Writing Tools - Blog Posts

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How To Write A Compelling Character Arc 

 A character arc is a measure of how a character changes over time. These arcs are linear, which means they have a start and a conclusion. Character arcs are a significant aspect of any novel as they help clearly translate your character’s struggles and personal developments to your readers. 

Unsure how to write a compelling character arc for your protagonist or other characters? Here are some tips to help you get started! 

Pick A Type Of Arc 

In order to create a compelling and successful character arc, you first need to recognise which type of arc is your character going to experience. Over the years people have developed various character arc types, however, there are three significant types every writer needs to be aware of when plotting their character’s story. 

Positive Character Arcs 

Positive character arcs are simply that—a character arc that results in a positive journey or development. 

A majority of books and movies or other cinematic pieces feature positive character arcs. This is because everyone enjoys a happy ending. An ending that makes you feel fulfilled and excited for the protagonist’s journey, or brings tears to your waterline as you reminisce on how far they’ve come, and how much they deserve this positive ending. 

A positive character arc doesn’t necessarily have to have a ‘’happily ever after’ however it needs to have a happy ending. If a character’s family was assassinated and at the end they get revenge on the antagonist who murdered their loved ones while developing themselves mentally, then that counts as a positive character arc. 

When writing a positive character arc it’s important to keep a few things in mind, such as: 

You need to end on a positive note. Things can be as chaotic as you want it to be, but you need to have a positive ending. Otherwise, you cannot define your character arc as positive. 

Your protagonist needs to develop as a character. Whether that be mentally, emotionally, financially, etc. 

Your protagonist cannot end up where they started. A character arc that ends in a full circle is more of a flat character arc than a positive one. 

Negative Character Arcs

Just like a positive character arc, a negative one is very easy to explain. This is a character arc that is typically used when writing antagonists in the entertainment industry due to the negativity it brings. When writing a negative character arc for a protagonist you run the risk of making your readers feel unsatisfied or creating a ‘bad ending’. 

Some examples of a negative character arc for a protagonist would be if the protagonist dies at the end of the book, or if the protagonists almost achieve their final goal but fail by a small shortcoming. Negative character arcs for a protagonist are usually implemented for the first few books of a series, especially in fantasy books. 

Using a negative character for your antagonist is simple—they fail. The protagonist wins and the villain dies or gets locked up until their final moments. 

When employing a negative character arc for a protagonist, here are some things to keep in mind: 

They shouldn’t end up as a person similar to what they started off as. The point is to corrupt them, ruin them and turn them to the bad side. Perhaps even make them fall victim to the antagonists. 

They can’t or will never achieve their long-term goal. Remember that goal you established at the start of your book? Your protagonist cannot achieve that. Or at least, they will never achieve it due to certain plot developments. 

They lose someone or thing important to them. Negative character arcs for a protagonist are generally triggered due to the loss of someone or thing important to the protagonist. Maybe their mentor is murdered by the government, or their failure to achieve their goals makes them turn evil. 

Flat Character Arcs

Flat character arcs are arcs that essentially lack any sort of arc. They are flat and begin and end with the character as the same type of person. 

These arcs are generally used for side characters, but they can also be used for a protagonist. Think of characters like Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, etc. They go through several trials and tribulations, but even after it all their personality remains the same. 

When writing a flat character arc it’s important to remember that your character cannot undergo any significant personality changes. Your protagonist can undergo such changes during the story, but they need to have a full circle by the end. 

Divide Your Arc Into Short-Term Goals 

Once you’ve decided where you want your character to end up at the end, you now need to know how they will get there. You can achieve this by referring to your long-term goal and then breaking them down into short-term goals. 

The protagonist is supposed to find a hidden jewel at the end of the book and discovers how corrupt their government is. Alright, now break that down into short-term goals that will help your protagonist get to their end goal. 

Group these goals and they will become stages for your book, break them down and you now have chapter outlines to work with. 

