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funnytwittertweets
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After trying to decide if The Mummy was filmed with the male gaze or female gaze, I’ve come to the conclusion that it was filmed under the Bisexual Gaze. Here’s a list of other films with the Bisexual Gaze:
Jurassic Park
Venom
Every Barbie Film
Night at the museum, but specifically every scene with Jebediah and Octavius
The 2005 Pride and Prejudice
Pirates of the Caribbean
Les Miserables
Newsies
The Hannibal TV Show
Good Omens
Basically, if you look at a film and think “oh my god everyone is attractive why and the film has a bunch of just…super obviously implied queerness, congrats, that’s the Bisexual Gaze baby! Feel free to add to the list
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schrodinger's chekhov's gun. a detail in a story that looks like it should have some big payoff but it's too early to tell if that's relevant or if the author just has a passion for lovingly describing guns.
schrodinger's chekov's occam's razor: you find an inconsistent or inaccurate detail in a work that would be brilliant if it was foreshadowing a plot twist later on, but it's too early to tell whether the author expects you to be smart, and the simplest explanation is that they fucked up
sarahtaylorgibson
Writing a novel when you imagine all you stories in film format is hard because there’s really no written equivalent of “lens flare” or “slow motion montage backed by Gregorian choir”
You can get the same effect of a lens flare with close-detail descriptions, combined with breaks to new paragraphs.
Your slow-motion montage backed by a Gregorian choir can be done with a few technques that all involve repetition.
First is epizeuxis, the repeating of a word for emphasis.
Example:
Falling. Falling. Falling. There was nothing to keep Marie from plunging into the rolling river below. She could only hope for a miracle now, that she would come out alive somehow despite a twenty-foot drop into five-foot-deep water.
Then there’s anaphora, where you write a number of phrases with the same words at the beginning.
There were still mages out there living in terror of shining steel armor emblazoned with the Sword of Mercy.
There were still mages out there being forced by desperation into the clutches of demons.
There were mages out there being threatened with Tranquility as punishment for their disobedience, and the threats were being made good upon.
Mages who had attempted to flee, but knew nothing of the outside world and were forced to return to their prison out of need for sustenance and shelter.
Mages who only desired to find the families they were torn from.
Mages who only wanted to see the sun.
This kind of repetition effectively slows the pace of your writing and puts the focus on that small scene. That’s where you get your slow pan. The same repetition also has a subtle musicality to it depending on the words you use. That’s where you get the same vibe as you might get from a Gregorian choir.
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Writing tips: Subplots
Subplots are a great way to add to your story, and not just in word count. Now, I'm a believer in the idea that your subplot is really just an aspect of your main plot, and not something to be considered seperately, but to make things easier we'll stick to calling it a subplot here.
Anyway, subplots are a great way to deepen characters and worldbuilding, and, yes, add word count (but that shouldn't be your main goal). So here are some ideas for subplots to consider for your wip.
- Romance
- Enemies to friends
- Strangers to friends
- Minor antagonist in protagonist's everyday sphere
- Solving a mystery
- Rivalry
- Learning a new skill
Always ask yourself, 'what is this contributing to the story?' Because everything counts, everything should have a purpose.
What's your favourite subplot?
Reblogged grace-of-god
Beautifully said.
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writingzawn-deactivated20240102
Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Writing
saw lots of people doing this and I thought it would be fun so here are some tips I wish I knew before I started writing! // @writingzawn on instagram
Stories should be fluid
When I was younger I just used to write lots of random scenes that were only really snapshots into my characters' lives, shove them together, and call it a story. But scenes should feel connected, building towards some ultimate, shared purpose.
Outlining is very useful
I know it doesn't work for everyone, but I always used to get stuck halfway through a project and then end up writing dull, pointless scenes for the sake of getting to the end. I wish I'd known that the stage before you start writing can be really useful if you take it seriously and put the work in.
You have to enjoy the story you're writing
I always used to aim to make my stories 'meaningful' and forget about making them enjoyable. This meant I didn't enjoy writing them, so I never finished them. But something can be 'meaningful' and still fun. Sometimes you just have to let go and write something you're going to have fun writing, because something can be both enjoyable and have depth: they're not mutually exclusive.
Don't try to be like anyone else
I'd often start a project that was similar to whatever book I was reading at the time and try and imitate the author's voice and style. I don't think there's any problem with that in itself as it can help you to grow - as long as you aren't actually committing plagiarism - but it meant when I finished reading whichever book my project was inspired by, I lost interest and stopped working on it. I think it's really important to know what you enjoy writing, how you like to tell a story and what's important to you. Now I know the stories I like to tell, the genres that suit me best, the types of themes and characters I love, I manage to sustain motivation for longer.
