firey-rising-demon:

nanoochka:

virtualsilver:

fanfictionwriter101:

I’d like everyone to see this

{Credit to amalasrosa on Twitter}

#real #not to be salty but this is what ive been saying#like everyone out here really still acting like fanfic isnt really writing#like its subpar and like it cant be good and have amazing lines#even fanfic writers treat it like its LESS and like theyre PLAY writing and not actually writing#like friend buddy ican ASSURE YOU that fanfic is every bit as real and good as writing from books#the only difference between fic and actual books is that books go through several stages of processing and editing and filtering#and are worked on by professionals who studied the craft of editing#while fanfiction cuts that filtering and everyone gets a chance to be heard and to be read#and instead of editors we have peer editing and reviewing#dont be fucking tricked by the mass notion that anything that young girls and queer people are interested in is immediately bad and subpar#bc it is fucking not #i will FIGHT for it #fanfiction (tags by @crossroadswrite bacause they add so much to this post)

The real irony is there is plenty of fanfiction that goes through more rigorous editing than some published fiction. So the difference in quality between fanfiction and “professional writing” is totally arbitrary and made up. Except that some things that are more expensive are worse.

Fanfic has really raised my standards for what constitutes good writing.

Writing tip:

doctorbluesmanreturns:

Learn the difference between plagiarism and inspiration. There’s a fine line between stealing a character wholesale and using that character archetype as a jumping off point for your own character. Example: Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot are both Highly Skilled Detectives With Questionable People Skills, but you’d never confuse one with the other. Operas, ballets, folktales, and myths are all good sources of archetypes because in these the characters are usually represented very broadly so you can stick a LOT more onto them.

Words to replace said, except this actually helps

whispersandwhiskerburn:

imagines–assemble:

msocasey:

I got pretty fed up with looking for words to replace said because they weren’t sorted in a way I could easily use/find them for the right time. So I did some myself.

IN RESPONSE TO
Acknowledged
Answered
Protested

INPUT/JOIN CONVERSATION/ASK
Added
Implored
Inquired
Insisted
Proposed
Queried
Questioned
Recommended
Testified

GUILTY/RELUCTANCE/SORRY
Admitted
Apologized
Conceded
Confessed
Professed

FOR SOMEONE ELSE
Advised
Criticized
Suggested

JUST CHECKING
Affirmed
Agreed
Alleged
Confirmed

LOUD
Announced
Chanted
Crowed

LEWD/CUTE/SECRET SPY FEEL
Appealed
Disclosed
Moaned

ANGRY FUCK OFF MATE WANNA FIGHT
Argued
Barked
Challenged
Cursed
Fumed
Growled
Hissed
Roared
Swore

SMARTASS
Articulated
Asserted
Assured
Avowed
Claimed
Commanded
Cross-examined
Demanded
Digressed
Directed
Foretold
Instructed
Interrupted
Predicted
Proclaimed
Quoted
Theorized

ASSHOLE
Bellowed
Boasted
Bragged

NERVOUS TRAINWRECK
Babbled
Bawled
Mumbled
Sputtered
Stammered
Stuttered

SUAVE MOTHERFUCKER
Bargained
Divulged
Disclosed
Exhorted

FIRST OFF
Began

LASTLY
Concluded
Concurred

WEAK PUSY
Begged
Blurted
Complained
Cried
Faltered
Fretted

HAPPY/LOL
Cajoled
Exclaimed
Gushed
Jested
Joked
Laughed

WEIRDLY HAPPY/EXCITED
Extolled
Jabbered
Raved

BRUH, CHILL
Cautioned
Warned

ACTUALLY, YOU’RE WRONG
Chided
Contended
Corrected
Countered
Debated
Elaborated
Objected
Ranted
Retorted

CHILL SAVAGE
Commented
Continued
Observed
Surmised

LISTEN BUDDY
Enunciated
Explained
Elaborated
Hinted
Implied
Lectured
Reiterated
Recited
Reminded
Stressed

BRUH I NEED U AND U NEED ME
Confided
Offered
Urged

FINE
Consented
Decided

TOO EMO FULL OF EMOTIONS
Croaked
Lamented
Pledged
Sobbed
Sympathized
Wailed
Whimpered

