Tag: writer life

What Inspired My Short Stories (Part Four)

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 2 Comments

Hey Writer Bees!

Today, I’m sharing the inspiration behind more of my short stories. From my experience, inspiration came come from anywhere. Even the littlest thing can grow into an amazing story or poem. And sometimes, fiction can say a lot about the author. Like in my case.

A Remnant of Earth

In writing and in my reading preference, Sci-Fi is not the genre I immediately reach for. However, I decided to challenge myself. So, I tried my hand in sci-fi storytelling and frankly, I wasn’t too disappointed. This story came from simply playing around in another genre. It was a good exercise to dip my toe into sci-fi. Whenever you want to challenge yourself as a writer, try writing outside your comfort zone. Create a story in a genre you don’t usually write in. It’s a way to broaden your horizon and get those creative brain working.

How Specters Visit

Fun Fact about me: One of my guilty pleasures is paranormal investigator TV shows. Which is ironic because my heart can’t handle horror movies or excessive gore. While I do believe in ghosts and adore ghost stories, I’m not sure all the ghostbusters gear they use on those shows actually work. And yet, I can’t seem to look away. When investigators discuss “spirit possession”, I wondered what that’s like for the ghost, not the person. Really, this tale was born from the question, “how would a spirit describe possessing a living person’s body?” Out came this little supernatural comedy. 

A Different Kind of Happiness

Ever scroll through social media and see posts from old friends or classmates? Photos from their picture-perfect lives and tropical vacations and their adorable children? For this story, that’s exactly what I did. Yes, I was feeling down about myself. It’s easy to feel inadequate when comparing yourself to others. But I try to keep in mind that not everything on social media is what it seems, I have my own goals that may differ from others, and that’s enough. Many of us, myself included, struggle with their mental health. That’s why I like writing stories with positive messages, to spread a little light. It’s one of the best parts of being a writer.

If you are interested in where my ideas for stories come from, be sure to check out PART ONE, PART TWO and PART THREE of this series. And if there’s a specific story that you are curious about the origins of, let me know in the comments. Maybe if there’s a part five, I will consider including it.

Is there a story behind your stories? What has inspired your creative endeavors? Talk to me in the comments.

Write with heart.

Love,

Lady Jabberwocky

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3 Tips on Writing the Love Interest

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 3 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day, Writer Bees!

Love is in the air, even in fiction. No matter the genre, a love interest can add complexity to both the overall plotline and to other characters.

If your main character is feeling the love, then check out these helpful tips on creating a character’s sweetheart.

Experiment with Chemistry

Love at first sight doesn’t make for an interesting story. Maybe attraction at first sight, sure. For the most part, feelings must develop gradually, not instantly. No matter what stage in the relationship, take the time to build up and explore the couple’s chemistry. A great lover could become an even greater foil for another character. Also, keep in mind the kind of relationships your characters would pursue. What’s their sexual preference? Are they interested in one night stands and flings, or are they looking for a committed relationship? OR are they even looking for love in the first place? These factors will dictate how their romantic relationship lives and breathes over the course of the story.

Writing Flawed Characters

Look, how many hot billionaires with six packs are there in the world? Don’t create a character that is the ideal partner. Give them flaws. Real flaws. Consider physical and personality quirks. Are they short and stubborn? Are they pessimistic with a crooked nose? Be creative but be careful making a completely unlikeable character. Find that balance. A romantic interest shouldn’t just be a cookie cutter person. They must be able to stand on their own, as a complete character. Their entire world cannot revolve around another person. Whether the love interest is a main character or a side character, at the end of the day, readers want complex and relatable characters.

The Big Bad Conflict

No romance is perfect. Every couple has their struggles and challenges. With an internal or external battle, conflict is needed so things aren’t so lovey-dovey. Are there outside forces, such as society, race, war, that are straining their bond? Maybe one is afraid of commitment? Give the couple obstacles that they may or may not overcome together. Set the stakes high to ensure the problem is meaningful enough to the characters. Make this conflict an integral piece of the plot line. That way, the relationship won’t seem forced or out of place.

Bottom line, love isn’t always rainbows and butterflies, and that’s a good thing. Embrace the whirlwind and write a real romance.

What’s your advice on writing love interests? Lemme know in the comments! And Happy Valentine’s day everybody!

Write with Heart,

Lady Jabberwocky

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The Artist Who Paints Sunflowers (Short Story)

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 6 Comments

My therapist told me – for once – write a happy story.

What a writing prompt for a gloom and doom writer such as myself. A difficult task, I’ll admit, what with all the death and tragedy and misfortune in the world. I sat at my writing desk, pouring a glass of whisky and pushing notes of cynicism aside. Like some Peter Pan, I instead grasped for blissful thoughts.

Then, I thought of Gertrude. A friend, you could say.

