![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-10 06:00 pm
me: this character will only have a small role.
also me, 50k words later: okay but they deserved this redemption arc and a spinoff novel.
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-10 02:00 pmHow to Make Themes Work Together
Jami Gold:
We probably all learned in school that theme is a story’s “message”—the ideas that a reader is supposed to take away from the story. However, one thing that many teachers don’t emphasize is that a story can (and probably will) have multiple themes.
Most themes are revealed through subtext. So we might need to identify the main themes by analyzing the different story elements contributing to the impression of “what our story is about”:
- Story Themes: What’s the premise of the story? Who’s supposed to win or lose—and why?
- Character Themes: How does the protagonist change over the course of the story? What do they learn?
- Plot Themes: During the plot’s turning points, what do the characters attempt? Do they succeed or fail—and why?
- Choices Themes: What choices are the characters making? Do the results match the Story or Character Themes (choices that agree with the themes should succeed and vice versa)?
- Villain Themes: Are the villain’s beliefs reinforced or disproved by plot events?
Themes Can Add Depth to Our Story
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-09 06:00 pmAs I try to improve my technical writing skills, I’ve noticed my describing skills are pretty lacking. So, here is a list of description exercises.
Setting Description
- Pick a setting and describe it in a way that evokes a positive emotion, then describe the same setting negatively.
- Pick a setting and try to describe it by using all of your senses.
- Find a setting you’ve written before and write 500 words of pure description on it.
- Describe a tree from the point of view of a character that’s feeling a strong emotion, whether they’re depressed, frustrated, or excited.
Character Description
- Pick one of your characters and write a 500 word description of them.
- Write a 500 word description on how your character feels about different people.
- Pick 3 different characters and write 200 word descriptions for each of their voices.
- Write a 500 word description about how your character looks at different people.
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-09 02:00 pmWe can lose our drive to write for a lot of reasons. It often indicates a growing maturity as an artist — you understand the craft better and your own (current) limitations better, and so you begin to feel overwhelmed in a way you didn’t before. It can also be that external anxieties are getting in the way or simply that you’ve lost interest in your current project.
Hope is not lost. Read on for some tips on reclaiming your writing spark.
Sometimes, all you need to reignite your writing spark is to engage your brain in a different way. If you’re struggling with your novel, take a break and try writing a poem or a piece of flash fiction. Or, you could try drawing sketches of your characters, a map of your story’s world, or some possible outfits for your climactic battle scene (it doesn’t have to be good. No one’s going to see it).
The trick is to stay creative but to approach your work from a different angle.
If you’ve been trying and failing to write at your desk, surrounded by crumpled up dreams drafts and last week’s candy wrappers, you may be suffering from an environment with stagnant energy. Try taking yourself on a writer’s date: go to a location that fits the tone of the project you’re working on (lux hotel lobby, seedy theatre bar, the wilds of a nearby park), and see if that gets your creative wheels turning.
In Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg has a chapter called “Blue Lipstick and a Cigarette Hanging Out Your Mouth”. By this she meant, “Use outfits and props to step outside yourself and get a new perspective”. You might find it helpful to have a special “writer’s sweater” that you only wear when you’re writing or to dress like someone confident and cool enough to smash writer’s block in the face.
What’s really going on here? If the above tricks aren’t doing it for you, there may be some bigger issues at play that are inhibiting you from connecting to your writing spark.
I’ve written about the restorative powers of letter writing before, and I’ll mention it again: handwritten letters are a great way to get the words flowing. You don’t actually have to send them when you’re done (although you can if you want to); the recipient doesn’t even need to exist. Simply by putting your thoughts down in a low-risk way, you’re unclogging your creative pipes.
There’s power and accountability in numbers. You can find writing groups online, through community centres and writers centres, or by sticking a flyer up in a bookshop and starting your own. There’s even a Novlr writing community on Discord where we share tips, struggles, and just generally talk craft! By inviting other people into your writing practice, you’ll have some support and encouragement to keep you going.
The internet is awash with writing prompts. These can be a helpful way to get something down on paper and stretch out your writing muscles. Whether it’s a premise, an opening line, or a character study, writing prompts can give you a gentle, creative push and even inspire new work.