Playing with the details of your character arcs can help you easily plan out your book’s plot and set a steady pace. You can also use this as a reference sheet when working on your WIP. 

Take The World Outside Your Protagonist Into Perspective

Once you know the type of character arc you want and how you’re going to write it, it’s important to consider how this arc will impact your world. This includes your side characters as well as the general plot and layout of your world. 

Character Arcs For Side Characters 

It isn’t necessary to have a character arc for every single character, but it is almost impossible for only two characters to have an arc within hundreds of pages. 

Whether it be your protagonist’s mentor or your antagonist’s assistant, it’s important to take their stories and personal development into consideration. How does the story’s plot impact their outlook on the world or their personality? Do any of the minor antagonists turn out to be morally grey? Does one of the smaller protagonists end up betraying the protagonist out of jealousy? 

Remember, your smaller characters are also human. It’s important to take their stories and arcs into consideration so you can create a detailed and comprehensive world. 

A great example of this could be anime characters. Most animes tend to have separate backstories and endings for every character. These backstories and endings don’t have to all be necessarily revealed to your readers, however, as an author you need to know where you’re going with each of your characters. 

Reaction Arcs 

One easy way to implement character arcs for your side characters is by using reaction arcs. I don’t know if this term has already been established, but I personally coined the term to refer to a character arc that is a direct reaction to another character’s arc. 

Maybe your protagonist has a positive character arc and ends up becoming the most successful person in their field of work, but this results in a reaction arc for their best friend who turns bitter and has a negative character arc due to the way the protagonist’s story played out. 

Reaction arcs differ from other arcs due to the fact that they cannot be achieved without establishing another character’s arc first. Following the above example, the best friend cannot become jealous and bitter until your protagonist’s character arc is established. 

I hope this blog on how to write a compelling character arc will help you in your writing journey. Be sure to comment any tips of your own to help your fellow authors prosper, and follow my blog for new blog updates every Monday and Thursday.  

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Haya’s book blog where I post writing and marketing tools for authors every Monday and Thursday. 

Want to learn more about me and my writing journey? Visit my social media pages under the handle @hayatheauthor where I post content about my WIP The Traitor’s Throne and life as a teenage author. 

Copyright © 2022 Haya Sameer, you are not allowed to repost, translate, recreate or redistribute my blog posts or content without prior permission

WEBSITES FOR WRITERS {masterpost}

E.A. Deverell - FREE worksheets (characters, world building, narrator, etc.) and paid courses;

Hiveword - Helps to research any topic to write about (has other resources, too);

BetaBooks - Share your draft with your beta reader (can be more than one), and see where they stopped reading, their comments, etc.;

Charlotte Dillon - Research links;

Writing realistic injuries - The title is pretty self-explanatory: while writing about an injury, take a look at this useful website;

One Stop for Writers - You guys... this website has literally everything we need: a) Description thesaurus collection, b) Character builder, c) Story maps, d) Scene maps & timelines, e) World building surveys, f) Worksheets, f) Tutorials, and much more! Although it has a paid plan ($90/year | $50/6 months | $9/month), you can still get a 2-week FREE trial;

One Stop for Writers Roadmap - It has many tips for you, divided into three different topics: a) How to plan a story, b) How to write a story, c) How to revise a story. The best thing about this? It's FREE!

Story Structure Database - The Story Structure Database is an archive of books and movies, recording all their major plot points;

National Centre for Writing - FREE worksheets and writing courses. Has also paid courses;

Penguin Random House - Has some writing contests and great opportunities;

Crime Reads - Get inspired before writing a crime scene;

The Creative Academy for Writers - "Writers helping writers along every step of the path to publication." It's FREE and has ZOOM writing rooms;

Reedsy - "A trusted place to learn how to successfully publish your book" It has many tips, and tools (generators), contests, prompts lists, etc. FREE;

QueryTracker - Find agents for your books (personally, I've never used this before, but I thought I should feature it here);

Pacemaker - Track your goals (example: Write 50K words - then, everytime you write, you track the number of the words, and it will make a graphic for you with your progress). It's FREE but has a paid plan;

Save the Cat! - The blog of the most known storytelling method. You can find posts, sheets, a software (student discount - 70%), and other things;

I hope this is helpful for you!

