#writerblog

[emlinden]

This month's book recommendation post is now live over on emlinden.com! Today, we're taking a look at an Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir 🔥

Visit the link above to check it out!

#writerblog #writingblog #creativeblog #blogger #fantasywriter #writingcommunity #bookblog #readingrecommendation #bookrecommendation #anemberintheashes #ember #emberintheashes #writeblr #writers of tumblr #blogblr #bloggers on tumblr

[wild-daffodils]

Reblog this if you have a horrible habit of doom scrolling through tumblr when you are supposed to be writing

#writerblog #procrastination #the struggle #writing

[rwhague]

How to NOT Waste $3k as a New Writer--Self-Editing Basics

One of the most humbling adventures a writer can face is journeying back in time to their previous works. I started writing stories at the young age of twelve – fan fiction mainly about my favorite shows. I completed my first novel at 16. This is the one I’m reviewing now–13 years later. 

Thank goodness, I have learned so much more about writing since then. Unfortunately, I did not learn these things before I lost 3k by vanity publishing a book before it was ready. 

There’s a whole story that goes with the actual vanity press adventure. You can link to it HERE. But here is step one–putting your best foot forward with a manuscript worth reading. 

What I’m going to show you in this article is the prologue of my first novel. I completed it at age 16, reviewed and tried to publish it at age 22. Using the concepts discussed below, hopefully you will be able to give your own manuscripts (MS’s) a good spit shine before sending it out to prospective pub houses and agents.

Prologue

He ran. Only one thought filled his mind. “Escape.” A dog howled in the distance. They had found his trail. Another howl, closer this time. How were they gaining ground so fast? 

 He stole a glance over his shoulder and tripped over a root. His hands floundered against the slick leaves as he tumbled toward the cliff.  He started rolling uncontrollably down the slippery slope. The wet leaves gave him no traction and he fell hopelessly toward the ravine. His hands reached out to grab something-- anything. He found a root and held it with all of his might, but as he began to pull himself up, it snapped. He plummeted toward the river, too terrified to scream. 

A dog sniffed the place where he had fallen. Its master pulled an arrow out of his quiver and notched it, aiming at whatever might surface. He waited silently until he was satisfied that the boy would not come up, then turned and walked away. The dog followed without hesitation. 

Okay, now let’s break this down a bit with some good old fashion critique tips. 

He ran. 

Sentence One is very vague. There’s not much of a picture shown here.. Running where? Track? Through the mall? The forest? Also, weak point of view (POV)–camera angle? You have very little time to hook your reader into your story. I’d recommend something more original and intriguing than two words that could be found in Dick and Jane. 

Don’t be afraid to add descriptive language. Keep in mind what reading is: hallucinating vividly. Give your audience something to hallucinate! 

A better POV would be to show his heart pounding (cliche) or his side aching. Tears? Sweat? Branches tearing at his pants? Is he wearing pants? 

Only one thought filled his mind. “Escape.” 

Cliche

 A dog howled in the distance. They had found his trail. Another howl, closer this time. How were they gaining ground so fast?

IMO – Not bad POV. Some people don’t like questions being asked. Personally, I think they’re fine. 

 He stole a glance over his shoulder and tripped over a root. His hands floundered against the slick leaves as he tumbled toward the cliff. He started rolling uncontrollably down the slippery slope. The wet leaves gave him no traction and he fell hopelessly toward the ravine. His hands reached out to grab something-- anything. He found a root and held it with all of his might, but as he began to pull himself up, it snapped. He plummeted toward the river, too terrified to scream. 

He stole, he started rolling, The wet leaves, His hands reached, He found, He plummeted. These are all similar sentence structures. In certain situations, this can be fine, but after a while, the feel of the piece becomes redundant. One plus–great active verbs. 

I underlined “started” here–try to avoid started unless you have to. Which sounds stronger? He started rolling uncontrollably down the slippery slop or He rolled uncontrollably…    Nothing interrupted the ‘start’--he full on tumbled, so write it like that. 

