Mental Space

the two methods of fic writing:

don’t think don’t breathe don’t question where the inspiration came from just wriTE LIKE THE WIND BEFORE IT LEAVES

meticulously plan the plot out until you actually have to write the story and then struggle and suffer

bonus method: no inspiration OR plot just an idea that you want to keep working on but you just stare at the screen blankly with tears running slowly down your face

Happy Fan Fiction Author Appreciation Day!

Have you ever experienced the joys of producing something so magnificent, so utterly beautiful, or magical, and yet the journey to get to that point was filled with such a rollercoaster of emotions that you may or may not wish to attempt such a fate again?  Such dealings always begin with the happiest of emotions, maybe in the heat of the moment when passions run high and swift to capture the heart then suddenly those sentiments cool, even just a tad, leaving the bearer despondent that somehow, they had misjudged the narrative of actions.  But just as quickly as those concerns flood the mind, the bearer is taken again into the throes of an ardent love affair, recaptured by beautiful prose, and ready to ride this wave of ecstasy as far it would take them.

Be forewarned that while the idea of creation may be very attractive indeed, the journey produced by such an incident could lead one to many days or weeks of discomfort, followed by months of painstaking planning, and execution.  It is a laborious condition, you may scream and cry, you may laugh and shed more tears, the pain may be excruciating at times, and then fizzle away once you’ve made a break through and birth new life where once one never existed.  

If those aspects appear as ones you could live with then by all means I’d encourage you to jump right in because the end result will be one of the most satisfying accomplishments of your life but if something was to go wrong, it could also break your heart in two.  Fears of acceptance, judgments over your handiwork, is it beautiful or is it ugly, a masterpiece of conception or flawed from the moment it was given consideration? Will it fit into the framework of your genus or become an outcast with a dead lineage?  So many trepidations to consider, but again, if the perfect outcome is a possibility, the consummation and fulfillment of a life-long dream attainable, maybe momentary pains are not so much a hindrance to writing a brilliant novel.

To all those tireless writers who battle through research, writers block, and sleepless nights.  New writers to seasoned veterans, occasional writers to non-stop.  Shorts to novels.  From concept to completion you make us laugh and cry.  Who fill in plot holes left by canon, or take us to new worlds we never knew possible.  We love you and Thank you for doing what you do!

@keichanz @nalufever @impracticaldemon @bearpluscat @katana-no-neko @thewritingstar @akitokihojo @cstormsinukagblog @lacyjaybird @bmarvels @dark0angel13 @thegemibaby @rosechi @rougescribe @mushi9 @i-write-fanfics-to-procrastinate @hazel-got-fanfiction @bakugou-loving-hours @shadyhydrathesnekqueen @doginshoe @phoenix-before-the-flame @lovelyluce @fairywithajetblackheart @phoneboxfairy @moeruhoshi @mautrino @snowflakekitty-133 @craftyshipper @seehunnybees @mwub @dyaz-stories @xfangheartx @sugarpolis @rayhneatess @kaychawrites @thewritingorchid @bladerivalen @lost-echo1 @caandleworks @brokenangelwings83 @yukimcffblog @superfreakerz @bearandbirdfan @millennial-star-gazer @a-god-of-calamity @xambedo @angelhartsblog @tsukinohimeusagi  I can’t possibly tag everyone, but just know if you are a Writer this is for you :) and yes feel free to tag others and share the love

Giveaway Contest: We’ve partnered with Alma Books to give away five of their beautiful Alma Classics Evergreens editions (pictured above)! Won’t these look lovely on your shelf? :D To win these classics, you must: 1) be following macrolit on Tumblr (yes, we will check. :P), and 2) reblog this post. We will randomly choose a winner on June 4, at which time we’ll start a new giveaway. And yes, Alma Books has agreed to make this an International giveaway! Good luck!

These are Alma Classics editions by Alma Books. I seriously can’t take how gorgeous these are. *sigh* I’ve reached out to Alma Books about sponsoring one of our giveaways, so if you want a chance to win some of these editions, please reblog to help me convince them! :D

Writing Prompts to Get to Know Your Characters Better

I’ve created a list of 48 different scene prompts to get more familiar with your characters and their relationships, that are more fun (in my opinion) than lists of deep questions to ask yourself about them. Feel free to do as many (or as few) if you want. If you answer any, please tag me!

Individual Characters

Write a description of them from the point of view of their best friend or a person who has a crush on them.

Write a description of them from the point of view of a person who absolutely hates them.

