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blush-and-books · 3 years

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College AU, Fluff, Meeting, Screenplay

after spending 20 minutes panicking about the fact that you sent me a request. i watched some modern family. and then buckled up to write a little college au for you. yes they are at usc lmao. julie is in the john wells screenwriting program and luke doesn’t specify in this but in my head he’s a business major. enjoy and thank you so much for making me briefly lose my mind

Julie didn’t realize that she had stayed past her reserved time.

Not a single part of her had been keeping track -- she was much too enthralled in finishing her draft of the pilot episode of her television drama. It was a portion of one of the many portfolio pieces that she would accumulate over her time here, and she was determined to make it a strong “first episode;” seeing as how not only was the Pitch Fair coming up, but her professor also recently found an in with David E. Kelley and was teasing an opportunity at an internship.

She was putting an inhumane amount of pressure on herself to write this, and make it beautiful. Unfortunately, it was hard for her to focus when she had two other roommates with raging social lives and coffee shops were only distracting towards her creative flow.

That was how she found herself -- running off of three coffees and three Bangs (and a seventh concoction that was part-coffee, part-Bang, that she never wants to think about again), four hours of sleep, and pure adrenaline -- staying way past her time in the private studying room in the library.

An insistent knock on her door is what tipped her off.

“Hello?” There was an exasperated, deep voice on the other side of the door. “You almost done in there? Your time’s up!”

The flow of her creative juices was suddenly interrupted, and when she looked, panicked, at her computer clock, her terror was confirmed. “Shit.”

The first thing she does is rush to unlock the door, and open it up to let the other party in. She doesn’t even stop to look at them before whirling around back to her computer and bag to pack up her garbage and other belongings; wanting to rush out of there as soon as possible.

“I am so sorry,” she gushes, still unaware of who was actually in the room with her. “I just had this big script to write and I am seriously out of it because I have been consuming dangerous amounts of caffeine on no sleep, so I am so sorry if you lose study time because of me-”

Zipping up her bag and slinging it clumsily over her shoulder, Julie allows herself to meet the eyes of the stranger whose education she has just hindered -- and is met with the sight of warm green.

The stranger (the extraordinarily attractive stranger who is wearing a sleeveless shirt that shows off unfairly toned biceps), is smiling down at her with what she could only describe as concerned amusement. He doesn’t even have any kind of backpack with him, she notices; just a leather-bound journal in one hand, and a jean-chain being jingled in his other hand.

“Actually,” he chuckles a little. God, Julie would kill to not look like the walking dead right now. The universe has decided to be so, completely unfair to her in every way. This guy is probably terrified of her. “It sounds like you need this place more than I do. You stay.”

But he doesn’t make any actual move to leave -- he just lingers on her, on her face.

Probably on the dark circles shading under her eyes, and the oil that’s probably dotting her nose and chin. He probably thinks she’s disgusting -- but he’s doing a hell of a job hiding it. If she were an idiot, she would think he was looking at her in awe.

The two of them just stand on each side of the desk, eyeing each other in an inexplicable way.

(It feels magnetic. But Julie thinks she’s also just tired.)

“No, really, take the room. I am so sorry I stayed into your time.”

The hot stranger (God, why?) bites his lip with a smile, and shakes his head. “No, I mean- It’s probably more beneficial if you stay. I wasn’t going to study.”

“... Then what was your plan?”

He wiggles his hand from side to side, gesturing to the journal grasped between his fingers. Julie tries to focus her eyes on the book instead of his arms, but wow, his arms.

“Some writing of my own. I’m in a band, and I write all of our songs.”

Wow. Another writer. And he’s in a band -- and Julie looks like a fool.

What did she do in her past life that deserved this?

“Oh, that’s really cool,” she tries to tell him, and she really means it, but she’s also kind of miserable in her current situation so it comes out a little less than enthusiastic.

Hot Stranger takes notice. “Wow, yeah, you sound super interested.”

Julie literally buries her head in her hands, and rubs them over her face a couple times for good measure. Maybe this is a dream, and she’ll wake up with the sweet memory of caring green eyes and floppy brown hair on a guy that is too perfect for her to exist in real life.

“I’m sorry. I’m just a little frustrated at my current situation.”

“Understandably so. Lots of caffeine, no sleep, and high expectations for yourself can do that to a person.”

“And add a cute writer guy on top of that, while I feel like shit, is a recipe for disaster.”

Yes, she just said that out loud.

Does she even care at this point? Not really. She’ll wake up from her caffeine crash tomorrow morning and probably manage to convince herself that it was all a dream.

But right now, unfortunately, she is still in reality. “You think I’m cute?”

