#writer tag

[hayatheauthor]

How To Answer Some Common Literary Agent Questions

Writing a book can be hard, but querying can sometimes seem harder without the right resources! If you’re an author who feels like you’re jumping into your queries without any guidance, here are a few tips to help you answer some common literary agent questions. 

Before we get started, I would like to put out a disclaimer stating that this is not a list of rules for what you should or shouldn’t do when querying! The sole purpose of this blog post is to help my fellow #amquerying authors get a general idea of how to write a query letter and answer common literary agent questions. 

This blog post is based on the research I conducted before sending out my queries and the feedback I received for them. I might not be an industry expert, but I have spent the past couple of months querying agents and received a dozen partial and full requests (which I am eagerly awaiting a response for). 

Now that I’ve got that out of the way, let’s get started! 

The Author Bio

The author bio is possibly the most common question you will see when querying. Most if not all agents prefer to know at least a little bit about their authors before they jump into your manuscript, this is so they can gain insight into your past experience and credibility as an author.

A writer’s author bio is directly affected by the genre they are writing for and should be adjusted accordingly. What might sound like a good bio for your nonfiction memoir might sound ineffectual for your YA fantasy novel. 

Here is a general guide on how to write your author bio based on your genre. 

Nonfiction 

When writing a nonfiction author bio it’s important to mention two things: why you chose to write about this topic, and why you’re the right person to write this book. I would also mention a little bit about why this book should be written, why you think people would read it, and why now. 

If you are a debut author then talk about any past experience you have in the industry you are writing about. For example, if you’re writing a biography about a prominent historical figure who you previously researched for work, a thesis, etc. then consider mentioning that. 

If you are not a debut author then talk about your past experience in the literary industry. Sales, platforms, what type of nonfiction book did you write in the past, etc. 

Fiction 

When writing a fiction author bio it’s important to mention any and all marketing and writing experience you have. So long as it is relevant. 

For example, if you’re writing a fantasy novel and have a booktok account where you post about it, then consider mentioning that. Or if you previously wrote a popular rom-com but are now trying to write a chick lit, then mention who you published with and why you decided to write for this new genre. 

Struggling to find the right words for your query? Consider checking out my blog on how to get out of the slush pile and make your agent say YES.

How To Write An Author Bio For Your Debut Novel

Writing an author biography as a debut author might seem pointless to most, but I implore you to take the time to type out an appropriate response to this question. 

When I was querying agents I received several rejections during my first and second rounds of querying, but do you know what I didn’t receive? A form rejection. Each and every agent who asked for an author bio responded with some sort of praise for my marketing or writing prowess as a teenager. 

Some even went out of their way to provide me with referrals or agent resources, which helped me secure two agents who requested a full manuscript.

My author bio wasn’t overly grand or impressive, in fact, it was quite simple. Here are some things to mention in your author bio as a debut author: 

Any relevant past writing experience. 

Outside of writing my book, I also work as a content writer for digital marketing agencies, blog about writing advice, and previously wrote a couple of ‘viral’ e-novels and fanfictions on online platforms. None of these have anything to do with my WIP or author journey, but they help prospective agents know that I: 

Have gathered a sum of readers with my past work. 

Know how to create professional content for marketing purposes. 

Can stick to a writing schedule and provide them with new content/WIPs when needed. 

This can all help convince them to work with you. 

Any social media platforms 

We’ve all heard of those lucky few authors who went viral on social media and landed a book deal because of it. It might be a little hard to follow in their footsteps and make a publisher reach out to you because of your platform, but having a social media presence can help you in the long run. 

It also shows your agent that you have a pool of readers interested in your book and a couple of industry connections, whether that be other authors or book reviewers. 

A thousand followers might not seem like a big achievement when compared to an influencer with a bigger platform, but think of it this way—when you mention your platforms in your author bio, you’re basically telling your agent you have a thousand prospective readers. Most bestseller lists need a minimum of five thousand purchases. 

Target Audience 

Knowing your target audience is important in order to establish a concrete image of your WIP. When establishing your target audience, here are some things you should take into consideration: 

The age group. Your target age group might not seem like a big concern for an author writing adult books, but if you are an author writing for a younger audience it’s important to acknowledge your age group before you send out queries. This helps ensure you don’t query an MG agent a YA book, but also makes it clear whether you’re writing for teenagers, new adults, tweens, or children. 

The type of audience in that age group. Once you know your age group, it’s important to figure out your type of audience. This can look like something as simple as ‘teenage girls’ or ‘new adults graduating from college.’ 

Authors with a similar book. One easy way to establish your target audience is by saying ‘readers of (insert author)’ or ‘readers who like (insert book). I would recommend mentioning two to three books and authors if you decide to go with this method. 

Readers who like a certain trope. If you can’t think of any authors with similar books to yours then try mentioning a trope from your book. Something as simple as ‘people who enjoy reading about mythology’ or ‘found family lovers’ is good enough. 

