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Eight Strategies for Improving Dialogue in Your Writing
Well, hi! Oh my… wow! It’s been a long time since I’ve posted! I’ve been very busy and I am genuinely sorry to all my followers, but that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten about this account, but here is one final post for the year!
Hopefully next year I become consistent with it again!
Let’s begin!
One of the best ways to help a reader connect with your writing is by crafting excellent dialogue. Use these tips to learn how to write dialogue that showcases character development, defines your characters’ voices, and hooks readers.
Why Use Dialogue?
Good dialogue performs all sorts of functions in fiction writing. It defines your characters’ voices, establishes their speech patterns, exposes the inner emotions, and showcases their character development. Beyond mere characterization, effective dialogue can also establish the setting and time period of your story and reveal information in a way that doesn’t feel overly expository.
Authors use lines of dialogue to reveal a character’s personality and express their point of view. For instance, an archetypal football coach might speak in short, terse sentences peppered with exclamation points and quotations from famous war generals. By contrast, a nebbish lover with a broken heart might drone on endlessly to his therapist or best friend, speaking in run-on sentences that circle around his true motivations. When an author can reveal character traits through dialogue, it cuts down on exposition and makes a story flow briskly.
Eight Writing Tips for Improving Dialogue
The first time you write dialogue, you may find it quite difficult to replicate the patterns of normal speech. This can be compounded by the concurrent challenges of finding your own voice and telling a great story overall. Even bestselling authors can get stuck on how a particular character says a particular line of dialogue. With practice and hard work, however, lackluster dialogue can be elevated to great dialogue.
Here are some strategies for improving the dialogue in your own work:
Mimic the voices of people in your own life. Perhaps you’ve created a physician character with the same vocal inflections as your mother. Perhaps your hero soldier talks just like your old volleyball coach. If you want to ensure that your dialogue sounds the way real people speak, there’s no better resource than the real life people in your everyday world.
Mix dialogue with narration. Long runs of dialogue can dislodge a reader from the action of a scene. As your characters talk, interpolate some descriptions of their physical postures or other activity taking place in the room. This mimics the real-world experience of listening to someone speaking while simultaneously taking in visual and olfactory stimuli.
Give your main character a secret. Sometimes a line of dialogue is most notable for what it withholds. Even if your audience doesn’t realize it, you can build dynamic three-dimensionality by having your character withhold a key bit of information from their speech. For instance, you may draft a scene in which a museum curator speaks to an artist about how she wants her work displayed—but what the curator isn’t saying out loud is that she’s in love with the artist. You can use that secret to embed layers of tension into the character’s spoken phrases.
Use a layperson character to clarify technical language. When you need dialogue to convey technical information in approachable terms, split the conversation between two people. Have one character be an expert and one character be uninformed. The expert character can speak at a technical level, and the uninformed one can stop them, asking questions for clarification. Your readers will appreciate it.
Use authentic shorthand. Does your character call a gun a “piece” or a “Glock”? Whatever it is, be authentic and consistent in how your characters speak. If they all sound the same, your dialogue needs another pass.
Look to great examples of dialogue for inspiration. If you're looking for a dialogue example in the realm of novels or short stories, consider reading the great books written by Mark Twain, Judy Blume, or Toni Morrison. Within the world of screenwriting, Aaron Sorkin is renowned for his use of dialogue.
Ensure that you’re punctuating your dialogue properly. Remember that question marks and exclamation points go inside quotation marks. Enclose dialogue in double quotation marks and use single quotation marks when a character quotes another character within their dialogue. Knowing how to punctuate dialogue properly can ensure that your reader stays immersed in the story.
Use dialogue tags that are evocative. Repeating the word “said” over and over can make for dull writing and miss out on opportunities for added expressiveness. Consider replacing the word “said” with a more descriptive verb.
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Hey everyone! I’ve been very busy but I have not forgotten nor abandoned this blog! New writing tips coming soon!
Do not hesitate to send me any ideas of writing tips you’d like to see!
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idk if this is just me but, how do you make your works more...wordy? like you know how certain pieces of literature has a beautiful way of explaining things like love, hurt, remorse, etc. do I really need to pull out a dictionary to reach this?
Advice Incoming
Hi! Thank you for sending in your question and apologies for the delay!
I would say, don’t worry about this till you’ve at least finished your first draft! I always say the first draft is to write down your ideas and make sure they are coherent enough. Once you’ve completed the first draft you can go over and elaborate on your sentences.
