pretty//prey

It’s never going to be enough.

I’ve carved canyons in my skin, pushed blades deep under flesh and fat, needles through tissues and flames over fair hairs.

I’ve walked into rivers with rocks in my shoes, Taken poppy-red pills in pairs and piles. I’ve tied ropes, hopes and laces around my neck And smelt the melt of rubber and flesh on asphalt.

Word prompts to use for doodling or writing

coffee smell

horizon

foggy mornings

juke box

lighthouse

bonfire

recipe book

windmill

gas station

wildflowers

bookmark

cave explorations

rosebushes

pine cones

nightlight

rocking chair

hitchhiking

lemon tree

vintage dress

bike ride

art museum

ghost town

blackberries

harvest moon

picture frames

dreamers

flower garland

ring bearer

color change

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Have A “Get Into Character” Routine

If you’re having an unusual amount of trouble keeping a character and their behaviors and thought process consistent in your writing, it might just be that you’re not used to being in their head. This is especially common with first person POV stories, and I recommend surrounding yourself with things that embody them as a person, make a playlist of songs that you know they’d enjoy and listen to it before you write (or during, if you listen to music while you draft), and do what is necessary to make their actions and thoughts create a distinct, unmistakeable person. 

Have A Short List of Details To Pay Attention To

Characters and people are both complex, and therefore it’s difficult to reduce them down to a few key things that set them apart from others. However, when you’re writing, it can help with getting their tendencies down if you focus on 4-5 things you can emphasize in their actions and (inner or outer) monologue. Be holistic in the way you summarize them by picking vastly different aspects of their personality. Focus on one of their fatal flaws, one of their most admirable traits, one of their habits and how it can be good and bad for them, their attitude (outward and inward), etc. 

Know Their Mindset

Everybody has a unique way that they think about the world that is formed by their environment, experiences, and motivations. If you’re having trouble conjuring this mindset as you develop them in your writing, it may be a sign that you just have to sit down and map it out. Pick 3-5 moments in their life that shape their very thought process. Analyze their background and speculate about the many ways this might affect their thoughts and actions in various situations that might present themselves. Randomly choose five situations that may come up in your story and really think hard about how they would want that situation to go and why. 

Know Their Values

Nobody has the same definition of right, nor wrong. This is key to the way people live their lives, and it’s imperative that you know your character’s definitions and how they were formed. It’s also important to know your character’s limits outside of these definitions. What would make them do something they see as wrong? What would it take to convince them that what they believe is wrong is okay? You’d be surprised how relevant this is in any kind of story.

Know Their Motivations

As I previously mentioned, it’s important to know what they want. However, it’s important to look deeper than simply what they’re after. What do they think they want? What to they actually want? What do they need? How does this affect the conflict and other characters day-to-day?

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FAQ //monthly writing challenges // Masterlist

Here are ten questions to ask that will not put your friend in a tough spot, but will still give you some useful input on your novel:

1. At what point did you feel like “Ah, now the story has really begun!”  2. What were the points where you found yourself skimming?  3. Which setting in the book was clearest to you as you were reading it? Which do you remember the best?  4. Which character would you most like to meet and get to know?  5. What was the most suspenseful moment in the book?  6. If you had to pick one character to get rid of, who would you axe?  7. Was there a situation in the novel that reminded you of something in your own life?  8. Where did you stop reading, the first time you cracked open the manuscript? (Can show you where your first dull part is, and help you fix your pacing.)  9. What was the last book you read, before this? And what did you think of it? (This can put their comments in context in surprising ways, when you find out what their general interests are. It might surprise you.)  10. Finish this sentence: “I kept reading because…”

Your friend is probably still going to tell you, “It was good!” However, if you can ask any specific questions, and read between the lines, you can still get some helpful information out of even the most well-meaning reader.

It's been stressful enough because at every turn people were telling me to call the fraud line. "I can't, I'm deaf" had basically become my catchphrase at this point. But finally someone listened and made an appointment for me to speak to the manager at the local bank.

So off I went - honestly pretty dubious at this point - and this guy.

This. Guy.

He filed the fraud investigation for me, and told me if for any reason it was rejected I was to go back and tell him. He said he had a few choice words he could use in my defence.

So obviously I was pretty touched at this random dude being so lovely. As I was leaving, I asked if he'd take out my last fiver for me, I needed cat litter and my card was cancelled (it has to be when you report a fraud).

Now, it's important to know that I'm usually pretty poor, but this month over half my income had to go on paying for my dog's surgery. The rest went on bills, and even then I had to borrow money and float some. My diet for the last two weeks has been whatever I can find in the recesses of my freezer.

He was vaguely aware of my financial struggles (I'd mentioned in passing that I know the ~£10 a month going from my account isn't much, but I'm currently really struggling and I can't afford money going out that isn't to do with me). So he nudges the cashier out of the way and pulls out a 20. I of course say "I only have five pound something," and he says I still do.

So there I am, utterly stunned and teary eyed. I thank him enthusiastically, and say I've barely eaten this week, you have no idea how much this means to me, etc. Etc.

And this guy

this fucking gem of a human

Takes out another 30 (despite my protests) and tells me to go buy some food. He just needs the receipt.

Not me fucking bursting into tears in the middle of a bank.

.

I go back later having spent £27something. This dude doesn't even let me give him the change. He told me I should have bought more (I'm disabled and can only carry so much stuff home though), and when I explain why I didn't he tells me to keep it.

I'm aware that people won't believe this. I'm not bothered, I just had to share.