Similar Books

A quick Google search can help you find a couple of books similar to your manuscript. These titles don’t have to follow the same plot as your WIP or have all the same tropes. The point is to find books with similar tropes and themes that can give your literary agent a sense of what they’re getting into. 

You can either mention a couple of titles and leave it at that or go on to explain why you chose these titles. Something as simple as ‘my manuscript is comparable to books like Six of Crows because it features a thrilling heist’ will suffice. 

Remember to keep this section short. The point is to help your agent gain insight into your manuscript. 

Need help finding the right resources to perfect your query? Here are some websites and writing apps every author needs.

Elevator Pitch 

An elevator pitch is essentially what you would say to your literary agent if you were trying to pitch your manuscript to them during an elevator ride. It needs to be short yet impactful and hook your agent with one or two sentences. 

Look at similar titles and search up their elevator pitches or blogs. Take a look at the first few sentences of their blurb, figure out what helped them hook their readers, and then start drafting your own pitch. 

I would recommend writing down five to ten pitches and reading them out to your family or friends who are readers, then ask them which pitch hooked them the most and why. 

Why Us? 

Literary agents often don’t bother to ask authors why you want to work with them, but a casual mention of how you found out about them can go a long way. 

Use direct quotes from their manuscript wishlist or website page. Mention something they seemed proud about or a factor that stuck out to you. Maybe they have a fast response time, maybe they collaborate closely with their authors or work with their authors even after the first project. 

If you can’t think of anything to say, then talk about one of their past projects that seems similar to your WIP or has similar tropes and topics. 

 I hope this blog on how to answer some common literary agent questions will help you in your writing journey. Be sure to comment any tips of your own to help your fellow authors prosper, and subscribe to my email list for new blog updates every Monday and Thursday.  

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of my blog where I post writing and marketing tools for authors every Monday and Thursday. 

Want to learn more about me and my writing journey? Visit my social media pages under the handle @hayatheauthor where I post content about my WIP The Traitor’s Throne and life as a teenage author. 

Copyright © 2022 Haya Sameer, you are not allowed to repost, translate, recreate or redistribute my blog posts or content without prior permission

#haya's book blog #haya blogs #hayatheauthor #haya sameer #writing community #writing blog #writing tools #writing tips and tricks #writing tips #writing tip #writing advice #writing inspo #writing help #writing resources #writing life #writer things #writer community #writer tips #writer tricks #writer tag #writer tumblr #writer advice #writer resources #writer recs #writer help #writer tools #author tumblr #author advice #author tips #author community

[spitefulbull]

Tag Game: Vaguely Summarized WIP

Thank you for the tag @tildeathiwillwrite!

Rules: summarize your WIP in 15 2-5 word bullet points (as if you were trying to summarize it in 15 seconds)

This is from my unnamed WIP

regaining honor after demotion

secret society

magic and curses

dream watching is illegal

useless lesbians energy

a little gay panic

eccentric rogue, not edgy

tHe PrOpHeCy

unresolved trauma and PTSD

humanoid subspecies racism

world-wide war(s)

conspiracies turn out true

fratricide, cause why not?

backstabbing the backstabber

dragons aren't real (are they?)

No pressure tags: @cowboybrunch @illarian-rambling @vyuntspakhkite-l-darling @bardic-tales and anyone else who wants to join <3

#writeblr #writers on tumblr #writing #creative writing #writers #writer #writing community #writerscommunity #writer tag #tagging game #tag games #tag game #open tag

[theeccentricraven]

Five things I like about writing

Thank you @kaylinalexanderbooks for the tag!

Rules: Title says it all 💜

I love to follow in the footsteps of my favorite authors. I've read so many good books in my life. I admire how authors put a lot of hard work and effort into the writing. I love how their stories impacted me. I want to do the same.

I love making my quirky ideas come to life. My mind is constantly brewing ideas. What if this? What if that? How about this? How about that? My mind is storming with so many ideas, I need to get them down. I love seeing those ideas on paper.

I love expressing emotions and pain. I've gone through a lot of pain in my life. My characters go through painful experiences as I did. I like to get deep into their emotions. It helps me heal and persevere.

I like to come up with imaginative settings. I've created worlds after thinking, "I've seen some cool worlds in other fantasy and sci-fi, but I haven't seen this yet." I create places that I would love to visit. I often create places I wish were real. Even when writing in our contemporary world, I like to find ways to use the setting. I like to imagine amazing events happening in ordinary places. The setting is like a character.

I like doing a project that's worth doing. Even if I write 300,000 words of trash, it's still worth it. I've made something. I've accomplished something. I'm a creator holding my creation. I am spending my time on something that requires a lot of brains, perspiration, and determination. I am keeping the craft of writing alive in our generation. I inspire myself. I hope to inspire others.

Tagging (No Pressure): @selenekallanwriter @americanfemcel @melpomene-grey @talesofsorrowandofruin @faeriecinna @tildeathiwillwrite @ad-wills and anyone who wants to join!

