taytjiefourie

[taytjiefourie]

Writing Practice.

Molten gold. That’s what it looks like to him. Streaks of golden light shine as cars speed down the roads. There are other colors too. Emerald and topaz, some citrine too. The city below is like a box filled with the finest jewels. As high up as he is, the sounds from the city don’t reach his ears. Instead, it’s the wind that whispers to him in low whistles. It runs its invisible hands through his hair, and tugs at his clothes as if beckoning him closer to the edge. ‘Come here, you’ll see more,’ the wind says to him. He knows not to listen. He may be able to see more beauty if he walks further, but that will be the last thing he sees. The price is too high and he has no interest in paying it. There’s gold in the sky too, and red, a deep ruby color that is being chased by the faintest hint of diamond and the encompassing turquoise. Cold and warm. Opposites, yet both are balanced in the sky for the moment. The warmth will fade soon, gone as if it was never there. He laughs, the sound almost halting the wind in its tracks. It doesn’t matter if onyx cradles the sky. The cold can be beautiful too. He likes watching as it changes. As light gives way to darkness, warm to cold, beauty to beauty. Gold, turquoise, or onyx, they are all expensive and sought after. Some people prefer one mineral above another, but he just likes them all.

Image used as inspiration:

#writing #writeblr #writers #writers on tumblr #creative writing #writing community #writers of tumblr #writing inspiration #writblr

[taytjiefourie]

Update on: Adnia

I want my protagonist (Adnia) to be seen as strong by the other characters, but an utter mess by the readers.

For the characters: Need a strong unbeatable fighter? She's the one. Need information? She'll have it. Someone to lead you into war? That's her, she's perfect. You want someone to dominate the political issue you're facing? Here she can help. Make allies with creatures and factions no one else could? Of course she can.

To readers: She gets hurt all the time and she hates being in pain. She's tired and doesn't want to fight but feels guilty. She cries to herself. She's scared and lonely. Everyone treats her with respect and like she's some type of goddess but she just wants friends. She hates having things expected of her. She doesn't like being the center of attention. She has fears that no cares to acknowledge. She's a victim to society but no one sees. She's human.

She' not weak, but strong people are still human and I want to show that.

[Adnia is a portal fanasy that follows a modern day woman as she wakes up in the young body of Adnia Lakai. Unfortunately, she has no memories of her past but her general knowledge is still perfectly intact. It's a shame that said general knowledge doesn't match the world she's found herself stuck in.]

#just writer things #writers on tumblr #reading #creative writing #original writing #writing community #writers of tumblr #fantasy novel #writeblr #writing #writers #writing inspiration #writblr #fiction #royal road #original story #original character

[taytjiefourie]

"Why am I the dad? You're twice my age!? You're supposed to play the dad."

"Twice your age, but twice as beautiful. As if anyone would believe I had kids."

#writing prompts #dialogue prompt #dialogue prompts #fic prompt #prompt #writeblr #writers #creative writing #writing community #writers of tumblr #writblr #writing inspiration #writing #writers on tumblr #story prompt #prompts #writing prompt

[taytjiefourie]

I have two ghostwriting books to finish up for clients this nect two weeks and after that I'm taking a break. I haven't touched tumblr or my own writing in too long. I miss it.

[taytjiefourie]

"Here we go again. This is the third war you've started!"

"Correction, I was sent to participate in the first war, I never started it."

#writing #writers on tumblr #writeblr #writers #creative writing #writing community #writers of tumblr #writing inspiration #dialogue prompt #story prompt #writing prompts #writing prompt #dialogue prompts #prompt #prompts

[taytjiefourie]

How do you know if you should be writing? I feel like I might be forcing the hobby

Honestly, not every writer enjoys writing. Some certainly do, but others prefer crafting the story, characters, plot, and world rather than putting the words on the page. And then you have those who can write the most beautiful prose like a pro, but they honestly hate having to create outlines and do world-building. They just want to write.

Perhaps you could explore which aspects of writing you enjoy and see if you can find a co-writer who enjoys the other parts. By working together, you can collaborate and create a cohesive piece.

[taytjiefourie]

Show Don't Tell: Love

Get ready to swoon because today's the day we're exploring the loveliest of emotions in my 'Show don't Tell: Emotions' series! Are you a regular reader? So glad to see you again! And if you're new, then let me give you a big warm welcome!

Today let's talk about Love.

Happiness is such a wonderful feeling! It brings us pleasure, contentment, and joy, and often leaves us with a sense of well-being and satisfaction with life. In creative writing, happiness can be a powerful tool to convey positivity and hope, to contrast with darker emotions, or to create a satisfying resolution.

If you want to show happiness in your writing, there are many effective ways to do so. One of the most obvious ways is through your characters' body language. They can jump for joy, laugh brightly, or even have a smile so wide it hurts their cheeks!

Love is a beautiful emotion that fills us with warmth, affection, and a sense of belonging. It can leave us with a feeling of completeness and fulfilment. In creative writing, love can be a powerful tool to convey intimacy and connection, create tension and conflict, or build a heartwarming resolution.

To show love in your writing, there are many effective ways to do so. One of the most obvious ways is through your characters' body language. They can gaze into each other's eyes, hold hands tightly, or even kiss passionately!

Gaze into each other's eyes

Hold hands tightly

Kiss passionately

Embrace in a hug

Rest their head on the other person's shoulder

Stroke or caress the other person's hand or arm

Lean in for a kiss or whisper in their ear

Smile lovingly or tenderly

Play with the other person's hair

Nuzzle or snuggle up close

Sit or stand close together

Wrap arms around each other's waist

Tilt head to the side while looking at the other person

Rest a hand on the other person's cheek

Sit facing each other with legs intertwined

Dance closely or slow dance together

Rest head on the other person's chest

Hold the other person's face in their hands

Linger in each other's embrace

Touch foreheads or noses together

Playfully tickle or tease each other

Smile softly or shyly

Whisper sweet nothings or compliments

Gently stroke someone's hand or arm

Rest their head on someone's shoulder or chest

Make prolonged eye contact

Blush or flush with embarrassment or shyness

Smile softly or shyly

Bite their lip or play with their hair

Whisper or speak in a hushed tone

Hold someone's gaze without speaking

Take a deep breath and let it out slowly

Look down and then back up with a smile

Giggle or chuckle at something someone says

Playfully push or shove someone

Lean in for a kiss on the cheek or forehead

Hold someone's hand and squeeze it tightly

Put an arm around someone's waist or shoulder

Hold someone's face gently in their hands

Lick their lips or moisten them with their tongue

Rest their forehead against someone else's

Tap their foot or bounce their leg excitedly

Trace circles or patterns on someone's skin with their fingers

When it comes to love, writers can use sensory details to create a rich and immersive experience for readers. By describing what characters see, hear, taste, smell, and feel, we can bring readers into the world of love that the characters are experiencing. But we need to delve deeper than just surface-level sensations and capture the complex emotions that come with falling in love.

Gazing into each other's eyes

Holding hands tightly

Kissing passionately or gently

Feeling butterflies in their stomach

Hearing the sound of their loved one's voice

Feeling a sense of safety and security in their partner's embrace

Noticing the small details of their loved one's appearance, like the curve of their smile or the color of their eyes

Enjoying the sensation of being close to their partner, like feeling their warmth or breath

Feeling a sense of happiness and contentment in their partner's presence

Taking pleasure in doing things together, like cooking or traveling

Feeling a sense of longing or yearning when apart

Remembering fond memories or inside jokes with their loved one

Being excited for future plans and adventures together

Sharing intimate moments, like cuddling or sleeping together

Feeling a sense of comfort and familiarity with their partner's touch or scent

Noticing the beauty of nature together, like a sunset or starry night sky

Feeling a sense of gratitude and appreciation for their loved one

Feeling inspired or motivated by their partner's support and encouragement

Having a deep sense of trust and understanding with their partner

Feeling a sense of vulnerability and openness in their relationship.

Feeling a fluttering in their chest or stomach

Noticing the way their heart races or their breath quickens

Experiencing a rush of adrenaline or excitement

Enjoying the sound of a loved one's voice or laughter

Savoring the taste of a favorite food or drink shared with a loved one

Feeling a sense of comfort or security in a warm embrace

Noticing the way their skin tingles or their hairs stand on end

Taking in the beauty of a special place or moment shared with a loved one

Feeling a sense of anticipation or excitement at the thought of seeing a loved one

Hearing the sound of their loved one's footsteps or heartbeat

Enjoying the sensation of holding hands or cuddling with a loved one

Feeling the warmth of a fire or candlelight shared with a loved one

Smelling the scent of a loved one's perfume or cologne

Feeling a sense of calm or serenity in a quiet moment shared with a loved one

Noticing the way their loved one's eyes light up when they smile

Hearing the sound of their loved one's breathing or sighs of contentment

Enjoying the sensation of a gentle touch or caress from a loved one

Feeling a sense of trust or safety in the presence of a loved one

Noticing the way their loved one's hair or clothing smells

Feeling a sense of pride or admiration for their loved one's accomplishments

Enjoying the sensation of a gentle breeze or warm sun shared with a loved one

Noticing the way their loved one's body moves or gestures when they're happy

Hearing the sound of their loved one's heartbeat or pulse

Feeling a sense of belonging or connection with a loved one

Noticing the way their loved one's eyes sparkle or crinkle when they laugh

Enjoying the sensation of a soft kiss or gentle touch from a loved one

Feeling a sense of gratitude or appreciation for a loved one's presence in their life

Noticing the way their loved one's face lights up when they're happy

Enjoying the sensation of a warm hug or snuggle with a loved one

Feeling a sense of peace or contentment in a quiet moment shared with a loved one.

Let's move on to our next topic of discussion - the power of action in portraying emotions, particularly the joy of being in love. The way a character moves and engages with their environment can effectively depict their emotional state. As we've previously discussed body language, there may be some similarities in this discussion.

Blushing or feeling flustered when the crush is around

Smiling or laughing at their crush's jokes

Making an effort to look good when they know they will see their crush

Trying to impress their crush by showcasing their talents or skills

Being nervous or fidgety around their crush

Engaging in activities that their crush enjoys, such as listening to their favorite music or watching their favorite movies

Showing interest in their crush's hobbies or interests

Complimenting their crush and making them feel good about themselves

Being supportive of their crush's goals and dreams

Daydreaming about their crush or imagining future scenarios with them

Feeling a surge of happiness or excitement when they receive a message or call from their crush

Feeling jealous or possessive when someone else pays attention to their crush

Trying to find excuses to spend time with their crush

Getting butterflies in their stomach or feeling nervous before a date or hangout with their crush

Daydreaming or getting lost in thought about the person

Smiling or feeling giddy at the thought of seeing the person

Acting nervous or fidgety when around the person

Complimenting or praising the person to show their admiration

Being extra attentive or considerate towards the person

Going out of their way to help or support the person

Finding excuses to spend time with the person, such as offering to study together or running errands together

Making eye contact with the person and holding it for longer than usual

Mirroring the person's body language or mannerisms to create a sense of connection

Finding common interests to bond over and share with the person

Listening intently to the person and showing interest in what they have to say

Laughing at the person's jokes or finding their humor particularly enjoyable

Sharing personal stories or experiences to build intimacy and trust with the person

Touching the person in a playful or flirtatious way, such as lightly brushing their arm or shoulder

Dressing up or wearing clothes that make them feel confident and attractive around the person

Being more talkative or animated around the person than with other people

Seeking out opportunities for physical contact, such as offering a hug or brushing past the person

Giving the person thoughtful or meaningful gifts to show their affection

Writing letters or notes expressing their feelings for the person.

Writing love letters or poems to express their feelings to their crush

Feeling a sense of euphoria or elation when their crush reciprocates their feelings.

Holding hands with someone special

Staring into each other's eyes

Giving a passionate kiss

Cuddling or snuggling with a loved one

Saying "I love you" or expressing affectionate words

Making a surprise romantic gesture, like leaving a love note or buying a thoughtful gift

Going on a romantic date or getaway

Dancing together to a slow love song

Sharing a warm embrace after a long time apart

Making eye contact and smiling from across the room

Listening intently to a loved one's words and responding with empathy and understanding

Putting their arm around someone's shoulder or waist

Sharing a special moment or experience together

Sharing an inside joke or laughter-filled moment

Doing something spontaneous and exciting together

Doing something kind and thoughtful for each other

Expressing vulnerability and opening up about personal feelings

Offering support and encouragement during a challenging time

Creating a cozy and romantic atmosphere with candles, music, and dim lighting

Writing a love letter or poem

Surprising someone with a serenade or musical performance

Making a promise or commitment to love and cherish each other

Engaging in a shared hobby or interest

Making each other laugh with silly jokes or playful teasing

Sharing a deep and meaningful conversation about the future or dreams.

Holding hands while walking

Leaving a love note or small gift for someone

Giving a surprise kiss on the cheek or forehead

Cooking a favorite meal for someone

Massaging or rubbing someone's shoulders or feet

Snuggling up together on the couch or in bed

Making eye contact with a soft, loving gaze

Offering to help with a task or chore

Surprising someone with a thoughtful gesture

Taking a romantic walk together

Sharing a special moment or memory together

Holding someone close during a difficult time

Creating a romantic atmosphere with candles or music

Offering words of encouragement or support

Making a homemade gift or card

Engaging in a shared hobby or interest

Planning a surprise date or outing

Sharing a laugh or inside joke together

Offering to be there for someone in any way they need

Doing something spontaneous or adventurous together

Listening attentively and actively to what someone has to say

Dancing together in a slow, intimate way

Showing physical affection, like gently stroking someone's hair or holding them close

Planning a weekend getaway or vacation together

Surprising someone with a special treat or dessert

Taking turns expressing gratitude for one another

Offering forgiveness and understanding during a disagreement

Spending quality time together, like playing a game or watching a movie

Being supportive and understanding of each other's goals and dreams

Saying "I love you" in a sincere and heartfelt way.

Let's explore the theme of setting in the context of love! It's not just a physical backdrop for your characters to be present in, it's about how they engage with it and respond to it. The place, the surroundings, and your character's reactions to them can all be effective means of expressing their emotions, including love.

Smiling or blushing when they see their crush

Feeling a flutter in their stomach or their heart racing when their crush is around

Being more self-conscious about their appearance and grooming

Paying more attention to their love's interests and hobbies

Trying to be near their crush as much as possible without being obvious

Feeling a sense of jealousy or possessiveness when their crush is with someone else

Daydreaming about their crush and imagining romantic scenarios

Feeling shy or nervous around their crush and struggling to find the right words to say

Seeking the approval or attention of their crush through their actions and behaviors

Feeling a sense of elation or euphoria when their crush shows interest or reciprocates their feelings

Finding excuses to touch their crush or be physically close to them

Becoming more outgoing or adventurous to impress their crush or share experiences with them

Having a heightened awareness of their crush's body language and nonverbal cues

Feeling a sense of disappointment or sadness when their crush is not around or doesn't show interest

Finding ways to show off their talents or accomplishments to their crush

Feeling a sense of protectiveness or concern for their crush's well-being

Becoming more open and vulnerable with their crush, sharing personal thoughts and feelings

Feeling a sense of longing or anticipation for the next time they will see their crush

Seeking the advice or input of friends or family about how to approach their crush

Being more attentive and considerate towards their crush's needs and feelings.

Blushing or getting flustered around the person they have a crush on

Smiling or laughing at jokes made by the person they have a crush on

Getting nervous or fidgety when the person they have a crush on is around

Daydreaming about spending time with the person they have a crush on

Becoming more talkative or outgoing when around the person they have a crush on

Seeking out the person they have a crush on in social settings

Offering to do things for the person they have a crush on, such as getting them a drink or helping them with a task

Complimenting the person they have a crush on or expressing admiration for their qualities or accomplishments

Acting more self-conscious or aware of their appearance around the person they have a crush on

Finding excuses to touch the person they have a crush on, such as brushing their hand or shoulder

Being more willing to take risks or try new things when the person they have a crush on is involved

Feeling a sense of elation or excitement when receiving a text or message from the person they have a crush on

Making an effort to look or smell good when around the person they have a crush on

Seeking out the person they have a crush on for advice or guidance on personal matters

Finding common interests or hobbies with the person they have a crush on and pursuing them together

Making plans or scheduling events around the person they have a crush on's availability

Looking for opportunities to get closer to the person they have a crush on, such as sitting next to them or standing near them

Sharing personal stories or experiences with the person they have a crush on to establish a deeper connection

Seeking validation or approval from the person they have a crush on, such as asking for their opinion or input on decisions

Feeling a sense of euphoria or happiness simply from being in the presence of the person they have a crush on.

Have you ever noticed how a romantic setting, such as a sunset, soft music, and candlelight, can instantly put you in a loving mood? The same effect can be applied to the settings in your story. Even without a character present, the environment can influence the readers' perception of the mood. It's relatively easy to convey love through the scenery by incorporating elements such as roses, heart-shaped objects, and warm colors.

Weather: Warm and sunny weather can create a romantic and blissful atmosphere.

Time of Day: Evening or late night can create an intimate and cozy atmosphere.

Location: A beautiful garden or a cozy cabin can create a sense of love and intimacy.

Objects: Sentimental or symbolic objects like a piece of jewelry or a handwritten letter can indicate a character's love and affection.

Colors: Rich or passionate colors like red or deep purple can be used to create a sense of love.

Noises: Romantic and soothing sounds like a gentle breeze or a romantic song can create a sense of love and tranquility.

Crowds: A secluded and intimate environment, such as a quiet restaurant or a candlelit room, can be used to create feelings of love and intimacy.

Architecture: Romantic and enchanting environments like a castle or a beautiful mansion can create a sense of love and enchantment.

Nature: A picturesque and serene landscape can create a sense of love and awe.

Animals: Affectionate or loyal animals can be used to create a sense of love and companionship.

Dialogue is an excellent way to express emotions, particularly love. The tone, words, and delivery of your characters' dialogue can all be used to convey their feelings of joy and happiness in a beautiful manner.

Using flirty and playful language, such as "You're looking great today," "I can't stop thinking about you," or "I love spending time with you."

Laughing or giggling nervously at appropriate moments in conversation.

Offering to help or do favors for the person they have a crush on.

Asking questions about the person's interests and hobbies.

Trying to make the person they have a crush on laugh or smile.

Being attentive and engaged in conversation with the person they have a crush on.

Making excuses to be around the person they have a crush on.

Using endearing nicknames or pet names for the person they have a crush on.

Complimenting the person they have a crush on on their appearance, skills, or personality.

Acting nervously or shyly around the person they have a crush on.

Finding excuses to touch or be physically close to the person they have a crush on.

Sharing personal stories or experiences with the person they have a crush on.

Being supportive of the person they have a crush on's goals or aspirations.

Offering to do things for the person they have a crush on, like picking up coffee or bringing them lunch.

Talking about future plans or events they would like to experience with the person they have a crush on.

Asking the person they have a crush on for advice or opinions on different topics. Being willing to compromise or change plans to make the person they have a crush on happy.

Being persistent in trying to spend time with the person they have a crush on.

Expressing nervous excitement or anticipation when talking about the person they have a crush on.

Using teasing or playful language with the person they have a crush on.

Acting protective or possessive of the person they have a crush on.

Blushing or turning red in the face when around the person.

Fidgeting or being nervous around the person.

Being extra attentive or helpful to the person.

Finding excuses to be around the person or in their company.

Daydreaming or fantasizing about the person.

Smiling or grinning uncontrollably when thinking about the person.

Stuttering or stumbling over words when talking to the person.

Making an effort to dress nicely or look good when around the person.

Getting jealous or possessive of the person's attention.

Finding it difficult to focus on other things or people when the person is around.

Being willing to go out of one's way to please or impress the person.

Feeling a rush of adrenaline or butterflies in the stomach when near the person.

Making an effort to learn more about the person's interests or hobbies.

Being more talkative or outgoing around the person.

Playfully teasing or poking fun at the person.

Seeking out the person's company in group settings.

Getting nervous or flustered when the person touches or hugs them.

Finding excuses to text or message the person.

Feeling a strong desire to make the person happy or laugh.

Becoming more aware of one's own body language and behavior around the person.

And after all that, you get to delve into your character's mind and showcase their thoughts and core feelings, which can reveal their love. Expressing a character's thoughts is a great way to convey love in creative writing. It allows readers to gain a deeper understanding of the character's emotions and creates a more intimate reading experience. When a writer reveals a character's innermost thoughts, it strengthens the connection between the reader and the character.

For instance, if a character is feeling love, their thoughts may reflect their sense of adoration, affection, and commitment. They may think about their significant other, recalling moments that strengthen their bond, or reflecting on qualities that they admire in their partner. By describing the character's thoughts, the writer can give the reader insight into what is making the character feel love and allow them to share in that emotion.

Additionally, a character's thoughts can be used to contrast their present feelings of love with past struggles or hardships. By demonstrating how the character has grown in their ability to love or has learned to overcome obstacles in relationships, the writer can create a sense of triumph and fulfillment that adds depth to the character's love.

