me

Sooo before I left on my trip to LDZ I was certain Nick was just a really good friend, but then he starts being Nick and I’m completely smitten.

Today, I smell my brothers body spray, which by the way has used before and all of a sudden my mind goes crazy.

I become completely engulfed in the smell and spray myself with it.

Also, went swimming with him today and when he left the bathroom, I used it after and his smell literally stayed there.

Bad - evil, immoral, wicked, corrupt, sinful, depraved, rotten, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, harmful, injurious, unfavorable, defective, inferior, imperfect, substandard, faulty, improper, inappropriate, unsuitable, disagreeable, unpleasant, cross, nasty, unfriendly, irascible, horrible, atrocious, outrageous, scandalous, infamous, wrong, noxious, sinister, putrid, snide, deplorable, dismal, gross, heinous, nefarious, base, obnoxious, detestable, despicable, contemptible, foul, rank, ghastly, execrable

Decide - determine, settle, choose, resolve

Calm - quiet, peaceful, still, tranquil, mild, serene, smooth, composed, collected, unruffled, level-headed, unexcited, detached, aloof

Cry - shout, yell, yowl, scream, roar, bellow, weep, wail, sob, bawl

Fall - drop, descend, plunge, topple, tumble

False - fake, fraudulent, counterfeit, spurious, untrue, unfounded, erroneous, deceptive, groundless, fallacious

Famous - well-known, renowned, celebrated, famed, eminent, illustrious, distinguished, noted, notorious

Fast - quick, rapid, speedy, fleet, hasty, snappy, mercurial, swiftly, rapidly, quickly, snappily, speedily, lickety-split, posthaste, hastily, expeditiously, like a flash

Fat - stout, corpulent, fleshy, beefy, paunchy, plump, full, rotund, tubby, pudgy, chubby, chunky, burly, bulky, elephantine

Fear - fright, dread, terror, alarm, dismay, anxiety, scare, awe, horror, panic, apprehension

Go - recede, depart, fade, disappear, move, travel, proceed

Good - excellent, fine, superior, wonderful, marvelous, qualified, suited, suitable, apt, proper, capable, generous, kindly, friendly, gracious, obliging, pleasant, agreeable, pleasurable, satisfactory, well-behaved, obedient, honorable, reliable, trustworthy, safe, favorable, profitable, advantageous, righteous, expedient, helpful, valid, genuine, ample, salubrious, estimable, beneficial, splendid, great, noble, worthy, first-rate, top-notch, grand, sterling, superb, respectable, edifying

Great - noteworthy, worthy, distinguished, remarkable, grand, considerable, powerful, much, mighty

Gross - improper, rude, coarse, indecent, crude, vulgar, outrageous, extreme, grievous, shameful, uncouth, obscene, low

Happy - pleased, contented, satisfied, delighted, elated, joyful, cheerful, ecstatic, jubilant, gay, tickled, gratified, glad, blissful, overjoyed

Hate - despise, loathe, detest, abhor, disfavor, dislike, disapprove, abominate

Important - necessary, vital, critical, indispensable, valuable, essential, significant, primary, principal, considerable, famous, distinguished, notable, well-known

Interesting - fascinating, engaging, sharp, keen, bright, intelligent, animated, spirited, attractive, inviting, intriguing, provocative, challenging, inspiring, involving, moving, titillating, tantalizing, exciting, entertaining, piquant, lively, racy, spicy, engrossing, absorbing, consuming, gripping, arresting, enthralling, spellbinding, curious, captivating, enchanting, bewitching, appealing

Kill - slay, execute, assassinate, murder, destroy, cancel, abolish

Move - plod, go, creep, crawl, inch, poke, drag, toddle, shuffle, trot, dawdle, walk, traipse, mosey, jog, plug, trudge, slump, lumber, trail, lag, run, sprint, trip, bound, hotfoot, high-tail, streak, stride, tear, breeze, whisk, rush, dash, dart, bolt, fling, scamper, scurry, skedaddle, scoot, scuttle, scramble, race, chase, hasten, hurry, hump, gallop, lope, accelerate, stir, budge, travel, wander, roam, journey, trek, ride, spin, slip, glide, slide, slither, coast, flow, sail, saunter, hobble, amble, stagger, paddle, slouch, prance, straggle, meander, perambulate, waddle, wobble, pace, swagger, promenade, lunge