A dog sniffed the place where he had fallen. Its master pulled an arrow out of his quiver and notched it, aiming at whatever might surface. He waited silently until he was satisfied that the boy would not come up, then turned and walked away. The dog followed without hesitation. 

One good thing here–the use of shorter sentences within an action scene. The pacing never slows down. That being said, very cliche opening–someone running through the woods being chased by an unknown being. Very ominous, very overused. 

So, how can this be improved? 

I have not changed the beginning. If I were looking to re-market this book, I would have to do something less cliche than a chase scene, but I have re-written it using some of the concepts mentioned above. 

As a note– some reason, I thought it would be clever to leave the character unnamed in this scene for mystery, but in the very next chapter, it’s pretty clear who it was tumbling. And it’s not much of a pay off. By not mentioning his name, however, I feel that it makes it harder for the reader to connect with the character, to see him as a real person. So, I’ve added his name and a bit more context. 

How much blood had they taken? Bryan clutched the bandage about the bend of his arm with his pale fingers. Behind him, the cabin stood no more than one hundred yards away, but his run from it had left him breathless. It was more than the altitude that caused his heart to race, more than the fear of those not far behind him–but they did not help either. 

At the thought of the Watchers, Bryan forced himself onward. Branches and thorns clung to his pants and shirt, tearing the already fragile material to ribbons. He shoved himself from tree to tree, using their strength to keep himself upright. Something rose over the sound of crunching leaves and tearing fabric. At first, he thought it was the blood rushing through his ears, but it grew ever louder. 

Bryan burst through the underbrush and out of the treeline–only to nearly tumble down the cliff. At the basin of the ravine roared a river, churning, tumbling over rocks. His vision blurred even more. 

A dog howled behind him. They were coming. 

Bryan raced along the edge of the cliffside, grabbing from branch to branch to keep himself going. Suddenly, the ground beneath his foot gave way, and his foot slipped into nothingness. His hands scrambled for something, anything, to stop his descent. By some miracle, his fingers found a branch and he grabbed onto it with all of his might. 

But hold on was all he could do. He had no strength to pull himself up, and his feet found no purchase. He dangled over the raging river. 

Feet appeared on the edge of the cliff–black boots made of deerskin. Shoes of silence. A hooded figure knelt in the grass and reached out for Bryan with gloved hands, but before they could touch him–  

Bryan let go. 

Which is better? I’ll let you decide ;)

#writing #writingtips #editingtips #self-editing #amwriting #authorblog #writerblog #writer #author #writingadvice #mywriting #writingmemes

[sweetorangepeel]

Just started a side blog with @aestatismors!!! It’s a writery one!!

Go follow if you’re into that sort of thing

The URL is @wild-daffodils

#writery #writerblog #writer best friends #sideblog

[a-muzzled-hound]

introduction! ♡ ♡

┏━━━━°⌜ ♡ ♡ ♡  ⌟°━━━━┓

   -ˋˏ [ brennan | male | pansexual ] ˎˊ-

┗━━━━°⌜ ♡ ♡ ♡  ⌟°━━━━┛

┆ ┆ ┆ ┆ ┆ ┆

┆ ┆ ┆ ┆    ‍     ‍

┆ ┆ ┆       

┆ ┆                      

┆ *:･ﾟ brennans introduction!! <3

—-------------------------------------------------------

(♡)  Pisces 

(♡)  Interests!!: writing,  roleplaying, whump, fantasty, cross-country/xc, wrestling, boxing, nanbaka, horror

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requests & dms: open!! 

#introduction #whump #medical whump #blog #tumblr writers #writerblog #writer

[paulapuddephatt]

paulathewriter.com 

#writerblog #readers #booklove #vintage

[my-youngworld88]

Daily Prompt: Someone Else

Daily Prompt: Someone Else By Janeen G.