Write their earliest or favorite memory.

Design what their Instagram page would look like. (Yes, even if they’re from a time when they don’t have Instagram.)

Write their death scene, even if you’re not planning on killing them within the piece.

Alternatively, write them a eulogy or obituary.

Your character is in high school, and has become valedictorian and has to give a speech at graduation. Write it.

Write a letter of recommendation for this character. For what? I don’t care. Write it.

Your character has a YouTube channel. Write the script for their most watched video.

Write the notes written on the doctor or therapist’s clipboard after a meeting with the character.

Your character has been arrested. Write the news posting.

What song did your character make an embarrassing dancing video to as a child?

Your character has become a celebrity and is on a talk show, telling the story of a traumatic childhood memory…

One-On-One Friendships

First meeting scene has been done so many times. Write the first fight instead.

Write a series of text conversations between the two.

How would they behave at an elementary school sleepover?

One friend has been detained–arrested, grounded, detention, you choose–and the other is trying to convince the detainer to let them out.

The two decide to enter the school talent show, solely for the $50 Cheesecake Factory gift card prize.

For whatever reason, they must pretend to be siblings. Bonus points if they are different races or just look nothing alike.

One friend got evicted, and has to live with the other for a week.

They’ve been working on a joint bucket list since they became close. Write the list.

One is extremely drunk and the other must stop them, as they have decided that now is the time when they just have to…

Your characters reunite in a nursing home in their 90s after not having seen each other for at least a decade.

A creep hits on one of them, and as friends do, they pretend they’re dating to ward off said creep. Only problem? Said creep keeps showing up.

The maid of honor/best man speech.

Friend Groups

They’ve been in a car together for 6 hours on a road trip, and someone tries the dreaded “Are we there yet?”.

A group picture goes horribly wrong. Write the scene– or draw the picture if you’re a visual artist.

It’s middle school. There’s a snow day. Everyone goes sledding. And then…

Compile the memes that are most commonly sent in the group chat.

They discover one of them has never seen Star Wars. Write the following discourse and movie marathon.

Look up “Most likely to” challenges on YouTube, write down the best questions, and use them with the group. Even better, write a scene where the group is using them with each other.

Write your characters as overly passionate PTA members planning the next school fundraiser.

One of them goes out of town, and the group has to watch their house/plants/pet/kid while they’re gone.

A member of the group was minorly wronged. Everyone decides to enact petty revenge.

The wedding was going so well, until the rest of the friends decided to make the reception a little more interesting.

One friend works at a restaurant. The rest decide to eat there while the friend is working. Describe how the group gets the friend fired in one night.

For whatever reason, nobody can go home for Thanksgiving. They decide to have Thanksgiving together instead.

Romantic Relationships

Write a breakup scene. Doesn’t matter if they’re not going to break up in your piece.

Write the moments when they each knew.

One’s meeting the other’s parents for the first time, and accidentally lets slip that…

The siblings/friends scheming together about how to get the two to date without being creepy.

Write the stupidest argument they’ve ever had.

What text message conversation is framed in their apartment/house?

Somehow kill one of them, and let the other react.

It’s Valentine’s Day. The couple goes out to eat, when both of their exes walk in… with each other.

The Mario Kart match neither of them is allowed to talk about.

They’re not speaking. Write the development of the fight only through conversations with the buffer friend.

Write a proposal scene, even if you’re not planning on them getting married in your piece.

They return to the place where they first met/kissed/dated. Somehow, the place has been changed, and not for the better.

HYYH 1 Quotes [All tracks]

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~ Admin S

Disclaimer

Great heroes need great sorrows and great burdens, or half their greatness goes unnoticed. It’s all part of the fairy tale.

Peter S. Beagle (via thewritersguardianangel)

Giveaway Contest: We’re giving away ten vintage paperback classics by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jane Austen, Harper Lee, Walt Whitman, George Orwell, and others. Won’t these look lovely on your shelf? :D To win these classics, you must: 1) be following macrolit on Tumblr (yes, we will check. :P), and 2) reblog this post. We will randomly choose a winner on April 22, at which time we’ll start a new giveaway. And yes, we’ll ship to any country. Easy, right? Good luck!

Endlessly torn between a Bruce who’s brutalism and savagery is just barely concealed by his genuine kindness and hard line rules and a Bruce who’s deep well of kindness and compassion and gentle bleeding heart is barely hidden by a thin front of aggressive assholery

Usually what flips it is how protective I want him to be over someone at the moment and honestly I think that’s pretty on character