Future Authors discussion

For anyone who has found anything helpful to motivate you to write, helped your planning or even writing tips you can leave some advice here!

something i have found that's really helpful to get motivation is listen to authors interviews or podcasts and like imagine it was you talking about your book and it gives me lots of motivation

ohh yesss that's rlly smart ashley!!

Ohh yes!!
I honestly write down scenes even if they don’t apply to a book right now. It’ll be so helpful in the future and your going to be grateful for it one day

yesss i do that too!

I've found it difficult for me to decide how characters look or how a setting feels to have the right vibes
So before writing my story, I created a document describing each character, including photos of their appearance details, like their eyes, hair, or outfits. This helped me a lot to better visualize my story and choose what I liked best.

ouuu i love that idea! there are some templates on pinterest for character designs if anyone needs help creating a character profile!

hiii! I need suggestions for the enemies to lovers YA novel im writing. I kinda want the plot to be different than all the other stories. The MFC is Tessa Hart, and the MMC is Maverick Reed 🫶🏼 lmk kinda desperate for ideas!

What are their personalities? Where is the setting? What age are they? What’s a trope you adore that’s not enemies to lovers, like not the oh they slowly like each both but a it’s takes forever to get together, what’s something that can be spun? Do you want actual hate or just a ‘we never got along’ type of hate?

@Kaylee Tessa is more like snappy and grumpy MFC who is supposed to move to Montana with her sister after she graduates and she’s got strict parents who want her to get every good grade etc etc. Maverick is teasing, very protective over his mom because she’s sick with like heart failure or smth. So when Tessa sees him she thinks like “ugh i hate him. his goal is to ruin everything about my life” etc. but really Mac is just stressed out Bcs he’s poor, his moms health isn’t getting better, and he’s also trying to graduate. I want this to be enemies to lovers trope where he falls first and harder 🤭

That is so good!!!! What ideas do you want? I think it sounds really good. I have an idea for what his mom should have.

@rosalie thank youuu!! What I’m mainly looking for is their first kiss lol (yes it’s far) but I don’t want it to be cliched 🫤 and WHATS your idea for his mom? 😃

She could have leukemia because it’s not too common and people are very fragile that have it. And it is expensive. Maybe he could open up to her about it and not knowing how to pay for it. Their first kiss should be at the end of the book, when is mom is getting the treatment and everything is just perfect!!!!

@rosalie okayyy so that’s what i was thinking. Leukemia or chronic heart failure. Andddd about the kiss I think that’s a good idea. I was thinking somewhere outside the hospital in the parking lot in the rain if that’s not too cliche 🤭🤭

That is perfect. It’s so cute and real. A lot of books have lovers kiss like at a beach or on a yacht which is totally unrealistic!!!!

@rosalie okayyy awesome thank you!! Im curious… what type of book are you writing? 🤭

Fantasy!!!!

@rosalie ooooh YESSS I love fantasy (obviously) what’s it about??

this is a really random question but is anyone adding periods in their book?? because I am 😭

My book is about this girl, Bella, who lives in England with her dad. While exploring her castle one day, she finds a portal to another realm. Then she finds out she is the princess of that realm. She starts to learn how to be a princess and she starts to fall for this knight. Then she called into battle and she learns about the Timeless war. War that has been going on since the beginning of time. A war between the Just King and Prince (God and Jesus) and The Evil one and his servant (The devil and the anti-christ.) She starts to fight for the Just kings side. I am thinking of having at the end of the series this
"Seven trumpets raur though the crowd. Bella knows what is happening. The crowd cheers as a white charriets flies through the sky and to the Evil ones land. The crowds starts to shout 'The Just Prince is back. He is back."

I am thinking of changing the plot because I don't want it the contra dick the Bible but I also want it to give hope to Christains that Jesus is coming back and to keep on preaching the Gospel! Do you think its good or do you think I should change it.

Also I don't understand your question. I use periods. Is that not normal? (My brain isn't braining.)

