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wegotstory · 2 years

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1. Take notes of funny or interesting things you hear people say

2. Make lots of lists

3. Write down ideas, even if they don’t really fit into your story. They may be useful later

4. Stay organised

5. Watch an old movie for inspiration

6. Listen to music that fits the mood of your chapter while you write

7. If you remember your dreams, write them down

8. Learn a new word every day

9. Use a thesaurus

10. Take breaks

11. Don’t force yourself to write ‘2,000 words a day’ or whatever. Some days will just be bad writing days. Others will be great

12. Don’t beat yourself up

13. If it’s a bad chapter, don’t delete it. Take a break, then come back and edit it

14. Look at pictures of landscapes or scenes online. It will help you vividly describe what your story looks like

15. Read other’s work for ideas

16. Get feedback from others

17. Bounce plot ideas back and forth with your friends or other writers

18. Write when you feel comfortable and not rushed

19. If you really like something that others don’t, you should still consider keeping it in your story

20. Write down a few sentences explaining what your chapter is going to be about before you write it

21. Don’t force it

22. Drink something hot while writing

23. Stop comparing your work to others

24. Let yourself daydream

25. Seek another perspective

#writing advice #writing tips #author advice #writinglife #writing fantasy #fantasy writer #fiction writing #aspiring writer #creativewriters #fictionwriter #i am a writer #am writing

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wegotstory · 2 years

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✨CORE QUESTIONS WHEN CREATING CHARACTERS 💛LIKE and SAVE for future reference! 📖I love character creation, and I enjoy the gut feeling of just knowing how a cast of story characters will react to and feel about a particular situation. I tend to know more about them than I do myself. ❓WHAT MAKES YOUR MAIN CHARACTER STAND OUT FROM THE OTHERS AROUND THEM? ❄️Have a wonderful weekend, wherever you are in the world and however you plan to spend it! Love from Scotland 💛 🏷 #character #characters #characterconcept #characterinspiration #charactercreation #fictionalcharacters #fictionalcharacter #aspiringwriter #aspiringwriters #prose #novelwritingtips #novelwriting #wattpadwriter #writingabook #bookwriting #bookwriter #fictionwriters #fictionwriting #writingprompts #writingprompt #writersofinstagram #wattpadwriters #writingprocess #writingaesthetic #writinghelp #fictionwriter #wegotstory #storywriting #storywriter https://www.instagram.com/p/CX3YEfeg8yh/?utm_medium=tumblr

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wegotstory · 3 years

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✨ARE YOU A FICTION TRADITIONALIST OR MODERNIST? ADD UP YOUR SCORE 🍂I am truly split down the middle, in some cases I truthfully answer both. Hopefully you get a clearer answer! 📝 Difficulty also comes from having different answers as a reader and writer, but that’s why many of us don’t enjoy writing what we read! I run to the supernatural horror section of the library but I’m all about the realistic human experiences when I write. 🌐It’s been a bad week on IG for me, my engagement took a hit (it always does when I post about upcoming competitions but people use it so I’ll suck it up for them!) and the platform is making it extremely hard to see new posts of people I follow. Thanks to those who let me know they’re experiencing this too! I was so relieved, I thought I had done something. 💛 I hope you have a WONDERFUL week, resting when you need to and being productive to be happy. 🏷  #writingprompt #plottwistedit #plots #writinganovel #writingabook #writeabook #writersofinstagram #writersoﬁnstagram #writingmotivation #storyboard #writersblock #writerlifestyle #writergram #writers_around #fictionbooks #readerforlife #fictionwriter #authorlife #writerslife #writinglife #tropes #fictionalcharacters #fictionbooks #fictionbook #writerstag #writingchallenge #authorchallenge #thisorthat  https://www.instagram.com/p/CVfYkxSgQuT/?utm_medium=tumblr

