Writer's Essentials You Should Carry with You this Summer

Chances are, if you're a writer, you're jumping at the prospect of summer and beside yourself with joy that you'll have so much more time to write now! Or maybe you're bemoaning the fact that your summer just filled up with barbecues and social events and vacations, and now you won't have ANY time to write.

Well, don't start crying or binge-watching Netflix yet, because I'm going to show you how you can still write this summer even if you're busy, and what kind of things you should carry with you to make that happen.

First of all, let's get something out of the way. You might be thinking, "But, I never have any free time! How am I supposed to keep up with writing when I never stop moving?"
Good question. Here's the answer: You always have time.

Oh, don't give me that blank stare, you know what I mean. The hours you spend on Facebook and YouTube? Excellent writing time. All those shows that you HAVE to keep up with? Also great writing time. Taking a five-hour plane ride to visit relatives? Get writing! Waiting at the gas station or in line at the bank? Perfect opportunity. And while you may argue, "How do I write on the go when I don't carry a notebook with me?"
Also a valid question, to which I would say "Carry a notebook anyway." If you don't prefer that, you have your phone... use it to take notes!

The bottom line is, if we (yes, I included myself in that statement) want to get better at writing, we need to be proactive about MAKING time to write. And if you can't make time... then just hop in your TARDIS and rewind your day. Or have Barry Allen change the timeline for you. (JK, please don't ask Barry to do that, he's already messed up enough.)

And, moving on to the specifics of helpful writer's things to carry with you...

Items to Have in Your Bag

1. A good book
I don't know about you, but there's little else quite as satisfying as sprawling outside on the grass in the shade of a tree, reading your favorite book. And even if you're so busy you barely have time to SIT DOWN, much less read, you can still do that! Just carry one with you in your bag and take it out on the go or when you have some time to kill. Plus, it beats playing Candy Crush on your phone any day. Just, please don't read in your car. That could be disastrous.

2. Your phone and earbuds
When used as an item for writing, the smartphone has several functions, which includes, but is not limited to:
*Taking notes
*Recording audios and lines of dialogue
*Googling something for research purposes
*Taking pictures if you see something cool or inspirational
*Listening to music
(And no, it's not for playing games when you get bored, you dollop-head.)

3. Your laptop and extra USB drives
Now, it may be hard to carry around a laptop in your purse (unless your purse is the literal Time Vortex), so this isn't exactly necessary. However, if you're venturing out with the sole purpose of writing somewhere that isn't your house (and if you do so, I applaud you), then the laptop is not only necessary, but required. Unless...

4. A notebook
...unless you're one of those writers who likes jotting things down on paper rather than typing, in which case a notebook would be ideal. A notebook is easier to cart around, so that's a plus. You may also find notebooks handier to map out backstory, chapters and story-lines with, rather than having your plot scattered on different documents on your laptop.

5. Pens and pencils (colored or plain)
These are obvious writing tools, but some people prefer one over another. I like pens (especially blue ink) because the pen writes more smoothly. But, if you're constantly rethinking and erasing, pencils may work better. And if you're an artistic person who likes to draw their characters, then colored pencils are great! You'd also need a sketchpad if you're going to sketch out portraits or your fantasy-world map.

6. A snack and water
Because writers get hungry too! (And there's nothing worse than being hungry when you're writing.)

7. A bag, obviously
Literally any type of bag will do... designer purse, backpack, satchel, book bag... whatever is the most comfortable for you!


 So now that you know the essentials... time to be adventurous and get out there! Find a quiet spot to think and relax (or a noisy spot if you like that better) and just start writing. You'll never write if you don't start somewhere.


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More Types of Female Action Characters (Part 2)

Continuing on from my previous post, here are some more examples of how you can debunk these cliche characters. Enjoy!

Cliche:

7. The Mechanic Gal 

This is the woman who is surprisingly good at fixing cars and machinery and puts the male protagonist's skills to shame. She usually wears cargo shorts and a tank top and puts her hair in a ponytail.

Solution:

This is one of the better ones, but... I think it could still be improved. How about the woman who's not afraid to get dirty no matter what she's wearing? Or maybe she works a day job at a salon giving manicures and carries an extra wrench or two in her purse, just in case, then works on cars at night, giving free tune-ups to people who can't afford it. Remember, don't be afraid to ditch the normal. 

Cliche:

8. The Alien Chick

She's the super hot, serious alien girl with sick powers. Her parents abandoned her when she was little, and she therefore feels like an outcast. Most likely lives on her own and has no friends. There are very few limits to her physical abilities and she never wants help from anyone, especially the male protagonist. 

Solution: 

I would say make her human, but if she's alien, then that may not work so well. Okay, well, aliens have feelings, too. And if you're going to make her have powers, just... pick something obscure. We kinda don't need any more characters with super speed or super strength or anything with the word super in front of it. I'll be doing a post later about some cool, unique powers for your superhero- I mean, genetically enhanced persons. 

