writertyto

[writertyto]

the server is now open for its first members!

Join the Chill Writing Zone today! A Discord Server for Writers to make Friends with Other Writers

(it's still a work in progress so i'll do a proper post later on once everything's proven to run smoothly. please let me know if you have any suggestions for how to improve things!)

Rules:

Members must be 18yrs of age or older

Members must be LGBTQ+ friendly

No NSFW content is allowed (EG drugs/alcohol, explicit language or imagery)

Avoid political, personal & potentially triggering discussions. This is a place to discuss writing

What the server is for…

make friends, engaging in a community, find inspiration by talking with other passionate writers, discuss the writing craft and share resources to help others

What the server is NOT for…

getting people to read your work, drive-by asking for beta reading/critiques, advertising your projects

our aim is to be a small & chill place to discuss all things about the writing process. depending on interest we will limit the server to 100~ active members. feel free to join & have a look around using the link below-

https://discord.gg/zwqUKzbuQS

#writeblr #writeblr community #writer #writers on tumblr #queer writers #writer discord #writer stuff #writerscommunity #writer life #creative writing #amwriting #writing #writing positivity #tyto-talks

[writertyto]

How long should your book be

Wondering what word count is appropriate for your novel’s genre? Look no further. Here are my general guidelines for the minimum and maximum word count you should be aiming for, especially if you’re writing your debut!

📌 A typical novel is around 80,000 words long, but novels range from 60,000-120,000 depending on their genre and their aimed audience!

❗ Quick disclaimer: these are my own suggestions and are not hard&fast rules. There are exceptions to these, but generally the exceptions come from established authors. If you’re a first time author, and want to publish traditionally, you should stick to these confines as shorter novels are easier to get published as debuts ❗

Extra tip: the younger the audience you’re writing for, the shorter the word count should be.

General, contemporary & literary fiction: 70,000-100,000 Historical: 80,000-100,000 Romance: 70,000-90,000

Horror: 60,000-90,000 Thriller: 80,000-100,000 Mystery/Crime: 70,000-100,000

Fantasy: 80,000-120,000 (stick to the lower end for YA, higher end for adult or “high fantasy”) Sci-fi/Dystopian: 80,000-120,000 Adventure: 60,000-90,000

📌 Don’t panic if your first draft doesn’t quite fit these general confines! Do some research on the genre, audience, and topic of your book to see whether there’s wiggle room for your type of project. 📌 Also, first drafts are not the place to panic about word count! This is something you want to aim more consciously for in your rewrites.

Save this post to always have your cheatsheet handy!

Also...

Have you seen my new Youtube video, in which you hear about how you can write a short story? Check out my channel through [the link here] or below!

#resources

[writertyto]

questions to ask your beta readers!

(pls add on!) i’m currently working with betas seriously for the first time, so i made a list of questions that have become increasingly helpful as i have those discussions! in addition to these, it’s also good to ask a few big questions specific to your piece.

GENERAL

what do you like most about this piece?

what doesn’t make sense to you/what was confusing?

what big questions do you still have?

what felt incomplete?

what do you think this story is about?

what were you most/least invested in?

CHARACTERS

always ask for “your thoughts” on your most important characters. nothing like “did tyrone come off as shy?” or “does leah seem bossy to you?”, because that can sometimes sway responses.

also ask for “thoughts” on key relationships between characters.

who is your favorite character?

who is the strongest character?

who do you wish you saw more of?

who do you wish you saw less of?

are there characters who don’t add anything to the story? what would make them add more?

did you confuse any characters with one another? (if you have a big cast)

what did you think about [character a] versus [character b]? (if you have two very similar characters)

if a character has a moral conflict in the story/does something morally grey, ask where they stand on that character’s actions. if they have a strong reaction with a different opinion, that might be something to look into.

which characters did you dislike (as people, not as characters)?

do any of the characters ever act out of character?

does the main character/narrator feel like the best person to be telling the story? if not, who does?

PLOT

are there scenes/chapters/plot points that don’t add to the story?

do any moments seem out of place?

how would you have wanted this to end?

if you’re considering taking a scene out, ask what that adds to the story, and what it would lose without the scene.

same goes with adding a scene!

which scene felt like the most important scene?

what was your favorite part?

if you could change anything about the plot, what would it be?

how did [particular scene] make you feel?

alternatively, which scene made you feel the strongest emotions?

STYLE

does this feel like the right pov narration (1st person, 3rd person, etc.) for this piece?

does this feel like the right tense?

are there any phrases, metaphors, etc. that were confusingly worded?

if the piece uses a unique writing style, what do you think about [style]?

if it has multiple povs/narrators, could you tell the difference between voices? which voice was your favorite?

