GUYS, MY LOVELIES!! IM SO EXCITED! I GOT PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS TAKEN OF ME RECENTLY AND ITS SO PRETTY

writing really is just googling synonyms. that's it. just a constant carousel of "I used this word two paragraphs ago, what is another word for this word"

guys i made a commission for an acquaintance and i’m actually so proud of myself. like it feels fairly accurate which is nice cuz i’m usually bad at making stuff feel realistic, tho i try my best. and! its 3260 words- a full 9 pages! i never put this much effort into my schoolwork

and i finally finished it today so i feel kinda relieved ngl (rlly just cuz i got it done in time) but i’m so proud. plus i’m getting about $80 from this. i finally finished another project of mine!

sadly, i don’t think i can publish it- and if i do i’ll have to edit it a bit- but ig we shall see

todays mood:

“sometimes i feel like i’m just like a boat upon a winding river, twisting towards an endless black sea, further and further, drifting away from where i want to be… who i want to be..”

~ wirt, over the garden wall

He does it every year but every time I see it, I want to cry.

“Be curious about what you’re writing about” is not stock Common Writing Advice but it really, really should be. There are a lot of written works that fail due to the authors just being obviously incurious about what they are writing about.

guy i keep randomly remembering a fanfic i started writing a few years back that i’m nowhere near finishing.. i’m debating going along with it and updating it to ao3 but i donno

100 Dialogue Tags You Can Use Instead of “Said”

For the writers struggling to rid themselves of the classic ‘said’. Some are repeated in different categories since they fit multiple ones (but those are counted once so it adds up to 100 new words). 

1. Neutral Tags 

Straightforward and unobtrusive dialogue tags: 

Added, Replied, Stated, Remarked, Responded, Observed, Acknowledged, Commented, Noted, Voiced, Expressed, Shared, Answered, Mentioned, Declared.

2. Questioning Tags 

Curious, interrogative dialogue tags:

Asked, Queried, Wondered, Probed, Inquired, Requested, Pondered, Demanded, Challenged, Interjected, Investigated, Countered, Snapped, Pleaded, Insisted.

3. Emotive Tags 

Emotional dialogue tags:

Exclaimed, Shouted, Sobbed, Whispered, Cried, Hissed, Gasped, Laughed, Screamed, Stammered, Wailed, Murmured, Snarled, Choked, Barked.

4. Descriptive Tags 

Insightful, tonal dialogue tags: 

Muttered, Mumbled, Yelled, Uttered, Roared, Bellowed, Drawled, Spoke, Shrieked, Boomed, Snapped, Groaned, Rasped, Purred, Croaked.

5. Action-Oriented Tags 

Movement-based dialogue tags: 

Announced, Admitted, Interrupted, Joked, Suggested, Offered, Explained, Repeated, Advised, Warned, Agreed, Confirmed, Ordered, Reassured, Stated.

6. Conflict Tags 

Argumentative, defiant dialogue tags:

Argued, Snapped, Retorted, Rebuked, Disputed, Objected, Contested, Barked, Protested, Countered, Growled, Scoffed, Sneered, Challenged, Huffed.

7. Agreement Tags 

Understanding, compliant dialogue tags: 

Agreed, Assented, Nodded, Confirmed, Replied, Conceded, Acknowledged, Accepted, Affirmed, Yielded, Supported, Echoed, Consented, Promised, Concurred.

8. Disagreement Tags 

Resistant, defiant dialogue tags: 

Denied, Disagreed, Refused, Argued, Contradicted, Insisted, Protested, Objected, Rejected, Declined, Countered, Challenged, Snubbed, Dismissed, Rebuked.

9. Confused Tags 

Hesitant, uncertain dialogue tags:

Stammered, Hesitated, Fumbled, Babbled, Mumbled, Faltered, Stumbled, Wondered, Pondered, Stuttered, Blurted, Doubted, Confessed, Vacillated.

10. Surprise Tags

Shock-inducing dialogue tags:

Gasped, Stunned, Exclaimed, Blurted, Wondered, Staggered, Marvelled, Breathed, Recoiled, Jumped, Yelped, Shrieked, Stammered.

Note: everyone is entitled to their own opinion. No I am NOT telling people to abandon said and use these. Yes I understand that said is often good enough, but sometimes you WANT to draw attention to how the character is speaking. If you think adding an action/movement to your dialogue is 'good enough' hate to break it to you but that ruins immersion much more than a casual 'mumbled'. And for the last time: this is just a resource list, CALM DOWN. Hope that covers all the annoyingly redundant replies :)

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!

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I love the tlb fan base on Tumblr bc it's just like me and 8 other people reblogging the same posts

here’s a little drawing i made for my fanfic that i might publish soon :3

it’s a lost boys fanfic that’s just sweet and fluffy cuz i kinda needed that tbh. it’s a paul x reader, with the other boys being mentioned

for anyone interested, i’ll post it on ao3, my account being WoodlandStars13

i hope you enjoy :)

and even if you don’t read it and whatnot, i hope you have a lovely day!