Cliche:

9. The Wise Matron

The all-knowing, always-right older lady who walks with a cane or visible limp and provides advice to the younger females about which man they should inevitably marry. Oh, and some advice about saving the world, too.

Solution:

Yes, this woman should be a mentor, but don't expect her to have all the answers. Just because she's old, doesn't mean she knows everything. But I honestly love older females because they're so. Freaking. Awesome. Who doesn't love a woman who looks like their grandma, can bake cookies like nothing you've ever seen, and handles kids like a pro? (And I'm still waiting for Rick Riordan to write a book about an old granny who goes on a quest armed with her knitting needles and an uptight teen who makes sure she takes all her pills on time.)

Cliche:

10. The Shy Damsel

She's bashful and comes across as terrified and helpless in the beginning, but later breaks out some mad skills that end up saving everyone's hides. Presumably, she is also liked by the male protagonist, feels grossly unqualified and unattractive, and constantly undermines her talents.

Solution: 

First of all... I just wanna slap these characters and say "GURL, you are not worthless!" Plus, these kinds of characters can be tiresome to read after awhile if they're constantly doubting their worth, despite their friends telling them they're not. And for Pete's sake, don't have them saying "I'm not pretty enough." PLEASE. Give them self-confidence in one area or several; like, they're perfectly fine with their singing abilities or how they look, but they're not sure about their crime-fighting skills, or they don't think they could help in the medical ward because they hate blood. Substance is everything. 

Cliche:

11. The Silent Asian Woman

This is the female who knows martial arts down to a T; karate, kung fu, judo, you name it. Also painfully serious, almost never smiles, and has had a bad background... we think. Nobody really knows her history. Yep. Agent May much?

Solution:

Nowadays, when I see this one, I just cringe because it's so worn out. Seriously, Asian women aren't the only people who know martial arts. How about an African-American woman who does kickboxing, or a Brazilian who excels in jiujitsu? There are many ways to get around this one, you just have to look for them. (This doesn't negate the fact that Agent May is still awesome.)

Cliche:

12. The Brooding Spy 

Key word here: overused. Need I say more?

OK, if you insist. These are the female characters who used to be cool in the beginning, but now they just grate on our nerves. They don't appear to care about anybody, because they've cared too much in the past, and this makes them hard and callous. They just have too much angst and stuff, and for some reason, they choose to go around humorless until someone asks them what's wrong, and they reply with "Nothing." 

Solution:

Really? I understand that people deal with pain differently, but I'm pretty sure that women spies are bound to spill their secrets sometime, preferably to their female bestie who they can depend on to lend a shoulder when things get tough. (This is also a great way to bypass the whole love dynamic with the male protagonist, if you were wondering.) 

Let me just say something right off the bat... spies do NOT have to be brooding and sarcastic and poker-faced. Let them laugh, for goodness' sakes! They're people, too. They should be allowed to like old typewriters and classic movies and blanket forts and Frank Sinatra and tacos and karaoke in the car and Star Wars and summer nights and cooking breakfast and just general normal people stuff. Create a spy who knocks out bad-guys to the tune of Death of a Bachelor, despises skinny jeans and glides around in long skirts, wears pink whenever possible, and drinks hot tea in almost unhealthy amounts. See? The options are endless; it's really not that hard to use your imagination. 

So there you have it! I hope you enjoyed that post as much as I enjoyed writing it. Now I'm gonna have to start a new story because I'm getting so much character inspiration. #sorrynotsorry

Here's Sam saying Po-tay-toes for the long post.

Farewell till next time!

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Types of Female Action Characters (And How to Avoid Making Them Cliché) Part 1

We all know from watching action/adventure movies that the female characters in them seem to fit into at least one of two categories: either weak and helpless, cowering in a corner and sobbing because they're scared, or out there with the rest of the guys saving the world and looking totally awesome while they're at it.

Hold up. I mean, I love action movies just like anyone else, but can't we be a little more creative? Don't the characters deserve more than just cliché personalities? I think we could do better. 

First, I'm going to outline ten six types of female characters commonly used in movies and TV shows, and then give you a few parallel examples of what you could do to twist that in writing the female makeup and mindset. (And no, I don't mean the makeup that goes on your face.) 

Cliche:

1. The Flawless Babe

Despite the fact that she is living in an apocalypse, complete with a dictatorial government and some kind of widespread epidemic, she somehow manages to never grow armpit or leg hair or have periods. Like ever. 

Solution:

Have her be real. She's human; humans have body hair and body odor and a lot of other disgusting things. Make her be weirded out about her hairy man's legs because she hasn't shaved in like, two months. Go ahead and have her go on a rant because her period came at a totally inconvenient time. Just make sure not to have her be too fickle or inconsistent; that's no fun watching or reading. 

