Music for Writers

Music or no music? Some writers require total silence to work their creative magic. Others, like me, are bopping to NF at their desks while they scribble or type away. For those of you out there who are music lovers, here are five songs I love for writing!

Come Alive The Greatest Showman (Benj Pasek and Justin Paul)

Featured Lyric: "When the world becomes a fantasy / And you're more than you could ever be / 'Cause you're dreaming with your eyes wide open."

I love this song because it's all about the amazing effects imagination can have on people. Honestly, the whole Greatest Showman soundtrack has this vibe.

To the Dreamers for KING & COUNTRY

Featured Lyric: "To the soulful / Heart open hopeful / Keep on charging ahead."

This song is so encouraging to people who feel like they always have their head in the clouds--a fight song for creatives of all kinds.

New Wine Hillsong Worship

Featured Lyric: "Make me Your vessel / Make me an offering / Make me whatever You want me to be."

This lyric is one of my prayers over my writing life, that God would use me for His purposes. I hope other Christian writers can take encouragement and inspiration from this song, too.

Born For This The Score

Featured Lyric: "Feeling the rhythm inside of my chest / All I need is just a pen / I know I was born for this."

This song is a battle anthem for writers that will rev you up and make you want to write more than you ever have before. I love this song for getting fired up to write.

Non-Stop Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

Featured Lyric: "How do you write like tomorrow won’t arrive? / How do you write like you need it to survive? / How do you write ev’ry second you’re alive?"

I love to play this song when I'm typing and try to keep up with relentless beat. It's always fun to imagine your writing is following in the footsteps of one of the great writers of early America.

Enjoy this sampling of my writing music! What are some of your favorite songs to write with?

Writing Memes

 Today was the first day of university, so I don't have any long posts to share (those will be back next week). For now, enjoy these writing memes I've created!

The Four Correlations: Water, Winter, Phlegmatic, Night, Death

What Is This Post?

Water, Winter, Phlegmatic, Night, Death

Pinterest Aesthetic Board

Water-

pacific ocean, ice caps, snowflakes, raindrops, dewdrops, condensation on the windows, fog, clouds, drawing a hot bath, drowning, running water, tap water, sparkling water, ice crystals, frost, flavored water, atlantic ocean, rivers, streams, creeks, ponds, marine biology, water life, boating, waterskiing, windsurfing, competitive swimming, fishing, sharks, whales, tall-mast ships, piracy, mist, ocean breezes, mermaids, sirens, kraken, mariana trench, octopi, coral reefs, tropical fish, finding nemo, parting the red sea, crossing bridges, diving, cannonballs, navy, submarines, blue, green, turquoise, sea turtles, hawaii, islands...

Winter-

roaring fireplace, christmas, new year's eve, fireworks, december, february, january, valentine's day, snow, ice, ice skating, frozen ponds, barren trees, evergreens, bells, sleds, sleighs, reindeer, hibernating critters, coats, mittens, boots, winter break, holiday treats, family returning, traveling, snowbirds, tropical vacations, cozy sweaters, blizzards, ice storms, sleet, car accidents, charity, serving others, hail, wind, jigsaw puzzles, hot chocolate, peppermint, white, gray, red, envelopes, stamps, long nights, short days, thick books, hot soup, hearty meals, snow angels, snowball fights, snow forts, sweatpants, buttons, zippers...

Phlegmatic-

thinking things through, going with the flow, remaining calm, quiet conversations, agreeing to disagree, sharing old memories, "if it's not broke why fix it?", science books, math problems, the mom friend, "slow down," neutral colors, cool heads, sleeping on it, "that seems risky," lounging on the couch, "sure, why not?", homebodies, "it will be okay," "let's not rush into this," sunglasses and a beach towel, yoga, meditation, spirituality, blankets, rocking chairs, "i think i'll stay home," crafting, baking, reading novels, "shh, i'm studying," paying attention with one's whole body, listening closely, sound advice, "take it easy..."

Night-

phases of the moon, constellations, astrology, names of stars, counting the stars, clouds in front of the moon, blue & purple & black, wishing on a falling star, planets, asteroids and meteorites, insomnia, dreams, nightmares, waking in a cold sweat, can you die in a dream?, dropping temperatures, scenes bathed in moonlight, soft beds, warm covers, nests of pillows, drifting off slowly, white noise, gentle music, nightly rituals, brushing teeth, washing faces, tucking children into bed, brushing hair, pajamas and nightgowns, strange noises, prayers, nightlights, midnight snacks, cramming for a test, tiptoeing around the house...

Death-

black veils, funeral processions, police lights and sirens, 21-gun salute, open casket, folded flag, mourners in the rain, cemeteries, fresh-dug graves, headstone, marble monuments, inscriptions, quotes, dates, family plots, skull and crossbones, no mercy, poison, warning signs, blue lips, asphyxiation, pooling blood, waxy skin, papery eyelids, rotting flesh, dry bones, glazed eyes, sunken faces, when the breathing stops and the heartbeat fades, crying, wailing, sobbing, last words, vows, revenge, last wishes, funerals, memorial services, celebrations of life, "ashes to ashes, dust to dust," spreading ashes...