As far as how to create eloquent phrasings and sentences; I think it just comes with practice and definitely having a broad vocabulary range, but even then, it’s not always the greatest to add flourish and pizzaz to your writing if it’s not necessarily or hard to understand.
I’ve seen some writers try and be a bit over the top with their their phrasing to the point where I don’t understand what it is they are trying to say anymore. I call this frou-frou writing or purple prose, as some call it.
Sometimes less is more!
But if you do want to write beautiful prose, you should
a). practice! Practice makes perfect as I always say.
b). keep a dictionary or thesaurus near by, as it will definitely help!
c). don’t overstress. If you can’t find the right word or phrasing you want that’s okay! Sometimes saying a simple, “I love you” is far more effective than, “I will trudge and storm through the ends of the earth and pull the seas apart and lower the stars so that everyday when you see the…” blah, I don’t even know what I was trying to say but it was supposed to mean, “I love you.”
d). workshop you’re writing. It’s best to get feedback from peers and they can provide advice or let you know exactly what you need or need to adjust.
I just hope in the end you’re having fun and having the right amount of stress for your story!
I hope this helps and answers your question!
#writing#writing advice#writing tips#original writing#writers on tumblr#writersconnection#writerscommunity#short story#storytelling#writersupportingwriters
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Hey everyone! I’m in need of more writers! Having a shortage, so I need more talented writers!
Look forward to seeing your responses!
Fan-Fiction Writers / Short Story Writers Needed
I had created a post a few months back needing to hire a few freelance writers for short stories and I am thankful I got a few amazing writers to help with my Etsy shop.
However, sales have picked up and I need a few more writers. If you are interested keep reading!
About Job:
As some of you may know. I have an Etsy store that sells short stories, it’s a wonderful little job I have on the side that is really fun and often brings people joy!
During this time, sales have been pouring in resulting in the help of a few freelance writers to help and create amazing stories.
This job requires tu to create original short stories based off of the clients request.
I have posted this in job listing on Upwork and figured I’d try again on Tumblr.
Requirements:
Must have experience writing short stories and fan-fiction.
Must be willing to write fan-fiction for any and all genres of media: novels, television shows, movies, manga, anime, etc. You must be willing to write for a story you are not familiar with. Parts of being a writer is challenging yourself out of your comfort zone.
I have had to write fan-fiction for multiple fandoms I am not familiar with or experienced in, however, I do not let that stop me and I do my best research to provide the best work for the client and I expect you to do the same.
Feel comfortable writing erotica/smut.
It’s not a need or a must but it would be great if there is experience here.
Additional Information:
As mentioned, it is a freelance writing job position. So, if no sales are made there will unfortunately be no payment, I hope you understand and this is clear!
You will get paid through commission percentage. Starting base for a commission is 48% and may increase depending on work ethics and customer satisfaction.
Pricing for stories vary, so not every project will be paid the same amount but the base is always 48%.
I pay only though PayPal. No other media platforms.
All short stories and fan-fiction written by a freelance writer will belong and be property to the original writer. Perpetual Stories does not or will not own any of the work provided by the original writers.
If You Are Interested:
If after reading all this you are interested please email me at [email protected] and please do the following.
Submit samples of your work: short stories and fan-fiction samples. Please include various and different genres or categories, especially something out of your comfort zone! I’d love to see diversity!
Answers to the following questions:
How do you feel about writing a fan-fiction on a fandom you are not family with? How confident do you feel in your ability to provide the best work for yourself and the client?
How do you incorporate feedback and edits into your work? I know the client may request specific changes after a story is finished.
How do you feel about due dates and sending me snippets of your progress? I send them to the customer so that they can get a taste or feel of their story.
Do you feel comfortable working on two different stories simultaneously? If not, that is fine! If you say 'no,' it won't affect your chances.
If chosen, would you like to work with Perpetual Stories in the long run? I plan to eventually have steady and reliable go-to writers that become permanent members of Perpetual Stories (once the budget increases, of course).
Are you okay with randomly being assigned a story / fan-fiction idea? All stories will be assigned based off of order of purchase or queue.
Please feel free to ask any questions during the email if any arise. This post is a quick and brief summary, not all details were provided to keep the post short and simple.
During the emails, I may ask a few additional questions (if needed).
I do hope to talk with you soon if you’re interested!
I would greatly appreciate it if you would reblog this post so that many people would be able to view it! I would be very appreciative of it!
