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Writers On Writing - Blog Posts
Beware the ides of march they say. Perhaps we should beware every month, as we the participating audience watch this pantomime play out on insta reels and YouTube shorts. Meanwhile groceries prices go higher, innocent people die trapped under the rubble of their homes and country relations are haywireοΌall because the man on stage wants to pretend everything is satire. And he does this while the world catches fire, calls it progress. Calls it great T.V. But will call foul play when shots are fired when the people he hurts grow tired.
The book so far consists of messy notes and pieces of different plot ideas that don't fit together built up over two years. Most of them are my frantic half asleep scribblings that don't make any sense lol. Now i just need to build my Frankenstein.
Screw it , I'm going to write this book.
These where the random notes/doodle from the first idea stage for my WIP 'Dead above'. Does anyone else begin brainstorming by thinking of pieces of dialogue first and then creating characters and plot around it.
Update #2: A New Outlining Method, Dropdown Plotter
I've been having a hard time conceptualizing how to plan out a novel lately. It used to come so easy to me. Now that I'm a real adult, it feels like there isn't enough space in my brain anymore for me to have my story all in my head without writing my ideas down somewhere.
So, good outlining methods, which can be hard to come by, are crucial for my writing process.
But, a lot of traditional methods don't work for me.
In my opinion, it's extremely important to have an outlining method that doesn't overwhelm you, and which feels creatively freeing. And when do I need to be more creatively free, than when writing an IT Crowd fanfiction?
So I've come up with a new outlining method that I'd love to share with you all! I call it Dropdown Plotter.
Dropdown Plotter uses the dropdown menu feature, which can be found in both Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel, to help you better visualize (and, most importantly, easily reorganize) the major aspects of each chapter of your story.
Basically, it's a spreadsheet that includes, at minimum, 8 columns.
Chapter Title
Plotlines
Included Character(s)
Perspective Character(s)
Location(s)
Chapter Story Description
Writing Stage
Due Date
Why keep track of these things? Balance. Basically, making sure your characters, plotlines, POVs, and important locations all get adequate page time.
It's a lot easier to conceptualize these things when you have it on a color-coded spreadsheet, zoomed out really far, and can see in a big picture way. For example, you might see that the red color indicating "Legolas" is in a scene, drops off after Chapter 17. You might see that the green-coded plot about his missing shoe is only important for 5 chapters in the middle of the story, or that we're spending almost the entire story in the bathroom and never in the evil lair.
So, how do you use the Dropdown Plotter?
First, you go into the dropdown menu, and you can see all the plots you've selected. There's a handy "search feature" for those writing the next Game of Thrones. You want to click the little pencil icon in the bottom right, which is the "edit" button.
On the right-hand side of your screen, a column will pop up called "Data Validation Rules." From here, you can edit the names and colors of each item in the dropdown menu, and add or delete things as you'd like.
Make sure to click "allow multiple selections" on the bottom of the data validation rules pop-up. This will allow you to select multiple characters, multiple locations, and multiple plots when you're in the dropdown menus.
Don't forget to click "Done" at the bottom!
On top of the dropdown menus, the nice thing about working in a spreadsheet is that you can always drag and drop the rows and columns. This makes it extremely easy to change the order of scenes around, in a way that feels very impermanent and easy.
Here is what my Dropdown Plotter looked like for the first three chapters of The Grant: An IT Crowd Fanfiction.
Looks pretty, right? And pretty outlines build confidence! Not only that, but what I like most about this outlining method is that it encourages me to be less precious with my ideas.
It's way less intimidating to overhaul major aspects of your story, such as the dominant POV, the main plot, etc., when all you have to do is click a little button in the dropdown menu to change everything. When I'm editing a little blurb in a spreadsheet versus an entire step outline, it reminds me that no writing problem is insurmountable, and nothing is ever really set in stone.
Again, it builds confidence.
