February 2012
67 posts
Improve Your Writing by Avoiding These Twenty...
puccaso:
When should you use “who” or “whom”? “Which” or “that”? You don’t need to be a grammar geek or a professional writer to want to know. This list of common grammar mistakes can help you strengthen your writing for work and in your personal correspondence. More »
25 things you should know about writing horrors →
writerscorner:
Writing tip #7
Keep a small notebook and carry it round everywhere with you. Nothing sucks more than having a fabulous idea and returning home to find that all you can remember is having the idea, minus any content of what it was.
“Grammar is the difference between knowing your shit and knowing you’re shit.”
– My flammable roommate’s fabulous writing professor (via commodore-sparklebutt)
If you say you suck at writing 100 word summaries,...
beenwandering:
If you disparage your own writing, you’re convincing others it must be true. We don’t know you in real life, we have no obligation to go, “there there, I’m sure you’re not that bad.” If you say, “oh I suck at this,” I’m going to think, “then why would I waste my time.” So whether or not it’s true, don’t tell people. Let everyone give it a chance, you might surprise yourself. You...
6 tags
Anatomy of a Short Story
By T.N Tobias
For many writers, short stories are their way into the business. Many great writers cut their teeth writing short fiction for magazines and anthologies. Others specialized in short stories. J.D. Salinger may have written only one novel but he published many more short stories. O. Henry had the prestigious award given to short story writers named after him. Edgar Allen Poe is...
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10 Ways to Create a Plot Twist
By T.N. Tobias
Every story is more exciting with a twist. As a writer, though, it can be difficult to find that right scenario, that right moment and character to turn on its head and send the story veering into unpredictable new directions. It’s scary too. Wandering too far away from the tried and true summons more of the self-doubt that fictionists already seem to be full up on.
But, as with...
Need A Writing Challenge? →
starstealing:
Use Seventh Sanctum’s Writing Challenge Generator! If you are in need of a fun writing prompt to do daily, try this out! Who knows, the ideas may even fuel your own stories.
Challenges for writers - for fun, or to get inspiration..
1. Pick a number of writing challenges 2. Pick level of complexity 3.???? 4. Profit.
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Writing about Ponies →
A pony writing guide found on Equestria Daily for all the little bronies and pegasisters. So far, only 4 parts have been uploaded
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A Guide for Non-Brits Writing Harry Potter...
A Guide for Non-Brits Writing Harry Potter Fan-fiction
By Pinky Brown
I wrote this about two years ago in response to several requests from non-British readers for me to “Brit-check” their work. Unfortunately I had to say no, as my own work takes up almost all of my time, but it did start me thinking about the idea of publishing a guide to British English, specifically aimed at...
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Hello, Grammar! Howdy, Tips! How You Doin'? →
As for this story: it is here to give you tips, help you with your grammar, and become a better writer. It may become your best friend, but remember you don’t have to follow the rules to a “T”. They’re just guidelines. Over 52 chapters
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English 101 Writing →
A small guide on the basics of English writing. Only 10 chapters
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Wet Panties & Hard Cocks: A Smut Tutorial →
A detailed and humorous tutorial on smut writing. Contains over 31 chapters.
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Guns, Lots of Guns: Ten tips for writing about...
As writers, we’re allowed to make things up. Actually, “making things up” is a pretty fair job description. There are occasions, however, when making things up crosses into a realm in which details matter. In the past, I’ve talked about a few ways to overcome writing about what you don’t know and one of the best ways is to get some casual experience. But, a crash course can certainly leave holes,...
A checklist for final revision →
Why Starting Over On a WIP Isn't Exactly a Bad... →
yahighway:
From contributor Amy Lukavics
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A Survival Guide: Plagiarism - Editorial and... →
on writing.
sandy-scribblesaur:
+ eavesdrop on conversations. steal jokes from other people. take bits of conversation and twist it. pay attention to the things left unsaid; to the silent implications. pay attention to how annoying people can be; how interesting; how strange. listen to the rhythm of speech. + stalk people. notice people. all people. notice how everyone has their own quirks and sense of...
Is Identifying a Person’s Age Necessary? →
writersbane:
((by Mark Nichol))
In writing, should a given person’s age be specified?
In fiction, the number of years since a character was born is of variable importance, depending on the person’s prominence in the narrative and on the nature of the story as well, but at the very least, the author usually provides some clue, at least, as to approximate age.
But in keeping with the creative...
“Fiction is fun because you get to steal an identity and try to make it...”