Writer Guy bounces on the balls of his feet, like a physical response to the compliment. She can’t help but find it endearing -- if also a little bit like a little kid who just got told that he was going to get ice cream. Her heart kicks in her chest, because she should seriously just leave before anything else dumb comes out of her mouth.

But he’s so cute, and he’s grinning at her as if they’ve been friends for years. And the thought of leaving is unsavory.

“That sounds like my cue to leave,” Julie responds instead, tightly gripping the strap of her bag. “Thank you for the sympathy, it was nice to meet you, and good luck with your band thing. Maybe I’ll see you around.”

“Wait!”

He doesn’t have to tell her twice. In fact, it’s probably pathetic how quickly she comes to a stop and spins around to meet his eyes once again.

“Really, you should stay. This room is big enough for the both of us. And if you’re writing a script, that means you’re in John Wells, and that’s-” He scratches the back of his neck. “That’s big. It’s really cool. If you don’t mind me scribbling in my songbook, then I would really like it if you would stay.”

Julie is so floored by his request, and the way he looks surprisingly nervous while making it, that she completely forgets to actually respond. He continues to fill the silent space with anxious talking.

“I- I’m Luke, by the way.” His hand is suddenly in front of her, and he is only about two feet away from her instead of eight feet, and he almost takes her breath away up close.

She has enough brain cells in her to take it. Do the calluses on his hand almost make her audibly gasp? Yes. But the important thing is that she doesn’t.

“I’m Julie,” she finds herself saying to him -- Luke -- with a small smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Luke doesn’t drop her hand. She doesn’t pull it away. “It’s nice to meet you too, Julie.”

God, Julie must be about to fall asleep standing up at any moment, because she obscenely feels like she has never heard her name sound so beautiful. It carries new meaning coming out of a literal stranger’s mouth, and it’s just like that that she realizes she should probably take her hand out of his so that it doesn’t get clammy and he isn’t immediately disgusted.

“So… You wanna stay? We can write together?”

She’s going to need another coffee for this, but yes -- she really, really wants to stay.

And so she does.

#jatp #juke #juke fanfic #jatp fanfic

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local-thembo · 5 years

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how do you get motivations to write? i want to write but i dont have motivation nor do i have ideas, prompts, to write...

Hi! This got away from me a little, but I’ve got a few pieces of advice! I’m very aware that most of them are easier said than done, but it’s still a starting point…

I’m going to start with ideas! You mentioned it yourself, prompts can really help you get started. There are some awesome lists out there, and there are entire blogs dedicated to them on tumblr. Really, you can probably just google “writing prompts” and be offered heaps of them. Now obviously, not all prompts are going to speak to you. That’s why I really like to get into specific categories depending on my mood!… Feel like writing some gut-wrenching angst? I go hunting for these sweet sweet angsty prompts. Wanna stay light-hearted and cute, I just gotta go through fluffy prompts and find one I like! You can easily just pick a prompt that sparks something in you and then work on it, but sometimes it’s also nice to challenge yourself and have another person involved in the process. That’s why we writers on tumblr love to reblog these lists and ask for prompts! So, you can do that if you’ve got a blog (and don’t worry if you don’t get any response; I get that it’s not a nice feeling, but it happens all the time, and it doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer); but you can also ask a friend! Send them the list, ask them to pick one! Or maybe just discuss the list with them to get these creative juices flowing! You can also totally ask them/a website for a random number, and then use the prompt that’s associated with it. You might find some really interesting stuff!

If you don’t quite know what genre you want to write, look for the things that excite you. Try and find what you love about other people’s stories, be they novels, fanfic, movies, podcasts, and go into that direction. There’s no sense in creating anything that doesn’t hype you up.

Kind of contradicting my above point here, but: come to terms with the fact that not all of writing is fun. I love writing so damn much, I’ll tell any stranger about it because it’s part of my soul, and yet… yet sometimes I’d rather eat my sock than write lmao. Sometimes it’s a pain in the ass. But everything worth making is. And in the end, we make stuff because the good parts outweigh the bad ones.

I’m a real hypocrite when it comes to this next one, but: if you want to publish your stuff (and by publish I mean even just posting on tumblr) and if you think it’s the audience part that holds you back, you might have to work on that. If you’re afraid of getting no reaction/negative reaction for your writing and it keeps you from writing, that’s not great. You might want to shut down that part for now, and learn to write only for yourself and potentially a few close friends. (Again, real hypocrite here, I very much want and expect validation when I write stuff… but I’ve heard that detaching yourself from that is good for the creative process lmao)

Here’s one last piece of advice regarding ideas, from someone who’s on their phone A LOT and can have trouble just existing without constant stimulation: don’t do that. Let yourself just be in the world sometimes, without the Internet, without music, just let your mind stretch out and wander a little bit. Let yourself be a little bored. You could do that by properly setting up a time to meditate; or you can simply decide not to give yourself extra distractions when you’re, say, brushing your teeth, when you’re in the shower, when you’re cooking, etc. Sometimes the ideas are JUST THERE, but we can’t quite reach them because we’re always clogging our minds with external stimulation. Let your mind breathe a bit. You might be surprised!

