9 Steps for Adding Genuine Depth to Your Story by DesdemonaDeBlake, literature
Literature
9 Steps for Adding Genuine Depth to Your Story
9 Steps for Adding Genuine Depth to Your Story
(Or Ridding Your Story of Pseudo-depth)
When writing a story, one of the most important aspects to the writer will be the themes. In other words, the message you want to tell the world through your characters, plot, and struggles. However, even stories with a good message often fail on a number of levels, or else try to be deep but come off sounding ridiculous. Today, I'm going to talk about how to create genuine depth in the themes, characters, and dialogue of your story, without turning it into a sermon.
Step 1: Focus on the story and perfect it, long before you worry about the themes.
Th
dA Guide: Text Formatting by SweetDuke, literature
Literature
dA Guide: Text Formatting
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UPDATE for January 2020:
I created this guide in 2011, so you'll have to take it with a grain of salt since dA has updated a bazillion things since then LOL. It now looks like many codes don't work in Literature submissions anymore, (or disable the "Eclipse" version of the site and show the old site instead), so some of the demonstrations here only look like regular text. But they should display properly if you copy/paste them in the comments. I'm so glad to see how many of you wonderful people still utilize this resource, so I wish you the best and encourage you to go ahead and experiment to see what works and what do
Literature deviations in Eclipse by AsjJohnson, literature
Literature
Literature deviations in Eclipse
In the Blank Page of Doom Eclipse editor, you begin with an almost-blank page. This can be pretty frightening, so let's find out what's possible in this new editor. (Notice that html tags aren't possible. I hope they will work in the future.) If any of my examples don't match what I say about them, it's either because: the editor has been updated, your browser behaves differently than mine, or the area you're editing has different controls. If this tutorial doesn't answer a specific question, you can leave a comment to ask. Features at a glance: Getting Started To begin, hover over Submit at the top right (if using the desktop site) and click on Literature. Note: At the current moment, literature submission is unavailable on the mobile version of the site. To submit literature on a mobile device, switch to the desktop version. (When it becomes available, I think it'll be in a menu on the top left of the screen, within a Submit sub-menu.) Clicking Submit>Literature
Anybody Can Write a Novel - Outline by DesdemonaDeBlake, literature
Literature
Anybody Can Write a Novel - Outline
Anybody Can Write A Novel - Outline
A Step-by-step Guide for Anyone to Learn How to Write a Novel
This is an Outline of all my current articles, and a look at what is to come. I will try to update it, at least once every two weeks. Also note that just because something is absent from the Outline does not mean I don't plan to write it. This is a compilation of only chapters that have already been written.
(You'll notice that I have neglected some points and chapters within this Outline. This this is simply a result of realizing that there is so much to learn, when it comes to writing. Don't worry, I'll be sure to come back and fill in the g
11 Tips for Romance in Your Novel by DesdemonaDeBlake, literature
Literature
11 Tips for Romance in Your Novel
11 Tips for Romance in Your Novel
Anybody Can Write a Novel 2.0 Chapter 2 “Genres” – Section 2 “Romance”
(Previous Tutorial) (Next Tutorial)
“I always think the most romantic books or films are the ones where the romance doesn't happen, because it makes your heart ache so much watching it.”
-Natalie Portman
Within the genre of romance, as well as every other genre of fiction, one finds love stories. Love is enough of a universal human experience, that it can happen within the context of any type of story. It draws reader attention, unlike any other topic. However, the world of lite
The Stories that Wrote Me by Emily-Byrd, literature
Literature
The Stories that Wrote Me
Etched in ink and carved in stone
Tapestried in red and gold
In seasons spent and cent'ries past
Wisdom, intimate and vast.
From an author's sacred pen
Spin living tales to draw me in
Their characters have studied me
And slowly I began to be.
Each kindred book a link of chain
To tug my soul and call my name
Teaching me in solemn dance
Of life and duty, death, romance.