Did I forget your favorite part of one of these aesthetics? Comment your water/winter/phlegmatic/night/death imagery below!

Additional Writing Challenge: Pick an element from each category and write a poem on the following topic: Peace.

Previous Posts:

Air, Spring, Sanguine, Morning, Birth

Fire, Summer, Choleric, Midday, Youth

Earth, Autumn, Melancholy, Evening, Adulthood

The Four Correlations: Earth, Autumn, Melancholy, Evening, Adulthood

 What Is This Post?

Earth, Autumn, Melancholy (Black Bile), Afternoon/Evening, Adulthood

Pinterest Aesthetic Board

Earth-

smell of the world after rain, rough tree bark, dirt under your fingernails, springy moss, bare feet, red hands, mushrooms and toadstools, pillbugs, earwigs, fossils, dripping caves, stalactites and stalagmites, trails through the woods, rich black soil, plowed turf, crops, mud caked on boots, quicksand, graves, catacombs, dead grass, dirt on your face, ancient mountains, cliffs and canyons, landslide, earthquakes, volcanos, sinkholes, long rolling plains, gardening, national forests, rotting wood, climbing trees, earthworms, badgers, antlions, billows of dust, clay pottery, things crawling through the leaflitter, geodes cracked open, crystals, shifting sands...

Autumn-

pumpkin spice lattes, family in town, kids in costumes, "Boo!", turkey, cranberries, hot soups, apple cider, scarves, pumpkins, woolly sweaters, crackling fires, first frost on the ground, corn husks flying, boots and mittens, red and gold, falling leaves, bare branches, ripe fruits, workers in the fields, warm ovens, oranges, cloves and cinnamon, smell of baking bread, knitted hats, backpacks, sharpened pencils, new shoes, ghosts and spirits, superstition, a nip in the air, fresh-baked pies, shorter days, changing back the clocks, political campaigns, casting your ballot, bubbling cauldrons, fresh breeze, clouds rolling in, composition notebooks, red pens, cold fingers...

Melancholy-

drawn curtains, black-and-white photographs, rainy days, cats curled-up and purring, thunder and lightning, academia, understated makeup, reading poetry, quill and ink, thick notebook pages, edgar allen poe, raven and crows, cloudy skies, taking walks at midnight, comfy clothing, flannels, candlelight, late nights, sleeping in, messy hairdos, long walks, whistling teakettle, scribbled and smudged notes, piles of homework, tall bookshelves, leatherbound volumes, staring into space for hours, writing stories, dark color palettes, working in low light, photography, sketching, painting, piano compositions, classical music, daydreams...

Evening-

changing shadows, fading light, the golden hour, sunsets, twilight, purple and blue skies, red sun, first stars peeing out, streaks of gray clouds, cool air, long shadows, rustling leaves, wind shifting, skittish animals, rush-hour traffic, family coming home from work, dinner on the table, watching TV in the living room, exercising outdoors, warm blankets, a glass of wine, board games, long conversations, formal attire, sitting on the back porch, taking photos of the sunset, homework, parties, charcuterie, desserts, pulling off your shoes, turning on the lights, festina lente, spending time with family, going out on the town, relaxation, empty buildings, "Sorry, We're Closed"...

Adulthood-

nine to five, friday, monday, morning coffee, commuting, tax season, over 21, shopping lists, busy grocery stores, laptops, briefcases, uniforms, buying a new car, house hunting, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family reunions, boxes of photographs, attics and basements full of boxes, liquor cabinets, Christmas cards, coworkers, water cooler, vacation days, paying the bills, junk mail, listening to the radio, watching the news, marked-up calendar, envelopes of money, coupons, dropping the kids off at school, waking up early, sizzling breakfasts, going to bed at 9:30, "don't forget your jacket!", cooking a meal, holding the baby in one arm, tripping over the dog...

Did I forget your favorite part of one of these aesthetics? Comment your earth/autumn/melancholy/evening/adulthood imagery below!

Additional Writing Challenge: Pick an element from each category and write a poem on the following topic: Love (in whatever form this may take).

Previous Posts:

Air, Spring, Sanguine, Morning, Birth

Fire, Summer, Choleric, Midday, Youth

Christmas Writing Resources

Looking for the perfect writing ambience in the spirit of the season? Here are some suggestions!

Instrumental Christmas Playlist (Spotify)

Christmas Writing Ambience (YouTube)

Happy Fourth of July, Y'all!

In honor of our exceptional nation's 247th birthday, here are three patriotic prompts! Challenge: write a story, poem, or song that makes use of all three of them.

(Images courtesy of Canva, Pinterest, Pexels.)

The Four Correlations: Fire, Summer, Choleric, Midday, Youth

What Is This Post?