Moody - temperamental, changeable, short-tempered, glum, morose, sullen, mopish, irritable, testy, peevish, fretful, spiteful, sulky, touchy

Neat - clean, orderly, tidy, trim, dapper, natty, smart, elegant, well-organized, super, desirable, spruce, shipshape, well-kept, shapely

Say/Tell - inform, notify, advise, relate, recount, narrate, explain, reveal, disclose, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, enlighten, instruct, insist, teach, train, direct, issue, remark, converse, speak, affirm, suppose, utter, negate, express, verbalize, voice, articulate, pronounce, deliver, convey, impart, assert, state, allege, mutter, mumble, whisper, sigh, exclaim, yell, sing, yelp, snarl, hiss, grunt, snort, roar, bellow, thunder, boom, scream, shriek, screech, squawk, whine, philosophize, stammer, stutter, lisp, drawl, jabber, protest, announce, swear, vow, content, assure, deny, dispute

Scared - afraid, frightened, alarmed, terrified, panicked, fearful, unnerved, insecure, timid, shy, skittish, jumpy, disquieted, worried, vexed, troubled, disturbed, horrified, terrorized, shocked, petrified, haunted, timorous, shrinking, tremulous, stupefied, paralyzed, stunned, apprehensive

Show - display, exhibit, present, note, point to, indicate, explain, reveal, prove, demonstrate, expose

Slow - unhurried, gradual, leisurely, late, behind, tedious, slack

Predicament - quandary, dilemma, pickle, problem, plight, spot, scrape, jam

Put - place, set, attach, establish, assign, keep, save, set aside, effect, achieve, do, build

Quiet - silent, still, soundless, mute, tranquil, peaceful, calm, restful

Take - hold, catch, seize, grasp, win, capture, acquire, pick, choose, select, prefer, remove, steal, lift, rob, engage, bewitch, purchase, buy, retract, recall, assume, occupy, consume

Tell - disclose, reveal, show, expose, uncover, relate, narrate, inform, advise, explain, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, recount, repeat

Think - judge, deem, assume, believe, consider, contemplate, reflect, mediate

Trouble - distress, anguish, anxiety, worry, wretchedness, pain, danger, peril, disaster, grief, misfortune, difficulty, concern, pains, inconvenience, exertion, effort

True - accurate, right, proper, precise, exact, valid, genuine, real, actual, trusty, steady, loyal, dependable, sincere, staunch

Ugly - hideous, frightful, frightening, shocking, horrible, unpleasant, monstrous, terrifying, gross, grisly, ghastly, horrid, unsightly, plain, homely, evil, repulsive, repugnant, gruesome

Unhappy - miserable, uncomfortable, wretched, heart-broken, unfortunate, poor, downhearted, sorrowful, depressed, dejected, melancholy, glum, gloomy, dismal, discouraged, sad

Wrong - incorrect, inaccurate, mistaken, erroneous, improper, unsuitable

Look - gaze, see, glance, watch, survey, study, seek, search for, peek, peep, glimpse, stare, contemplate, examine, gape, ogle, scrutinize, inspect, leer, behold, observe, view, witness, perceive, spy, sight, discover, notice, recognize, peer, eye, gawk, peruse, explore

Love - like, admire, esteem, fancy, care for, cherish, adore, treasure, worship, appreciate, savor

Keep - hold, retain, withhold, preserve, maintain, sustain, support

Little - tiny, small, diminutive, shrimp, runt, miniature, puny, exiguous, dinky, cramped, limited, itsy-bitsy, microscopic, slight, petite, minute

Okay.  So I know this is a topic that isn’t talked about a lot in serious terms, but I’m here to give it a try, because accurate representation is important to me personally and probably many others out there with ADHD.  This post is mainly for writers who don’t have ADHD, but everyone is welcome to read.