Don't get too caught up on writing advice
There was a time when I was taking in so much advice and getting really stressed about following it to the letter that I stopped enjoying writing. I took each tip as a law I had to obey and it really restricted my style. Now I read writing advice to see how other people do things, to see if there are useful tricks I could benefit from, but if I don't think it fits how I like to work I let it go.
Follow your interests
I love ancient history, so I decided to set a book in ancient greece and ancient persia. If there's something you're really interested in, you'll probably have fun writing about it. Also, treating writing as an opportunity to learn about topics I'm interested in helps keep me motivated.
Work instinctively
I benefitted so much from reading writing tips online, but learning that there were lots of circumstances in my writing where they didn't apply was important. You know your story best so you know if it's better to use an adverb there, for example, or to include a character-focussed scene that isn't important to the plot. Follow your gut.
Don't do something just because everyone else is
Lots of people in the writing community write fantasy, which is really awesome, but that's not a genre that suits me particularly. I used to feel I had to write it, though, because that's what everyone else was writing. Now I know realistic/historical fiction is what I prefer to write, and that's really helped me sustain motivation.
Be ambitious
When I tell people the level of research I've had to do for my current wip a lot of people say 'well, why don't you write about stuff that you already know about?'. I used to feel daunted by historical fiction, so I wrote characters based upon myself set in the real world. I know for lots of people that's really rewarding to do, but I didn't find it enjoyable or healthy to completely focus on my own experiences in order to write a story about them. It takes a lot of time and effort to write historical fiction set in a time you know nothing about, but it is possible to get to a stage where you know enough about it. If you're feeling daunted by a project but really want to give it a go, I say go for it. If you put the work in, I'm sure you'll be able to give it a shot.
The process is much longer than you think
I used to aim to finish projects in a matter of months - I thought I could write a novel in the space of a year. But it's better not to rush the process. It's about the end result, not finishing it as quickly as possible. I've been working on my current wip for over a year and am yet to finish the first draft because I've been researching and outlining and daydreaming. But all that is only going to make it sweeter and a more successful story when I do finally finish.
Sometimes it's better not to set a goal than to set an unrealistic one
I find I can write to a much higher standard when I'm in the right frame of mind, so forcing myself to write 1000 words when I was exhausted from school just meant I ended up with tons of lifeless scenes that I cut anyway. Allowing myself to go with the flow and not pile tons of pressure on myself when I work more slowly than I would like has been really beneficial. Yes, you can always edit bad words later, but I've found striving to write good words in the first place keeps me motivated and enjoying the process. I know that's a bit controversial, but it's worked for me.
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My Writing Advice
I’ve been writing for about six or seven years now and… well I’ve seen a lot of other people do writing advice posts, so I guess I’ll do one too bc I feel like I’ve learned a lot over the years.
- It’s okay if your writing isn’t “perfect”. Whatever reason you might feel like it’s not good enough - you’re not confident bc english isn’t your first language, you’re bad with grammar, spelling, and/or punctuation, you can’t remember which their/there/they’re to use - is totally fine! Every writer makes mistakes, even published authors, and that’s okay. The occasional spelling error or grammar mistake reminds people that the writer is human, and makes people like me appreciate their work that much more.
- You will hate your old works. I’m not gonna sugarcoat this, but when you look back at your very first writing piece, you will definitely cringe. That’s okay though, because what you wrote then was preparing you to write what you’re writing now. Sometimes your old writing will seem like it has no flow or a weird plot, but that’s all part of growing as a writer.
- Writing is all about learning. Additionally to my previous point, it’s important to remember (especially when looking back on your old writing) that it’s all a learning curve. With everything you write, you are growing and learning as a writer, you’re gaining knowledge and experience and understanding of what it truly is to be a writer. When you look back on your old writing, try and look at the things that make you cringe, and you’ll see that you don’t make those mistakes in your writing anymore.
- Copying is okay. I’m not saying take someone else’s writing and copy it word for word and call it yours; what I mean is, if you get a little inspiration from something else (a book, movie, tv show, etc) it’s okay to use that. Original ideas can be hard to come by and if you’re nervous about the originality of your work, you can always say in the description where the idea was from (“yes, this was inspired by She Ra, shush”). Even famous artist Vincent Van Gogh started off by copying paintings by Japanese artists, which made me feel a bit better about not always being 100% original.
