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EliotTomorrow 6/5 is the last day to register for this small, supportive, & smart summer writing group! (Thursday evenings on Zoom, have your camera off if you want, queer-led.) We've met minimum enrollment but still have room for a few writers! <a href="https://www.eliotwesteditorial.com/writing-group.html" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.eliotwesteditorial.com/writing-group.html</a><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/edibuddies" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@edibuddies</a> <a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/writers" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@writers</a> <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/WritingCommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingCommunity</a> <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/WritingAdvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingAdvice</a> <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/WritersLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritersLife</a> <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/AmEditing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#AmEditing</a> <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/AmWriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#AmWriting</a>

Liana BrooksUnless there is a lot of money on the table or some other demonic deadline, don’t lose sleep over writing. It’s not healthy. There’s no advantage to stressing yourself out and making yourself miserable while writing a book.<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/LianaEdits" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#LianaEdits</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/AmWriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#AmWriting</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WritingAdvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingAdvice</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Publishing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Publishing</a>

EliotWant to keep writing--or get back to your writing life--this summer? We'd love to help you meet your goals, grow a healthier & happier practice, and find community 💖 (Six more days to register! Meeting 8 Thursdays evenings starting 12 June on Zoom.) Details & registration: <a href="https://www.eliotwesteditorial.com/writing-group.html" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.eliotwesteditorial.com/writing-group.html</a><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/writers" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@writers</a> <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/WritingCommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingCommunity</a> <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/Writing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Writing</a> <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/AmEditing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#AmEditing</a> <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/WritingAdvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingAdvice</a> <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/AmWriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#AmWriting</a>

GeorgeLThomasCommon Character Archetypes <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/WriterCommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WriterCommunity</a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/WritingCommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingCommunity</a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/CharacterArchetypes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#CharacterArchetypes</a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/Characters" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Characters</a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/Archetypes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Archetypes</a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/WritingTips" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingTips</a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/WritingAdvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingAdvice</a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/Tips" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Tips</a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/Advice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Advice</a><a href="http://georgelthomas.com/2025/02/04/common-character-archetypes/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">http://georgelthomas.com/2025/02/04/common-character-archetypes/</a>

RS, Author, Novelist, Prosaist<a href="https://mastodon.nl/@HeliaXyana" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@HeliaXyana</a> <a href="https://bookstodon.com/@anderlandbooks" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@anderlandbooks</a> <blockquote>So, there should be the occasional one dimensional character in the mix.</blockquote>Just say no. It sounds to me like character depth and texture makes your work stand out. Way too many boggy-men and unfathomable Sauron evil characters in the lit, echos of memories of European wars, invasions, and the civilian devastation visited upon the innocent who couldn't understand why it happened to them. (Is the Lord of the Rings an allegory?) It might feel unfortunate to write a serial killer that the reader could empathize with, but it's the psychology and erosion of the social contract that's interesting. Empathy isn't approval of their behavior or liking someone, it's understanding them, maybe predicting their actions because you have learned their motivation. If we're talking about a supernatural being like a demon here, you have a chance to characterize why what's evil to us isn't to them. Plenty of evil happening in the world right now that the perpetrators think is doing good; dichotomies like what you're depicting make it clearer why we should prevent these things from developing. With this in mind, making your demon one-dimensional (for instance) would be a crime. <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/Writer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Writer</a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/Author" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Author</a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writersOfMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#writersOfMastodon</a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/WritingCommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingCommunity</a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/WritingAdvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingAdvice</a>

MKMartinElement 11 – The OrdealAnd now, the moment we've all been waiting for: The CLIMAX! Also known as the Ordeal. <a href="https://writing.exchange/tags/WritingAdvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingAdvice</a> <a href="https://writing.exchange/tags/AmWriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#AmWriting</a><a href="http://mkmartinwriter.com/2025/05/21/element-11-the-ordeal/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">http://mkmartinwriter.com/2025/05/21/element-11-the-ordeal/</a>

ZumbadorSo far I've written feedback of 172 short stories on the Writing Battle contest. In case it's helpful, the most common issues I've found are:Using coincidence to solve story problems. Coincidences that make things more difficult for the main character are more satisfying and believable than coincidences that solve the main character's problems.A total twist surprise ending with no foreshadowing. Surprise is overrated. Creating anticipation is better, even if the reader is not sure what's going to happen until the twist hits. A main character who only reacts, and doesn't take initiative at all. This is disappointing even in a violent and action packed story. Over use of filter words like "she saw" and "I felt". Those can usually be left out to make the experience more impactful for the reader. Just say what she saw, or what you felt.And of course, too much exposition. Show what's happening, and trust your reader to join the dots. <a href="https://mefi.social/tags/WritingAdvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingAdvice</a>

