“I Can’t Think Of A Better Way To Revenge Someone Who Tried To Break You, Than To Live And Love Life

Writing Tip #218

Tightening your sentences and getting rid of unnecessary adverbs and adjectives does not mean writing short sentences. You can have a long sentence without any adverbs or adjectives and you can have a short sentence with too many. Tightening your sentences just means that every word has to matter.

“Don’t listen to yourself; listen to the advice that you give others.”

— Michael Lottner 

“There is beauty, heartbreaking beauty, everywhere.”

— Edward Abbey (via quotemadness)

“It is madness to hate all roses because you got scratched with one thorn.”

— Antoine de Saint-Exupére 

Reminder to self:

Your writing seems boring and predictable because 

You wrote it

You’ve read it like eight million times.

A person who has never read it before does not have this problem. 

How I Edit A First Draft

*Repost*

What is UP y'all I got like four hours of sleep which is always fantastic! This is a wicked old post I made that the majority of y’all haven’t seen! As always, any more stuff you want to ask/add specifically feel free! As a young author myself with limited experience, I just wanted to help those who don’t really know where to start or are looking for other methods! 

First, Don’t Get Discouraged!

This sounds like a basic thing, but nobody really likes editing their own stuff! It’s so easy to call it bad and just shove it in a folder to never look at again. Just remember everything you do is to make it the best it can possibly be and it’s pretty darn heccin good now! Completing drafts are fricken hard, and you’ve made it so far! Writing routines and Pinterest are my major sources of inspiration. 

Read it through!

I know, it sucks. You finished your first draft—comgratulations! And you want to get the editing over with. You think to yourself, “I wrote this and I know what to fix!” Maybe for some this is true, but for people like me, I forget so much. Do not start editing during this step. It is basically just a refresher. Take notes on what to fix later (what scene feels flat, parts that are confusing, etc). The only editing I allow myself to do here is grammar and spelling. Most times you’ll see too it’s not as bad as you think it is! 

How Do I Know What To Cut?

Not everthing that doesn’t work has to be cut. Recycling awesome lines that juts dont fit or even characters into different WIPS. That being said, soemtimes things just won’t work. Ask yourself these starting questions:

Does this supporting character have a purpose or can their role be taken over by a pre-existing character?

Is this action in character?

Does this scene contribute to the plot, character development, or offer a break in tension?

Work From Big To Small

You know those notes you took? The ones on plot and characterization? Fix those first. These big problems usually lead to the smaller issues or even fix them, like if a scene isn’t flowing naturally or something just fells off. If stuff doesn’t fall into place, look at the chapters before it.

Common Questions Ig

Q: Hey, Strange, what do you even know?

A: Nothing

Q: But I like this scene and I don’t want to cut it.

A: Cool. Keep it. If you like it and don’t have any doubts that it’s good, so will your readers and it will add to the book. Stuff like this can be for characterization and establishing relationships, and you can always add to scenes to make them seem more necessary. 

The point is that you like your book.  The point is that you are an amazing writer, even when it’s hard to believe. First drafts are usually trash, and each draft is better than the last. No draft will ever be perfect, it’s the draft that you think is the best you can do and you’re happy with that’s the final. 

Hey I absolutely love your blog! It's awesome & very helpful! Can you give some tips for enemies to lovers plot, it's research & story development? If you could I would really really love & appreciate that. Thank you so much for providing such amazing contents! ❣️💕💗💖🔥✨

Thank you so much! Your love is appreciated. 

Enemies-to-lovers resources...

I have a few articles you may find useful, organized by area of struggle:

Enemies to Lovers

Guide To Writing Enemies To Lovers

Enemies-To-Lovers Prompts

How to develop an Enemies-To-Lovers story

Enemies to Lovers Tips

20 Mistakes to Avoid in Enemies to Lovers

Romance Genre

20 Mistakes To Avoid in YA/Romance

Resources For Writing YA Fiction/Romance

Resources For Romance Writers

Tips On Writing Skinny Love

Skinny Love Writing Prompts

On Romantic Subplots

How To Write The Perfect Kiss

Romantic Prompts

Research

Useful Writing Resources | Part II

Guide to Story Researching

How To Make A Scene More Heartfelt

How To Perfect The Tone

A Guide To Tension & Suspense

Tips on Balancing Development

Development

Resources For Plot Development

Guide To Plot Development

How To Write A Good Plot Twist

How To Foreshadow

How To Engage The Reader

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Masterlist | WIP Blog

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This week’s writing tip comes from the legendary Alice Walker. 

Remember, self-care is as important to the writing process as it is to life.

“Have you ever just looked at someone while they’re doing something small like driving or laughing and just smile bc u like them so much.”

— Unknown 

“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.”

— Dalai Lama