Talk about writing unironically, vent about other writing forums, or discuss whatever you like here.
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Also, you can post links to your writing here, if you really want to. But only here! This is the only place in the subreddit where self-promotion is permitted.
I finally completed my short story! Wrote it a little over a week and it's over 10k words!
Finally said fuck it, I don't care anymore and put hot anime elves into my story. I'd already put hot anime dragon people in (basically the Au Ra from FF XIV but with a bit less dragon in them, idk I think I just wanted an excuse to give people horns and different colored hair) and now I got to shove these fuckers in.
It's 90% a space opera, it shouldn't be hard but naturally my dumbass originally didn't want to bother too hard with aliens and handwaved the whole humans make up most of the civilized galaxy aspect and now I have to retrofit like 5 years of world building after that to make these damn elves work.
Darn you hot women, I'll never forgive my fetishes for this setback.
Writing is just a way to force other people to experience your fetishes, so it's all good.
I HAVE A DEADLINE AT NEW YEARS EVE, AND I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA DIIIIIIEEEEEE
I guess I should be happy somebody wants to publish my book, but the thing is, I needed to work all Christmas because I need money to idk survive, buy things I need or don't, etc. etc. And now my brain is fried and I need to edit 100 pages and write an additional chapter, and it's an urban fantasy mystery horror comedy with a gazillion people in it and I don't care if anybody read this rant, I feel kinda better now.
https://preview.redd.it/2dx2jpof0i9g1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34c8c715020c6354de71fe30af0d205ec9b584e6
The duality of the feeding ground
Help, I need someone to gossip about dumb Age of Scorpius shit with me because my writing friends aren't online enough to care! After whining about being doxxed (because he posted his own real name more than once accidentally and people noticed) and promising all the people who preordered the special paperback that they'd be getting the 2nd edition that he's totally working on instead of the 1st edition that he never shipped, the author has released a new book of poetry with his legal lastname on it. And he promoted it using his socials under his pen name.
I can't get over how bad at PR this guy is. When you've got money from people who are waiting for a book that they were supposed to recieve two months ago, releasing anything else is a dumb move! And intentionally putting your legal lastname on blast after crying about being worried for your safety because a few people knew it? Come on.
Revisited an scp idea I had in early 2019 and really enjoyed rewriting it. Almost makes me want to do a few more, but I'm so scared of trying to actually get anything put up on the wiki lmao
Chat should I coldpost
Part of my ritual for my current project is going on a morning walk and listening to my playlist for the time period it's about. I do a lot of thinking, sometimes plotting, take notes on my phone. Then when I get back I'm pretty focused and can knock out several hundred words.
But now I've noticed if I don't go on that walk then my productivity is shit for the entire day. I didn't go on my walk a couple days ago and wrote 25 words.
I guess I'm not really complaining, since it keeps me on my feet, but it would be nice if I could just sit down and focus at my desk without thinking about how I could totally be playing Elden Ring instead.
Has anyone noticed an influx of non-jerkers flowing in from the non jerk subs? And not getting what they’re supposed to be like over here?
Sometimes they write something incredibly stupid and get redirected here, but don't understand why.
I know they don’t mean much, but I’m a finalist in a screenwriting competition for a pilot I based on my first self published novel. Whether I win or not, I still won’t have any idea how to get it to people who matter, but I actually like screenwriting and am satisfied with how the pilot turned out. It’s like getting a second chance and I can tweak things that I wasn’t satisfied with before.
That's brilliant. Be proud of yourself well done
I finally finished my novel...again. I think this is the fifth draft. Been writing it for the last 2 years now and I'm kind of sick of it. Sent it to a friend to read and give feedback on. Just going to make some minor changes before sending it out to publishers. I don't want to rewrite it again or spend anymore time on it.
Began a short story a few days after finishing the novel. Wrote 2k words in one sitting and have been writing it in a steady pace ever since. Don't expect it to go above 10k words.
Jesus five times? I can’t write ONE finished anything. I mean I do revise to death too but man. What an accomplishment congrats!
They weren't five finished drafts lol. Drafts 1-3 were given up half way each time and I completely started over. Draft 4 was the first complete and finished one, but I didn't like it either. Had to do too many revisions. Now we're on draft 5, which hopefully will be the last one.