Unfortunately, I've only built a Dropdown Plotter in Google Sheets, but I've provided a blank version to share with you all. The nice thing about spreadsheets is that you can add and delete things as you see fit. For example, some people might want to add...
More columns indicating multiple scenes within the same chapter!
A "Story Beat" column, to mark the specific plot beats each chapter follows (as in the Hero's Journey or the Blake Snyder Beat Sheet).
An "Important Info" column, to mark any worldbuilding or character details discussed or introduced in a certain chapter.
Literally anything your little heart desires!
Happy outlining and I hope you enjoy the Dropdown Plotter!
he loves you more than you know
i can tell, and maybe I shouldn't spell it out. speak what's so blatant. it's true honestlyβ this dance that could gravitate towards the middle of any ballroom. the eyes that never leave one another, the arms that stay constantly intertwined. and i hate that i was so blind, i hate myself for being so naively blind. and i hate that i let myself think i could even get between that. i'm not special. i'm not the person you call when you fall. it's him, and it will always be him. and i'll never be the man you need me to be. do you know he loves you more than you know? i saw him kiss you on a tuesday afternoon, and i knew, i just knewβ what you didn't want to speak into existence. unfortunatelyβ i'm gentle, soft, quiet, and i will never be half of what he is. so i'll stop here, i'll stop being strung along by you. i love you, but maybe, never as much as him.
Me reading another person's writing: Oh they missed a period there, no worries mistakes happen :) Three adjectives in a sentence? Adverbs for days? No worries I love descriptions and this story is fire.
Me seeing the same thing in my work: Wow am I illiterate? Am I actually ok? Who the actual fuck told me I can write so I can go and curse their entire family for the time it took for me to carefully craft this GARBAGE.
Enemies to lovers dialogue ~
I'm a sucker for the enemies to lovers trope and therefore I present few prompts to help give birth to more ships in this trope !!it's miscellaneous,I hope ya like it...
"That night was a mistake and you know that...-I-it was a moment of vulnerability! We were both overcome by stupid emotions..."
Enemies don't kiss each other like that! Enemies don't crave the touch of each other! "
Shut up! and wipe that smirk off your face before I do it myself! Oh yeah? Why don't you come over and do it with your lips hm?
I can't stop thinking about that...kiss.
I said you're beautiful ok?! Jeez, do you have something wrong with your hearing?
"They say forbidden fruits taste the best. Then that explains why you taste so f***king delicious to me. "
Who did this to you?! Who hurt you like this? TELL ME!!!
Are you crazy?! What if someone saw us?! But I missed you...
Hey, look at me. You are going to be alright. I'm here for you ok?
This doesn't change anything. You know I still hate you.
Did I make your heart flutter hm? Haha, you look like a tomato!
This isn't right! We are not supposed to be like this! I'm not supposed to have feelings for my enemy!
You're so adorable when you blush!!
Nightmares again? Ya want me to keep you company?
W-why did you kiss me?
I'll break your neck if you kiss me like that again! .ohh, feisty. That's what I like.
Why didn't you tell me you were wounded?!
Why would you love me?! I'm not worthy of being loved! All I do is hurt the people I care about!
I don't think I can hold back anymore.
Do you know what pisses me off?! It's that I still care about you. I still love you even after all the shit you put me through.
You. Are. Mine .
Wait - was that your first time ?! You're a virgin??!
Why do I remember kissing you?
Your cheesy flirting won't work on me. Oh really? Then why are you blushing?
Oh yeah? Why don't you come over here and make me?
I always knew that you'd one day fall for me. But I didn't expect you to be at my feet this early.
I never meant to hurt you...please come back to me.
I'll wait for you. I'll wait for you to come to me.
Shut up before I kiss you again!!
What the hell are you doing in my apartment?! Wait- are you drunk?! Nooooooooooo...* Giggles*
Oh my god, why are you bleeding so much?! This isn't what you mean by a small wound!!
No one is allowed to kill you except me you understand? Stop getting into stupid fights!
