Writing Problems - Blog Posts

If You’re Writing a Female Character, Avoid these Bad Writing Mistakes

Avoid focusing solely on how she looks, what she wears, or how attractive she is to others.

Don’t make her dependent on male characters for rescue or decision-making.

Avoid giving her unrealistic abilities without any training or explanation.

Avoid portraying her as constantly crying, screaming, or overly dramatic without depth.

Don’t make her entire character arc revolve around finding love or getting married.

Avoid creating her as the only female in a predominantly male cast just for diversity points.

Avoid having her dialogue filled with stereotypical phrases and overused expressions.

Ensure she has realistic imperfections and challenges to overcome.

Weird Random question for a book I'm currently writing:

guys I need writing prompts pleaseeee

ok so I do this weird thing where I follow little story/plotlines in my head but I ran out of inspiration 😭

I’m mainly looking for romance prompts, more specifically ones I could use for jmart but if you have other ideas I’m totally open to that as well

also, thoughts on a zombie apocalypse//tma au?

Why do you have to call me out like that sometimes I didn't even use commas probably could even redo this meme with periods versus sentences of reasonable length

Keyboard go BRRRRRRRRRR

Pitfalls of being a French student is that now French words are in my vocabulary so my fic planning in my head goes like:

Fake dating AU avec les hommes de Haikyuu set in Daisuga third année ou college AU five plus one fluff crack getting together et Asahi getting shit on and being called a cowerde

I stare at my one note page for my mha fic longingly, I turn to the gods of hyperfixation and plead and pray for aid in finishing this one chapter. It has been sitting in this page, 80% finished, only the ending to go for over a year now. It has been edited and rewritten to perfection, but the ending fizzles out and dies before I can write it.

“Just do it,” I tell myself, “just sit yourself down and write something, anything, it can’t hurt.”

So I do, for several days, often for hours at a time, skipping meals and procrastinating going to the bathroom until my bowels are fit to burst, getting lost in my fixation to write and finish what I started. There are people who have been waiting patiently, people an update might mean the world to who are counting on me.

After a few months of this, scattered across what few days I could spare I sit back and take in what I’ve done.

“You did it,” my beta reader says, joy picking up an edge in their voice, “you finally did it,”

“Yes,” I say, “I have planned out 3 seperate au’s for 2 different horror podcasts I listen to, made a playlist for one of them, and written 1,000 words each on two seperate voltron whump fics!”

There’s a moment I take in what I say…

Then my forehead meets the table Infront of my laptop, and I curse out the gods that be.

Currently poking my brain with a stick and hoping a plot idea for one of my fics falls put

Oh ho ho, as soon as I find the energy and motivation to hyperfixate on my hobbies again it’s all over for you fucks

Can confirm, literally anyone with ocs is silently spending every spare moment wishing they could tell you everything they love about their little imaginary babies and how far they’re going

Hey, can y’all rb this if it’s okay to send you messages asking about your ocs, cause on god I wanna interact with y’all but I am terrified of being annoying lol

'"Leave this man alone" I say, writing him having a nervous breakdown' - My friend, and fellow angst connoisseur

Why the f*ck is this so relatable???

I want to finish revising my WIP, I want to fall into my new short story for the weekend and only emerge once it’s done, and I also want to get started on a new novel that I’m obsessed with. Instead of doing ANY of these things, I have too many options and am just scrolling endlessly instead

my villain origin story is realizing how many words i have to write just to get to my favorite scene

And there’s no inbetween

Going back to old writing is either just like:

1. “Who wrote this masterpiece?! It was ME?!”

2. “Who wrote this absolute shit? Oh fuck my life, that was me, wasn’t it?”

Have I written every day since I made my schedule?

Yes.

Did on work on any of my wips?

No.

Did I start a new story and get way too invested?

Hell yeah!

I just made an actual schedule for what writing projects I should focus on each day for the next week. So that way I can hopefully make progress on my fic and on revising poems for my slam team at the same time. We’ll see if the adhd cooperates.

With me it’s always raising an eyebrow and/or nodding. Which results in my characters looking like smug bobble heads in every conversation

me while writing: ah yes, this character should do this, it feels so natural with what they're saying

me while editing: why the FUCK does he lean on the doorway SEVENTEEN TIMES IN THIS CHAPTER

Tragic indeed

Bad news, y'all

You really gotta write the damn book to become a published author

I always tell myself I’ll keep it cute, keep it light, and by the end of draft one it’s always dark and or tragic.

Writers be like: "I love my characters!"

Also writers: "What if I made them suffer horribly for no reason except my own entertainment?"

Have I written in the past couple days? No. Are my daydreams going stupid? Hell yeah. When I have time to actually write it down will I still remember any of this lore? TBD

Writers, I need your opinions:

My story is like focused on two characters, and I have this scene where we switch between their perspectives. They are texting each other throughout an evening essentially, and we switch each time someone reads a text.

I don’t know if I should keep it or not. I love it, but I don’t know if it’s confusing or not. The overlapping scenes are very important for the development of both plot and story.

Also, I do have a beta reader but I lowkey have a crush on them so I’m too embarrassed to send the fic to them until I’ve done a couple rounds of self edits, and I don’t wanna get too far in just to realize it doesn’t work

Unfortunately I speak this language

What I Say vs. What I Actually Mean When Talking About My Writing

Ah, writers. We’re like caffeinated raccoons with a thesaurus—erratic, dramatic, and perpetually on the verge of either brilliance or a breakdown. We love our craft, we loathe it, we panic about it, and sometimes we have midnight sword fights with it (metaphorically… usually). For my long-suffering friends and family, here’s a guide to decipher the cryptic ramblings of an organism like me.

"I’ll finish this draft by the end of the week."

I will procrastinate for six days and have a meltdown on the seventh.

"This chapter just needs a little tweaking."

This chapter is trash, and I’m about to rewrite the whole book instead.

"I love my characters so much!"

I’m going to emotionally devastate them for fun.

"The plot is solid, I just need to flesh it out."

The plot is six sentences, half of which are question marks.

"I’ve got a new idea for a book!"

I’ve abandoned my current project and am fleeing the guilt.

"This is just a first draft."

Please don’t judge me for this dumpster fire.

"I’m doing research for my story."

I’ve been Googling ‘weird medieval punishments’ for four hours.

"I don’t care about reviews."

I’ve read every review. Twice. And cried over three of them.

"The ending needs a little work."

The ending doesn’t exist yet, but thanks for asking.

"I’m editing today."

I’ll spend 30 minutes on commas and four hours rearranging furniture.

"My characters took over the story."

I have no control over anything anymore. Send help.

"I think this draft is almost done."

There’s a 40% chance I’ll delete it tomorrow.

"I’ll outline my next project properly."

HAHAHAHAHA. Sure, Janet.

"I’m working on character development."

I’m Googling psychological disorders and debating tragic backstories.

"I’ll just jot down a quick idea."

I’ve accidentally written half a novel on a napkin.

"I’m worldbuilding right now."

I’ve spent three hours naming a forest and none on the actual plot.

"I don’t get attached to my characters."

I would die for this fictional idiot and cry over their demise daily.

"I’m starting fresh with this new story idea."

I’ve given up on my last three WIPs but refuse to admit defeat.

"I don’t need a deadline to stay motivated."

Without pressure, I will accomplish absolutely nothing.

"My characters feel so real."

I have arguments with them in my head while washing dishes.

"I just write for fun."

I obsess over every word and feel personally attacked by constructive feedback.

"I’m creating a writing playlist."

I’m avoiding my manuscript by curating vibes for the 30th time.

"I’m a writer!"

I am chaos personified, and I occasionally open Google Docs.