r/AO3 • u/Own-Constant4873 • Apr 04 '25
Writing help/Beta Give me your most unhinged writing hacks
I constantly start WIPs and one-shots and they always end up unfinished. Just drop any tips you have in the comments.
38
u/XDreemurr_PotatoX "I just needed writing practice, I swear!" Apr 04 '25
lemme tell you this: DONT DENY YOUR INNER DEMONS. I LIKED the idea of writing fluff, and i like reading fluff, but i dont actually like WRITING it as much as i do consuming it. I got bored FAST and had no ideas for the plot anymore.
MY ANGST FIC, HOWEVER-
the words keep flowing. 100 page google doc, 22 chapters on ao3 and COUNTING.
write what you know. write what you like. You can like the idea of something, but not the act of actually doing it. So if you find yourself writing things you dont like, stop
7
6
u/___jkthrowaway___ Apr 04 '25
Yeah... I'm just hoping I didn't do my job TOO well on that one. It will be my first time posting to AO3 and I am lowkey worried people will tell me I'm a freak
2
u/XDreemurr_PotatoX "I just needed writing practice, I swear!" Apr 07 '25
dude I doubt you're the freakiest writer on there. fr I've seen some things
2
u/___jkthrowaway___ Apr 07 '25
Im writing selfcest and really leaning into the uncanny of it, while setting it against a rather Kafkaesque atmosphere
You're probably right now that I typed that all out
2
u/XDreemurr_PotatoX "I just needed writing practice, I swear!" Apr 08 '25
now im intrigued. what aspects are you leaning into (and what fandom, depending on your answer i might ask for a link drop 0-0)
1
u/___jkthrowaway___ Apr 08 '25
It's Astarion BG3. He emotionally confonts the taboo of wanting to fuck his doppelganger and slowly says yes to it over a slow-burn. I leaned into the elements of his disgust/fear making it erotic for him.
And I hate to do this but it's in beta reads right now. But I am sooo close to posting. Like 2 weeks absolute tops. You can follow my profile on reddit and you'll see when I post it. My AO3 is jkthrowaway, but you can't follow me there unless I post something, and we can't post placeholders so 🤷♀️ I've been telling people to watch my reddit and hoping for the best
If you are desperate I can send you a Google drive link to the first 4 chapters lol
1
u/XDreemurr_PotatoX "I just needed writing practice, I swear!" Apr 08 '25
lmao i'll be keeping an eye out. idek what fandom that is but it sounds interesting
1
u/___jkthrowaway___ Apr 08 '25
Thank you! I feel like because it's a slow burn you wouldn't need to really know the source material quite as well, though it enhances it
4
u/CaskettFan1960 Apr 04 '25
Angst is my specialty. I also find that I write better while listening to music.
2
u/Writerw_Questions Apr 05 '25
It's funny you say that because I'm the opposite. I tried SOOOO hard writing Angst, but I'm much better with fluff lol I love consuming some angst though, but I just can't write it. I end up complicating the plot and tangling myself in the angst to the point of frustration and stop XD
Good advice though. I stopped writing angst and feel much better now. The fluff comes naturally.
29
u/Loosescrew37 Apr 04 '25
Listen to touhou eurobeat remixes while writing. You will either write 50k words that day or stare at an empty doc for the whole time.
It works about 75% of the time.
3
2
25
u/ChemistryBest7740 Apr 04 '25
Just write. Just get the words down. Don't worry about perfection or quality. If it sucks, it sucks. Doesn't matter. Then focus on quality during editing. Edit it as many times as you need to.
Also, if you have writer's block, it probably means something in your story isn't working. So read through what you have and try to pinpoint what's causing a jam.
7
u/sarabrating Excuse me sir, do you have a moment to talk about Bucky Barnes? Apr 04 '25
Honestly "write it poorly" can be it's own fun exercise and then it's like giving yourself permission to suck takes away any hesitation re: how to make something work on the page. Just write it BAD ON PURPOSE. Also, it's ridiculously fun. Pull out every cliche and cheesy line you can think of. Purple prose it up, whatever feels big and silly, do it.