EliotCould you use some help meeting your particular writing goals? Do support, creative joy, play, and care sound good? Join the amazing Beth Wright and me for 8 weeks of group coaching and writing community. All genres, small group size, with early bird pricing available through 5/27.<a href="https://www.eliotwesteditorial.com/writing-group.html" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.eliotwesteditorial.com/writing-group.html</a><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/edibuddies" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@edibuddies</a> <a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/writers" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@writers</a> <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/WritingCommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingCommunity</a> <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/WritingAdvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingAdvice</a> <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/WritersLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritersLife</a>

GeorgeLThomasSubtext <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/WritingCommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingCommunity</a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/WriterCommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WriterCommunity</a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/AmWriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#AmWriting</a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/Subtext" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Subtext</a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/Symbolism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Symbolism</a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/WritingTips" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingTips</a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/WritingAdvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingAdvice</a><a href="http://georgelthomas.com/2025/04/29/subtext/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">http://georgelthomas.com/2025/04/29/subtext/</a>

Amalia Zeichnerin<a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/writingcommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#writingcommunity</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/writingadvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#writingadvice</a>Recommendable advice about writing that first page which can be so difficult. 20 minute video: "First Page MISTAKES New Writers Make ❌ avoid these cringey clichés!" by Abbie Emmons <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5zfaSI18xI" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5zfaSI18xI</a>I can generally recommend Abbie's channel, she has a lot of good advice, does "Write With Me" streams and more.

EliotNew newsletter is on its way! Sign up for Process & Product if you like writing-related joy, tips based in values of inclusion and self-kindness, and/or corgis. <a href="https://process-and-product.beehiiv.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://process-and-product.beehiiv.com/subscribe</a><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/edibuddies" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@edibuddies</a>, <a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/writers" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@writers</a>, <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/Writing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Writing</a>, <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/Editing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Editing</a>, <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/WritingAdvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingAdvice</a>, <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/WritingCraft" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingCraft</a>, <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/QueerWriters" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#QueerWriters</a>, <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/Romancelandia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Romancelandia</a>, <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/FictionWriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#FictionWriting</a>, <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/SelfPublishing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#SelfPublishing</a>, <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/InclusiveLanguage" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#InclusiveLanguage</a>, <a href="https://romancelandia.club/tags/ConsciousLanguage" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#ConsciousLanguage</a>

IndieAuthors.Social NewsThe Fallacy of “Show, Don’t Tell” in WritingAuthor and writing coach Colleen Patrick discusses the fallacy of the very common refrain of "show, don't tell" in writing. The post The Fallacy of “Show, Don’t Tell” in Writing appeared first on Writer's Digest. <a href="https://www.writersdigest.com/the-fallacy-of-show-dont-tell-in-writing" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">https://www.writersdigest.com/the-fallacy-of-show-dont-tell-in-writing</a><a href="https://indieauthors.social/tags/WriteBetterFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WriteBetterFiction</a> <a href="https://indieauthors.social/tags/WritingTechniques" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingTechniques</a> <a href="https://indieauthors.social/tags/writingadvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#writingadvice</a> <a href="https://indieauthors.social/tags/writingrules" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#writingrules</a> <a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/indieauthors" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@indieauthors</a>

Amalia Zeichnerin<a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/writingcommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#writingcommunity</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/writingadvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#writingadvice</a> If you want to write <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/fantasy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#fantasy</a> with <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/witches" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#witches</a>, please do not call them <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Wicca" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Wicca</a>, unless they are actually intended to be Wiccan and you have knowledge about Wicca.Not all witches are Wiccan. Not all Wiccans are witches. And not all witches want to become Wiccans. Wicca is also not the same as witchcraft, but a pagan religion with a god and a goddess. So better don't call your fantasy witches Wiccans. You are not doing real life Wiccans a favour if you do.