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wegotstory · 3 years

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✨SUNDAY FUN - DO YOU HAVE CHARACTER BINGO? ❓QOTD❓Which of your characters are you most proud of creating? 🎭 For me, it’s my comic relief who was only intended to appear twice but readers really liked him so he ended up taking on a larger role. He was sassy as hell, I can’t say I was unhappy with the change! 💛I hope you’re all having a great Sunday, resting if you can, and being awesome. 🏷 #characterbio #characterbingo #protagonist #antagonist #villain #comicrelief #smartone #storybingo #sidekick #novelwriting #novelwriter #writingchallenge #writingchallenges #bookchallenge #bookfun #charactersheet #characterstudy #writingprompts #writingprompt #writinginspiration #writinginspo #wegotstory #iamawriter #aspiringauthor #aspiringwriters #aspiringwriter #futurewriter #writingismyfreedom #writingskills #writingtime https://www.instagram.com/p/CVaV-aUgZc0/?utm_medium=tumblr

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wegotstory · 3 years

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You Know What Would Be A Cool Reader Experience?

Witnessing a writer completely abandon the original plot to focus on the cool sidekick’s more interesting storyline and we legit never hear from the protagonist again, except a half-hearted summery paragraph near the end. A mid-write-reshuffle.

I’d respect the crap out of that writer.

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wegotstory · 3 years

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Does This Chapter-By-Chapter Plot Outline Work for You?

Act I

Hero and Ordinary World

1 - Really Bad Day

2 - Something Peculiar

3 - Grasping at Straws

A - INCITING INCIDENT

4 - Call to Adventure

5 - Head in Sand

6 - Pull Out Rug

B - FIRST PLOT POINT

Act II

Exploring New World

7 - Enemies & Allies

8 - Games and Trials

9 - Earning Respect

FIRST BATTLE

10 - Forces of Evil

11 - Problem Revealed

12 - Truth and Ultimatum

MIDPOINT

Act II (cont.)

Bad Guys Close In

13 - Mirror Stage

14 - Plan of Attack

15 - Crucial Role

SECOND BATTLE

16 - Direct Conflict

17 - Surprise Failure

18 - Shocking Revelation

SECOND PLOT POINT

Act III

Defeat and Victory

19 - Giving Up

20 - Pep Talk

21 - Seizing the Sword

FINAL BATTLE

22 - Ultimate Defeat

23 - Unexpected Victory

24 - Bittersweet Return

REBIRTH

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wegotstory · 3 years

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Latin Words and Phrases

veni, vidi, vici - I came, I saw, I conquered.

vivamus, moriendum est - let us live, for we must die.

ergo dum me diligis - so long as you love me.

alis volat propriis - she flies with her own wings.

sic mundus creatus est - thus the world was created.

aut inveniam viam aut faciam - I shall either find a way or make one.

mors certa, hora incerta - death is certain, its hour is uncertain

mors mihi lucrum - death to me is reward

aeternum vale - farewell forever

mors ultima linea rerum est - death is everything’s final limit

nascentes morimur - from when we are born, we begin to die

mors vincit omnia - death conquers all

omnia mors aequat - everything is equal in death

tempus edax rerum - time, devourer of everything

poeta nascitur, non fir - poets are born, not made

luctor et emergo - I struggle and emerge

armor vincit omnia - love conquers all

pulvis et umbra sumus - we are dust and shadows

Ad hoc: To this

Alibi: Elsewhere

Amaritudo - Bitterness

Amo: Love

Astrum - Star/Sky

Basium - Kiss

Bona fide: With good faith

Bonus: Good

Carpe diem: Seize the day

De Facto: In fact

E.g.: For example

Ego: I

Ergo: Therefore

Et cetera: And so on

Excrucior - I am tortured

Extra: In addition to

I.e.: That is

Impromptu: Spontaneous

Intro: Within

Multi: Many

Per se: In itself

Pro bono (publico): For the good (of the public)