Cliche:

2. The Healing Female

The magical, soothing woman who can cure any of the male protagonist's ailments by gently putting a wet cloth on his forehead, even if he has a broken leg. 

Solution:

Just... no. It's perfectly alright to have your female character be nurturing and caring, but... give it a little more substance. (Helpful hint: the injured guy she's tending to does NOT need to be her love interest. How about if they're just good friends? I know, I can hear your gasps of disbelief.) It would also be cool if she wasn't afraid of inflicting pain in the name of doctoring and keeps a calm, level head in the midst of all the stress. (Or, you can have her stress out just a little. She's human, remember?) 

Cliche:

3. The Boss Lady

She's the only female in her FBI or CIA unit, and is consequently the best at everything, squelching her male counterparts in the process. Her closet consists entirely of all-business blazers and high heels sharp enough to stab somebody. (This may or may not reference Peggy Carter, but she obviously doesn't apply to this cliche because she's awesome.)

Solution:

I just feel like this one is really overused, especially by Marvel (although they did a heck of a good job with Peggy). I am certainly not against having a dominant female character, but use in moderation. You can make this cliché really cool if you can rework it into something more believable. 

Cliche:

4. The Invincible Maiden

She's in a galactic war, fighting side by side with a bunch of her alien friends while explosions rain around her, and she only manages to get that attractive little cut across her cheek. Meanwhile, her comrades are blown to pieces, but she presses on, completely unhindered and invincible. 

Solution: 

Obviously, make her get more injuries and let her suffer. (JK, that's not required. But highly encouraged if you want to.) But honestly, there are more cool wounds than just that little cheek slash. Again, she's human. Wouldn't it be super neat if she maybe got a limb blown off and had to get a bionic leg? Now THAT would be cool. 

Cliche: 

5. The Tireless Dame

Her stamina is unparalleled. She can sprint through steaming jungles and across scorching deserts and never break a sweat. And if she does sweat, heaven forbid her sweat look unattractive and run down her face and arms like it's supposed to. 

Solution: 

Make her get a stitch in her side while she's running, and kick her while she's down. Anything to break her; if she gets back up, it will show how resilient she is. 

Cliche:

6. The Mysterious European Lass

She's the foreign woman, preferably an undercover agent, whose sexy accent can never really be identified. French? Romanian? Russian? No one knows. Also, she can kick butt like nobody's business. Looking at you again, Marvel.

Solution:

Make her American. She could be from the Midwest, or the Southern States, or the West Coast. If you don't like America (we got baseball, eagles, and deep fried freedom, ya'll), she could be from Puerto Rico, Belize, the Dominican Republic. To name a few more, Norwegian, Icelandic, Scottish. 

If you wanna really branch out, make her Canadian. I'm positive that she would be the nicest secret agent ever. 

Now, there are actually a lot more than what I have listed here, but since it's pretty long, this will be a two-part post. So look for the next part two weeks from now!


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Really Cool Writing Prompts

First of all, I apologize in advance for missing a week to post. Lame excuse, but it was really busy, and I never got around to doing one.

So, that being said, I may not end up posting every two weeks, but whenever I have the time and motivation. Hopefully. Being a senior in high school is stressful, ya'll.

Anyway, on to more cheerful things! Today I'm just posting some random writing prompts that will get you inspired to write. I honestly love writing prompts. Since there's so many, lots of them will apply to your characters and you can draw awesome ideas from them. Unfortunately, I don't use them as often as I should. Sometimes I really can't get my inner Loki to cooperate.

Dialogue Prompts:

"I haven't had so much fun since I got my tonsils removed."

"Calm down? You have a member of the Secret Service tied up and gagged in your basement, and you want me to CALM DOWN?"

"Kale, hot sauce, and beer? As your father, I'm very disappointed in this diet."

"She said WHAT?"

"Yeah, apparently we're not on the same page."

"The same page? You're not even in the same library!"

"Yuck, what's that awful smell?"

"The smell of your parent's disappointment and unicorn farts."

"You sure you didn't pull a muscle with all that language?"

"Are you even listening to me?"

"Yeah, I'm just trying to figure out how to process so much stupid all at once."

"Oh, everybody hold up! I'm starting to have emotions."

"How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to be completely embarrassed and disgusted by your impromptu dance routine."

"So... I just realized... that I've been shot. Multiple times."

"You can't just waltz up to her and wink conspicuously and rattle off government conspiracy theories and reasons why you hate the NFL and brussel spouts! Women don't go for that sort of thing."

"Watch me."

"Sometimes memories are the worst form of torture."

"I'm going into the woods to scream my lungs out for awhile. Anyone wanna join?"

Random Prompts:

Turn to page 39 of the book nearest to you. Go to the middle paragraph on the page and use the first sentence of that paragraph as your writing prompt.

