warbirdwrites
Word, bro.
By day, I write killer copy for big brands. By night I'm probably writing fanfiction, let's be honest. And I'm here to share some writing tips with you!
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A week into NaNoWriMo...
So we’re a week into NaNoWriMo, and it’s not exactly going as well as I hoped.
This is now the third year that I’ve participated and usually by this point, I’d have clocked up a higher word count than I currently have – given that I normally take the first week in November off to get a head start before my crazy work schedule ruins my life. Sure, I’ve taken this week off, but it’s been wholly unproductive.
It definitely has more to do with me than the story, though, because other areas of my life are suffering right now. My diet’s been poor, my sleep schedule’s a clusterfuck, I’m drinking more often, and my overall motivation’s had a bit of a knock. So I’m not beating myself up over my word count.
Because... I’m still on track to win by November 30th.
The only thing that’s really forcing me to get the words in is by using the pomodoro technique and doing three or four word sprints a day to get up to the 1,667 mark each day.
And, on the bright side, this is actually, probably, the most consistent NaNoWriMo I’ve done, because in the previous two years, I’d bank ridiculously high daily word counts and then not write for a few days. I haven’t had a day off so far this year. I guess it’s just another way to getting to 50k!
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We’re seven days into NaNoWriMo and I’ve missed out so many plot points that I’m having a dedicated ‘gap filler’ day.
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time to start planning kinktober fandom works! (its a lil early i kno)
last years went really well so i thought i’d get an early start again. happy sinning!
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My favourite thing about Domesticity is the fact that I had planned for Margaret to have the tragic backstory, but now, I’ve basically made it so that Neil has some serious issues with his mother and Margaret absolutely loves her job despite the pain from her past, but they’ve got a common goal – freedom. And Neil’s the one with the major conflict.
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So we’re three days into NaNoWriMo 2020, and my project, for all the planning I did (which wasn’t much compared to previous years), is completely different in tone to what I anticipated. And I’ve been visited by a juicy little plot bunny that could well be my elusive subplot that I hadn’t managed to plan out before all of this started.
I’m making decent progress, though. Almost at 6,000 words.
How’s everyone else’s writing going?
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Give yourself permission to slow down the pacing of your stories. Not everything has to read like quick cuts in an Edgar Wright film.
If you’ve just come out of an emotionally charged or action packed chapter or scene, then it’s going to be a welcome break for you and your readers to counter that with something slower, softer, or even funnier.
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So guys, with NaNoWriMo starting Sunday, I just thought I’d reshare this post. Hopefully this is helpful on all of your novel journeys. Best of luck! 💜
Three Tools To Help You Write
That feeling of winning NaNoWriMo, am I right?!
It’s been a while. But today, I’m going to share three tools that helped me during NaNoWriMo. I hope these are of use to you!
Planning & Productivity: Trello
I use Trello at lot at work as a tracker to manage my team’s productivity. It’s earned a lot of gripes from my co-workers, but I definitely saw merit in this. Especially with regards to my own personal projects.
As you can see, this is my NaNoWriMo board. Along the top, I’ve got various stages of the writing process. In each column is a series of cards that I can move across as I complete each stage.
You can customise cards to your liking. There are options to add text, outlines, and photos of your locations or characters. You could even attach a target word count to them too. The world’s your oyster.
With my board, though, I’ve chosen to be basic and popping in vague titles with an outline for each chapter. I’ve also added colourful labels to my cards. Those correspond to certain characters to track their arcs throughout the story.
It’s a great, at a glance, tool to see what you’ve still to do on your project. Best of all, it’s free!
Planning & Writing: Scrivener
I’d be lying if I said that Scrivener hadn’t changed the way that I write. Or that I’m familiar with all its many features.
To give you an overview, this programme covers absolutely everything you need as a writer. The panel on the left of the screen there is your binder. This is where you gather your notes and organise your writing. As you can see, I’ve got a section dedicated to notes, a section for my actual writing, an edit folder and a dumping ground for links. I’ve also got folders for my characters and snapshots of locations, assembled on a little cork board like so.
One of the best things about Scrivener is the organisation it allows you to have. You’re able to flick through your notes with ease or pull up a piece of research while you write. Not only that, but you can set goals. You can make notes in the ‘notes’ pane on the right hand side. This is useful if something comes to you that you’ll need to fix in the edit. Also, you’re not constrained to writing books with Scrivener. You can write screenplays, short stories, essays… Anything you want to write, Scrivener has a template for it.
I’ve not even scratched the surface with this piece of software, but it’s already become a staple in my writing. It does cost money, about £38 (don’t quote me on that), but it’s well worth it.
Editing: Hemingway
One of the girls in the copy department where I work introduced me to Hemingway, and I loved it from the get-go.