- Write from personal experience. Your life is probably an original idea. If you have an interesting story to share, write it! Whether they’re fanfics based on your life or true retellings of your experiences, it’s always good to use your own memories. Writing like this is also a good way of coping with grief or mental health issues, as getting the story out, in whatever way possible, can provide closure and relief.
- Start off with scripts. This is more of a writing strategy than advice, but if it’s hard to get into a story, try writing as a kind of script first. Like this:
Sam: I mean that’s me, long limbs just flailing all over the place like a baby deer-
Owen: also you’re top heavy because of all the muscle on your shoulders and all your hair-
Sam: ... ( ¬︡ ͟ʖ ¬︠ )
This would probably be written like this:
“I mean, that’s me,” Sam said with a shrug, “long limbs just flailing all over the place like a baby deer-”
“Also you’re top heavy because of all the muscle on your shoulders and your hair.” Owen interrupted smugly.
Sam didn’t respond, just frowned at him in irritation.
Remember, in script-writing;
- *write actions in asterisks like this*
- {write internal dialogue like this}
- Put the characters name before a colon: then write what they say or do.
And with all that, the most important thing to remember about writing is;
YOU ARE WRITING FOR YOURSELF, AND NO ONE ELSE.
Don’t ever let anyone force you to change the way you write. Don’t let someone tell you you’re a “bad writer”. Or, to use a quote from none other than yours truly, “If you happen to enjoy my writing I'm glad, but if you don't I don't owe you shit so just don't read it.”
Now go out there and get writing my children!
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The Flash Fiction Approach to Writer’s Block
There are about a thousand tricks to help push yourself to write, so what about using flash fiction? Nano guest Michael Mortenson shares how flash fiction has helped him and his work.
Halfway through draft two of my novel manuscript, I hit a wall. You know the one—thick bricks that scrape up hands, barbed wire across the top, and no holds for your trusty grappling hook. That’s where I was when I discovered flash fiction.
I had been warned by other writers that dipping toes into the pool of sparkly, new ideas halfway through a project was a decidedly bad idea. But between me and the wall, progress wasn’t happening. So, I thumbed my nose at warning and told myself that writing something was better than writing nothing. I started writing flash fiction.
How to Get Out of A Writing Slump
Feeling a writing slump approaching you and your story? Get ready for some tips by guest writer Aamna to help get you focused and ready to continue your writing goals.
So writing slumps. Wow! Isn’t that a big can of worms? This little curse can descend upon a writer, no matter a beginner or published when they least expect it. And for several reasons. The most common instance can be when you are right in the middle of a story or a first draft. So here are some methods that I have come across in my writing journey, and have seen work really well for either myself or others.
1) Take a break from your current project. Let your subconscious do the processing.
Sometimes you’re just not feeling your current project. How do get your heart back into it again? Drop it and do something else. What I would recommend doing in this situation is, write a short story. Or a poem. Or fanfic. It doesn’t have to be related to your WIP. It will get your conscious mind out of a rut, but it’ll still be processing in the back of your brain, and later when you come to your novel, Voila! You have a fresh set of eyes and renewed vigor for your story.
2) There’s a reason NaNoWriMo has pep talks.
By far, the thing that has worked for me the most is listening to other writers speak. Even if it is just a writing buddy and not a published author, there is something truly magical about listening to a storyteller gush about their story with the passion of a hero ready to save the world. The incessant urge to create something just as beautiful or being on that high of imagination that washes over me as I listen to them has worked for me several times when I feel myself falling into a slump.
Go through the NaNoWriMo pep talks, listen to author interviews or podcasts, or find a writing buddy. Remind yourself how fun it is to write.
3) Go back to the synopsis of your story to see what made you excited to write that in the first place. Rejuvenate the love!
I have personally seen that doing this little can trick can give you that dose of motivation you need to get back into a story. It takes you back to that place when you loved that idea and gets you excited to work on it again.
My ideas come to me in the form of something like a Goodreads synopsis, so whenever I want to get back to working on it again after a break (maybe because of upcoming exams or tests), I have seen that going through the “hook”, helps to re-ignite that love and excitement about the idea.
4) Make a mood board or playlist for your characters or setting.
A writing slump may not necessarily be a complete turn-off from working on a story. It can also be that you are just in a position that you are not able to get the words out, but that doesn’t mean the only way to effectively work is ‘words.’
Creating aesthetics and playlists can be a very fun, entertaining exercise to do, and make the writing process seem less like a chore.