Take a survey of what some people's greatest fears are and compile a paragraph with all those fears put together.

Write a paragraph from the perspective of someone who is deaf. 

Write a scene using only dialogue, starting with the sentence, "What happened to you?"

Close your eyes and describe in detail the sounds you hear around you, using any descriptive words you can. 

Write a huge historical event from a child's perspective.

Write a short story about a harmless prank that goes awry.

Imagine a scene where someone you know barges through your front door and says, "Whoever comes knocking, I've been here an hour, got it?"

List all the things you wish you'd said.

Start a paragraph with the words, "I knew my childhood was over when..."

In ten words, write the saddest story you can imagine.

Describe someone's eyes without mentioning the color. 

Write about the moment your main character decides to leave the path. 

Perspective Prompts:

They thought I'd forget. But I didn't. I remembered everything.

Out of all the things that might have gone wrong that day, being shoved down the laundry chute was not one of them.

I saw his face in all my dreams, but I knew I'd never met him in real life.

I never could get used to the cage.

I keep all my secrets hidden in the pantry. It's mostly depressing poetry, some croissants when I'm feeling peckish, maybe the occasional wad of counterfeit money. Because you never know when the agency could call, and you want to be ready for anything.

Looking down the flat of her sword, I knew I should be afraid. Terrified, even, of what she could do to me. But as my eyes met hers, the only thing I felt was a wave of relief.

I no longer wanted to fight. 

Our hands met, reaching for the same book.

To say that the wedding was not going as planned would be the understatement of the century. 

I remember how excited I used to get when watching the sunrise. Now all I feel is dread. 

How can you explain the sound of your loved one's heart monitor flatlining, after everything the doctors did to save them?

From a prophecy, you would have expected neat calligraphy on parchment paper, not words that were out of order and scrawled on a wall in a suspicious brownish-red color. 

With an awkward chuckle, he pointed to the mistletoe above my head.

I would have agreed with her, except then we'd both be wrong.

I had never seen so much blood in my life. But I was pretty sure that blood wasn't supposed to be green.

I vomited. I mean, what else are you supposed to do when someone's trying to force-feed you something that looks like moldy sour cream and smells even worse? 

Thanks for bearing with me, guys! Here's a Fitzsimmons gif for the really long post. (Btw, current Fitzsimmons feels.... I can't. Marvel will destroy me.)

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Really Cool Locations You Can Use in Your Book

Whether you're writing a story about a huge inter-galactic war, a sweet romance, or a swashbuckling action-adventure book, location really is everything. Sometimes I think the standard locations in books these days are rather limited - you know, the never-ending suburbs of Chicago, or a vacation house at the beach, or a castle in the forest.

Which are all very well and good... until several people all decide to write about the same location, over and over.

So here's some really neat, diverse locations that are sure to spice up your book.

1. Forests
Now, forests are very common in many fantasy novels and perhaps overused. But, I realized while researching that there isn't just any one kind of forest! It will help add some variety if you specify what type of forest it is...

Pine forest, where the trees are close together and there's a lot of shelter under the trees?

Is it a redwood type forest, where the trees tower into the sky and lots of moss hangs off the branches?

Or maybe an alpine forest, covered in snow and sparse timber?

2. Jungles and rain forests

I also feel like jungles are very under-used. I've hardly ever read about jungles in books, except one. Maybe that's just because I don't read enough. But let's be honest, jungles are really awesome. Who wouldn't want to trek though a hot, steamy environment, slashing through vines with a machete and keeping watch for panthers and snakes and insects that could come flying out at you at any moment? OK, well, maybe not. 

3. Deserts

I don't see deserts a whole lot in books, either. But, there's even variety in those, too. There's the rocky deserts that can be the cold kind...

Or the kind that is made of shifting sand dunes.

4. Grasslands and plains 
Plains could be either lush and grassy, or they could be dry, cold, and barren, a bit like the alpine tundra. Either way, they make great settings for stories. Plateaus are flatter than plains, less rolling, but still ideal places.

5. Oceans, archipelagos and islands
I've always thought the ocean was super cool, if not a bit scary, but islands and reefs make really awesome places for stories. The main character in the book I'm currently writing is from a cluster of islands, and I've had fun playing around with her natural instincts for water and boats. Plus, you get to explore lots of stuff in the ocean... atolls, reefs, beaches, deltas, fjords, harbors, lagoons, and a lot more. Overall, they are on my list of top ten locations in story writing.

6. Mountains
Mountains are always great to have in any kind of story, just because they are so majestic and awe-inspiring. Plus, you can play around with the climate... cold, snowy alps that are treacherous in wintertime; wet, tree-covered ranges that trap in lots of moisture; or dry, barren peaks where almost no life forms can be found.

7. Tundra
Tundra is that weird in-between place where it snows half the year, the soil is permanently frozen, and it has no trees, but it's still very cool, pun intended.