If writing a traditional story feels like pulling out your own teeth, try a found structure story. This means using fictional “found material” like shopping lists, calendars, to-do lists, ticket stubs, banking records, and so forth to create a narrative.
Here’s an example: Imagine a week in which a bride-to-be prepares for her glorious wedding, is left at the altar, rages in misery, and ultimately emerges healthier and stronger. Now, write her shopping list for each day of that week. How does it change from beginning to end? How much emotional detail can you communicate to the reader through the items that appear on these lists? This can be a fun way to create a story without the anxiety of writing it.
I am a proud champion of the value of pettiness as a motivator. There are plenty of noble reasons to write: to share powerful stories, to help readers in need of healing, to inspire others to write stories themselves, and to draw attention to important social issues or minority identities.
There are also some really inane and selfish reasons to write: to become more famous than your ex, to appear on TV and make your ex regret everything they’ve ever done to you, to have your book made into a movie and receive casting consultation rights and pitch your favourite actor in the lead role and allow them to take you for coffee as a thank you. But the thing is… these are the motivations that are really going to pull you out of the dirt when you need it most. Find the silly driving goal that really gets under your skin and hold onto it for dear life.
Many writers experience a lot of shame when they aren’t writing as much as they feel they should. Needless to say, this shame only makes the writing harder. Allow yourself the space to take some time when you need it, process your struggles, and return when you’re ready. The page will be waiting when you get back.
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-08 06:00 pm3hks:
How to Write a CHARMING Villain
Everyone loves a good villain, and they especially love a charming one. If you want to write an antagonist who’s both evil yet irresistible, look no further!
1. Show Their “Kindness”
Kindness? Wait, I thought you said we’re writing a villain today.
Yup, I mean it–make your antagonist appear kind. Realistically, someone who’s polite and friendly is often considered more attractive than someone who’s rude and judgmental, so make them kind. It doesn’t have to be honest kindness, but you want your readers to doubt the malevolence of your character, if that makes sense.
You can show this kindness through small, daily actions; they don’t have to have a lot of impact on the story. Something simple like leaving a big tip, granting a minion a vacation, letting someone go first in the line, and holding open the door all contribute to this image.
2. Smooth Talker
Effective communication is everything. If your villain is eloquent, they seem more capable and intelligent! However, if you’re looking to expand further, explore what they can do with their speech.
Does everyone pay attention when they start speaking? Are they able to calmly resolve conflicts verbally? Are they really persuasive? Do they speak elegantly?
Show the effects of their communication skills!
3. Good leader
Make them a good leader. Make them consider how their subordinates might feel. Make them choose good decisions. Perhaps they give their workers days off when they need it. Perhaps they engage with their followers often. Perhaps they’re more down-to-earth.
A solid leader looks respectable while a poor one looks ridiculous.
4. Intelligent + Logic
I say this all the time, but make your villains smart, make them logical, make your readers understand where they’re coming from. Some of the best antagonists I’ve ever seen are not the ones that seem excessively evil or unhinged, but rather the ones that seem logical in their actions. And knowing that they’re well-aware of their actions and the consequences makes things that much scarier.
if you want a charming villain, you have to start with someone who is competent.
5. Conflicting Moments
At the end of the day, your character is still the antagonist. Yes, they might appear kind, but that’s not going to last forever. There will be times when they act unnecessary cruel, and that’s okay.
Your audience might be unsettled and confused from the whiplash, and that’s okay. Don’t force your character into being someone else to satisfy the readers. Embrace the difference.
6. Backstory
Backstories matter for all different types of reasons. From establishing the basis to one’s goals, morals, and values to providing the foundation for their character, an effective backstory can do a lot.
However, I want to specifically talk about how the backstory demonstrates someone overcoming their obstacles. If they made it to the present, then they really defied all odds to be here, and honestly? That’s admirable (and attractive), no matter what kind of person they turn out to be.
Now, if you’re thinking “what if I don’t give the antagonist a painful backstory?”, I’ll address that real quick. You don’t have to give them a super depressing past, but there will always be pain and hurt in their past, even if it isn’t something “lifechanging” or there 24/7. There is no such thing as a perfect, happy past.
