@badthingshappenbingo

This is the greatest video ever posted on the internet

How I Wrote A Novel.

This, in a nutshell, is what I did to get a book with my name on it.

NOTE: This is just my personal way of making the words go. Other people have different ways to make their words go. In the world of words, there are no right answers. There’s just lots and lots of tea/coffee/tear stains.

1). The Idea

When I get an idea for a story, I open up a document, label it “Brainstorming,” and start making a bullet list of events that consist of the plot.

It has to be an idea with tangible weight. A stray bit of dialogue or something vague like Halloween, that doesn’t give me much to work off of. Halloween creatures living on the same street where it’s Autumn every day- now that’s something I can build from.

What kinds of creatures are they? What do they do? What do their houses look like? The best ideas are the ones that spark more.

2). First Draft

This is the easy part- and the most challenging. Easy, because there’s literally no bar. I just sat there and typed. But it’s a huge mental challenge.

When I was in first draft mode, I wanted that story out. I thought that by making it such a rough, far-away version from the concept in my head, I was only delaying the day where I’d hold it in my hands. Turns out, that’s what got it to take on physical form in the first place. So I quieted down, grabbed my laptop and some hot tea, and typed.

3). Dissecting the First Draft

After I finished draft one, I printed it all off and highlighted the scant amounts that were passable for the next phase. Dialogue, descriptions, setting- anything that didn’t look like it was up to par was scratched out and omitted.

I call the above pictures A Slow Descent Into Madness.

4). The Second Draft

On a fresh document, I rewrote the story altogether- and it make a difference. I was coming up with things I hadn’t even thought of previously. And it was surprising how much better the plot was than the first time around. But it was still rough.

5). Draft Three

My method was to start with the bigger, more obvious issues and work my way down. Any plot holes I found were noted, and my outline was constantly under revision. I cut out entire scenes and made mental notes on ways they could be fixed/replaced.

This is where I started cutting chapters in half to make the story flow better- but I didn’t bother writing in usable chapter titles. Instead, I improvised:

6). Drafts Four and Five

These were dedicated to correcting the smaller, less obvious plot holes. This was the point where the story finally started to look close to what would become the final version.

7). Drafts Seven Onward

With the story line looking how I wanted, I then moved on to sentence structure. That one song that looked terrible? Rewritten. Over-the-top descriptions and excessive prose? Gone.

8). Editing and Proofing

This is where I had outside help. Besides this useful tool, I had two people check for spelling issues and the overall story. Once it was in decent shape to be made public, I asked for some additional help.

9). Betas

My betas were in the age range that my novel was geared toward, along with a couple of teachers and parents (as it was middle grade). I gave them the full manuscript, along with seven basic questions like “Which characters were your favorite/least favorite and why?” and “Was there a part of the story that didn’t make sense?”

I gave my betas three months to read a 42,590 word story, and by the end they gave me back the review sheets.

10). Final Adjustments

After I read over the reviews, I let the comments sit for three days so that I could proceed with a clear head. I smoothed out any flaws, scanned over the MS twice to make sure everything was right, and that is how I got to the end of writing my first novel.

Next comes publishing- which is a different beast entirely.

Sometimes you just gotta draw some Percabeth, as a treat, you know. (I also really like drawing cool shoes.)

Woot!! Loki and Spider-man!!!

you guys should totally take this quiz and this quiz to see which supervillain and superhero you should hook up with it’s really fun

I love this!!! I also am so in love with the fact that you put "still there I see" on the back wall! ❤

Superheroes Take the Train :)

Trying to practice background and perspectives and all that jazz, so here’s some boys on a train with some coffee and some sunshine! Wonder if they missed their stop? :D

Hope you guys like this one! xx

(you might have to click for better quality!)

Etsy

The fact that they not only address mental health but Dick is Tim’s support system😭😭

Robin (1993) #156

BILL WATTERSON ‘A cartoonist’s advice’

I’ve finally managed to make a vine compilation short enough that Tumblr will let me post it!

OOOOOOHHHH!! I love this!!

Lets get a "the heroes "friends" hand the hero over to the villain" snippet in here! Love your writing, and hope you are feeling well.

I’m doing well, thanks, and thank you for waiting and I’m so glad to hear you like my stuff. I hope you like what I’ve come up with.

Hero was very confused when they entered the warehouse to see their friends sitting on crates only a few feet away from Villain, their sidekick and two henchmen. Hero tensed and couldn’t help but position themselves ready for combat.

“It’s alright, [Hero],” Villain said with a smug smirk. “You’ll be pleased to know your friends and I have come to an… well, an agreement.”

Hero turned to look at their friends in concern. They were not reassured to see them look away. Guilt was obvious on their faces, but why?“What’s wrong?” they asked the leader. Leader looked reluctant to reply so Villain cut in on their behalf.

“A deal has been struck. I will be giving up my master weapon, in exchange… for you.”“Me?!”“Yes. You belong to me now. Though it is a shame that your friends have been quite so cowardly and unfaithful towards you.”

Hero shook their head and turned to run. They tried the door they entered through but it was locked. Hero yanked at it desperately.“No, no, no! You’re lying! You have to be lying! You’ve hypnotised them, or they’re not real- something! They wouldn’t- you wouldn’t do this to me, we’re a team, family!”

Villain stood from their crate and smiled almost sadly, almost. “It’s a straight-faced deal. You for the weapon- I hardly needed to even negotiate. You’ve been misled all this time, and I’d apologise to you if it was my place to do so.”

Hero was almost certain their heart tore in two. Something snapped inside them, numbing heat rushed into their body, heavy and devastating. “No… Please. [Leader], please-” Hero tried to get some sort of reaction from them, they rushed to them and tried to hold them by their forearms, to reason with them. They didn’t understand, they couldn’t go with Villain, they couldn’t. Why were they doing this?!

Their leader pushed them away. “I’m sorry… It’s the only way. I hope you understand.”

Hero felt their legs wobble, their lip tremble and tears threaten to spill. Then another wave of heat hit them like electricity. Anger, betrayal, hopelessness it all boiled together and overflowed within seconds. Hero punched Leader as hard as they could. “I am not just property for you to just give away! I won’t go!”

Hero made to hit them again but Villain caught their fist. Hero turned sharply and tried to free their arm. “Get your hands off me! I’m not yours!”Villain looked up at the group of friends. “You can go now unless you enjoy seeing your Hero beg their supposed friends for help that is. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of them.”

The heroes took their leave, some looking more ashamed than others. Hero fought with a fire in their eyes. “Revoke the deal! Please! [Leader], don’t do this! [Leader!] I trusted you!”

It took Villain’s Sidekick and two henchmen to get them under control, wrestling them to their knees and holding on tight to their arms while Sidekick had a handful of hair as a warning. Hero slumped forwards and struggled not to sob in front of their enemy. Their breathing was heavy and forced out through gritted teeth.

“I told you no one would care about you,” Villain observed. “They didn’t even try to fight for you.” When Hero didn’t retaliate, Sidekick let go of their hair. They took up a pair of handcuffs and secured their hands behind their back. The henchmen let go of them for the time being. “Let’s go. I’ll give you the chance to come with some dignity.”

Hero didn’t budge, they looked so deep in thought that they hardly acknowledged what was said. Villain sighed and crouched down in front of them. “I told you to pick better friends. Now your decision has come back to haunt you, the best thing you can do now is to forget about them. On your feet and come with me.”

Hero still couldn’t move, “I don’t understand…”

Villain stood and dismissed them with a flick of their wrist. “People are scum, [Hero]. Sooner you learn that the better off you’ll be.” Hero let the henchmen take them under the arms and drag them to a waiting van.