Story Embers | Hope Ann | Activity https://storyembers.org/members/hope-ann/activity/ Activity feed for Hope Ann. Mon, 25 May 2026 03:00:53 -0400 https://buddypress.org/?v= en 30 hourly 2 cf64d86cb4980b22a2bb037f67ae4e86 Hope Ann changed their profile picture https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104046/ Fri, 27 Jan 2023 08:03:43 -0400 0 3b52efdf6a3766ba078a1aeda4f7389f Hope Ann posted a new activity comment https://storyembers.org/lifewarden/comment-page-1/#comment-7195 Sat, 22 May 2021 16:01:47 -0400 Great job, Khylie! I love the message of this story!

In reply to - Story Embers wrote a new post By K.M. Small   Madiya would do better on this final day of her existence. No wincing, weeping, or hiding. She would be the solemn, dutiful Lifewarden she always should have been. […] ]]> 20a0f6d4c5ba21cbece11ed50b516957 Hope Ann posted a new activity comment https://storyembers.org/valleys/comment-page-1/#comment-6194 Sun, 24 Jan 2021 22:10:16 -0400 I’m glad you enjoyed it!

In reply to - Hope Ann wrote a new post I see a child stand at the valley entrance. Alone. Forlorn. Blood on his feet. Tears on his cheeks. The shadows draw him in. I can’t… I can’t reach him; Pull him back. I can’t […] ]]> 6cb2ed60da3308f65c1d64399629b3f1 Hope Ann posted a new activity comment https://storyembers.org/valleys/comment-page-1/#comment-6193 Sun, 24 Jan 2021 22:09:57 -0400 *hands you a tissue*

In reply to - Hope Ann wrote a new post I see a child stand at the valley entrance. Alone. Forlorn. Blood on his feet. Tears on his cheeks. The shadows draw him in. I can’t… I can’t reach him; Pull him back. I can’t […] ]]> 1a02517167334d2737d0788a8c561eee Hope Ann started the topic Writing book summaries! in the forum General Writing Discussions https://storyembers.org/activity/p/87476/ Mon, 21 Dec 2020 01:18:40 -0400 Question of the week from Elisha! It’s a big question but what focused tips do you have?

What are some tips/advice to craft a compelling book summary (the one on the back of the book/the one readers will look at to see if they want to read the story)?

Comment below!

]]> 0 942a5f4a76fb6d0cb296a74282d94ec2 Hope Ann posted a new activity comment https://storyembers.org/valleys/comment-page-1/#comment-5929 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 02:34:35 -0400 It is a poem I still feel very deeply. Most my poems don’t turn out quite this well though.

In reply to - Hope Ann wrote a new post I see a child stand at the valley entrance. Alone. Forlorn. Blood on his feet. Tears on his cheeks. The shadows draw him in. I can’t… I can’t reach him; Pull him back. I can’t […] ]]> f66637449ecb0da9f0a9845c942f4296 Hope Ann posted a new activity comment https://storyembers.org/valleys/comment-page-1/#comment-5928 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 02:28:55 -0400 Thanks!

In reply to - Hope Ann wrote a new post I see a child stand at the valley entrance. Alone. Forlorn. Blood on his feet. Tears on his cheeks. The shadows draw him in. I can’t… I can’t reach him; Pull him back. I can’t […] ]]> 432022876803f6f7e5ee726407f3adbc Hope Ann started the topic Bringing facts and fiction together in the forum Research and Worldbuilding https://storyembers.org/activity/p/87020/ Mon, 07 Dec 2020 22:42:22 -0400 This week’s newsletter question is from Amy.

How do I stop getting stuck on the facts of history as I work to weave them into my story? Or maybe I should say, weave my story into the events? I can create a story set during a certain era (clothes, technology of the time, etc.) pretty easily, but I get stuck when I want to bring in actual events…

[Read more]

]]> 0 173b34934977bbffec6273f77929c6f7 Hope Ann posted a new activity comment https://storyembers.org/valleys/comment-page-1/#comment-5832 Thu, 03 Dec 2020 00:35:12 -0400 I’m glad you enjoyed it!