CONCLUSION
To quickly conclude, a charming villain is often not one who appears visibly evil, but one who appears compassionate, intelligent, well-spoken, and acts like a good leader.
Happy writing~
3hks :)
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-08 02:00 pmWhen Should You Describe a Character’s Appearance? (And When You Really, Really Shouldn’t)
It’s one of the first instincts writers have: describe your character. What they look like, what they wear, how they move. But the truth is — readers don’t need to know everything. And more importantly, they don’t want to know everything. At least, not all at once. Not without reason.
Let’s talk about when to describe a character’s appearance, how to do it meaningfully, and why less often says more.
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-07 06:00 pmgetyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-07 02:00 pm“you’re a writer, right?”
me, staring at the one sentence i’ve managed to add in the last hour and the 12 open tabs on the specifics of shoes in 1845 Ireland: In theory.
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-06 06:00 pm
Human beliefs are deeply complex and shape the way we understand, interact with, and navigate the world. Beliefs form early in life—often during childhood—when we place full trust in those around us without the ability to distinguish what is objectively right or wrong. Over time, experiences, learning, and self-reflection refine or even completely alter those beliefs, making them a dynamic part of personal growth.
Beliefs influence relationships, careers, well-being, perceptions, decisions, values, and actions. They define how individuals view themselves and others, shaping social dynamics. Not only are beliefs intellectual, but they are also heavily impacted by emotions, making them an integral part of character development in storytelling.
How Beliefs Are Formed
Several aspects contribute to a person’s belief system:
- Cultural background: Traditions, societal norms, and family influence shape core beliefs.
- Religious upbringing: Faith can play a significant role in moral perspectives and life choices.
- Political ideologies: Government systems and social movements influence how individuals perceive fairness, justice, and societal order.
- Personal experiences: Life events—both positive and negative—shape unique perspectives and alter beliefs over time.
Since beliefs are rarely stagnant, they evolve as people grow, adapt, and respond to new circumstances. Some individuals modify or unlearn outdated beliefs as they gain new knowledge, while others double down on their convictions based on social influence or personal reasoning.
How Beliefs Influence Community Engagement
Beliefs guide the type of communities people choose to be part of—most people seek groups that align with their values, fostering stronger connections. Being part of a community that respects personal beliefs helps build trust, while conflict between opposing belief systems can lead to social tension and impact mental well-being.
In writing, these dynamics play an essential role in crafting realistic societies within stories. Whether your characters seek harmony within a group or struggle against societal norms, understanding how beliefs influence their sense of belonging can enhance depth and authenticity.
Types of Beliefs
Beliefs can take various forms depending on their source and level of influence:
- Core Beliefs: Deep-seated assumptions about oneself, others, and the world.
- Experiential Beliefs: Formed through personal experiences and observations.
- Influenced Beliefs: Shaped by social interactions, culture, and authority figures.
- Intuitive Beliefs: Developed from gut feelings or instincts.
- Preference-Based Beliefs: Reflecting personal values and individual choices.
- Religious Beliefs: Centered around faith, spirituality, or the supernatural.
- Political Beliefs: Opinions about governance, leadership, and societal structures.
- Scientific Beliefs: Based on empirical evidence and logical inquiry.
Belief Challenges
Beliefs can serve as a source of conflict, particularly when they clash with progress or differing perspectives. Some challenges include:
- Holding onto outdated beliefs that may hinder growth and development.
- Using beliefs to incite conflict, leading to mental distress, anxiety, or division.
To reduce negative effects, understanding and respecting differing beliefs can encourage coexistence, opening space for dialogue rather than confrontation.
Critical thinking also plays a significant role in evaluating personal and societal beliefs, allowing individuals—and characters in stories—to adapt and grow rather than being bound by rigid perspectives.
Applying Beliefs in Writing
When writing characters, belief systems should mimic real-world complexities to make them relatable, realistic, and engaging. Beliefs shape interactions, influence decision-making, and create tension or motivation within a narrative.
