You Can Analyze Your Favourite Writers' Techniques. You All Know That Right?

You can analyze your favourite writers' techniques. You all know that right?

When you read a book or fic or whatever and are blown away by how amazing the writing is you can just go, "huh, how is the writer doing this? what things are they doing to get this affect?"

And if you can't figure it out you are allowed to google it. Check out YouTube videos, blog posts, and the wealth of posts on Tumblr even. If the writer is famous enough there might even be full-length academic papers on Google Scholar or JSTOR, or even 100+ page published books dissecting their style (Tolkien, for example, if you like his style). If you still can't find the information, ask someone. Ask more experienced writers or writers who write in a similar style. Ask writing advice blogs/channels. Ask the writer/author themselves.

And if you still can't figure it out, you can keep trying things and reading similar stuff, observing until it clicks.

I just say this because, well, reading someone else's writing and feeling like yours is horrible in comparison is pretty much a universal writer experience. I see a lot a posts on Tumblr offering encouragement like, "it is okay if you writing isn't like theirs, you just have different strengths," and "actually your writing is better than you think it is, you've just been staring at it too long." And these are valid.

But also, just because you can't write like that now doesn't mean you can't learn. You don't have to resign yourself to a particular style just because it comes easier to you. It is completely okay to be happy with the style you have, but it is also okay to not be happy with it and wish you could write like your favourite writers instead.

Just... when you get that, "oh my gosh, I will never be as good as them," feeling, maybe try figuring out what it is they are doing that you like so much. Maybe being patient with yourself doesn't mean accepting that this is your best work. Maybe it means accepting that this isn't and that it will take time, knowledge, and practice to get there. But you will, you just have to keep trying.

More Posts from Scatteredbeans and Others

3 years ago

....

“dear sirius,”

Please please please don’t be mad. Remember how I told you that Hagrid had made a new friend? Well… 

His new friend was a dragon and we had to help smuggle it out to Charlie (Ron’s brother) and we got caught by McGonagall and we lost 150 points and McGonagall said she’d have to write to our parents so I’m writing this really fast because I’m hoping you’ll get my letter first so that you don’t get too shocked when a Hogwarts owl comes through the wards. 

Please don’t yell at me too much when you see me at the next Quidditch match. I won’t be doing it again, I swear on your mum’s portrait. 

Love, 

Harry

Dear Sirius,

Our new Defense teacher is just as much of a loony as you told me he’d be. And his robes make me wish I was completely blind. Can you send me another one of your old books? I really really don’t think I’ll be learning much of anything this year. At least anything of value (although if you want to know what Gilderoy Lockhart’s favorite colour is, I can let you know). 

Love,

Harry

Dear Sirius,

I FORGOT MY SIGNED HOGSMEADE PERMISSION SLIP CAN YOU PLEASE SEND IT TO ME! URGENTLY! THANK YOU!

Also do you want any more Sugar Quills when I go to Honeydukes? I remember you were on your last one when I left.

Love,

Harry

Dear Sirius,

You probably already heard, but I can’t come home from Christmas this year. There’s going to be a stupid Yule Ball at the stupid school on Christmas day and I have to go because I’m a stupid champion and I have to find a stupid date because I have to open the stupid ball. And learn how to stupid dance!

I think I left my stupid dress robes in my closet. Can you send them to me? Also, how do I ask someone to come with me to the ball?

Missing you and your horrid Christmas decor.

Love, 

Harry

Dear Sirius,

I know you told me to tell you if anything weird happens this year and I think something just did. The new Defense teacher is a witch from the Ministry-absolutely horrid woman. I had a detention with her (yes I know the term only just started and no you may not ask why) and she had me doing lines, only the quill she gave me was kind of strange? It didn’t use ink. It sorta… used my blood I think. Or at least the ink was red. Carved the words I was writing into the back of my hand. Healed right up though. No scars or anything.

Don’t lose your mind. I’m sure it’s fine. I’m just telling you now so that you can’t yell at me later for keeping  “important information” from you like the whole Philosopher’s Stone Disaster of ‘92.

Hope to see you soon. Schoolwork is slowly killing me.

Love,

Harry

2 years ago
This Is So Important

this is so important

2 years ago

I just remembered my second Pride, where I made different flag themed daisy chain bracelets/necklaces to hand out. I need folks to understand something:

They were free.

They were fucking free.

They were maybe ¢60 of acrylic yarn each at the most, and the whole ziploc bag of them took 2 hours max.

Three people gave me sad eyes until I took their money.

Someone who was clearly the mom friend of their group made me take a $5 and gave a 10 minute pep talk.

At least four more people insisted on getting change to pay for the, once again, free bracelets.

In spite of all these shenanigans, the absolute best was this one person who I can only describe as, “queer surfer dude who looks like a boyfriend who looks like a girlfriend.” I can remember nothing of the outfit, only the impeccable vibes. I did the same thing I did with everyone else, explaining the bracelets were free, and they nodded along as they took the last 6 strand rainbow bracelet. As soon as they had it on their wrist, they pointed at something over my shoulder and, like a fool, I looked.

Next thing I know, they’re running off cackling, yelling, “YOU’LL NEVER CATCH ME!” and I’m holding a fucking $20. I had to stop at least two people from chasing them, cause they thought the person stole something, and then they tried to give me money cause they thought it was funny seeing me flail over people being Too Nice.

That was the year I got reverse-robbed at Pride. I hope everyone out there is having a good time and, in particular, that queer surfer dude is out there still causing benevolent chaos.