#writing #writers #writeblr #writers on tumblr #writer tag #open tag #tagging #tag game #on writing #am writing #writing motivation #aspiring author #aspiring writer #author community #writers community #tumblr writing community #writing community #writeblr community #writer community #tumblr writers #writer #writerscommunity #writing inspiration #finding inspiration #authors of tumblr #writerscorner #authors on tumblr #authors

[fairytales-and-folklore]

Thank you for the tags @secretly-of-course @childlikegoblinqueen @peachytea04 @slightecho ♥️♥️♥️♥️

No pressure tags: @litfeathers @ashanimus @princecharmingwinks @tails89 @nutellarghh @ash-mcj @greyhavenisback @lollytea @marimbles @avatarmerida @asarcasticwitch @daydreams-and-honeybees @sailahina @sapphic--kiwi @haystarlight @zyrafowe-sny and I think that's everyone I know who writes fic? I'm so sorry if I forgot to tag anyone, please consider yourself tagged if you'd like to join in!

RULES: Post the last sentence you wrote (fanfic / original / anything) and tag as many people as there are words in the sentence. Since I got tagged by four people, I'll post four snippets from four different huntlow fics I've got in the works: Band/College/Coffeeshop AU: "Willow!" he practically shouts in reply, spilling iced coffee down the front of his apron. He attempts a casual lean against the counter, pretending there isn't coffee creamer dripping down his jeans or ice cubes melting in his apron pockets. "How— hey's it— how's it going?" Actor AU: Luz opens the paper with a rustling snap and reads the big bold headline aloud in a dramatic voice: "Co-stars Hunter Noceda and Willow Park seen cozying up at coffee shops and 24-hour diners all season, meeting in secret at each other's apartments every other weekend, and have been spotted side by side at many a red carpet event over the last year. With their characters rumored to finally be canon endgame, could romance be blossoming both on and off the screen?" Golden Garden AU: "Listen here, Golden Guard—" she growls, and oh, even her voice is cute. "Hunter," he supplies without thinking, wondering whether the force of being knocked into the wall has given him a concussion, if the most important thing to him in that moment is that she knows his name. A fic where Hunter writes Cosmic Frontier fan fiction: Every time he tries to bang out a coherent sentence, he ends up with something along the lines of "I LoVe yOU CaPTaiN" oBAiLeY COnfEsSeD TO WiLLow I mEAn QUaNDo oH fUCk hOw dO yOu deLeTe

#tag game #wip tag game #wip game #writer tag #write tag game #fan fiction #huntlow

[there-must-be-a-lock]

WIPs

I was tagged by @mightymightygnomepriest!

WIP I’m actually working on: I'm about 20k deep in the Highway sequel, which is incredibly exciting as long as I don't think about the fact that I'm maybe a quarter of the way through it.

WIP I keep open in the background so I don’t feel guilty: Heh. See above. The notes doc, drafting doc, and full-draft doc are all perpetually open and have been for a few weeks. But also, I frequently type like 10 words at a time on my Jason/Bucky/Slade fighting-as-foreplay fic that's gonna be a gift for @notherdeadrobin. That's high on the to-do list.

Imaginary project: A WinterHawkHood hockey + Twitter bit of silliness that is entirely concept at the moment. Also, a Lost Days AU where Clint as a SHIELD agent is sent after Jason.

Passion project: Highway sequel again... very passionate about that motherfucker. But also, another part of the All The Devils 'verse that's gonna get insanely angsty and is gonna hurt like a bitch to write. I think it could be amazing if I do it justice but it'll be a rough process.

WIP from 3 months ago: Last opened the third chapter of the Roy/Jason/Clint threesome a little over three months ago, apparently.

Side WIP: I keep scribbling out bits and pieces of the werewolf 'verse. It's soooo fluffy and comforting and full of love, it's just really fun to write. Already added one little JayRoy timestamp, but there are a few more on the way - Frank/Slade, Bucky/Clint/Roy, and Matt/Jason, among others. Also a second part of the main fic, which I'm really excited about.

Zero pressure tags - @noxnthea @wyxan @drgrlfriend @kangofu-cb @bittercape @bill-longbow @notherdeadrobin @safelycapricious @oliocelottafanfics

#wips #writing is hard #writer tag

[halfbakedspuds]

Thanks for the tag, @illarian-rambling

Badly summarised WIP tag

Rules: Summarise your WIP in about 15 points but do it badly.

I'll do this for the Tempest Prince because I barely actually do anything with that WIP on here.

Murder-turkey

How to accidentally steal someone's entry into a bloodsport tournament.

Rocky style training montage.

16 is such a wonderful age to realise that no one knows what the hell you are.

Puberty 2: electric boogaloo™

Who's a scarier mother? A thousand year old cyborg sorceress or an Afrikaans aunty with a wooden spoon.

Dwarsgefoktenis : Noun, "the state of being where the situation is fucked sideways"

The two extremes of the 'mostly human' spectrum's bizarre adventure.

This is why we don't screw with arcane fast-travel.

"We do not speak of this ever again" (proceeds to proclaim it to the world six years later)

Jesus Christ, what is that?

Jason, oh Jason, my Tesla coil brother.

JESUS CHRIST, WHAT WAS THAT?!

"I wasn't kidding, this is actually how I died"

High time for braai time.

Open tag for whomever wants it.

#writeblr #writing #wip #writer tag #writer tag game #WIP badly summarised #the Tempest prince #YA fiction

[exhuastedpigeon]

20 Questions for fic Writers!

tagged by @rosieposiepuddingnpie, thank you friend :)

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

139

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

551,651

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Actively, Buddie (and I'm still holding on to Steddie with both hands but my brain hasn't cooperated lately). Inactively (hopefully I'll return one day) - Sterek/Teen Wolf, DexNursey, SamBucky, JayTim, Pynch

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Queer Robins Club - Batman, 4.9k kudos Dustin's Dad(s) - Steddie, 3.5k kudos On the Ropes - Sterek, 2.3k kudos Like James Dean, Only Sadder - Sterek, 2.1k kudos I'm Yelling Tinder - DexNursey, 1.5k kudos

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I try to! There was a couple years where I wasn't really writing for fic or reading it and I kind of just ignored Ao3 and came back to like 500 comments that I didn't respond to, but I read all of them and loved them. I respond to all of them now though and did before I went inactive.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I don't typucally write angsty endings. I typically write fic because I want a happy ending. I did write a very angsty, very short first person fic from Stiles POV at the end of Teen Wolf? I guess that would be it. With a Wimper is also my least read fic in terms of hits lol.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

ALL OF THEM! I write happy endings baby! If I had to pick just one I'd probably say my favourite Steddie fic I wrote - Baby on Board just because it's a prequel to a very happy fic and the end of BoB is also happy and hopeful.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Not recently. Back in the days of a very active Sterek fandom I had some, usually from people who didn't ship Sterek. It was always wild to me because that meant you intentionally commented on a fic for a ship you didn't ship just to be mean?

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I do, but not as often as I used to. Typically my smut ends up also being sappy, but sometimes I dabble in bandage or light D/s stuff.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

One time I wrote Stiles Stilinski/Jason Todd and it was very fun for me and hopefully for the like 500 people who read it. - if you're interested it's Back Alley Deals lol

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

yeah, but it got taken down after

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes! I've had some wonderful folks translate some of my fics to Russian, Mandarin, and Ukrainian and I think a few other languages I'm not rememebring

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes, I did the jaytim WIP exchange which I think counts as co-writing. We just wrote in shifts lol

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

Probably Sterek simply because I can always go back to it like a warm little blanket and because I was so in it for so many years.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

probably my Buddie double timeloop fic :( maybe one day i'll finish it

16. What are your writing strengths?

I think dialogue and being able to capture a character's voice

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Conflict probably - I just want everyone to get along so I really struggle to write it, but I do write it and that's what counts

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I struggle with it because I'm only English speaking. I think if I get better at French or Spanish I'd be more comfortable with it, but for now I don't like relying on Google translate.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

I think the first fic I ever posted was harry potter, posted on some random HP message board in the very early 2000s

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

oh this is hard!!! I'm gonna cheat and give you favs from 6 ships I've written lol Like James Dean, only Sadder (Sterek) wet your lips (and smile for the camera) (Buddie) It's Always You (SamBucky) Baby on Board (Steddie) Baby give me S'more (Jaytim) Hey Now You're a (NHL) All-Star (DexNursey)

tagging (no pressure) - @thewolvesof1998 @loserdiaz @monsterrae1 @eddiebabygirldiaz @daffi-990 @spotsandsocks @devirnis @acountrygirlsfun @forthewolves @generatorcat @anxieteandbiscuits @inell @clotpolesonly @weewootruck and anyone else who wants to share

#tagged #tag game #writer tag #about me

[xieyaohuan]

Writer Tag

Thank you for tagging me @blindmagdalena and @saintmathieublanc! ❤️

How many works do you have on AO3?

43, but many of them are one shots and one of them is a translation.

What's your total AO3 word count?

203,854.

Ca. 120,000 of those words were banged out in just a few months during a single manic episode in 2017.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Ravishing a God (which is still incomprehensible to me as tickle fics normally never get many kudos lol)

I've got you pegged (rushed fic and cringy title)

All a king should be (a collection of 47 drabbles of 100 word -- I want to do a drabble challenge like this again for Homewell or Butchlander)

All God's children took their toll (it's not been abandoned)

Under the Twisted Weirwood Tree (my only crossover fic; I really want to finish this one even though it's no longer my fandom)

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I usually do unless it's hate (and sometimes even then)

What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

This is a tough one because most of my A Song of Ice and Fire fic is angst lol. Probably Heart of Darkness? Maybe Joanna (despite the relatively 'happy' ending)? But it's a pretty stiff competition.

What’s the fic you've written with the happiest ending?