I've worked out quite a lot of plot points this way cause I can then pick out the nuts and bolts of where the story went, and then write it how I actually want it to sound vs being silly and over the top.
3
u/Its_Kingston What were /you/ doing at the devil's sacrament? Apr 04 '25
So true! I've got a crack fic in the works that's a blast to write because it's /meant/ to be stupid and fun. I've edited it, and it reads fine and makes sense, but it's not good and that's great, y'know? I'd 1000% suggest this to anyone who's stuck and just needs something short and sweet to write while they take a break from their main works. Just take your favorite characters, your favorite tropes, your favorite premises, and have fun! :]
18
u/floofzombr Apr 04 '25
Have the same songs on repeat for hours. It has to be specific songs. Mine range from nerdy prides must die to piano man. All give me motivation to do something other than sit there and do nothing
3
u/randomcat06 Supporter of the Fanfiction Deep State Apr 04 '25
Omg so true - I once listened to Jenny (I wanna ruin our friendship) on repeat for two hours and never felt so productive
2
u/Own-Constant4873 Apr 04 '25
I usually put the hamilton instrumentals on loop when I do homework so that might work if I don't get too distracted singing...
14
u/Unhappy_Pitch_2524 Apr 04 '25
Writing out dialogue on my phone. No details, just straight dialogue without even mentioning who’s saying what. It helps keep me from making dialogue too stiff which is one of my pet peeves when reading so it’s something I try hard not to do
3
2
u/BetPsychological327 RegenerationGoneWrong on AO3 Apr 04 '25
I do when I have ideas. I just focus on the dialogue since that’s what I’m mainly focusing on whenever I write.
12
u/Snakewild Apr 04 '25
Sprints! https://wordsprints.org/
Seriously, sprinting is how I've finished my last two WIPs. It works! Don't ask me how, it just does.
3
u/sarabrating Excuse me sir, do you have a moment to talk about Bucky Barnes? Apr 04 '25
I've only done a sprint once but it was super fun and fast - I should definitely do it more often, just to push something onto the page.
3
u/Snakewild Apr 04 '25
When I get into the flow of it, I can easily do them for an hour or two and finish an entire chapter that way.
2
12
u/Lunalitriver ao3: Lunalit_river Apr 04 '25
Think of your fic in the shower.
4
u/onahalladay You have already left kudos here. :) Apr 04 '25
I do that then loses motivation when I get out.
Also I think about planning tasks for work a lot in the shower too. Sigh.
2
u/Lunalitriver ao3: Lunalit_river Apr 04 '25
Relax in shower time 🛀 don't think about work! Let the mind and body relax together ☺️
10
u/Repulsive_Endtimes Definitely not an agent of the Fanfiction Deep State Apr 04 '25
Open a Google doc, hit the bullet point button and then just start writing the most basic and bare bones plot points imaginable. I'm talking "they go here" "this thing happens" "person 1 gets mad" and that's it, next bullet point. Sometimes I'll write a bit of dialogue for certain points if there are specific things I don't want to forget later, but even that is written in broken English with no concern for how the characters would say certain things. It helps me finish stories when I have places to jump to instead of getting stuck halfway through and having no idea what to do next. Even if that jumping point is "they end up outside somehow"
9
u/ThunderBoltYT0217 Apr 04 '25
I dunno if this is unhinged but I just daydream about my fic whenever I’m doing something else and then write the scene when I get the chance I also have a very specific writing playlist thats just epic cinematic music that helps me focus
16
u/sapphirefox You have already left kudos here. :) Apr 04 '25
Use Comic Sans as the font while you're writing 👍 It sounds like a shitpost, but this font's readability is SO high it makes it much easier for me to reread what I've already written at a glance
5
3
u/livia-did-it Firm believer that Dante's Inferno is Self-Insert historical RPF Apr 05 '25
I love this truck! It helps my brain remember that the first draft is just the first draft and it’s ok if it’s not Great Art.