In reply to - Hope Ann wrote a new post I see a child stand at the valley entrance. Alone. Forlorn. Blood on his feet. Tears on his cheeks. The shadows draw him in. I can’t… I can’t reach him; Pull him back. I can’t […] ]]> 8c341fc7c2faf6c10ae06d4d3152afe7 Hope Ann posted a new activity comment https://storyembers.org/valleys/comment-page-1/#comment-5831 Thu, 03 Dec 2020 00:34:52 -0400 Thanks!

In reply to - Hope Ann wrote a new post I see a child stand at the valley entrance. Alone. Forlorn. Blood on his feet. Tears on his cheeks. The shadows draw him in. I can’t… I can’t reach him; Pull him back. I can’t […] ]]> 432b99a9be319a543d3c42274815dd01 Hope Ann posted a new activity comment https://storyembers.org/valleys/comment-page-1/#comment-5819 Wed, 02 Dec 2020 16:17:35 -0400 Thanks! I love those lines too. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

In reply to - Hope Ann wrote a new post I see a child stand at the valley entrance. Alone. Forlorn. Blood on his feet. Tears on his cheeks. The shadows draw him in. I can’t… I can’t reach him; Pull him back. I can’t […] ]]> 160bdb66c03e3f89cfec1910c158d030 Hope Ann posted a new activity comment https://storyembers.org/valleys/comment-page-1/#comment-5818 Wed, 02 Dec 2020 16:17:05 -0400 I’m glad you enjoyed it.

In reply to - Hope Ann wrote a new post I see a child stand at the valley entrance. Alone. Forlorn. Blood on his feet. Tears on his cheeks. The shadows draw him in. I can’t… I can’t reach him; Pull him back. I can’t […] ]]> 09876e85b419f2315fecb04e2b7b1c1a Hope Ann posted a new activity comment https://storyembers.org/valleys/comment-page-1/#comment-5811 Tue, 01 Dec 2020 19:35:56 -0400 *bows* thank you

In reply to - Hope Ann wrote a new post I see a child stand at the valley entrance. Alone. Forlorn. Blood on his feet. Tears on his cheeks. The shadows draw him in. I can’t… I can’t reach him; Pull him back. I can’t […] ]]> c1baa2ed6a549538809fc39839deab13 Hope Ann posted a new activity comment https://storyembers.org/valleys/comment-page-1/#comment-5810 Tue, 01 Dec 2020 19:35:39 -0400 Thanks!

In reply to - Hope Ann wrote a new post I see a child stand at the valley entrance. Alone. Forlorn. Blood on his feet. Tears on his cheeks. The shadows draw him in. I can’t… I can’t reach him; Pull him back. I can’t […] ]]> f83978f77e2149cc3c6c26dc9866db0d Hope Ann wrote a new post https://storyembers.org/?p=121530 Thu, 26 Nov 2020 14:00:15 -0400 I see a child stand
at the valley entrance.
Alone. Forlorn.
Blood on his feet.
Tears on his cheeks.
The shadows draw him in.
I can’t…
I can’t reach him;
Pull him back.
I can’t even speak.
 
I see a ch […]

]]> b2ad650281aae6370e91f78b5460c39d Hope Ann started the topic Adorable without being cheesy in the forum Characters https://storyembers.org/activity/p/86396/ Thu, 19 Nov 2020 00:57:17 -0400 Characters questions again! Because they are amazing and complex (a little like people; huh).

This week’s question is from Terah:

How do you make your protagonist amazing and adorable without making him (or her) cliche and cheesy? How can you keep your protagonist human while he(or her) is so obviously different?