JUST SAYING
Declared
Decreed
Mentioned
Noted
Pointed out
Postulated
Speculated
Stated
Told
Vouched

WASN’T ME
Denied
Lied

EVIL SMARTASS
Dictated
Equivocated
Ordered
Reprimanded
Threatened

BORED
Droned
Sighed

SHHHH IT’S QUIET TIME
Echoed
Mumbled
Murmured
Muttered
Uttered
Whispered

DRAMA QUEEN
Exaggerated
Panted
Pleaded
Prayed
Preached

OH SHIT
Gasped
Marveled
Screamed
Screeched
Shouted
Shrieked
Yelped
Yelled

ANNOYED
Grumbled
Grunted
Jeered
Quipped
Scolded
Snapped
Snarled
Sneered

ANNOYING
Nagged

I DON’T REALLY CARE BUT WHATEVER
Guessed
Ventured

I’M DRUNK OR JUST BEING WEIRDLY EXPRESSIVE FOR A POINT/SARCASM
Hooted
Howled
Yowled

I WONDER
Pondered
Voiced
Wondered

OH, YEAH, WHOOPS
Recalled
Recited
Remembered

SURPRISE BITCH
Revealed

IT SEEMS FAKE BUT OKAY/HA ACTUALLY FUNNY BUT I DON’T WANT TO LAUGH OUT LOUD
Scoffed
Snickered
Snorted

BITCHY
Tattled
Taunted
Teased

reblog to save a writer 

Reblog because the titles for each category are comedy gold.

patron-saint-of-smart-asses:

What I have learned so far by writing a serious fanfic as “practice”:

  1. Sentence starters from those writing prompt lists really do help! I used only one prompt, but it was what helped me spark the beginning of this 17 chapter (so far) fic. It helped me flesh out my main character’s personality and place within the setting, as well as her interactions with other characters. And all because of a prompt.
  2. It’s not illegal to write out of order. I began writing different scenerios and key plot points in disjointed files before compiling some together. Writing something down, ANYTHING down, helped spark other scenes or ideas and kept the story going, even if it wasn’t “in order” at first. Even as I write more in order now, I still get a scene idea and jot it down.
  3. Rewriting whole scenes or chapters is not only normal, but fruitful. Whenever I felt stuck on a chapter or plot point, it’s usually because the flow of the scenes or pacing was wrong. Or, perhaps I focused on the wrong characters/plot point at the wrong time. To fix this, I rename the previous file(s) as “OLD [chapter name]” for safekeeping, and start up a whole new piece to replace it. Sometimes I go back to the “old files” and use bits and pieces of writing in other parts of the story.
  4. It’s okay to step back from a story for a while, but do check in at least once a day to re-read a favorite scene, jot down possible ideas, etc. When I am truly stuck or unmotivated, I want to be close to my story still but also give my creative juices some breathing room. Normally when I do this, I come up with an idea while going about my day and I can get back into it with new ideas that continue the story.
  5. AMBIENCE MUSIC IS LIFE. For me, the ambience tracks from Skyrim are a lifesaver, and other writer friends of mine (both professional and hobbyist) also share that ambience is important. Lyrical music can be distracting, and any musical genre can distract your brain from the setting/mood/tone of your story if it is meant for entertainment, rather than focusing. I can go from 0% interested in writing and clueless on ideas, to 100% focused and inspired, just by having that “background” music on. Video game ambience music is especially helpful, since they are developed to help players of their game to focus.
  6. GoogleDocs makes things easy. I like to keep my writing in a place where I can access it anywhere, so if I become inspired or have a new idea, I can jot it down even if I am at the grocery store and only have my iPhone. It’s also handy when I have to switch from my laptop to my desktop for whatever reason.
  7. Don’t be afraid to be “mean” to your characters/OCs. My goodness, for so long I had trouble being mean to characters, but then I realized that I had to in order to progress a story. Obviously it should be balanced out with good moments, but finding the balance is key to a story that keeps people reading. Yay, they got the good thing! But then THIS happened! What will they do next??? And so on.

That’s it for now. Just felt like sharing that. 🙂