you by people who you know enjoy the genre you write in (they will have more realistic expectations of your work and a better understanding of your market audience.)

It’s also ok to write a bad first book. Most people do. 

Don’t treat your book like an overbearing parents treats their child, expecting them to have made friends with every kid at school by the end of the day. Your book is an individual, as much of an individual as you are, some people will like it, some won’t

fuck, i’m such a good writer.

if you haven’t, that day will come eventually, i promise. but until then, keep writing whatever your little working brain tells you, because one day you’ll consider it a masterpiece or absolute shit that’ll make you laugh and realize just how far you’ve come.