Creative writing cheat sheets

Here’s a checklist of useful writing aids to have with you as you begin to write – just don’t forget the chocolate biscuits. A good notebook. A decent pen. Plenty of paper. A computer or laptop. A desk or other writing space.

Sometimes, it’s easier said than written. So, I created these cheat sheets to help you show a character’s state of mind through their body language. When you are completing your character biographies, be sure to include how your main characters move and talk.

Jot them down and carry them on, seeing where they lead you. Pick up a book you really like and open it at a random page. Pick a sentence you like and write it down, and then carry on writing your own story. Pick an emotion and create a story around it. Pick another, and carry on writing.

Bryn Donovan also has a Physical Descriptions cheat sheet that can come in handy. You can convey a character’s personality by using descriptions such as “squinty”, “rheumy”, “unruly”, “pasty”, etc. These are all descriptions of physical aspects, but they’re all handy for communicating more about the characters.