Showcasing a character’s evolving belief system, their struggles with moral dilemmas, or their efforts to reconcile conflicting views can help readers deeply connect with them. Stories that incorporate belief-driven conflicts allow readers to reflect on their own perspectives, making literature more impactful.
By following this guide, you’ll be equipped to weave compelling belief structures into your characters and stories, making them resonate more with audiences.
Conclusion
Developing a character requires attention to many details, and belief systems are among the most important factors that shape a well-rounded protagonist or antagonist. Whether faith-based, philosophical, or experiential, beliefs drive a character’s actions, emotions, and relationships, making them an essential element of storytelling.
As I continue covering different aspects of character development, I hope this post helps you create deep, realistic characters that keep your audience engaged and coming back for more!
Happy writing!
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-06 02:00 pmOne of the most common pieces of advice/points of critique I see for writers of all skill levels, is avoiding exposition dumps, often accompanied by the age old ‘show don’t tell’.
When writing fiction in general, but especially sci-fi and fantasy, it’s important that the reader understands how your world differs from our own. And worldbuilding is one of the few places where you’re less likely to get hit by the proverbial SHOW hammer, since some things, like the rules of your magic system, are difficult to show. So telling becomes more permissible.
However, it can be incredibly tempting to just infodump at every opportunity. Especially for those of us who have a wiki with more words than the finished project will have. But as I’m sure you’ve heard before, doing this can break immersion and destroy the pacing of your narrative.
While there are multiple ways to make exposition engaging, I’m going to focus on the approach I use most commonly: The Drip Feed.
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-05 06:00 pmpersonal interpretations and preferences aside, there’s no limit to what you can make a character say/do without taking them out of character. everyone has a breaking point that pushes them to do what they normally wouldn’t. give me the circumstances and events that pushed the character. tell me what they’re thinking/feeling. tell me how they’re justifying their words/actions, both to themselves and to others. if you can argue it, it’ll still feel authentic.
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-05 02:00 pmWrite a minimum of 100 words using the following: color, shots, rice cooker, glass.
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-04 02:00 pmThese aren’t things that you should obsess over while writing your first draft, but if a scene feels flat, this could help:
- Sentence length. Vary your sentence length, seriously; sometimes you can change a whole paragraph from flat to exciting by making one sentence only two or three words and by making another an extended sentence - a lot of people have a tendency, especially when editing, to make every sentence a first part, a comma, then a second part. Try changing it!
- Dialogue tags. Have you perhaps obsessed over dialogue tags and now you have a hundred different ones? You don’t need the word questioned. You really don’t. Similarly, where someone might have used a hundred different dialogue tags, said can work better; sometimes you don’t want a dialogue tag at all.
- Vary paragraph lengths. Not every paragraph wants the exact same set of sentence lengths.
- Take a hike. If it sounds terrible, sometimes it’s not the sentence. Go on a walk, touch grass, read a book, watch a film; stop looking at the work and do something else. It will feel evil if you keep staring at it.
- Wanting to be poetic to the point of being unreadable. Purple prose is real, but it’s probably not the problem. Sometimes, however, you can say grass, and not “verdurous green malachite swayed like a dancer along the legs of the local children”.
- It’s okay to tell the reader something. Often, the way to use telling instead of showing is a matter of pacing, so ask yourself is this action important? Opening a door to find a monster behind it can use suitably long retelling, that builds tension; opening a door to get to the other side mid conversation not so much.
- Trust yourself. Don’t go into editing thinking you’re awful. Sometimes, you will know best. I’m not telling you to never take critique, but you don’t have to take all of it. It’s your story, and you know what you want to do with it.
Of course, there’s no need to take my advice. Use what works for you and leave the rest. I hope this helps!
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-03 06:00 pmThe most human thing a character can do is contradict themselves.
- The cynic who still carries a childhood stuffed animal.
- The liar who craves honesty.
- The overthinker who makes reckless decisions.
- The heartbreaker who believes in soulmates.
- The pacifist who holds lifelong grudges.
- The tough guy who cries during old movies.
- The thrill-seeker who’s terrified of commitment.
- The grump who’s unfailingly polite to waitstaff.
People aren’t consistent. Your characters shouldn’t be either.
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-02 08:46 pmIf you haven’t been around Dreamwidth recently, you may have missed a great post at GYWO! All links are member-locked, so if you’re not signed up for the challenge, you won’t be able to access them.
Challenges
STOP: Stop, write, continue on
GYWO Iron Chef Challenge: Get a prompt and use it in more than one way, in more than one piece of writing
Time Management Challenge: You have 72 hours (three days) from reading this challenge to find a total of 60 minutes to write
Discussions
Defining a Magic System: This post provides a series of defining questions that will help you build your magic system from scratch
Time Management & Sustaining Motivation: Use these tips to think about how best to carve out writing time in your busy schedule
Self-Editing Tips: Revising your own work can be a challenge, but it’s an important skill for every writer to hone. Here are some strategies to help
Writing Characters on the Asexual Spectrum: When incorporating an asexual character in your works, there’s a lot more to know than just the definition. This should help with kicking off your research
Searching High And Low For A Good Home Part 2: Anthologies: The life cycle of an anthology submission
Nope Nuhuh Can’t Make Me. I’m Not REVISING!: What part of revision puts your hackles up or makes you throw it in a folder and say “Nope”? What does revision mean to you?
What Resources Exist For Worldbuilding?: Let’s explore the various places you can seek information for worldbuilding. Check out their upsides and downsides, alongside a few recommendations
Revision Resources: Tips, links and books to help you with revision
Lightning Words: Drabbling Your Writing Practice: Mark Twain famously stated that choosing the perfect word over an acceptable word is the difference between “lightning and the lightning-bug.” In that case, what drabbling can teach you is to call storms
Support
Chronic Illness Support Post: It’s the second quarterly gratitude post of 2025! Let’s celebrate the things that brighten our days, no matter how big or small they may be
Are You Tired?: Writing is a long proces and it’s easy to feel discouraged or exhausted while treading that slog. This is a judgment-free space to talk about how tired you are and maybe find some support
The 5W+H of Your Writing Life: Answer 6 questions to get an overview of your current writing life
Writing Round-Up: Post links to & descriptions of your finished work
Pep Talk: Getting stuck is the worst, but you can get unstuck! Check out the solutions to three common ways writers get stuck
Events & Announcements
Mid-Year Marathon: July: Complete your minimum monthly pledge for July
GYWO Yahtzee
Yahtzee Leaderboard & Digest: Fills May 27–June 9
Yahtzee Leaderboard & Digest: Fills June 10–June 13
Yahtzee Leaderboard & Digest: Fills June 14–June 17
Yahtzee Final Results: And the winners are…
Yahtzee Leaderboard & Digest: Fills June 18–June 25
GYWO Build-a-Bingo
GYWO Build-a-Bingo 2025: GYWO’s choose-your-prompts game; ends Dec 8
Build-a-Bingo July Prompts: Check out this month’s prompts and start thinking about what you’ll write in your next fill
Monthly Check-In
June Check-In: Don’t forget to check in for June! Check-in closes July 5th
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-02 06:00 pmSo I was watching a book review for a book that I liked but both loved and hated some of the plot twists. Of course this got me thinking about plot twists and why they work for both readers and the characters that are falling for these plot twists.
Readers
The key is to control the information that your readers have. Your readers aren’t going to consider an option unless (1) that twist is really common for your genre and that reader has read that genre a lot and will therefore be expecting it or (2) you have very obviously given them the specific information nessesary to unintentionally figure out the twist before the characters.
Why does this information stand out, you may be wondering. It is because there is nothing else going on to distract away from a piece of information that can seem meaningless with the right context.
Most of the time, if you’re not writing a very specific plot line with a very specific genre, your reader isn’t going to immediately know where the plot is going so they may not be looking out for the information relevant to a later plot twist, so as long as you justify an informational choice that explains a later plot twist in a way that covers a variety of basis, they’re probably not going to pick up on the one piece you left out, aka what is going to make this twist fun.
This piece of information should be something small and unassuming. It can be magical, but if you’re writing fantasy that magic has to be hidden really really well. I find that a plot twist works the best when the piece of information that is missing is something you wouldn’t really think about, like the reason a prince was able to infiltrate a prison and hide his identity was because he had his cousin standing in for him and we don’t know that this cousin existed and knew the limits of that world’s magic (this is actually a plot twist that fooled me btw despite how obvious at sounds now).
