«At The Internet Archive, This Is How We Digitize A Book. We Never Destroy A Book By Cutting Off Its

Writing Advice Masterlist

CRAFT

How to write subtext

When to use summary and when to use scene

What is purple prose vs descriptive style

What to consider when writing for teens and children

The different types of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person

When to show and when to tell

Showing vs. Telling in plot, character, setting, dialogue, etc. 

What is good telling?

Psychic distance (what it is + comparing 3rd omniscient, 3rd limited, and 1st person)

How to write strong dialogue

How to avoid melodrama

How to create powerful similes and metaphors

How to lengthen or shorten a novel

How to use 2nd person

YA vs NA vs Adult

Transitioning a book from being YA to being adult

The push and pull of hope and despair

How to introduce a flashback

Is it okay to use a POV shift for one scene?

Writing conflict and antagonist forces in a contemporary work/a piece with no villain

Describing setting in a way that’s in character

Using Symbolism

How to describe music

How to write a sex scene

Writing sexual or romantic tension/attraction

How to write a kiss scene

Writing romantic or sexual attraction (when you’re aromantic/asexual)

How to be subtle with theme

How to plan a story’s conflict

How to write a 1st person witness narrator

Where to add a character description

First sentences

Avoiding repetitive sentence structure

How to write a death scene

How to write body language

Using specificity to come up with original ideas

How to cut -ing verbs

Past vs present tense

What can be ambiguous and what needs to be explained? + Magical realism vs fantasy

Describing something abstract/intangible

Creating tension

How to improve your description (writing exercise) 

Using collective (aka: “we”) POV

Experimenting with form

Creating causal relationship between scenes in a non-linear plot

PLOT, STRUCTURE, AND CONCEPT

What is structure?

How to know if a plot is satisfying

How to develop plot material

How to develop a novel idea from nothing

How to write the beginning of a novel

How to write a story that is mostly internal

Finding the balance between plot driven and character driven

Common pitfalls of a meet cute

Plotting a contemporary novel

Plotting the 2nd half of a novel

Plot beats in the 2nd half of a novel

Pacing tips

How to develop a specific idea

Working with subplots

More on subplots

How to keep your plot moving forward

Writing backstory

How does structure work in literary fiction?

Writing plotless or slice-of-life fiction

CHARACTER

How does a character arc work?

Character development questions + exercises

How to use MBTI as a character development tool

How to find a character’s unique diction and vocabulary

How to write a problematic/morally grey/morally bankrupt character + with recommended readings

Is it okay to write a problematic main character? Where is the line?

Writing an anti-hero

Balancing out an unlikeable character

Writing a romance with a mentally ill character without romanticizing their mental illness

More thoughts on respectfully writing mental illness

How to do research to write a character with mental illness

What do I do if I feel like I write the same character over and over?

How to add character depth

As a male writer, can I write 1st person from a woman’s perspective?

Should a book have a comic relief character?

How to write a character mistake

Character motives

How to write more complex character psychology

How to develop side characters

How to write an active character

How to manage a book with a very large cast

Writing an unreliable narrator

Writing LGBTQIAP+ characters

On writing diversity

On respectfully writing queer characters 

Is it okay to write outside your lane?

Writing asexual characters

Writing friendships

Writing a healthy romantic relationship

Why I will always writing about ‘problematic’ characters 

Integrating character descriptions

Tips for character motivation/yearning

Writing character body language

WRITING PRACTICE AND PROCESS

How to get back into writing after a long break

How to deal with criticism

The pressure to create in the writing community

Advice for teen and new writers

How to work on multiple projects at once

Dealing with rejection

What to do if you’re on deadline and don’t have an idea or finished draft

How to revamp and old idea to fit your current writing style

Realizing you won’t have time to write all your ideas, and what to do

What to do if you don’t have a plot

Dealing wth jealousy as a writer

Dealing with Creative Slumps and Low Motivation

Dealing with low-confidence and doubting your abilities

PLATFORM & PUBLISHING

Starting a platform

More on starting a platform

Why I chose to traditionally publish

Pros and cons of different social media platforms for writers

Resources for finding literary magazines to submit to

Starting an author tube channel

SHORT STORIES

How to write a short story collection

Is the concept right for a novel or short story? + How to write a character arc in a short story

Should a short story be structured using novel structures like 15 beat?

How much planning do I do for a short story?

How to outline a short story

More on outlining a short story

How to title a short story

My short story writing process + how to get started with short stories + how to edit a short story + short story tips

More tips on how to write a short story

Writing the ending (aka moment of character reflection, or moment of ‘lift’) of a short story

More on writing the end of a short story

OTHER STUFF

How to get started with screenwriting

How to format a screenplay

Best pieces of writing advice I’ve ever gotten

My top 10 writing tips

Should you change your work for judgemental family members?

How to share your work with your family if you write about dark or mature content

How to slay an English exam composition

What is literary fiction?

Can a fantasy novel also be literary fiction?

How to lead a writing workshop

How to read more

Advice for creative writing majors (in Canada and elsewhere)

A list of useful essays on craft

Seeing unhealthy patterns in your family and deciding that those pattens end with you and will not be passed down to future generations is an extremely brave and powerful decision.

Forgive yourself for repeating what was taught to you as a child, then put the conscious effort into deprogram these patterns.

So you wanna make a movie?

If you are anything like me, you’ve thought about making your own movie before. You may want to write a script, design the storyboard, direct, or maybe all that and more. Well friends, you have stumbled to the right place. I am going to make my first ever short film this summer with absolutely no experience. Over the next few months, I am going to write, edit, film, and make an entire movie from 1/3 of an idea. I am by no means qualified, but this will be a really good learning experience for me and hopefully anyone who tags along. I’ll share my successes and all of my failures. Most importantly I want to have fun and I hope you do to. If anyone gets this on their feed (which is very unlikely because this is my first ever post lol) I want this to be your sign to create something that you’ve been wanting to for a while. Something small or something big. The world doesn’t wait forever so grab your camera and let’s get moviemaking!

Can confirm, I don't exist

tumblr is social media for people who don't exist

👌

Honestly, people generally don't want much... They want to eat their favorite food. They want to go to the seaside and smell the fresh air. They want to nap on the grass and listen to music. They want to hold their loved ones in their arms, and be held in return. They want warm clothes, be occupied with a profession/a hobby that does not smother them. They want to feel safe and unafraid. Mostly, they want to live without being ridiculed, manipulated or being forced. And this is why capitalism/modern life overall is so upsetting, depressing and even destructive. Because thinking about how small and simple things you yearn for & how hard it is to even be able to have them really wears you off

Need this kind of support in my life

Let's extend that to things other than people as well.

Don't pressure anyone into anything they don't want.

Normalize disliking people and avoiding them without starting a conflict and insisting that they're bad people. You don't actually need to be able to call someone toxic and abusive in order to justify that you're not vibing with them.

NYC Data Stories: Allyship