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Hii!! Could you please tell me how to write better? u can look on my account, there I have posted one fanfic which is my first one
Hi! Thank you for submitting your question!
Honestly, the best way to write "better" is to practice and read. There's no better way than to simply practice and read at every chance you get.
If you still feel your writing lacks descriptions, details, emotions, character development, etc., you can use some writing books to help you.
I love to use the Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi and Body Beats by April W. Gardner. These are the two books I always have with me when I am working on a WIP.
Of course, there are other books to help, but those are my go-to's. It's all preference on what you would like to have in your writing arsenal. If you'd like a one-on-one editing and advice session, feel free to message me, and I would be more than happy to take a look at that fanfic you mentioned :)
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Hello, your blog is an absolute godsend :) do you have any starter prompts or tips for bookstore romances/ bookstore meet-cutes or how to write them? i dunno where to start, honestly. thank you very much for hearing me out! ^^
Hi! Thank you for submitting your question!
I apologize for the inactivity; I have been very busy, but I don't share or offer starter prompts.
@creativepromptsforwriting does! You should check out the account if you don't already! They have prompts that are most likely in the alley you're looking for :D
I don't follow any other prompt accounts, so I apologize if this isn't as helpful as it should be.
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The Emotion Thesaurus: Amazement
Hello everyone! This post will discuss the emotion amazement.
This section is taken from the Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi.
Amazement
Definition: overwhelming astonishment or wonder
Physical Signals:
widening of the eyes
a slack mouth
becoming suddenly still
sucking in a quick breath
a hand covering one's mouth
stiffening posture
giving a small yelp
rapid blinking followed by open staring
flinching or starting, the body jumping slightly
taking a step back
a slow, disbelieving shake of the head
voicing wonder: I can't believe it! or Look at that!
pulling out a cell phone to record the event
glancing to see if others are experiencing the same thing
pressing a hand to one's chest, fingers splayed out
leaning in
moving closer
reaching out or touching
eyebrows raising
lips parting
a wide smile
spontaneous laughter
pressing palms to cheeks
fanning oneself
repeating the same things over and over
squealing dramatically
Internal Sensations:
a heart that seems to freeze, then pound
rushing blood
rising body tempreture
tingling skin
stalled breaths
adrenaline spikes
Mental Responses:
momentarily forgetting all else
wanting to share the experience with others
giddiness
disorientation
euphoria
an inability to find words
Cues of Acture of Long-Term Amazement:
a racing heartbeat
shortness of breath
knees going weak
feeling overwhelmed as if the room is closing in
collapsing
May Escalate To: Curiosity, Disbelief, Excitement
Cues of Suppressed Amazement:
holding oneself tightly (self-hugging)
walking in jerky, self-contained strides
clamping the hands to the chest
looking down or away to hide one's expression
eyes widening a bit before control is asserted
mouth snapping shut
a stony expression
taking a seat to hide emotion
making excuses if reaction is noticed
stuttering, stammering
#writing#writing advice#writing tips#original writing#writers on tumblr#writersconnection#writerscommunity#short story#storytelling#writersupportingwriters
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hello. How do I make my writing smooth? All my paragraphs seem disconnected.
Thank you.
Hi! I created a whole post to answer your question here!
Hope it helps!
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How to Use Paragraph Transitions to Strengthen Your Writing
A post dedicated to an inbox submission. Here you go!
An important part of essay writing is learning how to effectively employ paragraph transitions—shifting from one paragraph or idea to the next. Learning to effectively use the different types of transitions will help you write more cohesive pieces and improve the clarity of your writing.
What Is a Paragraph Transition?
A paragraph transition is a sentence or unique paragraph that helps the reader move from one paragraph to the next, or from one idea to another. A transition is the first sentence of a new paragraph. Occasionally, the last sentence of the prior paragraph acts as the transition. When a writer wants to transition link two substantial paragraphs, they can use a standalone transitional paragraph.
4 Reasons Paragraph Transitions Are Important
Paragraph transitions serve a variety of purposes, and understanding how they function within the context of a larger piece of writing is essential to clear writing. Usually transitions are full sentences that link paragraphs, but occasionally simple phrases or single words can effectively transition between two shorter paragraphs. Here are a few reasons why paragraph transitions are important and should be included in your writing:
Paragraph transitions link ideas. First and foremost, paragraph transitions serve to link two ideas. A body paragraph is generally devoted to a main idea or concept that fits into the larger piece and explores a facet of the primary thesis statement. A transition sentence links your first paragraph to your second paragraph and so forth.