Quid pro quo: Something for something

Re: About

Semi: Half

Sentio - I feel

Sepulcrum - Tomb

Status quo: Existing state of affairs

Verbatim: In exactly the same words

Versus: Against

Vice versa: The other way around

Volatus - Flying

#latin phrases #latin quotes #latin words #latin translation #just writer stuff #writing resources #latin language #language resources #dark academia #aspiring author #language history #literature #aspiring poet #aspiring novelist #classics #ancient world #ancient rome

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wegotstory · 3 years

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Latin Phrases Worth Knowing

ad astra per aspera - to the stars through difficulties

alis volat propriis - he flies by his own wings

aut insanity homo, aut versus facit - the fellow is either mad or he is composing verses

amantium irae amoris intergratio est - the quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love

ars longa, vita brevis - art is long, life is short

dum spiro aperitif - while I breathe, I hope

ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem - with the sword, she seeks peace under liberty

exigo a me non ut optimus par sim sed ut malis melior - I require myself not to be equal to the best, but to be better than the bad

experiential docet - experience teaches

helluo librorum - a glutton for books (bookworm)

in libras libertas - in books, freedom

littera scripta manet - the written letter lasts

mens regnum bona possidet - an honest heart is a kingdom in itself

mirabile dictu - wonderful to say

nullus est liber tam malus ut non aliqua parte prosit - there is no book so bad that it is not profitable in some part

omnia iam fient quae posse negabam - everything which I used to say could not happen, will happen now

poeta nascitur, non fit - the poet is born, not made

qui dedit benificium taceat; narrat qui accepit - let him who has done good deed be silent; let him who has received it tell it

saepe ne utile quidem est scire quid futurum sit - often, it is not advantageous to know what will be

sedit qui timuit ne non succederet - he who feared he would not succeed sat still

si vis pacem, para bellum - if you want peace, prepare for war

struit insidias lacrimis cum feminia plorat - when a woman weeps, she is setting traps with her tears

sub rosa - under the rose

trahimir omnes laudis studio - we are led on by our eagerness of praise

Ruben latericium invenit, marmoream reliquit - he found the city a city of bricks, he left it a city of marble

ut incepit fidelis sic permanent - as loyal as she began, so she remains

#latin phrases #latin words #latin translation #writer stuff #writing resources #latin language #language history #literature #classics #dark academia #writer resources #dark aesthetic #ancient world #quotes #latin quotes

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wegotstory · 3 years

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Them: A good story is like an iceberg.

Me: Because they are hard to come by, exist in extreme conditions, and when you find one it both mesmerises and destroys your cruising vessel?

Them: No, because most of the information is kept hidden from the reader - wait, what did you say?

Me: Nothing.

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wegotstory · 3 years

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Plays. Poems. Scripts. Essays. Non-Fiction. Flash/Micro Fiction. Short Stories. Novels.

There’s something for everyone in August-September. You can find the master list at the We Got Story website (link in IG bio).

We have so many that are free to enter! And not one, not two, but *three* that have $20,000 for the winning entry!

If you find any I’ve missed, or want me to check out the validity of a contest you’ve found, shoot me a DM. Now hit the like button, save the post for future reference, and enter some competitions!

#writing contest #writing competition #writing contests #writing competitions #writing challenge #poetry contest #short story #short story contest #scriptwriting #playwright #script #novel writing #aspiring novelist #writer challenge #writer stuff #bestsellers #essay writing #screenplay #flash fiction

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wegotstory · 3 years

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5 Ways You Can Help a Writer

Ask about their methods and skills. How do they connect a plot to the characters they plan to use? How do they formulate a storyline? This will help them analyse their process, understand it, and sometimes helps them identify where they can improve)

Explain what excites you as a reader. Do you like any tropes? What’s your favourite narrative styles, form or genres? Tell them what you would look for in a story. Better yet, tell them what would turn you off. Of course, you don’t speak for all readerships, but insight into any reader is useful and can help writers be more objective.