Which yes, can be hard. I can do…[Read more]

]]> 0 fdedafee909aa0986b01ab9cf4c2df59 Hope Ann started the topic How to write what you don't know? aka Romance in the forum General Writing Discussions https://storyembers.org/activity/p/86026/ Thu, 05 Nov 2020 20:15:17 -0400 This week’s question is from Porter:

I am trying to write romance, but I am a young teen and I have never had any experience with romance in my life. Any tips?

What do you think?

]]> 0 89f7f6d063b0492440080fff22974a2d Hope Ann started the topic Small writing group input? in the forum General Writing Discussions https://storyembers.org/activity/p/85740/ Wed, 21 Oct 2020 18:11:21 -0400 This week’s question is from Mallory, and one I’ve gotten from several authors.

I was wondering, how do you go about finding or setting up your own more intimate group of writers?

Large groups can be very overwhelming, but small groups can be constraining if the writers don’t share much in common with each other.

How do you get together with…

[Read more]

]]> 0 e893523c3b622d6a1302fc4796c76cf2 Hope Ann started the topic Author bios! in the forum General Writing Discussions https://storyembers.org/activity/p/85544/ Wed, 14 Oct 2020 18:48:24 -0400 This week’s question comes from Elisha.

What should I include in an author bio, especially if I have no previous writing accomplishments?

Any thoughts or suggestions?

]]> 0 867184c0dc805b554a755434a0f92156 Hope Ann started the topic Perfectionism vs. writing in the forum General Writing Discussions https://storyembers.org/activity/p/84599/ Thu, 10 Sep 2020 14:48:33 -0400 This week’s question is from Madelyn!

What do you do when perfectionism suppresses your writing?

]]> 0 06ca5aa29872d29ebff9fa664202d9ed Hope Ann started the topic Using prompts or stealing ideas? in the forum General Writing Discussions https://storyembers.org/activity/p/84021/ Mon, 24 Aug 2020 20:08:09 -0400 This week’s question has been asked before, but it’s a good one for all of us to think about as we get inspiration all around ourselves. It’s from Grace:

How do I find and use inspiration from other sources without directly copying or stealing the idea itself? Is using part of an idea from someone else stealing it, what’s the limit, and what is…

[Read more]

]]> 0 be34f31e98c2f98a3fbf7aac1dcd6edf Hope Ann replied to the topic Connecting to Villains in the forum Characters https://storyembers.org/activity/p/83367/ Wed, 12 Aug 2020 19:35:32 -0400 @daeus Obviously impossible because I’m such a sweet, innocent thing.

]]> 0 258bdeb7eb35ce558983fd83535c7db4 Hope Ann started the topic Connecting to Villains in the forum Characters https://storyembers.org/activity/p/83124/ Mon, 10 Aug 2020 14:51:56 -0400 Another question about villains! We’ve gone over this topic before, but share your favorite tips about connecting to villains. This week’s question is from Ray.

I have a hard time connecting to my villains, particularly my guy ones! Do you have any tips for connecting for baddies of my story?

]]> 0 e330627441e1d2d479f5186e13e1185a Hope Ann started the topic Too cliche? in the forum Characters https://storyembers.org/activity/p/82111/ Mon, 20 Jul 2020 20:33:25 -0400 A fairly focused question here for the newsletter (from an author by the name of Victoria) but I thought you guys might have some unique input I haven’t thought of.

In my current story, the main character is dying and I’ve been struggling with writing Christianity into it. If he either has faith, and then loses it, or has no faith but becomes a…

[Read more]

]]> 0 dc45c38171741542f28ae1f0fdf8ca45 Hope Ann started the topic Finding time to write in the forum General Writing Discussions https://storyembers.org/activity/p/81629/ Mon, 06 Jul 2020 22:05:30 -0400 Question from Callie today!

How do I find time for writing when I’m working (online) and at school (online) and trying to survive all the time? Just some tips would be helpful…

Beyond figuring out where writing fits into priorities, do you have any time-saving or time-gaining tricks you use for writing?