They call me to the heroine's side
To ride the waves of loss and pride,
And catch the colored roses tossed
Of joy and toil,
love,
love lost
{HL} Hiking Trails: Snorunt Romp by WriterDragon, literature
Literature
{HL} Hiking Trails: Snorunt Romp
Sitting on a fairly empty and quiet train, somewhat tall girl sat aboard it. She glanced around a bit, seeing it was empty but given how early it was in the morning, it was to be expected. It was Bianca who sat alone on this train early today, her intended destination someplace she didn't think of ever going to, wasn't in her nature to really. Wearing her usual sweater dress, with a long fluffy scarf and sturdy boots made for hiking, Bianca was headed for Snowfall Inlet. Maybe it was an impulse decision or just a want to try something different since moving to Raccolto, but she was here she was going regardless of the mixed emotions she has now about it all. Bianca had come fairly early in the morning for today, but the events planned called for it as it could take up all day. She's never done something like this before, so she assumed going earlier rather than later, hopefully leaving enough time to complete these supposed trails at Snowfall Inlet. As Bianca only had her thoughts to
Your hands introduce soft longing
to the raspberries, soothing the brambles
that hiss as they climb unsteady ankles;
you carefully cut around where the fruit has rotted.
Texture teaches your tongue
and sweetness rains in a race toward your chin.
True catharsis sweeps across
gentle eyelids,
exhaustion or security.
I drip from the ceiling,
liquid soul,
like a spirit settling into your bones.
You graze your fingers to my lips and
let me taste.
8 Tips for Writing Dialogue for your Characters by DesdemonaDeBlake, literature
Literature
8 Tips for Writing Dialogue for your Characters
8 Tips for Writing Dialogue for your Characters
Anybody Can Write a Novel
Chapter 5 “Choosing and Designing Characters” – Section 4 “Dialogue”
With Links to Supplementary Material
Dialogue is a tricky topic, and for two key reasons. The first is that creating realistic dialogue is a difficult skill to master—even in day-to-day life—without speech coming out plastic, pointless, or otherwise unconvincing. The second problem is that the proper dialogue for your story is deeply rooted within the other elements—the characters, the setting, the genre, etc... Because of this, writing dialogue tha
8 Tips for Writing Your Story's Epilogue by DesdemonaDeBlake, literature
Literature
8 Tips for Writing Your Story's Epilogue
8 Tips for Writing Your Story's Epilogue
Anybody Can Write a Novel 2.0 Chapter 6 “Plot Points” – Section 12 “Epilogue”
“A true epilogue is removed from the story in time or space. That's the reason it is called an 'Epilogue'; the label serves to alert the reader that the story itself is over, but we are going to now see a distant result or consequence of that story.”
-Nancy Kress
The most basic element of a story are the efforts of a protagonist to reach a goal, to fight the antagonistic forces that prevents him/her from reaching that goal, and to either achieve it or fail. By the end of the
7 Tips For Writing Action Scenes by DesdemonaDeBlake, literature
Literature
7 Tips For Writing Action Scenes
7 Tips For Writing Action Scenes
Anybody Can Write a Novel
Chapter 7 “From Story to Art” – Section 7 “Action Scenes”
With Links to Supplementary Material
Action scenes in a novel are a difficult tool to master, but well worth the time and effort to create dramatic an memorable scenes that will engage and entertain your readers. To pull them off effectively, you must be able to keep a quick yet varied pace, keep a tight focus, reflect your story, and make it all quick and crisp. Today, I'm going to give you a starting-point for honing your skills in this method of storytelling.
Tip 1: Create a visible plane
5 Tips for Establishing Character Voices by DesdemonaDeBlake, literature
Literature
5 Tips for Establishing Character Voices
5 Tips for Establishing Character Voices
Anybody Can Write a Novel
Chapter 7 “From Story to Art” – Section 9 “Speech and Voice”
With Links to Supplementary Material
After you finish your first draft in all of its rough, unpolished, corny, sappy, unorganized glory, you will likely note something rather disturbing about your characters. They all sound the same. And, upon further analysis, you may even discover that they all sound like you. Fear not! This is to be expected, and but another factor to be adjusted and improved in the many drafts to come.