OTHER

are there any grammatical errors? (optional, if you have a 300 page novel please do not make your betas do this)

what is your favorite restaurant/coffee shop/store so i can buy you a meal and/or gift card as a thank you for being a crucial part of my writing process?

#beta reader

[writertyto]

Me fantasizing about publishing and being an author for about 90% of the time and actually writing for the remaining 10% is what I call the writer’s experience

#writing

[writertyto]

I need to edit my novel, so of course I'm on Tumblr instead.

#writing

[writertyto]

me getting a bunch of great lines for a scene I've been stuck on for weeks while i'm in bed trying to sleep:

#writing meme

[writertyto]

I'm sure you've seen posts floating around about leaving comments on AO3 as a "second kudos" but seriously, try it sometime.

Even if all you write is "2nd kudos" or "enjoyed re-reading <3"

Because it's a big deal when someone reads your words but all the more amazing WHEN THEY RETURN.

#fanfic

[writertyto]

hey my fellow writer people!

is anyone looking for a chill writers discord server for making friends?

i've been putting together a writers discord server over the last few days. i'm hoping to open it up to writers looking to make friends with other writers. i feel like most of the groups i join end up being about critique swapping only, so i wanted to make a space focused more on meeting others with the same interests, and supporting each other through the writing process

as i'm setting it up, what kind of channels would you like it to have? i've got spaces for; writing chats & questions, book chats & recs, fandom chats & an editing space (though that has to be unlocked over time so that we don't have drive-by requests for feedback)

what else would you like to see in the server? what would you find most useful in a writers' group chat?

i'll be posting a link to join in the next week or so, feel free to follow/check back on this post later :D

#writeblr #writeblr community #writer #writers on tumblr #queer writers #writer discord #writer stuff #writerscommunity #writer life #creative writing #amwriting #writing #writing positivity #tyto-talks

[writertyto]

Writer Bingo

What’s your final score? 👀

#20 for me #dont really drink tea anymore though i used to! #tyto talks

[writertyto]

“I’ve never seen grounds like this,” he admitted casually. “You have a lot of out-buildings.”

“Well, it’s a working garden,” she replied, trying to decide if he was making fun of her. “Everything serves a purpose.”

“Even the compost shed being right next to the front gate?” he asked, another smile tickling the corner of his mouth. 

“It makes it easier for the deliveries from the stables,” she deflected, and he nodded.

“Of course. I’m sure it has nothing to do with it being the first thing you smell as soon as you walk in, and the fact you’re doing everything you can to keep the nobility away.”

Edea pursed her lips and looked straight ahead.

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

#writing

[writertyto]

not as far as i'd thought i'd be lol, but still making progress! what about you? what're you working on?

How far are you in your writing project right now? ✍️

#tyto talks

[writertyto]

more of my writing memes here (3/?)

#writing meme #writing #writeblr #writing community #writers #meme #writer problems #writing problems #writer struggles #writer life #writing memes #writer meme #writers of tumblr #writers on tumblr #writing edits #tyto-memes #this happens too much

[writertyto]

what is happening? oh, dear i keep wishing you were here and i swear, i'm gonna lose it if i keep playing your music but what else is there to do? everywhere i look i just see you

dover beach, baby queen ✗ my coffee & music romance wip

#writer #writing community #writing #writerblr #writeblr #amwriting #romance writer #writers on tumblr #romance #am writing #mood board #writerscommunity #tyto-romancewip #i had so much fun making this!!

[writertyto]

Writing LGBTQ+: Asexuality

Jump scare! Gay people! So hi, on my quest to become a better writer, I read. A lot. And watch shows. And while the LGBT rep is getting a bit better... kinda... the asexuality rep is not! At all! Podcasts are like, the once source of representation I see that does it right. And even then, it's kind of iffy! So what do we do about it? We take advice on writing asexual people directly from the source. Hi I'm crypt and I'm ace, and I'm gonna tell you how tf to write asexual people into your stories.

So just like everything else, everyone's experience with asexuality can be, and is going to be different. The label itself can mean a lot of different things depending on the person. Some asexual people don't experience sexual attraction, but they can experience other attraction forms. Aside from sexual attraction, you can experience romantic, aesthetic, physical, platonic, and emotional attraction. So there are many different ways that attraction can be formed.

Some individuals experience no sexual attraction. Some people identify as asexual and experience sexual attraction only under certain circumstances. In that case, they may go by a different term or choose to label themselves as something else. But it doesn't take away from their asexual identity.

Identify your character

When writing an asexual character, the first thing to ask yourself is, are they also a romantic? Do they have a desire for a romantic relationship? But Suprise! Asexuals can and cant be romatic!