Amalia Zeichnerin<a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/writingadvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#writingadvice</a> ... I do not agree with. I have been publishing books since 2015 and I am chronically ill. So it is impossible for me to write every day. And I sometimes also just need a break from writing. However, I managed to publish 36 books so far (novellas, novels, a book with essays and one with short stories). If someone tells you that you need to write every day, see for yourself if that is a good advice for you or rather not.<a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/writingcommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#writingcommunity</a>

Kem HerkesToday's example in how I'm a Minority Report when it comes to <a href="https://wandering.shop/tags/WritingAdvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingAdvice</a>. Coworking & body-doubling are game-changers for many <a href="https://wandering.shop/tags/ADHD" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#ADHD</a> creatives, but MY brain refuses to relax into creative flow when most other humans are around. Even if we're all good friends & supposed to be working silently on our own, MY brain worries they *might* need to interact & stays anchored. If that's you too, pls know you aren't alone.I treasure the few frenz I can ignore enough to work around, lol.

RS, Author, Novelist, ProsaistOne thing that watching <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/anime" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#anime</a> has taught me, and I've breezed past 200 series at this point, none of my story ideas are close to unique. Every plot has been done a dozen times. It's the characters and how they combine with plot that matters, with the focused message we insert to be read between the lines being the thing that brings the light to the darkness. It's all that matters—other than not plagiarizing. If you are at all worried about uniqueness, stop. Hit your forehead with the heel of your palm. Sit. Write the dang thing until done. Then write something else. <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/WritingAdvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingAdvice</a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/Writer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Writer</a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/Author" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Author</a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/WritersOfMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritersOfMastodon</a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/WritingCommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingCommunity</a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/plot" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#plot</a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#writing</a>

Kat Kimbriel“Show, don’t tell.” “Murder your darlings.” “Write every day.” Certain pieces of advice are widespread in the writing community -- but what do they really mean? Award-winning author <a href="https://wandering.shop/@swan_tower" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@swan_tower</a> tackles these old saws, dissecting each one to see what purpose it might serve . . . and when you should toss it aside.<a href="https://raggedfeathers.com/tags/nonfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#nonfiction</a> <a href="https://raggedfeathers.com/tags/WritingAdvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingAdvice</a> <a href="https://raggedfeathers.com/tags/instruction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#instruction</a> <a href="https://raggedfeathers.com/tags/how" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#how</a>-to <a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/bookstodon" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@bookstodon</a> <a href="https://raggedfeathers.com/tags/bookstodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#bookstodon</a> <a href="https://raggedfeathers.com/tags/books" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#books</a> <a href="https://raggedfeathers.com/tags/bookViewCafe" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#bookViewCafe</a> LINK: <a href="https://bookviewcafe.com/bvc-announces-the-writers-little-book-of-platitudes-by-marie-brennan/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">https://bookviewcafe.com/bvc-announces-the-writers-little-book-of-platitudes-by-marie-brennan/</a>

ZumbadorThis is the talk I did on Sunday for the "Write Your Own Way" Summit. This is about how to use the techniques of Compassions Focussed Therapy to deal with getting blocked or stuck with your fiction writing. There's a focus on what works for neurodivergent people, but it's applicable to any writer. 35 minutes long<a href="https://mefi.social/tags/Writing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Writing</a> <a href="https://mefi.social/tags/WritingAdvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingAdvice</a> <a href="https://mefi.social/tags/ActuallyAutistic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#ActuallyAutistic</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC7kX3VYH14" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC7kX3VYH14</a>

ZumbadorJust a reminder that my talk on getting your writing process unstuck using the techniques of compassion focused therapy is happening today 😊I'm one of the speakers at a free 4 day virtual event called **The Write Your Own Way Summit: Forge Your Unique Magic**. My topic is "*Getting Unstuck: A Compassion Centered Approach to Writing Difficulties*" with a focus on neurodivergence. It takes place on 3pm EST on the 2nd of February. **Write Your Own Way** is an event that celebrates the diverse, personal, and uniquely creative paths that writers take to to produce their best work. Join Us for Write Your Own Way Here! (affiliate link) <a href="https://summit.writeyourownway.com/?sc=jk6Mtl61&ac=3baUA7h5" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">https://summit.writeyourownway.com/?sc=jk6Mtl61&ac=3baUA7h5</a>There’s an option to upgrade to the All Access Pass, which will give you access to the Summit recordings plus additional bonuses from the Summit speakers. (If you do decide to upgrade your ticket, I do receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.)<a href="https://mefi.social/tags/WritingCommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingCommunity</a> <a href="https://mefi.social/tags/WritingAdvice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WritingAdvice</a> <a href="https://mefi.social/tags/ActuallyAutistic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#ActuallyAutistic</a>

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