Where’s Metallica When You Need Them?

petition to rename the usa ‘south canada’

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Wtf! Not okay!

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Day 14: @the-wip-project

Do you have figures / creatures of folklore in your WIP? If not, can you think of something that would fit?

Hmmmmm … in my clexa wip, I have creatures that have mutated into mythic proportions due to nuclear radiation.

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Writing vs Storytelling Skills: Improving Writing

Though “writing skill” is often used to refer to all aspects of story crafting, it best refers to the actual writing and technical skills that create the written word of a novel. Addressed in the previous post: Writing vs Storytelling Skills (link embedded), now I’m here to tell you how to work on that specific writing skill.

1. Study up on Literary Techniques: English class isn’t just for assigned reading and essays if you’re serious about bettering your writing. While essay writing and creative writing are different, the literary techniques and how they’re used and applied is good knowledge to have. Especially because a lot of them overlap with tropes and tie into storytelling!

2. Read a variety of books. Various authors, various genres, the more you expand your examples the better. Variation of reading means you’ll be exposed to more ideas, more ways of thought, more writing styles, more everything that you can draw ideas from and help develop your own skill. Even take up books you may not like. Give them a chance, and if the writing isn’t working for you then keep tabs on why.

3. Critique the writing of others. What did you like? What didn’t you like? How does the writing style affect how the book reads? When you critique others, you identify what makes and doesn’t make “good writing”. While a writer can only critique at a close level to their skill, the more they critique, the higher skill climbs, and the better they get. To become a better writer, you should get used to tearing other’s, and your own, work apart. It can help to keep a journal or some kind of record of critiques because as you gain more skill you may change your mind on some points. 

4. Tighten up your grammar. It’s fine to make mistakes, especially in a first draft, but if you have consistent grammar errors then it’s time to tackle the issue. Grammar isn’t optional; it exists to help with clarity of communication and a clearer writer is a better writer. It’s true that creative writing allows for the use of semantic grammar or a more fluid approach to sentence structure, but there’s a difference between using purposefully altered grammar for a reason versus just not knowing how to write properly. 

5. Try writing exercises. Many of these exist, from things like The Sprint (link embedded), which can help train you get work done, or The POV Swap (link embedded), which works on distinguishing character voice and perspective. Not all exercises are for everyone because there’s a variation to writing styles, but it never hurts to put in some effort to step outside our comfort zone to see if it could work. Further the benefits of writing exercises by developing a routine of regular use.

6. Read your work out loud. The mind has a tendency to put a haze of glory over some things and one way to help look at your writing realistically is to read it out loud to yourself. Reading out loud helps catch errors, some even grammatical, measure flow, evaluate pacing– it’s an amazing technique that gives the writer a better idea of what they’ve really put down. When reading, don’t be afraid to get into it and put emotion into your voice as long as it’s coming from the flow of the writing itself and isn’t forced.

All that said, there’s no such thing as a “perfect writer”. Brushing up on writing skills isn’t about being perfect, it’s about getting better relative to where you were before (and potentially helping close the gap between writing and storytelling skills).

Keep trying, keep practicing– keep writing.

Thinking of asking a question? Please read the Rules and Considerations to make sure I’m the right resource, and check the Tag List to see if your question has already been asked. Also taking donations via Venmo Username: JustAWritingAid

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moleskine = bad

Some words to use when writing things:

winking

clenching

pulsing

fluttering

contracting

twitching

sucking

quivering

pulsating

throbbing

beating

thumping

thudding

pounding

humming

palpitate

vibrate

grinding

crushing

hammering

lashing

knocking

driving

thrusting

pushing

force

injecting

filling

dilate

stretching

lingering

expanding

bouncing

reaming

elongate

enlarge

unfolding

yielding

sternly

firmly

tightly 

harshly

thoroughly

consistently

precision

accuracy

carefully

demanding

strictly

restriction

meticulously

scrupulously

rigorously

rim

edge

lip

circle

band

encircling

enclosing

surrounding

piercing

curl

lock

twist

coil

spiral

whorl

dip

wet

soak

madly

wildly

noisily

rowdily

rambunctiously

decadent

degenerate

immoral

indulgent

accept

take

invite

nook

indentation

niche

depression

indent

depress

delay

tossing

writhing

flailing

squirming

rolling

wriggling

wiggling

thrashing

struggling

grappling

striving

straining

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Happy fanfiction writers appreciation day!

To any new writers: Be brave! Take the plunge and post your fics - the world can’t wait to read them, and I’m sure they’re wonderful! And if you’ve already done so, then congratulations, and welcome to the world of writing!