If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be, and why? If I have to be honest with myself…I don’t think I would want to be anyone else but myself. I’m sure I can be anyone in the world; but after really thinking about it and looking at how my life has turned out, I don’t want to be anyone but me. Words By Janeen G. ✨🌹✨ Feel and Follow the Words From The Author and Poet of Janeen…

View On WordPress

#Author Blog #Black Writer #Blog #Blogger #Blogging #daily prompt-1861 #dailyprompt #Freelance Blogger #Janeen G Writer #janeengwriter #Lifestyle Blogger #Personal #personal blog #Writer #Writer Blog #Writer Lifestyle #writerblog #writing

[thegirlfromtheislands]

I got cheated on once. It changed my whole life. It changed the way I spoke to him. It changed my perceptions of our relationship, myself--of him. I didn't think it would ever happen to me, to us. It wasn't in my realm of possibilities. He said he loved me, cared for me, wanted to be with me. There was no way he would go out and find someone to cheat on me with. But he did.

I thought I wasn't enough for him. I felt so sad. I didn't cry. Instead this event became a heavy weight that sat firmly on my shoulders every single day. It was a sadness that would eat me from the inside out. He said he was sorry. He said he thought we were going to break up. But when? When did a conversation about breaking up ever emerge between us? He said it was because I failed to do things he asked me to do. I never felt so sad in my life.

This wasn't just another relationship, he was my soulmate...or so I thought. He was supposed to be the love of my life. We had shared too many good things for me to walk away now. I was in love even if he wasn't. Men who are in love don't find other women. Women who are in love make excuses, change narratives to make men more forgivable, more sympathetic.

We broke up for a short while, but I still wanted to be with him. Even after everything that happened. I'm still confused about the whole thing. I wonder why he didn't just end things with me first? I have so many questions that he never answered honestly. These events tear people apart. It still makes me sad even though I've told everyone I know that I've moved on.

#writing #stories #break up #relationships #love #friends #writerblog #author #poet #booklr #books #quote #bookseller #coffee #travel #cafe #writing everyday

[nelehjr]

No one is going to rent a pack mule to find your buns. Put yourself out there on the internet, author! Check the link in my bio for the newest blog post.💘 #HelenMPugsley #Blog #WritingAboutWriting #AdviceToWriters #WritingAdvice #Writertowriter #WritersOfTheRockyMountains #ThatsWY #ThatsWYEnbies #wyominglife #Wyoming #wyominglife #WyomingCreatives #blogging #amblogging #WriterBlog #WordPress #MakeSurePeopleCanGoogleYou (at Laramie, Wyoming) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpvXWTIpB6n/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#helenmpugsley #blog #writingaboutwriting #advicetowriters #writingadvice #writertowriter #writersoftherockymountains #thatswy #thatswyenbies #wyominglife #wyoming #wyomingcreatives #blogging #amblogging #writerblog #wordpress #makesurepeoplecangoogleyou

[teatimewithtana]

A Writer’s Research Post: The Black Cat in the Room🐈‍⬛

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https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRnAgnaB/

#bookstagram #writer #author #bookphotography #blogging4style #booksbooksbooks #bookish #bookporn #bookshelf #researchpost #research #writerscorner #writerlife #writerscommunity #writers and poets #writersofinstagram #writers #writer speaks #writerblog #writers on tumblr #writerblr #writerscreed #writersofig #writersblock #creative writing #female writers #writblr

[emlinden]

This year, I decided that I wanted to give doing a writer blog a shot. The first post, a quick little introduction of myself and what I plan to do on the blog, went up today, so be sure to check it out over on emlinden.com!

#writer #writing #amwriting #writerblog #writingblog #creativeblog #blogger #fantasywriter #writeblr #writers of tumblr #blogblr #writing community

[wild-daffodils]

Campnano ask game

To celebrate it being campnano month, here is an ask game!!

If you write something new,what is the word count you typically go for? Do you aim high or low?

Do you write something new or revise old writing?