Daydreaming or fantasizing about happy scenarios or possibilities with their crush

Feeling a sense of nervousness or excitement when around their crush

Being more self-conscious about their appearance or behavior

Feeling a sense of happiness or contentment when their crush gives them attention or compliments them

Feeling a sense of disappointment or sadness when their crush doesn't give them attention or doesn't reciprocate their feelings

Feeling a sense of jealousy or envy when their crush pays attention to someone else

Reflecting on happy moments or interactions with their crush

Feeling a sense of anticipation or excitement for potential future interactions with their crush

Feeling a sense of hope or optimism about the possibility of a relationship with their crush

Thinking about ways to impress or show their affection towards their crush

Feeling a sense of insecurity or self-doubt about their worthiness of their crush's attention or affection

Feeling a sense of longing or yearning for their crush's presence or attention

Feeling a sense of nervousness or butterflies in their stomach when thinking about their crush

Feeling a sense of joy or elation when their crush shows them affection or returns their feelings.

Feeling butterflies in their stomach or a racing heart when thinking about their crush

Daydreaming about spending time with their crush or going on a date

Feeling a sense of longing or anticipation when they see their crush or think about them

Imagining scenarios where their crush reciprocates their feelings

Feeling a sense of jealousy or possessiveness when their crush interacts with others

Feeling a sense of disappointment or sadness when their crush doesn't reciprocate their feelings

Thinking about ways to impress their crush or get their attention

Feeling a sense of vulnerability or openness when around their crush

Imagining future possibilities with their crush, like a long-term relationship or marriage

Feeling a sense of nervousness or awkwardness when trying to talk to their crush

Feeling a sense of excitement or giddiness when their crush compliments them or shows interest in them

Feeling a sense of safety or comfort when their crush is around

Thinking about the qualities they admire in their crush and feeling grateful for them

Feeling a sense of hope or optimism about the possibility of being with their crush

Imagining scenarios where their crush saves them or comes to their rescue

Feeling a sense of motivation or drive to improve themselves to impress their crush

Feeling a sense of elation or happiness when their crush reciprocates their feelings

Feeling a sense of relief or ease when their crush is around, like they can be themselves

Thinking about their crush even when they're not together, like when they're doing something mundane or routine

Feeling a sense of intimacy or closeness when they share personal thoughts or feelings with their crush.

A sense of contentment and satisfaction with their relationship or current romantic situation

Thoughts of gratitude or appreciation for their partner and the good things in their relationship

Positive self-talk, such as reminding themselves of their worth and their partner's love for them

Optimistic thoughts about the future of their relationship and upcoming romantic events

Thoughts of love or affection towards their partner, such as thinking about how much they care for them or how attractive they find them

Daydreaming or fantasizing about happy romantic scenarios or possibilities with their partner

Feeling a sense of lightness or freedom in their thoughts, with fewer worries or anxieties when they're with their partner

A sense of fulfillment or accomplishment after doing something romantic for their partner or completing a task together

A desire to express their love to their partner through words or actions

Feeling a sense of belonging or connectedness with their partner

Being grateful for small romantic gestures from their partner, like a thoughtful text or surprise gift

Feeling a sense of relief or release after resolving a conflict or disagreement with their partner

Feeling a sense of validation or recognition for their efforts in the relationship

Feeling a sense of pride in their partner's accomplishments or character traits

Reflecting on happy romantic memories or past experiences with their partner

Feeling a sense of anticipation or excitement for upcoming romantic events or opportunities with their partner

Feeling a sense of comfort or security in their partner's presence or with familiar romantic gestures

Feeling a sense of wonder or amazement at the depth of their love for their partner

Feeling a sense of accomplishment or progress towards a long-term romantic goal with their partner

Thinking about ways to make their partner happy or to deepen their love for each other

Feeling a sense of peace or serenity in a quiet romantic moment or peaceful environment with their partner

Feeling a sense of enthusiasm or passion for their relationship or their partner's interests and hobbies

Feeling a sense of nostalgia for past romantic experiences or happy times with their partner

Feeling a sense of connectedness to their partner and nature or the outdoors when enjoying romantic activities together

Thinking about happy romantic moments shared with their partner, such as anniversaries or romantic getaways

Feeling a sense of awe or inspiration from witnessing acts of love and kindness towards their partner or others

Feeling a sense of relief or release after expressing their emotions of love, forgiveness, or empathy to their partner

Feeling a sense of confidence or empowerment in their relationship after overcoming fear or self-doubt

Feeling a sense of awe or gratitude towards their partner or a higher power for the love they share.

Let's talk about how to infuse your writing with the beautiful feeling of love by using metaphors and analogies. These two literary tools are a great way to bring your characters' emotions to life and create unforgettable images that will leave a lasting impression on your readers.

Metaphors compare two different things, while analogies explain how two things are similar. By using these tools in your creative writing, you can create vivid and tangible images that show the depth of your characters' love.

You can use metaphors and analogies in many different ways to show the beauty of love. Instead of simply stating that a character is in love, you might write, "Her heart was a fluttering butterfly, captivated by his every move." This comparison creates an image that's much more memorable and helps the reader feel the character's love more deeply.

Metaphors and analogies can also be used to create contrast, which can make the love even more impactful. For example, you might describe a character's love as "a blooming rose in a barren wasteland." This comparison creates a feeling of hope and joy that's made even more powerful by the contrast with the bleak surroundings.

Remember not to overuse metaphors and analogies, or your readers might become overwhelmed. Use them sparingly and strategically, and you'll bring your characters' love to life in a way that your readers won't soon forget.

"Love was a seed planted in her heart, growing with each passing day."

"His love was a compass, guiding her towards happiness and fulfillment."

"She felt like a ship in calm waters, anchored in the safety of his love."

"His love was a lighthouse, guiding her through the stormy seas of life."

"She was a garden, blooming with love and spreading joy to those around her."

"His love was a symphony, playing a beautiful melody of affection and devotion."

"She felt like a puzzle piece finally fitting in place, completing the picture of their love."

"His love was a fire, burning bright with passion and warmth."

"She was a butterfly, fluttering with excitement in the presence of his love."

"His love was a river, flowing endlessly and filling her heart with contentment."

"She felt like a bird soaring high in the sky, carried by the strength of their love."

"His love was a beacon, shining bright and calling her home."

"She was a book, filled with the pages of their love story."

"His love was a rainbow, bringing color and joy to her world."

"She felt like a candle, glowing bright with love and warmth."

"His love was a puzzle, fitting together perfectly and creating a beautiful picture."

"She was a sunrise, shining bright with the promise of their love." "His love was a compass, pointing them towards a future full of happiness."

"She felt like a rose, blooming with the beauty of their love."

"His love was a mountain, strong and unmovable in its dedication." "She was a song, singing the melody of their love."

"His love was a blanket, wrapping her in the comfort of his affection."

"She felt like a dancer, moving in perfect harmony with his love."

"His love was a star, shining bright and lighting up her world."

"She was a canvas, painted with the colors of their love story."

"His love was a garden, blooming with the flowers of their affection."

"She felt like a rainbow, spanning the sky with the colors of their love."

"His love was a castle, strong and impenetrable in its devotion."

"She was a poem, written with the words of their love."

Hey there! Our time is up for today, but don't worry - I'll be back next next time with more.

See you soon!

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[taytjiefourie]

"Wonderful," I mutter sarcastically. "You always stole my lunch, and now you're taking my soul."

"Never could quite get your heart, though," he laughs. "Besides, you offered your lunch. You hated those sandwiches your mother made," he adds almost as an afterthought.

"True," I huff, a smile twitching on my lips.

You’re about to be sacrificed by a cult, but when the demon appears before you, it speaks with the voice of your high school friend and says “Hey man, haven’t seen you in forever!”

[taytjiefourie]

[taytjiefourie]

How to Outline a Novel

Hi there, Darlings! I'm excited to dive into the fascinating world of outlining a novel with you today. Don't worry, we won't be here as long as you might think. So, let's get started and have some fun!

Note: this is a longish post and relies on my preferences and experience.

When it comes to outlining your story, you may hear some people insist that the more detail, the better. However, let's be real, we don't want to get bogged down with trivial details like how the trash is being disposed of in our fantasy world, right?

No way, we're all too busy to devote that much time and energy to it! Personally, I have two versions of an outline that I like to use. The first is a basic outline, which works well for stories set in a world similar to our own, or stories that draw from existing myths or legends like Supernatural, Paranormal or Greek Mythology.

The second outline is a bit more detailed, but don't worry, it's not as complicated as some people make it out to be. Since creating a unique Fantasy or Sci-Fi world requires a bit more thought, this outline helps you add in those extra details without overwhelming you. To use it, you'll start with the basic outline, and then add some additional information to create the more detailed version.

In this blog post, I'll be sharing some insights into why certain elements are essential in your outline (for those who love to write but don't know all the 'why's' when it comes to certain things), and how they can make a huge impact on both your writing process and the readers who pick up your book. And don't worry, I've got you covered at the end with a summarized version of each outline - minus all the extra details - so you can simply copy and paste it for your own use.

Without further ado, let's dive in and start with the basics of outlining your novel!

I hope you've got a tiny inkling of what your story might be about - whether it's a character with a vague purpose, an antagonist with an unclear hero, or even just a cool world with no plot in mind yet. Whatever it may be, it's totally okay to start with just a little dot of information. The important thing is that you've got something to work with!

Book Information.

Starting a novel can be a daunting task, but having the right information can make a world of difference. Let's go over the three key aspects you should consider before diving in: Genre, Trope, and Target Audience.

First up is Genre, which is the category or type of book your story fits into. Once you've picked your genre, you can explore the different tropes that are commonly used within it. A trope is a recurring literary device or theme that helps readers understand the story and its themes.

By combining your chosen genre and tropes, you can begin to define your Target Audience. This is the group of readers who are most likely to enjoy your story based on its genre and themes. It's important to remember that you don't have to stick to just one genre or trope, and that exploring multiple options can help you find the perfect combination for your story.

Genre:

Choosing the right genre for a book is super important because it gives readers a sense of what to expect in terms of plot, themes, tone, and style. Think of genres as categories that books fall into based on their subject matter, writing style, and intended audience. For instance, a mystery novel is all about solving a crime or puzzle, while a romance novel is all about lovey-dovey relationships.

Knowing a book's genre can be helpful for readers who are searching for stories that interest them. Plus, it can help publishers and booksellers market and sell books to the right audience. For writers, it's helpful to stick within the conventions of a genre while still adding their own unique perspective.

All in all, genres make life easier for everyone involved in the book world, from writers to readers to publishers. They help us understand the style and content of a book and make communication and engagement between authors and audiences so much smoother!

With so many genres to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide which one is right for your story. But don't worry, I'm here to help! Let me give you a quick rundown of some of the most popular genres out there and how they can shape your story:

Romance Plot: Focuses on the development of a romantic relationship between two characters. Theme: Love, passion, and relationships. Tone: Emotionally charged, often with elements of humor or drama. Style: Emphasizes character development and emotional depth.

Mystery Plot: Involves a crime or puzzle that needs to be solved. Theme: Crime, justice, and the human psyche. Tone: Suspenseful and atmospheric, often with a dark or gritty tone. Style: Tightly plotted, with clues and red herrings that keep readers guessing.

Science Fiction Plot: Often involves futuristic or speculative elements, such as space travel, aliens, or advanced technology. Theme: Exploration, innovation, and the impact of technology on society. Tone: Can be serious or lighthearted, depending on the focus of the story. Style: Imaginative and creative, with an emphasis on world-building and scientific accuracy.

Fantasy Plot: Often involves a magical or supernatural world, with mythical creatures and/or magical powers. Theme: Good versus evil, heroism, and the power of imagination. Tone: Can be dark or lighthearted, depending on the focus of the story. Style: Richly detailed and descriptive, with an emphasis on world-building and creating a sense of wonder.

Historical Fiction Plot: Set in a specific time period in history, often with real historical figures and events. Theme: The human experience and the impact of history on individuals and society. Tone: Often serious and thought-provoking, with an emphasis on authenticity. Style: Meticulously researched and detailed, with an emphasis on historical accuracy and atmosphere.

Thriller Plot: Typically involves high stakes, danger, and tension, with a focus on action and suspense. Theme: Danger, survival, and morality. Tone: Tense and exciting, with a sense of urgency and danger. Style: Fast-paced and plot-driven, with a focus on action and suspense.

Horror Plot: Focuses on creating a sense of fear, dread, or terror in the reader. Theme: Fear, darkness, and the unknown. Tone: Dark and ominous, with elements of terror and suspense. Style: Often graphic and unsettling, with a focus on atmospheric setting and vivid descriptions of gore or violence.

Young Adult (YA) Plot: Typically features teenage protagonists dealing with coming-of-age issues, such as identity, relationships, and personal growth. Theme: Identity, belonging, and the transition to adulthood. Tone: Often earnest and emotional, with a focus on relatable characters and experiences. Style: Accessible and engaging, with a focus on character development and relatable themes.

Literary Fiction Plot: Emphasizes character development and exploration of ideas, often without a clear plot-driven structure. Theme: Human experience, social issues, and the complexities of life. Tone: Serious and contemplative, with an emphasis on emotional depth and complexity. Style: Often stylistically experimental or unconventional, with a focus on character psychology and introspection.

Comedy Plot: Emphasizes humor and satire, often with a focus on exaggerated characters and situations. Theme: Laughter, joy, and the absurdity of life. Tone: Light and comedic, with an emphasis on humor and wit. Style: Often fast-paced and filled with witty banter and humorous observations.

Western Plot: Set in the American West during the 19th century, often with a focus on cowboys, outlaws, and frontier life. Theme: Courage, survival, and rugged individualism. Tone: Rustic and tough, with an emphasis on adventure and action. Style: Often descriptive and atmospheric, with a focus on the unique landscape and culture of the American West.

Dystopian Plot: Set in a society or world that has become dark, oppressive, or dysfunctional, often as a result of a catastrophic event. Theme: Freedom, rebellion, and the dangers of totalitarianism. Tone: Bleak and pessimistic, with an emphasis on the dangers of conformity and control. Style: Often atmospheric and descriptive, with a focus on world-building and the exploration of dystopian themes.

Sub-Genre:

As a writer, you've probably heard of sub-genres before. They're like categories or subcategories within a broader genre, based on specific themes, settings, plot elements, or writing style. These sub-genres help to further define and categorize works of literature within a broader genre, making it easier for readers to find books that align with their interests.

For example, in the broad genre of science fiction, there are many different sub-genres like cyberpunk, space opera, hard science fiction, and more. Each sub-genre has its own unique characteristics and themes that differentiate it from other types of science fiction. Likewise, in the genre of mystery, there are sub-genres like cozy mysteries, police procedurals, and psychological thrillers, each with its distinct elements and themes.

Romance

Historical romance: These stories are set in the past and often explore themes of social norms and historical events. They can be sweeping epics or more intimate love stories, and the writing style can be more formal or descriptive.

Contemporary romance: Set in the present day, these stories often explore modern relationships, dating, and career aspirations. They can be light and funny or emotional and dramatic, with a more conversational and informal writing style.

Paranormal romance: These stories feature supernatural elements like vampires, werewolves, and witches. They can explore forbidden love, good versus evil, and the challenges of having supernatural abilities. The tone can be dark and moody or romantic and sexy, and the writing style often includes descriptive world-building.

Romantic suspense: Combining romance and suspense, these stories often involve a heroine in danger who is protected by a hero. They can be fast-paced and action-packed, with a tense and dramatic tone and a plot-driven writing style.

Inspirational romance: These stories often explore themes of faith, redemption, and personal growth. They can involve characters overcoming obstacles and finding hope in their beliefs, with an uplifting and hopeful tone and a focus on character development and inner dialogue.

Erotic romance: These stories feature explicit sexual content and explore themes of passion and desire. They can involve characters exploring their sexuality and forming intense emotional connections, with a sensual and steamy tone and a descriptive and graphic writing style.

LGBTQ+ romance: These stories feature same-sex or non-binary relationships and explore themes of identity, acceptance, and overcoming societal norms. They can be heartfelt and emotional, with a writing style that varies depending on the sub-genre (like historical, contemporary, or paranormal).

Western romance: These stories are set in the American West and often involve cowboys, ranchers, and outlaws. They can explore themes of rugged individualism, adventure, and romance, with a rugged and outdoorsy tone and a writing style that includes descriptive landscapes and dialect.

Fantasy romance: These stories combine elements of fantasy and romance and often involve mythical creatures, magic, and epic journeys. They can explore forbidden love, quests, and battles between good and evil, with a sweeping and grand tone and a writing style that includes descriptive world-building.

Multicultural romance: These stories feature characters from diverse cultural backgrounds and explore themes of identity, family, and tradition. They can involve characters navigating cultural differences and forming deep connections, with a sensitive and heartfelt tone and a writing style that varies depending on the sub-genre (like historical or contemporary).

Mystery

Cozy Mystery: Cozy mysteries are often set in small, quaint towns or villages, and feature an amateur sleuth who solves a murder or series of murders. The tone is light and often humorous, with a focus on character and relationships rather than graphic violence or sex.

Police Procedural: Police procedurals focus on the investigation process of a crime, and often feature a professional law enforcement detective as the main character. The plot is driven by the methods used to solve the crime, and the tone is often gritty and realistic.

Hard-Boiled Mystery: Hard-boiled mysteries feature tough, cynical detectives who operate outside of the law to solve crimes. The tone is dark and gritty, with a focus on violence and corruption.

Historical Mystery: Historical mysteries are set in the past and often feature famous historical figures or events as part of the plot. The tone is often atmospheric, with a focus on the historical setting and culture.

Amateur Sleuth: Amateur sleuth mysteries feature a non-professional detective as the main character, such as a journalist, librarian, or chef. The tone is often lighthearted and cozy, with a focus on the amateur detective's unique skills and abilities.

Legal Thriller: Legal thrillers often involve legal proceedings or courtroom drama as part of the plot. The main character is often a lawyer or judge, and the tone is often intense and suspenseful.

Noir: Noir mysteries are characterized by their dark and pessimistic tone, with flawed characters and morally ambiguous situations. The focus is on the psychological aspects of crime, rather than the procedural.

Romantic Suspense: Romantic suspense combines elements of both romance and mystery, with a focus on the relationship between the main characters as well as the suspenseful plot.

Whodunit: Whodunit mysteries are characterized by their focus on the puzzle-like aspect of solving a crime, with a twist ending revealing the identity of the culprit. The tone is often light and playful, with a focus on the clues and red herrings that lead up to the solution.

Science Fiction.

Cyberpunk: This sub-genre typically features a near-future, dystopian setting in which advanced technology has both empowered and oppressed society. The tone is often gritty and dark, with a focus on the impact of technology on human identity.

Space Opera: This sub-genre is characterized by grand-scale adventures and space battles set in a future where humanity has colonized the galaxy. The tone is often adventurous and heroic, with an emphasis on world-building and exploration.

Post-Apocalyptic: This sub-genre is set in a world after a major catastrophe or disaster, and focuses on the struggle for survival and rebuilding of society. The tone is often bleak and pessimistic, with themes of isolation, desperation, and survival.

Alternate History: This sub-genre explores what would happen if key historical events had played out differently, resulting in a different present-day world. The tone and themes can vary widely depending on the point of divergence in history.

Hard Science Fiction: This sub-genre emphasizes scientific accuracy and plausibility in its exploration of speculative concepts and technologies. The tone can vary, but often has a focus on problem-solving and logical deduction.

Time Travel: This sub-genre involves characters traveling through time to alter the course of history or prevent a catastrophic event. The tone can vary widely depending on the consequences of altering history.

Alien Invasion: This sub-genre typically features humans struggling to defend Earth from an alien invasion. The tone is often action-packed and suspenseful, with a focus on survival and overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds.

Steampunk: This sub-genre is set in a world where steam power is the dominant technology, often featuring Victorian-era settings and aesthetics. The tone is often adventurous and fantastical, with an emphasis on creativity and innovation.

Military Science Fiction: This sub-genre typically involves soldiers and military units in futuristic settings, often featuring advanced technology and alien races. The tone is often action-packed and focused on combat and strategy.

Biopunk: This sub-genre explores the implications of biotechnology and genetic engineering, often featuring genetic modification of organisms or humans. The tone can be dark and cautionary, with themes of ethics and control.

Cyberprep: This sub-genre is a hybrid of cyberpunk and preppy fashion, featuring high-tech and high-fashion elements in a futuristic setting. The tone can be lighthearted and satirical, with a focus on fashion and style.

Space Western: This sub-genre combines science fiction and Western themes, often featuring space cowboys and frontier settlements on distant planets. The tone is often adventurous and action-packed, with a focus on individualism and freedom.

Slipstream: This sub-genre blends elements of science fiction with surrealism, often featuring strange or unexplained phenomena. The tone can be dreamlike and ambiguous, with a focus on atmosphere and mood.

New Wave: This sub-genre emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, featuring experimental and avant-garde styles and themes. The tone can be unconventional and challenging, with a focus on literary techniques and subversion of traditional science fiction tropes.

Mundane Science Fiction: This sub-genre emphasizes realism and plausibility in its exploration of near-future technology and societal developments. The tone is often introspective and critical, with a focus on the impact of technology on everyday life.

