Writing Tips And Tricks - Tumblr Posts
Some Quick Character Tips
Here are a handful of quick tips to help you write believable characters!
1. A character’s arc doesn’t need to grow linearly. Your protagonist doesn’t have to go from being weak to strong, shy to confident, or novice to professional in one straight line. It’s more realistic if they mess up their progress on the way and even decline a bit before reaching their goal.
2. Their past affects their present. Make their backstory matter by having their past events shape them into who they are. Growing up with strict parents might lead to a sneaky character, and a bad car accident might leave them fearful of driving.
3. Give reoccurring side characters something that makes them easily recognizable. This could be a scar, a unique hairstyle, an accent, or a location they’re always found at, etc.
4. Make sure their dialogue matches their personality. To make your characters more believable in conversation, give them speech patterns. Does the shy character mumble too low for anyone to ever hear, does the nervous one pace around and make everyone else on edge?
5. Make your characters unpredictable. Real people do unexpected things all the time, and this can make life more exciting. The strict, straight-A student who decides to drink at a party. The pristine princess who likes to visit the muddy farm animals. When character’s decide to do things spontaneously or in the heat of the moment, it can create amazing twists and turns.
6. Give even your minor character’s a motive. This isn’t to say that all your characters need deep, intricate motives. However, every character should need or want something, and their actions should reflect that. What’s the motive behind a side character who follows your protagonist on their adventure? Perhaps they’ve always had dreams of leaving their small village or they want to protect your protagonist because of secret feelings.
Instagram: coffeebeanwriting
I'm doing a panel on how to write fanfiction 😆
So my town is having a comic con and entertainment expo, like a small version of Chicago's C2E2.
I signed up to do a panel titled "Beyond Canon: Mastering the Art of Fanfiction Writing." My reason behind doing this panel is to get people excited about writing, as I lead our local writing group.
In the panel, I want to touch on the following:
Introduction to Fanfiction: Define what fanfiction is and its significance in popular culture. Discuss its history and evolution.
Understanding Canon: Emphasize the importance of knowing the source material (canon) thoroughly before writing fanfiction. Discuss ways to research and interpret canon material.
Types of Fanfiction: Explore different genres and styles of fanfiction, such as alternate universe (AU), crossover, fluff, angst, and smut. Discuss the unique challenges and opportunities each genre presents.
Respecting Canon vs. Taking Creative Liberties: Discuss the balance between staying true to canon and taking creative liberties in fanfiction. Explore the ethics of altering or expanding upon established elements of the source material.
Feedback and Community Engagement: Discuss the role of feedback and community engagement in the fanfiction writing process. Explore platforms and communities where writers can share their work, receive feedback, and connect with fellow fans.
Legal and Ethical Considerations: Touch upon legal and ethical considerations surrounding fanfiction, such as copyright issues and respecting the rights of original creators.
The Impact of Fanfiction: Reflect on the broader cultural impact of fanfiction, including its role in fostering community, creativity, and literary analysis.
Q&A Session: Open the floor to questions from the audience, allowing attendees to seek clarification, share their own experiences, and engage in discussion.
Throughout the panel, I want to highlight some incredible fanfictions that have transcended their origins and made their mark in mainstream media as books, TV shows, or movies.
If you know of any fanfictions that have been turned into books, TV Shows, or movies please leave them below! If you have any thoughts or insights on what I should cover in specific areas, I'd appreciate your thoughts below! 😊
REMINDER
THE POINT OF A PLOT TWIST IS TO ENRICH YOUR STORY, NOT OUTSMART YOUR READERS!!!! SPRINKLE IN YOUR FORESHADOWING!!!! LEAVE CLUES!!!
(im not saying to spell it out/make your plot twist cliche or boring. we are going for a "how did I not see that coming" vibe)
Just so y'all know, if I ever become famous, I'm not telling y'all. I am going to wait a while, and then drop that I am.
