Writing Positivity - Tumblr Posts
how to outline a story:
write a bullet point list of everything that happens
realize it doesn’t make sense
cry
start writing anyway
You might never be a best-seller. But your story will matter to someone. It will make a difference to someone. Someone will enjoy it. Keep going.
If you’re reading this: this is your sign that your WIP is worth writing, is worth the effort, and that you are doing great. Keep going, take breaks, reflect. But do not lose sight of how far you’ve come on this project! You can do it!
"Takes you by the shoulders and shakes you gently"
You have a unique perspective and set of life experiences that make you the writer that you are, and no one can take that away from you! Technical skill is something that can be learned, and maybe there are writers who are more technically skilled than you, but that doesn't make your own unique perspective and style any less important! You have a story to tell (many stories to tell, probably, because we are multifaceted) that no one else would be able to tell in the same way that you can! The only person you should ever feel you have to compete with is the writer that you were yesterday! So go out there and write, even if you feel like you don't have anything original to say, because I promise that you do!
I love first-person because it’s about what the narrator chooses to tell. What do they focus on? What do they leave out? What can you learn from reading between the lines? Are they lying to you? Are they lying to themself? It’s great for unreliable narrators and for epistolary storytelling! It’s intimate but there’s still a distance because you aren’t really seeing the narrator’s thoughts–you’re just seeing the story that they’ve constructed.
I love second-person because it’s a conversation. Does “you” mean a broad, indefinite “you”? Does “you” really mean “I” but with plausible deniability? Does “you” mean one specific person? Can they hear the narrator? Do they know the narrator? What is the relationship here? Who’s talking? Who’s listening?
I love third-person limited because it’s focused and intimate. What does the world look like from inside this character’s head? What are they seeing? What are they feeling? It doesn’t grant them the privacy that first-person does; the narrative isn’t something they’ve chosen, it’s invisible and inescapable. As a reader you’re not watching so much as astral projecting.
(I love singular point of view because of how much it leans into that limitation. You’re not getting the whole story; you’re not seeing anything unless this character sees it. How do you embrace that? What do you do with the gaps around the edges? How does that define–or warp–the events that they’re experiencing?
I love multiple points of view because of how it broadens your understanding of the story and the world. If two point-of-view characters react in opposite ways to the same thing, what does that tell you about them? About the world? How does it feel to spend time inside a character’s head and then see them from someone’s else’s point of view? How do all of these viewpoints work together?)
I love third-person omniscient because the narrative is a character. It’s great for stories that know they’re stories! It allows for a camaraderie between the narrator and the reader! It allows for wider and more cinematic descriptions because you’re not limited to what a specific person can see! It lets you look at the characters from outside while still giving you the option to delve into their heads because you have full control over what you’re focusing on!
And I love authors who can combine viewpoints in ways you wouldn’t think would work but manage to pull it off! Stories with multiple point-of-view characters where one is first-person and the others are third! Stories that combine first- and second-person! Stories where the omniscient narrator suddenly refers to themself in the first person! Stories where you realize halfway through that you were wrong about who was narrating it!
Isn’t it fantastic that there are so many different ways to tell stories!!!!
Hello! This is your monthly positivity mail :)
Happy February! I hope it's going well for you. I know this month can be tough if you feel alone, but try to take it as an occasion to appreciate and treat yourself! Remember to take time to enjoy the little things in life, and see you next month!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was really in need of some positivity after these past few weeks, and this made my day!💜💜
Hey you, yeah you. The writer reading this.
It's okay to scrap things in a draft. It's okay to start again. It's okay to change things. It's okay to do whatever the fuck you want
Do what makes you happy.
You got this!
Hey! BEAUTIFUL PERSON AWARD!! Once you are given this award, you’re supposed to paste it in the asks of 8 people who deserve it. If you break the chain nothing happens, but it’s sweet to know someone thinks you’re beautiful inside and out. 💞
Thank you, so so much for this! You're a beautiful human being as well! 💜
I'd been needing something to cheer me up today! Thank you!
Hello! This is your monthly positivity mail :)
I hope March is going well for you! I wish you a month full of happiness and plenty of time to rest. See you next month!
Thank you so much!!! And right back at ya! (:
List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who liked or reblogged something from you! Get to know your mutuals and followers ❤️
Thank you so much for the ask, @kaylinalexanderbooks!!!!
5 things that make me happy (this month's edition):
Writing my WIPs and developing characters (:
Playing Baldur's Gate 3 and DnD
Drawing and character design
Playing with my cats and dogs
Listening to music that inspires me to create stories
List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who liked or reblogged something from you! Get to know your mutuals and followers ❤️
Batting it back to you ;D
Thank you so much!!! 💜
5 things that make me happy (round 2!)
Drinking tea while drawing
Musicals!!! I adore musicals, and listening to that kind of music always makes me so inspired
Watching funny cat videos on YouTube
My current haircut!
