"The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt."
Not long ago, I pulled out a piece of writing I’d started over a year ago that I’d abandoned shortly after realizing it just didn’t work. I thought maybe taking another look at it, so long after I’d actually written it, would help me see it in a different light.
I started to read and quickly realized what the problem was. I didn’t start the story in the right place.
(Source: amandaonwriting, via youknowyoureawriterwhen)
mbilmey asked you: Wondering, what are you opinions on starting a story with the main characters name. Someone said this was a bad way to begin, but I like because it disposes with formalities. I realized though that most my stories begin name and action. I’ve also heard that you shouldn’t…
(Source: thewritersdoc)
LitReactor asked me for some advice for younger writers. In the end, I don’t know how much advice you can really give a writer. They’re either going to follow it or they’re not. So rather than get mystical, I thought what might be helpful is a simple, practical list that…
(Source: whatdoyoumeanmaybe)
pronunciation | kyem
Non-Verbal Communication and Your Characters
by Carolyn Kaufman
Though most people appreciate that information is communicated through body language and vocal tone, they don’t usually realize just how much. In fact, words are only part of the message in face-to-face communication; vocal tone accounts for another chunk of the message, and nonverbals for another large chunk. As a result, we often give away more about ourselves than we intend to.
This is true of your characters, too, and your job as the writer is to convey the most important nuances in your story.
- Where might you meet your character? Where would he choose to meet? A park, a bar, a restaurant? Where does he go in his free time? Where might other people see him out?
- How does she use technology? Is she glued to her cell phone? What is her email address? Does she use a signature on her emails? Does she Tweet,Facebook, or use other social networking sites like Linked In? What kinds of information does she share online?
- What are his mannerisms? Does he twist his wedding ring uneasily or repeatedly check his cell phone? What kinds of concerns, anxieties, needs, or hopes is he conveying with these mannerisms?
- How does she wear her hair? Is the colour natural or from a bottle? Does she dye it herself or have it professionally done? Does she fuss over her hair when she passes a reflective surface?
- How does he carry himself? Does he swagger, stalk, or slink through life?
- Does she have any tattoos? What’s the story behind them? Does she display her ink proudly or take pains to cover it up? What does she hope, or fear, others will think when they see the tattoo/s?
- How does he handle conveying information to others? Is he dry and pedantic or enthusiastic and animated? Does he drop names, or is he self-effacing? Does he share stories to illustrate his points?
- How much does she work to engage the other person? Does she lean toward them or push back in her chair? Is her eye contact good? Does she nod? Does she ask questions or simply talk about herself?
- What is he most proud of about himself, and how does he show this? If he’s proud of his wealth, for example, does he drive an expensive car, wear custom-tailored clothes, or flash expensive jewellery?
- What do her clothes say about her? What’s her typical “style”? What brands does she wear? What sorts of messages or slogans appear on her t-shirts, caps, or the backside of her sweatpants?
- Does he have an accent? Where from? What kind of vocabulary does he use? Lots of slang? Lots of jargon?
- How does she interact with strangers—the wait staff at a restaurant, people on the street, other drivers? Is she the kind of person who holds doors or lets them slam in others’ faces? Does she cut people off in traffic and curse their driving, or is she more likely to give them the benefit of the doubt and let them pull out in front of her?
(via maxkirin)
I managed to nail down my editing process yesterday while editing my new video (titled “My Little Pony Reaction Video”). It was the first time I’d edited in Final Cut Pro X, which is an amazing step up from iMovie, and pretty much halved the amount of time it takes me to create content.
I’m also…
Jen circled the man, tracing his body from shoulder to shoulder as she paced. “Do you even believe what Molloy believes in anymore? Or do you just fight for him so your family has protection? Do you even know what you’re fighting for? No, you don’t. Otherwise you would know who we are, who I am. Don’t you question him? question why you’ve had to capture two defenseless teenage girls, why you’ve had to do kill all those defenseless people out there? Think about it, really think about it. And then answer me, who are you?”
(Source: indigo-river, via indigo-river)
1. Absent: preoccupied
2. Agonized: as if in pain or tormented
3. Alluring: attractive, in the sense of arousing desire
4. Appealing: attractive, in the sense of encouraging goodwill and/or interest
5. Beatific: see blissful
6. Bilious: ill-natured
7. Black:…
(Source: dailywritingtips.com)