Like oh btw guys I'm famous now :0
and then y'all can guess who I am
TRUST YOUR READERS
i swear, TRUST THEM!
Leave gaps for the readers to fill in. Don't spell everything out. Leave things up to interpretation. The gaps are pockets for people to put fanfiction/theories/ideas into.
I'm not talking about "this doesn't make sense"
I'm talking "insert your ideas here"
I don't really have a ton to add but these are brilliant. I love the idea of mixing and matching these traits to create unique characters. My only contribution is to mix three of them and create this:
Charisma - Compassion - Impulsiveness: A character who is dynamic and draws others to them, but also deeply compassionate to their problems. The twist is that they're impulsive in their advice and offers of help, often to their own detriment. I don't know why, but I'm picturing this character accidentally becoming a cult leader and not knowing how to extract themselves from what they impulsively created 😂
20 Compelling Positive-Negative Trait Pairs
Here are 20 positive and negative trait pairs that can create compelling character dynamics in storytelling:
1. Bravery - Recklessness: A character is courageous in the face of danger but often takes unnecessary risks.
2. Intelligence - Arrogance: A character is exceptionally smart but looks down on others.
3. Compassion - Naivety: A character is deeply caring but easily deceived due to their trusting nature.
4. Determination - Stubbornness: A character is persistent in their goals but unwilling to adapt or compromise.
5. Charisma - Manipulativeness: A character is charming and persuasive but often uses these traits to exploit others.
6. Resourcefulness - Opportunism: A character is adept at finding solutions but is also quick to exploit situations for personal gain.
7. Loyalty - Blind Obedience: A character is fiercely loyal but follows orders without question, even when they're wrong.
8. Optimism - Denial: A character remains hopeful in difficult times but often ignores harsh realities.
9. Humor - Inappropriateness: A character lightens the mood with jokes but often crosses the line with their humor.
10. Generosity - Lack of Boundaries: A character is giving and selfless but often neglects their own needs and well-being.
11. Patience - Passivity: A character is calm and tolerant but sometimes fails to take action when needed.
12. Wisdom - Cynicism: A character has deep understanding and insight but is often pessimistic about the world.
13. Confidence - Overconfidence: A character believes in their abilities but sometimes underestimates challenges.
14. Honesty - Bluntness: A character is truthful and straightforward but often insensitive in their delivery.
15. Self-discipline - Rigidity: A character maintains strong control over their actions but is inflexible and resistant to change.
16. Adventurousness - Impulsiveness: A character loves exploring and trying new things but often acts without thinking.
17. Empathy - Overwhelm: A character deeply understands and feels others' emotions but can become overwhelmed by them.
18. Ambition - Ruthlessness: A character is driven to achieve great things but willing to do anything, even unethical, to succeed.
19. Resilience - Emotional Detachment: A character can endure hardships without breaking but often seems emotionally distant.
20. Strategic - Calculative: A character excels at planning and foresight but can be cold and overly pragmatic in their decisions.
These pairs create complex, multi-dimensional characters that can drive rich, dynamic storytelling.
Tips for when you can't write a scene or can't get into it:
Find the song your character listens to all the time and try to find why that song is special and what they think when they hear it.
Imagine/write the scene in the same or a similar place where it unfolds, be it the kitchen or the garden. (And...)
Imagine/write the scene at the same time it occurs. Cover yourself with a blanket to pretend it's night if you have to.
When you're imagining, pretend you're the pov character and write down the special details they *insert all senses*, what they would like to do but can't and the thoughts that come to their mind.
Write dialogue that feels special first and try to find a way to make it shine and be of importance when writing the scene. (Or... )
Write physical language first, subtle or not, and make it special or important.
7 Tricks to Refresh a Scene You've Edited 68345.27 Times 🤪
You know how when you go to Japanese restaurants, they always give you ginger to help clear your palate? I wish something like that existed for when you are editing something you’ve already edited 50 times.
It would make the life of a writer so much easier.
Luckily, there are a few tricks that can help fool your mind, at least to some degree.
1. Take a Break
Probably the most obvious and most common advice is to step way from the scene, or project, long enough for your eyes to go “cold,” as they say. In some cases, it may be helpful to take a break from all forms of creative writing. For some, two days may be enough. Others might need a month, or longer.
While that is probably the most helpful approach, it’s not always realistic. It’s time consuming (obviously), and if you are on a deadline, it might not be an option. So let’s talk about some other ways.
2. Change the Font
If you change the font of what you are editing, it can sometimes fool your mind enough into thinking the scene or project is “fresher.” It’s not as effective as taking a break, but it can still be pretty darn effective.
3. Change Position or Setting
Similarly, if you tend to write in the same area(s), try going to a place you usually don’t write. Can you go outside? In a fancy room? In a closet? To a cafe?
Or maybe it would be helpful to change your position. Instead of sitting up, try lounging in bed, or perhaps standing.
4. Print off on Paper
I’ve often found that printing off an overworked scene can help give me a fresh perspective. I might edit the writing right on the page.
5. Read Aloud
Reading aloud actually uses a different part of the brain than reading silently. This is why some kids are great at reading on their own, but struggle to read when called on in class.
As a bonus, reading aloud can also help you find typos, awkward phrases, or poor dialogue.
6. Read Aloud to Someone Else
From my experience, reading aloud to someone else can sometimes double that effect.
7. Trust the Process
In a show I like to watch sometimes called “The Profit,” businessman Marcus Lemonis goes in to failing businesses and helps them succeed. On occasion, he tells people to “trust the process.” Meaning, rather than trying to trust him, other people, or maybe even themselves, they should trust the process of becoming a better business.
A few months ago, an ad came up on my Facebook, where best-selling author Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code) said something similar. He said there will be days when you feel like you can’t write, days where it feels impossible and you don’t have it in you. That, he said, is when you trust the process.
You trust the process of writing a story, scene, or whatever, regardless of how you feel.
If you’ve been writing long enough, you should be somewhat familiar with the process, or even, your own personal process.
So maybe you feel like your brain is going to fall out if you have to edit this scene one more time–trust the process. Trust the technique and steps needed to write a good one, and follow it through.
(So maybe the last one isn’t a “refresh,” but hopefully you get the idea)
Writing Description Notes:
Updated 9th September 2024 More writing tips, review tips & writing description notes
Facial Expressions
Masking Emotions
Smiles/Smirks/Grins
Eye Contact/Eye Movements
Blushing
Voice/Tone
Body Language/Idle Movement
Thoughts/Thinking/Focusing/Distracted
Silence
Memories
Happy/Content/Comforted
Love/Romance
Sadness/Crying/Hurt
Confidence/Determination/Hopeful
Surprised/Shocked
Guilt/Regret
Disgusted/Jealous
Uncertain/Doubtful/Worried
Anger/Rage
Laughter
Confused
Speechless/Tongue Tied
Fear/Terrified
Mental Pain
Physical Pain
Tired/Drowsy/Exhausted
Eating
Drinking
Warm/Hot
Here's a list of all my posts so far!
Daily Writerly Updates! | Open to post requests & questions
+ Feel free to chat with me anytime :) Think of me as your next door writer neighbor 🏡
☕📜Writing Prompts (general)
Angry-crying dialogue prompts
Angry Love Confessions
Forbidden Love Prompts
"The Romantic Academic" Prompts
Dark Fairytale Writing Class
Lovers in Denial Prompts
Responses to: "I Love You"
Arranged Marriage Prompts
Seven Levels of Heaven
Nine Circles of Hell
Library Romance Prompts
Responses to: "break my heart"
Enemies-to-Lovers Dialogue Prompts
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✧𑁍.ೃFantasy Writing Prompts
Dark fantasy tropes
Dark fantasy prompts
Fantasy Cultural Quirks
10 Magic System Ideas
What If God Dies in Your Story?
Master List of Superpowers
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🧛🏻♀️Character Writing Tips
Character names with unfortunate meanings
Toxic Traits for Your Characters
Serial Killer Escape Manual
Writing Redemption Arcs
Fantasy Nobility Ranks
Characters' Dark Backstory Ideas
Best Picrew Character Makers
Dark Character Backstory Ideas
Dirty Habits for Your Characters
Fantastical Asian Monsters
Writing the "Mean Girl"
How to Write Introverted Character
Writing Morally Gray Characters
Writing Child Characters Believably
Writing Toxic Parents
Writing Homosexual Characters
Establishing the Character-Reader Bond
Writing Blind Characters
Emotional Mini-Bio for Characters
Character Arc 101
Creating Unforgettable Characters
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⭐Plot Writing Tips
Plotting for romantasy
Dark Fantasy How-To
A Guide to Cozy Fantasy
Dark Academia Plot Must-Haves
Writing Strong Opening Lines
The Three-Act Structure
Writing the perfect betrayal
List of Plot Generation Exercises
Scenes: The Basics
How to Energize a Sloggy Middle
Types of Deaths in Fiction
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⛰️Setting & Description Tips
Weather symbolisms
Writing Fantasy Battles
Fight Scene Vocab
Using setting meaningfully
Describing Cuts, Bruises and Scrapes
Describing Food in Writing
Kiss Scene Vocab
Nervous Tension Vocab
Words to Use Instead of....
Haunted House Vocab/Inspo
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📋Other!
How to Insult Like Shakespeare
Words to Use Instead of...
Said is dead: words to use instead
10 Great Novel Opening Lines
Symbols of Death
Methods of Death & How They Feel
How to write faster
Plant Symbolisms
List of International Slag
How to Pick Ideas That Sell
Writing Webnovel
Book Title Ideas
Juggling Multiple Writing Projects
USEFUL WEBSITES FOR WRITERS
Writing With Color: Helps with writing about culture, ethnicity, and religion. Overall, it gives advice on how to write about diversity.
Name Generator: As the name says, it helps you build names for your characters. Very useful if you cannot think of names for your characters!
KathySteinemann: The 'archive.pdf' section helps you with synonyms in case you struggle to find the right word for your sentences (also to avoid using redundant words).
Spwickstrom: Similar to the previous one, this one provides grammar tips. Extremely helpful when finding phrases, verbs, conjunctions, adjectives, and so on.
Servicescape: The perfect website if you're experiencing writer's block. It provides writing prompts. It helps you spark creativity when it comes to writing.
reblog to help other writers !!
Why theme is more important than plot
A super important lesson about writing that completely changed my mindset a few years ago, and I hope it helps you get there yourself if you’re stressing too much about the plot.
Worried about your plot not being good enough? It might be time to switch gears.
Any good story that stays with the reader will have compelling themes. You might not remember exactly what happens in the book, but you’ll remember how it made you feel. Wanna know why?
Because it had a strong theme, message or story question. So let’s break this down.
The theme → the true meaning of the story and its existence The plot → a device that delivers the theme in a digestible sequence of events
Do you know what your theme is? Do you know what question you’re asking with your project?
To figure this out, you need to understand why you chose this specific moment in this specific character’s life to tell the story.
What sort of change occurs in them?
What sort of message do they learn?
Why is this a pivotal moment in their life?
This is how you’ll learn what your story is truly about, underneath the plot. Think of your plot as the vehicle, and your story question/theme as the driver.
If your plot doesn’t carry the subtext of your theme, it’s going to have a hard time sticking in your reader’s head.
Also...
Did you know I have a Youtube channel? Subscribe and watch my latest videos through [the link here] or below!
*Taking notes*
Making Fight Scenes Sound Nicer
Euphonics is all about how the words "feel". By incorporating certain sounds, you can influence the mood of the passage.