A good plot twist that fools the reader relies on twisting the information that the reader has and therefore twisting how they think the story will go.
Midway sidenote: not every plot twist needs to exist to fool both the reader and the character, sometimes it is really fun to watch a character fail because of something inherent to that character.
Characters
Remember how I said sometimes it’s really fun to watch a character fail. That only works sometimes.
It is more annoying to figure out a plot twist that is really obvious and then have the character miss it because the author said so.
So how does a writer pull this off?
- Be intentional. Have an idea in mind of when you want the reader to figure it out and ask your beta readers when they figured out your plot twists to control that as much as you can.
- Your character does not know which genre they’re in, so you have to both get inside the character’s head and take the reader along with you so they understand why this character is making these poor choices and missing the most obvious villain in the room.
Why would a character miss a plot twist?
- They are distracted or delusional. Characters have goals and they may ignore their better judgments to achieve these goals based on their personality. Put more emphasis on your character’s motives to hide information that may make plot twists more obvious. Also, your characters may use information about their world to explain their motives and this information may also be vital to understanding a later plot twist
- The average person does not go around thinking everybody around them is out to get them especially if those people seem incapable of that through the pov character’s ego or the other character’s demeanor. If your character has known somebody for a really long time or knows a piece of information that is vital to the worldview they’re probably not going to immediately discard it. Fun fact: in the real world, when people have their views disputed, even with very good evidence, it can make them more likely to hold on to that old belief.
- Expectation of harm. Different characters have different experiences with shape how bad they think things can get. For example, if a character has never experienced something, they may not know what can lead to that thing. (FYI older characters are more likely to know more things so be careful with this one.)
The Twist
For a twist to work, it must make sense with both real world and in world knowledge as well as common sense, so keep this in mind as you plan.
Conclusion
This isn’t comprehensive because good plot twists require a lot of information to make them work and that’s makes them very specific. While I would love to explain why different plot twists work, part of them working is them fooling you and hindsight bias is kind of a thing.
Keep writing. If a plot twist just isn’t working either scrap it or let it sit until you have the information to build reasons why it should work.
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-02 02:00 pm1. Short, choppy sentences
Excellent for creating tension, urgency, or drama because they speed up the pacing and convey intense emotion.
She said no. I didn’t listen. I should have.
2. Long, flowing sentences
These are great for descriptions, adding detail, and explanations. They can create an intellectual or reflective vibe—or even a dreamy one. You can also use them to evoke a sense of being overwhelmed. They slow the pacing, add complexity, and help build tension. But once you’re in the thick of a tense moment, it’s often better to switch back to short sentences to keep the energy up.
As the sun dipped behind the horizon, casting a golden sheen across the cracked pavement, she stood there, unsure of what she was waiting for—only that something, anything, had to change.
3. Fragmented sentences
These give off a casual, stylized, and emotional tone. They’re perfect for internal monologue and mimicking the way we actually think or speak.
Not the way I planned. Not even close. But here we are.
4. Repetitive structure
They add drama, rhythm, and emotional intensity. It’s a powerful stylistic tool that can drive a point home.
She wanted peace. She wanted quiet. She wanted to forget.
5. Inverted or unusual word order
If you’re aiming for a formal, archaic, or poetic tone, this structure will get you there.
Gone was the light from his eyes.
6. Interruptions (em dashes or parentheses)
If you’re going for a conversational, conflicted, or stream-of-consciousness vibe—even something humorous if used right—interruptions are your friend. They mimic how we speak and think in real time.
I was going to tell her—God, I really was—but I couldn’t.
7. Questions
Questions are fantastic for showing uncertainty, anxiety, or inner conflict. They can also give off a philosophical tone and invite reflection from both the character and the reader.
What if I never make it out? What if this is it?
getyourwordsout_feed) wrote2025-07-01 06:00 pmAh hello plotline that I forgot to write down but wanted to remember, nice of you to show up at a time where I *still* can’t write you down. I will remember you this time………I think.