Fire, Summer, Choleric (Yellow Bile), Midday, Youth

Pinterest Aesthetic Board

Fire-

controlled burn, angry mob with pitchforks and torches, candles, lanterns, bonfires, burning books, hot tempers, flaming marshmallows, black smoke rising, glowing embers, coal, flames in his eyes, burning passion, "burn it all down", charred remains, burnt-out buildings, crumbling black, chimney sweeps, soot, fire-eaters, signal fires, olympic torch, walk across the coals, lit-up cigarettes, wildfires, red sun behind brown smoke, phoenix rising from the ashes

Summer-

pool parties, sunshine, joyful shouts, barbecues, country songs, rock songs, squirt gun fights, lemonade, root beer floats, potlucks, nine-square, summer camp, facepaint, carnivals, "school's out!", wildflowers, sundresses, tshirts, movie nights, popcorn, projectors, tall wild grass, fresh mown grass, watermelon, fireworks, fresh garden produce, butterflies, hummingbirds, roadtrips, water sports, hydroplane races, waterparks, rollercoasters, tanning on the beach, playing in the ocean, sudden thunderstorms

Choleric-

reckless smiles, forging ahead, "shut up and listen!", running down the soccer field, choosing a fork in the road, "to be completely honest...", shoulders back, biting sarcasm, working late hours, "i don't need your help", running into a brick wall, protest signs held high, strong handshakes, talking louder than everyone else, wading across the river, "fight! fight! fight!", lit-up scoreboards, boldface fonts, all-caps messages, "never give up", persuasive essays, broken tempers

Midday-

sweat, hard work, ice-cold water, breaks for lunch, high noon showdowns, sun so hot you can hear it, sunscreen, sunburn, tan necks, clinging dust, heat, board games, spinning fan blades, "there's nothing on tv!", naps, mirages, long drives into town, going out for lunch as a family, "let's take a break", wilted flowers, first drink of the day, sound of a pop-top can, caffeine, get your second wind, cold sandwiches, reading a paperback

Youth-

revolution, loud music, ripped jeans, parties, late nights, bad jokes, Do Hard Things, homework, crazy stunts, gaga ball, youth worship band, bracelets, backpacks, ponytails, messy hair, sleep deficit, taking notes, studying, reading, hollow leg, junk food, big goals, social media, smartphones, "dream big", grassroots, public service, summer jobs, burgerflipping, middle school, high school, prom, graduation, university, dorm life, cheerleading, football, cafeteria, first dates, high emotions, ambition

Did I forget your favorite part of one of these aesthetics? Comment your fire/summer/choleric/midday/youth imagery below!

Additional Writing Challenge: Pick an element from each category and write a poem on the following topic: Joy.

Previous Post: Air, Spring, Sanguine (Blood), Morning, Birth

The Four Correlations: Air, Spring, Sanguine, Morning, Birth

What Is This Post?

 Air, Spring, Sanguine (Blood), Morning, Birth

Pinterest Aesthetic Board

Air-

wind blowing through your hair, cotton candy, hot air balloons, helium balloons, airplanes, puffy cumulus clouds, "just breathe", yawns, sighs, sunbeams falling on farmland, rays of light catching the dust in the air, parachutes, windy rooftops, chimney smoke, the sound of a coming storm, churning dark clouds, breezes moving the grass like ocean waves, the sound of cars on the highway, birdsong, rustling leaves, flower petals blown off in the wind, fields of tossing wildflowers, soaring birds, cold wind in your face, meringue, running with your arms out and the wind at your back, smells carried in the breeze...

Spring-

the first flowers popping through snow, crunchy gray melting snow, mud and moist earth, yellow-green willow branches, gray-gold light, bright yellow forsythia, red-and-black tulips, sweet-smelling hyacinths, amaryllis, paperwhites, Easter eggs, floral-print dresses, frilly Sunday dresses, blooming wildflowers in highway medians, baby birds chirping in nests, calves in the fields, fawns in the forest, chicks and ducklings in the Ranch 'n' Home, pounding rain, thunder, tornadoes, St. Patty's day, moving the clock forward, planting the garden, spring greens on your plate, violet redbuds, fleeting bluebonnets, cold mornings, breezy warm picnics...

Sanguine-

living in the moment, confidently crossed arms, wiping the blood off your sword, laughter in the face of jokes, laughter in the face of death, optimism, never-ending stream of talk, butterflies, rollercoasters, screams of joy, high-energy, quick wits, blood spatter on the wall, hot-blooded rage, "mood", flirting, red dress, traffic lights, dripping knife, washing the red off your hands, lipstick, parties, sly smirk, lively music, wine, strobing lights, flashy jewelry, sass, flipping your hair, shouting matches, boisterous opinions, enthusiastic sharing, blood on the asphalt, sports cars, shoulders-back posture, wink, red hair, crimson cape, syringe of blood, circus tents...