Wait- you mean I took your first kiss?!
You have five seconds to pull away before I change my mind. I don't want you regretting this kiss
You have no idea how much... I hate you.No idea...
I'm not going to hold back anymore. I'm going to make you mine.
Open your eyes, damnit!!! Don't you die on me like this! I won't allow you...!
God...you're like a drug to me. So beautiful yet so...intoxicating .
Why are you being so nice to me? Don't tell me you've already fallen for me.
You have no idea how long I've waited to kiss you like this... To touch you like this...
I hate you!! Oh, I know you love me ~
I know I'm not supposed to be like this... But it feels so right.
Why don't you come closer and let me show you how it's done, sweetheart.
Did I ever tell you, you look cute when you're angry? Because that's how you look right now. Like a cute angry bunny.
S-shut up !! I'm not blushing! You are!!!
No, I'm not leaving you behind again. I won't lose you a second time.
I have never wanted anyone as much as I wanted you.
" This is wrong... I-I can't love you... We're supposed to mortal enemies !
Oh my gosh, did I make the stoic, emotionless A, blush, hmm?
I hate you, right? I'm supposed to hate you... But why can't I anymore?
Why won't you just admit it?! I know you feel the same way I do.
I'm never leaving you alone again.Not this time.
Stop caring about me okay?! I never asked you to have feelings for me!
- It's because I care about you ok ?!Why is that so hard to believe?!!
Why is your face so red,babe? Am I too hot for ya ?
Haha,I love to see your reaction. You're such a fun tease.
How do you expect me to not fall for you when you keep behaving like that?
Wait - you guys betted on us to become a couple ?! I thought you were my friends?! How could you ?T-this literally one of the top ten anime betrayals!!!
You're making it hard to resist kissing you when you look like that.
Ahh,stop attacking me so much...! Shut up , I know you love my kisses.
Questions to help develop your otp. Pt2
How would they prefer to spend time when out and about?
What signal do they give when they need some space ?
In which setting do they best play off each other ?
What is a moment when each character is vulnerable?
How does each character react to the other being vulnerable?
How do they communicate reciprocated feelings?
What do they disagree on and how did they deal with differing opinions ?
What sort of things do they get into fights over ?
How do they reconcile after arguments ?
How do they each show affection?
At what time do they usually/ mostly have their conversations ?
How honest are they with each other?
How open are they about their current feelings ?
How do they compromise?
In what ways are they in tune with the other's feelings?
How do they show sympathy?
In what ways do they pressure the other or consciously avoid applying pressure?
What topics are the most painful to each other ?
What topics always leads to a fight ?
Is one character too sensitive about something?
What do they want to be resolved the most ?
How do they hold each other accountable?
How do they react in times when they can't cheer the other up ?
What are their plans for the future ?
What plans have they built together ?
If any, what's the biggest threat to their relationship? Are they aware it exists ?
Do they want to have children? If so, how many? Do they agree about this? What gender do they most want ?
Have they discussed the future? Why or why not ?
Where would their dream be located?
Where do they think they'll be in the future together?
How does each want their dream home to be like?
How do they behave or act when they're upset or angry with each other ?
How would each character want to better themselves for the other ?
What would each character appreciate the other doing for them ?
What little things remind them of each other ?
How do they think the other is unique ?
What negative traits do they see in the other and how do they deal with it ?
What might they like to change about the other?
What would each be willing to change in him/ herself for the other and what wouldn't they change?
How did each character come to trust the other ?
What are their shared background experiences ?
What are the differences in their backgrounds ?
What was one moment when one side was weak and the other had to be strong for both ?
When are they jealous for the other ?
When have they let the other down ?
When have they betrayed each other ?
What are the most difficult situations they've faced together so far? How did they overcome them ?
What are their best memories together? What are their worst ?
What's one moment one character felt proud of the other?
What were their first impressions?
When did they realize they were attracted to the other and how did they deal with it?