Think there's a decent market for fantasy legal writing? Demonic contracts, insurance policies for magical weapons, a code of regulations, etc.
Want to quit my boring, hard job as an accountant and write for a living.
Fabulous idea. I feel like fantasy-themed family law could actually take off.
Fantasy themed prenups!!!
Sounds like excellent satire if you handle it right.
Much is satire, and plenty of jokes in the code of regulations, but much if it reads like an actual code of regulations. Wanted it to resemble the IRC as much as possible.
I finished reading an entire book for the first time in years the other day, which is a huge accomplishment for me. My goal is to read at least 10 books in 2026
I feel like—and maybe I’m wrong this is just what I’ve observed in my non reading loved ones—that people maybe pressure themselves to read something Good and Worthwhile. Esp if it’s gonna be one of the few books they read.
Maybe this isn’t you, but I encourage everyone to read whatever hot garbage looks good and fun to them and work their way up to literary fiction —or not.
I totally agree. No shame in reading what you enjoy, whether that YA, literary, or straight fanfiction!
Or porn! Not that I do! But it would be ok! Right?!
I used to read books almost constantly but over the last few years I've struggled to read much that wasn't the same few 'comfort read' series I've already read multiple times since I was a kid.
I am close to finishing reading a fantasy trilogy I hadn't read before, so now I need to figure out what to read next. I have several unread books but none of them grab me (kind of like when you stand in front of the pantry or fridge, not knowing what exactly you want to eat but knowing that it's nothing you currently have in the house).
Nice one! I want to try and read more in 2026, feel like I’ve spent so much time editing this year that I haven’t had much headspace for reading, and I miss getting absorbed in a book.
Anybody here frequent the SCP Wiki???
What is it?
I lurk in the subreddit sometimes but I've never felt I had a grasp of what was going on.
How the fuck does everyone else plot so well? I know in general what I want to happen,and numerous important scenes, if I can never figure out what scenes I need in between those. And it kills me, because I'm confident that if I can finish this damn book, people will buy it.
I struggle with plotting myself. Currently I've been following the 3 act structure- deciding the ending first, then the midpoint, then the first and third plot points after that. Then I kinda discovery write in between those moments, its easier because I know where its heading and what I'm aiming for.
What I do is follow an act structure and plot along that, but I leave the last two acts open. I usually use 4AS, so that means I plot up until the midpoint, and maybe the second pinch point if I have a strong idea. Then you can see all the space you have open and think of what would be good connective tissue.
I tend to come up with ideas for awesome or important scenes and then work backwards from there to figure out what needs to happen in order for those scenes to occur. Most of the time I'm able to fill things in leading up to it so it has some real impact. Occasionally I just can't make it work (either because the characters have developed in such a way that they just wouldn't take the required actions/respond in the way required for them to end up in this situation or because there are other plot holes/inconsistencies) and in those cases I will shelve that scene. Not delete it entirely, but just remove it from the novel document and set it aside in my ideas document, where it may get reused later.
I see planned scenes as lighthouses rather than the skeleton -- they guide the book rather than being the book. I lean in more to literary fiction tropes for the book itself -- exploring characters, relationship dynamics, conflicts, theme. Often mystery as well. The major events are there to concentrate those plot threads and the rest of the book gives them meaning.
I have this problem too. Put on a percentage (of novel completed) basis:
0-15%: I got this part letter-perfect
15-24%: ????
25%: that thing happens here
26 - 50%: ?????, flesh out Zay's backstory....????
50-60%: thank goodness I got to this part
60-75%: People move around, I guess?
75-100%: Rock solid
I’m currently brainstorming about something I would like to create. Basically, it’s like those Slice of Life anime’s but with no illustrations. I don’t know if there was a better way to say it in literary terms, but it’s part slow burn romance, part modern day non fantasy or sci fi fiction. If this seems out of place here, I apologize ahead of time.
Would probably be called 'cozy' or just slice of life
I'm really feeling like LitRPG/progression fantasy and game-centric media is next up in terms of absolutely blowing up. I'm diving into it, and while not exactly challenging, I think it opens up a lot of really interesting and fresh ways to tell stories and show progression.