A twinkling lost soul in a lost generation. Worries never seem to stain her coat. I can’t recall where she lives, but wherever it is, summer is eternal. Her life is simple. Perched on her sunny balcony like an exotic parrot, she paints flowers at her wooden easel. Daisies, roses, poppies. Sunflowers are her favorite.

When Gertrude laughs, her head tilts back and expels champagne bubbles from her lungs. With Sinatra crooning through the radio, she slow dances with lovers in the living room. She relishes even the most boring of dinner conversation. A nymph perfectly content with simply existing.

Every morning, she returns to that easel, a servant to the art. She makes love to colors on a blank canvas. Gold drips from her paintbrush. Satisfaction curves her lips into a smile. Leaning back with a mugful of coffee, she appreciates her painting. A sunflower smiles back at her.

My darling Gertrude is fictional.

A mere wisp of delight on a page. Although I would not be surprised if some form of Gertrude walks the Earth today, an artist who paints sunflowers on a light soaked balcony. Still, there is a joy that comes with flights of fiction, isn’t there?

Perhaps my therapist was right about these so-called happy stories.

Wrote this story back in 2020. Needed a dose of delight this week. Hope you enjoy!

What’s one fictional character that makes you smile? Lemme know in the comments.

Write with heart.

– Lady Jabberwocky

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That Fateful First Date (100 Word Love Story)

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 8 Comments

I don’t know what exactly it was about that fateful first date.

It could’ve been the crispy french fries.

It could’ve been the five-dollar pink roses sold by a homeless woman.

It could’ve been the way you held me in your arms in the middle of Rockefeller Center.

It could’ve been two lucky pennies thrown into a New York City fountain.

That chill of December. That crowded train ride home. Being at the right place, right time.

It could’ve been all those things.

What I do know is that first date led to years of laughter and adventures and love.

Today is my partner and I’s anniversary! To celebrate, I wrote this piece based on our first date, all those years ago.

Stay safe and stay creative, writer bees!

Love,

Lady Jabberwocky

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My Favorite Blog Moments of 2022

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 7 Comments

Hello Writer Bees!

Hope you all are enjoying the holiday season.

To close out 2022, I wanted to share some of my favorite stories and posts from this year. Enjoy!

Writing Tips

How to Conquer Your Writers Doubt

The Golden Rule of Fiction Writing: Show Don’t Tell

5 Archetypes of Fictional Detectives

My Writer Life

Celebrating 500 Posts

Writing My First Whodunit Draft in College

What Inspired My Short Stories

Flash Fiction

The Graveyard Shift

Sunny Day Towing Company

Pixies and Paperwork

Thank you for all the love and support. It’s been a stressful year and you lovely readers have kept me afloat. Wishing you all positive writing vibes in the new year! See you in 2023!

Stay safe and stay creative. Write with heart.

Love,

Lady Jabberwocky

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5 Subgenres of Fantasy Fiction Explained

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 3 Comments

(Happy holidays everyone! I’m currently on break now, but please enjoy this repost. See you all in 2023! – Love, Victoria aka Lady Jabberwocky)

Hello Writer Bees!

One of my favorite genres to write and read is fantasy. And the fantasy stories come in a variety of different flavors. Today, I’m breaking down 5 subgenres of fantasy fiction. Grab your wizard hats and let’s dive in, shall we?

Fairy Tales

In my opinion, fairy tales were the cornerstone of fantasy. Folktales full of pixies and mermaids, trickery and wonder. Characters are fanciful as the world around them, from the lost royal to the walking-talking cat. We see you, Puss in Boots. Keep in mind, the general readers of fairy tales are children. That being said, the overall tone is usually kept light and entertaining. At the end of the tale, there is always a moral lesson to be learned. And they all lived happily ever after.

High Fantasy

Also known as epic fantasy, this subgenre lives up to the name. Dungeons and Dragons players and Lord of the Rings fans know this fantasy subgenre too well. With medieval fantasy vibes galore, there’s the ever-classic battle between good versus evil present in these stories. Often times, the plot centers around one hero, who starts off weak but overtime, grows into a mighty warrior. They’ll embark on their quests and explore the world, maybe meeting other races like elves and ogres. In Epic Fantasy, the cast of characters can get quite extensive, so keep character notes handy when writing.

Urban Fantasy

Forget the sparkly forests and towering castles of fairy tales, this fantasy subgenres takes magical elements and throws them into a modern cityscape. Full of grit and noir vibes, the story always takes place in a major city, with bustling streets. Typically, the main character is connected to both the real world and the magical world. And almost any mythical creature can call the city home. Maybe there’s a shapeshifter riding the subway, or a werewolf in the alleyway. Heck, I’d argue that superheroes fall under this fantasy subgenre too. Truly, the possibilities are endless.

