Writing Tings - Tumblr Posts
The only character questionnaire you'll ever need (works for all characters and genres)
Name:
Role:
Physical description:
Age:
Personality Type:
Distinctive skills and abilities:
Greatest fear:
Misbelief about the world:
What happened to make them believe this lie:
What do they criticize others for:
Love Language:
How do they respond to emotional pain:
Top 3 things they value (physical or abstract):
Is there an object they can’t bear to part with and why:
Typical outfit:
Method of manipulation:
How are they dissatisfied with life:
What do they think will bring them happiness:
What could they do to make that happen:
How has their fear stopped them from taking this action:
How do they think they can get their goal without doing the thing that makes them afraid:
Answer for each character this character has a direct relationship with
Describe relationship briefly:
Points of conflict in relationship:
What do they agree on:
What do they disagree on:
Any secrets kept from each other and why:
How did they meet and how long did they know each other:
How will their relationship change over the course of the story:
(Abbie emmons)
The Ultimate CHARACTER PROFILE for NaNoWriMo (new and improved!) - YouTube
Questions to ask beta readers
General:
Were you confused at any point of the story?
What genre would you say this book is?
When did you put the story down?
Is the ending satisfying?
If you had to cut 3 scenes what would they be?
When did you feel like the story really began?
What was the last book you read before this story?
Characters:
Do you get any of the characters names confused?
Which character is your favorite?
If you had to remove a character who would you and why? (you don't have to remove the character, just make sure their role is meaningful)
Which character do you relate to the most?
Which character do you relate to the least?
Do the characters feel real?
Are character relationships believable?
Are the goals clear and influence the plot?
Are the characters distinct (voice, motivations, etc)
Setting:
Which setting was clearest to you?
Which setting was the most memorable?
Am including enough/too much detail?
Plot and conflict:
Are the internal and external conflicts well defined for the main characters?
Are the internal conflicts and the external conflicts organic and believable?
Are there enough stakes?
Are the plot twists believable but still unexpected?
What you HAVE TO know about your characters
Name:
Appearence:
Age:
Role:
Why the have that role, not based on the plot but based on the characters core beliefs and how that affects the plot:
Beliefs:
Motivations:
Who they were raised to be vs who they are/are becoming:
Plans for the future:
How they feel about themselves and how it affects their behavior:
Why do they even matter:
Writing tips/reminders that help me actually write
Characters are not the same thing as people, you don't need to show every scene and they don't need to be hyper "realistic", they just have to move your story
A character's purpose should be known before personality. Take your plot, think of the different perspectives in it, turn those perspectives into people, give those people roles, THEN give them a personality based on their roles.
ITS NOT ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WANT YOU TO WRITE
Dialogue is very very very important, use it, and make it affect (effect???) your characters
Know how to describe your plot in one or two sentences.
You should probably learn the difference between affect and effect but ehhhhhhh
Let things happen, if what you planned doesn't make sense for a character then change the plan. CHARACTERS ARE BASED AROUND YOUR IDEA FOR THE PLOT BUT THE CHARACTERS DRIVE THE PLOT
Create conflict between your characters!!!! And make them fight over something, not just fight.
Create an outline and edit the outline until it flows. This will save you soooooo much time.
Base your backstories on personalities, come up with the beliefs they need first and then go back and figure out why
POV MATTERS A LOT
Experiment with different writing processes, there is no one way to write.
And be kind to yourself, remember it's not supposed to be easy, it's normal to not know what to do. Writer's block will always happen to anyone and it definitely doesn't make you less of a writer.
REMINDER
If it is difficult to write or you don't like your writing, that means you're growing as a writer, not that you're a bad writer.
How to make your creatures scientifically realistic ⋆｡°✩
So, what makes a character realistic? How they fit into their environment. Creatures must either adapt to their environment or die. The environment is very important thing to designing scientifically accurate creatures.
What is the temperature? Are there seasons? If so, how do they affect the wildlife?
How much water is in the environment? Where do they get this water from (water vapor, ocean, rivers, etc.)
What does the ground consist of?
How long is the day vs the night? How much light do they get?
What is the elevation?
You don't need to know exact numbers, but you should have a general idea. These factors (not limited to only these), influence the species that live in the area. How is your species adapted to these environments. Think about the things you need to survive, like food, water, shelter, etc.
The other animals will also affect this. What lives there? Who is the predator and the prey? What, if any, plants live there? How does your creature fit into this?
You can also use existing traits from animals in environments today. For example, thick fur in colder temperatures. Or creatures like whales, having to breath air even though they live in the water.
The most important thing is to stick to it. YOU MAKE THE RULES BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO FOLLOW THEM.
Disclaimer: I am not an expert; this is only based off what I've learned. Feel free to correct anything or ask questions.
Hot (medium lukewarm) writing take
Life and death stakes are not enough to motivate your characters (most times), they have to have other motivations. Why are they staying alive otherwise?
The only exception I can really think of is if you writing about a character choosing to live, I still think that even that is iffy.
Create your characters voice
Write one to ten pages (I usually do 5 for major character, 1 or 2 for side characters) as your character. Anything they would say, opinions, diary entries, complaining, etc.
Ooooh I have collected some helpful things to maybe include:
adopting slang from people they are close too/love interest
do they have a raspy voice? High pitched? Overly sweet? Commanding? Figure that out.
to make characters have their own voice vary rhythm, word choice, use of profanity, how much they talk about themselves or others, their politics.
Take some dialogue and ask if readers would be able to tell who is speaking with no context.
Write an AITA post from their point of view.
Identify what role your character has, a leader? a follower? a disrupter? a rebel? an antagonist? a peacemaker? How does that change the way they speak?
The character traits will tell you what your characters will say or how they will say it.