For those who don’t know exactly what ADHD is, here’s a brief description.  ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.  Its main symptoms are inattentiveness, impulsivity, executive dysfunction, hyperfocus, and sometimes hyperactivity.  Essentially, ADHD is a learning/processing disorder that affects the storage, processing, and decision-making parts of the brain.  Attention, focus, and recall are the main areas afflicted, but it’s not uncommon for people to also have sensory or social issues as well.  Like people with autism, people with ADHD sometimes need to “stim”, or stimulate themselves, in times of anxiety or boredom.  Here’s a list of some of the common signs of ADHD:

- interrupting others without meaning to

- losing/forgetting things constantly

- very intelligent but poor grades

- leg shaking, pen tapping, etc.

- talking fast/constantly switching subjects in conversation

- inability to focus on common tasks

- spacing out during tasks

Like I said before, not every ADHD character is a stereotypical hyperactive motormouth.  Some are (and that’s perfectly okay!), but when writing characters who have struggles that you yourself aren’t familiar with, it’s smart and considerate to do some research and not play into stereotypes if you can help it.  As a side note, more boys than girls tend to present with hyperactivity, while more girls tend to air on the side of inattentiveness.  There is also ADD, without the H, which encompasses all of the symptoms except hyperactivity.  Not all of us are bouncing off the walls or interrupting the teacher during class; ADHD can be the girl doodling in her notebook in the back of the lecture hall or the boy spending five hours without a break on an essay.  Here’s my advice on how to write and recognize accurate characters with ADHD.

Inattentiveness

This is one of the most common symptoms of ADHD.  Paying attention and focusing on things that aren’t particularly interesting is a major issue.  For children and teens who are still in school, this is usually one of the things that results in bad grades or letters home.  A way to deal with boredom when we need to pay attention is with stimming, which is an outlet for hyperactivity.  I personally got sent to the principal’s office a few times in middle school for doodling during class because my teachers thought I wasn’t paying attention, when in reality doodling was the only thing that could help me pay attention.  I shake my leg, tap my pencil, move my fingers, and other small things during class in order to pay attention as a way of letting off excess energy.  Other people have toys or stress balls that they can fidget with.

In social situations, inattentiveness can present as forgetfulness, distractedness, or disrespect.  Some inattentiveness problems can be attributed to processing speed problems; for example, someone asking their friend to repeat what they just said, only to process it a second later and interrupt their re-explanation.  However, inattentiveness usually presents as daydreaming or drifting off during activities or conversations that don’t capture someone’s full attention.

Impulsivity

This is an aspect of ADHD that is often ignored or overlooked, but can be a major issue.  Impulsivity can be described as a lack of consequential thinking, or an inability to see/care about future effects of current actions.  Examples of impulsivity in characters could be blowing money on shopping sprees, suddenly deciding to drive somewhere without forethought, cutting or dyeing hair on a whim, or binge-eating at a party.

Executive Dysfunction

Exdys is probably the most complicated symptom and the hardest to explain because it’s purely neurological.  This is basically the phenomenon of knowing you need to do something, telling yourself over and over that you need to get up and do it, and yet continuing to sit there and not do it.  To people without ADHD, it might seem like a non-issue, but it’s a real problem that can be extremely frustrating.  When frustrated parents ask their ADHD children why they didn’t just get up and DO their homework, or just DO their chores, there’s often no answer that makes sense.  When writing characters with ADHD, this isn’t the most prominent symptom, but it does exist and it does add conflict to characters already struggling with outside tasks.

Hyperfocus

Hyperfocus is when the brain locks down on a certain task and a person can have a sudden laser-beam of work ethic and attention.  Unfortunately, most people can’t choose or decide when or what to hyperfocus on, so it ends up being more of an inconvenience than a benefit, especially when you’re trying to clean your room and you suddenly find a bunch of old stuff in a box and then you’re on the floor for two hours instead of finishing your task.

Like some forms of autism, ADHD people often have “special interests” that they focus a lot of their time and energy on, called hyperfixations.  Mine were/are mostly TV shows (go figure), but they can be almost anything that someone has an extreme interest in.