Fantasy

High Fantasy/Epic Fantasy: This sub-genre is characterized by a richly developed fictional world, often with its own history, geography, and mythology. The plot often centers on a hero's journey or quest to save the world or defeat evil. The tone is often grand and epic, with a focus on magic, destiny, and larger-than-life conflicts.

Urban Fantasy: This sub-genre is set in a contemporary, urban setting, often featuring supernatural elements like vampires, werewolves, and witches. The tone can be dark and gritty, with a focus on action, suspense, and the clash between the supernatural and the mundane.

Historical Fantasy: This sub-genre is set in a historical period, often featuring elements of magic and the supernatural. The tone can be romantic and atmospheric, with a focus on historical accuracy as well as fantastical elements.

Fairy Tale Retellings: This sub-genre reimagines classic fairy tales with new twists and perspectives. The tone can range from whimsical to dark and brooding, with a focus on themes of transformation and the power of storytelling.

Mythic Fantasy: This sub-genre draws on elements of myth and folklore, often featuring gods, goddesses, and other supernatural beings. The tone can be mystical and spiritual, with a focus on themes of destiny, fate, and the search for meaning.

Dark Fantasy: This sub-genre often features supernatural or horror elements, and may have a bleak or nihilistic tone. The plot can involve antiheroes or morally ambiguous characters, and may explore themes of power, corruption, and redemption.

Portal Fantasy: This sub-genre involves characters who travel between different worlds or dimensions, often featuring a contrast between the magical and the mundane. The tone can be adventurous and whimsical, with a focus on exploration and discovery.

Sword and Sorcery: This sub-genre features heroes who are skilled with weapons and magic, often set in a medieval-inspired world. The tone can be action-packed and swashbuckling, with a focus on adventure, combat, and daring exploits.

Comic Fantasy: This sub-genre combines elements of fantasy and humor, often featuring absurd or satirical elements. The tone is often lighthearted and comedic, with a focus on wordplay, satire, and parody.

Paranormal Romance: This sub-genre combines elements of romance and fantasy, often featuring supernatural love interests like vampires or werewolves. The tone can be romantic and steamy, with a focus on passion, desire, and forbidden love.

Steampunk Fantasy: This sub-genre is set in a world where steam power and clockwork technology are the norm. The plot often involves a mix of adventure, science fiction, and fantasy elements. The tone is often gritty and industrial, and the style is characterized by a Victorian aesthetic and the use of intricate machinery.

Contemporary Fantasy: This sub-genre takes place in the present day and features magic and fantastical elements that coexist with the mundane world. The plot often involves characters discovering or coming to terms with their magical abilities. The tone is often lighthearted, and the style is characterized by blending magic and realism.

Magical Realism: This sub-genre blends elements of the fantastical with the ordinary, creating a world where magic is a natural part of everyday life. The plot often explores the intersection between the magical and the real, with characters struggling to make sense of their extraordinary experiences. The tone is often dreamlike, and the style is characterized by richly descriptive prose.

Historical Fiction.

Historical romance: Set in a specific historical period, the plot centers on a romantic relationship between characters. The theme may focus on societal expectations, class differences, or political intrigue. The tone is usually romantic, with elements of drama and tension. The style emphasizes historical accuracy and details, such as costumes, settings, and dialogue.

Alternate history: The plot imagines an alternate version of history, where events unfold differently from what actually happened. The theme may explore the consequences of different choices or highlight how different societies might have evolved. The tone can range from serious to playful, depending on the author's intent. The style often emphasizes world-building, creating a detailed and believable alternate reality.

Historical fantasy: Combining elements of historical fiction and fantasy, this subgenre often involves magical or supernatural elements. The plot may center on a quest or adventure set in a specific historical period, with magical or mythical creatures and events. The theme often explores the intersection of history and fantasy, highlighting how beliefs and legends shape society. The tone can be fantastical or historical, depending on the balance of elements. The style often emphasizes world-building, creating a fully realized alternate reality.

Historical mystery: Set in a specific historical period, the plot centers on a mystery that must be solved by the protagonist. The theme may explore social or political issues of the time, and the tone is often suspenseful and dramatic. The style often emphasizes historical accuracy, highlighting the details of daily life and societal norms of the period.

Historical adventure: The plot centers on a thrilling adventure set in a specific historical period, often involving exploration, battles, or other daring escapades. The theme may explore themes of heroism, duty, or sacrifice, and the tone is often action-packed and exciting. The style emphasizes historical accuracy, highlighting the details of weapons, clothing, and other cultural aspects of the period.

Historical drama: The plot centers on the emotional and personal struggles of characters living in a specific historical period. The theme may explore issues of social justice, morality, or individualism, and the tone is often serious and introspective. The style emphasizes historical accuracy, highlighting the details of the characters' lives and the period's cultural norms.

Biographical historical fiction: The plot is based on the life of a historical figure, often imagining details that are not known or not recorded. The theme may explore the motivations and struggles of the individual or highlight the cultural and political context of the time. The tone can be serious or light-hearted, depending on the focus of the story. The style emphasizes historical accuracy, often using primary sources to create a realistic portrayal of the individual's life and times.

Historical horror: Combining elements of horror and historical fiction, this subgenre often involves supernatural or mystical elements set in a specific historical period. The plot may center on a curse or a haunted location, with the theme often exploring how historical beliefs and legends shape modern fears. The tone is often eerie and unsettling, and the style emphasizes historical accuracy and the use of atmospheric details to create a sense of dread.

Historical romance mystery: This subgenre combines elements of historical romance and historical mystery, often involving a romantic relationship that is threatened or complicated by a mystery or crime. The theme may explore social or political issues of the time, and the tone is often suspenseful and romantic. The style emphasizes historical accuracy, highlighting the details of daily life and societal norms of the period.

War fiction: Set during a specific historical conflict, the plot centers on the experiences of soldiers, civilians, or others affected by the war. The theme may explore issues of sacrifice, duty, and morality, and the tone is often gritty and realistic. The style emphasizes historical accuracy, highlighting the details of weaponry, battles,

Thriller

Psychological thriller - The plot revolves around the mental and emotional states of the characters, often featuring unreliable narrators, unexpected plot twists, and intense psychological tension. Themes may include mental illness, trauma, and the dark side of human nature. The tone is usually suspenseful and ominous.

Crime thriller - These stories focus on a crime, often a murder, and the investigation that follows. The plot typically involves a detective or law enforcement officer trying to solve the crime and bring the perpetrator to justice. Themes may include corruption, justice, and morality. The tone can range from gritty and dark to fast-paced and action-packed.

Spy thriller - The plot involves espionage, secret agents, and international intrigue. The themes may include politics, espionage, and espionage. The tone is usually suspenseful and fast-paced, with high stakes and intense action scenes.

Legal thriller - These stories focus on lawyers and legal proceedings, often involving a courtroom drama. The plot typically involves a lawyer working to uncover the truth and bring justice to a case. Themes may include justice, ethics, and the law. The tone is usually suspenseful and dramatic.

Techno-thriller - This sub-genre combines elements of science fiction and thriller, often featuring technology as a major plot point. The plot typically involves a threat to society or the world that can only be resolved through the use of advanced technology. Themes may include artificial intelligence, cyber warfare, and technological advancement. The tone is usually fast-paced and action-packed.

Action thriller - These stories are heavy on action and may include elements of crime, espionage, or terrorism. The plot typically involves a protagonist fighting against a powerful antagonist or organization. Themes may include heroism, justice, and revenge. The tone is usually fast-paced and full of action scenes.

Historical thriller - The plot is set in a historical period and involves mystery, intrigue, and danger. Themes may include historical events, social issues, and politics. The tone is usually atmospheric and suspenseful.

Disaster thriller - The plot typically involves a natural disaster or catastrophic event, and the characters must fight to survive. Themes may include survival, human nature, and the fragility of society. The tone is usually tense and suspenseful.

Medical thriller - These stories involve medical professionals, diseases, and medical research. The plot typically involves a medical crisis that threatens the lives of many people. Themes may include medical ethics, science, and the nature of life and death. The tone can range from intense and suspenseful to thoughtful and introspective.

Horror thriller - This sub-genre combines elements of horror and thriller, often featuring supernatural or paranormal elements. The plot typically involves a protagonist facing off against a powerful and evil force. Themes may include fear, death, and the supernatural. The tone is usually dark and terrifying.

Horror

Supernatural horror - This sub-genre involves supernatural elements such as ghosts, demons, and witches. The plot typically revolves around an evil presence that haunts or possesses individuals or places. Themes often involve the struggle between good and evil, the afterlife, and the supernatural world. The tone can be eerie, unsettling, or frightening. The style can include vivid descriptions of supernatural events or paranormal activity.

Psychological horror - This sub-genre focuses on the psychological aspects of fear, anxiety, and mental breakdowns. The plot may involve a character's descent into madness, paranoia, or obsession. Themes can explore the limits of the human mind, the duality of human nature, and the fragility of sanity. The tone can be disturbing, disorienting, or unsettling. The style can include introspective narration, unreliable narrators, or surreal imagery.

Slasher horror - This sub-genre involves a serial killer or a group of killers who hunt down and murder their victims. The plot often revolves around a group of people who are trapped or isolated with the killer, such as a group of teenagers in a cabin in the woods. Themes can explore the fear of death, survival instincts, and the consequences of violence. The tone can be intense, gory, or suspenseful. The style can include graphic violence, jump scares, and tense chase scenes.

Gothic horror - This sub-genre is characterized by dark, atmospheric settings, such as abandoned castles, haunted mansions, and ancient ruins. The plot typically involves supernatural or mysterious occurrences, such as curses, ghosts, or ancient evils. Themes can explore the corruption of power, the dangers of obsession, and the struggle between rationality and superstition. The tone can be melancholic, oppressive, or ominous. The style can include ornate language, archaic settings, and romanticized descriptions.

Body horror - This sub-genre focuses on the physical horror of bodily transformation or mutilation. The plot may involve diseases, mutations, or body horror caused by technology. Themes can explore the limits of the human body, the dangers of scientific progress, and the horror of physical transformation. The tone can be grotesque, revolting, or terrifying. The style can include vivid descriptions of bodily horror, visceral imagery, and medical terminology.

Literary Fiction

Historical Literary Fiction: This sub-genre is characterized by a focus on historical events and figures, with an emphasis on the emotions and inner lives of the characters. The plot is often driven by the characters' personal struggles and relationships, rather than by external events. Themes in historical literary fiction often explore the impact of history on the individual and the human condition. The tone can be reflective, nostalgic, and introspective, and the style is often lyrical and descriptive.

Contemporary Literary Fiction: This sub-genre focuses on the present-day world, with a focus on realistic and complex characters and their relationships. The plot often centers around the characters' struggles with personal issues and societal problems, with an emphasis on character development and introspection. Themes can vary widely but often explore the human experience in contemporary society. The tone can be serious, contemplative, or satirical, and the style is often characterized by literary devices such as metaphor, symbolism, and stream of consciousness.

Experimental Literary Fiction: This sub-genre is characterized by an unconventional approach to narrative structure, language, and form. The plot can be non-linear or fragmented, and the themes may be abstract or philosophical. The tone and style can vary widely but often aim to challenge the reader's expectations and push the boundaries of traditional storytelling.

Multi-Cultural Literary Fiction: This sub-genre explores the experiences and perspectives of characters from diverse cultural backgrounds. The plot may focus on the challenges of living between cultures or on the intersection of different cultural identities. Themes often explore issues of identity, belonging, and cultural heritage. The tone can be serious, humorous, or satirical, and the style is often characterized by rich descriptions of cultural traditions and practices.

Metafiction: This sub-genre is characterized by a self-referential approach to storytelling, with the author drawing attention to the construction of the narrative itself. The plot may involve characters who are aware of their existence within a fictional world or who interact with the author. Themes often explore the nature of fiction, reality, and the relationship between author and reader. The tone and style can be playful, ironic, or philosophical.

Psychological Literary Fiction: This sub-genre focuses on the psychological development and inner lives of the characters. The plot may center around the characters' struggles with mental illness, trauma, or personal crises. Themes often explore the nature of the human mind and emotions, and the impact of past experiences on the present. The tone can be introspective, haunting, or disturbing, and the style is often characterized by vivid descriptions of the characters' psychological states.

Postmodern Literary Fiction: This sub-genre is characterized by a skeptical attitude toward grand narratives and an interest in the fragmentation and deconstruction of meaning. The plot may be non-linear or fragmented, and the themes may explore the breakdown of societal norms and values. The tone and style can be playful, ironic, or satirical, and the style often incorporates elements of popular culture and intertextuality.

Comedy

Romantic Comedy: A humorous story focused on a romantic relationship between the main characters. The plot often includes obstacles that the couple must overcome in order to be together. The tone is light-hearted and the style is witty and charming.

Satire: A story that uses humor to criticize social or political issues. The plot often involves exaggerated or absurd situations and characters. The theme is often social commentary or critique of certain practices. The tone can be biting or ironic, and the style is often sharp and clever.

Farce: A comedic story that relies heavily on physical humor, improbable situations, and mistaken identities. The plot is often fast-paced and chaotic, and the tone is over-the-top and exaggerated. The style is often slapstick and absurd.

Parody: A story that imitates the style or conventions of another work in order to make fun of it. The plot is often a tongue-in-cheek version of the original story, with exaggerated or nonsensical elements. The tone can be mocking or affectionate, and the style often mimics the original work.

Dark Comedy: A story that uses humor to address serious or taboo subjects, such as death, disease, or crime. The plot often involves characters in bleak or macabre situations, and the humor is often edgy and uncomfortable. The tone is often ironic or sardonic, and the style can be morbid or irreverent.

Comedy of Manners: A story that satirizes the social behavior and customs of a particular group or class of people. The plot often involves witty banter and subtle social cues, and the humor is often sophisticated and intellectual. The tone is often dry or understated, and the style is elegant and refined.

Comic Fantasy: A story that combines humor with elements of fantasy or science fiction. The plot often involves fantastical or absurd elements, and the humor can be whimsical or silly. The tone is often light-hearted and playful, and the style can be fanciful or imaginative.

Black Comedy: A story that uses humor to explore dark or taboo subjects, such as death, crime, or mental illness. The plot often involves characters in extreme or disturbing situations, and the humor is often irreverent or gallows. The tone can be bleak or nihilistic, and the style is often daring or provocative.

Absurdist Comedy: A story that uses humor to explore the meaninglessness or irrationality of human existence. The plot often involves surreal or absurd situations, and the humor can be nonsensical or absurd. The tone is often detached or alienated, and the style can be experimental or avant-garde.

Western

Classic Western: The plot usually revolves around a conflict between good and evil, often involving cowboys, Native Americans, and lawmen. The themes are typically centered around justice, honor, and self-reliance. The tone is often serious and gritty, and the style is straightforward and unadorned.

Western Romance: The plot revolves around a romantic relationship between two main characters set against the backdrop of the American West. The themes typically involve love, commitment, and the challenges of living in a rugged and unpredictable environment. The tone is often romantic and sentimental, and the style is descriptive and emotionally expressive.

Western Adventure: The plot involves an exciting and dangerous journey or quest undertaken by the main characters, often set in the wilderness or on the frontier. The themes are usually centered around courage, perseverance, and survival. The tone is often action-packed and suspenseful, and the style is fast-paced and visually descriptive.

Weird West: This sub-genre blends elements of Western fiction with supernatural or science-fiction elements, often set in an alternative or fantastical version of the American West. The themes typically involve the clash between the natural and the supernatural, as well as the exploration of the human psyche. The tone is often dark and unsettling, and the style is imaginative and evocative.

Western Noir: This sub-genre features the classic noir elements such as crime, corruption, and moral ambiguity, set in a Western setting. The themes often explore the dark side of human nature, including greed, violence, and betrayal. The tone is typically bleak and cynical, and the style is atmospheric and evocative.

Spaghetti Western: This sub-genre originated in Italy and is characterized by its stylized and exaggerated depictions of violence and action, often set in the American West. The themes typically involve revenge, justice, and survival, and the tone is often highly dramatic and operatic. The style is visually stunning, with striking landscapes, vivid colors, and innovative camera work.

Dystopian

Post-Apocalyptic Dystopia: In this sub-genre, the world as we know it has ended, and society has collapsed. The plot often centers around the characters' struggle for survival in a world where resources are scarce and danger lurks around every corner. Themes include the consequences of environmental disaster, the dangers of unchecked technology, and the importance of community in times of crisis. Tone is often bleak, but there can also be moments of hope and resilience. Style can be gritty and realistic or more imaginative and surreal.

Utopian/Dystopian Hybrid: This sub-genre features a world that appears to be a utopia on the surface but hides a darker side. The plot often revolves around a protagonist who uncovers the dark underbelly of the supposedly perfect society. Themes include the dangers of conformity, the corrupting influence of power, and the importance of individuality. Tone can be both optimistic and pessimistic, with a sense of tension and unease permeating the story. Style can be both realistic and fantastical.

Political Dystopia: In this sub-genre, the world is ruled by an oppressive government or dictator. The plot often revolves around a protagonist or group of protagonists who rebel against the ruling powers. Themes include the dangers of totalitarianism, the importance of personal freedom and democracy, and the corrupting influence of power. Tone can be dark and somber, with a sense of urgency and danger. Style can be both realistic and fantastical.

Technological Dystopia: This sub-genre features a world where technology has become a threat to humanity. The plot often centers around the unintended consequences of technological advancement and the struggle to regain control. Themes include the dangers of artificial intelligence, the loss of privacy, and the importance of human connection. Tone can be both pessimistic and optimistic, with a sense of wonder and awe mixed with fear and uncertainty. Style can be both realistic and fantastical.

Environmental Dystopia: In this sub-genre, the world is suffering from ecological collapse. The plot often centers around the struggle to survive in a world where natural resources are scarce and the environment is toxic. Themes include the consequences of climate change, the importance of sustainable living, and the dangers of greed and short-sightedness. Tone can be both somber and hopeful, with a sense of urgency and the need for action. Style can be both realistic and fantastical.

Medical Dystopia: In this sub-genre, society is threatened by a deadly disease or virus. The plot often revolves around the search for a cure or vaccine and the struggle to contain the outbreak. Themes include the dangers of biological warfare, the importance of medical research and innovation, and the importance of global cooperation in times of crisis. Tone can be both tense and suspenseful, with a sense of urgency and the need for quick action. Style can be both realistic and fantastical.

Cyberpunk: This sub-genre features a dystopian future where technology has become the dominant force in society. The plot often centers around characters who are marginalized or oppressed by the ruling powers and who use technology to fight back. Themes include the dangers of unchecked capitalism, the loss of privacy, and the importance of personal freedom. Tone is often dark and gritty, with a sense of danger and rebellion. Style can be both futuristic and retro.

Steampunk: This sub-genre features a dystopian world where technology has taken a different form, with steam-powered machines and Victorian-era aesthetics. The plot often revolves around characters who are struggling against a corrupt ruling class or using technology to achieve their goals. Themes include the dangers of industrialization, the importance of individuality and creativity, and the need for social reform. Tone can be both

Tropes

Let me break down the importance of tropes in storytelling for you. Tropes are literary or storytelling devices that are commonly used in a specific genre or type of story. They can help readers identify and understand the story's themes, providing them with a sense of familiarity and expectations about the plot and characters.

For instance, in fantasy and adventure stories, the "hero's journey" is a popular trope where the protagonist embarks on a quest, faces challenges, and eventually triumphs over adversity. When used effectively, tropes can create a sense of comfort and connection between the reader and the story, while also allowing authors to explore new ideas and variations on established themes.

Tropes can also be used to subvert or challenge reader expectations, which can create a sense of surprise or intrigue. For example, a romance story that plays with the "enemies to lovers" trope by having the two characters come from opposing sides of a political conflict can create a fresh and unexpected twist on a familiar theme.

Overall, despite sometimes being viewed as cliché or overused, tropes serve an important purpose in storytelling by helping readers engage with and understand the story. Plus, they offer authors a useful framework for exploring new ideas and themes.

Romance

Enemies to Lovers - two characters who start out as adversaries or even enemies, but eventually fall in love.

Friends to Lovers - two characters who have been friends for a long time, but eventually realize their feelings for each other go beyond friendship.

Second Chance Romance - two characters who have a history together, but for various reasons, didn't work out. They get a second chance at love.

Forbidden Love - two characters who are attracted to each other but are prevented from being together due to societal or cultural constraints, such as a workplace romance or a relationship between a boss and an employee.

Fake Relationship - two characters who enter into a fake relationship for various reasons, but eventually develop real feelings for each other.

Love Triangle - two characters who compete for the affection of a third character.

Billionaire Romance - a wealthy character falls in love with someone from a different social class, creating a conflict between money and love.

Small Town Romance - two characters fall in love in a close-knit community or small town setting.

Alpha Hero - a strong, dominant male character who falls in love with a strong, independent female character.

Marriage of Convenience - two characters agree to marry for practical reasons, such as financial stability or immigration purposes, but end up falling in love.

Single Parent Romance - a character falls in love with someone who already has a child, creating a family dynamic.

Time Travel Romance - a character travels through time and falls in love with someone from a different era.

Bodyguard Romance - a character falls in love with their bodyguard, creating a dynamic of danger and protection.