When was the first temptation to kiss?
When they actually kiss ?
At what point did they realize they might be in love ?
At what point in the story do they most depend on the other?
What are their mannerisms when walking side by side ?
How do they sit when they talk?
How do they respond to physical closeness?
How do they each act ( physically)when confronted with conflicts?
What secrets does each character have? and what secrets would they hate for anyone to discover?
Questions to help develop your otp. Pt1.
I present a list if questions to help gain insight into your precious fictional couples.
What real couples could they be compared to ? Why ?
What fictional couples could they be compared to ? Why ?
Who normally cooks ?
What do they do when they're away from each other ?
Do they have nick names for each other ? What ?
Who's more likely to pay for dinner?
Who steals the covers at night ?
Who remembers things ?
Who cusses more ?
Who kissed who first ?
Who made the first move ?
Who started the relationship ?
What would they do if the other was hurt ?
How did they both meet ?
What are their common interests ?
What's the individual goal for each character ?
What are their common goal ?
Do their goals conflict ?
What's the core for each character ?
How do they reveal their core to the other character?
What are their relationship expectations ?
Does either have an addiction?
In what areas do they worry about each other ?
How would each character feel if they had to leave for a time ? How would they react if they divorced or broke up?
How do they handle dividing up chores and household duties ?
Who's the breadwinner of the house ?
Do they ever resent each other ?
What activities do they enjoy together ?
What activities does one enjoy that the other doesn't ?
How do they fight or defend the other ?
How do they express love for each other ?( Eg acts of service, physical touch, words of affirmation, quality time, giving gifts ? Etc)
What values do they both share ?
Who takes more responsibility for their actions?
Who's more likely to give in and compromise?
Do they feel the same way about money ?
What habits do they have that makes the other unhappy ?( Eg: angry outbursts, annoying behaviors?etc )
What do they find the physically attractive about the other ?
What accomplishments do they most admire in each other ?
What small physical details does each love the most about the other ?
In what little ways did they disappoint each other?
How does each behave differently around the other ?
How does love make each character act irrationally?
How can each character tell how the other is feeling? Are they good at it or bad ?
How does being around each other change their thought process?
What do they share and talk about the most ?
What do they do in silent moments? What are they thinking about?
How do they spend time together usually?
What habits do they have that annoy the other ?
How do they react when the other is hurt or upset ? Do they try to help and how ?
How do they spend time on each other's hobbies or interests ?
50 INTERESTING WAYS TO BEGIN A STORY.
I am well aware of the turmoil of finding a gripping story beginning. God the pain! So I present to you prompts to help y'all hook the readers !
The arrival of a letter or email or package. ( Whether the contents is good / bad depends on you )
The text of a letter / email/ diary. ( You might wanna dive right into what it says and let the reader learn about the character reading )
An invitation to join a club / attend a party / to do something shocking.
A death of a character.
The main character is in a frustrating situation. ( This can quickly help readers to empathize right away )
A main character is in an awkward situation.
An escape from a boring meeting or prison or someplace unwanted .
Someone discovers a dead body.
A funeral is held for someone in the family / the community.
The beginning or the middle of a disaster. ( a bombing , a plane crash, an Apocalypse.? Anything really)
A birth.
The aftermath of a disaster.
A character does something which will be discovered later. Eg; sneaks a love note into someone's possession, poisons the wine, plants a bomb in a car, etc.
A game or contest.
A kiss.
A performance or the conclusion of one.
One character rescues another.
A main character declares he is in big trouble.
A main character is clearly in big trouble.
A main character is in the hospital.
A main character sees a house or city for the first time.
A plane/ ship/ train arrives. ( Your OC might be on board or watching it. If they're on board, you can take the readers on a journey)
Someone gets amazing news.
Someone gets devastating news.
Someone goes on a date.
A scene at a party/bar / nightclub.
A fight scene. ( OC may be participating or watching the fight )
An all-out battle scene.