How many years have you been doing campnano?

What is your goal for this year?

What is your go to genre?

What genre is hardest for you to write or do you not touch?

Do you post about your progress on your blog?

Do you focus on one project for campnano, or a combination of different ones?

Do you edit as you go or edit at the end?

How many active writing projects do you currently have going?

#writeraskgame #ask game #writerblr #nano #campnano #writerblr community #writerblog #wild daffodils #questions #writers on tumblr

[the-mess-writes]

Blog Update #1

December 24, 2022

This week has been wild. Not only with the holidays but with some more personal family problems that were thrown into the blender making this smoothie almost too chunky to drink.

But if you haven’t been keeping up, this week was the release of Chapter Forty-Seven and one of my favorite chapters in the entire book. Here’s a few spoilers, but FINALLY we get a real conversation between Sawyer and Kyle and you get to see that they really do care for each other. Whether those feelings are platonic or romantic is something I’m leaving up to you. Go wild. We get to see Sawyer opening up to Kyle by showing him a place that’s special to her. And Kyle tells Sawyer his biggest secret. They’re finally truly trusting each other. Though that is the biggest problem. Because now the game is up and Sawyer has to decide if she can live with decision she makes.

I’m not going to say how many chapters are left to the book because that would be no fun but I will tell you we are nearing the end. Crazy to think a year ago only about five people in the world even knew I’d written a book let alone wrote at all. What time will do to a person.

Also, HUGE announcement. I’m working on a sequel. I wasn’t originally planning on doing a sequel and hadn’t put much thought into it because of that. But some urging from friends had my minding turning. And what I’ve come up with is beyond exciting. It’ll obviously be a while until it is complete and I’m working on writing a completely different book right now. But I was just too excited not to share it.

Fun fact time: a lot of the scenes in The Hero Dies in the End were inspired by real life experiences. Especially the more “wtf” ones. Obviously, I hadn’t been forced to become a criminal to graduate from college.

Or did I?

Ha. No. But I did face the possibility of not being able to take my last semester of college due to forces out of my control and I know how terrifying that can be. And what a person will do to accomplish the things they need to. In order to survive. And in order to protect the things they care about. And that is truly the essence of The Hero Dies in the End. And my hope is that it can resonate with other people.

This is a short post, but I honestly didn’t want to get too in depth on the first run. And I wasn’t really sure how to do this either. Thanks for sticking it out to the end.

I am truly grateful for the support I’ve had along the way.

Yours truly,

MESS

#themesswrites #writerblog #writingupdate #theherodiesintheend #writing #writers

[pixelitems]

Typology v1.7.5 - Text Based Minimal WordPress Blog Theme

Typology is a text based WordPress theme created for bloggers that just want to write, without the hassle of looking for the right images. It has a unique design based on beautiful typography which will make your website look good with or without images. Simply write your content and publish – Typology will handle the rest. Read the full article

#authorblog #blog #developerblog #medium #Mediumblog #minimal #minimalblog #minimalist #personalblog #personalwebsite #simpleblog #text #typography #Typologywordpresstheme #writer #writerblog

[saramackenzie1982]

Yes, you've heard that right! Check out my blog for more information, www.saraelliemackenzie.com/blog-and-news. #WriterBlog #BookBlogging #BookSpoilers #News #Wrapped #InTheRays #OfTheSun #CastingShadows #TheCircleIsBroken #ThroughTheMeadow #Klenard #BookstoreAndCoffeeshop #QuickReads #CoffeeTeaCocoa #CheckItOut https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf3wkaPuuYr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#writerblog #bookblogging #bookspoilers #news #wrapped #intherays #ofthesun #castingshadows #thecircleisbroken #throughthemeadow #klenard #bookstoreandcoffeeshop #quickreads #coffeeteacocoa #checkitout

[paulapuddephatt]

paulathewriter.com 

❤

#histfic #writerblog #the1980s #nineties #litfic #generalfiction