Paragraph transitions give your writing momentum. Paragraph transitions are incredibly helpful when it comes to building momentum in your writing. Effective transitions propel your essay forward and keep your readers engaged. This is particularly important in academic writing or professional writing that can otherwise feel dry or static.
Paragraph transitions improve readability. Transition words can help your readers track your ideas and understand how they relate to each other. Thoughtful transitions clue readers in to the progression of your ideas and your overall train of thought.
Paragraph transitions set the stage for new ideas. While effective transitions should tie up loose ends for material in the previous paragraph, it’s sometimes more important that they set the stage for the new ideas to come in the next paragraph. A written piece should have forward momentum, and transitions serve to prepare the reader for new information to come.
How to Transition Between Paragraphs in Your Writing
Understanding why we use paragraph transitions in the first place is obviously important, but learning how to effectively employ good transitions in your writing can sometimes come only through practice. That said, here are some tips that can help you get started as you begin to use transitions in your writing.
Outline your piece. Using an outline is vital to improving your writing process and should generally come before you start writing your piece. Outlining is important when you are working on transitional expressions and transition sentences because outlines give you a macro view of your piece as a whole, with signposts indicating the main ideas of each paragraph. Referring back to your outline can help you brainstorm types of transitions that set the stage for what’s to come and help your ideas flow.
Identify the subject of each paragraph. Once you’ve consulted your outline, it’s time to hone in on the main ideas of the paragraphs on either side of your transition. A good transition will have something to say about both the preceding paragraph and the new paragraph.
Track the overall arc of your piece. Transitions link two specific paragraphs, but make sure you have an eye on the overall arc of your essay. If you have a good sense of the bigger picture you can use your transitions to set up information that is still to come, beyond the next paragraph.
Brainstorm good transitional words. Transitional phrases often have similar word choice and style. Linking words and conjunctive adverbs are often used in paragraph transitions because they help establish the relationship between two separate ideas. Words like “therefore,” “nevertheless,” “although,” and “namely” quickly sum up how one idea relates to the next. Effective transition words keep your reader hooked into your piece.
Consider cause and effect. It’s not enough to simply link two subjects; transitional sentences should also effectively demonstrate how these ideas build on each other. This is especially true in academic writing or persuasive essay writing. It’s your job to convince your reader that you have built a coherent argument for your main thesis statement. Transition sentences can help show readers how your ideas build on each other and conceptually link one entire paragraph to the paragraph that follows.
Pay attention to style. The way that you transition between paragraphs and the types of transitions you use will depend on what type of piece you are writing. If you’re writing a high school- or college-level academic essay, you’ll probably want to avoid overly colloquial transitions. If you’re writing a personal essay or lighthearted humor piece, you should choose transitions that complement the voice of the piece.
Review your transition sentences separate from your piece. Once you’ve finished your piece, it’s useful to take a look at all your transitions out of context to make sure that you haven’t overused certain constructions or repeated word choice. Looking at a list of your transitions can also give you a good roadmap for the overall shape of your essay and can help you decide if you’ve built a cohesive piece of writing.
Examples of Transitions:
#writing#writing advice#writing tips#original writing#writers on tumblr#writersconnection#writerscommunity#short story#storytelling#writersupportingwriters
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How/when do you most effectively use a prologue? (sorry if you've already answered this I couldn't find anything and I'm on mobile)
Hi! Thank you for reaching out! This is actually a great question!
And a whole separate post was just created for it!
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Writing 101: How to Write a Prologue
To help answer a question that was submitted to me, I’ll go ahead and create a whole separate post for it. I know it’s a bit different than what was asked in but I promise the answer to the question is there!
What Is a Prologue?
A prologue is a piece of writing found at the beginning of a literary work, before the first chapter and separate from the main story. The definition of prologue introduce important information—such as background details, or characters—that have some connection to the main story, but whose relevance is not immediately obvious.
Fitting the definition of prologue, the word comes from the Greek prologos, which means “before word.” The Ancient Greeks frequently used prologue in dramatic works of theater, where it functioned more like a first act to a play.
What Is the History of Prologue in Literature?
The invention of the prologue is attributed to Euripides, an influential Greek playwright and poet who predominantly produced tragedies about the darker side of human nature. Euripides’ plots often featured passion and revenge.
