thisisnotpsychology:

• What Will Your Character Do When Disaster Strikes?
  by Carolyn Kaufman, PsyD
• Characterization and Conflict: Using Psychological Tests to Improve Your Writing
  by Carolyn Kaufman, PsyD
• Gathering Information from Characters: Types of Questions
  by JJ Cooper 
• Using Body Language in Writing
  by JJ Cooper
• Body Language Cheat Sheet
  by Carolyn Kaufman, PsyD

USING ARCHETYPES IN YOUR STORIES

• A Primer on Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious
  by Carolyn Kaufman, PsyD

Writing Better Romantic Relationships

This series looks at the Anima/Animus archetype, which is most often seen in romantic relationships, and how to use it to create more compelling romantic relationships, regardless of genre. Looks at what the anima and animus are, how they’re formed, and why fiction writers need to understand them. There’s also some and what makes love grow - and how happily ever afters really work.

• Creating Riveting Romances: The Anima/Animus Archetype Defined
  by Carolyn Kaufman, PsyD
• Writing Romance: Three Influences on the Anima/Animus Archetype
  by Carolyn Kaufman, PsyD
• The Perfect Hero and the Perfect Heroine: Dark and Light Sides of the Anima & Animus
  by Carolyn Kaufman, PsyD
• What Does it Really Take to Live Happily Ever After?
  A look at the psychological research on what makes or breaks romantic relationships. - by Carolyn Kaufman, PsyD

Creating Better Antagonists

• Three-Dimensional Villains: Finding Your Character’s Shadow
  Using Jungian archetypes and hands-on exercises, this article teaches fiction writers to tap their own dark sides to create realistic villains who will really challenge the hero/es and keep tension high. - by Carolyn Kaufman, PsyD

• The Other in Fiction: Creating Wonderfully Wicked Villains
  The kinds of villains that keep us riveted to a story tap the darkest aspects of the human heart; learn about what those aspects are and how to use them in your fiction. - by Carolyn Kaufman, PsyD

FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY

• Basic Information on Forensic Science by Juan Salvo
• The Truth about Forensic Psychology by Lisa Featherston

archetypewriting.com

writing resources

shotgunanderson:

so awhile ago someone asked me to go through process/resources for what i do when i write. this isn’t for everybody, everybody has different motivators. but some of these links have been useful for me in the past.

• typing speed test - warm up your hands
• writing ergonomics - take care of yourself writing for long periods
• music to write by - put on a soundtrack that won’t distract
• writeroom - find a program that removes temptation to browse
• write or die - if you have trouble staying motivated
• word count meter - keep track of your progress
• stayfocused - lock yourself out of distracting sites (chrome only)

generally speaking, i just try to make sure i’m sitting properly, take regular breaks, have plenty of water at hand, and good music. the rest varies on just how much i’m feeling it on a given day, and how badly i need motivation. hopefully this will help!

Day Seven, Eight, & Nine.

Seven. FREE DAY! Write any scene you want!

Daniel stared at Olivia with intense eyes. A smile grew on each other their faces as they tried not to break contact. The two were staring into each others soul with the intention that one of the other would blink and pay for the quite large lunch they’d ordered. 

“We should have thumb wrestled.” He cried out while slightly squinting in hopes to moisture his eyes just a bit.

“Don’t pussy out now, you brought this on yourself.” Her mouth was naturally curved into a vicious smile that made him feel even more competitive. He wasn’t giving up so easily, he refused. Olivia moved forward slowly as she perched her lips to kiss his stern lips. Daniel was weak for her, it’d only been a few weeks and oddly enough he couldn’t rid himself of her even if he knew he needed alone time. Closing his eyes and leaning into her kiss, she shot up from her seat with both arms in the air. “Pay up, sucker!”

Eight.What about their earlier school days? Write a scene of your character in grade school or middle school.

Before he began to notice the existence of other human beings, Daniel made friends with literature in elementary. A bit advanced for his age, the small fourth grader cared little about understanding the big words, he just wanted to know the story. In the back of the class, he hid books between text books and read until the bell had rung for lunch or for all the children to run home. His ‘friends’ would shoot spitballs to grab his attention but he shooed them away as he indulged in Tuck Everlasting or The Outsiders. 

