📱”Happy birthday Captain Hook. I mean Colin O’Donoghue 💫”
📸 Jen’s instagram
Kenneth Branagh as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing (1993).
Theme is Not a Question
I don’t know where I first learned to phrase my story’s theme as a question. Who taught me that? Because every single writing mentor I’ve had since then has said the direct opposite. Your theme is definitely not a question. Sorry. I’m not sure who betrayed you, but I’m in the same boat, we’re in this together.
Your theme isn’t a question because you’re trying to give an answer, make a statement. You already know the answer, you’re trying to tell everyone what it is. Imagine you go to someone and ask a question, and they answer it with another question—that’s not very helpful is it? The same applies for themes that ask a question, like, “how far will humanity go for technological advancement?” hey I’m already wondering that! I picked up your book to get the answer to it, not just to make me consider it again—now I’m even more confused!
Plus, theme is meant to keep you nice and organized, to stay on topic—questions lead to more questions lead to tangents to researching for hours on end to, oh oops I spent all day looking at dogs on the internet instead of writing. Not good.
A theme is a big statement about the world or society or people in general. It is “people are actually inherently evil because our instincts tell us to act on self-preservation” or “world peace would be possible if everyone had the support they needed to become their best selves”. If it sounds a bit like you’re making a godly declaration, you’ve done it right. Then, there’s little things that make up your theme that will support it throughout the story, motifs such as: family, instincts, selfishness, good-deeds, puppies, whatever.
(Also note, one word answers are not themes either. ‘Family’ is not a theme, it’s a concept, or at most a motif. What does family say about the world? Nothing, unless you say, “Dedication to family is the most important part to creating a good life”, that’s a theme)
How your story ends reveals theme. If the story is about a selfish person trying to get better and it ends by them failing, we’re saying (at the simplest level) that “selfish people will always be selfish”, whereas if they succeed, we’re saying “actually, selfish people can overcome their selfishness if they have (whatever your character did to work on themselves. Love, dogs, therapy, etc.)”
This is why you’ll often hear all writing is political. Even if you don’t choose a theme, you’re still making a statement about the world, whether you realize it or not, so be careful around what you want your story to say, and what it actually says. I completely reworked a character because he had to die in the end, and from how I had created him and the role he played, I was saying something about a group of people I definitely did not want to imply. Be mindful!
I tend to decide what my theme is in the pre-planning stage because I like to form my characters, conflict, and world around it, but you can also decide after writing your first draft what your story is saying or find that your theme changes throughout your drafting process. The most important part is that at the end you can voice your story’s theme, you can write it down clearly in front of you.
If you can’t put your story’s aspects into words, into writing, then who else can? You should be able to sum it up, to voice what’s going on, and own it!
my writing ability currently feels on par with that of like…. a seven year old. i’m just writing one sentence. then another sentence. subject verb object, dependent clause period. do any of them relate? unclear. that is for god to decide. i certainly can’t.
smallest-feeblest-boggart
the url makes this so much funnier
I checked your FAQ/masterlist and dont think this has been answered, so: HOW do you manage to write so fast?? any advice?? 600+ thousand in a year has me floored, really, that would be impossible for me.
Well first of all, I think it's really important to emphasize that I didn't do this on my own. I co-write with my writing partner, so it was a joint effort! Since we split the load equally and write roughly the same amount, I would guess that my personal word count would be around 300k+ish.
But yes, I absolutely have advice! Keep in mind that every writer is different — so this may not work for you necessarily! This is just what worked for me and my writing partner. The most important thing is figuring out what works for you.
Write as regularly and as often as you can
This for me, was the most important thing. And believe me, I get it. I used to write once in a blue moon; I used to be lucky to write 5k in a year. I never thought that I was capable of writing two days in a row, let alone a month or a year. But this is not only important, it's possible.
I am never going to be one of those people who say "In order to be a good writer, you have to write everyday" because it's not feasible for everyone. For some people, this means writing a few times a week. For others, it might mean once a week, or twice a month. Whatever your pace is, that's fine. Find it, and try to honor it as much as possible. However, it is really important to build a habit, and here's why:
I talk about the importance of writing being a muscle that needs to be trained several times. By writing regularly and as often as you can, you are training your writing muscles to be better. The more you write, the easier writing will be.
