#i know i have shared that first paragraph a bajillion times BUT THIS IS THE BEST ONE TO SHARE FOR THIS LOL

[coffeeandcalligraphy]

WIP Intro - Changing States

Genre: Adult literary fiction, short fiction (a Moth Work story that occurs after BODY BACK)

Status: Currently drafting / 3k words

Synopsis: After a whirlwind romance devastatingly ends, Jeremiah moves back to his hometown in Maryland for support only to receive word there’s been a death in the family the day he's set to arrive.

Setting: Baltimore, MD

Vibe: Sunny backroads, noonday fields, retro diners, long car rides, the sparkle of headlights, motion blur, undeveloped film, dusty sunsets, a purple MP3 player, the way childhood feels in photographs, crackling home movies, misty autumn evenings, quiet bursts of grief, summers at the lakeside, the first dreamy flare of sunrise, returning to a place you once knew

Characters:

Jeremiah (narrator - 21) | gentle, thoughtful, nostalgic, devoted, wistful, romantic, sad, brokenhearted

Excerpt:

On the evening Jeremiah decides he’ll drive thirty hours to Maryland, the other half of his mattress is cold and Madonna’s on the radio. In his bedroom, he taps his cigarette on the windowsill, the ash scattering into rainy blue hour, and listens. Time goes by so slowly, she goes, her voice singed through his boombox’s broken speakers. He’s meant to replace it, though he’s meant to do a lot of things: check the mail, make a quiche, buy lightbulbs, call his sister, take up cross-stitch, recycle an olive jar, move his bed to the opposite side of his room. But time goes by so slowly, and Jeremiah would know—he’s twenty-one, yet feels he’s been alive for much, much longer.

#writeblr #wip intro #writerblr #wip introduction #amwriting #writing #fostered #mothwork #changing states #HEHEHE HERE WE ARE!!!! #i know i have shared that first paragraph a bajillion times BUT THIS IS THE BEST ONE TO SHARE FOR THIS LOL #anyway jeremiah baby boy #do you KOW how hard it was to write “brokenhearted” next to his name #raise your hand if you want to enact revenge on harrison #now I know how a ton of y'all feel about lonan lol let's make that guy PAYYY #i'll explain the title later but it's both literally changing states and being in a state of change lol #the in between phase!

[carcrash429]

Asking all the things: 19, 20, 21, 22, 23?

wow this really made me dig through and look at literally everything I've written this year XD

19. Share your favorite opening line- from Tear Through the Night and Raise Some Hell:

The clouds hung heavy over Gotham’s boneyard, no more or less threatening than any other part of the city.

20. Share your favorite ending line- from The Ocean:

The Winter Soldier was a force of nature. But Bucky Barnes is a person. And if he disappears, Clint will go looking for him.

21. Share your favorite piece of dialogue- okay this is from Deep-Fried, which is a silly, dialogue-only Thanksgiving coda to my Clint/Bobbi + Clint/Bucky fic that I wrote out specifically because this exchange is so funny to me:

"Deep frying -" "You're going to blow yourself up." "Deep frying is -" "Seriously you love grilling, just grill the damn thing." "Deep frying a turkey in the backyard is a time-honored Thanksgiving tradition and -" "We don't even have a backyard! It's a roof! The grill is so much safer!" "It’s a part of my heritage!" "Look there's gonna be a ton of people and some of us eat a lot so why not make one turkey on the grill and another one in the deep fryer?" "...Don't bring logic into this, James."

22. Share an excerpt from your favorite scene- from my very first fic Still Breathing, one of the two pieces I built the fic around and started actually writing because of:

"Look," he started over, "Clint's in his mid 30’s, right? 34, 35 thereabouts?" Encouraged by the general mumble of agreement, he kept going. "He's been an Avenger for the past three years, and he was a SHIELD agent for about a decade before that? So he was 21 years old when he was recruited to SHIELD."  Based on the startled looks he got, Bucky was pretty sure none of them had ever done that math before. "SHIELD doesn't recruit just anybody," he explained further. "Clint got recruited at 21 years old because at 21 years old he was already one of the world's best assassins. Not just a marksman with great aim. A master assassin who had enough high quality confirmed kills to make him worth SHIELD's time. Twenty. One. Years. Old." Bucky took a deep breath.  "It takes years of training to become an assassin. And no one trains a child to be a killer out of love," he finished flatly. Silence fell. 

23. Share the final version of a sentence or paragraph you struggled with. What about it was challenging? Are you happy with how it turned out? omg the entire second half of Star-Crossed Brothers pretty much. The Barney - Natasha fight in particular got like a bajillion rewrites:

“Better off without me? Without me he’d be dead,” Barney spat back, temper flaring quick as a struck match. “Who the hell are you to judge me when you clearly don’t know shit about what I’ve done for him.” “I know you shot him.” “So did you,” he countered quickly, ignoring the shock from the rest of the room. “But when he needs your help, you’ve got his back. And when he needs my help, I’ve got his back. Always.”

#ask games #thanks for asking!! #2023 year in review #carcrash writing

[waynetechdadoftheyear]

Words of love

Manic Panic- When I first found out I got you as my Secret Santa I was super stoked! I have fallen in love with your work time and time again as this past year has gone on through your drabbles, banter, and even our DND sessions. I am not always attentive and honestly, I have ADHD so bad that I'm not sure which browser in my head is running, how many, or where the music is coming from, but you never hesitate to welcome me into the fold and shenanigans that the Bat Fam is getting into. I value your friendship and I love how you encourage everyone's muse around you. You are such a bright light wrapped up into a Dark Knight here to save everyone from their writer's block and bullshit. I'm not the only one who feels this way and on down you will see the others that have reached out to add to my little love fest here! Happy Holidays Bat Dad. We love you and your brooding face!

J. -

God, I'm so not good at this mushy gushy stuff, BUT! It's Christmas, and part of a present, soooo…

I know I've told you time and time again how happy I am that we stumbled across each other, how grateful I am to have you as a writing partner and friend, and how incredible your writing is, but here I am, telling you one more time. (And I'll probably still tell you like a bajillion times more.) What you do? It's special. You really do have this innate ability to encapsulate Bruce's character— you give him life, and you bring a uniqueness to him through your words that cannot be replicated. And I think that comes from your own experiences on the other side of the screen. You're such a talent, and it doesn't hurt that you're so kind. And funny! That's always a win in my book.

Anyway, I don't want this to turn into a long, rambling tangent about how great you are, which it very well could, so let me just say that I adore you, I hope that you have an amazing Christmas, and I look forward to cooking up more stories with you.

Love, -J.

BOY WONDER - OKAY SO. I'M NOT SURE HOW I'M GONNA SUM UP HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU IN ONE PARAGRAPH, BUT WE'RE GONNA TRY. You are so special to me literally my best friend, the person who can make me laugh when I'm raging or wanna cry, and the one I know I can always count on to be in my corner no matter what. You're literally so talented like… sometimes I'm legit baffled by the beauty that is your writing. And now I'm not exaggerating No matter what character you're writing, whether it be a canon or oc you put every bit of that talent into them, and you dive in deep, getting to know them and expanding and it's just sdfjklsdf AWESOME okay. I love it. And I love every single connection we've ever made. Part of why I try to drag your ass around with me wherever I go but seriously. You do so much, not just for me but for everyone you come into contact with. You're generous and always quick to uplift and encourage people. And I for one would be completely lost without you. I'm pretty sure this is for your SS gift so MERRY CHRISTMAS and I love you and I can't wait to see your reaction to reading how much other people love you as well. xoxox GUNFIGHT - Bruce. Old Man. Your creativity is off the charts my guy. Reading your stuff is always an absolutely amazing experience no matter what character it is from. Your drabbles, to poetry, to replies, the writing always flows in a way no one else can match. Though some may try. But also your edits are cool af and bantering once in a blue moon is always fun. MEOWY CATMAS - Waynetech is one of the most supportive people I’ve met in this site, always encouraging others and sharing their work. He goes out of his way to make everyone feel welcome and included and he’s even nice to people who write the same character he does. This community could use more people like him.

BELIEVES IN LOVE - What can I say about Wayne Tech? They're a beautiful writer that captures Bruce so fantastically. They truly build a world and suck you right into it making you feel every last emotion and allowing for you to see the scene so well it's like you're watching a movie. They are also such a lovely friend and I'm so grateful that I've met them.

[spongeaddict]

Fanfiction Year in Review!

Fanfiction Year in Review

Thanks for the tag @xxiamaclichexx! Spoilers, obviously, for all my fics that I’ve written thus far.

1. List of fics completed this year in the order they were finished

Two For The Show -- longfic, started in January 2020, completed in May 2020

Anniversaries -- twoshot, started in June 2020, completed in August 2020

Three To Get Ready -- longfic, started in May 2020, completed in December 2020

My God, I wrote literally all year long. Twelve months straight, from January to December. Holy cow.

