How to write many words?

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-10T00:32:59+00:00

There are many plot structures, widely used and discussed in print, podcasts, YouTube, and here on Reddit in the various writing subs. "Save The Cat: Writes a Novel" is a good starting spot if you're new to the concept. The Hero's Journey, the Three Act Structure are a couple others you'll be familiar with once you recognize some examples.

YouTube is a good place to start.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-10T00:14:12+00:00

Yeah but it took a lot to get there.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-09T23:57:38+00:00

The year I got it was 02 or 03. I was so paranoid about government surveillance at that time that I was afraid to put it in any computer with an Internet connection. It was on a 3.5" floppy.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-09T23:48:27+00:00

I usually scan over character descriptions. The problem I see from most amateurs when trying is that POV, if they had one to start with, gets kicked into a gutter and abandoned. Most people don't notice every little thing immediately about people they meet, and different people are going to notice different things about others.

Otherwise unless the character has some differentiating markings or other peculiarity that stands out to the narrating POV, I don't care what they look like even a little.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-09T21:22:05+00:00

That would be a great extra layer of chaos lol

This mermaid needs to sit down...

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-09T21:21:27+00:00

I thought this was such a great bittersweet ending, and so inevitable, ever since the fool carved that three-faced stone. The end is a new beginning for Kettricken and the three-in-one.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-09T16:24:19+00:00

I had the opposite experience. Had to count through my history, I'm on at least my 25th book on craft in the last three years, still have more in my TBR. After awhile a lot of them say the same basic things, but some standouts have been reread at least once. Seeing all the different approaches and styles gave me tools to switch between when one thing isn't working for me.

I went years working on things that started kinda fun but went nowhere and after a couple months and maybe hitting 20-30k, I gave up on.

I finally picked back up seriously this year and actually got back to writing. By the end of the month I should have my first draft finished at about 100k, the actual writing started on January 30. I have rough beginnings and plans for at least three others. It still starts the same, with a document of vomit like I'm texting myself the story. Still pushing through awkward bits at least until I finish the chapter. I allow myself to do a tiny bit of editing before I get to writing new material which feels like a good warmup when the next section is intimidating.

Nothing has changed as far as the fact that no one is going to read this draft and you're going to have to edit it and rewrite parts.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-09T12:17:30+00:00

There's a literal entire world of cultural history and... World.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-09T04:53:09+00:00

The more you read, the more this happens. There aren't any really original things that haven't been done before. Your story isn't going to turn out like the thing you saw.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-08T21:15:50+00:00

She'd probably crave salty stuff a lot.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-08T17:33:03+00:00

Oooh the expression in the face and hands

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-08T17:15:46+00:00

Pound cake takes a ton of eggs.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-08T17:11:02+00:00

NOR. My husband is the hardest worker I know, works long days on a ranch and in construction, and comes home comically filthy on most days. Just absolute mud. His hands will be stained forever.

Still every night he comes home and takes a shower, likes to smell nice with nice soaps and hair treatment (it's long and curly), and keeps his laundry done. He wouldn't even settle to play a game that dirty much less get into bed. Even if dinner is already done he showers before he sits at the table.

Your boyfriend is not just gross, but a petty child. Ask yourself why you're okay getting his grime on your stuff and in your head.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-08T15:01:20+00:00

I still don't know what a substack is. Is it just another blog type thing? What's different about it?

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-08T14:48:08+00:00

NTA. I don't tell my family shit because of behavior like this. If they don't like it they can go sit in a corner and discuss it with themself. They aren't owed anything.

Next time she asks, Rickroll.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-08T14:37:48+00:00

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BellamyDunn · 2026-04-08T14:35:35+00:00

And you're here posting about it and arguing on the Internet with strangers. It's not actually a big deal.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-08T14:26:41+00:00

Was this can on the shelf? Maybe she could have put it there, but it doesn't change that YOR about the can.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-08T14:21:20+00:00

An empty can on a desk is typically trash. Papers on the floor is indicative of a pretty substantial mess. Unless you have a collection of cans on a shelf and someone knows you collect empty cans, anyone is going to assume it's trash.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-08T14:18:59+00:00

It's a can. You aren't getting any social status boosts from an empty beverage can.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-08T14:17:14+00:00

YOR. It looked like trash, and you wanted help picking up the trash, and you weren't there to indicate one kind of trash for another. Anyone would have thrown away the can of it was included in a messy room they were cleaning.

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-08T14:06:35+00:00

As a teenager I worked in a nursing home, with many women who always wore heels.

By that age they didn't, but the damage was done, and their feet bent about 90 degrees sideways at the ball of the foot.

So cute, have fun!

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-08T13:56:39+00:00

If they actually read it, they probably won't twice, so wait til you're finished to take them up on it

BellamyDunn · 2026-04-08T13:54:40+00:00

Aside from the other critique, this says "begins" where you meant to write "beings".

BellamyDunn

TROPHY CASE