Ask about their WIP and *LISTEN*. Repeat key points back. Ask follow up or clarifying questions. They say the best way to learn something is to teach it to another, so filling in as a ‘student’ helps writers better understand their own project. How? By visualising their story in a different way, better appreciating why they want to tell this story over another. It also helps pick out plot/character holes early on!

Resist the urge to say ‘If I were you, I’d-’. There’s a reason why they are writing it and not you. Understand that you may not be the audience this book will appeal to, and try to be objective and appreciate what another reader could enjoy. Make sure your questions and comments are thoughtful and supportive as you involve yourself.

Listened to the outline or find a character intriguing? Would love to read it along the way or when they’re finished? Offer, and mean it! Don’t pretend. Your supportive enthusiasm now may be your downfall and make the writer stumble in confidence. If you aren’t personally interested, help by finding a couple of places online (think ‘niche’) where other people are actively looking for that sort of story.

Bonus Tip: Writers can be very protective and secretive of their work. Vocalise your willingness to get involved, but don’t push it. Give writers space to do their thing. Most writers mess up over and over as they write and re-write, and some can even be embarrassed by their material. When they’re ready, they’ll let you know. After all, they are so lucky to have such a supportive friend.

#help a writer out #writer help #reader pov #writer post #writer friends #aspiring author #writers of tumblr #readers of tumblr #readersofinstagram #readerslife #writerscorner #female writers #writing a story #writing advice #writer problems #how to write a novel #how to write #writershelpingotherwriters #writershelpingwriters

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wegotstory · 3 years

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What is Plot Armour?

What Does It Look Like?

Prevailing/surviving a challenge they realistically would lose/die to

Escaping the worst consequences of an action for no believable reason, even if others don’t

Is saved at the last moment more than once

Not having the natural flaws normal beings do, leading to less failures

Repeatedly surviving (both literally and figuratively) dangerous encounters - defying the limitations of luck.l

Appearing to have unearned power/skill that makes them more or less indestructible

Example

(A Song of Ice and Fire Spoiler warning!)

Jon Snow, arguably the main hero of ASoIaF series, is skilled in sword fighting and he has a good measure of physical strength. Not the most skilled, and not the strongest. Not the smartest either. Still, Jon repeatedly survives masses of wights, White Walkers, and literally avoids any read harm when an army on horseback stampedes into him. Even when he “dies”, plot armour activates and he is resurrected with no physical fallouts. He’s just a bit more dejected, poor thing.

Can You Just Not?

Look, we all love a hero who defies the odds. We love when it all looks like all is lost only for a last second win. There’s nothing wrong with giving your character a bit of unearned luck, but eventually you’ll lose the respect and belief of your readers. Plot armour takes realists out of the reading experience. Shifting the balance of fairness is blatant, especially when other characters aren’t so lucky. Outcomes should be real, and that means dealing with reality. Don’t cheapen the storyline with plot cheats!

Instead…

If you want your character to survive battles, give them levelled opportunities to become a skilled warrior. If there is going to be lots of carnage, maybe your character doesn’t need to be in the firing line each time? Loss and sacrifice can be good ways of keeping a character alive without cheapening the moment. Let the reader feel like they lost, not ‘got lucky’. I’m reminded of Harry Potter escaping Privet Drive in HPatDH. Harry had to survive, but in the process George was maimed, Mad-Eye died, and - heartbreakingly, Hedwig was killed in flight. Harry’s survival was lucky, but not free from cost. Plot armour couldn’t cheapen the experience there.

Now excuse me as I go grieve for Hedwig…

#plot armor #characterisation #writingskills #writing process #how to write a character #how to write #story writing #writingabook #writersofinstagram #writers of tumblr #readersofinstagram #writing fiction #aspiring author #aspiring novelist #novel writing #character creation #bad writing #protagonists #writing advice

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wegotstory · 3 years

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How To Write A Nuanced Antagonist

Dark Reflection

There’s a reason they’re called ‘Antagonists’. Villains are a dark reflection of the protagonist in motivation and means. They are stubborn and unmoving, and everything the protagonist is not.