I would say Spinster, which is still pretty angsty.

Do you write crossovers?

I've written only one, Under the Twisted Weirwood Tree, which sets A Song of Ice and Fire characters in a semi-modern AU based on The Purge. I really enjoyed the worldbuilding for this one!

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Yes. I gave the wrong name to a character, which REALLY upset at least one person. I think I responded to them in good faith the first time, and then the second time told them to kindly fuck off.

I also used to post my fic on ff.net, where people seem to consider yelling at the author a legitimate type of feedback, and I definitely got a lot of that, but I don't consider that hate since it's just how people on ff.net interact.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I do, in all kinds of directions, but I don't think it's my forte lol.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I think I might have had stuff reposted to websites I didn't know without credit, but it might have just been one of those mirror sites that didn't include all details??

Not to be cavalier about plagiarism, but my internal reports at work get stolen all the time, so with fic, I honestly don't care, since, unlike at work, I'm not actually losing any money. I think if someone took my fic, passed it off as their own, and then got famous with it, I might feel different about that, but that's never happened to me.

I plagiarized @deliciouskeys' title once (for The Dollhouse), but not intentionally because I'd been working on that fic for a while and didn't realize until after publishing the first chapter that my title had been taken.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not that I'm aware.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes, I co-wrote a fic with a fandom friend over 20 years ago, but we ended up never publishing it. Haven't co-written any fic since then, and I don't think I'd enjoy it.

What's your all-time favorite ship?

I don't think I have one since that would require me to maintain an obsession over decades, which is not how my brain works.

What's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will?

A bunch of fic I wrote for ASoIaF like Lions of the Realm and Fatherly Love. I won't to finish all my fic because I hate not to, but with these two, I'm pretty certain I never will. Probably a few others in that same category out there.

What are your writing strengths?

This doesn't really show in my current fandom, but I think I have some pretty unique ideas. I'm also willing to experiment and play around with concepts, which I generally consider a strength on the whole.

What are your writing weaknesses?

I lean towards GRRM's ways of telling a story, but without the skill of being able to pull it off (and to be fair, he's failing, too).

Also, I will say that writing in a language other than your native language will limit you in some pretty fundamental ways that can't be overcome, and that can be frustrating.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

The most I do is insert individual words and phrases, and I only do that for languages I actually speak.

I did write one fic in which several of my characters spoke with pretty heavy dialect, and if I were to rewrite that fic now, I would really tone that down.

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Published: Lord of the Rings

Unpublished and without realizing what I was doing: Asterix and Cleopatra, probably

What's a fandom/ship you haven't written for yet but want to?

I haven't written published any real Maevlander or real Starlander, and I definitely want to change that.

What's your favorite fic you've written?

Hard to say, but I really like Moonlight on her Face. I'm also rather attached to Ravishing a God, but I don't count that because for something to be a true favorite, it has to outlive my obsession.

I'm late to the party on this one and have lost track of who has already been tagged, so I'm not tagging anyone, but consider yourself tagged if you want to do this!

#tagging game #writer tag #fic #writing #about me

[jiaraisinthegoodplace]

did I ever tell you (that I love you) by jiaraisinthegoodplace

“Whew! I just can’t believe that shit really happened... I am not gonna be able to sleep tonight,” JJ chuckled, staring up at the ceiling wide eyed.

Kiara turned to her side to watch him, reaching a hand out to rub it gently against his chest.

“We don’t have to sleep.”

-----

The jiara first time fic

Read on ao3

#jiara #kiara carrera #jj maybank #outer banks #my fics #writer tag

[hayatheauthor]

How To Get Away With Murder...As An Author

Death scenes are possibly one of the hardest things to write. This isn’t just because of an author’s emotional connection to their characters, but also due to the complexities of killing off your characters in a satisfying way. How can you ensure you don’t come across as under or overwhelming? How do you know when to kill a character? What’s the best way to do it? 

If you’re an author writing a death scene and find yourself coming across similar questions, here is a quick guide on how to write a realistic death scene, or in my words, how to get away with murder as an author. 

Trigger warning: before delving into this blog post I would like to mention that it includes talks about death and murder. This is in no way detailed or graphic but this is a blog post about how to write a murder scene, so it is definitely mentioned. 

Make It Realistic

Nobody likes an illogical death scene. If your character’s death scene wouldn’t realistically make sense, you run the risk of boring or annoying your readers, especially if they were previously attached to the character. 

Plot devices and writing styles aside, when writing a death scene it’s important to consider whether or not it would be realistically plausible. 

Sure, killing off your character by making them dramatically fall from a cliff or get stabbed mid-battle sounds thrilling, but would such a situation actually kill them in real life? 

This is especially important if you’re writing an assassination or killing off a politically significant character. I would recommend taking the time to research similar events that actually occurred in history to get an idea of how to kill your character. 

Creating an accurate death scene helps ensure your readers can easily accept your character’s death and focus on the impact it has on your story rather than confusedly wondering whether or not your character is supposed to be secretly alive. 