Morning-

warm bedsheets, yawning, beeping alarm clocks, smell of frying bacon, fresh-squeezed orange juice, diners, black coffee, cream, egg yolks, glaring sun through the window, sleeping in, jogging, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, sitting on the porch, watching the sunrise, dewy grass, rooster crowing, feeding the animals, purple horizon, rising before dawn, waking from dreams, getting dressed, making your bed, checking notifs, texting your boyfriend/girlfriend, "good morning", "sleep well?", fresh fruit, sounds in the hall, running feet and muted conversation, stretching, opening your laptop, newspaper print, brushing your hair, putting on makeup, driving to work/school, the weight of your backpack...

Birth-

crying, milk, wispy hair, blue eyes, sleepless nights, hospital gowns, wide eyes, nonsense sounds, red skin, newborn photos, mashed sweet potato and avocado, washing bottles, sweet sleep, lullabies, "Mama", "Dada", rolls of fat, flannel blankets, baby showers, pregnant tummy, butterfly kisses, fox kisses, forehead kisses, tummy kisses, ultrasound, "it's a boy/girl!", fat little face, squeals of delight, cradles, favorite stuffed animal, rocking chair, burping, changing diapers, baby powder, first birthday cake smash, holding the baby, first words, first steps, rolling across the floor, crawling, screaming, tiny socks and shoes...

Did I forget your favorite part of one of these aesthetics? Comment your air/spring/blood/morning/birth imagery below!

Additional Writing Challenge: Pick an element from each category and write a poem on the following topic: Hope.

Tips for Late-Night Writers

I know, I know, all the best professional authors say to write in the morning... But let's be honest with ourselves. We're mostly high school and college students here. Many of us get our best work done between the hours of 9pm and 1am. So... if you fall in the category of "late-night writers" (which I certainly do), here are a few tips to get the most out of your midnight writing sessions without driving yourself or anyone else insane!

1. Be Prepared. If you plan to write late into the night, chances are you'll want to crash straight into that bed the moment you finish. But you can't do that unless you've prepared for bed ahead of time. Before you sit down to write, take some time to change into your PJs, remove your makeup, read your Bible, brush your teeth--whatever it is you do before you go to bed at night. Then, when you've made that pesky wordcount, you're ready to sleep.

2. Be Considerate. If you share a space with others, be they your family or your roommates, take them and their bedtimes into consideration. If you like to listen to music or podcasts while you write, use earbuds, and if you're worried about light pollution, use a desk lamp or reading light so as not to disturb your housemates. This is another good reason to prepare for bed ahead of time--this way, you're not stumbling around your living space at 2am looking for your hairbrush and waking up light sleepers.

3. Be Kind to Yourself. Humans are not nocturnal. Our circadian rhythms dictate that we sleep when it's dark outside, so at some point, even the most inspired writer should go to bed. To make your late-night writing routine easier on your poor little brain, consider the following:

• Avoid sugar and caffeine during your late-night sprints.
• If you use electronic devices while writing, put them on nightlight mode so the blue light doesn't keep you up.
• If you listen to music while writing, pick something quiet and calming that won't amp you up right before bed.

4. Think About Tomorrow. What are you doing tomorrow morning? If you have to get up early for church or class, then keep that in mind the night before. The average young person needs 8-10 hours of sleep per night. I know what you're thinking: "I never get that much sleep!" Well, that might explain why you're tired all the time. When we don't get enough sleep, we build up a "sleep deficit." We have to get all those hours somehow. So if you do intend to put in three hours of sleep tonight, give yourself extra time in bed over the weekend or whenever you can. Paying of the sleep deficit isn't a replacement for a normal, healthy sleep schedule, but once again, we're students. We're extremely busy, and if we want to prioritize our writing, we might have to de-prioritize our bedtime. Just keep in mind the possible consequences.

Hopefully these tips help you be your most productive self during those midnight sprints!

Fun With Character Classification

 So, recently I discovered this thing called the Internet. (This may come as a surprise to you who have been reading my blog for years, but I am not very computer-savvy or modern, despite my youth.) And believe it or not, this Internet-thing has a lot of fun ideas for writers. For example, I've recently discovered two "tools" (the term might be generous) for getting to know your characters better.

The first is the DnD (Dungeons and Dragons) Alignment Chart, which looks like this:

The idea is, everyone falls into one of these squares based on two factors. On the one hand, you could be good (care about others more than yourself), evil (care about yourself more than others), or neutral (it depends on the situation). On the other hand, you could be lawful (you believe in the rules), chaotic (you ignore the rules), or neutral (it depends on the situation).

Look at this chart and think about your characters. I've discovered most of my protagonists fall in the "neutral" range, with a few chaotic outliers. This might say more about your concept of a a hero than it does about your characters.

The second is the Cinnamon Roll Meme, which looks like this:

In this context, "cinnamon roll" means a sweet gentle innocent person, and the idea of the chart is that people are either exactly what they seem or not at all what they seem. It's fun to look at this chart and compare it to one of your stories, trying to find a character who fits in each category. (To be honest, most of my characters fit in the top left square.)

Alright, now that I've enthusiastically shared my Internet findings, y'all are free to go!