For a good example of how Euripides uses this literary device, consider the prologue to one of his most famous works, “Medea.” In the play, a woman takes revenge on her unfaithful husband by murdering him, his lover, and her own children. But before we get to the action, an old nurse enters the stage and tells the audience some of the facts so far:
Medea and her husband, Jason, are having marital problems
Jason has run off with someone else
Medea has been stricken by grief and has even begun to despise her own children by Jason
What Is the Purpose of Prologue in Literature?
Prologues serve an integral role in fiction writing, as well as playwriting. In modern literature, Geoffrey Chaucer started the tradition of using a prologue with his Canterbury Tales, a collection of 24 stories written from 1387-1400. Chaucer used his prologue as a kind of roadmap for the entire work, which tells the story of a group of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury.
A good prologue performs one of many functions in a story:
Foreshadowing events to come
Providing background information or backstory on the central conflict
Establishing a point of view (either the main character’s, or that of another character who is privy to the tale)
Setting the tone for the rest of the novel or play
What’s the Difference Between a Prologue and a Preface, Foreword, or Introduction?
While prefaces, forewords, and introductions serve a similar function of providing additional context for the content to come, they have some key differences from a prologue.
A preface is written from the point of view of the author, not a character or narrator. It explains the origins, development, legacy, or aims of the book, and often acknowledges others who contributed. Prefaces are employed mainly in nonfiction books, but may be used in fiction as well.
A foreword is written by a critic, subject matter expert, or other public figure who is not the author. A foreword typically introduces readers to the book by connecting its content or themes to their own experience. Forewords are used in both fiction and nonfiction.
An introduction is written from the point of view of the author, and offers additional information to help the reader understand the subject of the book, including historical context. Prefaces are employed mainly in nonfiction books.
3 Famous Examples of Prologues in Literature
Romeo and Juliet,” William Shakespeare (1591-1595)
One of the most famous literary prologues of all time, this prologue takes the form of a sonnet that introduces readers to the setting and characters of the play, as well as the dire situation in which the two star-crossed lovers find themselves. The prologue begins as follows:
Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
Shakespeare doesn’t hold back on spoilers: the sonnet also reveals the play’s tragic ending.
Lolita,” Vladimir Nabokov (1955)
Nabokov’s prologue is designed to heighten the controversy of its subject matter. It takes the form of a fictional foreword by an academic, who has supposedly discovered the book and is warning readers of its subject matter prior to chapter one.
“These are not only vivid characters in a unique story: they warn us of dangerous trends; they point out potent evils,” it reads. “‘Lolita’ should make all of us—parents, social workers, educators—apply ourselves with still greater vigilance and vision to the task of bringing up a better generation in a safer world.”
Jurassic Park,” Michael Crichton (1990)
Crichton actually offers two prologues, each showcasing a different style. The first reads like a legal document, outlining the seriousness of an “incident” and the “remarkable events” that followed.
The second prologue is more literary: a short scene, separate to the main story, in which a man is treated for an injury by a doctor in a remote village in Costa Rica. The doctor observes that the man seems to have been mauled by an animal. While treating him, the man wakes up and says one word: “Raptor.”
How to Write a Prologue in 3 Easy Steps
Introduce the main character(s). Some twentieth-century plays have used prologues to great effect. In Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie (1944), the prologue introduces the audience to the play’s narrator, Tom Wingfield, who explains that what the audience is about to see is drawn from his own memories. Tom tells the audience: “I am the narrator of the play, and also a character in it. The other characters are my mother Amanda, my sister Laura, and a gentleman caller who appears in the final scenes.”
Drop hints. Crime fiction and thrillers often make use of prologues to hint at characters, locations, and the mystery that is to come. Sometimes, a prologue may be set centuries or miles apart from the book, and appear wholly unrelated; however, it will somehow tie back into the main plot later in the novel.
Add only relevant details. A prologue should not be an “information dump”: a good prologue enhances your story, rather than explaining it. The best way to decide what to include in a prologue is to ask yourself: what does the reader absolutely need to know before starting to read the main story?
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Thank you for your kind words and lowkey shout-out. 🙈
Can I ask for some ending prompts? As in something that will show how a work ends. I really need help with an adventure story but don't know what would be the right way to end it
Hi there!
I feel like this is a little out of my comfort zone, but @perpetual-stories has a fantastic resource here: link. Hope this helps! <3 (And go show them some love :))
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I have been struggling with the motivation to start writing my story. I feel as if I’m a terrible writer, and have no idea where to start or how to get better.
