# The Tip Cauldron: Ask Your Writing Questions Here! šŸ–‹ **URL:** \ **Category:** Writing Resources\ **Created:** [December 4, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099 "2020-12-04T19:22:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/alcoholandcaffeine/32/28008_2.png) [@alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/alcoholandcaffeine)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/1 "2020-12-04T19:22:02Z")
![thetipcauldron4](https://storage.wackywriters.com/original/2X/7/740da57c4c27d012fdc05370fd91a0bf63c0b332.jpeg) Welcome to the Tip Cauldron, the official Wacky Writers writing column! Itā€™s run by your friendly neighbourhood mods and writers, Jane (@FireAlwaysReturns) and Mari (@alcoholandcaffeine). We will answer your writing questions on the first Friday of every month, giving tips, tricks, and insights! The questions is where you come in! Since weā€™ve learned itā€™s not so easy to come up with questions on the spot, weā€™ve decided to keep this thread open _forever_, or at least until the the column dies. Whichever comes first. So ā€“ hop on in and drop your writing questions as you think of them. Every month, Jane and I will choose five or so, to answer in our column which comes out on the first Friday of every month. Weā€™ll archive the posts below šŸ‘‡ so you have easier access to them, as needed. If you have any feature suggestions, weā€™d love to hear them below! Would you like to be part of a Tip Cauldron tag group? šŸ‘€ Let us know and make sure you subscribe to our blog [here](https://wackywriters.com/introducing-the-wacky-writers-blog/)! ---
**Author:** ![alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/alcoholandcaffeine/32/28008_2.png) [@alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/alcoholandcaffeine)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/2 "2020-12-04T19:22:02Z")
The Tip Cauldron Archive [The Tip Cauldron #1: They/Them, Fantasy Economics and More!](https://wackywriters.com/tip-cauldron-1/) [The Tip Cauldron #2: Preptober, Pantsing and Writing Numbers](https://wackywriters.com/the-tip-cauldron-2-preptober-pantsing-and-writing-numbers/) [The Tip Cauldron #3: Subplots, Writerā€™s Block and British vs American Grammar](https://wackywriters.com/the-tip-cauldron-3-subplots-writers-block-and-british-vs-american-grammar/) [The Tip Cauldron #4: Metaphors, Text Speech, Repetition and More!](https://wackywriters.com/the-tip-cauldron-4-metaphors-text-speech-repetition-and-more/) [The Tip Cauldron #5: Fantasy Fight Scenes, Chekhovā€™s Gun and Trimming Your Draft](https://wackywriters.com/the-tip-cauldron-5-fantasy-fight-scenes-chekhovs-gun-and-trimming-your-draft/) ---
**Author:** ![alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/alcoholandcaffeine/32/28008_2.png) [@alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/alcoholandcaffeine)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 7:36pm UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/4 "2020-12-04T19:36:21Z")
The 3rd Tip Cauldron is live! Check it out here and let us know how you like it: > [@The Tip Cauldron #3: Subplots, Writer's Block and British vs American Grammar](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-3-subplots-writers-block-and-british-vs-american-grammar/6101): > > Originally published at: [http://wackywriters.com/the-tip-cauldron-3-subplots-writers-block-and-british-vs-american-grammar/](http://wackywriters.com/the-tip-cauldron-3-subplots-writers-block-and-british-vs-american-grammar/) Welcome to the third edition of the Tip Cauldron ā€“ featuring a brand-new banner by our Scribe, [Shin](https://www.wattpad.com/user/shinrili)! How cool is that?? Look how the title is all steamy! And the little fire underneath ā€“ Ahem. Weā€™ve got an exciting column for you this week, focusing on style and grammar. Read on if youā€™re struggling with description/dialogue balance, keeping track of your idā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Manya707](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/manya707/32/27844_2.png) [@Manya707](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/Manya707)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 12:43am UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/5 "2020-12-05T00:43:28Z")
what is the best way to write texting into a story? ---
**Author:** ![Lotus](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/lotus/32/869_2.png) [@Lotus](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/Lotus)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 2:05am UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/6 "2020-12-05T02:05:49Z")
Writing other languages? Like, how much of it should you put in the text as the actual language and how much is it just ā€œthey said this in this languageā€ ---
**Author:** ![xtayaxx](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/xtayaxx/32/4822_2.png) [@xtayaxx](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/xtayaxx)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 6:28am UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/7 "2020-12-05T06:28:30Z")
1. How to avoid using filter words while writing in first person? 2. How to perfectly incorporate descriptions about the surroundings and people without making it seem too boring, long and overly-descriptive? 3. Basic advice for writing in first person. ---
**Author:** ![dreamsinwords](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/dreamsinwords/32/40595_2.png) [@dreamsinwords](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/dreamsinwords)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 7:19am UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/8 "2020-12-05T07:19:56Z")
1. How do you make your sentences āœØ_flow_? āœØ 2. Handling dark/tragic stories ā€“ how do you balance heavy, painful conflict threads with more light-hearted moments? 3. How to improve your writing if youā€™re stuck in a plateau? 4. How bad is repetition, really? If itā€™s used as a literary device i.e. intentionally, will it still leave a bad taste in the readerā€™s mouth? 5. How do you come up with unique plots to stories? What are some ways to invert tropes? 6. Overwriterā€™s question: for a contemp lit genre, 120K is too much, right? What are some ways to cut down the draft? ---