(Also, check my gumroad store if you want to!)

How to Write a Character Who Feels Like Throwing Up

When fear, dread, or guilt gets sickening—literally—your character is consumed with a gut-clenching feeling that something is very, very wrong. Here's how to write that emotion using more than the classic "bile rose to the back of their throat".

Start with the Stomach

This isn’t just about discomfort. It’s about a complete rebellion happening inside their body.

Their stomach twists like a knot that keeps pulling tighter

A cold sweat beads on their neck, their palms, their spine

Their insides feel sludgy, like everything they’ve eaten is suddenly unwelcome

They double over, not from pain, but because sitting still feels impossible

Add Sensory Overload

Vomiting isn’t just a stomach reaction—it’s the whole body.

Their mouth goes dry, and then too wet

Their jaw tightens, trying to contain it

A sudden heat blooms in their chest and face, overwhelming

The back of their throat burns—not bile, but the threat of it

Breathing becomes a conscious effort: in, out, shallow, sharp

Emotional Triggers

Nausea doesn’t always need a physical cause. Tie it to emotion for more impact:

Fear: The kind that’s silent and wide-eyed. They’re frozen, too sick to speak.

Guilt: Their hands are cold, but their face is flushed. Every memory plays like a film reel behind their eyes.

Shock: Something just snapped inside. Their body registered it before their brain did.

Ground It in Action

Don’t just describe the nausea—show them reacting to it.

They press a fist to their mouth, pretending it’s a cough

Their knees weaken, and they lean on a wall, pretending it’s just fatigue

They excuse themselves quietly, then collapse in a bathroom stall

They swallow, again and again, like that’ll keep everything down

Let the Consequences Linger

Even if they don’t actually throw up, the aftermath sticks.

A sour taste that won’t leave their mouth.

A pulsing headache

A body that feels hollowed out, shaky, untrustworthy

The shame of nearly losing control in front of someone else

Let Them Be Human

A character feeling like vomiting is vulnerable. It's real. It’s raw. It means they’re overwhelmed in a way they can’t hide. And that makes them relatable. You don’t need melodrama—you need truth. Capture that moment where the world spins, and they don’t know if it’s panic or flu or fear, but all they want is to get out of their own body for a second.

Don't just write the bile. Write the breakdown.

How to Make Your Characters Almost Cry

Tears are powerful, but do you know what's more impactful? The struggle to hold them back. This post is for all your hard-hearted stoic characters who'd never shed a tear before another, and aims to help you make them breakdown realistically.

The Physical Signs of Holding Back Tears

Heavy Eyelids, Heavy Heart Your character's eyelids feel weighted, as if the tears themselves are dragging them down. Their vision blurs—not quite enough to spill over, but enough to remind them of the dam threatening to break.

The Involuntary Sniffle They sniffle, not because their nose is running, but because their body is desperately trying to regulate itself, to suppress the wave of emotion threatening to take over.

Burning Eyes Their eyes sting from the effort of restraint, from the battle between pride and vulnerability. If they try too hard to hold back, the whites of their eyes start turning red, a telltale sign of the tears they've refused to let go.

The Trembling Lips Like a child struggling not to cry, their lips quiver. The shame of it fuels their determination to stay composed, leading them to clench their fists, grip their sleeves, or dig their nails into the nearest surface—anything to regain control.

The Fear of Blinking Closing their eyes means surrender. The second their lashes meet, the memories, the pain, the heartbreak will surge forward, and the tears will follow. So they force themselves to keep staring—at the floor, at a blank wall, at anything that won’t remind them of why they’re breaking.