Any ideas?
ADVICE INCOMING
Hi! Thank you for submitting your questions!
Let me start it by saying that’s okay! It’s totally normal to struggle in motivating yourself to write; we all do, especially me!
Second of all, you’re not a terrible writer. Throw that thought out if the window. Throw it out! We do not see ourselves as anything other than aspiring and learning writers here on this blog.
You’re not terrible, no such thing. Don’t see yourself as a terrible writer but as one who still has to learn. We aren’t born with the skill, it’s one that must be built upon and refined.
The only way to become a better writer is to practice, practice and practice and read, read and read!
That’s the only way to do it; simple as that. You can go to school and get a degree for it but ultimately they will teach you the same thing, practicing and reading excellent samples of writing (I’m not saying don’t go to school for it, lol, but the principles are the same).
(3). If you want to become a better writer and find motivation I’d say start of by writing what interests YOU and what YOU’RE passionate about. That’s the best way to do it.
Fanfic writing is often the place people start off as it’s the easiest to indulge yourself in something you love and feel you’re knowledgeable about. Start there.
Or maybe not fanfic per say, but maybe write about a topic that interests you. Maybe the civil war, or jellyfish, or whatever that may be, write about it.
Some practice books with various topics are also a great way to get the brain going. I have a few writing prompt boos and those help out a tone to get that creativity flowing!
I’ll attach a link to a few.
(4). Don’t over think when you write, just type or write whatever springs to your mind and go with the flow. I know that’s hard as I have a tendency to double, triple check everything I write. In other words DO NOT EDIT as you write. I know that’s hard but it takes practice.
(5). You are your own greatest enemy; so go easier on yourself and remember you’re still learning.
I hope this somewhat helps!
#writing#writing advice#writing tips#original writing#writers on tumblr#writersconnection#writerscommunity#short story#storytelling#writersupportingwriters
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Hey, quick question. Editing is a bit like an endless loop when you're always finding some mistake or the other with your work. So how do you know when to stop editing?
ADVICE INCOMING
Hello Seraphicshadow!
Thank you for submitting your question, I appreciate it let me see if I can answer question!
How to know when to stop editing:
You’re Making Changes, Not Improvements
When You Can’t Tell What’s Good Or Bad.
When You Give Up
You’re Making Changes, Not Improvements
When you’re making edits and it seems as if the changes you’re making aren��t enhancing or improving your overall story that’s a sign you most likely don’t need anything else .
“Dirty” or “muddy”? Is this sentence better here or in the next paragraph? “A” or “the”?
When your edits reach a point where you’re sweating over one tiny thing after another, all you’re doing is holding yourself back.
When You Can’t Tell What’s Good Or Bad
Sometimes you work on something so hard and for so long, you can’t tell what’s what anymore. When you reach this point, step away from the computer. Congratulations, you’ve edited so hard you’re no longer qualified to edit your own work.
When you just run out of ideas for changes because it all looks the same to you that’s a good indicator to stop.
When You Give Up
If you’ve been editing so long you’re ready to throw in the towel, why not take a break and submit your story to an editor look at it? You know, before you take a lighter to it.
Someone with a fresh perspective may be able to point out options you hadn’t thought of. Or even better, their comments about what’s already working may be just what you need to regain your confidence.
#writing#writing advice#writing tips#original writing#writers on tumblr#writersconnection#writerscommunity#short story#storytelling#writersupportingwriters
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I have a story with a group of protagonists, like team avatar or RWBY, like the typical group of characters in an action cartoon or something similar. But I can’t find a way to make them all plot important consistently. For most of them I can’t really find a character arc spanning the whole thing. Most of the character development gets blown in the first 4th of the plot and i don’t know how to fix that because the plot is built around character development. Characters will do certain plot important things only because their character developed to a certain point.
ADVICE INCOMING
Hello, Chosenwads! My apologies for not responding to this sooner. I am really terrible with keeping tracks of these.
But my advice to you would to be:
to take a step back and review your work from the beginning. I’m other words your characters to be exact. Sometimes when it comes to writing, people create characters first then work around a plot, or plot then characters.
As writers we all create a Character Bible. This Bible contains information and details about the character you created. It contains, name, physical details, family information, or any information you found important to the story.