One of my characters gets assassinated because their femoral artery and radial arteries are ruptured by the killer. Another character I wrote a short story with kills themselves by eating a couple of rosary peas because they’re a spy captured by the enemy.

None of these scenes detailed the significance of the character’s wounds or why eating a couple of red seeds killed them, but the reasoning behind their deaths is realistic enough for a knowledgeable audience to buy the death scene. 

Describe The Right Things 

When writing a death scene, it’s important to describe the right things. I often see writers describing another character’s reaction to your character’s wounds before everything goes black and they swap to the other character’s POV. Or, they will write the chapter from another character’s POV and focus on that character’s emotions rather than the actual death scene. 

It’s important to translate how the rest of your characters react to the death of this character, but they can’t exactly react to a situation that hasn’t even been written yet. 

When writing a death scene you should always describe your character’s pain and reaction to their situation. Maybe they have a look of horror plastered over their face as their bloodstained hand pulls away from their abdomen, or maybe their thoughts are spiralling out of control as they contemplate how they got to this point. 

Don’t describe their surroundings unless they are relevant. This includes any characters witnessing their death. 

Remember, the point is to showcase your character’s pain and raw emotions and then go on to show how this impacts your story and other characters. Not vice versa. 

Build Emotion 

I briefly touched on this in the previous points, but when writing a death scene it’s very important to ensure you evoke the right emotion within your readers. If your readers don’t feel a sense of loss, dread or any other emotion as they watch your character take their last breaths, then you’re not doing it right. 

Evoking emotion in your readers can be hard, but this can be made easier with the right word choice and writing style. Don’t use long overly complicated sentences and words, don’t describe irrelevant details. In order to evoke emotion, you need to show your readers what will make them feel that way. 

A full page about the room your character is in and how the people around them are crying won’t really leave a lasting impact on your readers, but a paragraph about how frustrated your character feels because they couldn’t achieve their goal and instead needs to watch as their friends live on and fulfil their dreams will make your readers empathise with your characters. 

Unsure how to properly write a tense scene and make your readers feel anxious or scared? Here is a blog about how to build tension and make your readers feel scared. 

Have A Concrete Reason 

This should go without saying, but when killing a character you need to establish a concrete reason for their death. Sure, you could just say it was an accident and use their death as a plot device to impact your protagonist’s reaction to a bigger plot point of your novel. But this can be very boring and won’t leave any sort of impact on your readers. 

We’ve all read those YA fantasy books that start off with a teenager whose parents were somehow killed a month or two before the first chapter. These plot points are fine if done for the sake of making your character seem alone or wounded, but can be lacklustre if you’re looking for a way for your readers to empathise with them. 

When killing off a character, no matter how minor they are, remember to establish a concrete reason for their death. Something as simple as ‘their parents died in a plane crash but the protagonist blames themselves for pushing their parents to go on that trip’ is good enough. 

You should also consider when you reveal this information. It’s important to know when to reveal what aspect of your character’s death, and how this choice will impact your readers. 

The After Affect 

Do you know what’s more impactful than the reason for your character’s death? How this impacts the other characters. 

Following the previous example, you could say your protagonist is cold and rude to others because they blame themselves for their parent’s deaths, but this won’t be as impactful as the protagonist solemnly confessing the truth to their new friend and mentioning how frustrated they feel for hurting people they care about regardless of how they act. 

It’s important to show your readers how this character’s death impacts their loved ones and your plot as a whole. An insignificant character’s demise can be used as a way to make your readers empathise with your protagonist or antagonist. 

Remember, killing your character is just the start. Now you need to show your readers why their death matters. 

I hope this blog on how to get away with murder as an author will help you in your writing journey. Be sure to comment any tips of your own to help your fellow authors prosper, and folow my blog for new blog updates every Monday and Thursday.  

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Haya’s book blog where I post writing and marketing tools for authors every Monday and Thursday. 

Want to learn more about me and my writing journey? Visit my social media pages under the handle @hayatheauthor where I post content about my WIP The Traitor’s Throne and life as a teenage author. 

Copyright © 2022 Haya Sameer, you are not allowed to repost, translate, recreate or redistribute my blog posts or content without prior permission

#haya sameer #haya's book blog #haya blogs #hayatheauthor #writing community #writing tools #writing tips #writing prompt #writing things #writing help #writing stuff #writing tag #writing tips and tricks #writing tip #writing tool #writing techniques #writing horror #writing resources #writer tag #writer tips #writer community #writer things #writer tricks #writer talk #writer tumblr #writer tools #writer resources #writer advice #author tumblr #author tips

[spitefulbull]

Character Voice Tag Game

Thank you for the tags, @illarian-rambling and @mk-writes-stuff!

This will be two of them since they both tagged me in separate posts. Bear with me here :P

First line: "Hey, old friend, long time no see!"

Ember: "Glad to see you're still in one piece."

Bo: "By the gods, it's great to see you again, old friend."

