Tamers,

I keep seeing you getting outfoxed by your brats when you assign lines. If you're leaving loopholes open so you can escalate things, more power to you and enjoy it! But if you're not, and your brat is running circles around your disciplinary efforts, let me offer you some free advice that's worth every penny.

When assigning lines, be sure to include the following stipulations:

• Lines must be written exactly. Oh, and be sure to provide your brat with the OED definition of "Exact": Precisely agreeing with a standard, a fact, or the truth; perfectly conforming; neither exceeding nor falling short in any respect. Exact means you write the line, as given, the number of times required, with no additions or omissions anywhere on the page. Clarify that. Let it be known that this is what you mean when you say exact, and it applies to this and any future assignments.
• Lines must be hand written, with a pen or pencil, on paper. Don't leave it open ended as to the medium and NEVER tell them to type. "ctrl v" is, technically, typing the line.
• Lines must be written one at a time. I haven't seen examples on this sub, but holding multiple pens and writing multiple lines at once is one o' the oldest brat tricks in the notebook.
• Give the assignment as an order. "I want you to write 50 lines" is not an instruction. It's an expression of desire. Any brat worth their salt's going to find a time to respond to that with "how's it feel to want?"

Also, bear in mind your assignment will be more effective if you:

• Give a number of lines. None of this pages crap. Your brat will find the smallest paper, write in the largest letters possible, and there will be nothing you can do but recognize your own failure.
• Give a deadline. "You will write 100 exact lines written in your own hand, one at a time, using a pen or pencil on paper" means NOTHING if it's not time bound. Without a deadline, your brat could just wait until they feel like it, which will be never.
• Give a motivation. Take something away, or place a stipulation on the writing process. Make it uncomfortable to resist getting the writing done. "Edge yourself once every half hour between now and when your lines are done" is a simple enough method, but get creative with it.
• Build in escalation or reprieve. Have additional penalty lines if they don't hit their deadline, or offer a reward if they finish early, or both.
• Make it possible! holy heck, some of y'all are telling your brats to write a novel's worth of lines. The goal is reinforcing submission, not a repetitive stress injury.

Lastly, let me just make a case here for positive writing assignments. You've probably seen them mentioned in other people's threads, but they really do need to be acknowledged in any post about lining. You're in this to have fun, and you're supposed to be looking out for your brat. If they're in a not-so-great mental place and you already use lines for discipline, they can be a great tool for mandating some positive self-talk out of your brat. "I am good and beautiful. I have worth, and am deserving of respect" written exactly 50 times might just make them start to believe it. And if not, you can always try spanking it into 'em.

Happy Taming!