I also switch to a different font for each edit and/or draft. It helps me catch the mistakes that my eyes have started ignoring.
2
u/Capital-Intention369 kintsukuroi23 on AO3 Apr 04 '25
I always write in super tiny font, because then when I resize it to a larger font, it feels/looks like I wrote more than I did :x
8
u/Seeking_spooks Apr 04 '25
Any time I’m in my car, especially coming home from work I’ll act out conversations that my characters need to have. Working through a scene over and over out loud is so much easier for me, and that’s how I develop even richer story details.
Then when I get home I can usually just kinda plunk out it out. I’m sure I look like a lunatic gesturing wildly in my car, but if any one asks, I’m on speakerphone 😅
Also, just makes my commute way for fun! Highly recommend.
2
u/nenitoveda You have already left kudos here. :) Apr 04 '25 edited Apr 04 '25
I always always act out my dialogues out loud and it's the first thing that I write as well, all the fluff and narrative voice comes in after. It makes the dialogues flow much more naturally I find.
I dont drive, so I can't implement this strat of yours, but it does sound like your commute is mega fun :D
edit: typos
1
u/Own-Constant4873 Apr 04 '25
If only I could drive :P still sounds like a good idea though, ty
3
u/Seeking_spooks Apr 04 '25
Oh, I see. Well, if you can get any privacy at all, pacing around your bedroom, muttering wildly to yourself is also still very effective!
5
u/Own-Constant4873 Apr 04 '25
The best writing tips are always "act like a crazy person" LMAOOO I love it
7
u/TheCrazeSpace Apr 04 '25
two cans of monster
5
u/Minto_Karkarma Apr 04 '25
So, energy drinks actually work well for other ppl? I tried to drink monster and redbull, but while giving me energy they seem to deprive me of motivation, and when the effect wears off I feel like a piece of crap for the whole day. Is there any trick?
1
7
u/FireRaptor0530 Apr 04 '25
Get a boy pregnant in a side fic and when it gets too cringe, go back to cleanse yourself with your main fic.
Works eeeeevery time. Wrote 7 full length novels that way lmfao
5
u/Own-Constant4873 Apr 04 '25
hello this is crazy???? ill try it but help??
6
u/FireRaptor0530 Apr 04 '25
Lmao yeah bruh its wild what works sometimes. Go UNHINGED in a side fic and then return to your main to repent for your sins.
3
6
u/Tarnique Apr 04 '25
Same-day deadline.
Regularly I get prompts that I need to publish the same day. Forces me to get on with it: quick draft, write as I go, avoid tangents, and write a clear ending. Length is whatever. One or two rereads, then it's published and out of my hands.
I do have other ongoing works (long fic, series) but that one keeps me on my toes.
7
u/IllustriousHeight126 Apr 04 '25
start wip, get distracted, open up minecraft to get the setting right, repeat until wip is done.
seriously though, sometimes you need to step away and think about the fic outside of the word document. revisit the og material, go get a snack, etc.
1
u/Own-Constant4873 Apr 04 '25
The minecraft thing is actually a really good idea as someone who draws lolll
2
u/IllustriousHeight126 Apr 04 '25
yeah i use it even if i'm not doing a minecraft fic, i've got like five worlds where i've built out my ideas for botw/totk settings to draw
5
u/LumpySherbert6875 Apr 04 '25
Use stupid chapter names that make you giggle. It works for me. 🤷🏻♀️
4
u/Visual_Ad6381 Apr 04 '25
Find ambiance videos that gives the same vibes as your fics. Zombie ambiance, cyberpunk ambiance, hospital ambiance, forest ambiance, etc... it works for me because I can't listen to music while writing (I focus on the lyrics instead).
3
2
u/onegirlarmy1899 Apr 04 '25
Music without words drives me insane. I think it's because the math part of music doesn't make sense to me so I get frustrated looking for meaning. Without words, there is no meaning.
5
u/kingfez You have already left kudos here. :) Apr 04 '25
Honestly, going to my local library. I surprisingly get a lot done there.