8. Urban cityscape
This is useful when you need a high concentration of people in one area. I don't use it very often, but it will come in handy if one of your characters needs to get lost in a crowd.

9. Towns and villages
What I really like to use is quaint little rustic towns set back in the country where not much happens.

10. Planets

Or, you don't have to use any of my suggestions and just decide to come up with new planets! That's great too. 

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The Do's and Don'ts of Writing Romance in Stories

In honor of Valentine's Day (otherwise known as Single's Awareness Day, for those of us who haven't been so blessed with the presence of a significant other), I decided to do a post about... romance.

I know. Gag.

It's everywhere these days, whether in the form of real-life couples or in countless young adult books. And most of those categorically named "Romance" books have almost no plot and covers of shirtless dudes and bare-legged ladies who have nothing better to do than prance around and display their hotness for all to see. (Double-gag.)

So, being the nice person I am, here's a post about the do's and don'ts of writing romance.

DISCLAIMER: I am by no means an expert on the subject of love, and have never been in a relationship. So that being said, you are completely welcome to *politely* disagree with my point of view. These are just some of the things that I feel could be done better in romance writing.

I understand that certain genres have more romance than others, so this post will mostly discuss writing side romance in stories that have higher stakes, like fantasy, action-adventure, historical fiction, etc. As someone who has a low tolerance for pointless romances where the two main characters ALWAYS hook up because there's literally nothing else to do, you can expect a fair amount of sarcasm ahead. You've been warned.

DO's:

1. DO have your characters be (at least) friends first. This is important if you want to have more than just a superficial relationship between them. Besides, it provides opportunities for some friendly, teasing banter, whereas two people crushing on each other might be offended by a sarcastic comment from the other. Friends are also more likely to stick up for each other, defend their buddy, and have a closer bond than two people who just met, like, three seconds ago.

2. DO have conflict between them. As much as this one may sound like a thing you'd want to avoid, it's not. Couples clash in real life; so why should book characters be any different? Just because they're dating doesn't mean they have to be super lovey-dovey and fake all the time. They are supposed to be people; they're allowed to disagree and have arguments and get mad at each other. That's where the forgiveness and reconciliation comes in. (And I'm not gonna lie, I love emotional conflict in stories.)

3. DO have them go through hard stuff together. What better way to draw your characters closer than by making them suffer? Ehehehe...
Just kidding. You shouldn't purposely do bad things to your characters just for the sake of seeing them suffer or getting a reaction out of your readers. But, in doing so, your characters will find out what their relationship is really made of. If you're writing action/adventure along with the little romance, then obviously that should be the main plot, and the romance should be more of a side thing. Interweaving backstories with a high-stakes plot is also really cool, and makes for some interesting and unexpected twists.

4. DO have them be older than fifteen. I probably covered this in my last post about teenagers, but I'll say it again. Teenage romances are cute, but only when they're done the right way. When they're obsessing over their boyfriend/girlfriend and needing to spend every single moment together, then they just become annoying. I find it more worthwhile to have younger adult characters get into relationships, because they're more likely to stick it out and have more maturity, responsibility, self-control, etc. They're also more likely to stay together and not be so perturbed by hormones and emotions.

5. DO have both the guy and the girl have some character development over the course of the story. One of the most frustrating things to me is reading a book and realizing that the main character never changed emotionally or mentally. I mean, what is the point of the book? That's why you need to have a deeper conflict than just a silly love triangle or two teens going behind their parents' backs because they're convinced they're in love. There are plenty of other motives and problems to write about; don't be afraid to brainstorm or ask real-life couples what some of their struggles were.

 DON'TS:

 1. DON'T make the guy and girl instantly fall in love when they first meet. I'm looking at you, Disney. As much as we all love a good Disney movie, I'm sure you've noticed how popular this is becoming in their franchise. *clears throat* Ahem, Hans and Anna, Jasmine and Aladdin, Cinderella and Prince Charming, and literally every other Disney couple. I mean, it's Disney, so you're completely welcome to slap me across the face and say:

I have a hard time reading books where the guy and girl are instantly attracted to one another just because they happen to be uncommonly pretty or handsome. No. This is NOT a relationship founded on anything solid, it's just about outer appearances.
Now, that's not to say that your character can't think the other is nice to look at. There is nothing wrong with that, just don't base the entire relationship on how hot of a body the other person has.

2. DON'T make everything about their love-life perfect and unattainable. I know that I personally get annoyed when you get on Instagram and see that one picture-perfect couple that just needs to announce to the world how wonderful their significant other is. Every. Single. Time. After awhile, it just gets old. Give me a break, we get that you guys love each other, like, a lot. Just kiss!