The main reason why I think it's primed to blow up is because it (in my opinion) feels like an evolution in storytelling efficiency. Progression, motives, and the impact of events are made super clear while not being unbelievable. What ends up coming out of it is a story that, if done right, is much more accessible and has stronger hooks.
At present the genre is still in it's infancy, but I think over the next few years we're going to see more and more coming from this.
Edit:
I've also been hitting my goal of 2k words/day. I thought it'd be difficult but it's actually been super easy. I should be able to publish my first series by the end of January at this rate.
What is that? I want it to be like group choose your own adventure combined with cosplaying IRL
Anyone else find that all the writing subs just make you feel alienated from the rest of the (supposed) writing community?
Romance and fantasy are my two least favorite genres. It's just a personal preference but...still.
Trauma-laden protagonists and books with a Very Serious Point all have a time and place, but sometimes I just want a good story, told well. No more, no less. All the subs are either laughably immature questions or people who need nine genre modifiers to describe their book.
I don't know, I guess I just feel lost. Anyway, how do you guys feel about this map I drew?
As someone who doesn’t really write in those genres, I think the reason why so many people are writing in them is because those are the genres most people are reading right now.
If you like romance and fantasy, you’ll love Romantasy. Which I picture as some kind of cottage core furry porn actually. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Jk. I can’t stand either genre either. I hated Harry Potter from the time it came out, paranormal romance especially makes me want to murder a vampire, and the “worldbuilding” people do… ugh. I feel like all culture has been affected badly by the ubiquity of video games, anime, and fan culture.
But I am old and crotchety. Get off my lawn you damn kids.
Exactly. When I really want to make myself feel like it's hopeless, I go over to PubTips and read what's currently getting agent and publisher interest.
I've been learning to trust my gut feeling on things. At various times I've attempted to add new characters, plot points and scenes that, despite my efforts, just feel off. On paper they work, but there's something about them that just feels wrong. I'll have a sense of distaste towards a character who's supposed to be good or at least neutral, and often I'll forget to even write them, and when I do it's usually with a degree of resignation. So it's a good feeling to recognise this and go "yeah, buddy, no-one likes you. Cut. At most you *might* be a footnote in someone's backstory*"
On the flipside there's times when a big idea will hit me out of nowhere that's a signiciant twist in the plot or character relationships, and though my gut feeling says "this is really good" I don't know if I'm prepared to go through with it. They're things that can have major impacts on a story and characters, so I need to spend time dwelling on them to decicide if I'm ready to write those changes
I've asked this before in other versions of this thread, but I'm always interested in the answer: how do you organize your writing 'sessions'?
I almost always get my daily work done in one block, unless work or family interrupts me while the iron's hot and I get back to it later. In the past, I wouldn't even try to come back and write later in the day, but I'm wondering if that fatigue of that is self-imposed. My first draft is nearing its end and I'm obsessed with it all day, even after writing, so I've been thinking of sitting down for another session later in the afternoon.
I drink two servings of coffee a day (like 3 cups per serving). My first serving is life demands/work/games on the weekend. The second is always when I start writing.
I try to knock out at least an item on my list for the current scene or chapter. If I can't, or if I feel like I'm forcing it out, then I'll switch to plotting or something like that. As long as I do something.
It's usually in one block as soon as the sun sets. Occasionally I'll start writing earlier in the day, and will either finish up for the day there or take a break and get back to it later.
I basically just write until I can't anymore--either because of schedule demands or because I'm tired. It's sort of become my main focus of the day. If I'm not at my job I'm writing. It's...honestly probably not healthy, lol. But I suppose it's not much different from how a lot of people are with video games. It's the thing I like to do best, so it's the thing I try to do as much as I can.
I got another submission rejection, and the new job fell through, so I'm feeling pretty down.
TO FOCUS ON THE GOOD THINGS, my one year anniversary of sobriety was this weekend, and my bodycam project went live and I've gotten some good responses on it (from my friends, but still....) If anyone cares to read it, feel free. I'm gonna try doing more for it this week with my free time, but also want to kind of let it sit for a little bit to not influence my memory of the events.
Good job on 1 year sober! I’m gonna go check out your project. But wanted to say first that I too am unreasonably unemployed. And the only reason I’m not getting rejections is cos I’m not submitting. Ok. That is all. Congrats again.
It may be hard out here, but at least we're all in this together. haha