**Author:** ![alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/alcoholandcaffeine/32/28008_2.png) [@alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/alcoholandcaffeine)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 7:23am UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/9 "2020-12-05T07:23:04Z")
> [@xtayaxx](#): > > How to avoid using filter words while writing in first person? What do you mean by filter words? Also OMG Yā€™ALL SOOOOO MANY GOOD QUESTIONS!!! ---
**Author:** ![dreamsinwords](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/dreamsinwords/32/40595_2.png) [@dreamsinwords](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/dreamsinwords)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 7:25am UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/10 "2020-12-05T07:25:49Z")
> [@alcoholandcaffeine](#): > > Also OMG Yā€™ALL SOOOOO MANY GOOD QUESTIONS!!! i just got more. iā€™m editing my post now XDDDD ---
**Author:** ![alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/alcoholandcaffeine/32/28008_2.png) [@alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/alcoholandcaffeine)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 7:35am UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/11 "2020-12-05T07:35:25Z")
> [@dreamsinwords](#): > > i just got more. iā€™m editing my post now XDDDD Awesome šŸ˜‚ Just keep in mind the Tip Cauldron comes out once a month so we wonā€™t be able to get to all of these right away, but itā€™s great to have a variety to choose from! So thanks for contributing :beautifulheart: ---
**Author:** ![dreamsinwords](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/dreamsinwords/32/40595_2.png) [@dreamsinwords](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/dreamsinwords)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 7:35am UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/12 "2020-12-05T07:35:58Z")
No problem! The more the merrier aye ---
**Author:** ![xtayaxx](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/xtayaxx/32/4822_2.png) [@xtayaxx](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/xtayaxx)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 7:54am UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/13 "2020-12-05T07:54:56Z")
> [@alcoholandcaffeine](#): > > What do you mean by filter words? ~~so glad I was not the only one who didnā€™t know this šŸ˜‚~~ So, when we write in first person we use ā€˜Iā€™, right? But we canā€™t always keep using I saw, I noticed, I cried, I shoutedā€¦ > **Google explains better lol** > > Filter words are verbs that increase the narrative distance, reminding us that what weā€™re reading is being told by someone rather than experienced, or shown, through the eyes of the character. Examples include noticed, seemed, spotted, saw, realized, felt, thought, wondered, believed, knew, decided. ---
**Author:** ![alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/alcoholandcaffeine/32/28008_2.png) [@alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/alcoholandcaffeine)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 7:59am UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/14 "2020-12-05T07:59:09Z")
Oh, lol. Yeah, I donā€™t know writing rules, which is something I made clear from the very first Tip Cauldron šŸ˜‚ I usually end up googling a lot of what yā€™all ask lmao. ---
**Author:** ![xtayaxx](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/xtayaxx/32/4822_2.png) [@xtayaxx](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/xtayaxx)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 8:00am UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/15 "2020-12-05T08:00:38Z")
Fat lot of help you are. Just kidding!! šŸ˜‚ Guess itā€™s ~~torture~~ ask Google time! XD ---
**Author:** ![astrophile](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/astrophile/32/62363_2.png) [@astrophile](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/astrophile)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 8:04am UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/16 "2020-12-05T08:04:52Z")
Woo! Our very own researchers! ---
**Author:** ![alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/alcoholandcaffeine/32/28008_2.png) [@alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/alcoholandcaffeine)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 8:05am UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/17 "2020-12-05T08:05:08Z")
Itā€™s not _torture_, itā€™s LeArNinG šŸ¤£ ---
**Author:** ![alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/alcoholandcaffeine/32/28008_2.png) [@alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/alcoholandcaffeine)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 8:05am UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/18 "2020-12-05T08:05:42Z")
> [@astrophile](#): > > Our very own researchers! ā€¦busted šŸ˜‚ ---
**Author:** ![FireAlwaysReturns](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/firealwaysreturns/32/741_2.png) [@FireAlwaysReturns](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/FireAlwaysReturns)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 4:29pm UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/19 "2020-12-27T16:29:10Z")
Does anyone have any more writing questions? šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/alcoholandcaffeine/32/28008_2.png) [@alcoholandcaffeine](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/alcoholandcaffeine)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/20 "2020-12-27T16:30:26Z")
Yeah, anyone?? Anything??? This is your last chance in 2020! šŸ¤£ ---
**Author:** ![FireAlwaysReturns](https://forum.wackywriters.com/user_avatar/forum.wackywriters.com/firealwaysreturns/32/741_2.png) [@FireAlwaysReturns](https://forum.wackywriters.com/u/FireAlwaysReturns)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 4:32pm UTC](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099/21 "2020-12-27T16:32:35Z")
Exactly, 2020 is almost over! Last chance for questions from the Year of the Plague! [Next page](https://forum.wackywriters.com/t/the-tip-cauldron-ask-your-writing-questions-here/6099.md?page=2)