Basically this means that some asexuals are romantic, which means while they don't experience sexual attraction. They do enjoy romantic things such as being married, having a romantic relationship with their significant others, kissing, holding hands, and things generally associated with romance. Likewise some asexuals are aromantic, which means they don't experience romantic attraction as well as sexual attraction. This is commonly referred to as being aroace online!

So, it can be tough when you're writing because many people generalise that asexuals don't want romantic relationships. Sometimes it is easier to make a character who's asexual and aromantic. But if at all possible, make it clear that those two are not the same thing. Knowing your characters as well as you know yourself will be one of the most important things to do when writing any character well.

Sexual relationships

Some asexual people are sex-repulsed, which is self-explanatory, and some are sex interested. A lot of people call this sex-positive, which is fine, but that presents the idea of being sex-negative. While people can be sex-negative, it tends to be more puritans than asexual people who are sex-negative.

If you are a non-asexual person writing an asexual character, do not have them have sex. At all. You do not have the scope to be able to balance that writing of an asexual character who's decided to have sex for whatever reason. If you are an asexual person, do whatever you want to because you have that experience.

Asexuality is normal

One of the easiest ways to express sexuality on the page is to name it. If you're writing a book set in a time period where we have the vocabulary for asexuality, call it what it is. It doesn't do anyone any good to dance around it and pretend. If your character is set in the time period where they are able to call themself asexual, have them do that. Asexual people are usually pretty chill and proud of their identity.

As I said earlier, representation for asexual people is pretty much non existent, so if you have the chance in your writing to spell it out that your character is asexual. Do so. Don't dance around it, just come out and say it. As a queer person myself, I hate when writers allude to a characters sexual identity but don't ever confirm it within the writing, usually because they want to appease homophobic cishet people. Now some characters might not label themselves, and that's cool too, but if you choose to do this, please make it clear someway else.

When you're writing an asexual character, try hard not to make them an alien or robot or another race of beings that are all asexual. *Shakes you violently* we're people to dammit. We have feelings and emotions and we experience everything else life has to offer! With this being said, you may want to write a demisexual character, and that's fine. But then you have to make it clear that that is a demisexual character. Now, your character may identify with the asexual label, and that's cool too, but make that clear in your writing.

Careful of representation

Asexual people belong to the LGBTQ+ community, and they are queer. Whether they're homoromantic or a heteroromantic person, they're still LGBTQ+. Some queer folk, like myself, enjoy reading about asexual people (As long as its done right) because it makes us feel seen, like we're real people and not just concepts.

So, you have to be careful writing asexual characters because there are so few, especially canonically asexual characters, out there in the world at the minute. 

Avoid social awkwardness

Examine your attraction model and see where that leaves you and how you can build a model of attraction for a character who is asexual. Ask yourself these questions:

• What is it you like about a person?

• How quickly do you think about your character?

• How does that make you feel internally and externally?

Does your heart pound in your chest? You can usually figure out all of the non-sexual aspects of your relationship building, and therefore you can build an asexual character based on those factors. So it is the best way to do it because it's fairly realistic.

Don't hurt the community

Many people who have experienced trauma can become sex-repulsed, usually for a limited time. But they often can recover from it. So those people are not asexual. It labels them asexual against their will and damages them because they don't want that. But it's also damaging to the asexual community. Then it's thought that asexuality only happens when some trauma is involved in making them that way, which is entirely untrue.

If something has happened to you and you feel that you would be most comfortable identifying as asexual, then that's perfectly fine. Go ahead and do that. I'm only making it clear that writing a character who has had trauma is sex-repulsed because that trauma does not make them asexual. For example, I myself am Asexual, and I also have experienced sexual trauma. I was asexual before my trauma occurred and I still am. I know my asexuality has nothing to do with my trauma and vice versa.

Notes

Asexual people can be of any race or any agenda. Also, they can have different romantic attraction levels. There's such a thing as aromantic and romantic. Typically, romantic attraction falls into the same basic set as sexual attraction. So most people are romantic, but asexual people tend to divide their attraction model.

People tend to divide them out of attraction so that they are always asexual. But sometimes, they're always romantically attracted to one specific group, whether that group is the same gender, opposite gender, multiple genders, or whatever.

So, it's a thing to be aware of when writing asexual characters characters. When you can afford them, mix it up. Be aware of these stereotypes, so you don't accidentally fall into them. It is very easy to do, and then you've got to write yourself out of it once you get that.

#asexual #writing tips

[writertyto]

Genuine question, how the fuck do people fit character descriptions into their writing?

#literally me #writing

[writertyto]

i have one (1) consistent reader for give and take on royalroad and every so often they will comment “thanks for the story” when a new chapter drops and it makes me so so so so happy

#yes!!!! #writer

[writertyto]

i do this too often LOL, entirely on accident really

I have resisted putting the same song on more than one WIP playlist so far.

But this one is just so perfect.

#writing #tyto-talks