@cfranciswrites.bsky.social did a general writing prompt game back in August called #SummerOfStory that did a really good job presenting sometimes rather complicated topics in a really appealing way. I don't think you'd need to make yours as elaborate as hers, but could be a source of inspiration?
Thanks, Charlotte! It was #SummerOfStory where I first posted this, of course. Miss it ❤️
This story is the most fun I've had with writing. I actually do some lighthearted stuff in this WIP, which I don't usually do 😅
#SummerOfStory: Arrive Late, Leave Early
I don't really lean that way. Part of that's an old-school inclination for prose with some room to breathe. But also, I'm a fan of "Explain, Explain... Oh Crap" and related tropes. I like when a simple situation gradually spins out of control. 😀
#SciFi
#SummerOfStory is over, but I figured I'd collate all the slides into one mega thread, just in case anyone found them useful and wanted to return to them
For any newbies: This is a collection of infographics about common writing tips and techniques, which were used in a prompt game to discuss craft
#SummerOfStory Day 17
Rule of three.
There is a certain satisfaction in having three of something. Sometimes I'm even search for a third, just to have three.
It's one of the reasons there are so many Trilogies. There MUST be three. Two is weird, FOUR is weird, FIVE is okay. THREE is correct.
#SummerOfStory Day 16
I remember someone commented at the local Writer's Group - that I had made Medical Billing exciting somehow.
My problem, generally, is that I don't explain ENOUGH - like, there can be plenty of "tension" but if it's TOO confusing as to WTF is going on, it's just noise, right?
#SummerOfStory Day 15
The Purple and Blue Brigade series is very much LESS - as in, there is very little descriptions at all. It's nearly all dialog - either people talking or inner dialog.
The setting is never set in detail. The characters are not physically described hardly at all.
#SummerOfStory
I have studied technical writing where it's considered inappropriate to refer to the people doing the things. It can be jarring for creative writers or communications people to be asked to write things like:
"The beakers were filled with 50.0 ml of water."
This has been great!! Thank you!! I think a lot of things are rattling around in my brain, and we'll see what comes out!! #SummerOfStory
#SummerofStory
Thank you for hosting!! I learned that a few techniques I've been doing for ages have actual names, and I learned about others I'd never known about. It was great seeing everyone else's examples and snippets too.
You did an incredible job with this @cfranciswrites.bsky.social! I loved chatting and learning! Not sure how many specific takeaways I have, but when I look at my own work (and even more, when I'm critiquing) various tips have come to mind. Thanks to everyone (especially Charlotte)! #SummerOfStory
Thank you so much for hosting Charlotte! This was fun and I can't believe how fast August has flown by!
Tools are very valuable for the craft and important to know and understand. I hope that everyone takes the time to learn about them, practice, and find what works for your style.
#SummerofStory
#SummerOfStory
Mostly I'm just super grateful to have been part of this. Some of it has hurt, but most of it has given me a place to feel connection with other writers in spite of real life being worse than crazy this month.
#SummerOfStory was wonderful, Charlotte! Your explanations & examples were fantastic. Thank you for hosting this! ❤️
Tbh I thought I would have more spicy takes this month, but most of my opinions could be bpiled down to: there's a good reason for these rules, but don't follow them blindly!
#SummerOfStory 30
Foils & Mirrors are key ingredients to a good story imo. They not only highlight the characters but also the themes.
In my own stories I love having the protag & antag be Mirrors. Maybe cliche, but it's always interesting. And I love making the LI and/or Bestie a Foil of the MC.
#SummerOfStory
This is another one that is often used too much like a RULE - as if having any adverbs at all is, objectively, a failing.
So, I get defensive about it. Everything in moderation, right?
Certainly, adverbs can be overused - make the clunky and 'slainy.
#SummerOfStory 29
Last day catch-up!
As an English teacher I can hardly help loving me some rhetorical devices! Thanks for pointing out some of the lesser-known terms! 😁❤️
I tried to find a snip where I used all of these, & I think the only one missing is chiasmus (one I find hard to pull off 😭)
#SummerOfStory
This was a great prompt game!
We talk about aspects of our stories, but it was nice to get into craft elements and see how other people used the same tools to different effect.
It’s great to question if a “rule” has merit, and what use breaking it has.
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity
#SummerOfStory
Thank you so very much for hosting, Charlotte! I learned a great deal about the art of writing and my own writing. It was fun and so enlightening to read the many responses from fellow writers.
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
i had so much fun with #SummerofStory!! has been fun to embrace how different everyone’s approaches are and how different combinations of techniques can suit some works over others. thank you for hosting and may we all take these tools to fix up our projects!
Thanks so much for hosting #SummerOfStory, @cfranciswrites.bsky.social! I had a lot of fun and learned quite a bit, especially Psychic Distance. This prompt game also helped me better understand how I should approach line edits, so thank you for that, too.
Thank you so much for all your hard work on this 💕 These were truly wonderful slides, and I learned a lot from them and from seeing the community discuss them~
#SummerOfStory
Thank you Charlotte for these #SummerOfStory prompts, and sorry I flaked out this last week while I've been on holiday. It's been fun being involved, and really interesting to see others' takes!
My final thoughts are that all writing advice should be taken with a grain of salt & that a lot of these tips are very helpful and that I'm constantly learning and writing is beautiful.
Also, Charlotte is brilliant, and I have a pitch lined up on why she should adapt this for TPT. 😆
#SummerOfStory
I'm really going to miss the thought-provoking and beautifully-presented #SummerOfStory. I'm sad that real life got in the way of my contributing every day.
Massive thanks and appreciation to Charlotte for hosting, you did such a wonderful job with the slides and the themes for each day!
Hello #SummerOfStory
I discovered this prompt late, and while I didn't go back to check the earlier ones, I had a ton of fun with the ones I took part in.
My takeaway is that I should be more open to these things and take the time to get involved.
I really enjoyed it.
#SummerOfStory 31. Thank you for these prompts, Charlotte! It was fun and enlightening as I learned more about writing techniques and had the chance to analyse them in my own writing. It's also nice to know the name for techniques I use all the time but had no idea how they're called xD
I never think too much about these mechanics in my writing.
But having to pause, reflect, and note details has given me a better - and more thorough - understanding of what I'm doing.
It's like rediscovering my writing love all over again! 💙
#SummerOfStory
#SummerOfStory
I've taken away that I should do more of these prompt things.
#WritingPrompt
Thanks so much for #SummerOfStory @cfranciswrites.bsky.social 💖
This month I have added new things to my revision toolkit that I hadn't considered before; I've learnt the names and reasons for things I was already doing without knowing; and I have had many opportunities to laugh at myself 😂 Cheers!