“Dude, what’s number 9?” His friend Timothy asked in a harsh whisper. 

“Figure it out yourself.” Said a disgruntled little Daniel. 

“Danny, don’t be a jerk. Just give me the answer.” Timothy retorted with the same harsh tone as before.

“Do it yourself or get kicked in the knee.” Daniel replied as he ignored looking his friend in the face. Timothy huffed before he reached over and forcefully snatched the paper from under Daniel’s textbook. Within a second, his textbook and personal book fell to the floor making a quite loud thud. 

“Boys! What is all that commotion?” The teacher yelled looking right in their direction. Timothy painted the expression on his face as something angry before blurting out loudly, “Daniel’s reading some nudey book and tried to take my answers because he wasn’t paying attention!”

“Am not, you liar!” Daniel yelled back before forcefully shoving the boy sitting next to him.

“You both cut it out or I’ll send you downstairs to the office. Timothy, finish your work and Daniel, bring your book to me.” Her voice was stern, in control, and as quickly as she finished her statement was as fast as the boys rolled eyes at one another and did what was told.

Daniel gathered his fallen belongings off the floor and walked towards her desk. This was very normal for him, always meeting up with the teacher to only be suggested another great novel to occupy his attention.

Nine.How was your characters first kiss? Who with? Where was it? How old were they? Write the scene.

“Get in the fucking car, dude!” An angry voice yelled from behind Daniel. Pulling himself out of his daze, he looked over his shoulder to see is long time friend Timothy in the driver seat of the stolen Mercedes. This was the moment where Daniel quickly weighed his options. Jail was around the corner, the cops sirens were filling the night air with such a powerful sound that his bladder pulsated a little. This was the definition of fear, standing in the threshold of good and evil with no idea as to how break out of that state of shock without pissing you pants of pure fear or pure excitement.

Looking at the car, Daniel stood with his mouth open and eyes wide. The figure of a girl popped out of the back window and began to yell, “Danny! Get in the fucking car or you’ll miss out on seeing these tonight.” Suddenly, her breast were free to the world and Daniel’s eyes were glued to them. He was at the prime of his teenage years, fourteen years young and stuck with a group of friends who were no good for him.

Letting go of his shock and fear, he ran towards the car and jumped in the backseat. The girl with the exposed breast laughed hysterically as the mixture of alcohol and marijuana clashed in her sixteen year old system. The car made a loud screeching noise as it took off down the street. “Danny boy, you are now an accomplice in grand theft auto.” Jokingly said an older mutual friend who talked the entire group into committing the crime. Leaning back, Daniel laughed. Starting off slow and growing louder, he felt like a rebel. The girl next to him pulled from the small white joint she rolled and pulled Daniel’s lip close to her own. “Inhale as I blow out.” He nodded and followed her instructions. Closing his eyes he imagined the weed to be this magical smoke that would wash over his entire body and bring him complete joy. Holding the smoke in, he exhaled slowly with a smile painting over his perched lips. Suddenly, between laughs and smile, the girl leaned in and kissed him. Their lips were smothering one another while their tongues wrestled for power and sexual dominance. This was a night he’d never forget.

theroleplaysecrets:

Do you not realize how ugly your skin and graphics are?

mrjackles:

102 Resources for Fiction Writers

vulpesinculta:

Are you still stuck for ideas for National Novel Writing Month? Or are you working on a novel at a more leisurely pace? Here are 102 resources on Character, Point of View, Dialogue, Plot, Conflict, Structure, Outlining, Setting, and World Building, plus some links to generate Ideas and Inspiration.

CHARACTER, POINT OF VIEW, DIALOGUE

10 Days of Character Building

Name Generators

Name Playground

The Universal Mary Sue Litmus Test

Priming the idea pump (A character checklist shamlessly lifted from acting)

How to Create a Character

Seven Common Character Types

Handling a Cast of Thousands – Part I: Getting to Know Your Characters

It’s Not What They Say …

Establishing the Right Point of View: How to Avoid “Stepping Out of Character”

How to Start Writing in the Third Person

Web Resources for Developing Characters

What are the Sixteen Master Archetypes?