When it comes to motivation, the best hack I’ve got is this: remove the choice. Instead of asking yourself if you should write later today, just put it in your mind that you’re going to write, it’s going to happen. Pick a time if you can. Add it in your calendar if you use one. And when the time comes, sit down and don’t think about whether or not you want to do it, or should do it; just switch into writing gear and do your best. That whole attitude is super useful to make me go to lectures, and sometimes it works with writing too!

If you’re very easily distracted like me, sometimes taking away the distraction for a bit can really work wonders. If I’m trying to write and I blank for over ten seconds, I just grab my phone and then my focus is GONE. And I can do that for hours on end, and not write a single word. If this happens to you, identify the prime suspect (your phone, a certain website, etc), and block it. There’s tons of apps and extensions for that. It doesn’t have to be for hours, sometimes just ten, twenty minutes where you don’t have your usual distractions can go a long way! I often find that the hardest part is to start writing, and that can really help you on that plan! I use the Forest app on my phone to entice me to not use it for a few minutes, and I usually keep on writing looong after the app has finished its task.

Get someone to hold you accountable. Could be a friend, another writer, a website… Give yourself a goal (“write something before monday”, “finish and publish one prompt today”, “write x amount of words this week”, etc) and tell your buddy about it. Nothing bad happens if you don’t respect it, but sometimes all you need is just the right amount of external pressure…

Stop making writing so important in your head. I know that sounds counterproductive, but here’s the thing: it’s very easy to completely block ourselves from creating if we’re putting too much pressure on ourselves, or expecting everything to be a masterpiece and change the world. It won’t. It’s okay to reframe your expectations.

TL;DR: Remove distractions, use lists of prompts you can find online, and set goals without putting too much pressure on yourself!

I hope some of these help!! Don’t hesitate to come back for more advice, or to ask for clarification on any of my points! And good luck with your writing 💞💞

#answered #op #long post #writing advice #writing tips #anon

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thestudyfeels · 6 years

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How to Get Back Into the Creative Process

A definitive guide by @thestudyfeels

If you follow me (highly recommended, shameless plug), you might’ve noticed that I haven't posted in, well, a million years. The reason being that for about two months I hit an incredible low when it came to making content. I had ZERO creativity and inspiration for quite some time, and if you're a creator, you might recognize that as the best recipe for disaster out there. It's finger lickin' good! (Wow, now I'm dissing KFC, what's this turning into, Wendy's twitter?)

As a rule, I refrain myself from writing posts when I'm dead, since I know without a doubt, that the ennui will automatically transfer into the post. (I sincerely hope that none of my readers are walking zombies with a taste for lifeless posts and aimless rambles. Signed, me.)

But the truth is, my life revolves only around creating and doing crazy shit so I couldn’t deprive myself of this litness for too long. It meant that I had to pick my shit up real quick and get my ass back into the game.

Which is exactly what I did. (This is how you clickbait, youngsters. Watch and learn.)

During my record-breaking low, I couldn't fathom the thought of writing because of the non-existent ideas. I really wanted to, after all I felt empty inside from not doing anything worthwhile, but the lack of inspiration was eating me alive. (Again with the zombie jokes. Sorry, lmao.)

As a creator, such experiences probably sound common. Allow me to assure you that it's okay to be completely blank. It's okay to feel like shit because you love bringing your imagination to life but just can't seem to at the moment. You will get back to grinding again. Never lose faith in that. In fact, I'm specifically writing this guide to help you get back into creating (oh, and to rant about how awesome it is and how I can't get enough of it).

[And yes, this guide works no matter what kind of a creator you are. Bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, writers, illustrators, editors - legit every single one of you who identifies as a creator. I got yo’ back, my Liams and Janes.]

Finally! Now, with the intro done, let's settle down (here's your mint tea and Oreo cookies—no, no burnt popcorn this time #DoItDifferent) and get on with what I promised. Drumroll please, for this marks the starting of a new era where you make a comeback in your field, better than you’ve ever been.

I'm excited to see you win.

Creating is tough. Truly. I find it funny how most people under-appreciate the Arts, because a) hello Monica, wake UP. We're making stuff here. Fresh, crisp, and hot out of our skull-shaped baking pans. Isn't that insane? And b) I doubt any of us would be happy without the sappy rom-com movies and mystery shows to look forward to, or philo books to engulf in a day, or fast-paced vlogs to binge watch or addicting gam- ok, you get my point.