Overall…

Writing characters with mental or physical disorders can be difficult because in order to be an interesting 3D character, their illness can’t define them.  Real people have many facets and personality traits that don’t revolve around their trauma or mental issues.  On the flip side, some people’s issues contribute to their personality; there have been studies linking ADHD to creativity and intelligence, for example, just as it’s hypothesized that people with depression and anxiety tend to be more empathetic.  Whatever it is, as always, make sure your character is a person and not a plot device.

Anonymous said:

I wanted to ask for advice if possible, as for writing the romance between two characters, how do I make it so that it does not look like a forced couple in the story? How can I develop a good bond between them without being able to say that it is something predictable? Honestly, I do not really like how romances are handled in juvenile novels in most cases and it’s something I want to avoid (I’m sorry if my English is bad 😫)

Hey Nony, thanks so much for the ask! (And no need to worry, your English is great!)

Romance is by far one of the hardest things to write; there’s so much to take into account at once and it’s easy to worry about how natural it seems. When done correctly, a well-written romance is extremely satisfying both to write and read, so I’m going to outline a few of the most important parts of romance and try to hit each of your questions.

Opposites Don’t Attract

This phrase? Throw it in the trash. This whole “opposites attract” mentality only applies to magnets. Your the characters involved in this romance shouldn’t be opposites, but complements.

Think of it this way. Character A is creative, outgoing, and stubborn. Now we have Character B, who’s analytical, introverted, and a push-over. Character A’s exact opposite, right? So why wouldn’t they get along with each other?

If these two worked well together, they’d be the exact embodiment of this “opposites attract” idea. However: These characters are literally the exact opposite of each other, meaning they’ll constantly be challenging each other. Character A will want to be in the spotlight where B wants to stay on the outskirts. B is constantly shooting down A’s creative ideas, and A is forcing B to do all these things without any resistance.

Not only will this dynamic quickly get boring and predictable, neither of these characters would see it in their best interest to stay with each other. It’s mentally and emotionally exhausting for these characters to constantly be fighting over the smaller things, so there’s no real reason for them to be in any sort of relationship.

Enter Character C, just as A is back “on the market”. C is passionate and thoughtful, an ambivert with a hint of rebellion. Why would this relationship work better? C shares A’s love for new ideas and is fine with both a night on the town and a night spent watching Netflix. The personality traits of A and C now complement each other; they agree on some things and argue on others, but because of their dynamic it’s much easier for them to work things out.

If you want a natural relationship, start it in the character development stage. Have one character fully developed and develop their to-be partner; don’t make them an opposite, but a complement.

Love at First Sight?

This aspect of romantic relationships developing immediately has long been known to be a faulty move, but let’s take that one step further. Now that we’ve gotten this “at first sight” out of the way, a lot of characters are falling madly in love with each other the third time they spend time together. This is also a definite issue.

The key to a good romance is the relationship that comes before it. Don’t take these characters from strangers to lovers; remember there’s a friend stage first. Take this time during their relationship to establish a working dynamic between these characters so the reader gets an idea of how they work together, with or without a romance involved.

Have these characters spend time with each other so they know each other well, give them inside jokes and shared hobbies and other things that would establish the possibility to pursue a romance. When you include a previously established positive relationship, it makes more sense for a romance to bloom. Not only this—it gives the reader an idea that a romance is entirely possible, and gives them the chance to view this pairing (or group) in a positive instead of an unexpected light.

Following this path—which is probably a good idea—makes it a little difficult to make it “unpredictable”. In searching for unpredictability, you run the risk of launching your characters from strangers (or acquaintances) to lovers immediately. In this case if you want unpredictability, you should be aiming for the natural type.

Instead of launching them into a relationship prematurely, make it a bit more of a slow-burn. Get your readers used to the idea of these characters being friends, and don’t announce the start of their relationship with any sort of grandeur. By creating a natural transition from friends to lovers, maybe through an absent-minded kiss or exchanging “I love you”s and realizing it later, the whole thing is more natural. 