Character: A compilation of guidance from classical and contemporary experts on creating great dramatic characters

Building Fictional Characters

Fiction Writer’s Character Chart

Character Building Workshop

Tips for Characterization

Fiction Writer’s Character Chart

Villains are People, Too, But …

Top 10 Tips for Writing Dialogue

Speaking of Dialogue

Dialogue Tips

Advantages, Disadvantages and Skills (character traits)

How to Write a Character Bible

Character Development Exercises

All Your Characters Sounds the Same — And They’re Not a Hivemind!

Medieval Names Archive

Sympathy Without Saintliness

Writing the Other: Bridging Cultural Difference for Successful Fiction

Family Echo (family tree website)

Interviewing Characters: Follow the Energy

100 Character Development Questions for Writers

Behind the Name

Lineage Chart Layout Generator

PLOT, CONFLICT, STRUCTURE, OUTLINE

How to Write a Novel: The Snowflake Method

Effectively Outlining Your Plot

Conflict and Character within Story Structure

Outlining Your Plot

Ideas, Plots & Using the Premise Sheets

How to Write a Novel

Creating Conflict and Sustaining Suspense

Plunge Right In … Into Your Story, That Is!

Fiction Writing Tips: Story Grid

Tips for Creating a Compelling Plot

Writer’s “Cheat Sheets”

The Thirty-six (plus one) Dramatic Situations

The Evil Overlord Devises a Plot: Excerpt from Stupid Plotting Tricks

Conflict Test

What is Conflict?

Monomyth

The Hero’s Journey: Summary of the Steps

Outline Your Novel in Thirty Minutes

Plotting Without Fears

Novel Outlining 101

Writing the Perfect Scene

Fight Scenes 101

Basic Plots in Literature

One-Page Plotting

The Great Swampy Middle

SETTING, WORLD BUILDING

Magical World Builder’s Guide

I Love the End of the World

World Building 101

The Art of Description: Eight Tips to Help You Bring Your Settings to Life

Creating the Perfect Setting – Part I

Creating a Believable World

An Impatient Writer’s Approach to Worldbuilding

Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions

Setting

Character and Setting Interactions

Creating Fantasy and Science Fiction Worlds

Creating Fantasy Worlds

Questions About Worldbuilding

Maps Workshop — Developing the Fictional World Through Mapping

World Builder Projects

IDEAS, INSPIRATION

Quick Story Idea Generator

Solve Your Problems Simply by Saying Them Out Loud

Busting Your Writing Rut

Writing Inspiration, or Sex on a Bicycle

Creative Acceleration: 11 Tips to Engineer a Productive Flow

The Seven Major Beginner Mistakes

Complete Your First Book with these 9 Simple Writing Habits

Free Association, Active Imagination, Twilight Imaging

Random Book Title Generator

Finishing Your Novel

Story Starters and Idea Generators

REVISION

How to Rewrite

One-Pass Manuscript Revision: From First Draft to Last in One Cycle

Editing Recipe

Cliche Finder

Revising Your Novel: Read What You’ve Written

Writing 101: So You Want to Write a Novel Part 3: Revising a Novel

TOOLS and SOFTWARE

My Writing Nook (online text editor; free)

Bubbl.us (online mind map application; free)

Freemind (mind map application; free; Windows, Mac, Linux, portable)

XMind (mind map application; free; Windows, Mac, Linux, portable)

Liquid Story Binder (novel organization and writing software; free trial, $45.95; Windows, portable)

Scrivener (novel organization and writing software; free trial, $39.95; Mac)

SuperNotecard (novel organization and writing software; free trial, $29; Windows, Mac, Linux, portable)

yWriter (novel organization and writing software; free; Windows, Linux, portable)

JDarkRoom (minimalist text editor; free; Windows, Mac, Linux, portable)

AutoRealm (map creation software; free; Windows, Linux with Wine)

(Source: ruthlesscalculus)