Watching my favorite movies and series (:
Hello! This is your monthly positivity mail :)
Did you have a fun April Fools'? I hope your month is full of happiness and nice surprises. Remember that you deserve to treat yourself, and have a nice month!
Thank you so much for this!!!! 💕 I was in dire need of some positivity this month, things have been very chaotic for me and my health wasn't doing me any favors, so I'm thankful for this ask and I'm happy to be able to be more active here on tumblr again!
List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who liked or reblogged something from you! Get to know your mutuals and followers ❤️
Thank you so much for the ask, @elsie-writes!
Writing and developing my story ideas. I've just had two new story ideas - one that could potentially be a neat standalone dark fantasy fairytale book and another that is more of an urban fantasy/teen horror sitcom style series. Plus I'm just so excited about my current main WIP, Of Starlight and Beasts! I can't wait to share more about it!
Watching good movies, listening to music and drawing!
Playing DnD with my friends, watching DnD related content including Critical Role
My two adorable cats and my three doggos 💕
Spending quality time with my loved ones and feeling generally happy with life again (:
💌send this to the twelve nicest people you know or who seem to have a good heart and if you get five back you must be pretty awesome.💌
Aww thank you so, so much for this one! Sorry I took so long to answer, its been a rough month, but I'm so thankful to have online friends/mutuals like you! ❤️
Once you get this, you have to say five things you like about yourself, publicly. Then you have to send this to ten of your favorite followers (non-negotiable, positivity is cool~)
Thank you so much for the ask, @kaylinalexanderbooks! This was one heck of a crazy month for me! But here we go (:
My current hairstyle! It's still short - because I can't stand my hair when it gets too long - but it's grown into a style I've been wanting to have for a while but hadn't quite be able to achieve it. I'm super stoked with how it looks like right now though!
My ability to tell stories and create characters - it still amazes me how, through writing, I can be able to create entire new worlds out of thin air!
The way I look after getting ready for a brand new day. It's nice to be able to like how I look after being judgemental about myself for so long!
This is not necessarily about myself, but I like laughing. I like watching something funny that makes me laugh and feel genuine joy after a tiring day!
My glasses! I really like the way I look with my glasses - probably because I can't see how I look without them very well and because I've worn glasses for so long that it's pretty much a part of my identity now. I really like them!
Once you get this, you have to say five things you like about yourself, publicly. Then you have to send this to ten of your favorite followers (non-negotiable, positivity is cool~)
Thank you so much for the ask! @kaylinalexanderbooks
My current hairstyle! I know I said this in another one of these, but I'm really happy that my hair naturally grew into the style I had been intending to have for a while, it's very short but very cute!
My art! I love making art, especially drawing and digital paintings!
The way ideas flow to my mind when I am specifically inspired to write something. That is one of my favorite feelings in the world and I love when I get to be productive and have fun at the same time! It's like time flies by when you're enjoying what you write.
The way I try to be cooperative and try to make people feel better! It took a while to develop the skills I needed to not be an awkward loner anymore and finally start interacting with people and making friends, and I really enjoy it rn.
Not necessarily about me specifically, but it is something I really enjoy doing: playing with my pets! They're just the squishiest little balls of cuteness (both my cats and my dogs), and I just adore them!
Hello! This is your monthly positivity mail :)
I hope the month of May has been nice to you! As we slowly approach this year's halfway point, try to think of the moments you've enjoyed, and the ones you're looking forward to. Remember to appreciate the small wins, and don't beat yourself up if you feel like you could be doing more. Take it easy, and see you next month!
Thank you so much for the ask! I hope to have an amazing June - and it seems it really will be amazing, and I needed this positive reminder! I've started a new DnD campaign last month, finished plotting Supernova Initiative and Song of Thorns (two of my current book WIPs), started a few new courses I gotta catch up to and am looking forward to more of this in this month of June!
Plus it is finally cold here where I live, and I was counting the days til the arrival of winter. I'm so happy about this!
@dr0wnme0ut @yvnempire @yeonzzzn @slickchickchocolatier @heehoonies @simpjaes @alvojake @naomiarai @021894s @un06 @thoughtsofmetaphor @heejake-hoon @hoondrop @jaylaxies especially 🖤🖤🖤🖤
It's Fanfic Writer Appreciation Day! So go on, appreciate the fuck out of those who generously share their ideas and talents with us. Today and every day after.
Write fanfiction guiltlessly. Do it not only because it’s good practice, not only because you don’t feel like putting your energy into original stuff, but because you do feel like putting your energy into fandom. Write fanfics of epic proportions or tiny one-shots; write fluff or angst or cliches or tropes; publish the roughest version or keep the twelfth draft for only yourself. Do it without feeling bad. You owe no one anything; the act of creation is a gift in and of itself, and it doesn’t matter if you’re creating fanfic or original stories or whatever else you want. All that matters is you enjoy it, because why else would you do it at the end of the day?
Write fanfiction guiltlessly.