The Coping Mechanisms: Pretending It’s Fine

A Steady Gaze & A Deep Breath To mask the turmoil, they focus on a neutral object, inhale slowly, and steel themselves. If they can get through this one breath, they can get through the next.

Turning Away to Swipe at Their Eyes When they do need to wipe their eyes, they do it quickly, casually, as if brushing off a speck of dust rather than wiping away the proof of their emotions.

Masking the Pain with a Different Emotion Anger, sarcasm, even laughter—any strong emotion can serve as a shield. A snappy response, a bitter chuckle, a sharp inhale—each is a carefully chosen defence against vulnerability.

Why This Matters

Letting your character fight their tears instead of immediately breaking down makes the scene hit harder. It shows their internal struggle, their resistance, and their need to stay composed even when they’re crumbling.

This is written based off of personal experience as someone who goes through this cycle a lot (emotional vulnerability who?) and some inspo from other books/articles

helpful writing websites

prohintistery — very helpful for finding new words and other writing-related material

thesaurus — you can find antonyms, synonyms, and the meanings of most words here

the color thesaurus — here is a list of a variety of colors and their names

pinterest — helpful for mood boards, designing characters, capturing ideas in images

other words for,

happy

joyous, delighted, ecstatic, cheerful, elated, glad, gleeful, jolly, merry, thrilled, upbeat, overjoyed, jubilant

sad

upset, depressed, melancholy, mournful, somber, sorrowful, pessimistic, sorry, unhappy, blue

angry

fuming, raging, irritated, annoyed, bitter, enraged, irate, furious

scared

fearful, afraid, anxious, panicked, panicky, startled, petrified, shaken, terrified

bored

disintegrated, fatigued, tired

big

fat, full, gigantic, massive, enormous, tremendous, colossal, considerable, hefty, huge, sizable, substantial, full, immense

small

cramped, limited, meager, microscopic, miniature, minuscule, modest, narrow, small-scale, young, paltry, poor

pretty

attractive, beautiful, charming, cute, elegant, good-looking, graceful, handsome, lovely, neat, pleasant

ugly

repulsive, unattractive, hideous, grotesque, grisly, unseemly, unsightly, horrid, awful

dislike

displeasure, disapprove, aversion, disgust, loathing, hatred, enmity

like

approve, adore, admire, cherish, appreciate, love, dig, fancy, prize

easy

effortless, obvious, simple, painless, straightforward, smooth, child’s play, light, basic

hard

difficult, tough, troublesome, complicated, serious, heavy, rough, arduous, backbreaking

soft

velvety, silky, smooth, spongy, fluffy, elastic, mushy, delicate, comfy, creamy, pliable

rough

rocky, rugged, harsh, coarse, choppy, chapped

hot

blazing, boiling, heated, searing, sweltering, warm, scorching, sizzling

cold

chilly, freezing, icy, brisk, frigid, cool, wintry, frosty

thick

dense, fat, chunky, broad, wide, massive, hard

thin

skinny, slim, small, slender, gaunt, lean, fragile, delicate, narrow, meager

agree

concede, comply, allow, concur, grant, settle, sign, set, recognize

disagree

clash, oppose, divide, feud, haggle, object, oppose, quarrel, quibble, dissent, bicker, contend

nice

kind, cordial, fair, friendly, good, lovely, swell

mean

rude, callous, dangerous, evil, malicious, nasty, vile, ugly, hard, vicious

loud

big, boisterous, deafening, resounding, roaring, ringing, raucous, rambunctious, intense

quiet

muted, hushed, muffled, low, soft, reticent, noiseless

firm

stiff, thick, tough, unyielding, sturdy, solid, hard, substantial, rigid

loose

baggy, lax, relaxed, sloppy, slack, limp

delicious

appetizing, delectable, delightful, exquisite, heavenly, enjoyable, pleasant, savory