550 Alternative ways of saying “said”

Other words for said in alphabetic order

• Accepted, Accused, Acknowledged, Admitted, Advertised, Affirm, Agonized, Agreed, Alleged, Announced, Answered, Appealed, Apply for, Arranged, Articulated, Asked, Asserted, Asseverate, Assumed, Assured, Attract, Aver, Avow,
• Barked, Bawl, Bawled, Beamed, Beckoned, Begged, Bellowed, Beseeched, Blubbered, Blurted, Bossed, Breathed, Broadcast,
• Cajole, Called, Carped, Cautioned, Censured, Chimed in, Choked, Chortled, Chuckled, Circulate, Claim, Comforted, Conceded, Concurred, Condemned, Confer, Confessed, Confided, Confirm, Consoled, Contend, Continued, Crave, Cried out, Criticized, Croaked, Crooned, Crowed,
• Declared, Defend, Demanded, Denote, Dictated, Disclosed, Disposed, Disseminate, Distribute, Divulged, Drawled,
• Emitted, Empathized, Encourage, Encouraged, Entreated, Exact, Exclaimed, Explained, Exposed,
• Faltered, Finished, Fumed,
• Gawped, Get out, Giggled, Given, Glowered, Grieved, Grinned, Groan, Groaned, Growled, Grumbled,
• Handed on, Held, Hesitated, Hinted, Hissed, Hollered, Howled,
• Impart, Implied, Implored, Importune, Inclined, Indicate, Informed, Inquired, Insisted, Interjected, Invited,
• Jabbered, Joked, Justified,
• Keened,
• Lamented, Laughed, Leered, Lilted,
• Maintained, Make known, Make public, Marked, Mewled, Mimicked, Moaned, Mocked, Mourned, Murmured, Mused
• Necessitated, Needed, Noted,
• Observed, Offered, Ordered,
• Passed on, Pleaded, Postulated, Preached, Premised, Presented, Presupposed, Proclaimed, Prodded, Professed, Proffered, Promised, Promulgated, Proposed, Protested, Provoked, Publicized, Published, Puled, Put forth, Put out,
• Quaked, Queried, Quipped, Quivered, Quizzed,
• Raged, Ranted, Reckoned that, Rejoiced, Rejoined, Released, Remarked, Remonstrated, Repeated, Replied, Reprimanded, Requested, Required, Requisition, Retorted, Revealed, Roared,
• Said, Sang, Scoffed, Scolded, Seethed, Sent on, Settled, Shared, Shed tears, Shouted, Shrieked, Shrugged, Shuddered, Snarled, Snivelled, Sobbed, Solicited, Sought, Specified, Spluttered, Spread, Stammered, Stated, Stuttered, Stressed, Suggested, Supposed, Swore,
• Taunted, Teased, Testified, Thundered, Ticked off, Told, Told off, Tore a strip off, Touted, Transferred, Transmitted, Trembled, Trumpeted,
• Understood, Undertook, Upbraided, Uttered,
• Verified, Vociferated, Voiced, Vouched for, Vouchsafe,
• Wailed, Wanted, Warned, Weep, Went on. Wept, Wheedle, Whimpered, Whined, Whispered,
• Yawped, Yelled, Yelped,Yowled

Adverbs or phrases to use with the other words for said

Abruptly, Absently, Acidly, After a moments reflection, Agreed, Angrily, Announced, Apologetically, Approvingly, Artfully

• Broke in

• Calmly, Caustically, Cheerfully, Commented lightly, Complacently, Concurred thoughtfully, Crossly

• Didn’t question his judgement, Dryly

• Encouraged, Expression denoting disapproval

• False cheerfulness, Finished, Friendly fashion

• Gently, Grated, Grinned, Groaned, Gruffly

• Happily, Hotly

• Impatiently, In a casual tone, In a chiding tone, In a courteous manner In a curious tone, In a dry tone, In a flirtatious way, In a level tone In a level way, In a non committal way, In a perpetually tired voice In a quiet way, In a rasping tone, In a small panicky voice In a soothing tone, In an attempt to…, In quiet amazement, Indulgently, Informed in an easy tone, Innocently, Inquired doubtfully, Invited, Irritably

• Loftily, Loudly

• Made the effort to sound reassuring, Meaning the words more seriously than they sounded, Mentally shrugged

• Naturally, Nodded agreeably, Not wanting to sound pushy

• Offered, Offhandedly, Optimistically

• Pleasantly, Politely, Politely smooth, Probed Promised in a motherly/fatherly way, Prompted gently Promptly, Protested