Fen: "Shit, you're alive?"

Kris: "The hell are you doing here?"

Evie: "Oh gods, it's been too long! How are you?"

----------

Second line: "That's really sweet of you!"

Ember: "I'll be sure to cherish this, thank you."

Bo: "Oh, well, thank you. I wasn't expecting this."

Fen: "... What do you want?"

Kris, blushing furiously: "... Thanks..."

Evie: "Oh, thank you! You're too kind."

No pressure tags: @gamerkats @cowboybrunch @vyuntspakhkite-l-darling @bard-coded @kaylinalexanderbooks and anyone else who wants to join <3

Your line: "It wasn't me, I swear."

#writeblr #writers on tumblr #writing #creative writing #writers #writer #writing community #writerscommunity #writer tag #open tag #tagging game #tag games #tag game #tumblr games

[theeccentricraven]

Out of Context Line Tag

Thank you for the tag  @buffythevampirelover

Rules: post a line out of context from your WIP! Here is one from The Blood Cleaners.

ELLEN: Justin, what’s that red X on your head?

Tagging (no obligation, no pressure): @acmartin @badluck990 @lavenderro @bml1997 @drchenquill

#writing #writers #writeblr #writers on tumblr #author community #writers community #tumblr writing community #writing community #writer community #writeblr community #writer tag #open tag #tag game #tagging #writer stuff #tumblr writers #writers corner #writerscommunity

[fairytales-and-folklore]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

Thank you for the tag @marimbles! ♥️ No pressure tags: @litfeathers @lollytea @ashanimus @greyhavenisback @princecharmingwinks @tails89 @nutellarghh @ash-mcj @childlikegoblinqueen @daydreams-and-honeybees @avatarmerida @asarcasticwitch @sailahina @secretly-of-course @sapphic--kiwi @haystarlight @zyrafowe-sny @peachytea04 @slightecho

1. How many works do you have on AO3? just hit 100 last month!

2. What's your total AO3 word count? 479,814

3. What fandoms do you write for? I've dabbled in quite a few over the years, but the ones I've written the most fics for are doctor who (eleven/amy) teen wolf (sterek) and the owl house (huntlow)

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos? Error 404: Brain Cell Not Found (teen wolf | sterek) You Always Want What You're Running From (sleepy hollow | ichabbie) What To Do When Your Emotionally Constipated Werewolf Boyfriend Gets Cursed By A Witch: A Guide (teen wolf | sterek) Gold Rush (the owl house | huntlow) Lovesick (the owl house | huntlow) 5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? I do! Every kind comment means so much to me, so I always take the time to respond to all of them (though I'm not always great at getting to them on time.)

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Hmm probably The Courtesan and the Writer (doctor who | eleven/amy) I used to dabble in angst a bit more when I first started writing fic, but these days all my fics are pretty much guaranteed to have a happy ending, because real life is hard enough lol

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Pretty much all my fics have happy endings, but one of the happiest I wrote would probably be my huntlow college AU Until You Meet Someone Who Makes The Fall Feel Like Flying

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I wouldn't call it outright hate, but I have gotten a handful of rude comments over the years (complaining that I don't post often enough, telling me my headcanons are wrong, telling me how they think my story should have ended — one time someone yelled at me in all caps because I said that a character chilled red wine lol that one was wild)

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I do! Smut is fun. Mine is typically more focused on the emotional aspect than the physical, is usually the result of a long tension-fueled slow burn buildup, and is usually tooth-rottingly fluffy, soft, and sweet.

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

I have! Back in the days where superwholock plagued tumblr, I wrote one of the silliest cross-overs imaginable, combining doctor who, torchwood, bbc sherlock, supernatural, the avengers, and sleepy hollow: Lords, Gods, and Madmen

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Yup 🙃

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

I have! But most of them never saw the light of day 😂 one that did is called An Eggcellent Morning For Cooking Lessons co-written with @ash-mcj @tails89 and @nutellarghh

14. What's your all-time favourite ship?

I think my top three ships are reflected in who I've written the most fic for: huntlow, sterek, and the eleventh doctor/amy pond

15. What's a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

Luckily, everything that's posted to AO3 is finished, but at this point I'm thinking I'll probably never get around to writing the little nightmares, reylo, and captain swan WIPs I've had sitting in my drafts since 2019

16. What are your writing strengths?

I've been told I capture the characters really well, which means a lot to me. I've also been told that my writing is cozy and comforting and fills people with warm fuzzy feelings, which is always nice to hear 🥰

17. What are your writing weaknesses? I will sit there and agonize over the same paragraph trying to make it sound perfect instead of just letting the writing flow, so sometimes a fic will be in the works for a very long time until it's finally ready to be posted (by which time I'm probably sick of it and never want to look at it again 😂)

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I've dabbled in this a little bit, but it's usually been plot-relevant, like a character learning to speak the language (i.e. when Hunter tried to learn Spanish in Being Human.) When I do write in another language, I always do my best to research and try to get the translations as accurate as possible, and I always include the English translation either in the fic itself or as an author's note so readers don't have to break away from my fic to google anything. (And also so that they know what my intention was, on the off-chance I translated something wrong and accidentally wrote something offensive.) 19. First fandom you wrote for?

