Sometimes You Need Dialogue Tags And Don't Want To Use The Same Four

Stop judging fic writers for not having perfect spelling and grammar

We write fic for fun, it's for us, we do it as a hobby in our free time.

We're not obligated to edit to an extreme and perfect our spelling and grammar

For some fic writers, English isn't our first language or we're not fluent in it (oh and there are of course the fic writers who don't write in English at all)

We may not have time to edit a fic, especially if we're pressured to it posted by a certain time

If we're posting a short drabble that doesn't even reach 1-2k, hell even if it does reach 1-2k, we may not see a reason to edit it

But people writing longer fics and even multiple chapters aren't obligated to perfect their grammar and spelling either. Most likely we'll revise once, we're not going to through like 5-6 different revisions for a fanfic that we're just having fun with

Fun fact: editing is a bit of a nightmare, especially if English isn't your first language (do not get me started on fic writers who translate their fics from their mother language into English). Rigorously editing can make fic writing less fun if we feel like we have to perfectly edit it each and every time, and writing is for fun, we're supposed to enjoy it (to fellow fic writers: if editing drains you or you feel the need for your grammar to be perfect, it doesn't have to be. Focus more on the writing (the fun part) than you do the editing)

Fic writers aren't bad writers if their spelling and grammar isn't perfect

What people think writers’ search histories look like: how to get away with murder, best way to dispose of a body, how long do humans take to decompose, how much blood do you have to lose to die, can i strangle someone with dental floss... etc

What an actual writer’s seach history looks like:

MILANOTE FOR WRITERS

Please tell me I’m not the only one who is obsessed with organizing my book. Like, I have never been a big plotter, but I like to have my research, mood boards, and character profiles in one place, where I can find them. Most people use Scrivener for this, but as much as I love it for writing, I like to visualize more than scrivener allows me. Plus - the app is really expensive and I have already paid for the desktop version, so I don’t feel like paying for a mobile app.

But what is Milanote?

Imagine your favorite corkboard, except it’s digital and you can access it both from your mobile and computer. Milanote allows you to make and personalize mood boards, to-do lists, write posts, add links to resources, add Spotify playlist, create boards within boards, add photos, and documents, sends you reminders when a certain task has to be done… and much more.

Milanote’s boards are extremely flexible. Besides writing I use it to organize my commissions, school, and finances. The Milanote itself even has plenty of templates for almost everything and I store almost anything in it these days. My family trees, interactive maps, notes, random ideas, character profiles.

It’s super easy to use and perfect if you are looking for something to make your story bible in. The app is available for both ios and android and any computer. You can also invite another person in and share your documents and your notes.

You can also convert your boards to pdf or a word document and download it later.

The only catch probably wood be, that Milanote only allows you to add a maximum of 200 objects for free. If you want more you have to pay a monthly subscription (i think 15 USD a month) - btw. the best purchase I ever made - but maybe the free 200 is enough for you, who knows?

also… did I mention dark mode?

Very good advice for both the writer and the critiquer.

short & impactful

"Stay."

"Just go."

"I hate you."

"Because I love you."

"Don't leave me."

"Leave me alone."

"I need space."

"Don't go."

"Talk to me."

"I want only you."

"You need to move on."

"Please, speak to me."

"This will end now."

"I want to forget you."

"Hate me."

"Why?"

"Lie to me."

"I can't do this."

"Tell me."

"I'm just afraid."

"Please, leave."

"You can't leave me."

"I need you."

"Don't do this."

"Just stop."

"It's over."

"Tell me the truth."

"I can't lose you."

"We're done."

"Please."

You should write the most niche, indulgent fiction that appeals to you specifically, because it will be much more artistically authentic and valuable than corporate slop that has been focus tested to death to appeal to the widest audience possible.

Write for yourself and you will always be making authentic art that has an uncompromised vision, and you will gain an audience that appreciates that.

List of “idiots in love but are in denial” prompts

“I don’t like them like that. Absolutely fucking not. What the hell?”

“I mean, I’d make out with them but like — platonically, you know?” “…You can’t make out with someone platonically.” “Of course you can! We’ve done it like, so many times before already.” 

“And why do you think I’d ever like them? I have taste.”

“Would I tuck them in bed and kiss them on the forehead? Yes. Would I fuck them in bed and then pepper kisses all over their face? Also yes. But neither of those options have to mean anything.”

“What do you mean I look at them like they’re everything I could ever want? I call bullshit! That’s slander!”

“You’re so cute.” “What?” “I said you look like a sack of shit, fuck you.”

“What do you mean by that? I do not daydream about us getting married and building our dream home in the country side where no one can bother us on a daily basis.”

“…But there’s just no way, right? Me? Liking them? That’s… No.” 

“What? We’re not looking at each other like we’d rather be alone in a private suite than be here with you guys. Don’t be stupid.” “Then stop eye fucking each other for one second.” “But we weren’t? That’s a ridiculous accusation. Friends don’t do that.”

“Shut the fuck up, I don’t care that they’re looking at someone else like they’re in love with them. Why should I care? It’s none of my business.”

List of “I still…” prompts

I still smell the traces of your scent on my bedsheets; my clothes; my pillowcase

I still remember your favourite songs; the way you’d sing them out loud thinking no one’s listening, and then getting flustered when you realised I heard you

I still remember all of your little quirks in which I’ve always found so endearing to me, but you always thought were annoying 

I still remember the feel of you under my palms; every curve, every line 

I still have your number memorised, like the back of my hand

I still remember your smile, the soft quirk to it. How could I not? It’s ingrained in the back of my mind, even though I wish it wasn’t

I still can’t get you out of my mind even though I’m probably long gone from yours

I still remember how you’d laugh at my jokes even though they didn’t make any sense to anyone else

I still have our inside jokes kept somewhere in the back of my mind

I still remember how you taste

I still remember how you sound; your sweet voice you told me you hated when you had to listen back to it over voice recording 

I still remember how you’d be there for me, through both the thick and the thin 

I still remember how you told me you’d always be there for me

I still remember how our love was supposed to be unconditional… until it wasn’t

I still remember how things went down south. Where did things go wrong? I still don’t really understand what happened…

I still think about you, day in, day out

I still miss you

I still want you

I still need you

And I… I still love you, even after all of this time 

When you know EXACTLY what goes next but now HOW to write it:

me: god if this author doesn’t update I’m going to DIE

also me, an author with several WIPs: