Writing Reminders - Tumblr Posts
I usually don't distribute writing advice, but here's what I think new writers should know:
EVERYONE WRITES DIFFERENTLY.
I'm not kidding! Every piece of writing advice is 100% life changing useful to ONE person while being TOTALLY USELESS GARBAGE to a different person. Not only that, but YOU YOURSELF can write differently depending on what story or book you're working on! Not only is every writer different, but every book is different!
So that presents a problem, doesn't it? You're a new writer and you want to improve. You want to learn from the wisdom of those who came before you. How do you know which advice will work for you and which won't?
My first rule as a writer: know thyself. What do you like to read? What do you envision your work looking like? This will guide you in accepting or rejecting advice. It'll also help you find your voice.
My second rule as a writer: try it. Once. Give that advice a try but be willing to drop it like a hot rock if it's not helping or, worse, hindering.
My third rule: feedback from people who have actually read your work? Surprisingly helpful! But be careful to pick people who actually seem excited about the idea. A Debbie Downer can ruin your day and self-esteem.
My fourth rule: there are no rules. Go forth and have fun.
write for yourself. put your fantasies on paper. no one knows what you are writing. no one knows what's in your head. no one is going to write it for you. if you don't write down your ideas they will disappear. if you are too scared to write your thoughts then don't write, try something different. if writing is the only way, get to writing. no one else's opinion matters. no one else's opinion will ever matter
Reminder
There will never be a perfect time to write.
Never a perfect opportunity.
Never a perfect setting or ambience.
Never a perfect sentiment or mood.
You could wait, hopeful, for perfection to arrive and bless you, but you could be waiting your entire life. Think of all the half-written stories, half-developed characters that will be buried in your grave alongside you, just because you chose not to make the best of an imperfect circumstance.
Stop waiting.
Start. Now. Just write. Horribly, sloppily, tangentially.
Write for yourself. Write for someone in particular. Write for an imaginary, idealized audience. Write to commemorate a phase of your life, a friendship that's long since wilted, a parted loved one. Write for the beauty in life, the shimmering snail trails, the rustle of a falcon's feathers while in flight, the crescent moon.
Write for everything. Write for nothing. Write for no one. Write for the madness, for the hell of it. Write just because.
Just write.
Done is better than perfect, as they say.
Some details in life need a voice, however shaky and imperfect. Give these things a voice.
-penned by j. m. medna (2024)
Mute distractions and concentrate.
Identify your goals.
Prioritize by urgency and complexity.
Work on these goals regardless of how you are feeling in the moment. Emotions are fleeting.
YOU ONLY FAIL IF YOU STOP WRITING - RAY BRADBURY
feeling sorry for myself because my writing isn't getting any reads or interactions but then I read:
-Jen Sincero, You are a Badass, Chapter 23
"You only fail if you stop writing." -Ray Bradbury, author of Fahrenheit 451
every word matters
remember, no wip is insignificant or trash.
every word matters. every word is a step of you becoming a better writer. every word is a reminder that you are a writer, because you're building these characters and creating this world from your own imagination.
and that itself is an accomplishment.
me, desperate for some writer friends/mutuals
hi everyone!
this is just a post where writers get to know writers, and hopefully through reblogs/comments we can find more people who not only read/write our genre, but just people who have similarities with us.
it's kind of a simple "get to know me" post, and anyone can join <3 if you want to know more about me and my works, check out my writblr intro!
feel free to tag your mutuals and reblog !!
name: pronouns: genres you like to write in: genres you like to read in + fav books/media: favorite line from your current wip:
name: ave
pronouns: she/her
genres you like to write in: currently writing contemporary (ya/romcom/romance, give me them ALL), but I also like to dabble in fantasy!
genres you like to read in + fav books/media: i'll consume literally anything haha. Fantasy, mystery, historical fiction, romance, young adult, you name it. I'm awful with horror, though ;-;
percy jackson (MY CHILDHOOD), harry potter (OBVIOUSLY), Better Than the Movies, From Lukov with Love, The Love Hypothesis, These Violent Delights, the list goes on...
favorite or latest line from your current wip: [from Destination Seoul]
“How can I?” I mutter, leaning back in my chair. “Even I know when a relationship is over. Especially because I ended it. Besides…”
writing is lonely
it's true, being an author is lonely. you're stuck-and not in a bad way-in your own world and with your own characters, and it's like you either want to bottle your precious gem up inside or tell the whole world about it.
but reaching out to other authors-and possibly fellow readers!-takes time and effort. don't be scared to promote your works, or tell others about your wip's. we're all in the same boat here, and doing so makes writing a little less lonely. ♥️
plus, we all reply :)
you may write different genres, but writers can still support writers. :)
and if you find someone who writes the same genre/likes the same things, SHOUT AT THEM AND SUPPORT THEM SO THEY'RE STUCK WITH YOU FOR LIFE !!!
i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing. i'm writing.
*internet cuts off tumblr and actually makes me write*
i'm telling you this because i'm struggling with it, too.
stop second guessing and doubting yourself. stop getting imposter syndrome while writing. stop comparing.
i know it's hard to stop, and this is a process i always struggle with. but it's awful when you get tunnel vision, seeing all the plot holes and every little grammatical error made. i open my wip's sometimes, and get such bad anxiety that i can't even write, because i'm so scared. it literally doesn't make sense, but it happens.
but learn to love what you write. grow attached to your characters, and write whatever you want. write for yourself first. and no matter what, whether it's one word or sentence that you wrote that day, be proud of yourself.
self validation and self care comes before a completed novel or mesmerizing characters.