Familial Connections

Since the Osiris myth of Ancient Egypt, there have been evil reflections of a noble sibling, overthrowing a kingdom and ruling as a tyrant. It’s only when the valiant nephew/niece rises up against them that the evil Uncles/Aunts are vanquished.

Good Ol’ Fashioned Dastardly Trickery

Sometimes a villain can be nothing more than a Dick Dastardly and his Mutley sidekick firing obstacles at the protagonist to overcome. This is usually associated with a protagonist with nothing more to offer the plot than muscles and damsels.

The Anti-Hero

Never has the Anti-Hero been a stronger presence than right now! Just like the heroes of classical antiquity, modern day anti-heroes were ushered in with the likes of Wolverine, Punisher and Deadpool, each with tragic flaws that limit them to villainy rather than fully-fledged protagonism.

Fallen From Grace

I call these the ‘Lucifers’. These are the fallen angels pushed to villainy by exterior forces either related or unrelated to the protagonist. They are similar to the anti-hero, but in one regard: they are not always redeemable. They are understandably lost in evility.

Heroes Of Their Own Story

These are the worst villains of all. Why? Because they believe themselves right. No villain ever believed. They are saviours. They are martyrs. And that is what makes them so dangerous.

(Taken from Pierce and Partum)

#antagonist #antihero #evil character #villain #characterisation #nuanced #how to write a novel #creativewriters #character design #character creation #how to write a character

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wegotstory · 3 years

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100 Romantic Tropes

An A-to-Z of love story tropes!

Accidental Pregnancy

Affair

Afraid of Commitment

Age Gap

All Grown Up

Amnesia

Antihero Romance

Arranged Marriage

Athlete/Nerd

Bad Boy/Girl

Bait-and-Switch

Beauty and the Beast

Best Friend First

Best Friend’s Partner

Best Friend’s Sibling

Billionaire

Blackmail

Blind Date

Bodyguard

Boss/Employee

Boy Meets Girl

Boy Hates Girl

Broken Heart

Celebrity Falls for Commoner

Childhood Enemies

Childhood Friends

Childhood Proposals

Cinderella Story

Class Clash

Cohabitation

Consanguinity

Cougar

Cowboy

Cyrano

Different Worlds

Disguise

Enemies to Lovers

Fairy Tale

Fake Relationship

Fatal Attraction

First Love

Fling

Forbidden Love

Friends With Benefits

Guardian/Ward

If I Can’t Have You…

In Denial

Jilted at Alter

Kidnapped

Long-Distanced

Love at First Sight

Love Potion

Love Triangle

Love-Hate Relationship

Marriage of Convenience

Matchmaker

Men in Uniform

Mistaken Identity

Mr Wrong Vs. Mr Right

Not Good Enough

Oblivious

Office Romance

Older Man/Woman

One Night Stand

Opposites Attract

Orphan

Parent-Childcare Romance

Partner in Crime

Plain Jane

Playboy

Politician

Protector

Redemption

Reform Villain

Rejected

Rescued

Reunion

Revenge

Rich / Poor

Road Trip Romance

Royalty Romance

Runaway Bride/Groom

Scars

Secret Child

Secret Admirer

Second Chance

Stranded Together

Student/Professor

Sudden Baby

The One That Got Away

Time Travel

Tortured Hero(ine)

Two-Person Triangle

Ugly Duckling

Undercover Love

Unrequited Love

Wallflower

Widow(er)

Working with Ex

Wrong Person

#romance #romantic #romance fiction #romanticfiction #fiction #fiction writing #romance tropes #fiction tropes #valentinesday #romancewriter #overused

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wegotstory · 4 years

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Writing With Depression

Mark Twain. Stephen King. Sylvia Plath. J.K. Rowling

- Just a few successful writers who *suffered* from depression. I highlight ‘suffer’ because, contrary to many of the articles I found in preparation for this post claimed, depression is not for spicing up writing skills or sprinkling on for emotional depth. It’s often a crippling and debilitating illness. The writers above wrote *in spite* of their illness, which is remarkable, but most importantly their depression should not be romanticised as a muse for creative outlets.