@Rosalie WOWWWWW THATS SO COOL!!! I think you should keep it! An epic ending at that!
Also sorry I should’ve been more specific lol my question was is anyone going to add menstrual periods to their book lol 😂

Thanks!!! I am going to read Revolation to better understand Jesus coming back. OOOO lol. For a second, I was like what?????? Yeah I do, wait these : or ; because I do.

@Rosalie ooh okay!!
welll YES but i meaannnnntttt like girl periods 😭

Ohhhhh lol. Yeah, I do. Allllllll the time!!!!

Rosalie wrote: "My book is about this girl, Bella, who lives in England with her dad. While exploring her castle one day, she finds a portal to another realm. Then she finds out she is the princess of that realm. ..."Thats so coooooooool ahhh! <3

my book is about a mentally unstable teenage MMC (BPD, Quiet BPD, and Psychosis sufferer) and how he goes from living a life where he has nobody he can trust and nobody who cares about him to joining a found family; he and the FMC in his found family grow very close and he thinks it's true love (it's actually a toxic relationship because he gets attached to her since she provides him all the need and support he craves and she has a savior complex, so she eventually burns out and the MMC gets hurt all over again) and then the found family go through with the rebellion against their government.
the FMC gets burnt alive once the rebellion is demolished and the MMC, even though he is still hurting is completely devastated -mainly because he had fire powers but was unable to stop the fire that k1lled the FMC (lotta shii that goes into his flames)... and after everything that happened and proved to him that he was worth love and wasn't going to end up alone, he ends up alone, unloved, and he k1lls himself :D

eloise (2026 winter volleyball version) wrote: "my book is about a mentally unstable teenage MMC (BPD, Quiet BPD, and Psychosis sufferer) and how he goes from living a life where he has nobody he can trust and nobody who cares about him to joini..."

OMGGG

thats....crazyyyy

Ash {i need to lock in} wrote: "eloise (2026 winter volleyball version) wrote: "my book is about a mentally unstable teenage MMC (BPD, Quiet BPD, and Psychosis sufferer) and how he goes from living a life where he has nobody he c..."

bahaha thnxs :P

the best part is imma write it and write it and edit it and... only ever get myself one copy off of the b&n press :P

yessss!!!!

idk wut the last part means lollll

Ash {i need to lock in} wrote: "yessss!!!!

idk wut the last part means lollll"

im gonna put all the work in and then only get myself one copy off of the Barnes & Noble press

my intro for my paper on why kids should keep their phone in school
"A student is pressed against a bathroom wall, knees shaking as she quietly stands on top of a toilet. There’s gunfire exploding in a classroom. She clutches her phone as she dials 911 to call the police. "We're coming.", they say assuringly. She scrambles to text her mom “I'm okay""
i js feel like smth's missing

I totally understand what your going for, I like it but agree it needs something. Maybe explain a little more about why phones can help?

oh that was js the hook- here's the full paragraph:
A student has flattened herself against a bathroom wall while tears pour as she stands on top of a toilet, pitch quiet. There’s gunfire exploding in a classroom. In a cold sweat, she clutches her phone with shaky hands as she tries making out the numbers 911 on her keypad through her watering eyes. She calls the police. "We're coming to help.", they say. Letting out a relieved sigh at the four words that will save her life. She scrambles to text her mom “I'm okay".
This could be the reality of the “Nearly 75% of adolescents reported some degree of SGV [School Gun Violence] worry”, according to the National Library of Medicine, but this reality can have a simple, always-on-hand solution to assure a way out. This solution is phones. Phones are not simply social media tools, but potentially life-saving devices, provide enjoyment in an atmosphere where it’s hard to find, and can provide assistance in a school setting- all if regulated in-school properly.

Ohhhh that’s actually so good! Honestly it works really well with the entire paragraph

Hey can someone read my editorial for eighth grade GT English?

I can!