Gothic Fantasy

Sometimes referred to as Dark Fantasy, this subgenre is the mix of supernatural and horror elements. Noted for its gloomy, brooding atmosphere, the setting evokes fear and anxiety in its readers. Building up suspense is crucial to constructing the spooky environment. In Gothic Fantasy, ghosts from the pasts haunt the characters, never giving them a night’s rest. This fantasy subgenre is more focused on supernatural elements, like specters, vampires and Frankenstein’s monster. If you’re looking for a good scare, Gothic Fantasy might be the subgenre for you.

Low Fantasy

Similar to urban fantasy, magical events invade on an otherwise ordinary world. In this fantasy subgenre, the supernatural does not exist or isn’t well known in society. When something magical does occur, it’s accepted as natural in the world, like it could happen any day. Disney films like Mary Poppins fit this bill perfectly. This fantasy subgenre proves you don’t need an epic dragon battle to have a good fantasy story. Sometimes all you need is a little sprinkle of whimsy in everyday life.

Interested in learning more about subgenres in fiction? Check out these posts!

What are some of your favorite and least favorite subgenres of fantasy? Talk to me in the comments.

Write with heart.

Love,

Lady Jabberwocky

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The 5 Subgenres in Mystery Fiction Explained

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 3 Comments

(Happy holidays everyone! I’m currently on break right now, but please enjoy this repost. See you all in 2023! – Love, Victoria aka Lady Jabberwocky)

Hello amateur sleuths,

The mystery genre is like ice cream.

Exciting. Delicious. And they both come in a variety of flavors.

Today, I’m breaking down some subgenres of mystery. Since some of these subcategories overlap with one another, I will try to focus on the 5 most notable subgenres in detective fiction.

Classic

A straight vanilla mystery right here. Everyone loves and respects a good classic done right, right? This has your traditional storyline where the investigator – who can either be a professional or a novice – solves a whodunit. A large chunk of the plot is centered around an inspector gathering clues and interacting with suspects. Depending on the sleuth and the target audience, the level of gore may vary. However, traditional mysteries tend to involve murder. In the end, the culprit is reveal and all loose strings are neatly tied in a bow. Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Nancy Drew are the prime examples of this mystery subgenre.

Nancy Drew GIFs | Tenor

Cozy

Looking for violence and sex and foul language? This is not the mystery subgenre for you. A cozy mystery is the kind of story you want to unwind with while wearing fuzzy socks. The tone is much lighter, and can even be considered wholesome and humorous. Book titles are pun-filled and corny. The crime is described in a less gruesome way. Typically, the sleuth is an amateur detective, nosy neighbor, or a knitter with some free time on their hands. Solving a mystery is like a fun hobby or satisfies their idle curiosity. These kinds of mysteries often include a fluffy companion, like a loyal canine or finicky feline. For a cozy mystery, solving the crime is all in good fun.

Old lady knitting gif 1 » GIF Images Download

Noir

Opposite of a cozy mystery. In noir fiction, like it’s film counterpart, the atmosphere is dark and gritty. The world is a cynical and hopeless place. Shadowy street corners. Femme Fatales a lighting cigarette. Hard-boiled detectives are flawed anti-heroes with ambiguous morals. Those are the common traits of noir. When it comes to what’s right and what’s wrong, the lines are blurry. Noir endings can often be open ended and open to interpretation. Is justice served? Is the detective a hero? All valid questions in noir.

She Devoured Men The Way She Devoured Cigarettes | Movie stars, Bogart and bacall, Humphrey bogart

Police Procedural/Forensic

For readers who enjoy those CSI shows, this subgenre is for you. For this subgenre, the main focus is police investigation. And it’s as accurate to real life as possible. Think unsolved crime documentary. Usually, the main character’s occupation is in law enforcement, in some way. Whether that be a cop or a forensic scientist or a coroner. In this subgenre, a lot of time and detail is devoted to the forensic science side of a case. Autopsy reports, crime scenes and dead bodies are described in almost too vivid detail. Not exactly for the faint of heart. But hey, reading a story like this, you may actually learn something about police procedure in a realistic case.

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Supernatural

Need some spooky Halloween vibes? This mystery subgenre is centered around the paranormal, investigating things that go bump in the night. In a supernatural mystery, the story designed to startle and thrill readers, dipping its toe in fantasy and horror genres. Elements of the unknown, ghosts and mystical are mixed into the narrative. Haunted houses and misty graveyards would make an excellent setting, I’m sure. The supernatural mystery is a puzzle – for both the reader and the detective. Explaining the unexplainable is the main goal of the investigator. When the story concludes, there’s usually a logical explanation for the paranormal disturbances.

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What is your favorite mystery subgenre? And if you are writing/have written a mystery story, what subgenre would you categorize it under? Or what is your favorite mystery subgenre to read? Talk to me in the comments. I love to hear from you guys.

Hope you all are enjoying May of Mystery so far. If you have any ideas for future mystery posts, let me know!

Safe safe and keep writing!

Write with heart,

Lady Jabberwocky