To any old writers: Thank you, and keep going! Your fics are appreciated and enjoyed, and hopefully whatever comes next is as loved as it deserves to be!

To the popular writers: Well done on getting your work out there! It’s wonderful to see fics with so many notes, and I hope your next fic is just as appreciated!

To the writers who get 3 notes: Your work is no less amazing than those who get thousands of notes. Keep going, because there are people who adore what you write. You are fantastic and loved.

To the writers who post fics regularly: You are incredible, and should be both admired and feared. Well done for your wonderful work ethic, and for bringing quality writing to your fandoms!

To the writers who update irregularly: You are brilliant. Writing is hard, and just because you don’t update frequently doesn’t detract from the fact that you’re incredible people who are writing for nothing but pleasure. I hope your writing is going well, and that you know that your fics (and you!) are loved.

To the writers who have lost their inspiration: Don’t worry! Inspiration comes and goes, and hopefully your enthusiasm for your fics will come back. Until then, know that the writing you’ve already done is wonderful, and if you decide to continue, it’ll be fantastic.

To every writer: Thank you ❤️

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Bellamy Blake was killed by Clarke? Maybe I will start watching the 100 again ... just have to catch up from season 3

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clexa college au fics? sorry if you've already done this, i'm on mobile so i can't browse your fic rec tag

hey there! first of all, SORRY for the delay. idk if I’ve done it either, so here’s some (also, only gonna include reasonably recent fics that either have been updating or are complete):

Help, I Need Somebody (Not Just Anybody) — IT UPDATED! IT UPDATED! IT UPDATED!

Open Windows, Open Hearts — this is the smutty fic you’ve been looking for.

Room 615 — lexa is the stoic RA, clarke is the annoyingly obstinate transfer student. read it read it read it read it!

Breaking Out — this is one of my faves :) check it out!

don’t wanna be your girl — filth. delicious filth. hilarious too!

A Forest Fire — this is painful but 100% worth it.

Chasing Shadows — lexa is a French hockey player, clarke is more of a rugby gal, and this is a super awesome fic. read it!

Rude Awakening — clarke doesn’t like early mornings. great one-shot with the possibility (please please please please please) of more chapters!

Butterflies — this is a really great take on love and how the media (and ourselves) portray it. Seriously worth a read!

Waiting For Love to Strike — football! striker lexa and midfielder clarke! football!

She — you know it, I know it, your dog knows it, your neighbour knows it, everyone knows it. but just in case you don’t, here it is. a fandom favourite.

Remember when (we used to be between the sheets) — my good friend Carmen does it again: an honestly great fic, sequel to between the sheets.

Civil War — “And Clarke Griffin opened her annoyingly attractive, opinionated, and this time entirely wrong mouth.” No words needed.

Habromanic — REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADD

Broken Rules — this is seriously great, a college and no strings attached sex au must read. read it.

To You, I Give Myself — ;))))))))

From You, I Take My Pleasure — ;)))))))) 2

The Favour — sweet and sexy, showing there is no right age for anything

April Fools — a fest of clexa hilariousness and sweetness. a great read :)

been lovin’ you for quite some time —CHRISTMAS!!!

She Was a Storm — haven’t read this one yet, but have been wanting to.

These Walls Are Paper Thin — an oldie that never gets old :)

There’s so many more, but then I’d take another century to post this. Besides, this is quite lengthy already, isn’t it? I think so. I hope you think so too ^-^

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An ultimate favourite fanfic of mine!

Now we know why Eliza “misinterpreted” the Clexa sexa scene…

It’s giveaway time!

As you may already be aware, Team Niylah’s Nik Naks will be raffling three copies of the extremely limited edition ‘don’t wanna be your girl’ book at Clexacon 2018. We know that some of you are unable to attend the convention but would still like to be in with a chance of winning this odyssey of Clexa filth in paperback form.

So… we are giving away ONE FREE copy to a lucky Tumblerite.

The rules are simple:

Reblog this post. You can like the post too/reblog multiple times if you wish but only one reblog per user will be entered into the draw.

The competition closes at midnight GMT on Wednesday March 28th and a winner will be chosen at random the following day.

The winner will be notified via Tumblr chat so we can arrange shipping of the book.

This prize draw is only open to those over the age of 18. Please do not enter if you don’t meet the age requirements. 

There are only 15 copies of the book in existence and they aren’t for sale, so don’t miss out if you’d like the opportunity to have a smut-filled slice of Clexa fandom memorabilia in your possession!

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