A good substitute would be mentioning the little things they do for each other; leaving notes for the other to find, doing the other person's least favorite chore, helping them with cooking, or bringing them food. Or letting them vent on each other after a particularly rough day. Remember, their relationship doesn't have to be bursting fireworks ALL the time for it to be romantic or sweet.

3. DON'T have the guy be a creeper. I've seen this trend more than I would like, and honestly, I don't even understand why it's done. You know, the books where the guy stalks the girl to get to know more about her and ends up being totally creepy in the process? Yeah, those. Don't do that. There's nothing admirable about being a stalker. And no, being a stalker doesn't include hermit fangirls who spend way too much time looking at pictures of Tom Hiddleston and Sebastian Stan on Pinterest.

4. DON'T have them kiss after only a couple weeks of knowing each other. Seriously? No. What's even worse is having them do it because they're bored. Purpose, people. There's more to life than shallow relationships.

5. DON'T have them be physically intimate just to put in shock factor or fill up the slow parts of the plot. This one... just doesn't work, especially if you're writing YA fiction. I personally don't like to read it. I think it just bogs things down, and shows that the teenage characters don't have enough patience and restraint to hold up.
And honestly, I really don't care about how they feel "drawn to each other." I wanna get on with the important part of the story! And teenagers doing the act DOES NOT make things any better. We are writers, and we should have higher standards for our writing than that. Besides, there's enough of that in the TV rom-com drama shows with hot vampire guys and brooding girls with dark pasts; we authors don't need to be exacerbating the topic. *glares at the Twilight series and every other cliche vampire romance novel*

I know it depends heavily in what genre you're writing, but if you're writing YA novels with high-stakes plots and fast-paced action scenes, having your characters run off to have sex isn't going to do anything but slow the book down, and that's something you don't want to do. If they're married, then that may be a different story, but use in moderation. Physical intimacy between a married man and woman is a beautiful thing, but shouldn't be taken lightly. Write with caution.

Also, just a few little things to add...

It's okay if your couple doesn't always get along. They're bound to cross blades sometimes, and besides, they shouldn't be completely compatible anyway, because then there's no diversity and the book becomes boring.

And, it's perfectly alright if they don't kiss. I honestly think this should be more of a trend. I hope that by now, everyone should have seen Rogue One, because this may be a bit of a spoiler. I really liked that they didn't force Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor together. While they certainly could have, they made it more important for them to trust each other first and accomplish their mission. And they never even kissed once, only hugged a few times. *commence ugly crying again*
After watching it, I was shipping them harder than Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers, and that's saying something. It was definitely a nice change from all the movies I've seen recently.
Another great example would be Flynn Ryder and Rapunzel from Tangled. They definitely didn't get along at first, and they were the perfect example of polar opposites, but gradually came together through some harrowing experiences and found that they loved each other.
Aravis and Cor from the Chronicles of Narnia, the Horse and His Boy, was also a good one. While they didn't have a whole lot of development (because C.S. Lewis was too busy ramping up the stakes to bother with teenage drama), it was mentioned that even though they argued and disagreed and got on each other's nerves, they still married when they grew up (key words: "when they grew up") and made a very admirable King and Queen of Archenland.

Overall, romance can be a touchy thing in writing, but as long as you have a good overview of what's appropriate and what's not, and get advice from other writers and friends, you should be good to go.

Or, you could just stay away from romance all together. That's good too.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to binge watch the Flash and Lord of the Rings by myself while eating Cheetos and cupcakes and writing my book. Happy Single's Day, everyone!

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Teenagers in Writing: What You're Doing Wrong

Part two of my last minute double-post, guys. Here we go.

If there's one thing teenagers are good at, it's procrastinating. Whether it be a school report that's due tomorrow, or working on your story versus spending hours on Youtube (don't look at me that way, you know you do it too!), teenagers have a habit of putting things off until the last minute. That's why you need a deadline.

I've been doing more procrastinating than I want to admit, but I finally dragged myself out of the slough of indecisiveness and decided on a certain day on which to write a new blog post. I feel very accomplished, a feeling which is unknown to me *cue the accomplished smile* I will be attempting to stick to posting on Saturdays every other week, because I end up being busier than originally planned. Sort of.

Anyway, back to the subject of teenagers. I can hear you all groaning. But before you decide to unsubscribe, just hear me out. There are many misconceptions about teenagers, a lot of which I have believed, but some of which aren't true at all. I should know because I am a teenager. So let's dive into the complicated world of hormones, acne, and awkwardness, shall we?

Most people automatically assume that teenagers are moody, temperamental, grouchy... oh wait, I'm using the same synonyms. And that may be true... but teenagers are not like that all the time! Most of my friends (the majority of whom are all teenagers), are not that way. At least, not much when I'm around. 

Here are some things that you might be doing wrong if you're writing teenagers into your story. 

1. They're super sarcastic and snarky, and literally every other sentence that comes out of their mouth is some smart remark. 