Sports Romance - two characters fall in love in the context of a sports team or competition.

Beauty and the Beast - a physically unattractive character falls in love with someone who sees beyond their appearance.

Amnesia Romance - a character loses their memory and falls in love with someone who helps them regain it.

Opposites Attract - two characters who are very different fall in love, creating a dynamic of contrast.

Office Romance - two characters fall in love in the context of a workplace or office setting.

Vacation Romance - two characters fall in love while on vacation, creating a dynamic of escape and adventure.

Royalty Romance - a character falls in love with someone from a royal or aristocratic family, creating a conflict between love and social status.

Mystery

Whodunit - the main focus of the story is to discover who committed a crime.

Detective Protagonist - a detective or investigator is the main character, who solves the mystery.

Amateur Sleuth - a non-professional character who is drawn into the mystery and works to solve it.

Closed Circle - a group of people is trapped in a confined space with a murderer, forcing them to solve the mystery before they become the next victim.

Cozy Mystery - a lighthearted and humorous mystery featuring an amateur sleuth in a small town setting.

Police Procedural - a detailed look at the inner workings of a police investigation, from collecting evidence to solving the crime.

Locked Room Mystery - a murder occurs in a room that appears to be locked from the inside, leaving investigators to solve how the killer could have escaped.

Serial Killer - a story centered around a killer who has committed multiple murders and is being pursued by law enforcement.

Noir - a dark and gritty mystery with a bleak outlook, often featuring an anti-hero protagonist.

Hard-boiled - similar to noir, featuring a tough, cynical protagonist who operates outside the law to solve the mystery.

Amateur Detective Team - a group of amateur sleuths work together to solve the mystery.

Red Herring - a misleading clue or character that is intended to distract the reader and throw them off the scent of the real culprit.

Femme Fatale - a mysterious and seductive woman who often plays a central role in the mystery.

Plant - a seemingly innocuous detail or character that is later revealed to be a crucial piece of evidence.

MacGuffin - an object or concept that drives the plot, but ultimately has little importance in the resolution of the mystery.

Culprit POV - the story is told from the perspective of the killer or the criminal, creating a unique twist on the traditional mystery formula.

Protagonist Framed - the main character is framed for a crime they did not commit, forcing them to clear their name and solve the mystery.

Covert Ops - a mystery that involves espionage or intelligence gathering.

Unreliable Narrator - the story is told from the perspective of a character who may not be telling the truth, creating uncertainty and confusion for the reader.

Supernatural Mystery - a mystery that involves supernatural or paranormal elements, such as ghosts, werewolves, or vampires.

Science Fiction

Space Opera - a story that takes place in a vast and complex universe with epic battles and larger-than-life characters.

Time Travel - the ability to travel through time, either to the past or the future.

Alien Invasion - a story that revolves around an extraterrestrial invasion of Earth.

Post-Apocalyptic - a story that takes place after a catastrophic event has destroyed civilization as we know it.

Cyberpunk - a subgenre of science fiction that features a dystopian future where advanced technology has led to a breakdown of society.

Artificial Intelligence - the creation of intelligent machines that can think and reason like humans.

Colonization - a story that explores the colonization of a new planet or the colonization of Earth by extraterrestrial beings.

Galactic Empire - a vast empire that spans across multiple planets and galaxies.

Genetic Engineering - the modification of DNA to create new forms of life or enhance existing ones.

Interstellar Travel - the ability to travel between star systems and explore the vastness of space.

Parallel Universes - the concept of multiple universes or realities existing simultaneously.

Cybernetics - the integration of machines and technology with the human body to enhance abilities or extend lifespan.

Post-Human - the evolution of humanity beyond its current form, either through technology or genetic modification.

Utopia/Dystopia - a society that is either a perfect utopia or a nightmarish dystopia.

Transhumanism - the belief in the ability of humans to evolve beyond their biological limitations.

Hard Science Fiction - a subgenre of science fiction that focuses on the scientific accuracy and realism of the story.

Soft Science Fiction - a subgenre of science fiction that focuses on the social, cultural, and philosophical aspects of the story.

Space Western - a story that combines elements of science fiction with the themes and tropes of a Western.

First Contact - a story that explores the initial meeting between humans and an extraterrestrial species.

Singularity - the point at which artificial intelligence becomes more advanced than human intelligence, leading to a transformation of society.

Fantasy

Epic Quest - a story that revolves around a hero or group of heroes on a perilous journey to achieve a great goal.

Magic - the use of supernatural forces to achieve extraordinary feats or solve problems.

Swords and Sorcery - a subgenre of fantasy that features action-packed adventures with battles and magic.

High Fantasy - a subgenre of fantasy that takes place in an alternate world with its own history, culture, and mythology.

Dark Fantasy - a subgenre of fantasy that incorporates horror elements and a darker tone.

Prophecy - a prediction or foretelling of future events that drives the plot.

Chosen One - a hero or heroine with a special destiny or purpose.

Magical Creatures - the inclusion of fantastical creatures such as dragons, unicorns, or griffins.

Medieval Setting - a story that takes place in a time period similar to the Middle Ages, with knights, castles, and kings.

Fairy Tales - the retelling or reimagining of classic fairy tales such as Cinderella, Snow White, or Beauty and the Beast.

Parallel Worlds - the concept of multiple worlds or dimensions existing simultaneously.

Coming-of-Age - a story that focuses on a character's growth and development as they transition from childhood to adulthood.

Hero's Journey - a story structure that follows a hero or heroine through a series of trials and challenges.

Mythology - the inclusion of gods and goddesses, myths, and legends from various cultures.

Quest Objects - a magical or mythical object that serves as the goal of the hero's journey.

Underworld - a mysterious and often dangerous realm that exists beneath the surface of the world.

Romance - a romantic subplot or love interest that drives the plot.

Time Travel - the ability to travel through time, either to the past or the future.

Folklore - the inclusion of traditional stories, beliefs, and customs of a particular culture.

Elemental Magic - the use of magic that is connected to the elements such as fire, water, earth, or air.

Historical Fiction

Time Period - a story that takes place in a specific historical time period, such as the Middle Ages, Renaissance, or Victorian era.

Historical Figures - the inclusion of real-life historical figures, such as kings, queens, politicians, or artists, as characters in the story.

Political Intrigue - a plot that involves political maneuvering, conspiracy, and power struggles.

War and Conflict - a story that focuses on a historical war or conflict and its impact on individuals or society.

Romance - a romantic subplot or love interest that is set against the backdrop of a historical event or time period.

Social Commentary - a story that explores social issues and injustices of a specific historical time period, such as class, gender, or race.

Court Intrigue - a plot that takes place in a royal court, with its politics, gossip, and drama.

Historical Mystery - a mystery story that takes place in a specific historical time period, often featuring real-life historical events or figures.

Historical Adventure - an adventure story that takes place in a specific historical time period, often featuring exploration, discovery, and danger.

Family Saga - a multi-generational story that spans a significant period of time and follows a family's history and relationships.

Historical Biographical Fiction - a fictionalized account of a real-life historical figure's life and experiences.

Secret Societies - a plot that involves secret organizations or societies, often with historical significance.

Historical Romance - a romantic story set in a specific historical time period, often with themes of social class, duty, and tradition.

Historical Fantasy - a blend of historical fiction and fantasy elements, such as magic, mythical creatures, or alternative history.

Historical Horror - a blend of historical fiction and horror elements, often exploring the darker aspects of a specific historical time period.

Time Travel - the ability to travel through time to experience different historical time periods.

Historical Crime - a crime story that takes place in a specific historical time period, often featuring real-life historical crimes or criminals.

Historical Epic - a grand, sweeping story that covers a significant period of time and multiple characters.

Historical Drama - a dramatic story that takes place in a specific historical time period, often featuring conflict, struggle, and personal growth.

Historical Fictionalization - a fictional story that takes place in a specific historical time period, often featuring real-life historical events or figures.

Thriller

High Stakes - a story where the protagonist is facing extreme danger or risk to their life or the lives of others.

Psychological Thriller - a story that focuses on the psychological and emotional state of the characters, often involving mind games and manipulation.

Serial Killer - a plot that involves a murderer who kills multiple victims over a period of time, often with a specific motive or pattern.

Conspiracy - a plot that involves a secret organization or group that is working against the protagonist and their goals.

Race Against Time - a story where the protagonist has a limited amount of time to achieve their goal before a catastrophic event occurs.

Action-Packed - a story with plenty of fast-paced action scenes, often featuring chases, fights, and explosions.

Law Enforcement - a plot that involves law enforcement agencies or officers investigating a crime or trying to stop a criminal.

Revenge - a plot that involves a character seeking revenge against those who have wronged them or their loved ones.

International Intrigue - a story that takes place across multiple countries and involves espionage, international conflicts, or political intrigue.

Kidnapping - a plot that involves the abduction of a character or characters, often for ransom or other nefarious purposes.

Spy Thriller - a story that features a spy or secret agent working to stop a dangerous threat to national security.

Cat-and-Mouse - a plot that involves a game of cat-and-mouse between the protagonist and their enemy, often with each trying to outsmart the other.

Betrayal - a plot that involves a character being betrayed by someone they thought they could trust.

Technological Threat - a story that involves a dangerous technological threat, such as a computer virus or rogue AI.

Locked Room Mystery - a mystery where the crime or danger takes place in a confined space, such as a locked room or an isolated location.

Political Thriller - a story that involves political power struggles, corruption, or conspiracies.

Survival - a story where the protagonist is fighting for survival in a dangerous or hostile environment.

Medical Thriller - a story that involves a medical mystery, such as a virus or disease outbreak, or a medical conspiracy.

Heist - a plot that involves a group of characters planning and executing a high-stakes theft or robbery.

Paranormal Thriller - a story that involves paranormal or supernatural elements, such as ghosts or psychic abilities, in a thriller setting.

Horror

Haunted House - a story that takes place in a house or building that is haunted by ghosts or other supernatural entities.

Supernatural Forces - a plot that involves supernatural entities or forces, such as demons, witches, or monsters.

Psychological Horror - a story that focuses on the mental and emotional state of the characters, often involving fears, phobias, or psychological trauma.

Body Horror - a plot that involves grotesque or horrifying physical transformations or deformities, often caused by disease or experimentation.

Gore - a story that involves graphic and bloody violence, often featuring mutilation or dismemberment.

Slasher - a plot that involves a killer who stalks and murders their victims, often with a signature weapon or method.

Survival Horror - a story where the characters are fighting for survival against a threat that is overwhelming and seemingly unstoppable.

Found Footage - a plot that involves footage or recordings of an event or situation, often presented as a documentary or amateur recording.

Creepy Children - a plot that involves creepy or malevolent children, often with supernatural abilities or knowledge.

Possession - a plot that involves a character being possessed by a demon or other supernatural entity.

Monster - a plot that involves a monstrous creature, often with a unique or terrifying design.

Ghost Story - a plot that involves ghosts or spirits, often seeking revenge or trying to communicate with the living.

Curses - a plot that involves a character or location being cursed, often with a deadly or horrific consequence.

Urban Legend - a plot that involves a well-known urban legend or myth, often with a dark or gruesome twist.

Religious Horror - a story that involves religious or cult themes, often with a sinister or demonic presence.

Vampires - a plot that involves vampires, often with unique or interesting twists on the classic vampire lore.

Demonic Possession - a plot that involves a character being possessed by a demon, often with terrifying consequences.

Body Snatchers - a plot that involves aliens or other entities that take over human bodies, often with the goal of domination or destruction.

Cult Horror - a story that involves a cult or secret society, often with dark or violent rituals.

Cosmic Horror - a story that involves vast, unknowable entities or forces that are beyond human comprehension.

Young Adult (YA)

Coming of age - a plot that focuses on a character's journey from adolescence to adulthood, often involving self-discovery and personal growth.

Love Triangle - a plot that involves a character choosing between two potential love interests, often causing conflict and tension.

High School Drama - a story that takes place in a high school setting, often involving cliques, popularity contests, and social hierarchies.

Dystopian - a plot that takes place in a futuristic or alternate world where society has become corrupted or oppressive.

Superpowers - a plot that involves characters with supernatural abilities, often exploring themes of responsibility and identity.

Forbidden Romance - a plot that involves characters who are not allowed to be together due to social, cultural, or familial reasons.

Identity Crisis - a plot that involves a character questioning their identity, often exploring themes of race, gender, or sexuality.

Fish out of Water - a plot that involves a character being placed in a new and unfamiliar environment, often leading to culture shock and personal growth.

Rebellion - a plot that involves characters fighting against authority or oppressive forces, often with themes of social justice and empowerment.

Time Travel - a plot that involves characters traveling through time, often exploring themes of consequences and destiny.

Survival - a plot that involves characters fighting for survival in a hostile environment or situation.

Fantasy - a plot that takes place in a fantastical world, often involving mythical creatures and magical powers.

Mystery - a plot that involves a character solving a puzzle or unraveling a mystery, often with a twist ending.

Apocalyptic - a plot that involves characters trying to survive in a world that has been destroyed by a catastrophic event, often exploring themes of hope and resilience.

Boarding School - a story that takes place in a boarding school setting, often involving themes of independence and friendship.

Road Trip - a plot that involves characters going on a journey, often exploring themes of self-discovery and adventure.

Sports - a story that involves characters participating in a sports team or competition, often exploring themes of teamwork and perseverance.

Rich vs. Poor - a plot that involves characters from different socioeconomic backgrounds, often exploring themes of inequality and privilege.

Friendship - a plot that explores the relationships and bonds between characters, often with themes of loyalty and trust.

Teenage Rebellion - a plot that involves characters rebelling against their parents or society, often exploring themes of independence and self-expression.

Literary Fiction

Character study - a plot that focuses on the inner workings of a character's psyche and emotions.

Family drama - a story that involves familial relationships, often exploring themes of love, loss, and identity.

Coming of age - a plot that focuses on a character's journey from adolescence to adulthood, often involving self-discovery and personal growth.

Memory and nostalgia - a plot that explores the past and memories, often with themes of loss, regret, and longing.

Art and creativity - a plot that explores the creative process and the artist's relationship with their art, often with themes of inspiration and obsession.

Existentialism - a plot that explores the meaning of life and existence, often with themes of identity and purpose.

Love and relationships - a plot that explores the complexities of romantic relationships and the human condition.

Social commentary - a plot that uses characters and their stories to comment on societal issues and concerns.

Loss and grief - a plot that explores the themes of loss and grief, often with themes of redemption and acceptance.

Mental health - a plot that explores the struggles and experiences of characters with mental health issues, often with themes of stigma and acceptance.

Nature and environment - a plot that explores the relationship between humans and nature, often with themes of conservation and preservation.

Historical fiction - a plot that takes place in a historical setting, often with themes of nostalgia and nostalgia.

Travel and adventure - a plot that involves characters traveling to new and unfamiliar places, often with themes of self-discovery and adventure.

Mystery - a plot that involves a character solving a puzzle or unraveling a mystery, often with a twist ending.

Philosophy - a plot that explores philosophical concepts and ideas, often with themes of morality and ethics.

Politics and power - a plot that explores the dynamics of power and politics, often with themes of corruption and morality.

Religion and spirituality - a plot that explores the themes of religion and spirituality, often with themes of faith and doubt.

Aging and mortality - a plot that explores the themes of aging and mortality, often with themes of acceptance and legacy.

Experimental fiction - a plot that plays with narrative structure, language, and form, often with themes of innovation and creativity.

Identity and culture - a plot that explores the themes of identity and culture, often with themes of belonging and alienation.

Comedy

Fish out of water - a plot that involves a character being thrust into an unfamiliar or absurd situation.

Screwball comedy - a plot that involves absurd or zany situations, often with fast-paced dialogue and physical humor.

Satire - a plot that uses humor to mock or criticize societal norms or institutions.

Parody - a plot that mimics or exaggerates the tropes and conventions of a particular genre or story.

Romantic comedy - a plot that involves a romantic relationship, often with humorous misunderstandings and obstacles.

Workplace comedy - a plot that takes place in a workplace setting, often with exaggerated or quirky characters and situations.

Farce - a plot that involves chaotic or ridiculous situations, often with mistaken identities and physical humor.

Slapstick - a plot that involves physical humor and exaggerated movements and actions.

Black comedy - a plot that uses humor to address dark or taboo subjects, often with themes of mortality and existentialism.

Situational comedy - a plot that involves humorous situations or misunderstandings.

Spoof - a plot that parodies a particular movie or TV show, often with exaggerated and absurd humor.

Gross-out comedy - a plot that involves bodily humor and gross or taboo subjects.

Buddy comedy - a plot that involves two characters with contrasting personalities who become friends, often with humorous results.

Surreal humor - a plot that involves absurd or dreamlike situations, often with a philosophical or satirical edge.

Comedic irony - a plot that uses irony to create humor, often with unexpected twists and turns.

Stand-up comedy - a plot that involves a comedian's experiences and observations, often with humorous anecdotes and jokes.

Comedic monologue - a plot that involves a character delivering a humorous speech or monologue, often with satire or parody.

Prankster comedy - a plot that involves practical jokes and humor at the expense of others.

Wit and banter - a plot that involves clever and witty dialogue, often with wordplay and sarcasm.

Running gags - a plot that involves recurring jokes or situations, often with escalating humor.

Western

Gunslinger - a plot that involves a skilled shooter or outlaw seeking redemption or justice.

Lawman - a plot that involves a law enforcement officer pursuing criminals and bringing them to justice.

Cattle drive - a plot that involves a group of cowboys driving a herd of cattle across long distances.

Revenge - a plot that involves a character seeking revenge against those who wronged them or their family.

Outlaw with a heart of gold - a plot that involves an outlaw with a moral code who takes on a noble cause.

Homesteader - a plot that involves a character settling and cultivating land in the frontier.

Duel - a plot that involves a one-on-one confrontation between two characters, often with guns or knives.

Train robbery - a plot that involves a group of bandits robbing a train of its cargo or passengers.

Gold rush - a plot that involves characters seeking wealth and fortune in the frontier, often through mining.

Indian wars - a plot that involves conflict between settlers and Native Americans, often with themes of racism and colonialism.

Saloon - a plot that involves characters gathering in a western-style bar, often with gambling and drinking.

Bounty hunter - a plot that involves a character pursuing and capturing fugitives for a reward.

Stagecoach - a plot that involves a group of characters traveling by stagecoach, often with danger and excitement along the way.

Showdown - a plot that involves a final confrontation between the hero and villain, often with high stakes.

Frontier justice - a plot that involves characters taking the law into their own hands, often with themes of vigilante justice.

Lone wanderer - a plot that involves a character traveling alone through the frontier, often with themes of isolation and survival.

Land conflict - a plot that involves characters fighting for ownership or control of land in the frontier.

Old west town - a plot that involves a character navigating life in a wild and lawless western town.

Rancher - a plot that involves a character managing a large ranch, often with themes of family and legacy.

Horseback chase - a plot that involves a chase scene on horseback, often with themes of pursuit and escape.

Dystopian.

Totalitarian government - a plot that involves a government or ruling power that has complete control over society and its citizens.

Oppressive society - a plot that involves a society that enforces strict rules and regulations on its citizens, often with extreme punishments for disobedience.

Rebel uprising - a plot that involves a group of rebels or revolutionaries who rise up against the ruling power.

Propaganda - a plot that involves the use of media and messaging to manipulate and control the population.

Social hierarchy - a plot that involves a society divided into social classes or castes, often with those at the bottom suffering the most.

Surveillance state - a plot that involves constant surveillance and monitoring of citizens by the ruling power.

Lack of personal freedom - a plot that involves citizens having limited or no personal freedoms, often with restrictions on speech, movement, and expression.

Environmental disaster - a plot that involves a society struggling to survive in the aftermath of an environmental catastrophe.

Post-apocalyptic world - a plot that involves a society trying to survive after a global disaster, such as a nuclear war or pandemic.

Dystopian love story - a plot that involves a romance set in a dystopian world, often with themes of forbidden love and societal restrictions.

Totalitarian leader - a plot that involves a single leader who holds absolute power over society.

Brainwashing - a plot that involves the use of psychological manipulation to control the population.

Genetic engineering - a plot that involves the manipulation of genetics and biology to create a new type of human or animal.

Rebellion leader - a plot that involves a charismatic leader who inspires and leads the rebellion against the ruling power.

Resistance movement - a plot that involves a group of individuals fighting against the ruling power, often through acts of sabotage and rebellion.

Corrupt government - a plot that involves a government that is corrupt and self-serving, often at the expense of the citizens.

Apocalyptic event - a plot that involves a catastrophic event that threatens the survival of humanity.

Oppressive technology - a plot that involves the use of advanced technology to control and manipulate citizens.

Civil war - a plot that involves a society torn apart by a conflict between factions or groups.

Protagonist as symbol of hope - a plot that involves a protagonist who becomes a symbol of hope for the oppressed and downtrodden citizens.

While I've only listed 20 common tropes found in these genres, there are actually many more out there waiting for you to discover! A quick Google search can help you track down all sorts of interesting and unique tropes to use in your writing.