Anwita Verma
9 April 2026
Balancing Breakthroughs and Bioethics in Stem-Cell Therapy
Stem-cell therapy is a form of regenerative medicine that used undifferentiated cells to repair, replace, or regenerate damaged tissues and organs, treating anything from blood disorders to experimental treatments for chronic diseases (Slack; National Cancer Institute). By 2030, stem- cell therapies could reshape medicine; however, without long-term safety data, patients may pay the price for science’s rush to innovate (University, Santa Clara). Although the fast growth of stem- cell therapy is showing advancements in medicine, progression without longitudinal evidence poses serious ethical and medical risks. More testing is necessary to maximize the lifesaving potential of stem-cell therapy, ensure patient safety with longitudinal research on its risks, and implement moral standards for cell sourcing.
While the medical community remains cautious, the main driver for continued stem-cell experimentation is the ability of stem cells to regenerate damaged tissues and offer potential cures for chronic diseases (“Pluripotent Stem Cell Research”), something nothing else on the market currently can accomplish (Slack; National Cancer Institute). Clinical studies published in major journals include comments about the “efficacy rate” of adult stem-cell transplants in treating specific blood cancers, such as leukemia, for which survival rates have increased significantly over the past few decades (Juengst). The International Society of Stem Cell Research explains in their X post how pluripotent cells differentiate into specialized cells like neurons or muscle fibers, allowing them to rejuvenate and heal almost all types of tissue in the human body (X).
Despite the immediate promise of cellular regeneration, a significant gap in longitudinal testing persists, leaving critical unanswered questions regarding the long-term risks and delayed side effects of these therapies. Research funding for human embryonic stem cells is “at risk; specifically, $338 million in funding for the National Institute of Health was allocated to hESC research in a single fiscal year” (Knoepfler). The documentary, “The Truth about Stem Cells” features "patient journeys," following individuals who travel abroad for experimental stem cell "tourism" when domestic treatments are unavailable or unapproved (“The Truth about Stem Cells.”).
By establishing a responsible set of ethical standards and emphasizing the use of alternative sources, scientists can utilize embryonic cells in a more responsible manner. This not only serves to rebuild public trust, but it also promotes more sustainable research practices (Murphy; University, Santa Clara). Although embryonic stem cells have been a source for stem-cell research for years, some question the “ethics of taking away potential human lives for research and treatment possibilities” (University, Santa Clara). Due to ethical dilemmas surrounding IVF and embryonic stem-cell sourcing, current experimentation and treatment have moved toward other stem-cell sources. Researchers have increasingly turned to alternatives such as induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, which “avoid some ethical issues associated with embryonic stem cells,” showing how scientific innovation can address moral concerns while maintaining research progress (Murphy).
While the push for longitudinal testing and stricter moral frameworks is intended to protect patients, critics argue that these bureaucratic delays and sourcing restrictions unnecessarily stall life-saving progress for those with terminal conditions. For many patients, the "immediate promise of cellular regeneration" is not a risk to be feared but a final hope, and forcing years of additional longitudinal study may result in preventable deaths while waiting for "perfect" safety data (Tubi). Furthermore, the shift toward alternative sources like iPSCs, while morally convenient, may not be a complete substitute for embryonic research; as noted by Juengst, the unique "efficacy rate" and versatility of specific stem cell lines are what make them "compete with" traditional medicine in ways other treatments cannot (Juengst). By prioritizing a cautious "balance" over aggressive innovation, the medical community risks letting $338 million in NIH funding go toward stalled projects rather than active cures, effectively allowing current patients to "pay the price" for a lack of urgency (Knoepfler).
In conclusion, stem-cell therapy is already proving to be revolutionary in the medical field, but it requires a balance between innovation and consideration of long-term patient safety. For these therapies to be a benefactor to medicine, the scientific community must commit to the life-saving potential of stem cell therapy, longitudinal research, and enforcing guidelines for cell sourcing.