In taking this path, you still keep the element of surprise; the whole thing happens so naturally that while the reader may have been expecting it but not expecting it right then.

Avoiding the Juvenile

You also mentioned that you don’t like the way more juvenile romances are handled. I think I hit both of your questions, but just as an extra measure I’m going to add in a few ideas to avoid the juvenility (is that a word? it is now) that we see way too often.

They communicate often, and communicate well.

They spent a lot of time together.

They don’t bottle up negative (or positive) emotions.

Accentuate that they have each other’s back.

Highlight their knowledge of the details (as in remembering little conversations and schedules).

Mutual. Respect.

Show them supporting each other’s endeavors, even if it means having less time to spend together.

Avoid writing characters who try to change each other.

They also take time to themselves to collect their thoughts and just have a personal moment.

All boundaries are respected.

If you want to write a mature relationship, think respect. Does this aspect of the relationship lack respect? If it does, seriously consider changing it if you want this to be a long-lasting thing.

@not-the-girl-u-think​ said:

Hey Abby! Any tips for a slow burn romance??

Let’s start with a little thingy first: slow-burns, when done well, are my favorite thing to read. I love the suspense that comes with them, that feeling when you know they’re going to get to together but you’re on the edge of your seat wondering if it’ll happen anyway. That stuff melts my heart, so I’m really, really happy that you sent this.

What is a slow-burn?

Slow-burns are great because they work both as a main or a subplot. They’re extremely character-oriented romances that take a while (usually an entire book or, in some cases, an entire series) to develop. Oh, and they have a talent for making people like me freak out over every little detail.

From a writer’s perspective, a slow-burn is a pain in the neck. You want everything to go at the right pace with the right chemistry enough that it seems like everything happens naturally. You don’t want things to go too slow or too fast, but you don’t want the reader to be rushed or bored either. Two characters are needed that would making a slow-burn seem worth it to pursue, and there lies the issue.

I love fanfiction with all of my heart.

I think it’s an amazing tool to use to hone in on your writing skills and learn about time management, how readers view your work, and in some cases− if someone leaves a helpful review− how to improve your writing overall. Not to mention that if you have a severe case of writer’s block on your WIP, writing fanfiction is a great way to keep yourself writing even if it’s not on your main work.

As a reader of fanfiction, however, I often come across works that, when I read the description, I get super excited about. It’s the perfect fic! It’s about my favorite pairing, the plot sounds amazing, it has ten chapters with a sufficient word count, AND it’s complete! And then I open it up and immediately click out of it before I finish reading the first paragraph, disheartened but determined to find something else that sounds just as good.

We all know that feeling when we’re excited about a great-sounding fic and then we open it up only to find that it’s committing one of the Three Deadly Fanfiction Sins.

What are these sins, you ask? And how can you avoid them when writing your own fanfiction?

Well, buckle up tight because I’m here to tell you what will make readers immediately click out of your story and move on to another one.

JUST A NOTE:  ONE OF THESE POINTS ARE JUST MY OPINION, AND I DON’T INTEND TO OFFEND ANYONE WHO MAY ENJOY WRITING/READING FICS LIKE THIS

@not-the-girl-u-think​ said:

Hey Abby! Any tips for a slow burn romance??

Let’s start with a little thingy first: slow-burns, when done well, are my favorite thing to read. I love the suspense that comes with them, that feeling when you know they’re going to get to together but you’re on the edge of your seat wondering if it’ll happen anyway. That stuff melts my heart, so I’m really, really happy that you sent this.

What is a slow-burn?

Slow-burns are great because they work both as a main or a subplot. They’re extremely character-oriented romances that take a while (usually an entire book or, in some cases, an entire series) to develop. Oh, and they have a talent for making people like me freak out over every little detail.

From a writer’s perspective, a slow-burn is a pain in the neck. You want everything to go at the right pace with the right chemistry enough that it seems like everything happens naturally. You don’t want things to go too slow or too fast, but you don’t want the reader to be rushed or bored either. Two characters are needed that would making a slow-burn seem worth it to pursue, and there lies the issue.