Target Audience

It's important to understand who your book's target audience is, as it allows you to write a book that connects with them on a deeper level. Your target audience is the group of people who are most likely to enjoy your book, find it valuable, and recommend it to others. By writing with your target audience in mind, you can ensure that your book is relevant to their interests, speaks to their needs, and is more likely to be successful. After all, when you connect with your readers, you create a powerful bond that can make them lifelong fans of your work.

If you've already decided on your genres, sub-genres, and tropes, finding your target audience is a breeze. All you have to do is a quick Google search and voila! However, to help you out, I can provide you with some general information on target audiences. Do keep in mind that this information is not set in stone, as everyone's interests differ. For instance, plenty women enjoy thrillers, action stories, or horror. Nonetheless, this outline can serve as a starting point for your research.

Young Adult:

Genres: Fantasy, dystopian, contemporary, romance

Tropes: Coming-of-age, love triangles, chosen one, forbidden love, adventure

Themes: Identity, self-discovery, social justice, belonging, family, friendship, first love, mental health

Needs: Relatable characters, emotional resonance, accessible language, diverse representation, empowerment

Adult:

Genres: Mystery, thriller, romance, historical fiction, literary fiction

Tropes: Second chance at love, redemption, suspense, revenge, secrets and lies, unreliable narrators, twists and turns, complex relationships

Themes: Love and relationships, societal issues, personal growth, identity, history, culture, family dynamics, Love and loss

Needs: Engaging plot, well-developed characters, nuanced themes, evocative language, diverse representation

Middle-grade:

Genres: Adventure, fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, humor, contemporary

Tropes: Overcoming obstacles, friendship, finding one's place, underdogs, magic

Themes: Family, friendship, self-discovery, perseverance, identity, problem-solving, Self-acceptance, courage, teamwork

Needs: Engaging plot, relatable characters, age-appropriate language, adventure and humor, positive messaging

Children:

Genres: Picture books, early readers, chapter books

Tropes: Animals as main characters, imaginative worlds, humor, adventure, family relationships, lessons learned

Themes: Family, friendship, growing up, learning new things, self-expression, empathy, problem-solving, diversity, kindness

Needs: Simple language, colorful illustrations, engaging storytelling, relatable characters, age-appropriate messaging

Women:

Genres: Romance, mystery, historical fiction, women's fiction, contemporary fiction, literary fiction

Tropes: Second chance at love, forbidden love, strong female lead, enemies-to-lovers, happily-ever-after, family secrets

Themes: Love and relationships, family, personal growth, empowerment, sisterhood, identity

Needs: Emotional resonance, well-rounded characters, diverse representation, nuanced themes, satisfying endings

Men:

Genres: Thriller, science fiction, fantasy, action/adventure, historical fiction

Tropes: Action-packed, gritty, hero's journey, good vs. evil, moral dilemmas, Tough-guy heroes, high stakes, intricate plots, historical accuracy

Themes: Honor, justice, redemption, brotherhood, duty, perseverance

Needs: Engaging plot, well-researched historical details, realistic action, diverse representation, nuanced themes

LGBTQ+:

Genres: LGBTQ+ romance, coming-of-age, drama, contemporary fiction, young adult, literary fiction, speculative fiction

Tropes: Coming out, forbidden love, self-acceptance, exploring sexuality, found family, overcoming prejudice, love conquers all

Themes: Identity, discrimination, love and relationships, acceptance, self-discovery, community

Needs: Authentic representation, diverse characters and experiences, nuanced portrayal of LGBTQ+ issues, positive messaging, happy endings

Seniors:

Genres: Historical fiction, literary fiction, memoir, mystery, romance

Tropes: Second chance at love, reflection on past mistakes, family drama, secrets and lies

Themes: Aging, family, legacy, life lessons, reflection, personal growth.

Needs: Thoughtful themes, well-rounded characters, evocative language, diverse representation, positive messaging

Note: "Nuanced" means that something is complex and has many different parts or aspects that make it unique. It's not just one simple thing, but has layers and details that make it more interesting and complicated. For example, a nuanced character in a book might have both good and bad qualities, and their personality and behavior might change depending on the situation they're in.

Here are some example's of nuanced themes:

Love and loss: exploring the complex emotions surrounding love and loss, such as grief, regret, and nostalgia.

Identity and belonging: examining the struggle to find one's place in the world and how our sense of self is shaped by our experiences and relationships.

Power and corruption: exploring the abuse of power and how it can corrupt individuals and institutions.

Morality and ethics: examining the gray areas of morality and the difficult choices we face when navigating right and wrong.

Mental health: exploring the complexities of mental health and how it impacts individuals and their relationships.

Social justice: examining issues of inequality, discrimination, and systemic oppression, and the need for change.

Cultural differences: exploring the nuances of different cultures and the challenges and benefits of navigating those differences.

Nature and the environment: examining the relationship between humans and nature, and the impact of human behavior on the environment.

Family and relationships: exploring the complexities of family dynamics and relationships, including love, loyalty, and betrayal.

Aging and mortality: examining the process of aging and the impact of mortality on individuals and their loved ones.

Starting to plot your novel is an exciting step, and choosing your genre, trope, and target audience are vital for laying the groundwork of your story. But it's important not to overlook other essential elements that can elevate your story to the next level. For example, have you thought about how you want your readers to feel when they read your book, or what you want them to learn? These questions can help you create a more impactful and meaningful story that resonates with your readers.

As an author, you likely have a specific purpose in mind when crafting your story. Whether you aim to entertain, convey a message, or educate your readers, it's important to consider the intended impact on your audience. To achieve your creative goals, you'll need to pay attention to key elements like plot, characters, setting, and themes, and ensure they work cohesively to create an engaging and immersive experience.

For readers, understanding the author's intent can enhance their appreciation of the story and lead to a more fulfilling reading experience. By recognizing the impact and meaning behind the words on the page, you can fully immerse yourself in the story and gain a deeper understanding of the author's message. So whether you're a writer or a reader, don't forget to consider the impact of your words and how they can connect with your audience.

Authors can convey various messages, lessons, and ideas through fictional writing. Here are a few examples:

Moral lessons: Fictional stories often have a moral lesson or message that the author wants to convey to the reader. The story may illustrate the consequences of certain actions or behaviors, and the characters may learn a valuable lesson by the end of the story.

Social commentary: Fictional stories can also be used to comment on social issues such as inequality, discrimination, or injustice. By using characters and situations that are relatable to readers, authors can help readers better understand and empathize with these issues.

Emotional connections: Through fictional writing, authors can help readers connect emotionally with the characters and situations in the story. This can help readers develop greater empathy and understanding of others in real life.

Imagination and creativity: Fictional writing can inspire readers to use their imagination and think creatively. Through vivid descriptions and imaginative storytelling, authors can transport readers to new and exciting worlds.

Personal growth: Fictional writing can also help readers learn more about themselves and their own values and beliefs. By exploring different characters and situations, readers can gain new perspectives and insights that can help them grow and develop as individuals.

I understand that all of this might sound a bit overwhelming and challenging, but please don't worry! If you're writing solely for the purpose of entertaining your readers and don't have any specific message to convey, you can simply skip this part when creating your novel outline. Don't feel obligated to include elements that you're not comfortable with, and focus on creating a story that you enjoy telling.

By the way, I'd like to share with you some examples of popular stories and their authors that effectively convey certain messages or teach valuable lessons through their fictional writing:

"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee - This story teaches the importance of empathy, justice, and standing up for what is right.

"1984" by George Orwell - This dystopian novel warns about the dangers of totalitarianism and the importance of preserving individual freedom.

"The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood - This dystopian novel warns about the dangers of patriarchal oppression and the importance of women's rights.

"The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien - This epic fantasy novel teaches the importance of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice in the face of great evil.

"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald - This story critiques the superficiality and moral decay of the wealthy during the Roaring Twenties.

"Animal Farm" by George Orwell - This allegorical novel satirizes the rise of Soviet communism and warns about the dangers of political corruption and propaganda.

"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley - This dystopian novel warns about the dangers of technological advancement and the dehumanization of society.

"The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger - This story explores the themes of alienation, identity, and the struggle to find meaning in a world that can often seem cold and indifferent.

"The Color Purple" by Alice Walker - This story explores themes of race, gender, and the struggle for personal autonomy and self-determination in a society that seeks to deny these things.

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins - This dystopian novel critiques the excesses of consumer culture and warns about the dangers of totalitarianism and oppression.

Plot

Great job! We've completed the first part of outlining a basic novel. Now, let's move on to plotting. But wait a minute! Before you start plotting, there's some information we need first - your intended word count. This may sound like a small detail, but it's actually quite important. Knowing the total word count of your story can affect many things. For instance, publishers often have guidelines for the length of novels they will accept, so if your manuscript is too long or too short, it may be rejected. Additionally, readers may have certain expectations for the length of a novel in a specific genre, and if your book is significantly shorter or longer than expected, it may not be well-received. Lastly, the word count can influence the pacing and structure of your novel, with longer novels potentially allowing for more complex plot and character development, but requiring more attention to pacing and structure to avoid losing the reader's interest.

You might be thinking, "Hey, Taytjie, what if I want to post a web novel with over 1000 chapters? Do I have to plot everything in advance?" Well, my answer is no! However, I do recommend thinking of a web novel as a series of books, each with its own volume, rather than a single, massive work. So when plotting your web novel, it's best to approach each volume individually. This will make it easier to organize your ideas and create a cohesive story that engages your readers. Each 'Arc' of your web novel can be an individual volume of around 10 to 30 chapters or more, it's up to your preference.

Let me offer you a general guideline for word counts, but keep in mind that variations may exist based on factors such as sub-genre, target audience, and publishing goals. If traditional publishing is what you're aiming for, then different publishers may have different expectations. However, it's worth noting that while you don't have to stick to these word counts, readers typically expect them in the genres I've discussed in this post. Ultimately, what matters most is that your story is engaging and well-crafted, and if you achieve that, your readers will be hooked no matter the word count.

Romance: 50,000 to 90,000 words

Mystery: 70,000 to 100,000 words

Science fiction: 80,000 to 120,000 words

Fantasy: 80,000 to 120,000 words

Historical fiction: 80,000 to 120,000 words

Thriller: 80,000 to 100,000 words

Horror: 70,000 to 100,000 words

Young adult: 50,000 to 80,000 words

Literary fiction: 80,000 to 120,000 words

Comedy: 70,000 to 100,000 words

Western: 50,000 to 80,000 words

Dystopian: 80,000 to 120,000 words

You might be wondering why we're discussing word count under the 'plot' section instead of the 'book information' section. Well, it's because knowing your intended word count will help you figure out how many chapters your story will have. This, in turn, will affect your plot, as it gives you an idea of how much time you have to tell your story and how much you'll need to stretch it out.

Now it's time to decide on the number of chapters and the length of each chapter for your novel. To determine the chapter length, think about how many words you want to include in each chapter and use that to calculate the total number of chapters required to reach your desired word count for the whole story.

After figuring out the number of chapters, it's time to work on the plot. Don't worry, it doesn't have to be a lengthy essay, just a brief two-sentence summary will do. The main thing is to have a clear idea of what your story will be about.

Here's an example:

In a world of magic and intrigue, a young wizard falls in love with a powerful sorceress from a rival clan. Together, they must navigate the dangerous politics of their respective societies while discovering the true depth of their feelings for each other.

Alright, great job so far! Now let's dig a little deeper and focus on the beginning, middle, and end of your story. What's going to happen at the start to draw your readers in? What twists and turns will take place in the middle? And finally, how do you want it all to wrap up in the end?

Start: The story begins in a magical world filled with warring clans and powerful sorcerers. Our protagonist, a young wizard, is training at the academy of his clan when he meets a beautiful sorceress from a rival clan. Despite the tensions between their clans, they are drawn to each other and begin to secretly meet.

Middle: As their relationship deepens, our young couple finds themselves caught up in the dangerous politics of their respective societies. They struggle to keep their love a secret, while also trying to navigate the treacherous waters of their clans' rivalries. Along the way, they uncover a plot by a dark force that threatens both their clans and must work together to stop it.

End: In the climax of the story, our young wizard and sorceress face their greatest challenge yet. They must put aside their differences and unite their clans to defeat the dark force that threatens them all. Through their bravery and dedication, they prove that love can conquer even the most formidable foes. In the end, our young couple is able to come together openly and publicly, ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity for their people.

Congratulations, we've made progress! Now it's time to take our plot and start breaking it down into individual chapters. Think about the key events that need to happen in each chapter to move the story forward and write them down.

Chapter 1: Our young wizard protagonist meets the powerful sorceress from a rival clan and is immediately drawn to her.

Chapter 2: Our couple shares their first magical moment together, but the looming threat of their clans' rivalry casts a shadow over their happiness.

Chapter 3: Our wizard protagonist confides in his best friend about his feelings for the sorceress, but is warned about the dangers of falling in love with someone from a rival clan.

Chapter 4: The sorceress reveals that she feels the same way, and the couple begins to meet in secret.

Chapter 5: The first major conflict arises when our wizard protagonist's clan discovers his relationship with the sorceress and forbids him from seeing her.

Chapter 6: The sorceress' clan also discovers their relationship and the two clans begin to escalate their hostility towards each other.

Chapter 7: The couple's secret meetings become riskier as they try to find a way to be together without causing a war between their clans.

Chapter 8: A powerful sorcerer from our wizard protagonist's clan threatens the couple and warns them to end their relationship.

Chapter 9: Our protagonist turns to an older, wiser wizard for advice on how to navigate the dangerous politics of their clans.

Chapter 10: Our couple is caught in a dangerous ambush by members of the sorceress' clan who disapprove of their relationship.

Chapter 11: The sorceress' clan accuses our wizard protagonist of using dark magic to seduce her and threatens to retaliate.

Chapter 12: The couple decides to seek refuge in a neutral territory and try to find a way to resolve the conflict peacefully.

Chapter 13: Our protagonist discovers a sinister plot by a dark force that threatens both clans and realizes that they must work together to stop it.

Chapter 14: The couple's efforts to bring their clans together are met with resistance and suspicion from both sides.

Chapter 15: Our wizard protagonist and the sorceress embark on a dangerous mission to uncover the dark force's plans.

Chapter 16: The couple faces their greatest challenge yet as they confront the dark force and its powerful minions.

Chapter 17: Our couple must fight for their lives as they face overwhelming odds, but their love gives them the strength to prevail.

Chapter 18: The couple is hailed as heroes for saving their clans from the dark force, but their victory comes at a great cost.

Chapter 19: Our couple is finally able to publicly declare their love for each other, and their clans agree to a truce.

Chapter 20: The novel ends with our couple looking forward to a future together, as they embark on a new journey filled with hope and promise.

Great job! Now, for the final step: take each chapter and create a bullet-pointed outline of what you want to happen in it. This will help make your life easier when you begin writing the actual story because you'll already know what you need to write, and you just need to turn it into beautiful prose. But, Yes there is a but, If you just like to let the creative juices flow and don't want to write so rigidly, like I do, skip it. I personally just write the one or two sentences for my chapter when I build an outline, and then I just go for it.

Chapter One: A Meeting of Hearts

The chapter opens with our young wizard protagonist, whose name is Aaron, attending his morning training session at the wizard academy. During a break, Aaron wanders off into the forest for some quiet reflection and stumbles upon a clearing filled with glowing mushrooms. As he investigates the mushrooms, Aaron is startled by a rustling in the nearby bushes and turns to see a young woman emerge. The young woman introduces herself as Lyra, a powerful sorceress from a rival clan. Despite the tensions between their clans, Aaron and Lyra are immediately drawn to each other and begin to chat. Aaron discovers that Lyra is at the academy to research a powerful spell that could help her clan in their ongoing conflict with Aaron's clan. Aaron offers to help Lyra with her research, and they agree to meet secretly to work on the spell together. As Aaron leaves the clearing, he realizes that he is falling for Lyra and wonders how he will be able to reconcile his feelings with his loyalty to his clan. The chapter ends with Aaron returning to the academy, his thoughts consumed by thoughts of Lyra and the dangerous path they are embarking on.

By the way, in case you were wondering, the story we've been working on is a fantasy romance. Once you've completed outlining each chapter, congratulations, you've successfully outlined your novel! Now, let's move on to the next step: creating characters. You might be wondering why I saved this for after the plot section instead of before, but everyone has their own approach. Personally, I like to create my characters as I'm outlining my novel and really flesh them out while writing my first draft. Then, I use my second draft to make sure that the characters remain consistent throughout the book.

Characters

We've made it to the last section of our basic outline! As a writer, I prefer to develop my characters alongside my plot rather than before it. I start with some basic character details and adjust them as needed to fit the story. Sometimes, characters I initially thought were essential end up being cut, while others I created on a whim end up becoming integral to the plot. For example, in my current work in progress, I created a childhood friend of the main character on a whim, but he ended up becoming an antagonist who will go through a redemption arc and a friends-to-enemies-to-friends trope.

When it comes to creating your characters, there are some essential details you'll want to have nailed down. But don't worry, it's not necessary to have everything figured out until you finish your first draft. Just make sure you have all the important information for your main characters sorted out by the time you start working on your second draft. It's crucial to make sure your characters remain consistent throughout the story and that their actions and thoughts align with their established traits. After all, you don't want to project your own desires onto them - that's not good writing.

When it comes to creating your characters, there are some basic details you'll want to include, like their name and a brief history that matches their personality. For example, it might not make sense for a character with a tragic past to be overly optimistic and carefree all the time, not unless they're pretending.

List a few key traits that define your character's personality, such as being gruff yet secretly caring or sarcastic and cold. You don't need to create a whole resume, just a few words will do. As you write, you might find yourself adding more details to your character's personality, habits, or preferences, so make sure to jot them down.

Another important aspect is their appearance. Decide on this early on and make sure to note it down. You don't want to have to search through all your chapters to remember what your own character looks like! These are the basics, but there are three more things I want to mention that can help flesh out your character even more.

Outer conflict

Outer conflict is basically the challenges and hurdles that a character faces in their environment. It plays a significant role in the story as it generates suspense and propels the plot forward. The external obstacles that a character can encounter are diverse and varied, like dealing with natural disasters, social norms, cultural differences, achieving goals, or fighting against an adversary.

Moreover, the outer conflict can help to shape a character's personality and traits. As the character copes with and conquers obstacles, readers get to know their strengths, weaknesses, and motivations. This allows readers to form a deeper connection with the character and become more invested in their journey.

Furthermore, external conflicts can also symbolize inner turmoil. The external obstacles that a character faces can be a representation of the internal struggles they are going through, like battling fears or doubts. This creates a powerful emotional impact on readers and helps to convey crucial themes and messages.

Here are twenty examples of outer conflict:

A character struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic world.

A character facing a physical illness or disability that limits their abilities.

A character fighting for justice against a corrupt system or organization.

A character facing discrimination or prejudice based on their race, gender, or other identity.

A character trying to escape a dangerous situation or person.

A character facing environmental or natural disasters.

A character navigating a war or political conflict.

A character struggling with addiction or substance abuse.

A character facing financial ruin or bankruptcy.

A character dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic event.

A character struggling to balance their personal and professional lives.

A character facing a difficult decision that could have major consequences.

A character in a survival situation in the wilderness or at sea.

A character trying to break free from a toxic relationship.

A character dealing with the consequences of a mistake or poor decision.

A character facing a physical or mental challenge or disability.

A character struggling to protect their family or loved ones from harm.

A character trying to survive in a hostile or unfamiliar environment.

A character dealing with the loss of a loved one or grieving.

A character facing betrayal or deception from someone they trust.

Inner Conflict

Inner conflict is a crucial element of a story that delves into the psychological and emotional struggles that a character experiences. It's the battle between their desires and their values, their fears and aspirations, or what they want versus what they know is right. This struggle is what creates tension, complexity, and depth in a character, making them more relatable and interesting to readers. By exploring the character's inner conflict, readers gain insights into their motives, thoughts, and emotions, allowing for character development and growth.

Take J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" for instance, where Holden Caulfield grapples with an inner conflict of wanting to preserve the innocence of childhood and yet desiring to mature and grow up. This conflict leads to his erratic behavior and search for meaning and purpose.

Similarly, in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," Jay Gatsby faces an inner conflict of wanting to win back his lost love, Daisy, while also grappling with the fact that she is married to someone else. This inner conflict ultimately leads to his downfall and tragic end.

As demonstrated in these examples, inner conflict drives the plot, develops characters, and adds depth to their motivations and struggles.

Here are 20 examples of inner conflict:

Fear of failure

Insecurity

Lack of self-confidence

Difficulty making decisions

Guilt over past actions

Jealousy or envy

Grief over loss or trauma

Difficulty with vulnerability or trust

Struggle with addiction or temptation

Confusion over personal identity or purpose

Struggle with one's own morality or ethics

Difficulty with forgiveness or letting go

Shame over past actions or experiences

Struggle with self-acceptance or self-love

Difficulty with emotional intimacy or connection

Conflict with personal beliefs or values

Struggle with one's own mortality or purpose in life

Difficulty with facing the truth or reality of a situation

Struggle with balancing personal desires with the needs of others

Conflict between personal ambition and loyalty to others.