The Four Correlations: An Experiment with Literary Symbolism

Time for an aesthetic experiment with common literary symbols. You've prob'ly heard of several famous sets of four that often appear in literature: The Four Elements, The Four Seasons, The Four Humors (or Temperaments), The Four Times of Day, and The Four Stages of Life. (I know what you're thinking: Where are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Sadly, I'm leaving them out of this particular reckoning. They'll get their time. 😉)

It turns out that these aren't random groupings. In fact, they correlate to one another. Here are the four sets of symbols, correlated:

Air, Spring, Sanguine (Blood), Morning, Birth

Fire, Summer, Choleric (Yellow Bile), Noon, Youth

Earth, Autumn, Melancholy (Black Bile), Afternoon, Adulthood

Water, Winter, Phlegmatic (Phlegm), Night, Death

Upon first view, you might see some similarities: Of course, night correlates to death, and fire to summer, and so on. The connections to the four humors are less obvious, but they actually have a lot in common with the four elements*. But the real question is, why do these correlations exist? Because these sets or four tend to symbolize (or be symbolized by) the same concepts in literature.

All this to say, over the course of the next few months, I'll put up a series of posts that briefly discusses each subset in The Four Correlations (as I'll call them for now) and gives a list of elements, symbols, and ideas associated with each Correlation, for writing reference. This is your introductory post.

*The four elements and four humors are both associated with certain pairs of qualities: Air and Blood map to "hot, wet," Fire and Yellow Bile to "hot, dry," Earth and Black Bile to "cold, dry," and Water and Phlegm to "cold, wet." What are the four humors, you ask? They are part of an ancient medical theory about four substances within the body that must be kept in balance to maintain good health. The theory has long since been disproven, but the association of certain humors with certain temperaments remains. (That's why when someone has an easy-going temperament, we say he's "in good humor," or when someone is sad, we call him "melancholy.")

Asking ChatGPT for Writing Advice

You may remember that a while back I posted on the image-generation program DALL-E 2, an OpenAI project. Well, OpenAI is famous for something that could be either revolutionary or deadly for the writing industry. There's been a lot of buzz lately about ChatGPT, the new AI that seems capable of just about anything. I decided to give it a short test: Can ChatGPT give good writing advice?

Here's the transcript of part of our first conversation, in which I asked it about how to write dynamic side characters:

Me:

... I'm a fiction writer, so I love discussing writing techniques and literary devices. 

ChatGPT:

That's great! I'd be happy to talk with you about writing techniques and literary devices. What specific elements of writing would you like to discuss? For example, do you have any questions about plot development, character creation, world-building, or perhaps the use of literary devices like symbolism, foreshadowing, or metaphor?

Me:

Well, I'm having trouble with one of my side characters right now. He's the main character's love interest in my work-in-progress, but his character feels kind of flat. Any advice?

ChatGPT:

Sure, I'd be happy to help! Creating dynamic and memorable characters is essential in engaging readers, so it's important to give every character, including side characters, a distinct personality and backstory.

Here are a few tips that might help you bring your side character to life:

1. Give your character a unique backstory: A well-crafted backstory can help readers understand why a character behaves the way they do, and can make them more relatable. Consider giving your love interest a rich history, full of triumphs and struggles that have shaped his personality.

2. Make him multidimensional: Avoid making your character one-dimensional by showing different facets of his personality. You can do this by giving him a variety of interests, skills, and flaws that make him feel like a real person.

3. Create conflict: A great way to make a character more interesting is to put him in conflict with others or with himself. This can help readers see the character's values and priorities and make them more invested in his journey.

4. Use dialogue to reveal character: Dialogue is a great tool to reveal your character's personality and values. Consider giving your love interest some memorable lines that show his sense of humor, his beliefs, and his motivations.

5. Use sensory details: Using sensory details like taste, smell, and touch can make your character feel more tangible and relatable to readers. Think about how your love interest interacts with the world around him and how you can use sensory details to bring him to life.

I hope these tips are helpful in bringing your side character to life! Good luck with your writing.

Me:

Thank you, that was very helpful.

ChatGPT:

You're welcome! I'm glad that I could be of assistance. If you have any other questions or if there is anything else you need help with, don't hesitate to ask!

+ + + 

As you can see, ChatGPT is polite and eager to help. I give it four out of five stars for personality.

As for the advice itself, it's not anything you couldn't find in a good book or elsewhere on the Internet, but what can you expect? The AI draws its knowledge from those sources. The information itself isn't very detailed but then again, my question wasn't very specific, so I would have to test further to see if it has any deeper insights. Overall, I don't recommend going to ChatGPT for writing advice at this time, since its capabilities are still fairly limited. However, I see the convenience in being able to quickly gather information on a specific topic without having to flip through dozens of books or scroll through search engine results.

I decided to give it a harder test. Here's the transcript of Convo #2, in which I ask ChatGPT to write a blog post on backstory in my style:

Me:

Hello, ChatGPT. I'm a blogger and I've heard you're very good at imitating the writing style of specified authors. I'd like to see if you can imitate mine. So here's the challenge: My blog is https://quilltree.blogspot.com. Write a blog post, in my style, about how to write compelling backstory without dumping information. 