If you are experiencing depression, how can you make sure your love for writing doesn’t fall by the wayside?

How To Write While Depressed

Let’s say you are experiencing a bout of depression, or you have been in a constant fight with it for some time, how can you make sure your love for writing doesn’t fall by the wayside?

Do it for you - Writing with the notion another set of eyes will judge you is a sure way to kill your confidence. So do it only for you. No pressure, no expectations, no chance of failing.

Every word is a win - Listen, any productive activity, however small, is a step in the opposite direction of what your depression would have you do. Celebrate every paragraph, sentence, phrase and word.

Do what is fun - Do you enjoy writing lists of names? Do it. Want to write a blog post on that obsession you have today? Go for it. Feel like joining a role-playing group? They’re waiting for you! You’ll be honing your skills without even trying.

Two words: Fan Fiction - Writing fan fiction is often looked at with cynical eyes, notions of unoriginality and ‘playing at being a writer’ making it seem like a step in the wrong direction. This is ridiculous! Writing FF requires an original plot, never-before-said dialogue, management of scenes and a dance with words unique to you. And since it’s for you, who cares what anyone else thinks?

Try something different - Before I experienced true depression, I did none of the suggestions above. I enjoyed writing stories and that was it. When my feelings got in the way of doing my usual, I felt like a failure. When a friend introduced me to new writing ventures she did for fun, I flourished. After a while, I was having so much fun *not failing* (after all, I had no expectations and no bar to reach) I slipped back into story writing as my barriers weren’t as hard to overcome. Most recently, I have tried my hand at poetry when I’m feeling overwhelmed. Why? Because I truly suck at poetry. I stink. And it’s okay because I’m doing it for me and occasionally, when something not-terrible comes onto the page, I feel proud of myself.

Set yourself up to win - So, you put time aside to write but when the time arrives you find yourself doing other things because the task of writing is intimidating. Boy, can I relate. Try this: before you reach your ‘writing time’, have 1 sentence that - once written - allows you to walk away. Maybe it’s that bit of dialogue that you thought of, or a 1 sentence summery of a fan fiction you’d like to read. When the time comes, write it. It’ll take less than a minute. If you keep writing beyond that, amazing, if not, you still wrote in your writing time. Win.

Write about it - It’s a common activity to write your pain and confusion into words, and if that helps you express some of your emotions then please do it! But if you aren’t ready to get deep or attempt at making beauty out of it, I still wholly recommend writing factually. Don’t litter it with metaphors or self-indulgent phrases when you do this, be blunt. Be honest with yourself, even if you want to delete it after you write it so no one else can see. Writing out your truth in a true and raw way can feel amazing and help sort out your thoughts later.

Never try to deal with depression on your own, from experience you can break out of it, or at least manage it better, with a little outside input. Friends. Family. Your community. There’s also a fantastic writing community online, and many will be feeling exactly as you do. If you need help finding a solid writing group, I’ve always got time for that kind of thing! ❤️

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wegotstory · 4 years

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Do You Really Need A Prologue?

What is a prologue?

A prologue is a literary device. In the form of a chapter which comes at the start of a story, a prologue usually gives information about events which occured before the main events of the story. Often, it is followed by Chapter One. Opinions on whether of not prologues should be used is varied - many hate them, others love them, and most of us would say they are only wonderful when done properly.

✔️A Good Prologue...✔️

Is crucial to the story, providing something which can’t be given elsewhere in the story but is necessary to accomplish something later.

Is active and interesting for the reader, giving them a taste of what they’ll get in the main story and make them want to read on.

Could use POV to their advantage, taking the opportunity to tell events through the eye of another character for their unique perspective before switching to your main protagonist for the rest of the story.