As a writer, it's important to understand how to weave outer and inner conflict together to create a compelling and multidimensional character in your story. Outer conflict provides the external challenges and obstacles that the character must face and overcome, driving the plot forward. On the other hand, inner conflict gives readers a window into the character's thoughts, feelings, and motivations.

The two types of conflict can also inform and influence each other. Inner conflict can affect how a character responds to outer conflict, and vice versa. For instance, if a character is struggling with self-doubt, this may make it harder for them to face a physical challenge presented as an outer conflict. Similarly, if a character is facing an outer conflict like a life-threatening situation, this may trigger an inner conflict related to their deepest fears and desires. The interplay between inner and outer conflict can lead to character growth, as the character learns to face their fears, confront their weaknesses, and achieve their goals.

By using both types of conflict effectively, you can create a character that is not only relatable and interesting, but also one that readers can root for as they navigate the challenges of your story.

Here is a list of 28 ways outer and inner conflict can interplay with each other:

A character with a fear of failure (inner conflict) must overcome obstacles to achieve their goal (outer conflict).

A character struggling with addiction (inner conflict) must face consequences of their behavior that endanger their loved ones (outer conflict).

A character dealing with trust issues (inner conflict) must work with a partner they don't trust (outer conflict).

A character struggling with guilt (inner conflict) must clear their name and prove their innocence (outer conflict).

A character struggling with self-doubt (inner conflict) must take on a leadership role to save their community (outer conflict).

A character who is closed-off emotionally (inner conflict) must learn to trust and open up to their love interest (outer conflict).

A character with a tendency to control others (inner conflict) must learn to work in a team and share responsibility (outer conflict).

A character struggling with their identity (inner conflict) must navigate a world that doesn't accept their identity (outer conflict).

A character dealing with trauma (inner conflict) must confront the source of their trauma to overcome it (outer conflict).

A character struggling with commitment issues (inner conflict) must make a difficult decision that affects their relationship (outer conflict).

A character with a lack of self-worth (inner conflict) must prove to themselves and others that they are capable (outer conflict).

A character struggling with loss (inner conflict) must learn to move on and find purpose in life again (outer conflict).

A character with a need for control (inner conflict) must learn to let go and trust others (outer conflict).

A character dealing with past mistakes (inner conflict) must confront those they have wronged and seek redemption (outer conflict).

A character struggling with their beliefs (inner conflict) must stand up for what they believe in despite opposition (outer conflict).

A character who is closed off from the world (inner conflict) must open up and make new connections to achieve their goal (outer conflict).

A character struggling with a lack of direction (inner conflict) must find purpose in their life and pursue it (outer conflict).

A character with a history of abuse (inner conflict) must confront their abuser to achieve closure (outer conflict).

A character struggling with their sexuality (inner conflict) must come out and face the social consequences of their identity (outer conflict).

A character with a need for revenge (inner conflict) must overcome their desire for revenge to achieve a greater goal (outer conflict).

A character struggling with their family history (inner conflict) must confront the past to move forward (outer conflict).

A character with a fear of the unknown (inner conflict) must step out of their comfort zone to achieve their goal (outer conflict).

A character struggling with their past (inner conflict) must come to terms with it in order to move forward (outer conflict).

A character with a lack of trust in others (inner conflict) must work with a team to achieve their goal (outer conflict).

A character struggling with their identity (inner conflict) must confront the expectations of others to find their true self (outer conflict).

A character with a tendency to self-sabotage (inner conflict) must overcome their negative patterns to achieve success (outer conflict).

A character struggling with mental illness (inner conflict) must overcome the stigma associated with their illness (outer conflict).

A character with a need for control (inner conflict) must learn to accept and adapt to unforeseen circumstances (outer conflict).

Character Growth

As a story progresses, the characters within it can undergo a significant transformation that we refer to as character growth. This growth can manifest itself in various ways, including changes in beliefs, values, behaviors, or relationships.

By portraying a character's growth, a writer can create a sense of depth and nuance that makes them more relatable and interesting to the reader. Furthermore, character growth is instrumental in driving the plot forward, as the changes experienced by the character often create new conflicts and challenges that must be addressed.

Witnessing a character's growth can be satisfying to the reader, providing them with a sense of catharsis as they watch the character overcome their obstacles and achieve their goals.

Character growth is crucial to the success of a story, and as a writer, it's important to ensure that your main characters evolve and change over the course of the narrative. People naturally experience growth and change in real life, whether it's positive or negative, as they navigate through life's challenges. The same principle applies to your characters.

When you're editing your second or third draft, take a close look at your characters and ensure that their development is evident. Keeping your characters stagnant and unchanged throughout the story isn't realistic and can hinder your reader's connection with them. By allowing your characters to evolve, you create a more relatable and believable story, one that resonates with readers and keeps them engaged until the end.

Here are some examples of good character growth in stories:

Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins learns to trust others and become a leader.

Elizabeth Bennet in "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen learns to let go of her prejudices and pride and become more empathetic towards others.

Harry Potter in "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling learns to face his fears and take responsibility for his actions.

Frodo Baggins in "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien learns to sacrifice his own desires for the greater good.

Elinor Dashwood in "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen learns to express her emotions and become more open.

Holden Caulfield in "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger learns to let go of his cynicism and find a sense of hope.

Ponyboy Curtis in "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton learns to appreciate the value of family and friends.

Scout Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee learns to see the world from other people's perspectives and become more tolerant.

Andy Dufresne in "The Shawshank Redemption" by Stephen King learns to never give up hope and find redemption.

Hester Prynne in "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne learns to stand up for herself and live on her own terms.

Jean Valjean in "Les Misérables" by Victor Hugo learns to find forgiveness and redemption through selflessness.

Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee learns to fight for justice and become a role model for his children.

Bilbo Baggins in "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien learns to step out of his comfort zone and embrace adventure.

Sydney Carton in "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens learns to find a sense of purpose and redemption through self-sacrifice.

John Proctor in "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller learns to stand up for his beliefs and fight for what is right.

Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell learns to become more self-reliant and resourceful.

Charles Ryder in "Brideshead Revisited" by Evelyn Waugh learns to find a sense of meaning and purpose in life.

Captain Ahab in "Moby-Dick" by Herman Melville learns to confront his own obsession and find a sense of closure.

Marianne Dashwood in "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen learns to find a balance between emotional and rational thinking.

Scout in "Go Set a Watchman" by Harper Lee learns to see her father, Atticus Finch, as a human being and understand his flaws.

Great news, you made it to the end of the basic novel outline! This is all you need to get started on writing your novel, and I'm excited for you to begin. Let's quickly recap what you'll need for your outline: a genre and sub-genre, a trope, a target audience, a word count, a chapter count, a two-sentence plot description, a more detailed plot description that covers the beginning, middle, and end of your story, and a chapter-by-chapter outline. For your characters, you'll need to include their names, brief histories, physical descriptions, personalities, outer conflicts, inner conflicts, and character growth. Once you have all of this information, you'll be ready to start writing your novel. Congratulations again, and happy writing!

Next up we'll be going into a bit more detail that focuses on world-building for fantasy or science fiction stories, anything that requires deeper world-building than a romance or regular modern paranormal fiction.

Going on from here, I won't be as detailed with explanations, what I'll be providing is mostly just information you need to get and it doesn't involve much hard research.

Races

Physical Traits:

Physical traits can play a huge role in creating unique and memorable fantasy races. By giving a race its own set of distinctive physical features, an author can make it stand out from other races and help it come to life within the story.

But physical traits aren't just about making a race look cool or interesting - they can also inform other aspects of a race's culture and history, making the story even more immersive and engaging. For example, a race with wings might have a rich history of flight, while a race with a natural resistance to fire might have developed unique technologies or traditions to harness that ability.

Religion:

Have you ever thought about the role of religion in a fantasy world? In many cases, it can provide a sense of depth and purpose to a race's way of life. Religion can shape everything from their beliefs and values to their traditions and customs, and even affect their interactions with other races and their environment.

By incorporating religion into your world-building, you can create a rich tapestry of different beliefs and practices that can help to shape the personalities of your characters. Whether it's through the way they approach challenges or the values they hold dear, religion can be a powerful tool for creating a unique and engaging fantasy race.

Here are something to think on while creating religions:

Deities and Mythology A. Different gods and goddesses B. Creation myths and legends C. Supernatural forces and entities

Religious Institutions A. Temples, shrines, and other holy sites B. Religious leaders and hierarchies C. Religious ceremonies and rituals

Beliefs and Values A. Moral and ethical codes B. Attitudes towards magic and other supernatural elements C. Relationship between religion and politics, culture, and society

Religious Conflict and Cooperation A. Religious differences and conflicts B. Religious tolerance and cooperation C. How religion impacts relationships and diplomacy between different societies

Culture:

Do you love exploring imaginary worlds filled with magic and wonder? If so, you'll know that culture plays a huge role in bringing these fantastic places to life. In a fantasy world, culture encompasses everything from shared beliefs and customs to art and social practices. By creating unique and vibrant cultures for each race and society, we can make these worlds feel alive and believable.

To craft a compelling culture for a fantasy world, we need to take into account many factors, such as the geography and climate of the world, the history and mythology of its inhabitants, and their level of technology. For example, if a society lives in a cold, mountainous region, they might have adapted their clothing and transportation to suit their environment.

In a well-crafted fantasy world, each race and society should have its own distinct culture that enriches the story and makes it more immersive. From the way they view concepts like honor and loyalty to the way they celebrate holidays and mark significant life events

Things to think on while creating cultures:

Beliefs and Values A. Religious and spiritual beliefs B. Moral and ethical values C. Attitudes towards magic and other supernatural elements

Social Structure A. Different classes and social groups B. Power dynamics and hierarchies C. Customs and traditions related to marriage, family, and social interaction

Art and Aesthetics A. Literature, music, and art B. Fashion and clothing styles C. Architectural and design styles

Technology and Industry A. Tools and weapons B. Transportation and communication C. Economic systems and trade

Language:

Language plays a crucial role in creating immersive and believable worlds. Language shapes the way people interact with each other and their environment, and can reflect the history, mythology, and values of a particular race or society.

In a well-crafted fantasy world, each race or society should have its own unique language or languages. This adds depth and complexity to the world, with the creation of new words, phrases, and even alphabets to reflect each race's unique linguistic characteristics.

Language can also be used to explore themes and ideas central to the story. For instance, the language used by those in power may reflect the power dynamic and make it difficult for the commoners to understand. In addition, language can create a sense of mystery and otherness. A completely invented language can make a fantasy race feel alien and distinct.

Furthermore, language can be used as a storytelling device, with characters translating between languages or struggling to communicate with other races. This can create tension, conflict, and opportunities for characters to learn about different cultures and deepen their understanding of the world around them.

Keep in mind that not every fantasy world or story needs detailed languages. If you prefer not to include them, that's okay too! However, if you're interested in exploring languages in your story, here are some factors to consider.

Language Families A. Different language families and their characteristics B. Historical and cultural factors influencing language development C. How languages relate to one another

Written and Spoken Languages A. Different writing systems and their evolution B. Spoken language and dialects C. How language shapes communication and relationships

Language Acquisition and Learning A. How characters learn new languages B. Cultural attitudes towards language learning C. The role of language in education and society

Translation and Interpretation A. How characters translate and interpret languages B. The challenges of language barriers C. The importance of accurate translation in diplomacy and trade

Magic

Having mystical abilities such as magic, mana, or superpowers can add excitement and intrigue to your story, but it's important to be mindful of how you use them. Many writers fall into the trap of creating limitless magical powers for their characters, which can make the story feel unrealistic and unsatisfying. To avoid this, it's helpful to answer a few questions about your magic system.

First, how does it work? It's important to understand the ins and outs of your magic system so that you can write your characters using it realistically. Knowing the mechanics of your magic system will prevent you from simply having your character magically power up in a crucial moment to get out of a tough situation.

Second, who can have it? Is there a criteria for who can use the magic or powers? Understanding why certain characters have magical abilities will prevent you from creating random characters that have the ability, and will also give your readers more information about your characters.

Third, what are the rules and limitations? Are there rules in your world about how the magic system should and should not be used? Are there physical limitations to what your characters can do? Setting rules and limitations will stop you from overpowering your character and will add conflict and tension to your story.

Additionally, it's important to consider how the general population feels about magic. Are there people who are against it, who hunt or experiment on those who possess it? Are magical individuals adored or seen as gods? Understanding how your world views magic will add depth and complexity to your story and create opportunities for conflict and tension. By considering these factors, you can create a well-rounded and engaging magic system that adds to the richness of your fantasy world. Here is a summery and some additional facts to think on when creating a magic system:

Types of Magic A. Elemental magic B. Divine magic C. Necromancy and dark magic D. Witchcraft and sorcery

Magic Mechanics A. How magic works in the world B. Limits and drawbacks to using magic C. How magic can be learned or inherited D. How magic can be controlled or regulated

Magic Users A. Different types of magic users B. Training and education for magic users C. Magic user communities and organizations

Magic in Society A. How magic impacts society and culture B. Magic in law and politics C. Magic in economics and trade

Magic in Conflict and Cooperation A. How magic can cause conflicts and tensions B. How magic can be used for diplomacy and alliances C. How magic can be used to resolve conflicts

History

Incorporating a world history into your story is an excellent way to add depth and richness to your world-building. By establishing a history, you can develop your world's cultures and religions, and intertwine it with your plot for added complexity. However, it's not necessary to have a history for the entire world's creation - just a basic overview of the setting where your story takes place is sufficient.

Another helpful aspect to include in your world-building is myths, lore, and major events that have shaped festivals or important days in your world. Additionally, highlighting significant historical figures can also provide valuable context for your story.

While it's not essential to introduce this information at the beginning of your story, it's a good idea to flesh out these details during revisions to ensure a cohesive and well-rounded world. This can help maintain consistency throughout your story and enhance the overall reading experience for your audience.

If you are creating an entire world history. Here are some things to think on:

Creation Myth and Cosmology A. Explanation of the world's creation myth B. Introduction of the cosmology of the world

Early Civilizations and Kingdoms A. The rise of early civilizations and kingdoms B. Development of early cultures and their impact on the world

Major Historical Events A. Wars and conflicts B. Great discoveries and inventions C. Natural disasters and calamities

Key Figures in History A. Heroes and heroines B. Villains and antagonists C. Leaders and rulers

Religion and Spirituality A. Explanation of the major religions and spiritual beliefs in the world B. Impact of religion and spirituality on world events and culture

Technology and Advancements A. Advancements in science and technology B. Development of new magic and spells

Current State of the World A. The current political and social situation in the world B. Ongoing conflicts and challenges C. Future possibilities for the world

Geography

Understanding the visual aspects of your story's setting is a valuable tool for crafting a rich and immersive world. By knowing the geography, you can better visualize how your characters will interact with their surroundings, what they'll wear, and what they'll eat. It can also play a major role in shaping the culture of the people inhabiting your world.

The geography of your world can even influence the physical characteristics of certain races, like those living near a volcano who may have tough, scaly skin to resist heat. Some key factors to consider when developing the geography of your world include the landscape, climate, weather patterns, natural resources, and the types of food available to your characters. These details can all work together to bring your world to life and make it feel like a fully-realized place with a unique identity.

Things to think on while creating your world geography:

Physical Features A. Landforms such as mountains, forests, and rivers B. Climate and weather patterns C. Natural resources and their distribution

Political Boundaries A. Different regions and territories B. Borders, boundaries, and conflicts C. How politics and culture influence geography

Cultural Landscapes A. Architecture and building styles B. Cultural and religious sites C. Impact of culture and history on the physical landscape

Mystical and Supernatural Features A. Magic and other supernatural elements B. Divine or cursed locations C. How these features shape the world

Politics

In the world of writing, it's easy to think that politics don't matter, especially when you're starting out. However, this is far from the truth. As you craft your story, there will come a point where your character will need to make a decision that affects the people around them. When others either agree or disagree with that decision, you're entering the realm of politics. In its simplest form, politics is all about how groups of people work together to make decisions and get things done. This can involve everything from choosing leaders and making laws to deciding how to use resources. In a fantasy world, politics can take on a different flavor. Different races and groups of creatures might be vying for control of territory or trying to gain power or fight for their rights.

The Players A. Different races and societies B. Leaders and powerful figures C. Factions, alliances, and conflicts

The Systems A. Government and governance B. Laws and regulations C. Use of magic and supernatural powers

The Issues A. Resource allocation B. Territorial disputes C. Power struggles and control

There are a lot of different factors that can affect politics in your fantasy world, and it's important to consider how your characters and societies will respond to them. Whether they're fighting for their rights, negotiating deals, or making compromises, the decisions they make will shape the world you're creating. So take some time to think about these things and how they'll impact your story

Technology

It's important to consider the level of advancement in your fantasy world. For example, if you're writing an old world fantasy kingdom, but there is technology present, your readers will likely be curious about where it came from, how it was developed, and who created it. Make sure to address these questions in your world-building

Here are some things to think on while working on technology for your world:

Types of Technology A. Explanation of various types of technology in the world B. Magic and technology: their relationship and interaction

Evolution of Technology A. The history of technology in the world B. Key figures and events that drove technological progress

The Creation and Distribution of Technology A. Who creates technology in the world B. How technology is distributed throughout the world C. Economic and social factors that impact technology development

The Impacts of Technology A. Positive and negative impacts of technology on society and culture B. Environmental impacts of technology

Limitations of Technology A. Constraints on technology development B. Limitations on the use of technology

Future of Technology A. Speculation on the future of technology in the world B. Potential implications for the world and its inhabitants

That's it! We are done! Cheers everyone! Great job on completing your detailed outline! Here's a recap of all the elements you should include: First, choose your genre, trope, target audience, and set a word and chapter count. Define your plot in 2-3 sentences, then expand it and break it down into beginning, middle, and end. Then create a chapter-by-chapter outline. For your characters, give them names, a brief history, physical descriptions, personality traits, conflicts, and character growth.

When it comes to world building, describe the geography and how it affects culture, politics, and history. Provide an overview of the various cultures, their practices and beliefs, and how they impact character interactions. Explain the political landscape, the systems, structures, and how they affect characters. Develop the world's history, including key events and figures that shaped it and how it affects the current state of the world.

Include an overview of the magical and technological systems in the world, how they interact, and their limitations and implications. Discuss the various religions, their beliefs and practices, and how they impact characters. Provide an overview of the languages spoken in the world and how they affect interactions between characters. Lastly, describe the various creatures and races in the world, their physical characteristics, cultural practices, and how they interact with each other and with humans.

For convenience, here is a scrivener template created with this style in mind and all the research is included in the template's resource folder. It's free, so don't stress and Download. Note that this is a google drive link. Simply Download and import into scrivener as a template.

Looking forward to seeing you again in the future! If you love fantasy, check out my free novel! HERE.

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[taytjiefourie]

I'm writing (or planning to) a story about a killer that uses mind games and submits its victims to games of choice of life or death. Do you know any resources, blogs or anything I can check to help me with those games?

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this is not within my area of expertise, so I don't have any specific resources to recommend. Are you going for a "Squid Game" style or something more personal? One suggestion I have is to take children's games or board games and turn them into horror scenarios.

For example, you could use the "Surgery" game as inspiration and have the killer force your characters to perform surgery on each other. If they fail, their partners die at their hands. To make it even more intense, you could give them a life-or-death choice: perform the surgery to live or refuse die.

Another idea is to play a game of "Truth or Dare" where lying or refusing the dare results in death. Make the dares harsh and the truths something that really exposes the characters. Bonus points if the whole thing is being broadcasted live on the internet and the characters are aware of it.

"Escape Room" - Set up an escape room, but make it impossible to escape without making a certain number of sacrifices. For example, the characters might have to sacrifice one of their own in order to get a key to unlock a door. Or they need to commit a certain act, like breaking someone's hand or cutting or stabbing themselves.

"Russian Roulette" - Take the classic game of chance and make it deadly. The characters have to play a game of Russian roulette, and each time they pull the trigger, there is a chance that the gun will fire and kill them.

"Jenga" - The classic tower-building game can be turned into a life-or-death situation. Each time a character pulls out a block, they have to answer a personal question. If they refuse or lie, the tower will collapse and crush one of their fellow players.

"Monopoly" - The classic board game can be turned into a game of life and death. Instead of money, the characters are playing for their lives. Each time they pass go, they gain another life. they spend lives to buy plots and if they go broke they die.

"Charades" - Turn the innocent game of charades into a deadly game of guessing. The characters have to act out a clue, but if their fellow players can't guess it in time, they will be killedor punished.

"Spin the Bottle" - In this game, the bottle decides who lives and who dies. The killer spins the bottle, and whoever it lands on has to make a choice between two deadly options.

"Two Truths and a Lie" - The game of Two Truths and a Lie becomes deadly when the characters are forced to reveal a deep, dark secret about themselves for each round. If the lie is detected, they will face dire consequences.

"Never Have I Ever" - This party game becomes a nightmare when the killer reveals that they know all of the characters' darkest secrets. If a character has done what is mentioned, they have to take a shot of poison, the more they've done the more poison they need to consume.

"The Floor is Lava" - In this childhood game, the floor is not lava, but rather, it's rigged with explosives. The characters have to make it through the room without touching the floor, or they risk setting off the explosives and killing everyone.