3 years ago

when two musicians sing into the same microphone and lean in very close to each other… like omg are you guys gonna kiss now to relieve the homoerotic tension?😳

3 years ago

aaaaaaaaaaah, if we could choose our parents i would have chosen them!!!!!!! ik its a sick thing to say, but trust me you'd say the same if you didnt luck out in that department!

Potters, 1981

Potters, 1981

9 months ago

Older wolfstar fic recs: (older in age that is)

let me know what I missed and self recs are welcome (also as always check tags for each one to protect yourself) **And I know older is relative term bc most of these wolfstar are in their 30s I do believe. But. They have more life experience than in Hogwarts or uni.

--orange juice (i've been ready for you to come home for so long) by raggedypond: divorced parents of teddy with one bed at his graduation

-Honey If I'm Not by @brigid-faye divergent post war where remus left, jily lived, and wolfstar only reconnects years later by chance. (Also has a Sirius pov)

---used my best colours for your portrait by @littleoldrachel lie low at Lupin's with flashbacks exploring remus' life

-Flight of Destiny by @lucigoo lesbian wolfstar meet on plane (Luci also has several others where they're older and lots of beautiful fics

--Aging Gracelessly by orphan_account: texting fic

--the mayors of simpleton by fruity_individual divorced wolfstar get back together, raising teddy

-Second Generation by MsAlexWP single parents, getting back together. The sequel is so perfect too! It's a Nice Day for a Wolfstar Wedding

-the sea is a good place to think of the future by peachyybabe (second in series is mcd but this one is open ending)

-Of Memories and Milk Thievery by moonymoment raising teddy, get back together

--Birthday Blues by YouBlitheringIdiot @blitheringmcgonagall :Sirius is turning sixty and he is appalled...

--Give Quarter to Old Men - @krethes series

--dear your holiness by mollymarymarie

--The Postwar Chronicles by @sliebman10 post canon series

-Vigil Strange I Kept by whitmans_kiss explores effects of lycanthropy

--ten reasons (to go to michigan) by @greyeyedmonster-18 remus headed home, trying to move on from divorce

--Prettiest Star Verse by Raging_queer

-I didn’t sign up for this by Moonystoastandmarsbar divorced wolfstar

-Of Protein Powders and PTAs by @squintclover and @tracingpatternswrites rivals to lovers

-An Infinte Ocean by orphan_account raising teddy strangers to lovers

--The Road Not Taken by @mollymarymarie

-extra credit by MsAlexWP rivals to lovers

-Baby On Board by aqua_myosotis

-Of Memories, Bitter and Sweet by MsAlexWP memory loss

**luci's recs

-my love, take care of yourself by littleoldrachel

-How to romance a guy with (terrible) poetry by BayleyWinchester

-Teddy Plays Matchmaker by grow_as_we_go

-The Front Step Surprise by R33sesPieces

**Recs from others** (I haven't read all these yet but wanted to include)

--Just what the doctor ordered by WrappedUp (be aware there is age gap)

--The Lab by de_sire again an age gap

-Till We Have Arrived Home Again by prouvairing divergent post canon raising harry

-The Patchwork of Us by TracingPatterns

-The Things I Did by Lolo_row

-The Phoenix Agency by LupinsChocolatePraline

-The Fall by EuripidesTrousers

-Pages of You by wolfpants this is drarry main but apparently background wolfstar is really good

-Just Like Heaven by the_prettiest_w0lf_star: mechanic Sirius and librarian Remus

-soloorganaas

-impishtubist

***Self rec***

--Memories of You: mcd exploring memory loss

--Through the Years: Sirius thinks about the past and how handsome his husband is while holding their granddaughter.

--DN(R): Lie low at Lupin's era where they discuss decisions Remus made in the lost years.

**also- the wolfstar librarian is always a great resource make sure to give some likes on posts: 30yo and Up part 2 Bring Black Back Back from the Veil Lie Low at Lupin’s Post Azkaban Grimmauld Place

--Feel free to check my other rec lists, as well as the rest of my fics

1 year ago
How To Ask The Demon You've Been Smitten Over For 6000 Years To Dance: An Angel's Guide
How To Ask The Demon You've Been Smitten Over For 6000 Years To Dance: An Angel's Guide
How To Ask The Demon You've Been Smitten Over For 6000 Years To Dance: An Angel's Guide
How To Ask The Demon You've Been Smitten Over For 6000 Years To Dance: An Angel's Guide
How To Ask The Demon You've Been Smitten Over For 6000 Years To Dance: An Angel's Guide
How To Ask The Demon You've Been Smitten Over For 6000 Years To Dance: An Angel's Guide
How To Ask The Demon You've Been Smitten Over For 6000 Years To Dance: An Angel's Guide
How To Ask The Demon You've Been Smitten Over For 6000 Years To Dance: An Angel's Guide

how to ask the demon you've been smitten over for 6000 years to dance: an angel's guide

bonus:

How To Ask The Demon You've Been Smitten Over For 6000 Years To Dance: An Angel's Guide
3 years ago

<333

“I Love You Guys” - (2021)

“I love you guys” - (2021)

Them.

3 years ago

hi! i wanna know what you think about maddie saying "its only the beginning" is it like beginning of the @buse cycle cassie will probably experience with nate or something else

hiiiiii

well, if we take it literally then yeah ofc definitely what you said. however, i cant help but think....

1. it might be maddie saying 'oh bitch you aint seen nothing yet'! some reputation era revenge shit.

2. it might be maddie saying how everything will get out of control and soon cassie wont have any control over her actions and that getting up on stage thing was only the beginning.

3. orrrr this one's my favourite, it could be the writers telling US, that this is just the beginning and there's more to come in s3, hehe :))

hope you have a nice day/night :))


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scatteredbeans - cheesecake
cheesecake

she/her

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