There are going to be days (or weeks, or months) where you sit down to write and feel... disconnected. From your voice, from your characters, from your ideas. Like the person who used to write your stories just packed up and left.
They didn't. They're just tired. Here's how to keep writing anyway:
Lower the bar (Until it's on the floor)
You are not here to write something brilliant. You are here to write something. A paragraph. A sentence. A single line of dialogue. Movement matters way more than quality.
Write around the story
Don't force it. If you can't write the scene, try:
⋆ A character ramble / journal entry
⋆ A conversation that won't be included in the final draft
⋆ A list of things the character would never admit out loud
⋆ A messy summary of what should happen
Engage with the story from a different angle.
Borrow a voice until yours comes back
No, not with AI. Read something that feels close to what you want to write, or watch a scene that captures the tone, then write immediately after. Not to copy, to reignite your instincts.
Write the emotion, not the plot.
What is your character feeling in this moment? What are they afraid of? What do they want but won't say? What's being kept from them? The emotion leads, the plot catches up later.
Stop trying to "feel like a writer" first.
You don't write when you feel like a writer. You feel like a writer because you write.
You are still a writer, even on the days it feels distant. Especially then.
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fixing each other's collar/zipper/tie/etc - getting unexpectedly close, breath catching when they realize (or their light touches burning into the other's skin)
^ also moving someone's hair out of their face/behind their ear
^ or touching someone's necklace/bracelet/watch
eye contact in a crowded room, but not exchanging any words/expressions - just looking at each other, the rest of the world going still.
^a(n unironic) wink in this situation. or an eyebrow raise, lick or bite of lips, or head tilt. there's something in the subtlety of it - like "this is between us"
pulling someone in by their belt loops??? this is so random idk
feeling the other's breath/lips ghosting their neck
any sort of whisper. anywhere. goddamn.
a long pause when someone is speaking, as though they lost their train of thought while looking at the other person
their bodies accidentally pressed together - being stuck in a small space, falling onto one another, or having to sit really close together. the pause when it's realized.
^this but they're hiding
"make me"
"i dare you"
"and if i do?"/"what will i get (if i do)?"
"show/tell me what you want"
the pinky reach before holding hands for the first time
slow dancing (the hand placement, eye contact, proximity, MUSIC)
teaching the other something that involves physical contact (like holding their hands while trying to balance on a skateboard, or guiding their hands somewhere)
eye contact, waiting for one to fold
"don't do that to me" (tempting the other)
sharing earbuds - forced proximity, the vulnerability in sharing things that matter to them
i'm back!! i'm in a huge slump rn, so submit to my "ask" box if there is anything you want to see :) alsoo if you have anything to add to this list, reply to the post!! i love hearing what you guys have to say
Other Words for "Look" + With meanings | List for writers
Many people create lists of synonyms for the word 'said,' but what about the word 'look'? Here are some synonyms that I enjoy using in my writing, along with their meanings for your reference. While all these words relate to 'look,' they each carry distinct meanings and nuances, so I thought it would be helpful to provide meanings for each one.
Gaze - To look steadily and intently, especially in admiration or thought.
Glance - A brief or hurried look.
Peek - A quick and typically secretive look.
Peer - To look with difficulty or concentration.
Scan - To look over quickly but thoroughly.
Observe - To watch carefully and attentively.
Inspect - To look at closely in order to assess condition or quality.
Stare - To look fixedly or vacantly at someone or something.
Glimpse - To see or perceive briefly or partially.
Eye - To look or stare at intently.
Peruse - To read or examine something with great care.
Scrutinize - To examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
Behold - To see or observe a thing or person, especially a remarkable one.
Witness - To see something happen, typically a significant event.
Spot - To see, notice, or recognize someone or something.
Contemplate - To look thoughtfully for a long time at.
Sight - To suddenly or unexpectedly see something or someone.
Ogle - To stare at in a lecherous manner.
Leer - To look or gaze in an unpleasant, malicious way.
Gawk - To stare openly and stupidly.
Gape - To stare with one's mouth open wide, in amazement.
Squint - To look with eyes partially closed.
Regard - To consider or think of in a specified way.
Admire - To regard with pleasure, wonder, and approval.
Skim - To look through quickly to gain superficial knowledge.
Reconnoiter - To make a military observation of a region.
Flick - To look or move the eyes quickly.
Rake - To look through something rapidly and unsystematically.
Glare - To look angrily or fiercely.
Peep - To look quickly and secretly through an opening.
Focus - To concentrate one's visual effort on.
Discover - To find or realize something not clear before.
Spot-check - To examine something briefly or at random.
Devour - To look over with eager enthusiasm.
Examine - To inspect in detail to determine condition.
Feast one's eyes - To look at something with great enjoyment.
Catch sight of - To suddenly or unexpectedly see.
Clap eyes on - To suddenly see someone or something.
Set eyes on - To look at, especially for the first time.
Take a dekko - Colloquial for taking a look.
Leer at - To look or gaze in a suggestive manner.
Rubberneck - To stare at something in a foolish way.
Make out - To manage to see or read with difficulty.
Lay eyes on - To see or look at.
Pore over - To look at or read something intently.
Ogle at - To look at in a lecherous or predatory way.
Pry - To look or inquire into something in a determined manner.
Dart - To look quickly or furtively.
Drink in - To look at with great enjoyment or fascination.
Bask in - To look at or enjoy something for a period of time.
Calling all aspiring storytellers with hearts full of whimsy! Get ready to sprinkle a touch of enchantment into your scenes with my Scene Wo
683 members, 435 posts about #creative writing #creative writers #helping writers • Guiding Writers to New Heights
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Not banning adverbs, just helping you avoid the icky ones.
1. Swap the adverb, not the meaning.
Instead of:
“He whispered angrily.”
Try:
“He hissed the words between his teeth.”
2. Replace “said” only when it changes tone.
Not every line needs flair! But sometimes:
• mused (thinking aloud)
• snapped (tension)
• muttered (quiet frustration)
• chirped (bright and quick)
3. Alternatives to ‘almost’ that aren’t icky.
Objects: brushing against, bordering, adjacent to
Actions: poised to, ready to, about to
States: akin to, resembling, not quite
Misc: a whisper from, at the cusp of, within reach of
Example:
Instead of:
“She was almost smiling.”
Try:
“A smile hovered at the edge of her mouth.”
Punctuation as a Writing Superpower
Punctuation is mood.
1. Em-dash = drama or interruption.
“The decision — reckless as it was — already felt final.”
2. Semicolon = linked thoughts.
“The storm hammered the walls; inside, her hands wouldn’t stop shaking.”
3. Colon = emphasis or explanation.
“He wanted only one thing: answers.”
4. Ellipses = hesitation or fading thoughts.
“I thought I saw someone behind the shed, but…”
5. Intentional fragments = emotional punch.
“The letter fell from her hands. Silence. Then breathing. Then panic.”