distasteful

unpalatable, unappealing, unappetizing, unsavory, indigestible, inedible, savorless, nasty

woman, girl

female, lady, madam, beauty

man, boy

male, gentleman, dude

home

house, shelter, dwelling, residence, mansion, apartment, shack, box, condo, building

like, similar

alike, akin, analogous, allied, parallel, matching, equivalent, comparable, identical, related

music

soul, tune, opera, melody, piece, singing, chamber, measure, hymn, song

art

design, painting, illustration

and writing

article, book, piece, scripture, manuscript, story, passage, novel, reading, work

all synonyms found on www.thesaurus.com

colors in writing

black — black, shadow, jet black, ebony, crow, charcoal, coal, oil, raven, ink, onyx, soot, pitch black, obsidian, midnight

brown — brown, mocha, peanut, coffee, dirt, cedar, cinnamon, chocolate, brunette, pecan, wood, fudge, grizzly bear

red — red, blood, wine, cherry, apple, brick, crimson, ruby, scarlet, strawberry, maroon, rose

orange — orange, tangerine, fire, tiger, carrot, apricot, marmalade, citrus, pumpkin, basketball orange, ginger, deep saffron

yellow — yellow, blonde, blond, pineapple, butter, lemon, mustard, banana, corn, honey, gold

green — green, sage, lime, chartreuse, grass, fern, leaf or leafy, basil, pear, clover, green apple,

blue — blue, cobalt, sky, lapis, blueberry, azure, diamond, navy, royal blue, denim, cornflower blue, lobelia blue, river, ocean, lake, pool blue, sonic

indigo —indigo, deep indigo, royal indigo,

purple — amethyst, lilac, periwinkle, orchid, grape, hyacinth

violet — violet, french violet, pure violet

pink — pink, rose, salmon, fuschia, hot pink, bubblegum pink, cotton candy pink

white — white, feather, paper, bone, snow, pearl, eggshell, cloud, dove

words on trees, bushes, rural regions, and forests for your writing

thicket — a dense group of bushes or trees

grove — a small wood, orchard, or group of trees

underbrush — shrubs and small trees forming the undergrowth in a forest

undergrowth — a dense growth of shrubs and other plants, especially under trees in woodland

canebrake — a piece of ground covered with a dense growth of canes

chaparral — vegetation consisting chiefly of tangled shrubs and thorny bushes

woodland — land covered with trees

coppice — an area of woodland in which the trees or shrubsare, or formerly were, periodically cut back to ground level to stimulate growth and provide firewood or timber

hurst — a wood or wooded rise or hillock

hillock — a small hill or mound

copse — a small group of trees

bower — a pleasant shady place under trees or climbing plants in a garden or wood

deciduous — (of a tree or shrub) shedding its leaves annually

coniferous — conifers are a group of cone-bearing, woody seed plants. they are most diverse in warmer areas like tropical mountains, and are also found in the wild regions of canada and russia

bosk or bosque — a thicket of bushes; a small wood

woodlot — a woodlot is a parcel of woodland or forest, typically small in size, that is capable of supporting small-scale production of forest products

pine — an evergreen coniferous tree that has clusters of long needle-shaped leaves. many kinds are grown for their soft timber, which is widely used for furniture and pulp, or for tar and turpentine

oak — a tree that bears acorns as fruit, and typically has lobed deciduous leaves. oaks are common in many north temperate forests and are an important source of hard and durable wood used chiefly in construction, furniture, and, formerly, shipbuilding

birch — a slender, fast-growing tree that has thin bark, often peeling, and bears catkins. birch trees grow chiefly in north temperate regions, some reaching the northern limit of tree growth

mahogany — hard reddish-brown timber from a tropical tree, used for high-quality furniture

hinterland — the often uncharted areas beyond a coastal district or a river's banks