ChatGPT:

Hello! I'm happy to take on your challenge. Here's my attempt at writing a blog post in your style:

As writers, we all know the importance of a good backstory. It helps us create fully realized characters and enriches our storytelling. But how do we convey this information to the reader without overwhelming them with a massive info dump? Here are some tips for writing compelling backstory without dumping information.

1. Show, don't tell

This old adage still holds true. Instead of telling your reader everything they need to know about a character's past, show it through their actions, dialogue, and interactions with other characters. For example, if a character has a fear of water due to a traumatic experience as a child, show them avoiding a swimming pool or sweating nervously at the beach. This not only conveys the information but also makes the character more relatable and interesting.

2. Use flashbacks sparingly

Flashbacks can be a powerful tool for revealing backstory, but they should be used sparingly. Too many flashbacks can disrupt the flow of the story and confuse the reader. Choose the most important moments in your character's past and use them strategically to reveal information and build tension.

3. Incorporate backstory into the plot

Don't treat backstory as a separate entity from the plot. Instead, weave it into the story in a way that feels natural. For example, if your character's past involves a long-lost love, have them encounter that person again in the present. This not only reveals backstory but also moves the plot forward.

4. Use dialogue to reveal information

Dialogue is a great way to reveal backstory without resorting to lengthy descriptions. Have characters discuss their past in a way that feels natural. For example, if a character is talking about their childhood, have them reminisce with a friend or family member. This makes the information feel more organic and less like an exposition dump.

5. Start with a mystery

Sometimes the best way to reveal backstory is to create a mystery around it. For example, if your character has a secret past, start by hinting at it without revealing all the details. This creates intrigue and keeps the reader invested in the story.

Remember, backstory is important, but it should never overshadow the main plot. By using these tips, you can create compelling backstory that enhances your storytelling without overwhelming the reader with information.

Me:

Thank you. That was an interesting experiment, and you imitated me fairly well. I'm actually creating a blog post about you right now, and this has been my second test of your ability to give writing advice. 

ChatGPT: 

You're welcome! I'm glad you found my attempt at imitating your style to be satisfactory. And I'm honored that you're writing a blog post about me - I'm looking forward to seeing it!

If you have any other writing-related questions or challenges, feel free to ask. I'm always happy to help out with writing advice.

+ + + 

ChatGPT passed that test with flying colors. The advice, if not specific, is sound--especially the part about flashbacks--and the point about beginning with a mystery definitely sounds like something I would say. In fact, I made that same point in my post on incorporating backstory into the beginning of your story. Five out of five, ChatGPT.

As for style, I'd give it a four out of five, tops. The sentence structures and numbered list of points definitely fit my style, but the voice is slightly off, missing the colloquialisms and grammatical tics that I usually use, but that's okay--the AI is prob'ly programmed to use correct grammar and avoid cliches, which is a good thing overall.

I might fiddle this shiny new toy more in the future, and if the results prove interesting, I'll post them. In the meantime, test out ChatGPT for yourself. It's fun to play with.

The Mechanics of Redefinition

Let's talk about how words are defined--and redefined.

This morning I was listening to the radio, and the "happy people" (as I call the Christian radio personalities) were talking about the definition of success. Listeners called in and explained briefly what they thought "success" meant.

That got me thinking: how do we "define" concepts such as success? When you think about it, it's kind of weird that humans feel a constant need to redefine words that already have well-accepted meanings. Of course, the "happy people" weren't asking listeners to define success--anyone with a dictionary or Internet access can do that. Here, look:

Success (n) 1. the accomplishment of an aim or purpose 2. the attainment of fame, wealth, or social status.

Any smart aleck could have called in and said this, but he didn't, because "define success" is neither an interesting question, nor the question being asked. What the personalities meant was "What does success mean to you?" Not a definition, but a redefinition.

Of course, once again, a smart aleck could call in and say, "for me, success is a kind of bean," or something equally ridiculous. But that is still not what the personalities are asking, and we all know it. We redefine success in terms of the original definition. Maybe not so much "what does success mean to you?" as "what means success to you?"

Here we enter the realm of denotation versus connotation. Denotation refers to the straight definition of a word. Connotation is the collection of associations tied to the word. "What does success mean to you?" is a question of connotation. Some words have collective positive or negative connotations that apply to most of society (something writers must consider when picking synonyms that technically mean the same thing but give off totally different vibes). But every word has personal connotations for the speaker, just as different scents bring up unique memories for each individual. For example, I like the smell of firework smoke, because it reminds me of my family's many Independence Day celebrations. Some people may not like that smell, because they had a bad experience with pyrotechnics or they just don't enjoy the scent of sulfur.

Another way of phrasing the success question is, "at what point in an endeavor do you consider it a success?" The answer to this question varies for everyone, because it's a personal standard, not the definition of a word. Here's a short writing exercise: Define success in terms of personal connotation. In other words, explain in a paragraph or less at what point in an endeavor you call it a success.