If you’re a bit long winded, and attached to purple prose like me, then Hemingway is gonna be your best bud. It spell checks, it points out your use of adverbs and passive voice, and pinpoints hard to read sentences. Not only that, but you can edit your work there and then, and it’ll update your stats.
The result, clearer, more concise writing. But do err on the side of caution. The app does favour short sentences that will grow monotonous over time for readers. The odd yellow or red sentence is fine.
Here’s the same piece of text with corrections made:
So there you have it - three tools to help you organise, plan, write and edit.
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Small, subtle differences in this particular British pet name: ‘love’.
On its own, it can be slightly crass or derogatory. It’s colloquial in a lot of places in the UK. A lot of women can be offended if you call them ‘love’.
‘My love’, on the other hand is a lot softer, more romantic. It’s slightly classier.
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Prompt List
A/N: phew finally finished my first prompt list. a vast majority of these are my own but there are a few that I found online/was inspired by.
Fluff
“Is that my shirt?” “You mean our shirt?”
“It’s you, it always has been.”
“You’re everything I could’ve wanted and more.”
“Kiss me.”
“Home stopped being a place when you entered my life.”
“You should probably go home.” “But I’m already home.”
“You’re an idiot.” “But you love me.”
“I’d do anything for you.”
“You took all the pillows so I’m using you as one.”
“Stop moving and let me braid your hair.”
“I’m so proud of you.”
“Could you say that again?” “Were you not listening?” “No I was, I just like hearing your voice.”
“I didn’t think it was possible to love someone this much.”
“You are my family.”
“I’m right here.”
“Can you just please hold me?”
“I’m pretty sure (you’re/she’s/he’s/they’re) my soulmate”
“You come here often?” “Well considering I work here, yes.”
“You know, I think my (mother/father/parents) would be proud if I brought (you/her/him/them) home.”
“I just want to see you happy.”
“I haven’t seen (her/him/them) smile like that in ages.”
“You made me a better person. Thank you.”
“I’d rather live in the woods with you than in a mansion with some (girl/boy/person) I barely know.”
“This reminded me of you.”
“Your hair is really soft.”
“You’re really warm.”
“Are you blushing?”
“Can I stay here tonight?”
“Because I love you.”
“I’ve been in-love with you since we were kids.”
“I’m never going to leave you. I promise.”
“Make a wish!”
“I love seeing you smile.”
“Why are you wearing my sweater?” “Because it smells like you.”
“I just want to be there for you.”
“I couldn’t get you out of my mind.”
“You’re just a softie.”
“You owe me.” “Fine, whatever you like.”
“You’re safe now, I’m here.”
“Why are you scared of loving?”
“You are crushing me right now.”
“Darling I love you and all, but please step out fo the kitchen.”
“I love you.”
“You’re an idiot.” “But I am your idiot.”
“Take my hand. Just trust me.”
“You’re hurt. Please just let heal it.”
“At least let me clean it.”
“I told you to take care of yourself.”
“You’re the only thing that matters.”
“Stay.”
Angst
“I’m leaving.” “Of course you are, that’s all you know how to do.”
“You started drinking again, didn’t you?”
“You promised you’d stop drinking.” “And you promised you wouldn’t hurt me!″
“But it’s my fault right?”
“I don’t want to feel this. I want to be numb again.”
“You’re lying to me again. Why can’t you just tell me the truth for once?”
“I love you.” “No you don’t”
“I can’t lose you.” “You already did.”
“Did it mean anything to you? Did I mean anything to you?”
“How was I such an idiot, to believe that you, out of all people, could ever love me?”
“I loved you.” “Then why did you let (her/him/them) get in between us?”
“Maybe they were right, you never did change.”
“This is all in my head. It’s all happening in my head.”
“Don’t you dare walk away from this!”
“What gives you the right to just waltz back into my life after all the pain you’ve caused.”
“You’ve changed.”
“You win, happy?”
“Any other lies left to tell me?”
“Why did you wait until I moved on?”
“Don’t look at me like that.” “Like what?” “Like you still love me.”
“Its (her/him/them), isn’t it?”
“It’s always been (her/him/them).”
“When did you stop loving me?”
“Let me go.”
“You’re not you.”
“I miss the old you.”
“What happened to their happily ever after?” “Not all love stories get a happily ever after, sometimes it’s just once upon a time.”
“Move out of my way before I make you.”
“You deserve better.”
“I risked my life for you.”
“I never would’ve thought (she/he/they)’d end up with someone else.”
“They were perfect for each other.”
“I was happier with you.”
“I would’ve done anything for you.”
“I loved you. I loved you so so much but you hurt me.”
“They warned me about this.” “About what?” “You.”
