#authors
Writing In-Between Scenes
Have you ever struggled writing that really quick, yet important conversation between characters? That in-between scene that feels boring because it’s just two character’s talking? Well, there’s actually a really easy fix.
Keep your characters busy!
Have the conversation over a game of cards or during training. Have them go for a run or talk over dinner. Have them go shopping for ballgowns or dissect dragon entrails for potions class. It doesn’t matter what they’re doing, as long as they’re doing something. This adds depth to your writing, furthers the plot on all fronts and helps avoid White Wall Syndrome.
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Romance With Toxic Undertones
Toxic and emotionally abusive relationships are hugely overlooked in literature. Many red flags are so romanticised that real people believe these warning signs are actually romantic. Here are a couple of examples and what to try writing instead.
“I can’t live without you!”
In the 1950 film Sunset Boulevard, we see the crazed Norma Desmond telling the much younger Joe that she couldn’t go on without him, that she’d kill herself if he leaves her. Here it’s clearly portrayed as manipulation, but you’ll see many versions of this line in current media pretending to be a declaration of love. Dependency does not equal love and this hugely manipulative sentiment
Instead try, “You are the best thing in my life.” This retains the sentiment of valuing a significant other, without the threat of what will happen if their love is unrequited.
“I will not let you do that. End of discussion.”
Ohhh we see this one a lot in fantasy. A good portrayal of this being toxic is the song ‘mother knows best’ from Tangled, but most of the time when we hear this it’s between a romantic pairing and it’s portrayed as okay when it’s not. It’s is instant shut down of communication presented as being protective. Communication is key for functioning relationships and decisions that affect both parties should be made together. Also, maybe don’t just tell your partner what to do. Just a thought.
Instead try, “If this is what you really want, I won’t stop you, but can we talk about this first because It worries me when you put yourself in danger.” Please find a better way to word that, but the idea is to keep the ‘I’m really worried about you’ without all the ‘I know better, you don’t get a say.’
“I can’t stand it when you talk to [enter name]”
No, extreme jealousy is not a healthy part of a relationship. it can lead to the victim cutting themselves off from friends to avoid hurting their partner and this isolation makes them easier for their partner to control. Trust is important in relationships, and if the love interest refuses to trust the MC around other boys/girls then they’re being toxic.
If you want a plotline where character X is trying to steal the MC away from their partner try having them bring it up like, “I think X is trying to flirt with you” “Really? I just thought they were being nice.” “I doubt it, but it’s fine. I trust you.”
If you found this post helpful I have a couple of older ones on red flags that are frequently romanticised. [1][2]
Disclaimer: I am not a trained relationships counsellor or therapist, I just have experience with toxic relationships and have done researched into the early signs and toxic behaviours. If any of my suggestions are wrong I am open to being corrected, but this is something I wanted to share.
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Always start with the character!
As writers, we tend to focus more on the major plot points as these are the things we spend hours pouring over when we write. But for the reader/publisher/agent to care about your book, they first need to care about your character.
As humans, we value a connection, even with someone fictional. When you open your pitch/synopsis with who your character is and what they value, you allow the reader to root for them, even in the synopsis.
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Beta readers: welp, you’ve got a problem here.
Me: No I don’t, that’s fine! I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Beta reader: Okay…
*Ten minutes of silence*
Me: Oh my lord, if you’re gonna go on about it that much, I’ll change it!
Beta reader: I didn’t–
Me: I’m only doing this for you. Not because you’re right. Or because it’ll make my story infinitely better. No sir. Not because of that. Not at all.
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Now be honest with me, how many beautiful notebooks do you own? How many of them are empty right now? Yes, I know, you’re waiting for the perfect opportunity to use them. The perfect story. The time you won’t cross anything out. The time you won’t change a thing. Well that time won’t come and you’re wasting them. *Bops you on the head with a pretty notebook*
The purpose of a writers journal is not to create artwork worthy of a museum, but to help your ideas flow. Sometimes when writing things down, you can even bounce ideas off yourself! It’s amazing! So stop holding back and give it a go.
Here are my top tips on journaling:
- Don’t worry about keeping it neat (as long as you can read it, it’s good)
- Use different notebooks for different things (Plotting, Research, World-building, History, Magic, Religion)
- Use headings so topics are easy to find
- 3am inspo? Write it down! No don’t get your phone out, you want to go to sleep after this. You can develop it in the morning.
- SketchIf you’re struggling to visualise something in you WIP, sketch it even if you can’t draw. Remember, this is just for you.
- Solving plot holes? Use an idea dump. This is where you just vomit every idea you have to solve it onto the page and then work your way through each option.
- Write ideas for made up names/words down. Stick every variation you’ve considered on the page and then you can try merging them or you can simply see which one looks best. Bonus points because you can look back on how you cam up with it.
For editing journals specifically try:
- Make lists of things you still want to ‘show’
- Make lists of things you want to add
- Write down problems you find when reading through, then you get to cross them off when you solve them.
I hope this was helpful. Leave any additions below!!!
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Things I Enjoy About Having ADHD
Yay! More ADHD inspiration for your characters!
- Having lots of energy!
- (Sometimes) The feeling of hyper-focus
- Being creatively impulsive
- Noticing things others overlook
- Having big bursts of motivation to do the things I love
- Having a wild imagination
- The speed of my brain on a good day
- Falling down research rabbit holes
- And watching YouTube videos about them on double speed (learning twice as much in the same amount of time!)
- And finally hoarding this vast collection of random information for use in my book or a pub quiz.
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[Disclaimer: Everyone’s ADHD is different, this is not a blanket list of things that everyone with ADHD will experience. Also experiencing these things does not mean you have ADHD, please consult a professional before self-diagnosing.]
no beta we die like my ability to write as soon as i have the time to
The incredible Jason Reynolds gave some praise to Lamar Giles’ LAST LAST-DAY OF SUMMER! He says “All children deserve to exist in magical spaces where their imaginations and familial bonds will them into heroism…I for one am grateful to Giles, and this brilliant story, for that reminder.”
Just a reminder that Versify Books is a real imprint, started by Kwame Alexander so you know it’s genuine, it’s on Tumblr, and they want submissions from authors of color. You can do it, awesome people!!!
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Writers remember everything…especially the hurts. Strip a writer to the buff, point to the scars, and he’ll tell you the story of each small one. From the big ones you get novels— misery by stephen king.
Selene Thrown Down by Argus (painting), 1886.
by Ferdinand Keller.
The Suicide of Cato (painting), 1692
by Johann Michael Rottmayr.
“Authority has every reason to fear the skeptic, for authority can rarely survive in the face of doubt.”
Vita Sackville-West, Discovered Quotes
“I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.”
Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar(1961).
The Penitent Magdalene (painting), 1630
by Francesco Lupicini.
Two People: The Lonely Ones (drawing),1895
by Edvard Munch.
art by boris dolgov from “weird tales” - 1942
“Oh, the terrible struggle that I have had against sleep so often of late; the pain of the sleeplessness, or the pain of the fear of sleep, and with such unknown horror as it has for me! How blessed are some people, whose lives have no fears, no dreads; to whom sleep is a blessing that comes nightly, and brings nothing but sweet dreams.”
Bram Stoker, Dracula (1897).