I've found that writing every single day has made it a lot easier to ignore all of that. The stakes become lower because you're already writing a lot; there's less pressure. It becomes easier to accept our flaws, and find satisfaction in imperfections because you get used to just writing instead of editing as we go.
Things that have changed for me as I began writing everyday:
- I stopped getting writer's block. I used to have it 24/7, now I haven't had it for 2 years.
- I stopped hating my writing. I used to hate my writing so much. I couldn't write because nothing was good enough, I hated reading it because all I could see were the flaws. By writing every single day, it's become a lot easier to accept my writing for what it is. Do I think it's amazing? Sometimes, but not all of the time. But now I can write without feeling terrible or second-guessing myself.
- I stopped editing as I go. We all know the problem: can't get past three sentences, because you spend 2 hours rewriting those 3 sentences to get them perfect. Writing everyday helps you learn how to ignore that urge until you don't have it anymore. It's essentially like writing sprints but on a longer level: you learn how to simply write and let things breathe and exist on the page without immediately editing.
- I stopped judging my writing. I used to cringe at every single sentence that I've ever written because I thought that it was terrible. Now, I can read my own writing without judgment. I haven't cringed in two years. Is it perfect? No, there's always something that can be improved. But I appreciate my writing for what it is, and I even enjoy reading it!
- I've gained intrinsic motivation to write, and let go of my need for extrinsic motivation. Through writing everyday, I managed to learn how to love writing for the sake of writing. I no longer need people to read my writing and give me praise to motivate me. Case in point: I've written 600k+ words with my writing partner in 2021, and we have not posted it anywhere. We aren't getting any sort of praise or validation from the outside world, and it is the most fun we've ever had writing.
- I learned how to write even when I'm not inspired or motivated. One of the hard writer truths is that if we only write when we have inspiration to, we'll never finish anything or get to the places that we want to. Writing everyday, making it a habit and training our writing muscles makes it SO much easier to crank out some words and get a point across when we're not feeling it. I definitely haven't always been super inspired or excited to write in 2021, but being in the habit of writing makes it easier to push some words out, even if you don't have that spark.
- My writing improved by leaps and bounds. Objectively speaking, my writing has gotten so much better. I've improved more in the past two years than I've ever improved in my entire life. And not only did I get better, it's easier to write and to improve now.
- I actually write the really cool parts of my WIP that I've dreamed about for years. And yes, I write chronologically. Writing out of order doesn't work for me, so I had to get through everything that happened before that to get to the part that I've been dreaming and hyping up in my head. I used to always stop writing before I got anywhere remotely near it, so it was always just a really cool idea in my head. When I finally got to that point, it was glorious.
- Once I've written out the scene that I've been perfecting in my head for years, it's even better than I could ever imagine. It's always a scary thought that it'll never live up to our high expectations. For me, it surpassed it. It is so much better written down than it was in my head, and now I get to read it. The satisfaction is incredible.
- I no longer dread writing. Back when I never wrote, the idea and the expecation and the pressure for me to write was immense. I'm a writer, so I need to write, but I'm not. It gave me a lot of anxiety and dread, and I avoided it all the time. Now, I go to bed, excited to write more tomorrow. I wake up, and my first thought is how excited I am to write more today. I'm constantly writing in my spare time because I want to write. I'm not scared of it anymore.
I don't believe that you have to write every single day to reap the benefits like I did. I think writing as regularly as you can will work. Be sure to pick a realistic and manageable goal for yourself, and figure out what works for you!
Remember, all advice is subjective! So don’t take this too seriously. This is just one person’s opinion.
If you’d like to ask me for advice on writing or running a writeblr, please check out my Ask Guidelines and FAQ first.
More advice under the cut!
Hi! I've been trying to plan for a novel, and I've come to a huge setback where I don't know how to fill in "gaps" in the storyline so that the pacing doesn't seem to rushed or too slow. Do you have any tips about how to pace a plot? Thank you!!