– Creative writing professor Dan Chaon on fiction in this past weekend’s Wall Street Journal. (via oberlin-college)
What I take out of this: “When I was four, I wrote my first fanfic. It was about Oscar the Grouch.”
<3 Oberlin
(via tyndalecode)
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Stop Plagiarism →
A perfect site to go to if you found someone has stolen one of your fics. (Has helped me on occasions)
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A Writer's Guide: Writing OCs and Original... →
Jump right back on that horse (4 ways to get back...
ffisdangerous:
I’m SO sorry guys! I cannot believe how long it’s been since I posted something here. I would use excuses like finals, summer, my internship… but that’s just not good enough. I have neglected this blog out of laziness, out of wanting to read and watch tv and hang out with my brothers.
But I figure it’s also a good teaching tool too.
So without further ado
4 ways to start...
People who demand reviews before posting another...
ffisdangerous:
what-inspired-what-jtan:
Here is a tip I didn’t plan on giving but… when you find a graphic, you find a graphic.
Seriously though, NEVER say “I won’t post another chapter until I get 5 new reviews”
You should be writing for yourself. Write for the joy it gives you. Write for the release of your imagination. Don’t write for popularity or dig for compliments. If you do, you...
Tumblr Movie Awards: Best Ship
tmawards:
You can choose only ONE option, and you can vote only ONCE. The poll will be closed on February 12.
Read More
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Writerisms and other Sins
Writerisms and other Sins:
A Writer’s shortcut to stronger writing.
by C.J. Cherryh
(c) 1995 by C.J. Cherryh
Copy and pass ‘Writerisms and other Sins’ around to your heart’s content, but always post my copyright notice at the top, correctly, thank you, as both a courtesy and a legal necessity to protect any writer.
Writerisms: overused and misused language. In more...
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The (Original) Mary Sue Litmus Test →
Test to see if your OC is a Mary Sue
Six Reasons to Write Flawed Characters →
It’s so tempting to write the perfect character: the dream man, the rugged hero, a character who could grace the catwalks of Milan, knows exactly what’s going on, can solve anything. But it never turns out well. One element every character must have is a flaw.
Read More
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Bad Fanfic! No Biscuit! →
Here’s is a link that leads to a site with intentionally written badfics, helping you see what not to write in your story.
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Interview With Mary Sue
Interview With Mary Sue
You know her. You’ve read her. Her name strikes terror deep into the hearts of fanfic readers everywhere. Reviled by many, defended by some, held responsible on occasion for almost all that is bad in the fanfic universe, Mary Sue remains someone we just can’t do without. Who is Mary Sue, and why is she impossible to kill? Can anything be done?
Ever mindful...
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Sex Errors in fanfics
Sex Errors There are lots of mistakes that are found specifically in erotic fanfic. If you’re going to write a sex scene, you should at least know the basics about sex. You should know the names of all the major erotic body parts (and how to spell them, of course!), where they are, what they do, and how they fit together. You don’t have to have tried every...
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Sex Tips for Writers
Sex Tips for Writers
Below is a collection of tips for authors writing sex scenes. These are intended as general guidelines and suggestions, and things to think about. Remember that, as in all things, no rule is absolute. These suggestions come from our combined experience in the world of sexually explicit fanfic, but that doesn’t mean you have to listen to us if your gut says otherwise.
...
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The Big List of Fanfic Peeves
By Sandy and the Bitkahs
I’m going to go out on a limb and say, “There is no such thing as an inherently bad idea in fanfic (not even Krycek/Scully), only poorly executed ideas.”
But there are a lot of poorly executed ideas. Or, to put it another way, there are a lot of clever and interesting plots undercut by the author’s inability to write a sentence, to stay faithful...
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A Case for Slow Writing
Those of us with Italian backgrounds will know that you don’t make an authentic pasta sauce in an hour. It should be cooked slowly, the ingredients added one by one, at the right time.
First the meats must be browned, next the onions, the herbs, spices and tomatoes incorporated. Then the mixture must simmer for two, three, four hours until it is a thick, mouthwatering sugo, the succulent meat...
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Writing Tips: General
Writer’s Helper offers these writing tips so your book will be the highest quality possible. People respect high quality writing. If you deliver your work in a strong and error-free package, people take you seriously. Your message comes through clearly.
Your words reach people’s hearts and minds. Your writing is more powerful than the sword. It inspires, educates, entertains. If...
“Use the best words for communicating what you mean, and don’t pick words based...”
– WEEKLY WRITING TIPS (via sheldonbarrocks)
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