Nope. Sure, I have some friends who are more sarcastic than maybe they need to be, but that doesn't mean they can't be serious or intentional. If you're writing a sarcastic character, just make sure they have a human side. Don't make them immune to emotion or feelings, because we all have them. Yes, there are some teenagers out there who may be unreasonably derisive just because they feel like it, but there MUST be some reason why they feel the need to respond that way. That paves the way for backstory. 

Pertaining to guys, since they tend to be more sarcastic than their female counterparts, this is a bit different. Hence, COMPETITION AND TESTOSTERONE. When guys are with their squad, they may be unnaturally loud or obnoxious, and they basically try to one-up each other to prove their manliness. A lot. How do I know this? Lots of observation. Buuuttttt.... when they aren't with other guys, they may be the sweetest, nicest, most engaging people you'll meet. Why is this? I have no clue. I'm not a guy. But I have experienced this with several guys I know, so please don't disregard this as information that's too good to be true. And I've heard the same thing many times from my own dad, who was obviously a teenage boy once. Also, writing from a guy's perspective can be challenging. I'll be trying to do a post later about the male POV. 

2. They aren't concerned with anything other than their own sustenance and well-being. Okay. Let's get something straight. Just because we are all humanly self-centered and usually focused on our own happiness, does NOT mean that we (teenagers) don't care about people. Sure, we may act like we don't and send mixed messages, but we really do, as much as we hate to admit it. It's impossible for anyone NOT to care about anything. Sometimes it's a gamble, getting to know someone and sharing your personal lives with each other, but hey... life is short, and we only have so much time on this earth. So make your teenage characters get involved with other emotionally. Have them ask deep questions when bad things threaten to topple their worldview. Put them in situations where they have to confront something painful head-on, because that's life, and life isn't always fun or easy. People clash on many different levels, and so should your characters, or else there won't be any point to the story. 

3. They're super dramatic. I mean, "OMG, my phone just died... what am I supposed to do? Go out and be productive? You're asking way too much!" Or "Uggh! I can't believe you're making me clean my room! This is torture!" Nope. Unless they're extremely spoiled, most teenagers aren't going to express their displeasure so openly. But there are exceptions. Don't be like Sherlock. Or do, whichever suits your fancy.

4. They're confident, sure of themselves, and always know what they're doing, no matter what. It's okay for teenagers to be confident, but most likely, the majority of them will have questioned everything at some point, guys and girls alike. They might put on a brave face, but deep down, they're just as unsure of themselves as any other teenager. Just ask any adult, and I'm sure they will tell you they went through the same thing. If you happen to be writing from first-person perspective, make sure to include your teenage character's uncertainty. Doubt is always there, and manifests itself in different ways, such as measuring up to peers, thinking you're not talented, or second-guessing your abilities.

5. They're always talking about the latest gadgets, movies, TV shows, and anything else relevant to the 21st century. Actually, this one might be somewhat true in this day and age. But that doesn't mean that these topics are always the center of every teen's life. I have a few friends that are old souls, like me, and we enjoy and appreciate old-fashioned things. We also like fangirling over our respective fandoms and setting up Powerpoint presentations on why Loki is a tragic villain. So you have a good balance of both. However, it goes without saying that if you're writing a historical novel, it wouldn't be a great idea to mention cell phones or the newest pop song on the radio. Unless they're time traveling teenagers. THAT would be cool. Instead, you could have the boys talking of joining up with the army or buying their new wagon, and the girls talking about cooking and sewing; whatever trends apply to the time period you're writing in.

6. Teenagers today don't know how to communicate. Now this one tends to come more from the older generations who think that teenagers today aren't as equipped as they were fifty years ago. And that may be true, but you can't generalize every teenager on the planet that way. I have known some very personable, sociable teenagers who interact with the whole spectrum of people and are the epitome of pleasant. A lot of it depends on personality and whether or not they are outgoing. I, for example, would describe myself as an introvert, because I tend to be more shy and I'm not always comfortable talking to people I don't know well. But, I have a job as a front desk clerk at a feed store, and needless to say, it generates a lot of people interaction. When it comes down to it, I'm certain that most teenagers know how to communicate just fine. It's the issue of personality, mood, and a jumble of other things that creates this notion. So don't be afraid to put some diversity in your characters. Have one be a smooth-talker, another can be skilled with words on paper, and another can get nervous while meeting new people.

7. Teens are always rebellious. For the most part, yes, teenagers do tend to test their limits more because they're trying to figure themselves out. There was a stage in my life where I questioned my parents on a lot of levels, mainly because I thought I was quite old enough to decide what I was going to wear that day. And at one point, I wanted to dye my hair and get a tattoo and some other such nonsense. (By the way, that's my version of being rebellious. I've never wanted to sneak out late, mainly because I'm a hermit.) I'm sure that all teenagers have wanted to stand out and be different; some just don't have the motivation to do anything about it. It's definitely okay to have your characters be rebels and want to go against the grain... but don't make it where they ALWAYS want to defy orders, all the time. It's just unrealistic. 