A character moves to a new place
A dramatic moment in the middle of the end of the story. ( You can decide to start like this and backtrack to show how they got there )
Someone is arrested.
A courtroom trail.
A job interview. ( This helps the story start with the main character being vulnerable and the readers can empathize with them while getting to know them through their inner monologue )
The main character gets fired from their job. ( A nice method for instant empathy)
A chase scene. ( Nothing better to pull the reader than a little action. Hehe ~)
Character or characters wait for another. Maybe an ambush or a surprise party.
A busy street scene.
A character/characters getting ready for an event. Eg; getting dressed, put on makeup, shaved, do their hair .etc
A visitor shows up at the door. ( a stray cat? A future love interest? Someone your character dislikes? Etc )
A character commits a crime.
A character witnesses a crime.
Characters or a character do a job.
One character teaches another how to do something.
Character or characters preparing to dit down at a meal
A character comes across a significant object. ( probably a magical object? A dangerous object like a gun? It could be anything. )
Someone teaches or attends a class.
Your main character discovers something shocking in the possession of their loved one. For example, imagine them discovering a gun / a suicide note, a bloody knife, or clothing, a large amount of hidden money, very disturbing photos, etc )
Your character running away from something or someone dangerous / deadly.
Your main character waking up in an unfamiliar place. ( A nice method to start with a little mystery. Spicy Bonus points: they don't remember how they got there in the first place. Or better yet AMNESIA!! There are many ways to get around it.)
50. Your character being followed. Or they're the one following someone)
body language to use in your writing
he furrowed his eyebrows β in confusion or concentration
he raised his eyebrows β in surprise or skepticism
he narrowed his eyes β in suspicion or annoyance
he bit or pressed his lips together β in hesitation
his lips parted slightly β in shock or anticipation
he clenched his jaw β in frustration or determination
he tilted his head β in curiosity or disbelief
he wrinkled his nose β in disgust or disapproval
he rolled his eyes β in exasperation
he puffed his cheeks β in frustration or exhaustion
eye movements:
his eyes darted around β nervously
he avoided eye contact β out of guilt or shyness
he held eye contact β in defiance or intensity
he squinted slightly β in scrutiny
he looked down β in shame or submission
he glanced away quickly β in embarrassment
he stared blankly β in shock or dissociation
he blinked rapidly β in disbelief or surprise
his eyes widened β in fear or astonishment
he peeked through his fingers β when scared or hesitant
head movements:
he nodded slowly β in understanding or agreement
he shook his head β in disagreement or disbelief
he tilted his head β playfully or teasingly
he bowed his head slightly β in respect or submission
he tossed his head back β in confidence or defiance
he ducked his head β in embarrassment or shyness
he rested his chin in his hand β while thinking or bored
he jerked his head toward a sound β in alertness
he rolled his neck β to release tension
he tipped his chin up β in defiance or arrogance
hand movements:
he clenched his fists β in anger or determination
he ran his hands through his hair β in frustration or stress
he wringed his hands β in nervousness
he drummed his fingers on a surface β in impatience
he pointed β accusingly or demandingly
he pressed his palms against a surface β in desperation
he tugged at his sleeves or hem β in nervousness
he threw his hands up β in exasperation or surrender
he rubbed his temples β in frustration or exhaustion
he covered his mouth β in shock or horror
arm and shoulder movements:
he crossed his arms β in defensiveness or annoyance
he wrapped his arms around himself β for comfort
he shrugged β in uncertainty or indifference
he threw his arms out β in excitement or exasperation
he linked arms with her β for comfort or closeness
he rubbed his arms β to self-soothe or ward off cold
he flailed his arms wildly β in panic or excitement
he stretched his arms above his head β in relaxation or boredom
he held his arms behind his back β in restraint or formality