2. Number of words written

TFTS: 91,025

Anniversaries: 6,009

TTGR: 87,078

Total: 184,112

WHOA

3. Your most popular fic

TFTS had over 8400 views this year, but it still comes in third place over all, behind Scooby Doo and the Mysterious Tape (over 11k views, finished in 2010), and One For The Money (more than 53k views, finished in 2019) 

4. Your personal favourite

How do I choose between my children?!

I think overall, I’m going to say TTGR was my favorite this year. It had all the things I love -- secret romances, jealousy, betrayal, angst, a creep factor, and even a little bit of humor! I don’t usually write angst, but I had a good time with the chapters where it was present. I also got to do some really interesting character work in TTGR, which was super fun and exciting for me. 

5. Your fave scene

I mean...I just love that scene in TFTS where Tony catches Shaggy and Velma making out in the practice room. I did a lot of nervous-laughing on behalf of everyone involved while writing it.

Also (I know I’m cheating here) I love the scene at the end of TFTS where Fred tells Daphne he loves her kind of off-the-cuff, and Daphne, who’s been trying for the entire story to work up the nerve to tell Fred that she loves him, bursts out laughing. It was so easy to picture Daphne trying to come up with the perfect, heartfelt way to share her feelings and then Fred, being so genuine without realizing it, just says “I love you” like it’s the easiest thing in the world.

6. A fic or scene that challenged you

For whatever reason, any time I needed Marcie and Velma to interact in TTGR was a challenge for me. I think I got too much in my head about the whole thing, and it seemed like nothing I had them do or say was organic. I rewrote the guest-room-at-Tony’s-party scene a bajillion times before I landed on something that I liked.

7. A line of writing you’re proud of

I know this says “a line of writing,” but I’m gonna cheat again and do like, a paragraph for each story I published this year. Don’t tell me what I can’t do! 

TFTS, ch 14: Fred took a deep breath, apparently steeling himself for a difficult confession. "I've always had a fear that the people I love will all leave me one day," he told her. "I didn't even realize I felt that way until I was thirteen and found that letter my mom sent to my dad. I mean…if my own mother could leave me behind like that, what was stopping my dad? My friends?" He exhaled and looked into Daphne's eyes. "It even happens in this play. Diana leaves Dan at the end. Just like my mom left my dad. Just like she left me." He shook his head. "You and the gang are the most important people in my life. And when Shaggy's dad said that thing at the end of the summer, about how one day we'll all go our separate ways…I started to panic." He swallowed. "I don't want anyone in the gang to separate, but I'm terrified of losing you the most."

FRED IS SO SINCERE protect him at all costs

Anniversaries ch 2: Shaggy grinned and pulled her closer. The wind was starting to pick up, and he was starting to regret the ice cream just a teeny tiny bit. But having Velma snuggled up next to him warmed him throughout.

"Besides," he said. "It's not like we have to worry about it right now. Why worry about things that like, haven't happened yet?"

Velma snorted. "Says the guy who goes into a fetal position anytime Fred even suggests investigating a haunted house."

Shaggy nudged her playfully with his shoulder. "My point is," he told her. "We like, already made it one year. Who's to say we won't make it another?"

"That's true," Velma conceded. "And it's been a pretty good year."

"The best," Shaggy agreed.

They pressed their foreheads together and closed their eyes. Velma sighed contentedly and murmured her favorite line from In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.

"But for now we are young, let us lay in the sun and count every beautiful thing we can see."

Shaggy opened his eyes and gently tapped her once on the nose. "One," he murmured.

Is it arrogant of me to swoon at something that I wrote?

TTGR ch 12: Velma left the practice room first, eyes stinging with more unshed tears. She forced them back into their ducts as she made her way to her locker. I can't let Daphne and Fred see me like this, was all she could think to herself. She couldn't let them know that anything was wrong. She had to get a hold of her emotions. She needed to seem apathetic. Detached. Even though it felt like her chest was ripping open and everything inside her was screaming in agony.

Back in the practice room, Shaggy could feel his heart pounding like a drum against his ribcage. His pulse reverberated through every muscle in his body, and it seemed so loud that he was sure other students could hear it out in the hallway as they walked past. He leaned against the concrete wall and tried to steady his breathing.

He couldn't believe it. Velma had broken up with him.

Or had he broken up with her?