Sorry. I had to put that in there. It's a great movie, though!

8. They're careless. Nope, not always. That was probably spawned from the YOLO trend, but... how many chances do you get to do something crazy fun (and probably stupid?) Not very often. Some teenagers are super uptight about everything, some are in the middle ground, and some really just don't care. There's a wide range of traits to choose from, so don't be afraid to get creative with your characters. Have them work hard to show the older generation that respect and politeness aren't totally lost. 

9. Every teenager is dying to have a boyfriend or girlfriend. Uhhh... no. Lots of teenagers feel that you shouldn't be in a relationship if there isn't some kind of long-term goal. I am one of those people, and that's why I often find it weird (and frankly wrong) that thirteen-year-olds in the sixth grade are dating. Stop. Just, stop. Teenage romances are cute, in the right perspective, but not elementary-school kids constantly Facebooking about how amazing their BF/GF is. Your characters are certainly allowed to be attracted to each other, but please, for the love of everything that is good in this world, don't make the entire book about how they wouldn't be able to live without their significant other. Put some purpose in there, people! Go ahead... write your teenagers who don't want a sweetheart, write about the ones who do, and write about the ones who are perfectly happy either way. 

This is the fun in creating teenage characters with so much diversity! There's so many traits to pick and choose from, and if you do it right, you'll have a non-cliche, inspirational teenage character that people will actually want to read about. 

And it's about time someone wrote a book about the tough old lady taking on a quest instead of the unstable, emotionally vulnerable teenager. I'm looking at you, Rick Riordan.

So there you have it! If you have any requests for me to write on a specific topic, feel free to comment down below!

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Character Profile Outline

Hey ya'll! I'm coming out with a post tomorrow, but I'm bored silly, so here's to my first double post.

Lately I've been trying to do character profiles on my characters because... well, because story characters are just as complex as real-life people. And somehow they just don't seem genuine if you don't give them some small quirks, funny childhood stories, and all that other fun stuff. So here's a generic character profile list to put some ooomph into your characters.

Basic

Full Name:

Nickname: 

Date of Birth: 

Home Country and ethnicity:

Occupation: 

Educational background:

Extensive Knowledge:

Personal Description: 

Beliefs: 

What haunts him (or her):

Worst thing he (she) has ever seen: 

Most beautiful thing they’ve ever seen:

Physical Appearance

Height: Weight:

Eyes: Nose:

Skin: 

Mouth: 

Hair:

Posture:

Hands: 

Scars:

Clothes:

Most striking facial feature:

Most prominent bodily feature:

Most common facial expression:

Personality

Optimistic or pessimistic: 

Displays of affection:

Competitive or Not: 

Impulsive or Cautious:

Biggest Secret: 

What they will stand up for:

What sense they most rely on: 

What quality they most appreciate:

What they would change about themselves:

Greatest strength:

Greatest weakness:

Greatest fear:

Emotion

What makes him (her) laugh:

How he (she) acts when angry:

What makes him (her) cry:

Friends and Family

Big or small:

Older or younger:

Their perception of family:

Siblings:

Past and Future:

What were they like as babies or children? 

Did they grow up rich, poor, or middle-class?

Were they nurtured or neglected?

What is the most offensive thing they ever said?

What is their greatest achievement?

What was their first kiss like?

What is the worst thing they did to someone they loved?

What are their ambitions?

What advice would they give to their younger self?

What smells remind them of their childhood?

What was their childhood ambition?

Strongest childhood memory:

Has anyone ever saved their life?

Love

Do they believe in love at first sight?

How do they behave in a relationship?

Have they ever been in love before?

Conflict

How they respond to threats:

Fight with fists or words:

Choice of weapon:

Where they go when angry:

Who their enemies are and why:

Daily Life

Eating habits:

Sleeping habits:

Style of decor:

Values

What they think is the worst thing done to a human:

Their view of lying:

The last time they lied:

Other

Favorite color:

Favorite foods:

Favorite activity:

Most treasured possession:

Best abilities:

Pet Peeve:

Small Quirks:

The nice thing about character profiles is that you can always add more categories as they pertain to your character. When you're done, you'll have a character unlike any other, I can guarantee that! My personal favorite is the small quirks section. Here's one that I wrote for a rather shy character of mine.

Washes her hands obsessively, talks softly, doesn’t like killing animals, hates when her medicine cabinet is disorganized, is afraid of spiders, bites her lip when in thought

When you have little things that make up important parts of a person's disposition, such as the way someone taps their fingers on the table when they're bored, or the subtle way their eyes change when they're angry, it's easier to picture them while you're reading and overall adds a really cool element to your writing.

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