]]> 0 8f23616960e73c86d8917cf6ff782d44 Hope Ann started the topic Is it okay to base characters off yourself? in the forum Characters https://storyembers.org/activity/p/81103/ Mon, 22 Jun 2020 15:14:00 -0400 Another character question! This time from Ariana.

What do you do when you dislike one of your main protagonists, or have fallen out of love with them– partly because they’re based on yourself? I’ve often considered the answer that maybe it’s not wise to base a character on yourself in the first place, seeing as the average person (young person…

[Read more]

]]> 0 3e04e327d7b4bbf724fe201523ccc4e2 Hope Ann posted a new activity comment https://storyembers.org/coronation/comment-page-1/#comment-5224 Thu, 18 Jun 2020 17:58:08 -0400 Storms! I love it so much!

In reply to - Story Embers wrote a new post By Brianna Rae   The moon burned red in the deep, dark pool. The stars gazed down in awe As the maid strode down the ancient path, Her fate engraved by law.   The first to r […] ]]> 37d2458d3cd991ef2f224941bcbe644b Hope Ann replied to the topic Side Characters with no point? in the forum Characters https://storyembers.org/activity/p/80462/ Tue, 09 Jun 2020 01:26:35 -0400 @arindown Yep, everyone can comment. Thanks for the thoughts!

]]> 0 089f41bddbc2758316aad5ba8e739094 Hope Ann started the topic Side Characters with no point? in the forum Characters https://storyembers.org/activity/p/80408/ Mon, 08 Jun 2020 16:19:30 -0400 Question from Ethan this week!

How do I include side characters in a “Quest” story who seem to serve no purpose, but who without the quest would seem unrealistic?

Any thoughts, @princess-foo, @kristianne-hassman, @the-inkspiller, @naiya-dyani, @wolverinerm, @devastate-lasting?

]]> 0 42d4b204b88fc08d99bccae5e0c2bde3 Hope Ann started the topic Does old prose have a chance? in the forum General Writing Discussions https://storyembers.org/activity/p/79593/ Mon, 25 May 2020 12:26:05 -0400 I have an interesting discussion question posed by one of our newsletter subscribers, Madelyn.

I write in an older style of prose, older words and descriptions, often moving  slowly instead of the modern fast paced simpler prose. Does old prose have a chance nowadays? How can I keep it, yet still keep my readers hooked? Can old prose still hold…

[Read more]

]]> 0 7688f500fc6be3cfb6d88af90c923778 Hope Ann started the topic Reserved Characters in the forum Characters https://storyembers.org/activity/p/78863/ Mon, 11 May 2020 12:48:29 -0400 Another character question, this one from Kristianne!

I know that most people (myself included) often find energetic, active, and sassy characters (especially girls) more interesting than quiet and reserved characters. One of my main characters is quiet, more passive (although she definitely acts), and proper. How do I make her seem interesting,…

[Read more]

]]> 0 2ac0794f9cc01305248be33ee57f173a Hope Ann started the topic Characters with other nationalities in the forum Characters https://storyembers.org/activity/p/77924/ Mon, 27 Apr 2020 22:17:38 -0400 This week’s question for the newsletter comes from Eowyn. 😉

How can I write characters of different nationalities in ways that aren’t offensive to people of that nationality?

@princess-foo, @kristianne-hassman, @the-inkspiller, @naiya-dyani

]]> 0 65924a31212d1b78b5f36f4e241be9b6 Hope Ann started the topic Those posh sounding charactors in the forum Characters https://storyembers.org/activity/p/77144/ Mon, 06 Apr 2020 22:56:34 -0400 Another character question, this one from Emma:

I have a main character who comes from a well-to-do family and is well educated. When she is talking to characters who are not wealthy or well educated, she uses normal dialogue. But I want the dialogue between her and her family to sound educated and eloquent without being so wordy that my readers…

[Read more]

]]> 0 4fac31852c7c731cd4eb9017ce95039f Hope Ann posted a new activity comment https://storyembers.org/i-took-life-apart/comment-page-1/#comment-4901 Thu, 02 Apr 2020 18:38:14 -0400 *grins* It was fun. Normally they come to me as free verse though.