Mood: Foreboding
use words with 'ow', 'oh', 'ou', 'oo' sonds. These are good for building tension before the fight.
moor, growl, slow, wound, soon, show, show, grow, tow, loom, howl, cower, mound.
Mood: Spooky
use words with 's' sounds, combined with an 'i' sound.
hiss, sizzle, crisp, sister, whisper, sinister, glisten, stick.
Mood: Acute Fear
use word with 'ee/ea' sounds, with a few 's' sounds.
squeal, scream, squeeze, creak, steal, fear, clear, sheer, stream
Mood: Fighting Action
use short words iwth 't', 'p' and 'k' sounds.
cut, block, top, shoot, tackle, trick, kick, grip, grab, grope, punch, drop, pound, poke, cop, chop.
Mood: Speed
use short words with 'r' sounds
run, race, riot, rage, red, roll, rip, hurry, thrust, scurry, ring, crack
Mood: Trouble
use words with 'tr' sounds to signal trouble
trouble, trap, trip, trough, treat, trick, treasure, atroscious, attract, petrol, trance, try, traitor
Mood: Macho Power
If you wan to emphasize the fighters' masculinity, use 'p' sounds.
pole, power, police, cop, pry, pile, post, prong, push, pass, punch, crop, crap, trap, pack, point, part
Mood: Punishment
If your fight involves an element of punishment use 'str' sounds
strict, astride, strike, stripe, stray, strident, stroke, strip, instruct, castrate strive
Mood: Defeat
use 'd' sonds
despari, depressed, dump, dig, dank, damp, darkness, drag, ditch, drop, dead, deep, dark, dull
Mood: Victory
use 'j' and 'ch' sounds
joy, cheer, jubilant, jeer, chuck, chariot, choose, chip, jest, jamboree, jig, jazz, jive, rejoice, rejoin
In print, the effectiveness of such euphonics will be very subtle, and it can only serve as an embellishment to what you already have.
Don't use or replace words for the sake of achieving euphonic effects, but this can be something to keep in mind when you are editing your draft!
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* . ───
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Why Originality in Writing Isn't Always Possible
I was writing for years before I encountered a problem with writing as a whole—that most ideas have already been published.
When someone first told me that though, they said it like, "You'll never think of something that hasn't already been written."
The phrasing makes it sound like all story ideas are a waste of your time. I began spiraling. I researched every short story I'd ever written. I looked up books similar or identical to other books I loved.
Turns out, that person was right.
Sort of.
New Ideas Are Old News
Think about how long humanity has existed. Think about the many experiences that generations have shared—love, loss, happiness, adventure, self-growth, your coming-of-age years.
Story ideas inspired by whatever you go through in life have likely already been lived or thought of, given the trillions of people who have walked this planet and interacted with each other.
BUT
Originality Doesn't Only Come From Ideas
This is what I wish someone had told me back when I was spiraling.
I'll say it again for those in the back—
Originality Doesn't Only Come From Ideas
It also comes from your voice and your perspective!
Voice can feel tricky to grasp when you're starting out as a writer. Everyone can throw a few words on a page. How do you know what your voice sounds like and if readers will respond well to it?
Imagine two friends going on a trip. They do everything together. They sit on the beach, they eat lunch at a restaurant, and watch a movie before heading home. Then they each journal about their day in notebooks.
Those entries would look nothing alike! One friend might relax on the beach and feel so at peace that they take a nap, while another gets sunburned easily and hides under their umbrella with a scowl. Both ultimately enjoyed their day for different reasons. The beach lover got time by the ocean and the other friend who liked the beach much less fell in love with a new dish at the restaurant because they're a foodie.
You'll also frame your stories differently than any other writer. Like accents change the way every person speaks out loud, writers structure sentences and describe things/events/emotions very differently.
These may seem like insignificant details that set stories apart, but they make all the difference.