Tip 1: Annotate how each character's speech pattern differ
how many summers did you spend
couched in west virginia?
street smitten, sore legged
pacing the fence of adolescent mess
in mountain’s maw, raining angel’s ash,
the absolute heat death of july
forever finding homes
in someone’s sister’s basement,
curled in a messy bedroom,
growing pains in your shins
getting taller couldn’t relieve
against grainy adult swim shock toons
estrogenic mall musk and slurpee vomit
mom going on and on
about some lie you told, or didn’t
as if you culled the children to the cellar
and beat them before you were born,
as if you were a songless canary
in a coal mine collapsing
do
A Mouse in the Castle VI by AmbroseVox, literature
Literature
A Mouse in the Castle VI
“Wud do ye think yer doing!? Unhand me! This is outrageous!” Truscott and Hood marched Timas the Barkeep out from his establishment and down to the main plaza. The morning sun had risen high into the cloudy sky. Brilliant rays pierced the cloud barrier, dazzling the cobblestone. Even the stained glass windows of the church seemed to be sparkling. Behind them trailed an entourage of early arrivals to the inn. Among them were the staffers, mainly serving girls, washerwomen, and cooks. Leading them along was the plump, white-furred, blonde-haired hamster. Nervously, she wrung her hands as she followed right behind Truscott, Hood, and Timas. Looking over his shoulder, the tired, bedraggled, but smiling Truscott flashed her a pleasant smile. “Worry not, my lady, the bad business is about to be put right and I assure you, you’ll still have work before the morning is out.” “Nah she won’t!” Timas barked. “You’ve no right to drag me out like this!” Hood released the barkeep’s
{HL} Hiking Trails: Bergmite Basin by WriterDragon, literature
Literature
{HL} Hiking Trails: Bergmite Basin
Traveling down upon this new path, Bianca kept her eyes out around for the supposed icy lake that was shown on the map. She has mostly seen forests, the paths so far with rough dirt and some rocks about, and the obvious mountains. All of this is usually accompanied by piles of snow. To see a lake is somewhat exciting to see after all of that, although that may change when arriving, who knows? One also wonders if any Bergmites are living there like the name suggests as she previously questioned once she found out about this lake. Another fact she'll have to discover once she sees it. The trail goes down a slope slightly as it descends from the mountain paths previously, but it is not so difficult to traverse much to the relief of Bianca. So far she has been taking everything remarkably well, despite having never been a hiking person before. Yes, of course, she was tired and her feet were sore beyond what could be considered reasonable, but she pursued onward instead of giving up. How
9 Tips for Creating Your Antagonist by DesdemonaDeBlake, literature
Literature
9 Tips for Creating Your Antagonist
9 Tips for Creating Your Antagonist
Anybody Can Write a Novel 2.0Chapter 5 “Characters” – Section 3 “Antagonists”
(Previous Tutorial) (Next Tutorial)
“You don't really understand an antagonist until you understand why he's a protagonist in his own version of the world.”
-John Rogers
Whether the obstacle that stands in the way of your protagonist is an evil person, a person of just another philosophical belief, a person with a contradicting goal, a force of nature, a force of the supernatural, a monster, an emotion, an exper
Scrooge of The Multiverse: TAoC Chapter 16 by tindy2, literature
Literature
Scrooge of The Multiverse: TAoC Chapter 16
Team (as they fall, Ebenezer's Groups do tough moves) Ebenezer Scrooge: (cheer) Yeah! Bob Cratchit: (cheer) Yeah! Harry Huffam: (cheer) Yeah! Jacques Tabard: (cheer) Yeah! Somewhat: (cheer) Yeah! Team RWBY, Team JNR and Oscar Pine: (cheer) Yeah! The Incredible: (cheer) Yeah! Guardians of the Multiverse: (cheer) Yeah! The Jedi of Four: (cheer) Yeah! Sailor Moon: (cheer) Yeah! Shrek: (cheer) Yeah! Pinkie Pie: (cheer) Yeah! Jack Sparrow: (cheer) Yeah! Ebenezer's Groups: (cheer) Yeah! (Ebenezer's Groups laugh, hug, laugh again, separate, and kick their legs in delight) Ebenezer Scrooge: Yeah! yeah, (looks down and realizes something) Uhh... guys? Jacques Tabard: Yeah, friend? Bob Cratchit: What? Harry Huffam: What is it? Ebenezer Scrooge: (confused) Why did we jump over the edge instead of taking the stairs? Bob Cratchit: Oh, no, you don't mean that. Harry Huffam: Not about least, right uncle? Jacques Tabard: Bec... (confused) well... (Ebenezer's Groups towards the ground, Ebenezer's