Works Cited
Juengst, Eric. “The Ethics of Embryonic Stem Cells—Now and Forever, Cells without End.” JAMA, vol. 284, no. 24, 27 Dec. 2000, p. 3180, jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article..., https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.284.24.3180.
Knoepfler, Paul. “A Dangerous New Push to Ban Embryonic Stem Cell Research Funding Is Gaining Momentum.” STAT, 30 Apr. 2025, www.statnews.com/2025/04/30/human-emb....
Murphy, Greice. “Ethical Considerations in Stem Cell Research - Stem Cell Therapy | Miami Stem Cell.” Stem Cell Therapy | Miami Stem Cell - Pioneering Advanced Stem Cell Regenerative Treatments, 12 Apr. 2025, stemcellmia.com/ethical-consideration....
National Cancer Institute “https://Www.cancer.gov/Publications/D....” Www.cancer.gov, 2 Feb. 2011, www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionar....
“Pluripotent Stem Cell Research | Boston Children’s Research.” Childrenshospital.org, 2017, research.childrenshospital.org/resear....
“Regeneration | National Institute of General Medical Sciences.” Nih.gov, 2023, www.nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-shee....
RxList. “Medical Definition of Longitudinal Section.” RxList, 29 Mar. 2021, www.rxlist.com/longitudinal_section/d....
Slack, Jonathan. “1. What Are Stem Cells?” Stem Cells: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, Sept. 2021, pp. 1–18, https://doi.org/10.1093/actrade/97801....
“The Truth about Stem Cells.” Tubi, 2017, tubitv.com/movies/100042249/the-truth....
University, Santa Clara. “Stem Cell Use in Research and Health Care: A Bioethical Perspective.” @SantaClaraUniv, 2024, www.scu.edu/ethics/healthcare-ethics-....
X (Formerly Twitter), 2026, x.com/ISSCR/status/1931080681855086604.

I love the essay! For people who don’t know it was very educational.

A few corrections:
In the beginning you would say stem- cell when it should be stem-cell.
When doing quotes make sure to do the parenthesis and then the period like ().
When using your direct quotes make sure to ‘analyze’ with 1 sentence afterwards.
A few amazing points:
I loved how you added multiple sources saying different things. This goes into my next point.
I loved the diversity of stem-cell research as well as including the pros and cons.
A few questions:
In the end you discussed how not being able to have research working for a couple years could kill many, was that an opinion or was that facts?
What format are you using for your essay (example: MLA)?

I loved your essay, it did teach me a few things about the pros and cons of stem-cell search, I loved you including information (sources) from both schools, research foundations and the movie!

I hope this helps!! Remember my corrections and questions are just to help you improve and get the best possible essay ever!

fight scene recommendations???

I was curious if anyone had ideas for a romance book I also put this up on another group to so I'll prob combine ideas

I don’t know if anyone has said this but it’s something I’ve been doing and loving.

When you are stuck on something, add your idea in parenthesis and MOVE ON. Go back and edit if you want later or once the draft is done.

DO NOT edit. Do not get stuck on editing either. I used to sit and fix a scene over and over but it got me nowhere. Now I know a part is bad, in parenthesis add a comment (maybe like ‘I don’t know if I like this here’ or something) and MOVE ON.

Your first draft is meant to tell you the story. It’s not supposed to be in the best way because it’s getting your thoughts out. Once you edit you can make it perfection. But just focus on writing and enjoying the process.

Stop mid flow. If you’re on a roll with writing, take a break. This way when you come back to writing, your mid scene and can keep going. Most of the time the next scene will flow for you or you’ll get motivation/ideas for it when you’re writing.

If you have time, WRITE. Even when you’re not motivated. I have been writing for the past week ish with no creative juices but I still have 1,000 more words, because I’m determined to write my book.

No one else has your exact idea. Yes there may be a similar story, but your is unique. No book has all your characters traits, names, dialogue.

Don’t write to please people. Write what you want to read. People will love your book because of how you wrote it and want it to be.

I guess what I’m saying is MOVE ON, keep writing and enjoy the process. I figured out I get bored and burnt out when I plan, so I’m writing as I go, do what is best for you. Work through the highs and lows.

Thank you

@Kaylee Garrett
thank you sooo much for sharing this with us, girl
I really needed it and I think so many people needed it too
keep writing your own stories girlies, I know they'll be amazing!!

I know those little tips are common but have helped me. Before writing my current book I wouldn’t do any of those and wouldn’t get anywhere. Once my mindset changed (for literally everything in life) even though it was small, it’s been the most helpful thing ever!
Good luck girlies! I know your going to write the best books and can’t wait to read them 💗