“Lie to me. I don’t care what you say, just lie to me. Make me feel okay again.”
“You broke me.”
“You just threw four years of friendship out the window.”
“Hasn’t this addiction done enough damage already?”
“Sorry doesn’t fix everything.”
“You promised.”
“I don’t need help! I need an end to this pain.”
“What am I in your life? Because as of lately I feel as though I’ve been nothing to you.”
“Leave.”
“I can’t keep playing pretend.”
“You deserve so much better.”
“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t leave.”
“I wish we never met.”
“I’m sorry I’m not enough for you.”
General
“I love you.” “Tell me that when you’re sober.”
“It’s pouring rain why are you here?”
“I love you.” “You shouldn’t.”
“Where are you?”
“What happened?”
“Have you been taking care of yourself?”
“Is that blood?” “Yes but that doesn’t matter right now, what does matter is-” “You are literally bleeding.”
“Is that my book?”
“Are they dead?”
“You want to play pretend? Well two can play at that game.”
“Did you know that you talk in your sleep?”
“Come back to bed. Please.”
“You’re who they warned me about.”
“Come back.”
“You should’ve listened to me.”
“I haven’t seen you in days.”
“Are you jealous?”
“Cheers, I’ll drink to that.” “You drink to everything.” “Cheers!”
“Why is there a deer in the room?”
“Is that vodka? At 7 in the morning?”
“It’s not my choice.”
“Can we take this home?”
“Hey, look at me. Focus on me alright?”
“I haven’t seen (her/him/them) smile in months.”
“(She/he/they) don’t belong with (her/him/them)!” “Than who do(es) (she/he/they) belong with?” “…..with me.”
“Come home.”
“I hope you’re happy.”
“They don’t need to know.”
“I made this for you.”
“Why is arson always your first answer?”
“Is this really the time for jokes?”
“You always do this.”
“Wake me up when it’s over.”
“You look happy.”
“I’m sorry, do I know you?”
“Why can’t I get you out of my head?”
“Do you want that?”
“Don’t let go.”
“Just let me stay.”
“Can I at least tell my side of the story?”
“Do you trust me?”
“Are you flirting with me?”
“Is the weight of your sins too heavy?”
“Just let me see (her/him/them) one last time. Please.”
“Are you afraid to die?”
“Are they really ‘just a friend’?”
“I wasn’t lying when i told you that I loved you.”
“I won’t hurt you.”
“Have you been sleeping?”
“I didn’t know where else to go.”
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You know how I said I was gonna share tidbits about my characters? I lied.
Or, rather, I got exceptionally drunk last night and had a time that was a bit too excellent. And then I forgot. Sorry, folks!
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What do your crutch words tell you about your writing weaknesses?
These last couple of days, I’ve been working on a one-shot; it’s the longest one I’ve written in a while and I’m struck by how many crutch words I use.
Before
Barely
Just
Even
Seemed
It’s only a first draft, so I have to give it permission to suck as I’m in a hurry to get the idea out. But, four out of those five completely go against the ‘show, don’t tell’ rule and they’re begging to be replaced with stronger, more impactful word choices. So, to remedy that, I need to work on crafting better descriptions in the second draft.
If a first draft is all about haste, then the second draft needs to be about care and craft.
So, I’m curious: based on your own crutch words, which aspects of your own writing do you think you should improve?
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Advice please!
So, I’m a writer, but I also like having the option of running photoshop (making gifs usually). My MacBook Pro, that’s served me well through TWO degrees and countless jobs, is giving up the ghost (it’s old and I’ve had zero issues with it until now). So it’s time to move on!
I need a new MacBook. The question is, do I go with the MacBook Air or the MacBook Pro? Is the base model Air powerful enough for what I need it to do and does it have that god awful weird keyboard? A lot’s changed with the pro, but I’m tempted to just pay the money and stick with it, but if the base model Air’s plenty powerful, then the lower price point is gonna win out.
All advice appreciated!
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Limits of the Human Body
Body Heat = 107.6 F
Cold Water = 40 F
Hot Air = 300 F
High Altitude = 15,000 ft
Starvation = 45 days
Diving Depth = 282 ft
Lack of Oxygen = 11 minutes
Blood Loss = 40%
Dehydration = 7 days
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Person A: “I reject the reality, and substitute my own!”
Person B: “You can’t just say that every time you don’t like something.”
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Made my own prompts for this month! Will be trying to write ☺️☺️
Choose one, combine the two each day, alternate, or use angst prompts for soft works and soft prompts for angst works 😈😈
Feel free to tag me if you use!
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Person A: “….Why are you helping me?”
Person B: “Because nobody deserves to die like this.”
Person A: “Even someone like me?”
Person B: “….Especially someone like you.”
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