"Tag" - This classic game becomes a fight for survival when the characters are tagged by the killer. Once they're tagged, they have to perform a task or solve a puzzle to avoid being killed. If they fail, they're out of the game permanently.

"Hangman" - In this classic word-guessing game, each time a character guesses a wrong letter, a body part of their partner is hanged. If they guess the word correctly, their partner is saved.

"Red Light, Green Light" - In this game, one player is "it" and the others have to try to reach a certain point without getting caught. However, if the "it" player catches them moving when they say "red light", they will be killed. If the 'it' player doesn't play along they die instead.

"Hot Potato" - In this game, a ticking bomb is passed around and the characters have to keep passing it to avoid being blown up. However, if they drop the bomb or hold onto it too long, it will explode, killing them.

"Battleship" - In this classic game of strategy, the characters are playing for their lives. Each time a character's ship is sunk, they have to sacrifice one of their own to stay in the game.

Again, I apologize that I can't offer any specific resources as I don't know where to look. Good luck with your writing!

[taytjiefourie]

Hi it's me who asked a question about having 7 main characters. Thank you for your response! I forgot to mention that i wanted to make it a series focusing on these 7 kids throughout high school and into adult life so one book for each year maybe.

If you're planning on writing several books, having your other characters play smaller roles while keeping the focus on your seven main characters could be a good approach (#percyjacksonletsgoooo), especially because you'll have more time to put attention on them. You can still shift the point of view to your side characters occasionally, as long as it's relevant to the plot. If you want to make them more significant in your story, consider writing in an omniscient narrative voice. This approach will allow you to "see" everything and make it easier to switch between different groups of characters, as long as the shift is relevant to the plot. I cannot emphasize that enough, don't switch away from your main characters if the thing you're turning your focus to is not plot relevant. If it's not progressing your story, do not do it.

If your side characters are doing something that will have a significant impact on the end goal of your plot or the main characters in some way, you can draw attention to that by shifting the focus to them. While their actions may not be the same as those of your main characters, they still have an impact on the plot. By doing so, you can show how the different elements of your story come together to create a cohesive whole.

By the way, have you read any of Brandon Sanderson's work? He's an excellent author who often divides his writing between various factions. His book Warbreaker might interest you, as it follows three or four main characters who don't interact much at first, but their stories collide near the end. The characters' stories are relevant to the plot and affect each other, even when they haven't met yet. The best part? It's one of Sanderson's free fictions, so you can easily read it online. Here's a link.

Hope that helps, and I'll be around if you need more advice, just note that this advice is based on my personal experience and preference.

[taytjiefourie]

Show Don't Tell: Happiness

And now, for the moment you've all been waiting for... drum roll, please! We're diving into the emotion of happiness in today's post of my 'Show don't Tell: Emotions' series. If you're a regular, welcome back! And if you're new here, a warm welcome to you, my dear!

Today's topic is happiness.

Happiness is such a wonderful feeling! It brings us pleasure, contentment, and joy, and often leaves us with a sense of well-being and satisfaction with life. In creative writing, happiness can be a powerful tool to convey positivity and hope, to contrast with darker emotions, or to create a satisfying resolution.

If you want to show happiness in your writing, there are many effective ways to do so. One of the most obvious ways is through your characters' body language. They can jump for joy, laugh brightly, or even have a smile so wide it hurts their cheeks!

Smile broadly or grin from ear to ear

Laugh or giggle

Jump or skip with joy

Clap hands or fist pump

Hug or high-five someone

Dance or sway to music

Stand up straighter or raise their head

Bounce on their toes or wiggle in excitement

Open their arms wide

Lean in towards someone or something

Have a relaxed posture and open gestures

Tilt their head back or close their eyes in pleasure

Breathe deeply and exhale with a sigh of contentment

Rub their hands together in glee

Raise their eyebrows in excitement

Twirl around or spin

Skip or hop

Shrug their shoulders in delight

Tap their feet or fingers in rhythm

Squint or close their eyes in pleasure

Nod their head enthusiastically

Sway or rock back and forth

Fist pump or air punch

Squeal or shriek with joy

Playfully nudge or poke someone

Flap their hands in excitement

Jump up and down

Do a little dance or shimmy

Hold their hands up in victory

Clap or cheer loudly

Open their mouth in surprise or delight

Rub their stomach or pat their heart

Touch their face or hair

Hug themselves or wrap their arms around their body

Toss their head back in laughter

Swing their arms or hold them out wide

Skip or hop on one foot

Lean in towards someone or something

Exaggerate facial expressions (e.g., widen eyes, grin widely)

Whistle or hum a tune

Make a thumbs-up gesture

Squirm or wriggle with pleasure

Hold hands with someone or link arms

Let's put it this way: the body isn't the only way for authors to convey their characters' emotions. Sensory details are a powerful tool to immerse readers in a character's world. By describing what they see, hear, taste, smell, and feel, we can bring readers into the character's experience. But we need to go beyond surface-level sensations and capture what the character feels on the inside as well.

Smiling widely or grinning from ear to ear

Laughing heartily or giggling uncontrollably

Dancing, skipping, or jumping with joy

Humming or singing a happy tune

Taking deep breaths and exhaling contentedly

Feeling a warm and fuzzy sensation in their chest or stomach

Savoring the taste of a delicious food or drink

Noticing the vibrant colors and beauty of their surroundings

Feeling the sun on their skin or the breeze in their hair

Hearing the sound of birds chirping or children playing in the distance

Feeling a sense of lightness or buoyancy in their body

Experiencing a tingling or ticklish sensation

Jumping up and down or bouncing on their toes

Clapping their hands or hugging someone tightly

Closing their eyes and smiling serenely

Feeling a rush of energy or excitement

Noticing pleasant scents, like flowers or fresh-baked cookies

Tasting the sweetness of fruit or candy

Feeling the softness of a plush toy or blanket

Running their fingers through sand or grass

Hearing the sound of a favorite song or musician

Watching a beloved movie or TV show

Feeling the coolness of a refreshing drink or ice cream

Taking in the beauty of a sunset or sunrise

Enjoying the sensation of being hugged or cuddled

Noticing the warmth of a loved one's touch or embrace

Feeling a sense of accomplishment or pride

Basking in the glow of positive feedback or compliments

Feeling a sense of relief or release from stress

Being immersed in a favorite hobby or activity

Feeling a sense of connection with others

Noticing the sparkle in someone's eyes or the curve of their smile

Feeling the rush of wind on a rollercoaster or other thrilling ride

Enjoying the sensation of swimming or floating in water

Feeling the comforting weight of a pet or stuffed animal on their lap

Hearing the sound of a baby's laughter or a friend's joke

Smelling the aroma of a delicious meal or favorite comfort food

Feeling the texture of a favorite fabric, like silk or cashmere

Noticing the beauty of art, like a painting or sculpture

Enjoying the sensation of being outside in nature, like hiking or camping.

Continuing on from our discussion on sensory detail, our next topic is all about action! The way a character moves and interacts with their surroundings can be a great way to show their emotions, including happiness. You might notice some overlap with our previous discussion on body language, as the two often work hand in hand.

Smiling or grinning widely

Laughing or giggling

Jumping up and down or dancing

Hugging or kissing someone

High-fiving or fist-bumping

Skipping or running

Singing or humming a happy tune

Whistling or clapping their hands

Doing something they love, such as playing music or painting

Sharing good news or accomplishments with others

Showing gratitude or appreciation towards others

Offering to help or support someone in need

Expressing optimism or hope for the future

Being kind or generous to others

Taking deep breaths and feeling a sense of calm and contentment.

Doing a happy dance

Giving someone a thumbs up

Offering a high-pitched, cheerful greeting

Whipping out a camera or phone to take a picture

Whipping out a camera or phone to take a selfie

Leaning forward with a big grin

Widening the eyes in joy and excitement

Throwing their arms out wide in exuberance

Doing a victory pose with fists in the air

Nodding and smiling with a sense of approval

Having a bright and lively conversation with others

Celebrating by popping a bottle of champagne or soda

Pumping fists in the air or chest-bumping

Cheering or clapping excitedly for someone or something

Staring off into the distance with a contented smile

Taking a deep breath and letting out a sigh of relief and satisfaction

Walking with a spring in their step

Picking flowers or enjoying nature

Baking or cooking a special treat for someone

Telling jokes or sharing humorous anecdotes

Giving someone a warm hug or a pat on the back

Sitting in a comfortable chair with a relaxed smile

Expressing genuine interest and curiosity in someone or something

Offering a comforting presence or a listening ear

Sharing a happy memory or personal achievement

Gazing lovingly at a significant other or family member

Taking part in a fun and engaging activity with others

Expressing excitement and anticipation for a future event or experience

Giving someone a playful nudge or wink

Let's dive into the topic of setting! It's more than just a physical space for your characters to exist in, it's about how they interact with it and react to it. The location, the scenery, and your character's responses to them can all be powerful tools to convey their emotions, including happiness.

Skipping, jumping or running around

Smiling or laughing while enjoying the scenery

Engaging in activities that bring them joy, such as playing music or reading a book

Dancing, swaying or moving rhythmically to music

Taking deep breaths of fresh air or savoring the aroma of flowers or food

Hugging or kissing loved ones, or expressing affection to pets

Participating in outdoor activities, such as swimming or hiking, with enthusiasm

Noticing and appreciating the beauty of the setting, such as the colors of a sunset or the intricate patterns in a forest

Expressing gratitude or excitement about an event or opportunity in the setting

Engaging in playful or lighthearted banter with others, demonstrating a sense of ease and joy

Basking in the warmth of the sun or feeling the coolness of a breeze

Indulging in a favorite treat or drink, such as ice cream or hot chocolate

Spending time with animals, either domestic or wild, and showing delight in their company

Expressing wonder and awe at the majesty of natural wonders, such as waterfalls or mountains

Engaging in physical activity with enthusiasm, such as playing sports or dancing

Enjoying a picnic or outdoor meal with loved ones

Taking part in a community event or celebration with excitement

Taking time to appreciate small details in the environment, such as the sound of birds singing or the rustling of leaves

Making art or taking photographs to capture the beauty of the setting

Connecting with others through shared experiences in the setting, such as storytelling or singing around a campfire

Feeling a sense of accomplishment or pride in overcoming a challenge in the setting, such as climbing a difficult trail or completing a scavenger hunt

Smiling or expressing joy at the sight of familiar landmarks or locations

Taking time to relax or meditate in a peaceful environment, such as a garden or park

Engaging in creative activities, such as writing or painting, to express their happiness

Expressing gratitude or appreciation for the people and experiences in the setting

Showing excitement or anticipation for future adventures or experiences in the setting

Taking part in cultural or historical activities that evoke a sense of happiness and pride

Playing games or engaging in playful activities with friends or family

Have you ever noticed how a sunny day, singing birds, and blooming flowers can instantly uplift your mood? The same effect applies to the settings/location in your story. Even without a character present, the scenery can influence the readers' perception of the mood. It's relatively easy to convey happiness through the scenery by incorporating bright and beautiful elements.

Weather: Sunny skies, clear blue skies, and warm temperatures can create a cheerful and happy atmosphere.

Time of Day: Early morning or midday can create a bright and positive atmosphere.

Location: A park or a beach can create a sense of happiness and relaxation.

Objects: Brightly colored or playful objects can indicate a character's happiness and joy.

Colors: Bright or pastel colors like pink or yellow can be used to create a sense of happiness.

Noises: Soft and melodic sounds like birds chirping or soft music can create a sense of happiness and calm.

Crowds: A lively and bustling environment, such as a festival or concert, can be used to create feelings of happiness and excitement.

Architecture: Warm and inviting environments like a cozy home or a charming cafe can create a sense of happiness and comfort.

Nature: A lush and verdant landscape can create a sense of happiness and contentment. Animals: Playful or affectionate animals can be used to create a sense of joy and happiness.

Hey, now we get to dive into some dialogue! It's a fantastic tool to showcase emotions, especially happiness. Your characters' tone of voice, choice of words, and how they deliver those words can all capture their happiness in a stunning way.

Using positive and cheerful language, such as "great," "fantastic," or "wonderful."

Laughing or chuckling at appropriate moments in conversation.

Expressing gratitude or appreciation for a situation or person.

Sharing good news with others and being excited about it.

Using exclamation points or emojis to show enthusiasm.

Using playful or teasing language with loved ones or close friends.

Asking others about their own happy experiences or memories.

Complimenting others on their accomplishments or actions.

Using endearments or affectionate language with loved ones.

Offering to help others with a task or problem in a cheerful manner.

Smiling frequently during conversation.

Using a lively and upbeat tone of voice.

Engaging in friendly banter or teasing with others.

Using positive affirmations, such as "I'm so lucky" or "Everything is going well."

Recalling happy memories or experiences.

Expressing optimism about the future.

Showing interest and enthusiasm for others' interests and hobbies.

Being open and receptive to new experiences.

Offering words of encouragement or support to others.

Displaying physical affection, such as hugging or high-fiving.

Speaking in a fast and energetic manner.

Showing a willingness to help others.

Being playful or silly with friends or family.

Making jokes or using humor in conversation.

Engaging in activities or hobbies that bring joy.

Saying "thank you" often and with genuine appreciation.

Expressing excitement about upcoming events or plans.

Using positive self-talk and focusing on personal strengths and accomplishments.

Expressing love and affection to significant others or family members.

Being generous with compliments and praise towards others.

And after all that, you get to delve into your character's mind and showcase their thoughts and core feelings, which can reveal their happiness. Expressing a character's thoughts is a great way to convey happiness in creative writing. It allows readers to get a closer look at the character's emotions and makes for a more intimate reading experience. When a writer reveals a character's innermost feelings, it strengthens the connection between the reader and the character.

For instance, if a character is feeling happy, their thoughts may reflect their sense of contentment, satisfaction, and positivity. They may dwell on things that bring them joy, such as achieving a goal, having a meaningful relationship, or enjoying a beautiful sunset. By describing the character's thoughts, the writer can give the reader insight into what is making the character happy and allow them to share in that happiness.

Furthermore, a character's thoughts can be used to contrast their present happiness with past struggles or sadness. By demonstrating how the character has overcome adversity or grown as a person, the writer can create a feeling of triumph and fulfillment that adds depth to the character's happiness.

A sense of contentment and satisfaction with their life or current situation

Thoughts of gratitude or appreciation for the good things in their life

Positive self-talk, such as reminding themselves of their accomplishments or strengths

Optimistic thoughts about the future or upcoming events

Thoughts of joy or excitement over something they're looking forward to

Thoughts of love or affection towards someone they care about

Daydreaming or fantasizing about happy scenarios or possibilities

Feeling a sense of lightness or freedom in their thoughts, with fewer worries or anxieties

A sense of fulfillment or accomplishment after achieving a goal or completing a task

A desire to share their happiness with others or spread joy to those around them.

Feeling a sense of belonging or connectedness with others

Being grateful for small pleasures, like a beautiful sunset or a good cup of coffee

Feeling a sense of relief or release after overcoming a challenge or obstacle

Feeling a sense of validation or recognition for their efforts or hard work

Feeling a sense of pride in themselves or others

Reflecting on happy memories or past experiences

Feeling a sense of anticipation or excitement for upcoming events or opportunities

Feeling a sense of comfort or security in familiar surroundings or with familiar people

Feeling a sense of wonder or amazement at the world around them

Feeling a sense of accomplishment or progress towards a long-term goal

Thinking about ways to help or support others, and feeling happy at the thought of making a positive impact

Feeling a sense of peace or serenity in a quiet moment or peaceful environment

Feeling a sense of enthusiasm or passion for a particular hobby or interest

Feeling a sense of nostalgia for past experiences or happy times

Feeling a sense of connectedness to nature or the outdoors

Thinking about happy moments shared with loved ones, such as holidays or family gatherings

Feeling a sense of awe or inspiration from witnessing acts of kindness or beauty

Feeling a sense of relief or release after expressing emotions like love, forgiveness, or empathy

Feeling a sense of confidence or empowerment after overcoming fear or self-doubt

Feeling a sense of awe or gratitude towards a higher power or spiritual force.

Let's chat about metaphors and analogies, two super fun tools that can bring your writing to life and help you show your characters' joy! Just remember not to go overboard, or your readers might get tired out.

So, what are metaphors and analogies? These are literary devices that writers use to compare two different things. A metaphor says that one thing is another thing, while an analogy explains how two things are similar. These tools are perfect for creative writing because they create vivid and unforgettable images that can show happiness in a powerful and unforgettable way.

You can use metaphors and analogies to show happiness in many different ways. They can help make the emotion more tangible and real. Instead of saying "she was happy," you might write "she was like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, filled with joy and wonder." This comparison creates an image that's much more memorable and helps the reader feel the character's happiness more deeply.

Metaphors and analogies can also be used to create contrast, which can make the happiness even more impactful. For example, you might describe a character's happiness as "a rainbow bursting through the clouds after a thunderstorm." This comparison creates a feeling of hope and joy that's made even more powerful by the contrast with the stormy setting.

"She felt like a bird released from a cage, soaring with joy."

"His heart felt like a sunflower, turning towards the light of her smile."

"The warmth of happiness spread through her like a sunrise, chasing away the darkness."

"He was as giddy as a child on Christmas morning, unable to contain his excitement."

"Her happiness bubbled up like a pot of boiling water, spilling over in laughter and smiles."

"He felt like a runner crossing the finish line, victorious and elated."

"She was a cat curled up in a sunbeam, purring with contentment."

"His happiness was a beacon, shining bright and spreading joy to all around him."

"She felt like a flower blooming in the spring, bursting with vibrant colors and life."

"His heart was a kite caught in a strong wind, soaring higher and higher with each moment of joy."

"Her happiness was a songbird, chirping a beautiful melody in her heart."

"He felt like a child with a new toy, excited and full of wonder."

"She was a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, spreading her wings and basking in the sunlight."

"His happiness was a warm hug, comforting and enveloping."

"She felt like a rainbow after a storm, bringing light and color to the world."

"His heart was a hummingbird, beating fast with joy and energy."

"She was a lighthouse, shining a beacon of happiness and hope."

"His happiness was a fountain, bubbling up and spilling over with joy."

"She felt like a puzzle piece finally finding its place, completing the picture of her life."

"His heart was a symphony, playing a beautiful melody of happiness and contentment."

"She was a shooting star, streaking across the sky and leaving a trail of happiness in her wake."

"His happiness was a warm blanket, wrapping him in comfort and peace."

"She felt like a flower blooming in a desert, defying the odds and spreading joy in a harsh environment."

"His heart was a drumbeat, pulsing with the rhythm of happiness and excitement."

"She was a bird building a nest, filled with purpose and joy in creating a home."

"His happiness was a wave, washing over him and carrying him to a place of contentment."

"She felt like a river flowing freely, unrestricted and joyful in its movement."

"His heart was a candle, glowing bright with happiness and spreading warmth to those around him."

"She was a firework exploding in the sky, lighting up the darkness with bursts of happiness and color."

"His happiness was a treasure chest, filled with priceless memories and experiences."

Thanks for reading my post today, my lovely readers! If you're new to the series, don't forget to check out my other posts on various emotions besides happiness. They're all on my Tumblr or you can find them organized a bit better here! Until next Monday!

#writing inspiration #writing #writers on tumblr #creative writing #writers #writeblr #writing advice #writing community #writing exercise #writing tips #writerscommunity #writerslife #writersociety #writer problems #writerblr #aspiring author #author #writers of tumblr #writing life #writers community #writblr #fiction #tumblr writing community #tumblr writers #tumblr writing society #tumblr writing prompt #story writing #story ideas #story

[taytjiefourie]

Hello! I'm writing a story about rich kids in la, the original idea was to have it focused on a mixed friend group of 7 people but i have i've come up many characters with slightly different personalities so i'm thinking of either :

1. making the rest side characters alongside my 7

or

2. ditching the core 7 and just it be about rich kids in la in general with different schools and friend groups but they are all interconnected

which one do you prefer?

Hi there! Personally, I think the first option would work best if you want to keep all your characters in the same book. Having too many characters in one story can make it difficult for readers to connect with them, and it's often that connection that keeps people invested in a story.

Alternatively, you could make these additional characters into side characters who appear occasionally and don't take the focus away from the core seven. For example, they could be from different schools or friend groups. Then, when you finish your first story, you could write a new one with the side characters as the main characters (or just one group of them) and your original core seven as the new side characters. It's kind of like the Marvel Universe with different people and different stories all taking place in the same world. Some of your scenes can connect, others can split off into completely different plots.

[taytjiefourie]

Beautiful, beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Well done!

Dialogue prompt: Sadness.

Hey there! It's time for our weekly dialogue prompt list, and I'm excited to share it with you after our last post on 'Show Don't Tell: Sadness'.

"I lost everything in the war. My family, my home, my hope. What could you ever offer to make it right?"

"Our kingdom is in ruins, our people starve to death daily and there is nothing we can do to help them."

"I always hear the cries of the innocent. It keeps my heart broken."

"You left me."

"She ran me through with a blade and a smile. I used to think she loved me."

"I saw too much. Too much death, too much destruction... too much wrong."