For me, success is when I have done my absolute best. Even if it isn't enough to reach my goal, it is all I could possibly do. I have done my due diligence; thus, I have in a sense succeeded.

Define success. Define failure, happiness, virtue, inspiration, suffering, death, life, art. Great philosophers such as Aristotle have wrestled with these definitions. It's a self-exploratory exercise in thinking as well as writing.

Here's one more example (and a practical application). In my current WIP, my main character redefines invisibility:

True invisibility wasn’t achieved when people saw through you, but when they never bothered looking past the surface.

In your stories, each character may define the same word differently, and that can cause conflict. It sure as heck causes conflict in real life. What is a woman? What is equality? What is reality? These words could have as many connotations as success and failure. But what matters in the end is by what standards we determine our personal redefinitions. You cannot argue over the definition of a word if some higher concept of what that word should mean--what it truly refers to--doesn't exist. We can't figure out at what success means to us until we know what success is in general--until we recognize the universal quality of a word that is the basis for all redefinitions. Truth, if you will. Or logos.

For Those of Us Who Can't Draw...

 Hello, it's your friendly neighborhood procrastinator here, with a fun new tool I found on the Internet for when you don't want to write but still want to feel like you're working. It's called DALL-E 2, and it creates images when you type in a description. No, it doesn't search the Internet for images that already exist--it generates entirely new pictures from scratch. It's easy to use, obeys sophisticated commands, and most importantly, is free!

Here are a few images I got when I tried out DALL-E 2:

(What I typed: "An oil painting of a happy cat having a conversation with a young girl.")

And here's another one:

(What I typed: "An aerial photo of a star-shaped castle.")

This is a great tool for authors who want to see pictures of their characters and settings but can't draw. (Raise your hand if there's a reason you paint with words! 🤚🏻) It's also an excellent way to procrastinate if you need a break. Try it out!

"E Before I," All the Linguists Cry

Fun Fact: There are 44 words in the English language that follow the "I before E, except after C" rule.

Funner Fact: There are 932 words in the English language that do not follow that rule.

Lesson Learned: Grammatists and teachers of the English language are irrational with their mnemonics.

English is weird.

Underrated Christmas Songs

Well, it's officially the holiday season--the weather here in central Texas finally dropped below freezing yesterday, and my mom put up Christmas lights. Yes, we are definitely Christmas-before-Thanksgiving people, but we have an excuse: Our family lives so far away that they generally only come down for one holiday, and that's Thanksgiving, so we try to squeeze in all the harvest and yuletide festivities in one week.

Now that decorations are going up, I no longer feel guilty playing Christmas music. As Buddy the Elf once said, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear. So, if you like to listen to music while you write, here's my top-five list of unknown, underrated Christmas songs. You might have heard of some of the artists before, but these songs aren't what they're known for, even though the lyrics are stunning. Without further ado:

1. Old City Bar Trans-Siberian Orchestra

                    TSO is best known for rocked-out variations of classical compositions, such as Sarajevo 12/24 (their take on Carol of the Bells) and the sweet, choral Christmas Canon. However, Old City Bar also deserves a spot on your Christmas playlist. This song tells a story of an unexpected act of kindness on Christmas Eve, with a twist at the end.

2. I Need a Silent Night Amy Grant

                    While this Christian artist has dozens of excellent Christmas songs, ranging from classics like Winter Wonderland to new beauties such as The Night Before Christmas, I Need a Silent Night stands out as an experience everyone can relate to--the need to get away from the Christmas rush and return to the fundamentals of Peace on Earth and Good Will Towards Men.

3. How Many Kings Downhere

                    This artist may be little-known, but How Many Kings is a beautiful meditation on God's love for the world in sending his son. To quote: "How many kings would give up their thrones? How many lords would abandon their homes? How many fathers would give up their sons for me?"

4. Light of Christmas TobyMac, Owl City

                    Well-known Christian singer TobyMac is featured in this bouncy, poppy song about the true meaning of Christmas and the joy of giving. This song is part of an album of Christian artists and their new takes on Christmas music, including Jamie Grace with Mary's Boy Child.

5. Glorious and Heavenly Hosts For King and Country

                    You get a bonus song! This band's signature Christmas song may be Little Drummer Boy, but their original compositions Glorious and Heavenly Hosts, while not as rocked-out, are just as beautiful. A lyric from each, respectively: "He's the chorus to every song that we were born to sing," and "Holy, holy, holy, love has come to save us."

I could talk about my favorite underrated Christmas songs all day--Heaven Everywhere by Francesca Battistelli, What a Glorious Night by Sidewalk Prophets, Here to Stay by Hannah Kerr and Cochren and Co., On This Winter's Night by Lady A, and The More You Give (The More You'll Have) by Michael Bublé, to give your five more--but unfortunately, I have limited time this cold drizzly Monday to discuss the most wonderful time of the year. Until next week, fellow writers!