• Quietly

• Reflectively, Roughly

• Sadly, Said sympathetically, She went on, Sincerely, Smiled faintly, Smugly, Soberly, Softly, Sounded slightly brittle, Sparingly, Speculated, Sternly, Suggested

• Tartly, Tautly, Teased softly, Tightly, Truthfully

• Uncertainly, Unexpectedly, Urgently

• Vaguely, Voice soft with affection

• Went on loyally, Wilfully misunderstood, With a controlled smile, With a fond smile, With a gloomy sigh, With a note of relief, With a sad grimace, With a sad smile, With a sense of guilt, With a sigh of irritation, With burgeoning excitement, With conviction, With determination, With fire, With firm persistence, With gentle remonstrance, With gentle teasing, With graceful simplicity, With mock astonishment, With pleasure, With quiet empathy With simple directness, Without sounding unduly curious, Wryly

(Source: iam--ironman)

Day Four, Five & Six.

Four. What world does your character exist in? Real or imagined? Scientific? Fantastical? Write a scene where your character is shown in their world.

Soft chuckles escaped his lip as snow fell to the ground and Olivia ran around frantically. The sun was above them, people around them were dressed for heat but above them was a cloud shedding white flakes upon them. His soft chuckles woke him up from a deep slumber he was used to falling into since she wasn’t near him. This is the life he’d grown accustomed to.

Five. Your character is getting ready in the morning. Write a scene of their morning (or even mid day) routine.

The sun burned his eyes as it peeked through the smooth brown curtains that accented his plain white room. His feet met the cold hardwood floor with a thud. He never moves until he dresses himself with the small wooden cross given to him by his sister many years ago, a black beaded bracelet given to him by his aunt and grabbing his cell phone. After a few sighs, he pulled himself from the bed and staggered a few paces to the bathroom located on the other side of his bedroom. The mirror is never a factor until after a shower and before he decides to finally brush his teeth. He was a multitasker in the morning: turning on the shower, taking a piss, one handed texting his friends back and even managing to check his Facebook. Only after he flush would be able to update his Twitter while slowly undressing. 

When his entire bedroom smelled something like Ralph Lauren and Axe, he’d walk towards the kitchen with one hand busy with updating the world about his night and morning while preparing a small breakfast (which usually included an egg over easy and wheat toast smothered in Nutella). 

Six. How was your characters childhood? Write a scene about them as a child. How was their home life? Their family? Their upbringing? Where did they grow up? What friends did they have?

With his eyes glued to the television, the muffled sound of arguments distracted him form enjoying his favorite cartoon. It just so happened to be a repeat of Scooby Doo but he still enjoyed the show nevertheless. His aunt and father bickered about his mother and her state of well-being. John, his father, never understood the disease of depression and Maryanne, his aunt, never understood why he continued to demoralize her while she was at such a low point in her life. The young boy continued to turn the volume up on the television but once his mother yelled his name, he dropped all he could and took off towards the stairs. At the age of 5 and standing only about three and a half feet, it didn’t keep him from running up the stairs like a champion winning runner. The door to his parents bedroom was cracked. He peeked over at his fathers study to make sure the argument was still going while he checked on his beloved mother. For a while he wasn’t allowed to see her because everyone believed it would only make him sad that his mommy was always sad but truly, he understood her better than any adult that studied her, talked to her or even tried to diagnose her.

Speaking softly, she asked him, “Why aren’t you outside playing with Johnathan or Timothy?” The name of his childhood friends slipped into his right ear and right out the left. He replied with his two fingers in his mouth, “I would rather take care of you, mommy. I wanted to watch Scooby Doo with you so you could laugh with me.” A smile brushed upon her face. Reaching for the remote, she invited him to sit beside her. The muffled argument continued but two doors down a little boy and his mother watched a dog and four friends solve mysteries.

they’re .. so hard to find. being completely honest. i mean, that’s more reason why i’d like to open a board and you find someone there that has the same passion as [my current partner] and that is really good and you two like each others ideas and hit it off because jsut going to look for one is like finding the perfect man with blond hair, blue eyes and no kids. or criminal record.

My opinon on how hard it is to find a good, stable, loyal RP partner in the RP community. —