he used exaggerated arm gestures β when talking passionately
leg and foot movements:
he tapped his foot β impatiently
he crossed his legs β to appear closed off or comfortable
he bounced his knee β in nervousness or excitement
he kicked at the ground β absentmindedly
he shuffled his feet β in hesitation or guilt
he stood on his tiptoes β to see something or seem taller
he turned his toes inward β in insecurity or shyness
he stomped his foot β in frustration or excitement
he swung his legs β in a carefree manner
he stepped back instinctively β in fear or uncertainty
posture and general movement:
he stood tall with his shoulders squared β in confidence
he slouched β in defeat or boredom
he leaned in β engaged or interested
he leaned away β in discomfort or disinterest
he puffed out his chest β in arrogance or bravado
he shrunk into himself β in anxiety or fear
he rocked back and forth β in nervousness or impatience
he swiveled his body away slightly β in disengagement
he walked stiffly β in discomfort or tension
her hips swayed confidently while she walked
microexpressions:
a smile briefly flickered across his face
his eye twitched a single time β in irritation
he swallowed hard β when nervous or emotional
he slightly shuddered β in disgust or fear
he bit the inside of his cheek β in thought or frustration
he quickly inhaled β taken aback
he exhaled shakily after holding his breath too long
he clutched his shirt tightly β in anxiety
he tilted his head down slightly while still looking up (puppy dog eyes)
there was a fleeting look of longing in his eyes before he looked away
animal symbolism for your writing
dog β loyalty, faithfulness, trust, companionship, pack mentality, family-oriented
cat β independence, aligity, mystery, solitude, curiosity, self-reliance
rabbit β fertility, luck, new beginnings, gentleness, purity
snake β temptation, evil, ill will
deer β grace, gentleness, renewal, vulnerability, innocence
fox β cunning, trickery, intelligence, adaptability, mischief, playfulness, tomfoolery
coyote β cleverness, creativity, trickery, playfulness, knowledge, an omen or a warning
wolf β intuition, wisdom, freedom, wildness
alligator β danger, power, strength, camouflage
elephant β memory, longevity, intelligence, sovereignty
horse β travel, spirit, adventure, transportation, hard work
seal β playfulness, happiness, joy, understanding
seahorse β good luck, magic, persistence, fortune, individuality
shark β power, authority, strength, predatory nature, protection
fish β abundance, perseverance, prosperity, peace, calmness, water
grizzly bear β strength, power, protection, a connection to the wild, healing
black bear β fearfulness, conflict-avoidance, mindful
polar bear β viciousness, coldness, protectiveness
panda bear β peace, gentleness, luck, friendship
red panda β patience, sensitivity, originality, non-conformity
bird β transcendence, messaging/messengers, freedom
worm β decay, death, cycle of life, regeneration, simplicity
bug β filth, transformation, decay, unpleasantness
a list of buildings and structures to use in your writing
hospital
police station
school
fire watch tower
observatory
apartment complex
gas station
city hall
coffee shop
bakery
firefighter station
car dealership
college
high school
elementary school
middle school
university
park
research center
animal shelter
camp/wilderness camp
casino
blacksmith
bank
barber
armory
aquarium
dentist
general store
gunsmith/gun store
doctorβs office/medical store/medicinal supply store
jail
library
museum
farm
food store, like a pizza shop or ice cream store
stationary food truck
vacant lot
skate park
country club(s)
tennis court(s)
basketball court(s)
pool
warehouse
fast food restaurant
twenty phrases for writing facial expressions
his brows knitted together
her lips pulled into a smile
the corners of her lips quirked up into a smile/smirk
her face twitched
a line formed between his brows
a look of happiness engulfed him
a look of sadness washed over him
his face contorted into a frown
his eyes drooped at that, and his lips pulled themselves into a frown
she raised a brow
she cocked an eyebrow
her brows furrowed
her eyes narrowed
her eyebrows shot up
his brows were tightly drawn together
alternatively, his brows were drawn together tightly
her entire face dropped
her smile fell
his eyes glittered with [any emotion]
his eyebrows pinched together