NaNoWriMo Starts Tomorrow!

 Hello Fellow Writers! Guess what? NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow! What's that weird string of letters, you may ask? Well, it's short for National Novel Writing Month, and it's the ultimate writer challenge--write 50,000 words in one month. I'm trying it out this year, despite this being one of the most hectic Novembers in memory for me, what with university finals, Thanksgiving, and the release of one of my short stories in an anthology. However, sane writing decisions and reasonable goals have never been my strong suit, so I'm giving it a shot, and I hope you do, too!

Here's the idea: 30 days. Roughly 1667 words per day. Given that the average chapter of a novel is somewhere between 3000 and 5000 words, that's less than a chapter every day. You can sign up for the official challenge on the NaNoWriMo website, or you can set your own crazy goal for the month. Don't think you can hit 50,00 words? Try for something more modest. Feeling ambitious? Go higher. Finish your whole novel. (50,000 words is technically only a novella--but still quite the achievement.)

To kick things off, here are a few posts about writing productively and well:

• Two Traits Every Writer Needs
• The Same Old Song
• Is Writer's Block Real?
• Layers of Conflict
• Writing Advice
• Writing Environments

(And by the way, Happy Halloween!)

Cool Latin Phrases

 Hello, fellow writers! I've been nerding out, er, researching, lately, so here are a few fun Latin phrases for writers, readers, and world-changers:

Ars longa, vita brevis - Art is long, life is short.

Alis volat propiis - He flies by his own wings.

Aut insanity homo, aut versus facit - That fellow is either mad, or he is composing verses.

Helluo librorum - A glutton for books.

In libras, libertas - In books, freedom.

Littera scripta manet - The written letter lasts.

Nullus est liber tam malus ut non aliqua parte prosit - There is no book so bad that it is not profitable in some part.

Poeta nascitur, non fit - The poet is born, not made.

Luctor et emergo - I struggle and emerge.

No ducor, duco - I am not led; I lead.

Verba volant, scripta manent - Words fly away; writings remain.

Vivamus, moriendum est - Let us live, since we must die.

Ego te provoco - I challenge you.

Hic sunt dracones - Here, there are dragons.

Faciam quodlibet quod necesse est - I will do whatever it takes.

Morere cum honore, amici.

What's That Sound?

 

Not-quite-writing prompt: create a character playlist--a list of songs that embodies who your protagonist is and what she's about.

You could include:

• Your character's favorite song
• The songs she listens to during her daily routine
• Songs that reflect her dreams or goals
• Songs that make her cry
• A song she hates
• Songs that reflect her romantic relationship
• Songs that reflect her friendship(s)
• Songs that reflect her family life
• Songs that reflect her view of the world
• Songs that reflect her situation (culture, inner thoughts, etc.)
• Songs that reflect significant moments in the story (conflict, climax, a death scene, etc.)
• Songs that reflect significant characters in the protagonist's life

...and any other song that makes you think of your protagonist or her story.

Awesome Free Tools for Writers

If you're reading my blog right now, you're prob'ly procrastinating. I mean, just sayin', if I'm reading a blog about writing, that means Microsoft Word is open and I'm bored. And that's fine, for the purposes of this discussion. Writers are professionals at procrastination. We've turned it into an art form: we scroll Pinterest for ideas, read articles about the craft, type up our marketing plans, and skim long lists of editors, agents, and publishers. All of this makes it look like we're writing when actually, we're avoiding writing with every nerve in our bodies.

So, here are a few ways to make your procrastination time more productive! Yes, I know I'm suggesting new ways to procrastinate. Yes, I know I'm enabling you. But what do you think I'm doing right now as I draft a post about procrastination? Not editing my manuscript, that's for sure.

In no particular order, awesome free tools I've discovered for writers:

• Hemingway Editor. I used to go through my first draft and highlight all the adverbs so I could decide which ones to take out. For a fantasy writer, that means reading over 70-120,000 words. That's pretty time-consuming. Imagine how delighted I was when I discovered there was a tool that would do this for you. It's called the Hemingway Editor, and all you have to do is type or paste in your work, and it will highlight adverbs, overcomplicated phrases, instances of passive voice, and difficult sentences automatically. It keeps a tally of reading time, words, sentences, paragraphs, and characters for you. And this amazing editing tool is free. Check it out.

• Zotero. If you are a college student, or even a high school student, this is a must-have. Zotero is free citation software. It can generate in-text citations and bibliographies if you input a book's metadata. You can choose what style of citation you want, and it will do it for you. Raise your hand if you know all the rules to MLA citation! Yeah, I thought so. All you do is download Zotero and an extension for your browser. You will automatically get add-ons for Microsoft Word and Google Docs. It's completely legit--my college recommends using it.

• Milanote. For those of you who have plot, character, and setting details pinned all over your ceiling and connected with strings like some conspiracy theorist: this is basically an online bulletin-board. (I know this explanation is really short compared to the ones above, but Milanote is a lot easier to explain. 😂)