willow — salix, also known as willows, osiers, and sallows, is a genus of around 350 species of shrubs and trees that are usually deciduous. they are primarily found in temperate and cold regions on moist soils. the white willow is the largest species, with mature trees growing up to 25 meters tall

redwood — sequoioideae, also known as redwoods, are a subfamily of coniferous trees in the cupressaceae family. they are the tallest trees in the world and can live for thousands of years

elm — ulmus, or elms, are a genus of deciduous and semi-deciduous trees found across most of the northern hemisphere. they are known for their broad shade and vase-like shape

magnolia — a tree or shrub with large, typically creamy-pink, waxyflowers. magnolias are widely grown as ornamental trees

greenwood — a wood or forest in leaf (regarded as the typical scene of medieval outlaw life)

boskage — massed trees or shrubs

countryside — the land and scenery of a rural area

country — districts, areas, and small settlements outside large towns, cities, or the capital

backwoods — remote uncleared forest land

outskirts — the outer parts of a town or city

wildwood — an uncultivated wood or forest that has been allowed to grow naturally

sticks — an area in the country that is far away from towns and cities

body language to use in your writing

he furrowed his eyebrows — in confusion or concentration

he raised his eyebrows — in surprise or skepticism

he narrowed his eyes — in suspicion or annoyance

he bit or pressed his lips together — in hesitation

his lips parted slightly — in shock or anticipation

he clenched his jaw — in frustration or determination

he tilted his head — in curiosity or disbelief

he wrinkled his nose — in disgust or disapproval

he rolled his eyes — in exasperation

he puffed his cheeks — in frustration or exhaustion

eye movements:

his eyes darted around — nervously

he avoided eye contact — out of guilt or shyness

he held eye contact — in defiance or intensity

he squinted slightly — in scrutiny

he looked down — in shame or submission

he glanced away quickly — in embarrassment

he stared blankly — in shock or dissociation

he blinked rapidly — in disbelief or surprise

his eyes widened — in fear or astonishment

he peeked through his fingers — when scared or hesitant

head movements:

he nodded slowly — in understanding or agreement

he shook his head — in disagreement or disbelief

he tilted his head — playfully or teasingly

he bowed his head slightly — in respect or submission

he tossed his head back — in confidence or defiance

he ducked his head — in embarrassment or shyness

he rested his chin in his hand — while thinking or bored

he jerked his head toward a sound — in alertness

he rolled his neck — to release tension

he tipped his chin up — in defiance or arrogance

hand movements:

he clenched his fists — in anger or determination

he ran his hands through his hair — in frustration or stress

he wringed his hands — in nervousness

he drummed his fingers on a surface — in impatience

he pointed — accusingly or demandingly

he pressed his palms against a surface — in desperation

he tugged at his sleeves or hem — in nervousness

he threw his hands up — in exasperation or surrender

he rubbed his temples — in frustration or exhaustion

he covered his mouth — in shock or horror

arm and shoulder movements:

he crossed his arms — in defensiveness or annoyance

he wrapped his arms around himself — for comfort

he shrugged — in uncertainty or indifference

he threw his arms out — in excitement or exasperation

he linked arms with her — for comfort or closeness

he rubbed his arms — to self-soothe or ward off cold

he flailed his arms wildly — in panic or excitement

he stretched his arms above his head — in relaxation or boredom

he held his arms behind his back — in restraint or formality

he used exaggerated arm gestures — when talking passionately

leg and foot movements:

he tapped his foot — impatiently

he crossed his legs — to appear closed off or comfortable

he bounced his knee — in nervousness or excitement

he kicked at the ground — absentmindedly

he shuffled his feet — in hesitation or guilt

he stood on his tiptoes — to see something or seem taller

he turned his toes inward — in insecurity or shyness

he stomped his foot — in frustration or excitement

he swung his legs — in a carefree manner

he stepped back instinctively — in fear or uncertainty

posture and general movement:

he stood tall with his shoulders squared — in confidence

he slouched — in defeat or boredom

he leaned in — engaged or interested

he leaned away — in discomfort or disinterest

he puffed out his chest — in arrogance or bravado

he shrunk into himself — in anxiety or fear

he rocked back and forth — in nervousness or impatience

he swiveled his body away slightly — in disengagement

he walked stiffly — in discomfort or tension

her hips swayed confidently while she walked

microexpressions:

a smile briefly flickered across his face

his eye twitched a single time — in irritation

he swallowed hard — when nervous or emotional

he slightly shuddered — in disgust or fear

he bit the inside of his cheek — in thought or frustration

he quickly inhaled — taken aback

he exhaled shakily after holding his breath too long

he clutched his shirt tightly — in anxiety

he tilted his head down slightly while still looking up (puppy dog eyes)

there was a fleeting look of longing in his eyes before he looked away

animal symbolism for your writing

dog — loyalty, faithfulness, trust, companionship, pack mentality, family-oriented

cat — independence, aligity, mystery, solitude, curiosity, self-reliance

rabbit — fertility, luck, new beginnings, gentleness, purity

snake — temptation, evil, ill will

deer — grace, gentleness, renewal, vulnerability, innocence

fox — cunning, trickery, intelligence, adaptability, mischief, playfulness, tomfoolery

coyote — cleverness, creativity, trickery, playfulness, knowledge, an omen or a warning

wolf — intuition, wisdom, freedom, wildness

alligator — danger, power, strength, camouflage

elephant — memory, longevity, intelligence, sovereignty

horse — travel, spirit, adventure, transportation, hard work

seal — playfulness, happiness, joy, understanding

seahorse — good luck, magic, persistence, fortune, individuality

shark — power, authority, strength, predatory nature, protection

fish — abundance, perseverance, prosperity, peace, calmness, water

grizzly bear — strength, power, protection, a connection to the wild, healing

black bear — fearfulness, conflict-avoidance, mindful

polar bear — viciousness, coldness, protectiveness

panda bear — peace, gentleness, luck, friendship

red panda — patience, sensitivity, originality, non-conformity

bird — transcendence, messaging/messengers, freedom

worm — decay, death, cycle of life, regeneration, simplicity

bug — filth, transformation, decay, unpleasantness

scents and smells to use in your writing

sandalwood — think intoxicating, slightly masculine (if you want it to be), wood-y,

fresh laundry — think febreeze, freshly cleaned clothes, cleaning wipes, that kinda thing

cinammon — think cinnamon rolls, desserts, sugar, sweetness

vanilla — sweet and soft. it’s a classic and i feel it’s almost feminine because it’s in a lot of perfumes but it can be for anyone

sea salt — think sand on your feet, sea in your lungs, maybe a few seagulls cawing. a very beach-y smell

chlorine — think of pools, summer, theme parks with water slides. it’s not the most appealing smell but it certainly is a smell

strawberry — when i think of strawberries, i think of strawberry picking when i was little and kind of the taste of the strawberries themselves. as for the ice cream or perfume kinda strawberry, it’s a fun and sweet smell

chocolate — think hot chocolate, a hershey’s kiss, that hint of chocolate in your coffee creamer. it’s warm and cozy

coconut — think tropical, beachy, refreshing. when most people see coconuts they see “exotic”

banana — think banana sundae, banana smoothie, fruit-y smell, laffy taffy, that kinda thing

apple — think apple trees, apple jam, apple pie, that kinda sweet crisp smell

pine — think of a damp, dirty forest with towering trees and leaves gracing its floor. maybe a deer or two is nearby. it’s a forest smell basically

metallic — think of blood, wet copper or iron, etc.