Regardless, they had broken up.

They were broken up.

I have to go, he realized. He couldn't stay in this room – he'd need to face the real world eventually – and besides, Scooby was almost certainly wondering where he was. With another shuddering breath, he wiped his eyes and steeled himself to leave the practice room.

Their practice room.

The thought had been automatic. With a sharp gasp, Shaggy clutched his middle, as though physically trying to hold in his anguish. How cruel it was that their relationship had ended in the same place it had begun. He had always thought of this place as theirs, ever since last year. But now, there was no more their anything. They were no longer a they. It was him and her, separate, apart. And now it would be forever.

His chest seized up and his throat tightened, burning. I can't stay in here, he told himself, even as his heartbreak surged. I need to leave this room.

But he allowed himself a short, muffled sob before swallowing and finally bracing himself towards the door.

I’ve always felt more comfortable writing dialogue than descriptions, but I felt pretty good about this paragraph about the aftermath of a breakup.

8. A comment that touched you

Oh come on!

Every single review means the world to me, and I’m lucky enough to have a handful of consistent reviewers who always read my work carefully, and their comments truly reflect that.

Though I will say, the comment that made me truly feel like my writing did its job successfully was from a pal of mine in Discord who, after reading a breakup scene, said, “I feel like I just got broken up with.” (Sorry again @complikated1)

9. Something that inspired your writing

Lord, so many things. My whole life and everything I’ve ever read. But mostly Scooby Doo.

10. Your proudest accomplishment (that one scene; finally finishing that one fic; posting your first fic etc.)

I mean, I essentially wrote two novels and two short stories this year. I’m pretty proud of that (and so is my husband...so much so that he outed my accomplishments to my whole family, who are similarly proud.

11. Do you have any writing goals for next year?

Several!

Start - and finish! - the finale, Four For The Road

Finish this got-dang Fraphne oneshot I’ve been promising to write

Begin writing ~what comes next~ (IT’S A SECRET, SO NO SPOILERS)

#fill this out if you want #scooby doo fanfiction #scooby doo fanfic #fanfiction #fanfic #writing

[lucyariablog]

7 Fixes for Common Writing Mistakes [Examples]

Ann Handley says writing isn’t hard, middle school is hard.

While I agree middle school is hard, I think writing is challenging. As it’s been said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at the typewriter and bleed.”

Do we need to bleed when we write?

When you reframe writing as a practice, you can sit in the discomfort of knowing it’s never going to be completely easy. One of the joys of writing is that as soon as you reach the next level, the next mountain peak is staring at you. It’s like yoga, Pilates, golf, or medicine or law – it’s called a practice because when you stick with it you will improve.

But, as with any practice, there are things you can put in place to make it easier. I’m examining some techniques so you can have more writing tools to add to your toolbox.

HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT: Ann Handley on How to Make Your Writing ‘Ludicrously Spectacular’

Monkey mind of writing

Sometimes, when I sit down to write, thoughts are flowing through my head like a mighty river. But they won’t translate to the page the way I want them to. I developed two techniques to combat that monkey voice:

Write anyway and worry about editing later

Diagnose when I’m being sloppy or lazy, or using an easy technique to get out of working through the challenge

Write now and worry about editing later, says @ahaval. #writingtips Click To Tweet

Below are seven common writing problems and the fixes I use when I can’t type the words the way I need them to be. Later, I will go back, see where I’m going with what I wrote, and fix it. Or, I’ll ask an editor to help me.

HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT: 3 Aha Moments to Improve Your Content Marketing in 2018

1. Burying the lede

Writers make choices. Sometimes you make outstanding choices. And sometimes they are downright bad. Here’s an example of a writer who chose to talk more than necessary before getting to the delicious meat of the blog:

Where’s the beauty in this piece? The polished gem of persuasion? In the fifth paragraph.

Fix: An excellent way to find your lede is to look at the bottom of your piece or the last paragraph before you introduce a new idea. It’s usually there, peeking out like an excited child playing hide and seek. Grab that fabulous example and paste it at the top.

Remember, as a writer, it’s your goal to give people the information they need to make decisions. Don’t make them wait for it. Otherwise, they’ll abandon your content like people in line for a sold-out movie.

CTT: Don't make readers wait for the info they need or they'll abandon your content. @ahaval #writingtips Click To Tweet

HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT: An Editor’s Rant: 7 Questions Every Writer Should Be Asking

2. Too much jargon or too technical

As a writer, you think everyone recognizes your ideas and your vocabulary around those ideas. But if your audience doesn’t share your vocabulary, they won’t know or want to work hard to understand what you’re saying.