Pacing a plot…
As I’ve said in the past, pacing issues can usually be solved by examining the story’s subplots. Your subplots should be functioning as formative tools to the main plot line. Tracing their progression to find areas where you can utilize events to speed up, slow down, or reveal key information which balances the story is imperative to moving the story forward in a way that feels intentional and effective.
When you’re planning individual scenes, focusing on tone can help with pace more than you may assume. Eliciting certain feelings in the reader can make events seem faster or slower than they are actually moving in the timeline. The more exciting or intense a scene is in tone, the more the reader will think has occurred in a potentially short amount of in-universe time.
Pacing issues can also come about due to a lack of elaboration in key scenes or developmental moments. The story can feel rushed if important details seem to fall through the cracks, or too slow if you’re emphasizing insignificant description or explanation. Reviewing the scenes you’ve got and how they connect can reveal where you are lacking elaboration or where you can make cuts.
Here are a few resources you may find helpful…
- Pacing Appropriately
- Coming Up With Scene Ideas
- Expanding Scenes
- Tackling Subplots
- A Guide To Tension & Suspense In Your Writing
- Ways To Fit Character Development Into your Story
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How to impress a non-writer: Write a sentence with a rarely used word.
How to impress a beginner writer: Write with metaphors and great descriptions.
How to impress an advanced writer: Write.
Here. Have kudos on that fanfic you wrote in your head while you were in the shower and never typed it out. When I recover from the brilliance of it, I’ll come back to leave a review.
if ever you find symbolism in my writing please tell me i’d like to know about it too
oh you’re a fan of my writing? name five of the unfinished stories sitting in my drafts
you’re just trying to outsource title generation 😛
alsjfkdajklfas i’ve been found out
Hi! This is Fio speaking. I'm aware this is the time of year when many get either super motivated to write, or can't even fathom writing ever again. So, I've compiled a list of things you can try when you have no idea how to start writing again.
1. Read one of your old pieces! Even if you don't consider them your best, I find I usually get the best ideas from my own writing. Even going through an old diary might help.
2. Try listening to songs you like and write stories in your head to them. It might help a little more if you actually use the vocabulary and style you'd use when writing, but even daydreaming is enough to make you inspired again!
3. That last point brings me to my favorite tip - daydreaming. Whether you write for a fandom or your own characters, letting your mind drift off is probably one of the best things you can do for yourself. Not only is it healthy (in terms of health), but it's extremely liberating to see what your heart and brain can do when they work together. Remember that writing is a passion, but it doesn't mean you need to like it all the time!
4. Let it pass. All emotions are temporary. There's no way you're going to feel this way forever, it just may feel that way because you're stuck in a slump. Take a walk, play your favorite game, color... you don't need to "try" to write. It will come eventually.
5. Write about something you're passionate about, outside of writing! For example, if you think schools should have four days instead of five, write an essay on why. It doesn't need to be the best essay in the world, but sometimes the best way out of the fire is to walk through it.
6. Rewrite one of your older works - bonus points if it's from when you just started out writing! It doesn't need to be exactly how it was, that's the point of this! Change certain aspects of it, add things you wouldn't have added before, and see how much you've grown in time.
So whether you're reading this for future reference, or you're in your own slump right now, remember that this is only temporary, you are a great writer, and that you write first and foremost for yourself. Be safe!
- Fio <3
Anonymous asked:
Should I plan out plot or characterization first? How do I make characters stay in character while also following the plot or making the plot keep moving?
Plotting and Characterization
It really depends whether your story is more plot-driven or more character-driven. Is your character responding to things that are happening to them (like in a natural disaster movie, for example) or are they making things happen (like in a "going to travel to find myself" kind of movie)?
If your character is more plot-driven, I would flesh out the plot first. If it's more character-driven, I'd flesh out the characters first. If it's a pretty equal amount of both, I'd do a little bit of character development, then a little bit of plot development, and sort of try to flesh them out the rest of the way in tandem.
Once you know who your characters are, you can look at each event in the story and figure out how each character responds/is affected according to who they are. You might do this via a timeline, where for each important plot point or event, you draw a line to each character and write out their response. Or, you might write out a list of plot points/events and write out each character's response next to each one. However you choose to chart it, that will help keep you on track as you write. :)
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Hello again,
So your previous response reminded me that I have a somewhat related question I've been meaning to ask for a while: you know when people say that characters should always be driving the plot forwards, what does that actually *mean*?