Think about Homer’s Odyssey. Circe is a minor character in the long tale and basically gets about a minute of the reader's time before Odysseus moves on to the next phase of his journey home. In Madeline Miller's Circe, the goddess becomes the main character and the ultimate portrayal of fear, rage, hurt and healing that are universally experienced but are especially true to the female experience.
Both stories follow the same timeline, so readers don't pick them up to necessarily get surprised by something Brand New to Literature™. Instead, they read direct retellings to learn from the characters in new ways, live momentarily through someone else's eyes, and bond over another aspect of the human experience.
Circe is an incredible work of art. Your idea—whether it's a direct retelling, indirect retelling, or full of literary devices from previous works—can be incredible too.
How Do You Know Which Ideas Are Worth Writing?
If a story idea doesn't immediately make you jump for your computer or a pen/paper, is it worth writing? My best advice is to sit with it.
Some of my best work has come from stories that got to marinate. I put them in the back of my mind and thought about the characters or themes or plot when something sparked another idea. By the time I started typing, the story was more vivid than when I first though of it.
But also, I have probably twenty failed ideas for every story I've written.
Give yourself time to get to know your ideas. If they're worth your time, they'll sit with you too.
How To Develop Your Characters
1) Reveal your character slowly. If you info-dump too much about your protagonist straight away, there is no more wonder surrounding them. By slowly unraveling details about a character, the reader can understand them more fully and see their growth happen in real-time. When your character begins to open up naturally as the story progresses, they’ll reveal things about themselves through their actions or dialogue.
2) All protagonists should have a goal. When a character sets out to complete their goal, that is when the story is born as well as their character arc. The obstacles they have to overcome and the setbacks they face develop them as the story progresses. When you give your character a goal and make it hard for them to reach it, they begin to figure things out and grow as a person.
3) Create obstacles. And then more obstacles. The more conflict that you shove in your protagonist’s face, the more active they have to be in the story. It’s by actively making choices that someone begins to transform. Give your protagonist physical obstacles to overcome but also internal ones like doubt, regret, anger, confusion, lust, etc.
4) Let them Fail. Overwhelm your character, push them to their limits, kick them when they’re low, make them feel like their heart will never heal… and then help them overcome the hardship. (Or not, if your story consists of a negative character arc). Regardless, failure is an important part of any story because no one is perfect and readers love seeing a protagonist overcome the impossible. Have your protagonist fail continuously throughout the story… big failures, little failures, half-failures… it all builds character.
5) Enhance their growth by having static characters in the story. Protagonists are typically dynamic characters which means they change throughout the story. It can be smart to contrast a dynamic character with a minor static/flat character who remains the same throughout the story. If two characters come from the same starting point but only one changes, the audience can see the growth that has really happened to them.
6) Give your character a past that they can overcome. A backstory, an origin, a past. We all start somewhere. The way we grew up undoubtedly shaped us into who we are today and it’s no different for a character. Whether your character comes from a backstory of hardships or privilege, you must know the reasons behind who they are at the start of your story. Then, you can start developing them… making them into a better or worse person.
For example, maybe your protagonist has a deathly fear of cars because of being in an accident as a child. Put them and a love interest in a car together or have them take walks by a highway late at night. Perhaps he even shows her what a car looks like under the hood and helps her to understand the safety features. This all develops your character into growing past their fear, which we understand because of their past.
7) Give your character’s flaws that are real. I don’t mean little flaws like being bad a math or extremely clumsy. While these are all aspects that are okay to give a character, your protagonist needs a more deep and intense obstacle to overcome. A werewolf who can’t control their anger and transforms sporadically. A cheerleader who shakes so badly from presentation anxiety that she risks dropping a teammate. These traits are realistic and relatable to the audience and can be overcome as the character develops, learns, and grows throughout the story.