Using jargon to impress does the opposite, like wearing too much cologne on your first date. You know what works? KISS – keep it simple, stupid. (You are not stupid, but all writers need a bit of humility every now and again).

This content from IBM is confusing, yucky, and doesn’t really get to the point.

Fix: Check out how KPMG does it – its content gets to the point quickly, simply, and without asking you to believe their writers have advanced degrees.

HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT:

How to Make Your Content More Readable

27 Reasons Why Your Content Sucks

3. It’s about us, not you

Only boring people talk about themselves all the time. Interesting people are interested in others. You should be interested in your customers – after all, they’re keeping you in business. Focus your content on addressing their pain points and needs AFTER you talk about them.

Verizon is so busy telling you about its technology it forgets to connect the dots of what truly matters to the customer.

Fix: What matters to customers? The benefits they will receive from using your service. Xfinity talks about speed, coverage, and control. These are the benefits customers want in their Wi-Fi provider.

HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT: How to Take an Audience-First Approach to Your Content

4. Tone deaf

I really try to avoid this one, but I do it all the time. (Maybe I shouldn’t focus on it so much, and it won’t chase me?) In any case, tone deaf content addresses the user in a way that comes across as too familiar, insensitive, or just plain weird. Here’s an example from Loft:

Really, creepers? My friend was offended by this email. She felt like the brand was letting her know that it tracked her purchases. She knows it does but didn’t want to be reminded of it. And she hated all the blouses Loft said she would like. What a dangerous tactic to think you know your customer and then get it wrong. Like, #fail.

Tone deaf #content addresses reader in way that's too familiar, insensitive, or just plain weird, says @ahaval. Click To Tweet

Fix: Here’s a better, more lighthearted approach taken by DSW:

5. Frankenstein content

You likely know this content problem if you’re an experienced writer. The text reads as if it was written by members of a committee who had different goals they were trying to accomplish. Usually the best way to diagnose this type of content is to notice when the voice and tone swish around the page like a snake’s tail. Here’s an example:

Notice the “yep” and the “ahem”? But later down the page, this “wink-wink” tone disappears. 

Fix: Better to follow industry standard – no more than two editors. If you just spit out your coffee or hit your screen with your head in disbelief, remember it’s a goal, not somewhere you are. If you have more than two editors and a bajillion writers, you’re not satisfying your customers’ needs. Truth.

If you need more than 2 editors and a bajillion writers, you're not satisfying your customers' needs. @ahaval Click To Tweet

Now check out a better way with a consistent tone.

HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT: 5 Easy Steps to Define and Use Your Brand Voice

6. Flabby content

Oh flabbiness: Be gone from the world, from our bodies, and from our writing. Flabby content is easy to diagnose. It makes grandiose claims with no supporting statistics or proof points.

Fix: What are your client retention rates? Are they industry standard? Are they a percentage? Tell me, so I can believe you. Follow the lessons of Journalism 101. You need two sources and you can’t write it unless you can support it. Put backbone into your content by verifying that what you’re saying is indeed something you can prove.

Put backbone into your #content by verifying that what you're saying is something you can prove. @ahaval Click To Tweet

HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT: Fact-Checking for Content Marketers: How to Protect Credibility in the Era of Fake News [Checklist]

7. Sea of sameness content

Boring, boring, bored. Don’t bother saying the same thing everyone else says. Here’s how Vistage does it right and then gets it wrong on the next screen.

On the home page, the value proposition is bold and unique: Who wouldn’t want to grow their company 2.2 times faster than other businesses?

But on the second page Vistage doesn’t give the reasons viewers need to believe the methodology will work.

  Fix: However, when you look at Entrepreneurs’ Organization, it gives proof points that make you want to join (full disclosure: I’m a member of EO, but I had nothing to do with its content).

Conclusion

Every writer has tools in their toolbox. Some are razor-edged. But some have become blunt. These techniques will help you sharpen those tools and diagnose when you’re taking the easy way out.

Remember, sometimes you go to the mat, and sometimes the mat goes to you. As a writer, both are going to get the best out of you. Just keep plugging away.

Namaste.

Learn from the orator who said writing isn’t hard, middle school is hard, and many more experts in their content fields. Register for Content Marketing World Sept. 4-7 in Cleveland, Ohio. Use code BLOG100 to save $100.

Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute

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