That might sound really dumb, so let me try and explain a bit. I get that the plot should always be moving forward, but how much of that should be directly down to the characters? Or, more accurately, how much should be directly down to the *kind* of characters they are? For example, if there was a character who could just as easily be a baker as a butcher without that changing their effect on the plot, would that imply the plot was ill-conceived? Or should the plot consistently revolve around the characters playing to their strengths? For example, I recently read a series where the main character was a conwoman and she was always looking at people through the lens of wanting to/imagining herself conning/stealing from them. That was her strength and it often played into the plot - and if she hadn't been a conwoman, the story might have played out very differently. Meanwhile, I'm struggling to weave my characters into the plot with such natural cohesion.
Also, while obviously characters should have a place within the plot, do all the characters - particularly in multiple POV stories - always have to be driving it forward *all* the time? Or is it acceptable to have periods where certain POV characters are responding to the actions of other POV characters without them then becoming irrelevant to the plot?
I apologise that that kind of became a lot more questions than intended. I guess I just kind of struggle with how to break down the plot into smaller chunks of character development. I know where characters start and where they end up, but breaking that down into stepping stones of how they get there is where I fall down. I understand their arc as a whole, but when attempting to blend that arc into the plot I just hit a wall. So when I hear that characters should always be driving the plot forward I struggle to figure out how to have them actually do that in a natural way, if that makes any sense.
Also, thank you so much for all the feedback you've given me already. You've already been a huge help!
Characters and How They Drive the Plot
The good news is you're overthinking this, so deep breath! Odds are good your story is just fine as it is. If there are any shortfalls with character relationship to the plot, that will become clear as you write or through beta/critique partner feedback, which you can fix later.
"You know when people say that characters should always be driving the plot forwards, what does that actually mean?"
It means that every main character needs to serve a purpose. They need to have a clear role in the story. You never want to have a main character who can be removed from the story without ill effect. A character's actions should either directly impact the plot, or they should somehow affect the actions of a character who directly impacts the plot.
"Do all the characters - particularly in multiple POV stories - always have to be driving it forward *all* the time?"
No. First, it's primarily main characters who need to have a clear role in the story. Minor characters may not affect the plot in any way, but may be important for world building, character development, setting aesthetic, or to fill necessary roles--like the jovial street vendor your two characters buy hot dogs from as they're walking and having an important talk. Second, even main characters don't need to be driving the plot forward all the time. Again, it's about main characters having an important role in the story, meaning that some amount of their actions should either impact the plot or affect another' character's actions that impact the plot. But that doesn't mean their every action or every moment in the story will have that affect. Some scenes are more focused on character development, relationship development, world building, back story, etc. And, in truth, even those things play a role in moving the story forward.
"I get that the plot should always be moving forward, but how much of that should be directly down to the *kind* of characters they are?"
Life is essentially one big thread of actions, effects, and responses. If you decide not to sweep up the gravel you spilled on the sidewalk (action), someone else could come along and wipe out (effect). If you respond by laughing at them, they might respond by coming back to slash your tire one night. And because of that you get a flat tire on the way to your wedding, inadvertently leaving your spouse-to-be at the altar. However, had you been the type of person who cleaned up the gravel in the first place, none of that would have happened. Or, if you had been the type of person who didn't clean up the gravel, but also didn't laugh and went to the person's aid immediately, not only did you not get your tire slashed, but maybe they also turned out to be a florist and they offer you a huge discount on your wedding flowers. Our actions are affected by who we are, and our actions affect what happens next.
The same is true of story and characters. So, yes, the kind of people your characters are will certainly impact how the plot moves forward. But exactly what kind of impact that has is dependent upon the story. If you don't have a story where your character's occupation plays a role in the story, it really shouldn't matter whether they're a butcher or a baker. However, if your story takes place after some sort of catastrophe where survival skills are important, your character's skills as a butcher or baker could be important to the story.
I hope that makes sense! ♥
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No one:
Musical characters: I’m so sad, I need to power ballad