Although most of us are aware of how incredibly demanding and magical the entire process is, we still beat ourselves up for lacking those creative juices at times. Here's a pat from my side and a reminder to NOT do that. Why? Because all creators go through a “dry period” where they feel like they're totally done and are never going to produce anything ever again. In fact, even pop stars routinely take a step back from their fast-paced lifestyles to restore their creative talent - Ed Sheeran being a somewhat recent example (and a great one, have you listened to Divide?). I mean, if they can pause their careers and afford to take a break, then so can you. So stop making excuses and take that day off.

You can also think of it this way: the juices dry up (stop sniggering, ya hoes) because you’ve been using your craft too much, too fast (remember, genius only happens in small quantities) but they start flowing better than ever after a short period of revitalization. So, if you ever find yourself stuck, gazing at the walls in despair, blank docs becoming your serial killers - take that break and don't feel guilty about doing so.

Alrighty, moving onto making that break productive and getting those creative juices back into us. Oh, and Monica? Wipe that stupid smirk off your face.

Now, I don’t know why you started creating (bless you for doing so though), but I do know that there must be something which ignites you and keeps you pushing, even when you hit the lows. This can be anything - nature, music, puppies, art galleries, your loved ones - absolutely anything that makes your soul dance inside and your face flush with pure joy.

During my break, I spent a majority of my time listening to mentors and reading non-fiction. And listening to angelic yet badass music (cough, Billie Eilish, cough). And watching sunsets. And taking pictures of said sunsets. And doing yoga outside while that glamorous sun continued to dip below the horizon. (And trusting all along that I'll get back on track soon.) All things I genuinely love, no effs given. From outside, it seemed like I was on vacay, chilling out; but from the inside, I could feel inspiration and hope trickling back in, my needle moving towards full tank once more.

Point is, DO NOT waste your break loitering about. It's fun to play and party, but the real disaster unfolds when you get back to work and realize you're in the same state again, if not worse. A creative break should centre on getting inspiration back. Figure out what feeds your soul, be it watching other creators, spending time alone, or having meaningful convos, and just do more of it. Re-energize. Rejuvenate. And revive your art.

Now that break’s over and you finally feel more in touch with your creativity, it's time to ease back into it. And I said ‘ease’ because see, the thing is you simply can't force this process. A hint: the more you force yourself for ideas, the more you start relying on your surroundings and other people's work and start losing your own originality. So don't push your creativity.

BUT, good news, if you used that break to rethink your craft, you'll ALWAYS come back with a bunch of ideas, which are much more inventive than anything you've done before. (If you don't, it might mean that you need to extend your break just a teensy bit more.)

Easing means getting back slowly. With consistency. Every single day, without fail, spend some time creating in small chunks. And you CAN'T say “fuck it” or ignore it and purposely start a new show on Netflix after closing that blank doc again in the next tab because you didn’t wanna face the guilt. That's a rule. Obviously, once you get comfortable with the process, increase your time and increase the number of “create” blocks.

This is your life, so don't you dare tell me you're tired or sad or can't make stuff, because I know you can. I've seen you produce magic before and I know you have it in you to create lit fireworks this time as well.

… And soon enough, you'll find yourself happier than ever, for you'll be creating again. I hope you'll feel proud of yourself, because I, for sure, will be.

PS: let's also talk about me finishing this post. This is the first one after my break, HOHOHO! *wiggles eyebrow, which doesn't exist* The girl's back at it again as you see, and I hope you're just getting started too.

We're in this together.

Want to read more? Kay, plopping down some related posts right away —

Read my last post: Biggest Takeaways from The Alchemist (book review, sorta?)

Mentioned: Ed Sheeran’s creative break of almost a year

Rebecca Green and her creative low (you see, it happens to everyone!)

An update chit-chat post by Rebecca on the burnout (if you want the entire story)

Interview Two: motivation to get going (talks about how inspiration comes from inside - me recommending ways to regain your creative energy won’t help for inspiration is different for everyone)

+ Want to request a blog post? Leave your request in my ask box!

Well, that’s a wrap! I post new articles twice a week, on every Sunday and Thursday, so you can follow me if you are into killing the game & conquering life. I’ll do my best to help you in the tough yet amazing journey called life. ✧

If you want to go through my blog, I suggest picking your choice of post from my masterpost list! Or, if you want to read something insightful on your cozy afternoon while chilling under blankets, I recommend reading one of my interviews. Feeling spoilt for choices? Here’s another! If you want to implement the ideas I share in my masterposts by taking action, take on one of my challenges!

I hope you are well; stay strong and conquer life, my conqueror.

— Nandini (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ♡

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