"They took the only meaning of my life and killed him before my very eyes."

"I only see the never-ending darkness in this world. There is no light."

"I cry rarely, but when I do, I feel like I drown in my own tears."

"I long for a home that was turned to ashes."

"She betrayed me. How am I meant to trust her with this?"

"I failed."

"The fault clearly lies with me."

"I'm sorry."

"The world's beauty fades with each passing day."

"I took you for granted. That was my mistake."

"I do not deserve your kindness."

"I buried him with my family. We may not have shared blood, but he was still my brother."

"I promised that I would. How could you stop me?"

"I burnt down their kingdom. They have a right to want me dead."

"The world I used to know is gone, replaced by a barren wasteland."

"The government stripped us of our freedom and our humanity."

"Every day feels like a fight for survival in a world that lost all hope."

"I can't bear the weight of this shattered reality we created for ourselves."

"The loss of my loved ones is a pain that never fades."

"The constant fear of being discovered and punished for our beliefs is suffocating."

"I miss the simple things, like fresh air and the warm sun on my skin."

"The scarcity of resources turned us against each other. It tore apart any sense of community and trust."

"The memories of the past are being replaced by a bleak and desolate present."

"The surveillance and lack of privacy is a reminder of the dystopian nightmare we found ourselves in."

"The thought of a better life feels like a dream."

"The destruction of our natural world is a reminder of the price we pay for our greed and selfishness."

"They took our history, our culture, our identity."

"The constant struggle to survive has left us with no time for anything else, including hope."

"The realization that we created this world ourselves is a heavy burden to carry."

"The thought of what could have been, what should have been, is a bitter pill to swallow."

"We may never know true freedom. We know this."

#flash fiction #short fiction #short story #stories #tumblr stories #storytime

[taytjiefourie]

Dialogue prompt: Sadness.

Hey there! It's time for our weekly dialogue prompt list, and I'm excited to share it with you after our last post on 'Show Don't Tell: Sadness'.

"I lost everything in the war. My family, my home, my hope. What could you ever offer to make it right?"

"Our kingdom is in ruins, our people starve to death daily and there is nothing we can do to help them."

"I always hear the cries of the innocent. It keeps my heart broken."

"You left me."

"She ran me through with a blade and a smile. I used to think she loved me."

"I saw too much. Too much death, too much destruction... too much wrong."

"They took the only meaning of my life and killed him before my very eyes."

"I only see the never-ending darkness in this world. There is no light."

"I cry rarely, but when I do, I feel like I drown in my own tears."

"I long for a home that was turned to ashes."

"She betrayed me. How am I meant to trust her with this?"

"I failed."

"The fault clearly lies with me."

"I'm sorry."

"The world's beauty fades with each passing day."

"I took you for granted. That was my mistake."

"I do not deserve your kindness."

"I buried him with my family. We may not have shared blood, but he was still my brother."

"I promised that I would. How could you stop me?"

"I burnt down their kingdom. They have a right to want me dead."

"The world I used to know is gone, replaced by a barren wasteland."

"The government stripped us of our freedom and our humanity."

"Every day feels like a fight for survival in a world that lost all hope."

"I can't bear the weight of this shattered reality we created for ourselves."

"The loss of my loved ones is a pain that never fades."

"The constant fear of being discovered and punished for our beliefs is suffocating."

"I miss the simple things, like fresh air and the warm sun on my skin."

"The scarcity of resources turned us against each other. It tore apart any sense of community and trust."

"The memories of the past are being replaced by a bleak and desolate present."

"The surveillance and lack of privacy is a reminder of the dystopian nightmare we found ourselves in."

"The thought of a better life feels like a dream."

"The destruction of our natural world is a reminder of the price we pay for our greed and selfishness."

"They took our history, our culture, our identity."

"The constant struggle to survive has left us with no time for anything else, including hope."

"The realization that we created this world ourselves is a heavy burden to carry."

"The thought of what could have been, what should have been, is a bitter pill to swallow."

"We may never know true freedom. We know this."

#fic prompt #writing prompts #original prompt #dialogue prompts #story prompt #writing prompt #writing ideas #prompt list #imagine your ocs #writers on tumblr #writing #story inspo #story ideas #creative writing prompt #creative writing inspo #creative writing ideas #daily prompt #dialogue prompt #daily writing prompt #dialogue #writeblr #writers #creative writing #writing community #aspiring author #my writing #writblr #fiction #writers of tumblr

[taytjiefourie]

Show Don't Tell: Sadness

Hey there, fabulous folks! I'm thrilled to have you back for another exciting day of my 'Show Don't Tell' series! Today, we're delving into the complex emotion of sadness, and I can't wait to explore this topic with you all.

Let's start by recapping why 'Show Don't Tell' is crucial in creative writing. When we show instead of telling, we allow our readers to truly experience the story firsthand. It's like sharing a delicious slice of pizza with a friend instead of just describing how it tastes. By showing, we can immerse our readers in the story and create a more captivating experience that brings the narrative to life in their minds.

Now, what is sadness?

Sadness is a powerful emotion that we all experience at some point in our lives. It's a feeling of deep sorrow or unhappiness, often caused by loss, disappointment, or failure. Sadness is an essential emotion to portray in storytelling because it allows the reader to connect with the characters on a deeper level. When we see characters experiencing sadness, we can empathize with them and understand their struggles.

Dialogue

Today we're starting off with dialogue! and oh boy, can I tell you a thing or two about dialogue in creative writing! See, dialogue is more than just two characters talking to each other - it's a powerful tool to reveal the inner emotions of your characters without having to explicitly state them. That's right, you can show, not tell, how your character is feeling just by the words they speak and the way they say them.

By carefully crafting dialogue, you can hint at a character's inner thoughts and feelings without spelling them out. You can use word choice, tone, pacing, and other elements to convey emotions that your readers can pick up on, even if your characters don't outright state what they're feeling.

For example, if a character is feeling nervous or anxious, they might speak in short, clipped sentences or stutter when they talk. If they're feeling angry or frustrated, they might use sarcasm or speak in a raised, forceful tone. And if they're feeling sad or defeated, they might use a subdued tone, speak slowly, or trail off mid-sentence.

By showing these emotions through dialogue, you're allowing your readers to draw their own conclusions about how your characters are feeling, rather than simply telling them outright. So, the next time you're writing dialogue, remember that it's not just about what your characters are saying, but how they're saying it.

Here are some ways to show your character's sadness through dialogue:

Speaking softly or in a subdued tone

Using a slow, hesitant delivery

Repetitively apologizing or expressing guilt

Avoiding eye contact

Using self-deprecating humor or dialogue

Asking for reassurance or validation

Using a trembling or shaking voice

Asking rhetorical questions to express confusion or hopelessness

Talking about loss or past regrets

Expressing disappointment or disillusionment

Using passive language, such as "I guess" or "I don't know"

Reflecting on negative feelings, such as shame or worthlessness

Using a quivering or choked voice

Expressing helplessness or powerlessness

Using long pauses or trailing off mid-sentence

Using a resigned or defeated tone

Expressing feelings of isolation or loneliness

Using negative self-talk or dialogue

Avoiding conflict or difficult conversations

Using a monotone or flat voice to convey sadness.

Making self-pitying statements, such as "Why does this always happen to me?"

Using expressions of regret, such as "I wish I had done things differently"

Expressing a lack of motivation or energy, such as "I just can't seem to get out of bed in the morning"

Talking about feeling overwhelmed or burdened by responsibilities

Using hesitant language, such as "I'm not sure if I can handle this"

Talking about feeling lost or directionless in life

Using indirect statements to avoid confronting difficult emotions, such as "It's just been a tough day"

Expressing a sense of hopelessness or despair, such as "What's the point anymore?"

Using figurative language to convey sadness, such as "It feels like a weight on my chest"

Talking about past traumas or painful memories

Using vague or noncommittal language, such as "I don't know how I feel right now"

Talking about feeling disconnected or disengaged from the world around them

Using self-criticism or self-blame, such as "I should have seen this coming"

Expressing a sense of longing or nostalgia for happier times

Using metaphors or similes to convey sadness, such as "I feel like a balloon slowly deflating"

Talking about feeling rejected or unloved by others

Using evasive language to avoid talking about difficult emotions directly

Expressing a sense of frustration or resignation, such as "It is what it is"

Using repetition to emphasize feelings of sadness, such as repeating "I just can't do this" multiple times.

Setting/Scenery

Let's talk about how to use the environment to create and convey sadness in creative writing. One way to use the environment to create a sad mood is through the use of imagery. Imagine a scene where the character is walking down a street on a rainy day. The sound of the rain hitting the pavement, the gray sky overhead, and the slick roads all work together to create a sense of sadness and melancholy. By describing the environment in detail, we can show the reader that the character is feeling down without ever having to tell them directly.

Another way to use the environment to convey sadness is through the use of color. For example, if the scene is set in a funeral home, we might describe the walls as a dull gray or beige, the curtains as heavy and dark, and the lighting as dim and muted. These details can all work together to create a sense of heaviness and sadness.

Using the environment can also be an effective way to create contrast and highlight the sadness in a scene. For instance, describing a bright and sunny day while the character is feeling down can help to emphasize their emotional state.

I've got a fantastic list of ways to use scenery and setting to indirectly show sadness:

Describing the weather as gray, rainy, or gloomy

Using dark or muted colors in the description of the setting

Creating a sense of isolation or emptiness in the environment

Using silence or a lack of sound to create a sense of loneliness or sadness

Describing the setting as abandoned or neglected

Using a stark or barren landscape to create a feeling of despair

Using symbolism in the setting, such as wilted flowers or broken objects, to convey sadness

Setting the scene in a place that is traditionally associated with sadness, such as a graveyard or hospital

Creating a contrast between the beauty of the setting and the sadness of the character's emotions

Describing the setting as chaotic or disorganized to mirror the character's internal turmoil.

There's another way to show a character's sadness - by having them directly interact with the setting:

Tracing their fingers along the rough surface of a wall

Sitting slumped or huddled in a corner

Staring off into the distance with a blank expression

Running their hands through grass or foliage absentmindedly

Letting raindrops fall on their face without moving

Slowly dragging their feet as they walk through the environment

Clenching their fists or gripping objects tightly

Kicking or throwing objects in frustration or anger

Covering their face with their hands or hiding their eyes

Leaning their head against a window or wall with a defeated expression

Tightly hugging a pillow, stuffed animal, or other comfort item

Pulling their knees up to their chest while sitting on the ground

Tearing apart flowers or other delicate objects

Trashing their surroundings in a fit of rage or despair

Moving through the environment slowly or aimlessly with no clear destination in mind.

I've also got some awesome details that'll help you convey sadness through scenery alone:

Weather: A gloomy, overcast day with drizzling rain can create a melancholic atmosphere, reflecting the character's sadness.

Time of Day: A dreary morning or mid-afternoon slump can convey a sense of sadness and lethargy.

Location: Abandoned or empty places, such as an old churchyard or an abandoned building, can create a sense of loneliness and isolation.

Objects: Neglected, dusty, or unused objects can symbolize the character's neglect or emotional emptiness.

Colors: Dull, muted colors like gray, brown, or beige can create a sense of emptiness and sadness.

Noises: Soft, somber sounds like gentle rain or the sound of distant waves crashing can create a sense of tranquility and melancholy.

Crowds: A crowded, bustling place like a shopping mall or a subway station can highlight the character's sense of detachment and loneliness.

Architecture: Decaying, crumbling buildings or abandoned factories can symbolize the character's emotional decay and emptiness.

Nature: A desolate or barren landscape, such as a desert or a frozen tundra, can evoke a sense of desolation and despair.

Animals: Sad or pitiful animals, like a stray dog or a sickly bird, can evoke a sense of vulnerability and sadness.

Action

Now it's time to talk about how actions can convey a character's sadness in a fictional story. Instead of saying, "He was sad," show us his actions, and we'll figure it out on our own. It's like when your best friend tells you she's fine, but you can tell from the slump of her shoulders and the frown on her face that she's definitely not fine.

For example, let's say your character just lost a loved one. Instead of telling the reader outright that the character is sad, show it through their actions. Maybe they're:

Staring blankly at a picture of the person they lost.

Lying in bed all day, refusing to get up or talk to anyone.

Going through the motions of daily life but without any joy or enthusiasm.

Avoiding anything that reminds them of the person they lost.

Crying uncontrollably at unexpected moments.

Losing their appetite or neglecting personal hygiene.

Snapping at loved ones who try to comfort them.

See how much more powerful and engaging that is than simply stating, "He was sad"? It allows the reader to empathize with the character and experience their sadness alongside them.

Here are a few other examples:

Slumping or drooping posture

Avoiding eye contact or looking down

Crying or tearing up

Frowning or looking solemn

Loss of appetite or overeating

Inability to sleep or sleeping too much

Lack of interest in activities they normally enjoy

Neglecting personal hygiene or appearance

Withdrawing from social situations

Clenching fists or tensing muscles

Moving slowly or sluggishly

Hesitating or procrastinating

Avoiding conversations or communication

Self-harm or destructive behavior

Engaging in risky behavior

Substance abuse or excessive drinking

A lack of energy or motivation

Losing track of time or being forgetful

Becoming easily frustrated or irritable

Exhibiting a lack of enthusiasm or passion for life

Remember that if a character is feeling sad and depressed, they might stop taking care of themselves, neglect their hygiene, and lose interest in their hobbies. They may also isolate themselves from others, withdrawing from social situations and avoiding conversations.

Body Language

Body language is a huge part of showing emotions in creative writing, and sadness is no exception! The way a character holds themselves, their posture, and their movements, can all tell the reader a lot about how they're feeling.

For example, imagine a character who has just received some terrible news. They might slump their shoulders, avoid eye contact, and wring their hands. These actions convey their feelings of defeat, sadness, and worry without the writer having to tell the reader directly.

Body language can also be used to create tension and conflict between characters. If one character is sad and another is trying to comfort them, the way they position themselves in relation to each other, the way they touch each other or don't touch each other, can all convey different emotions and create a deeper sense of meaning in the scene.

Here! I'll provide you with a short list of ways body language can convey sadness:

Drooping or slumping shoulders

Hunching over or curling up into a ball

Clasping or wringing hands

Biting or licking lips

Rubbing or covering eyes

Frowning or furrowing eyebrows

Tilting the head downward

Avoiding eye contact or looking down

Crossing arms or legs

Gazing into the distance or staring off into space

Sighing heavily or audibly

Slow or shuffling movements

Trembling or shaking

Fidgeting or restlessness

Wrinkling or rubbing the forehead

Holding oneself or self-soothing gestures

Stiff or tense posture

Lack of facial expression or a neutral expression

Slow or lack of movement

Deep, heavy breathing

A weak or feeble voice

Avoiding physical touch or contact

Shrinking or pulling away from others

Failing to respond or acknowledge others

Refraining from smiling or laughing

Breaking eye contact quickly

Pacing or fidgeting

Yawning excessively

Looking tired or fatigued

Crying or tearing up

Point of view

Let me tell you about the power of using point of view in creative writing to show a character's sadness indirectly. Point of view is all about the perspective from which the story is told, and it allows us to see the world through our character's eyes. By exploring our character's inner thoughts, inner dialogue, and emotional state, we can beautifully convey their feelings of sadness.

A character's sadness can be conveyed through things like:

Negative self-talk, such as self-doubt or self-criticism

Focusing on negative aspects of the environment or situation

Recalling past negative experiences or memories

Expressing a lack of motivation or interest in their surroundings

Having a pessimistic or cynical outlook on the future

Feeling disconnected or detached from others

Feeling overwhelmed or burdened by their emotions

Seeing the world in black and white, without much color or vibrancy

Struggling to find joy or pleasure in activities they used to enjoy

Having difficulty concentrating or focusing on tasks

Feeling hopeless or helpless about their situation

Expressing a desire to isolate or withdraw from others

Being irritable or easily agitated with others

Struggling to communicate their feelings to others

Feeling like they are a burden to others

Expressing a sense of numbness or emptiness

Feeling like they are trapped or stuck in their situation

Being indecisive or hesitant in their actions or choices

Feeling like they don't belong or fit in with their surroundings

Expressing feelings of guilt or shame

Having difficulty sleeping or eating properly

Feeling like they are constantly on edge or anxious

Seeing themselves as an outsider or outcast

Struggling to make meaningful connections with others

Feeling like they are invisible or overlooked by others

Expressing a sense of longing or yearning for something they can't have

Feeling like they are drowning in their emotions

Struggling to find purpose or meaning in their life

Feeling like they are stuck in a rut or a cycle of negativity

Expressing a sense of regret or remorse for past actions or choices.

Sensory Detail

Sensory details can take your writing to the next level! By incorporating sensory details into your writing, you can transport your readers into the world you've created and make them feel like they're a part of the story. Whether you want to evoke sadness, joy, or fear, sensory details are an essential tool for creating an emotional response in your readers.

Specifically, when it comes to showing a character's sadness, sensory details can be particularly effective. By describing their environment using muted colors and soft sounds, for example, you can create a somber atmosphere that resonates with the character's emotions. Additionally, describing physical sensations like a heavy chest or lump in the throat can help the reader understand just how deeply the character is feeling their sadness.

Remember, sensory detail isn't limited to external sensations - sensory detail can also include how the inner turmoil of the character interacts with the outside world, such as associating certain smells with sad memories.

I'll give you guys a few techniques for using sensory detail to show sadness:

Describing the weight of a character's heart or chest

Mentioning the salty taste of tears on the character's lips

Describing the sound of the character's labored breathing or sobs

Noticing the way the character's eyes water or become red

Describing the feel of tears streaming down the character's face

Mentioning the chill or shivers that accompany sadness

Describing the dull ache or pain in the character's body

Noticing the way the character's voice cracks or shakes

Describing the character's inability to eat or taste food

Mentioning the heaviness or stiffness in the character's limbs

Describing the character's difficulty in sleeping or restlessness

Noticing the way the character's hands tremble or shake

Describing the character's detachment or numbness

Mentioning the lack of appetite or desire to eat

Describing the character's exhaustion or fatigue

Noticing the way the character's posture slumps or droops

Describing the character's sensitivity to light or sound

Mentioning the character's lack of interest or enthusiasm

Describing the character's reluctance to leave their bed or room

Noticing the way the character's movements become slower or more deliberate

Describing the way the character's world becomes smaller or more constricted

Mentioning the character's lack of motivation or energy

Describing the way the character's skin becomes pale or sallow

Noticing the character's tendency to withdraw from others or isolate themselves

Describing the character's lack of focus or concentration

Mentioning the character's difficulty in making decisions or taking action

Describing the character's hypersensitivity to smells or tastes

Noticing the character's tendency to cry easily or frequently

Describing the way the character's thoughts become more negative or self-critical

Mentioning the character's lack of interest or pleasure in their usual activities.

Metaphors and Analogies

Metaphors and analogies in creative writing! These tools are like superpowers that allow us to express complex emotions in fun and unique ways. When we use them effectively, we can paint a picture in our reader's mind, making them feel and understand the emotions we're expressing. It's like adding a sprinkle of magic to our writing!

Here's how to use metaphors and analogies to show sadness in our writing! It's like playing a game of compare and contrast, where we compare the emotion to something that's relatable and tangible. For instance, we can describe sadness as a heavy weight on the character's chest, or a dark cloud that hangs over their head. By using these comparisons, we can help our readers to visualize the emotion in a more concrete way, making it easier for them to connect with the character and empathize with their experience.

Let's keep the creative juices flowing and talk about another way to use metaphors and analogies to show sadness in our writing! Instead of just describing the emotion itself, we can also use them to describe the character's actions or behavior. It's like giving our readers a visual representation of how the character is struggling with sadness. For example, we can compare a character who's dealing with sadness to a ship lost in a stormy sea, or a bird with a broken wing. These comparisons not only help the reader to understand the character's emotional state, but also create a sense of sympathy and compassion for their struggle.

Here are some examples for you to look at:

"Her heart was a shattered vase, the pieces impossible to put back together."

"He was a lone tree in the midst of a barren desert, with no hope of ever finding water."

"She felt as if a heavy weight was crushing her chest, suffocating her with grief."

"The sadness she felt was an ocean, deep and vast, with waves crashing over her constantly."

"His sadness was a thick fog, enveloping him in a cloud of melancholy."

"She felt like a bird with broken wings, unable to fly and trapped on the ground."

"His sadness was a never-ending tunnel, with no light at the end and no way out."

"The emptiness inside her was a black hole, devouring everything in its path."

"He was a ship lost at sea, with no sense of direction and no hope of rescue."

"Her sadness was a wildfire, spreading quickly and consuming everything in its path."

It's time to wrap up this post, but don't fret, I'll be back with more writing tips and tricks soon! There are plenty of these post on my tumblr so check them out too! or you can find a more organized version of them all here!

#writing inspiration #writing #writers on tumblr #creative writing #writers #writeblr #writing advice #writing community #writing exercise #writing tips #writerscommunity #writerslife #writersociety #writer problems #writerblr #aspiring author #author #writers of tumblr #writing life #writers community #writblr #fiction #tumblr writing community #tumblr writers #tumblr writing society #tumblr writing prompt #story writing #story ideas #story