5) Allow yourself the break. Don’t push yourself back into writing full-length novels or projects.
Every time you take a break from writing does not have to be called a writing slump. Sometimes it’s way better to take a mental health break, or just put a pause for no other reason that you don’t want to, and you’d rather work on something else.
You should know when to shelve a story or let a project go. It’s completely okay to stop in the middle of a WIP and delve into a new idea instead of forcing yourself to brainstorm and drag yourself through a story that you are not interested in anymore. A lot of the time that’s exactly what pushes you into a slump in the first place.
6) Remove the pressure. Don’t let perfectionism hold you back.
Editing as you write is not the most advisable course of action, especially when you’re a new writer. And fretting about things like sentence structure, word choice, or minute grammar errors shouldn’t be the focus while you’re writing. The first draft of anything is a mess. This is when you should turn off your inner editor, and let your perfectionist inner-self take a back seat. Little things like these, even though you may not realize it, do a lot to demotivate you and take the away joy of writing because you feel that nothing you write is ever good enough. Don’t compare yourself to published authors. Their books have gone through developmental edits, copy edits, beta readers, and whatnot.
Constantly expecting and beating yourself up for not being as good as someone else can push you into a slump faster than a boring story.
Aamna (she/her) is a young devourer of books, stories, and any other form of words you can give her. More often than not, you can find her either reading, daydreaming about her seemingly never-ending WIP, or working on her blog. She likes to say that words are her superpower, and has a weird obsession with Marvel, ice cream, really bad art journaling, and Scrabble. She lives in India and is currently working on a Turkish-inspired fantasy novel. You can also follow her on IG.
Top Photo by Ryan Snaadt on Unsplash
The Structure of Story is now available! Check it out on Amazon, via the link in our bio, or at https://kiingo.co/book
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“That is why fiction existed, as a way to look at the world without being broken by it.” ― Olen Steinhauer, The Middleman
The first time I sat down to write a novel I had the idea that my post-apocalyptic book—about surviving after a nuclear holocaust—needed to be more realistic. Isn’t that ironic? My Sci-Fi Fantasy needed to be more realistic.
So, I showed every time a character walked in and out of a room. I even had a scene with the MC pooping in the woods! Oy! I tried to make every conversation believable. I tried to make their arcs more intricate because people are complicated and we don’t make real changes in a week and WHY ISN’T THAT EVER REALISTIC IN A BOOK! You hear me? Of course, you do. I just screamed at you in all caps. Sorry about that. I’ll turn down my volume.
Do you know why this was a mistake—this need to be realistic? It wasn’t because I did research. Research is invaluable. Things need to make sense. You can’t have a gun in a story that doesn’t even exist in real life (unless you make it very clear this gun only exists in the fantasy world) because some guy in Cleveland is going to get angry because he knows all about guns and he’s going to write the worst review you have ever read. OK Gary, we get it. You really like guns. Research is important.
No, it was a mistake because I forgot why people read fiction in the first place.
People know you can’t drastically change your personality in 200 pages. They know some hunky prince isn’t going to ride in on his horse and save them from a dragon just because it’s a Tuesday. Readers don’t care about your character’s bowel movements (unless you make a joke of it, like Bridesmaids).
People read fiction to escape reality. For just a moment your own problems disappear. Instead of dreading work tomorrow, you are marooned on an island with nothing but a shovel. Next time you become a princess trapped in an ivory tower and swoon when someone comes to save you. In the next story, you are a badass heroine who knows how to save herself. And with each story, you get a piece of humanity without also being bogged down by anxiety. You find a small piece of yourself in those characters and they make you braver, more ready to take on the dragons in your own life.
Reality was God’s greatest gift to man. But fiction was man’s greatest gift to himself.
Now if you write a romance and every character is rich and famous and pink and yellow and they live on an island with money-pooping llamas and everyone’s flawless and you go too far towards surrealism, well… good luck finding people who want to read that story.
If your characters are too imaginary who is going to relate to them? Who is going to root for them to win? We all want to find pieces of ourselves in stories. That’s the whole point.
Didn’t I just say DON’T be realistic? Now I’m saying you need to be realistic? Gah. Don’t you just hate when people contradict themselves like that?
What I’m saying is you need to find balance. Your story doesn’t need to be so real that you describe how often they poop or add “umm” or “like” or “…” to every conversation. You don’t need to make sure all their changes take place in a realistic timeline.
Writing is a balancing act between real and make-believe and you are a grand trapeze walker, braving the act for the world’s entertainment. And friend, you’ve got this.