dirt/earth — think the smell of dirt, grass, trees. the general smell of nature

rose — think romantic, date night, mysterious, alluring. roses are most commonly associated with life and affection, at least in american culture

sweat — think intense workout, maybe tangy, smoky, etc. just sweat

mint — think of waking up bright and early, toothpaste, doctor’s offices, etc. mint really speaks as fresh to me

damp, wet, wet dog — think of moist places, like a really old pool or something akin to that

dew — think early morning and mist in the air. can be associated with spring as well

musk — think of a scent similar to sweat, but the aftermath. not just pure sweat everywhere, but the scent about an hour after you work out. it smells different for everyone though

smoke — think of that scent you smell when a fireplace turns off, wood stops burning, or when you overcook something

spicy — think of ginger, paprika, spices in general. it’s a kind of fun and daring smell

toasty, warming — this can be anything warm you want: hot cocoa, warm blankets, turning the heater on, summer, fireplace flames

floral — this can be any flower you want it to be. spring is full of it, it is the embodiment of a bouquet, and is the scent you smell when you “stop to smell the flowers”

a list of buildings and structures to use in your writing

hospital

police station

school

fire watch tower

observatory

apartment complex

gas station

city hall

coffee shop

bakery

firefighter station

car dealership

college

high school

elementary school

middle school

university

park

research center

animal shelter

camp/wilderness camp

casino

blacksmith

bank

barber

armory

aquarium

dentist

general store

gunsmith/gun store

doctor’s office/medical store/medicinal supply store

jail

library

museum

farm

food store, like a pizza shop or ice cream store

stationary food truck

vacant lot

skate park

country club(s)

tennis court(s)

basketball court(s)

pool

warehouse

fast food restaurant

twenty phrases for writing facial expressions

his brows knitted together

her lips pulled into a smile

the corners of her lips quirked up into a smile/smirk

her face twitched

a line formed between his brows

a look of happiness engulfed him

a look of sadness washed over him

his face contorted into a frown

his eyes drooped at that, and his lips pulled themselves into a frown

she raised a brow

she cocked an eyebrow

her brows furrowed

her eyes narrowed

her eyebrows shot up

his brows were tightly drawn together

alternatively, his brows were drawn together tightly

her entire face dropped

her smile fell

his eyes glittered with [any emotion]

his eyebrows pinched together

words to use instead of “said”

normal:

— stated

— spoke

— remarked

— reported

— added

questioning:

— asked

— inquired

— requested

— begged

angrily:

— demanded

— shouted

— growled

— yelled

sad:

— sobbed

— cried

— groaned

— bawled

nervous:

— trembled

— quaked

— stammered/stuttered

happy:

— exclaimed

— chirped

— laughed

— giggled

seven day writing challenge

in preparation for nanowrimo, here are seven fun writing prompts to think about your novel in a different way. you don’t need to do any of these in order, and it doesn’t matter if you have the entire plot already planned out or if you’re winging it—just have fun or maybe fake it until you make it! who knows what will happen?

1. BREAKING NEWS! write a news article about an event that will occur in your novel

2. a portrait of… write a poem or a prose poem about a character or a location in your novel

3. the communion of food. construct a recipe for a food that will be eaten in your novel, a food that has significance to your character, or a food that exists in your novel’s world

4. WANTED. write a snippet from a piece of environmental or source material that your character will encounter but may not read in your novel. think about the way video games use environmental story telling. it could be a wanted poster, a post-it note, a journal entry, warning label—anything!

5. a letter to myself. write a letter from your character’s point of view to their younger or older self. what are their regrets or hopes? what do they wish they had known?

6. the butterfly effect. change one plot point in your upcoming novel. write a short story illustrating the effects of that change, whether they occur immediately or weeks to years after

7. book report. who cares if you don’t know what’ll happen? make something up! pretend you’re a third grader writing a book report over your novel. it can be simple or whimsical or as detailed as you want! it’ll help you to think about the outline (or lack of) of your novel if you’re attempting to look at it objectively

happy writing! but most of all, have fun writing! don’t take this too seriously. writing’s supposed to be fun. you can go back and make it “professional” later. if you have any questions, our ask box is always open!