Does anyone remember that vampire show that came out back in like 2009? Moonlight? Yeah, that one lol

20. Favourite fic you've ever written? God, that's like asking me to pick my favorite child. Okay fine, it's Until You Meet Someone Who Makes The Fall Feel Like Flying

#tag game #writer tag #writer tag game #fan fiction

[kiraofthewind]

Eyes

Writers, if you see this, share a snippet of your characters' eyes. Description, intensity, passion. Show me them peepers!

From my WIP, Good Thyme With Bad Company:

Iom’ren turned his head to look at Grilled. Those eyes. In the ringslight, Iom’ren’s eyes and Noklopan facial jewels shone like stars. Aloutia’s stars, pink and pure, the essence of goodness. The starlight which everyone wished would glitter upon each other’s paths. Yet those eyes held nothing but pain. Sorrow. A tear fell down his cheek, diverted by the jewels, and fell upon the fresh snow at the same moment a drop of blood fell from the quillon. Grilled wanted to say something—anything—but what does one say to a soul bearing such powerful, striking eyes?

Tagging @rtisticwriter @kittensartswriting @nightfoxproductions726 but anyone can participate if they want!

#writeblr #tag game #writer tag #wip snippet #gtwbc #kirasnippets

[halfbakedspuds]

OC in fifteen

Thanks for the tag @illarian-rambling! This'll be fun to do.

Rules: pick fifteen or less quotes that ideally capture the essence of a character. Add a little beat of action or context if required

For this, I'm going to use Maire Aitkin from Echoes of Shadows because that WIP needs more love, and she's my favourite character to write.

If A' couldnae see shite, 'twould still be brigh'er than this fecking tunnel.

Johan. A' thought ye knew tha' blood belongs inside of th'body?

Holy Bozhe, lord o' heav'n and ward'n o' the nine hells, what th'fuck is tha'!? (First time seeing a demon)

With ye lot 'tis always, "Oh Maire, A' done screwed it, aye? Be a dearie an' heal me up, would'ya?" Well what if A' need healin' an' A'm tae burnt out tae patch m'self up? Already lost an eye an' a leg tae tha', thankya kindly. If ye ain't already dyin' or a hinderance in your current state, wrap it up an' walk it off.

Well A'm so bloody sorry tha' ye blitherin' fecks bleed out faster than A' can plug th'holes.

Oh, so terrifyin', A'm a-quakin' in my wee boots! Oh wha'ever shall A' - have fun breathin', jackass (Said while collapsing a cultists lungs with magic)

People forget tha' us bioworkers are incredibly aware o' ev'ry wee movement people 'round us make. Ev'ry time Johan sees ye, his muscles relax, an' he feels more comfortable - in all fairness, he feels more comfortable 'round all o' us - but A' find it curious that his heartrate also picks up a wee bit only when it's you he sees. And e'en more curious that yours does th'exact same thing when ye see him.

Wow, right fascinatin' story, mate. Hey, A've heard tha' th'Green Rooves are wonderful this time o' year. (Said the first time she hears Johan and Anastasia discussing demons. 'Green Rooves' is Ost-Rietland slang for a mental institution)

Ha! Ye think this is cold? Go spend a month in Northern Rostov. Nae, e'en better, go spend a month in th'Angeheim wilderness. Then ye can talk 'bout the cold.

Always wanted tae go sightseein' in Genesh. A' probly wouldnae survive a day in th'desert but A' always wanted tae go. Maybe Neureich would be a good place tae visit, too, but wha's really over there anyways? Thirteen bombed out cities 'long th'coastal forest followed by Bozhe knows how many miles o' e'en more desert? Nae, thanks, A'll stick tae ma books.

Righ' then, hands up an' arses on the ground, this is a robbery! We're nae here tae rob any o' you's tho', so dinnae try bein' no hero 'till we have wha' we came for.

A' sometimes hate that A' can feel everything yer body does. A' can feel yer desire tae throttle me an' now A' have tae ask m'self wha' A' said that could've warranted it. Why d'ya force me tae introspect an' grow as a person? How dare ye? (Said with the express purpose of annoying the hell out of an already livid Hans)

Pffff-fucken, sacred hells, when last did anyone clean this place up a bit, 'tis rank! Hey ghosts! Open a window from time tae time, a wee breeze is good for th'soul. Or... souls, in this case.

Rostovan is such an easy language, though. Just get drunk, shove half a potato down yer throat an' make whatever noises come tae mind. Bob's yer uncle!

Shut it, or next time A' put ye back tae-gether, A'll leave an earing in yer colon.

Open tag for whomever wants it

#writer tag #oc in fifteen #writeblr #writing #fiction #wip #Echoes of Shadows