Instagram: coffeebeanwriting
IT’S NOT ‘PEEKED’ MY INTEREST
OR ‘PEAKED’
BUT PIQUED
‘PIQUED MY INTEREST’
THIS HAS BEEN A CAPSLOCK PSA
writers' resources
sick of using "very _____" ? : https://www.losethevery.com/
want to simplify your writing ? : https://hemingwayapp.com/
writing buddies / motivation ? : https://nanowrimo.org
word you're looking for but don't know ? : https://www.onelook.com/thesaurus/
need a fantasy name ? : https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/
need a fantasy name ? : https://nameberry.com/
want a name with meaning ? : https://www.behindthename.com/
who wants a map maker! : https://inkarnate.com/
story building / dnd ? : https://www.worldanvil.com/
need some minimalistic writing time ? : https://zenpen.io/
running out of ideas ? : https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/
setting a goal ? how about 3 pages / day ? : https://new.750words.com/
what food did they eat ? : https://www.foodtimeline.org/
questions on diversity within writing ? : https://writingwithcolor.tumblr.com/
now what was that colour called ? : https://ingridsundberg.com/2014/02/04/the-color-thesaurus/
want more? : https://www.tumblr.com/blog/lyralit :]
The symbolism of flowers
Flowers have a long history of symbolism that you can incorporate into your writing to give subtext.
Symbolism varies between cultures and customs, and these particular examples come from Victorian Era Britain. You'll find examples of this symbolism in many well-known novels of the era!
Amaryllis: Pride
Black-eyed Susan: Justice
Bluebell: Humility
Calla Lily: Beauty
Pink Camellia: Longing
Carnations: Female love
Yellow Carnation: Rejection
Clematis: Mental beauty
Columbine: Foolishness
Cyclamen: Resignation
Daffodil: Unrivalled love
Daisy: Innocence, loyalty
Forget-me-not: True love
Gardenia: Secret love
Geranium: Folly, stupidity
Gladiolus: Integrity, strength
Hibiscus: Delicate beauty
Honeysuckle: Bonds of love
Blue Hyacinth: Constancy
Hydrangea: Frigid, heartless
Iris: Faith, trust, wisdom
White Jasmine: Amiability
Lavender: Distrust
Lilac: Joy of youth
White Lily: Purity
Orange Lily: Hatred
Tiger Lily: Wealth, pride
Lily-of-the-valley: Sweetness, humility
Lotus: Enlightenment, rebirth
Magnolia: Nobility
Marigold: Grief, jealousy
Morning Glory: Affection
Nasturtium: Patriotism, conquest
Pansy: Thoughtfulness
Peony: Bashfulness, shame
Poppy: Consolation
Red Rose: Love
Yellow Rose: Jealously, infidelity
Snapdragon: Deception, grace
Sunflower: Adoration
Sweet Willian: Gallantry
Red Tulip: Passion
Violet: Watchfulness, modesty
Yarrow: Everlasting love
Zinnia: Absent, affection
Types of Opening Scenes for Your Novel
Here are a handful of ways to open the very first scene in your book! There are plenty more to explore, but these are a set of very tried and true methods.
Autobiographic - your protagonist starts the book reflecting or talking about a past event. They’re looking back in time and sharing an important piece of information with the reader.
In trouble/conflict - a problem has arisen for the protagonist and a sense of urgency is established. This can be an intense conflict like a chase scene or a puzzling problem.
Mysterious opening - the reader is introduced to something peculiar (a fantasy location, unique magic, a cloaked figure, etc.) that raises questions in their mind. Their curiosity will keep them reading.
Scene-setting - the most common opening where you focus on introducing the setting and the characters in it before anything else.
The questioner - the protagonist is questioning something: “Who invited the guy in the trench coat covered in red?”
Beginning with a thought - the novel is started with a philosophical quote or meaningful thought from the protagonist. “What is living worth if she’s not doing it with me?”
Intriguing dialogue - the book starts with interesting dialogue that captures the attention of the reader.
Mood establisher - the novel opens with a deliberate mood that signifies to the reader what they should expect from the story. Ex. a spooky story may open with eerie words and a dark atmosphere.
Instagram: coffeebeanwriting