In reply to - Hope Ann wrote a new post I took life apart To see what made stars glow; I wove a web of silver truth, Untangled row by row.   I took life apart, Each gear and cog and spring; I mapped each broken hand And […] ]]> 028bd34504edcfb39d9af8ee74474391 Hope Ann wrote a new post https://storyembers.org/?p=107177 Thu, 02 Apr 2020 14:00:17 -0400 I took life apart
To see what made stars glow;
I wove a web of silver truth,
Untangled row by row.
 
I took life apart,
Each gear and cog and spring;
I mapped each broken hand
And mended them with […]

]]> 18bba2e859be42512c761eb2a0eb040b Hope Ann started the topic What do unemotional character's feel? in the forum Characters https://storyembers.org/activity/p/76587/ Mon, 23 Mar 2020 16:12:32 -0400 How do you show emotion in a main character who is outwardly unemotional?

This question is from Kayla and it so much fun to tackle in writing. Grim characters; characters who seem to not care but actually do…their emotions tend to come off as more powerful. Why? And how do we do this?

Tagging a few people to get things started.

@mgtask, @wolve…[Read more]

]]> 0 c0f0e75713925f453fa20206efaae192 Hope Ann replied to the topic Foreshadowing evil characters in the forum Characters https://storyembers.org/activity/p/75964/ Tue, 10 Mar 2020 19:13:36 -0400 @esmeralda-gramilton You can tag whoever you like; you probably better know the people here who would be most interested in this question.

I like your answer. And another way to do it is using the MC as an unreliable narrator. If he or she actually does have a really good relationship with the villain, then they’ll be more likely to trust him and…[Read more]

]]> 0 887a4076862224f21554ede271231de2 Hope Ann started the topic Foreshadowing evil characters in the forum Characters https://storyembers.org/activity/p/75835/ Mon, 09 Mar 2020 13:04:33 -0400 Fun question from Livi today!

How does one go about foreshadowing that a character (who everyone thinks is a good guy) is evil/antagonistic in such a way that, if one is paying enough attention to the little details, one could quickly put two and two together and realize it? So that, if you’re just reading along, you and the other characters…[Read more]

]]> 0 80eaabaea49c1ed330d1abb9f77c17d8 Hope Ann replied to the topic If parents hinder writing...? in the forum General Writing Discussions https://storyembers.org/activity/p/74590/ Fri, 21 Feb 2020 18:01:31 -0400 There are various things that can help with this, but one of the largest is something Brandon said in a recent podcast we recorded.

If you don’t take your writing seriously, no one else will. Be willing to sacrifice free time or gaming time or such. Show that you are dedicated to what you are doing. It doesn’t mean you’ll get everything right…[Read more]

]]> 0 dcb07561f1939503e50616199765d7d6 Hope Ann started the topic If parents hinder writing...? in the forum General Writing Discussions https://storyembers.org/activity/p/74588/ Fri, 21 Feb 2020 17:42:26 -0400 What happens when parents don’t support your writing? This is a question for the next ‘around the coffee table’ discussion:

How do you write and keep yourself writing when your parents do not encourage you and sometimes discourage you? How do you find critique groups and improve without conflicting with your parents?

]]> 0 1c0b8eba57e3628bf2eaba48de5b566d Hope Ann posted a new activity comment https://storyembers.org/how-personality-types-should-affect-characters-thought-processes/comment-page-1/#comment-4728 Fri, 21 Feb 2020 02:20:41 -0400 Glad to be of help!