Take a look at this and double check if what you had written still coincides with your vision of the story, and if it doesn’t that’s okay, rework the character till it does. There is nothing wrong with omitting characters if they just don’t fit with your plot, idea, or themes.
Second piece of advice would be:
to review the plot it’s self.
maybe take a look at story outlines to help you make out the story just a little more. There are multiple type of story outlines out there that can help and re-inspire you.
Third would be to:
Take a look at your character’s dialogue. Mayen you somehow didn’t write them out as you wanted to and created me morphed them into something else.
Reviewing your character’s dialogue is a great way to find out if this is the case.
It will also help you rework and edit the character if you made changes to their bible.
Fourth would be:
I know it can be forgotten sometimes, but immerse yourself with the character.
Think what about what you would do or what your goals would be and how would you achieve them.
One thing as a writer is to always try “but what if..”
You said your character’s reached their character development try “but what if…”
Okay so character A reaches their goal and character development of being a better person but what if one of the people that helped them along the way backstabbed them and throws out their goal and challenges character A.
It’s a silly example but always ask “but what if…”
If all else fails there is nothing wrong with shelving the project and starting another one and working on it in the future. I’d say never throw out a project but maybe keep it in your back pocket.
I hope this helps! And I apologize for the delay in responding!
#writing#writing advice#writing tips#original writing#writers on tumblr#writersconnection#writerscommunity#short story#storytelling#writersupportingwriters
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Creating a Fictional Culture: How to Create a Fictional Culture
Happy New Year Everyone!
In case you haven’t seen my Fan Fiction Writers Needed Post please check it out and consider applying for the job!
Anyways, let’s get to it! First advice of the New Year!
What Is a Fictional Culture?
A fictional culture is an essential piece of worldbuilding in certain genres of fiction—particularly in science fiction and fantasy.
Storytellers develop fictional cultures in a variety of mediums, including film, television, short stories, novels, and video games. A fictional culture is defined by the customs, languages, values, and symbols of an imaginary world.
How to Create a Fictional Culture
Although there are nearly endless possibilities, consider some of these general writing tips for creating a fictional culture.
Pull inspiration from the real world. Pay attention to the cultural behaviors within your society. Broaden your own cultural perspective by researching the ideas and values of different cultures throughout history. Use real-life cultural examples to inform your fictional world, but be wary of repurposing existing cultures or perpetuating stereotypes.
Build off your main character. Develop the setting of your story based on how it serves the character development of your protagonist. Build a culture that highlights or contradicts your main character’s goals, needs, and fears.
Develop a belief system. Consider the core values, social norms, and taboos of your fictional culture. A central belief system can guide how you create rituals, symbols, and artifacts within your story.
Create a social structure. Develop how the family structures and social hierarchies work within your fictional culture. Decide where your main character falls within the social structure. Monetary systems can change your social structure depending on whether you use a bartering economy or something more complex.
Construct a technological system. Determine how advanced the technology is in your fictional culture. The technology of your story will impact the entertainment, communication, and modes of transportation within your fictional world.
Write a brief history. Expand your culture by writing a brief mythology of your fictional society. Avoid overwriting, and keep your history contained to important information that can impact your story.
Develop a Unique Language. Probably one of the most exciting yet difficult aspects of creating a fictional culture. Take a look at other language such as Greek or Latin or really any language you are curious about! Creating a language is not necessarily about switching up some lettering or word phrasing (it can be, but not 100%); it’s much more than that! I definitely welcome you to research and create your own language.
4 Examples of Fictional Cultures
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (1954): Tolkien created a wide variety of fictional cultures to inhabit Middle-earth. Each culture has its own language, value system, and history.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932): In his dystopian novel, Aldous Huxley developed a complex and technologically advanced culture with distinct social classes.
Dune by Frank Herbert (1965): Dune is an influential sci-fi novel with several detailed fictional cultures. One of them is the Fremen culture, which revolves around ancient superstitions and a rare commodity known as the Spice Melange.
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin (2015): In this award-winning novel, Jemisin created a complex social structure with many "use-castes” that all have a place on an earthquake-ridden planet with one supercontinent.
#writing#writing advice#writing tips#original writing#writers on tumblr#writersconnection#writerscommunity#short story#storytelling#writersupportingwriters
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i loooove the emotion thesaurus!! could you give us some advice on how to elevate adoration into love, or how to show it? would that be its own emotion thesaurus entry? 😲💕
Yes! I’ll definitely do that in a future post, so keep an eye out for it. ;)
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