Host-of-ghost-toast - The Ghost Host With The Most Toast

How do you make your writing feel less stilted? I feel like when I write I’m too literal, I am always straight to the point and I don’t know how to make it seem more natural. I’ve only just started writing and I really like the idea I’m writing, but it just feels kinda stilted

Good question! Theres always the advice to use similes, metaphors and other descriptive language when possible, but if you’re looking for something more specific…

Instead of stating something to be similar or related, try starting a new paragraph with a story or fact about the related thing and then bring it back to the main idea.

For example, instead of saying something like:

‘The diner was familiar, like the one John used to go to with his grandmother when he was young.’

Try something like:

‘Growing up, every Saturday John’s grandmother would let him sleep in an extra twenty minutes before throwing open the curtains to allow the golden summer sunshine to spill across his face. He’d then get dressed and climb into the old beat-up car and flip through the radio stations until Grandmother would bat his hands away and switch it to the classical radio as they made their way to the local diner.

To complete this Saturday morning ritual, they’d sit belly up to the bar and order the massive diner pancakes, orange juice with John’s and black coffee with Grandmother’s. They ate the same thing every week but John didn’t complain, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

It had been almost a full decade since they’d eaten together like that. The cracked and faded diner parking lot John stood in now called back to those happier times.’

Or instead of:

‘John felt butterflies in his stomach while waiting for the phone to ring.’

Try:

‘When a butterfly first comes out of its chrysalis, it’s wings are far too wet to be good for anything so the poor creature must stay in place slowly flapping its useless wings to dry them and hope that no predator comes upon them.

John feels rather like those vulnerable insects, he thinks, while waiting for the phone to ring. Everything is on the line.’

I’ve found this method is a fun way to fill out the page as well as gives you opportunity to show more about the character and tell more then the literal situation.

Hope this helps some!

as a subtitler im incredibly biased as i say this but. shoutout to forms of fan labor other than fanart and fanfiction. fanart and fanfiction are awesome, don't take this as a dig at those, but i have a big appreciation for fans who provide closed captioning/subtitles/translations of works out of love n passion; fans who recap and explain aspects of the original work; fucking SPEEDRUNNERS, holy shit, shoutout to speedrunners and challenge runners in video game communities. lots of things that fall outside the scope of what comes to mind when people think of fanart/fan labor are integral parts of a healthy fan ecosystem

Are you trapped on tumblr right now?

Is there something you planned to do before you got trapped in the endless tumblr scroll?

Are you yelling at yourself to get up and do the thing, but you can’t, because you’re trapped in the endless tumblr scroll?

Consider this your save point.

Put tumblr down, stand up, stretch, and go do the thing you planned to do. Future you will be incredibly grateful.

Shitpost because I couldn't stop giggling at the idea

NEED HELP WRITING? (a masterlist)

I have likely not added many that I've reblogged to this list. Please feel free to roam my blog and/or ask/message me to add something you'd like to see on this list!

Synonym Lists

Look by @writers-potion

Descriptors

Voices by @saraswritingtipps

Show, Don't Tell by @lyralit

Tips & Tricks

5 Tips for Creating Intimidating Antagonists by @writingwithfolklore

How To (Realistically) Make a Habit of Writing by @byoldervine

Let's Talk About Misdirection by @deception-united

Tips to Improve Character Voice by @tanaor

Stephen King's Top 20 Rules for Writers posted by @toocoolformedschool

Fun Things to Add to a Fight Scene (Hand to Hand Edition) by @illarian-rambling

Questions I Ask My Beta Readers by @burntoutdaydreamer

Skip Google for Research by @s-n-arly

Breaking Writing Rules Right: Don't Write Direct Dialogue by @septemberercfawkes

Databases/Resources

International Clothing

Advice/Uplifting

Too Ashamed of Writing To Write by @writingquestionsanswered

"Said" is Beautiful by @blue-eyed-author