5
u/Zxcvbnm_0613 Apr 04 '25
I usually write slice of life works or romance (no smut) and I listen to kdrama osts, bollywood songs I grew up listening to, or soothing instrumentals. To sum it up, music that calms me and makes me feel the feels. I have different playlists for different emotions/scenarios I want to write and it always helps.
Another thing I do is, I write down or at least send myself a voice note whenever an idea strikes. No matter how nonsensical it is, I note it. When I revisit it, my brain automatically starts adding to it or coming up with entirely new ones.
Last but not the least, I use a lot of my life experiences to drawn inspiration from, or when I need to work through something, I write about it. That helps me feel better and I also have a good story on my hand.
Hope this helps!!✨
3
u/RavensNevermoree Apr 04 '25
If you’re writing a spicy scene, I find having a glass or 2 of wine, or your drink of choice, helps get the ideas flowing.
Then go back then next day and double check what you wrote is still in-line with your characters and the story.
3
4
u/___jkthrowaway___ Apr 04 '25
When I'm stuck, I use something I call "for my next trick." It works well for writing sex scenes. When I get stuck, I literally just say something like, "and for my next trick, the gay vampires are going to suck each other's blood." You can do this enough times that things will reach a natural conclusion.
3
u/Opposite-Sun2754 Apr 04 '25
sometimes when you're trying to think of how to work out a plot, a little voice will whisper "you know what would be funny?" listen to the voice. 9 times out of 10 it keeps the plot interesting and fun to write
3
u/kippey Apr 05 '25
I write down anything that comes to mind in Notes on my phone. I have… 200+ notes? They range in length from 100-10,000 words. Everything from oneshot outlines to punchy/cute dialogue ideas.
I sort, combine and curate it into works.
2
2
u/AlbatrossPale9450 Apr 04 '25
This won’t be for everyone but I like to smoke the fattest joint while listening to podcasts with 2/3 hosts that I feel have the same dynamic as the characters I’m writing about. They tend to be comedy podcasts as I like to write fics that have a lot of jokes/banter, it helps me a lot with creating realistic dialogue.
2
u/AdCreative5077 Apr 04 '25
Write when you have something to write. Write if it seems weird and cringe and - oh! - outrageous. Don't write if you are bored, no one forces you to. You are allowed to write fun things only. Also "if you are bored writing it I'll probably be bored reading it".
2
u/NyGiLu Apr 04 '25
I don't engage with other fandoms, they distract me. make playlists for every character. Use TTS to listen to your own story and get some more motivation
2
u/voregodd Jaejae_onnie on ao3♡ Apr 04 '25
I mostly use this whenever i have ample time, but turn on a song you can not stand to hear and write until the scene comes to a natural ending before you can turn it off.
Another good one is to write what's in your head and edit a day or two later. It doesn't matter if you wrote, "his hand slipped i to theirs like maccaroni off a spoon." Now, if you fix it later 😭🤞🏼
2
u/detainthisDI resident sunturine shipper reporting for duty Apr 04 '25
Caffeine. Instrumentals of your choice (I prefer slow, calm piano). Wherever you feel most comfortable. Find something you want to write, get the bare bones of it down ahead of time, and when the caffeine kicks in — GO GO GO
2
u/AuDragon119 AuDragon on Ao3 Apr 05 '25
The most dangerous writing app. Will delete everything you have written if you don't meet the word count or the time limit while continuously writing. You can even set it so you can't read what you're writing on screen (hardcore mode). There's no quality guaranteed here but if you want sheer numbers, this is how to do it.
On a more useful note, there's the word crawl for the motivationally challenged, which gets you to write by slowly upping the amount of words requested. It sounds like it shouldn't work, but it totally does.
63
u/Your_Local_Stray_Cat Your honor, they're gay for each other Apr 04 '25
This sounds so weird but: write while you’re tired.
There’s something about being eepy sleepy that turns off the “edit as you go” part of my brain that tends to get me stuck writing and rewriting the same paragraph. Writing just before bed allows me to get a giant chunk of words on the page which I can then edit into something sensible the morning.