In reply to - Hope Ann wrote a new post Editor’s Note: This article is the third installment in our five-part series on how to build empathy between readers and characters. To learn why we’re doing this series and how we’ […] ]]> 9d5b86e28be15f95db23025916929140 Hope Ann replied to the topic Help! My characters sound the same! in the forum Characters https://storyembers.org/activity/p/73447/ Tue, 11 Feb 2020 01:02:28 -0400 My answer:

I’ve struggled with this myself. I had two MCs in different books. Both were nice, kind people who just wanted to help and save everyone. And they started feeling way too similar. There were a few things I did to figure out differences.

One was to put them in the same situation and then watch them carefully to see where they acted…[Read more]

]]> 0 71f7922e8227329a1c664d854ccb52cd Hope Ann started the topic Help! My characters sound the same! in the forum Characters https://storyembers.org/activity/p/73446/ Tue, 11 Feb 2020 00:53:21 -0400 Question of the week from Sandi. 😉

I have to characters, one main and one side, they are brothers and both very similar. The MC is very developed and recently as I’ve been developing the other, I’ve been struggling to make them different yet similar. Fears, reactions, etc… Any suggestions! Thanks!

]]> 0 62cfb308f822c3cabb3046934327d86f Hope Ann replied to the topic Fantasy Types in the forum Fantasy Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/72379/ Wed, 29 Jan 2020 02:38:51 -0400 @naiya-dyani If the world isn’t real, then it’s speculative fiction; probably fantasy. 😉 There’s lots of kinds. Some have magic. Some don’t. There’s one fantasy series that is pretty much ‘this world’ except for the names of the lands and peoples. So there’s lots of kinds.

]]> 0 8a478438ad75e08842e292ee1fc97098 Hope Ann replied to the topic Fantasy Types in the forum Fantasy Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/72372/ Wed, 29 Jan 2020 01:34:47 -0400 Also, here’s a cool list of fantasy sub-genres. You have to scroll down a little. I’ve not even heard of some. Honestly, you can couple about any genre with the term ‘fantasy’ and make something out of it, I think. Even if there isn’t an official term, it’s still a ‘steampunk fantasy’ or ‘western fantasy’.

Also here’s that link:…[Read more]

]]> 0 fbe28ede0943adccbfa675fb09e0bc01 Hope Ann replied to the topic Fantasy Types in the forum Fantasy Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/72371/ Wed, 29 Jan 2020 01:31:35 -0400 It’s basically…not real. So involves magic or superpowers or sci-fi or supernatural fiction.

Google defines it as: a genre of fiction that encompasses works in which the setting is other than the real world, involving supernatural, futuristic, or other imagined elements.

]]> 0 db0f1bdd091a9e4cbc83da592cc4a853 Hope Ann replied to the topic Fantasy Types in the forum Fantasy Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/72330/ Tue, 28 Jan 2020 20:11:01 -0400 Ooo, hmmm. It depends on the definition of fantasy, I suppose. XD I had a girl reading a book in a fantasy world once, and it was about a futuristic type of setting. Though I suppose it could also involve powers and magic that the world doesn’t have. A world with fire powers obsessed with stories where water powers are a thing and such. Now I want…[Read more]

]]> 0 937914aeb6aaabc515b35b87c3049e5e Hope Ann replied to the topic Fantasy Types in the forum Fantasy Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/72296/ Tue, 28 Jan 2020 18:10:43 -0400 As in… fantasy is speculative fiction? Or what is fantasy? Or how many kinds of sub-genres of fantasy are there?

]]> 1 7e047e85cddf1472d4a00736170598d0 Hope Ann joined the group Publishing and Marketing Nerds https://storyembers.org/activity/p/72295/ Tue, 28 Jan 2020 18:08:02 -0400 0 1df9e74f8bf2d9bab94959329b7d4f2e Hope Ann joined the group Fantasy Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/72294/ Tue, 28 Jan 2020 18:07:42 -0400 0