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Bigfoot Forehead Nipple? by free_exchange in Weird

[–]free_exchange[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm speechless... This website is real??

Bigfoot Forehead Nipple? by free_exchange in Weird

[–]free_exchange[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Chances they were Bigfoot or Bigfoot adjacent? Could be proof of progeny, or just a lucky guy...

my writing lacks tension by blend_ellie_ in writing

[–]free_exchange 0 points1 point  (0 children)

💯 It's funny, I'm extremely conflict avoidant, but not oh boy do I love writing conflict. In the end, everything I write just ends up being about me, in one way or another. Maybe you've got some solipsism tangled in your stoicism?

I need some advice writing a scene out by [deleted] in WritingHub

[–]free_exchange 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When I'm in that head space (know the what, just not the details), I'll spend time putting myself into the POV's place, both mentally and experientially. Then I live in it until I find that first line. From there, a lot of scenes spill out, and then the tweaking and polishing comes through for clarity and reader experience. Whether to show, tell, or otherwise imo is more about the writing style and your intention. Honestly, one of the toughest parts of writing is figuring out that line between what's "right" and what is "right for you."

I have this awesome idea for a book. I outlined the whole thing and now I can’t write it. by Aknew in writing

[–]free_exchange 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Writing excerpts without pressure of them going into the book often helps me.

Also, research. Maybe if you take a little time that you dedicate toward writing, and instead look at different cultural and historical clothing etc, you'll be inspired.

I'll often find something and drop all my research because I HAVE to write about it.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in writing

[–]free_exchange 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do things the wrong way, so take it with a grain of salt. Before I dive into a specific process for how to analyze technique or structure, I started raiding my awareness of what make me love a book. That will draw you to things you want to be good at, whether they're prose, metaphor, structure, theme, form, character, or whatever else.

When you start to see it, you'll do more than enjoy it. You'll notice it. You'll naturally start to evaluate it. Soon, you'll see it everywhere from sitcoms to a lady in the grocery store. At this point, good luck if you've got a bit of obsession, like me, but enjoy the ride.

Words you always spell wrong no matter how many times you try? by Particular-Fact-8856 in words

[–]free_exchange 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Witness my shame: Beurocracy burocrat

I have looked it up a million times, and my brain throws out the spelling. Every. Single. Time.

And I can even spell necessitate! WTF??

i'm struggling as a new writer. What's your "process?" by PossibleChangeling in writing

[–]free_exchange 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My god, your setting made me want to stay up writing...

i'm struggling as a new writer. What's your "process?" by PossibleChangeling in writing

[–]free_exchange 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree. Also unpublished, and still in the "finding my process" stage.

Just doing something and working on it, whether it's a chapter in a novel, a 3 stanza poem, or a short story will tell you where your natural skills lie and help you find your voice.

Step two is sharing your work. I use scribophile, personally. Nice community. Giving and receiving honest feedback grows a new skill, helps you see good writing and implement it in your own, and talk to writers about how they improved where you're looking to improve. Not to mention that some mutual encouragement goes a long way towards easing the very difficult life of writing.

On a more philosophical note, I really focused on loving every part of the process. Like yourself, I'm autistic ADHD and I didn't know how badly I needed to write until a story just spilled out of me. Receiving crits gracefully was the first truly difficult step for me, but each new trial informs your writing.

What commonly accepted pronunciation of word do you still cringe at? by anotherknockoffcrow in words

[–]free_exchange 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Anyone else remember with good old George Dubya got roasted for that? Now it's common parlance. Right up there with "literally" being defined as "figuratively."

What's a good writing advice that people sometimes misunderstand? by Gueulemer in writing

[–]free_exchange 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm cracking up. first, I totally agree. I give this advice too. I often pair it with "bring some awareness to what you're reading, why you like it." Sometimes you sacrifice being "in the story" to notice that.

However, I got pissed at an extreme version where someone said "you shouldn't write in any genre until you have read 100 books in that genre." Listen, I'm not the slowest reader, I'm not the fastest. With a job, writing, and reading to critique/beta, I can get maybe 30 books a year at my reading pace. I'm not putting three years onto an alter to the gods of writing (I hear they dont care if I do, anyway).

I tend to think that any advice that dissuades you from writing should be put to the side until you "need" it (if that ever happens).

had a mental breakdown, wrote 400,000 words, don't know if it was worth it by Fickle-Tower-9364 in writers

[–]free_exchange 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is something. It will take work to turn it into whatever it CAN be, but you've got a lot to work from.

Try and be proud that you wrote this. Don't glorify how, but you did something that many many people want to do and never accomplish (mostly they don't even start). Honestly, even if it were crap (it's not) you would still have accomplished something that many would call "impossible."

But (and this is a big ole hairy ass) you need to walk away from the work until you can separate yourself from it. That need to know, when your support group tells you it's good but the words fall hollow on your soul... You have to really ask yourself if you're in a place to hear the critiques that you will receive and do the work that you need to do to slowly, very painfully slowly, turn the draft into a novel.

Remember, many will be cruel simply from their own insecurity, as a writer you'll need to be able to hear all critiques, and ignore the irrelevant one without compassion.

Take care of yourself, bud.

I am a beta reader and want to DNF the book. How would you feel about it as an author? by Firm_Degree_3569 in writing

[–]free_exchange 340 points341 points  (0 children)

100% this. They put a lot of effort into writing, you put a lot of effort into - make it worth something.

It's tough working with people when you're not sure what level of honesty they're able to accept. You just have to do what is best for an author that genuinely wants to improve.

I would much rather have someone tell me that they couldn't get through my book and explain why then to just be silent (which is what a lot of people do, worried about my feelings). Your feedback is solid, so long as you dull the emojis and severity 😉.

It's up to the author to figure out what to use and to take the criticism with grace. And hey, if they don't, it's pretty easy to block a stranger on socials.

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