<3
I NEEDED THIS
i'm telling you this because i'm struggling with it, too.
stop second guessing and doubting yourself. stop getting imposter syndrome while writing. stop comparing.
i know it's hard to stop, and this is a process i always struggle with. but it's awful when you get tunnel vision, seeing all the plot holes and every little grammatical error made. i open my wip's sometimes, and get such bad anxiety that i can't even write, because i'm so scared. it literally doesn't make sense, but it happens.
but learn to love what you write. grow attached to your characters, and write whatever you want. write for yourself first. and no matter what, whether it's one word or sentence that you wrote that day, be proud of yourself.
self validation and self care comes before a completed novel or mesmerizing characters.
<3
<3
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TWO CENTS, I REALLY NEEDED IT
Yeah! I think it's the tunnel vision we get sometimes, because I'll look back at my story and think "I actually did a pretty good job." It's also how we don't get immediate gratification in writing like we're used to.
We have to spend hours over a single project, creating and raising it, and it's scary both posting it and also not receiving an immediate "good job!" because that's not how it works. But at the same time, it's so, so rewarding.
The fact that I'm my first target audience hit me hard. It's true-I have to enjoy what I write because I do write for myself first, while also thinking of others.
i'm telling you this because i'm struggling with it, too.
stop second guessing and doubting yourself. stop getting imposter syndrome while writing. stop comparing.
i know it's hard to stop, and this is a process i always struggle with. but it's awful when you get tunnel vision, seeing all the plot holes and every little grammatical error made. i open my wip's sometimes, and get such bad anxiety that i can't even write, because i'm so scared. it literally doesn't make sense, but it happens.
but learn to love what you write. grow attached to your characters, and write whatever you want. write for yourself first. and no matter what, whether it's one word or sentence that you wrote that day, be proud of yourself.
self validation and self care comes before a completed novel or mesmerizing characters.
<3
yes !! please interact with all of us, we'd love to have you here. and it's so true- a simple ask or a "this sounds interesting" or even a like on our writing just makes everything so worth it.
i'm so happy for you! <3
writing is lonely
it's true, being an author is lonely. you're stuck-and not in a bad way-in your own world and with your own characters, and it's like you either want to bottle your precious gem up inside or tell the whole world about it.
but reaching out to other authors-and possibly fellow readers!-takes time and effort. don't be scared to promote your works, or tell others about your wip's. we're all in the same boat here, and doing so makes writing a little less lonely. ♥️
plus, we all reply :)
learning to love a first draft with all its flaws is also learning to love yourself
!!!!!!!!
thanks for the advice! :) you can even write comments like "I LOVE THIS" or "ew why did they make this decision" or "LMAO" just sporadically in your drafts, I sometimes find that it helps me get in the zone or writing mood with my own story haha
moodboards, finding playlists, or even consulting writer friends are also a great idea
i'm telling you this because i'm struggling with it, too.
stop second guessing and doubting yourself. stop getting imposter syndrome while writing. stop comparing.
i know it's hard to stop, and this is a process i always struggle with. but it's awful when you get tunnel vision, seeing all the plot holes and every little grammatical error made. i open my wip's sometimes, and get such bad anxiety that i can't even write, because i'm so scared. it literally doesn't make sense, but it happens.
but learn to love what you write. grow attached to your characters, and write whatever you want. write for yourself first. and no matter what, whether it's one word or sentence that you wrote that day, be proud of yourself.
self validation and self care comes before a completed novel or mesmerizing characters.
<3
that feeling when you write and just. can't. stop >>
i keep wanting to write but i can’t because im stopping myself somehow from writing and I don’t know if it’s because I’m scared to finish this draft or just scared of what comes after or scared that I’ll have to stop again because I feel like I never have the time but it’s awful
im writing a little bit each day but it’s not MY wip or my current project and it just gets a little bit harder
but im going to get back into it, one because i want to, and two because i owe it to myself
i'm telling you this because i'm struggling with it, too.
stop second guessing and doubting yourself. stop getting imposter syndrome while writing. stop comparing.
i know it's hard to stop, and this is a process i always struggle with. but it's awful when you get tunnel vision, seeing all the plot holes and every little grammatical error made. i open my wip's sometimes, and get such bad anxiety that i can't even write, because i'm so scared. it literally doesn't make sense, but it happens.
but learn to love what you write. grow attached to your characters, and write whatever you want. write for yourself first. and no matter what, whether it's one word or sentence that you wrote that day, be proud of yourself.
self validation and self care comes before a completed novel or mesmerizing characters.
<3
i'm telling you this because i'm struggling with it, too.
stop second guessing and doubting yourself. stop getting imposter syndrome while writing. stop comparing.
i know it's hard to stop, and this is a process i always struggle with. but it's awful when you get tunnel vision, seeing all the plot holes and every little grammatical error made. i open my wip's sometimes, and get such bad anxiety that i can't even write, because i'm so scared. it literally doesn't make sense, but it happens.
but learn to love what you write. grow attached to your characters, and write whatever you want. write for yourself first. and no matter what, whether it's one word or sentence that you wrote that day, be proud of yourself.
self validation and self care comes before a completed novel or mesmerizing characters.
<3