What I Love The Most Is When A Story Is Told And There Aren't Any Sequels, The Story Is Over, But There

Note - We’ve updated this post with more tools and clarifications!

Every day, there seem to be more reasons to break up with Google.

So we’ve rounded up a bunch of privacy-centric alternatives for all your deGoogling needs.

Check out the full list over on the blog!

- The Ellipsus Team xo

Descriptions: Because “The Sunset was Nice” is Clearly Pulitzer-Worthy

Hey, my cute little Muses!

Let's talk about something that's as essential to writing as coffee is to my life: description. Yep, those juicy, detailed snippets that paint a picture in your reader’s mind. Buckle up, because we're diving deep into the wonderful world of words!

The Beauty of Description

First things first, let's get this out of the way: dialogue is awesome. It’s the sassy sibling of description that gets all the attention at family gatherings. But description? Description is the unsung hero, the one who quietly makes everything beautiful and meaningful.

Example Time!

Imagine a scene where two characters meet after years apart. You could write:

Dialogue Version:

“Hey, long time no see.”

“Yeah, it’s been a while.”

Description Version:

The air hung heavy with unspoken words as Jane stepped into the dimly lit café. Her heart raced, a drumbeat echoing the years of separation. Across the room, a familiar figure turned, his eyes widening in surprise. The years had etched lines into his face, but his smile – that same old smile – was unmistakable.

See the difference? One is a quick text exchange, the other pulls you into the moment, making you feel every heartbeat.

My Personal (Hilarious) Struggles with Description

Let’s get real. My early attempts at description were… let’s say, less than stellar. Picture this: me, hunched over my laptop at 2 AM, trying to describe a sunset. I wrote, “The sunset was nice.” Genius, right? Shakespeare would be proud.

But over time, I learned to appreciate the beauty of weaving in details. Descriptions don't just tell you what something looks like; they tell you how it feels, smells, sounds, and tastes. They make your world vivid and real.

Another Example!

Consider a spooky old house:

Dialogue Version:

“Look, it’s an old house.”

Description Version:

The house loomed ahead, its windows like dark, empty eyes. The wind whispered through the broken shutters, carrying with it the faint scent of decay. Each step on the creaking porch felt like an invitation to the unknown, a call to uncover the secrets hidden within its ancient walls.

You feel that shiver? That’s the magic of description.

The Great “Show, Don’t Tell” Myth

Here’s the kicker: “show, don’t tell” doesn’t mean you have to ditch description for action-packed dialogue. Description is a vital part of showing. It’s about making your readers experience the story, not just read it.

Show, Don’t Tell Example!

Tell Version:

John was scared.

Show Version:

John’s hands trembled as he gripped the flashlight. His breath came in short, sharp bursts, and his eyes darted around the dark room, searching for the source of the eerie noise.

In the “show” version, you’re right there with John, feeling his fear. Description brings out the emotions without simply stating them.

Why Description Over Dialogue?

1. Depth and Atmosphere: Dialogue can be snappy and fun, but description sets the scene. It creates the mood and builds the world your characters inhabit.

2. Character Insight: Through description, you can reveal a character’s thoughts and emotions in a way that dialogue alone can’t.

3. Pacing and Tension: Good description can slow down a moment to build suspense or quicken the pace to heighten excitement.

Remember, balance is key. Too much description can bog down your story, while too little can leave readers feeling disconnected. It's all about finding that sweet spot.

Final Thoughts

So, next time you’re writing, give a little extra love to your descriptions. Think of them as the cozy blanket that wraps around your story, keeping it warm and inviting. And if you ever find yourself writing “the sunset was nice,” just know you’re not alone – we’ve all been there.

Keep writing, keep describing, and remember: every detail counts!

Until next time,

Museadvicecorner (a.k.a. the person who has way too many notebooks)

P.S. If you need me, I'll be here, trying to describe the indescribable and failing gloriously.

Your feedback on my blog would mean the world to me! If my posts make you smile, why not fuel my caffeine addiction? Any support is super appreciated, even a comment too. Got any topics you want me to dive into? Just holler. Need some custom writing prompts? Hit me up anytime! :⁠-⁠) Also I'm thinking of starting a writing community do tell me what you think about it (⁠◠⁠‿⁠◕⁠)

WEBSITES FOR WRITERS {masterpost}

E.A. Deverell - FREE worksheets (characters, world building, narrator, etc.) and paid courses;

Hiveword - Helps to research any topic to write about (has other resources, too);

BetaBooks - Share your draft with your beta reader (can be more than one), and see where they stopped reading, their comments, etc.;

Charlotte Dillon - Research links;

Writing realistic injuries - The title is pretty self-explanatory: while writing about an injury, take a look at this useful website;

One Stop for Writers - You guys... this website has literally everything we need: a) Description thesaurus collection, b) Character builder, c) Story maps, d) Scene maps & timelines, e) World building surveys, f) Worksheets, f) Tutorials, and much more! Although it has a paid plan ($90/year | $50/6 months | $9/month), you can still get a 2-week FREE trial;

One Stop for Writers Roadmap - It has many tips for you, divided into three different topics: a) How to plan a story, b) How to write a story, c) How to revise a story. The best thing about this? It's FREE!

Story Structure Database - The Story Structure Database is an archive of books and movies, recording all their major plot points;

National Centre for Writing - FREE worksheets and writing courses. Has also paid courses;

Penguin Random House - Has some writing contests and great opportunities;

Crime Reads - Get inspired before writing a crime scene;

The Creative Academy for Writers - "Writers helping writers along every step of the path to publication." It's FREE and has ZOOM writing rooms;

Reedsy - "A trusted place to learn how to successfully publish your book" It has many tips, and tools (generators), contests, prompts lists, etc. FREE;

QueryTracker - Find agents for your books (personally, I've never used this before, but I thought I should feature it here);

Pacemaker - Track your goals (example: Write 50K words - then, everytime you write, you track the number of the words, and it will make a graphic for you with your progress). It's FREE but has a paid plan;

Save the Cat! - The blog of the most known storytelling method. You can find posts, sheets, a software (student discount - 70%), and other things;

I hope this is helpful for you!

(Also, check my blog if you want to!)

Maiden Holmes | 少女大人 | episode 23

“I will never leave you again.”

This is random but I like how the edit turned out hehe

Even if you are handsome, I wouldn't allow myself to be so blindly infatuated.

· ❥ THE PRINCESS ROYAL ─ Episode 8 (度华年)

One trope Im a big fan of in media is when the loyalty outweighs a conflict of interest. I don’t agree with what you’re doing, but I will follow where you go no matter what. I will do anything for you even if it opposes my own morals

REBLOG IF IT IS OKAY TO COME INTO YOUR INBOX AND SAY THE RANDOMEST SHIT I CAN THINK OF BECAUSE I REALLY WANT TO INTERACT WITH YOU.

yeah yeah yeah mortifying ordeal of being known and all that but sometimes a friend mentions something about you that you didn’t think was noticeable and it feels like your heart is being cradled in their hands