HOW TO FIND A PLOT WHEN ALL YOU HAVE IS CHARACTERS AND A SETTING (and has built in character development!)
I'm looking at you oc community
YAY you have a world. Great! Now write down what happens on a normally- what are your character's daily routine. And my favorite part, why is that their routine. What makes them choose that? Are they constantly doing new thing cause they're afraid to be by themselves? Are they constantly by themselves because they are afraid of rejection? What would take this comfort zone and burn it to the ground. Create a list of ideas and pick your favorite.
Create a list of each character's goals and motivation, I'll be making a post on how to find that soon btw. Can the plot be based of these goals?
Pick THE MOST IMPORTANT goals.
Find the characters with different goals. YAY conflict!
You have to know your characters fears for this part. Not like heights like no one will ever love me if I'm not always perfect.
How are they dissatisfied with life:
What do they think will bring them happiness:
What could they do to be happy:
How has their fear stopped them from taking this action:
How do they think they can get their goal without doing the thing that makes them afraid:
6. Then use the situation in point 1 to create the environment that kick starts it. Use the goals and motivations to show why they do actions and boom!
Happy writing!
How I'm FINALLY finishing my wip
I told my little sister if I don't finish 10,000 words in 10 days that I have to do anything she wants for a week 😭
mind you this is a middle schooler so if one week from now I stop posting, uh send help
The three essential rules I use for stories
everything must be consistent, if I create rules, I have to follow them
Every major event must have some foreshadowing
Characters "earn" what happens to them. They have to overcome a bad thing/do a good thing to get a good thing and they have to do something wrong or bad to get a bad thing.
Throws writing motivation at you
It doesn't have to be perfect, or some genre redefining masterpiece, it doesn't even have to be long. Just work on it a little. Imagine one day, when you finish your story, that it's someone's favorite. That you are someone's favorite writer. People read parts of it aloud to their friends and family.
Someone out there wants to read what you wrote.
Someone appreciates your art.
Someone wants to know what's on your mind.
@eefmuffin
How to romanticize writing
You don't have to do all or even any of these, just do what seems fun.
drink coffee or tea
wear cute outfits when writing
listen to music
create a routine for writing
light candles (you can also write until the candle burns out)
listen to music/make playlist that are the vibe of what you are writing
find a writing buddy and keep each other on track
READ reading a good book usually inspires me to start writing again
write something short and fun that isnt your wip for a bit
create fake covers
write something so horrible it funny (embrace the brain rot)
Do your hair/nails/put on a face mask
change you location, a different room, the library, a cafe, outside.
Oooo a secret other option you will share with us gasp???
Lisa or Lena (This or That) for writers
Chapter Titles or No Chapter Titles
Writing On Paper or Typing
Multiple Wips or One Wip
Want your characters to find happiness or Want them to suffer
Writing prompts/Real life events or It came to me in a dreammm
Plotter vs Pantser
Characters or Plot
Weird writer search history or Reasearch what research
Hate Dialogue or Loves Dialogue
Perfectionism or Edit it later
Imposter syndrome or Imposter syndrome or Imposter syndrome or...
Story could/did happen irl or Could not happen irl
Happy endings or Sad endings
Super long sentences or Super short sentences
Long winding description or The trees were green
Fanfiction or An original story
Hates Editing or Loves Editing
Cofee or Tea
Vibe Curator or Character designs
Wants to be published or Doesn't want to be published
Writing while dressed up or Writing while looking like a hobo
Library or Cafe
Bonus: What are you writing about?
WRITING CHARACTERS TIPS
If you already have details for the character (ex: they like classical music), ask why. It helps to flesh out the character (ex: their older sister used to play it while they had tea parties, they play it when they miss her)
Make your characters want things, that want controls their actions. Also, MAKE IT MATTER! What's stopping them from getting it? What happens (or what do they think will happen) if they don't get it?
Most of the time strengths and weaknesses are the same thing. Your character may be a strong leader and that's great sometimes, but they can also become (or seem) bossy/controlling.
You are not creating real people; you are making the illusion of one. Don't be afraid to play God. Sure, you can throw events at characters to force them to make that decision, or you can make them the kind of person who would do it anyway. You don't have to know they're favorite food, unless it would come up in the story. Include some details, but make sure they have a purpose (see tip 1)
The characters first line should say something about them and they're last line of the story should say something about them. I like to use it to show how they changed.
Writerblr I need your help 😭
I've just been put in charge of this writing club, we need 4 members to have a club. We have 4. My friends who write but don't want join the club says it's too boring. The set up used last year was:
Writing prompt
Share what we wrote for the writing prompt
Lecture type thing on an aspect of writing
Talk about our WIPs
The ideas I have so far are optional contests (they will have gift cards as prizes) and putting up posters to get the word out about it.
If you have any ideas that could help me, please please please share them.
Yesss
For The Writers:
For any writers feeling discouraged, some posts I found for you to remind you that your writing is exquisite!
- Writing isn’t a linear experience - How the reader sees the book - You don’t have to write in quarantine - You’re still a writer - Your WIP is worth it! - I love your writing! - Yours to write - Not every line will be gold - Someone’s favorite story - Writing is for everyone - Reminder! - To writer pals - For all the writers who haven’t - Things you can do that are 100% valid - Writing exercises - Pleasing yourself - Your style - Just a friendly reminder - It is OK to… - You made a story - Writing weirdly (it’s 100% OK) - Dear writers - Some more positivity - Writing art - Writing for yourself - Creation, not perfection - It’ll take longer to… - You’re doing wonderfully - Thank you - Writer’s self care
I promise you, you are all so amazing!! You writers are just!! Incredible!! Stellar humans of creation!! I’m so proud of you, no matter your WIP, word count, or writing style!! You’re doing amazing! Always remember that!
~💙