Strikes a good balance between interesting and setting up for the even better story to come.

❌ A Good Prologue Is Not... ❌

Only there to set up tone/theme/atmosphere.

A history lecture, void of action outside of a narration of events which only aims to provide exposition. Readers don’t want to spend their opening minutes in your book getting a lesson on the backstory, they want to be in a scene! Don’t info dump!

More exciting than the main plot, otherwise you have chosen the wrong story to tell!

A false start or an excuse for a mediocre Chapter 1.

Something you should need to question - if you aren’t sure if it’s needed, it likely isn’t!

🤔 Why Think Twice? 🤔

Remember: A reader’s experience begins on your opening line - don’t waste it! It is claimed many readers skim through prologues (or skip them altogether) to get to the ‘real start’ because prologues have a bad reputation for being used badly. Don’t be a writer who used a prologue unnecessarily.

However, if you have pre-story events you want your reader to know, a prologue might be for you! Be active, not passive. Throw your reader right into the thick of the action, maybe even from the view of a villain or key character who will be relevant later. And if you think the story would have worked okay without it, swallow your pride and delete. (Or save it for a different purpose!)

#writersofinstagram #aspiring author #aspiring writer #creative writing #creativewriters #writers of tumblr #fiction writing #just writer stuff #amwriting #write this #writing tips #writing community #writting #good writing #aspiring novelist #writer

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wegotstory · 4 years

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Internet Sources You Should Be Using For Story Inspiration

Online Police Blotters and Crime Logs

Is your thriller or detective story short of a mysterious felony or two? Online police records make for good copyright-free fodder. Small town newspapers provide more lighthearted escapades than national dramas, if that’s what you need. And for some comic relief ideas, newsoftheworld.com has a ‘weird news’ section filled with wonky stories from around the world - complete with hilarious inept criminals and wacky human-interest tales!

Public Confessionals

Post Secret: Your go-to source for deep, dark secrets provided online by anonymous contributors. Flick through the postcard confessions and make note of any scandalous or disturbing reveals that could be twisted into a plot line or make for a killer additional level of characterisation for your cast. You’ll be surprised at what the internet admits to when their identities are obscured. (postsecret.com)

Image Heaven

Not already following National Geographic’s website? You’re missing out, especially if you like to use visual prompts. NG can have some of the most stirring and beautiful photos online. For a more candid shot from around the world, in-public.com serves some serious serendipity moments caught on camera. Find a photo that speaks to you and form your story. Bonus authenticity points if you avoid reading the context given in the captions!

Find What Scares You

Creepy Pasta (creepypastas.com) has a wide variety of chilling tales told as a first-person campfire story - I recommend CreepsMcPasta’s podcast for listeners. The genres are numerous but they must all follow the rule: give the reader the creeps. You can find fan favourite lists easily online, as well as narrow your field of interest with keywords. If you like to be creeped on the go, people have kindly narrated thousands of Creepy Pastas for YouTube and Spotify.

Six-Word Memoirs

For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn

Like the above, stories found on sixwordmemoirs.com aim to hit the reader hard in 6 punchy words - and they rarely disappoint. Use these powerful clips to jump start your imagination, form a fuller story around them, or have a go at adding your own to the mix.

Dear Deirdre

Advice columns are rife with personal, heartfelt, and sometimes downright hilarious ‘I Need Help’ situations that can easily be lifted out and made into a Chick Flick novel blurb. Magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Ella publish such stories on their sites, or you could just Google. It isn’t a women-only scene anymore either, everyone’s struggles can be equally as captivating. Problems can become plot obstacle, subplots, and help flesh out background characters.

#writersofinstagram #aspiring author #aspiring writer #creative writing #creativewriters #writers of tumblr #fiction writing #just writer stuff #write this #amwriting #writing inspo #writing inspiration #story ideas #writing advice #writingabook #writing #writerslife #inspiration for writers #writer

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