celestepens

[celestepens]

Prompt #1182

"Even a simple I love you from you sounds like a threat."

"If you don't say it back quickly it is."

[celestepens]

Emotional Walls Your Character Has Built (And What Might Finally Break Them)

(How your character defends their soft core and what could shatter it) Because protection becomes prison real fast.

✶ Sarcasm as armor. (Break it with someone who laughs gently, not mockingly.) ✶ Hyper-independence. (Break it with someone who shows up even when they’re told not to.) ✶ Stoicism. (Break it with a safe space to fall apart.) ✶ Flirting to avoid intimacy. (Break it with real vulnerability they didn’t see coming.) ✶ Ghosting everyone. (Break it with someone who won’t take silence as an answer.) ✶ Lying for convenience. (Break it with someone who sees through them but stays anyway.) ✶ Avoiding touch. (Break it with accidental, gentle contact that feels like home.) ✶ Oversharing meaningless things to hide real depth. (Break it with someone who asks the second question.) ✶ Overworking. (Break it with forced stillness and the terrifying sound of their own thoughts.) ✶ Pretending not to care. (Break it with a loss they can’t fake their way through.) ✶ Avoiding mirrors. (Break it with a quiet compliment that hits too hard.) ✶ Turning every conversation into a joke. (Break it with someone who doesn’t laugh.) ✶ Being everyone’s helper. (Break it when someone asks what they need, and waits for an answer.) ✶ Constantly saying “I’m fine.” (Break it when they finally scream that they’re not.) ✶ Running. Always running. (Break it with someone who doesn’t chase, but doesn’t leave, either.) ✶ Intellectualizing every feeling. (Break it with raw, messy emotion they can’t logic away.) ✶ Trying to be the strong one. (Break it when someone sees the weight they’re carrying, and offers to help.) ✶ Hiding behind success. (Break it when they succeed and still feel empty.) ✶ Avoiding conflict at all costs. (Break it when silence causes more pain than the truth.) ✶ Focusing on everyone else’s healing but their own. (Break it when they hit emotional burnout.)

[celestepens]

if you see me posting a lot that means im going through something. could be good or bad. but for sure im going through something

[celestepens]

[celestepens]

absolutely love abusing the power that comes with 3rd person limited pov and just ignoring things and being vague sometimes. does the character know all the details? no? then I don't have to either.

[celestepens]

[celestepens]

Tips on how to Write Two Characters Stuck in a Car After a Fight

⊹ The silence hits hard, like, instantly. Not a thoughtful silence, Neither the quiet that comes from mutual processing, no, it’s the kind that wraps around your throat and makes the air feel heavier. The music’s either turned off completely or left on just low enough to be awkward. And suddenly, the blink of the turn signal is the loudest sound in the universe. Tick. Tick. Tick. Like a countdown to who’s going to break first.

⊹ One of them is clenching the steering wheel like it’s responsible for the fight. The other is staring so intently out the window it’s like they expect a tree to swoop in and rescue them. No one’s talking, but they’re both internally monologuing the fight like it’s a courtroom drama... Replaying every word, every look. Mentally rewriting it to win.

⊹ Petty starts small. The A/C is mysteriously switched off or suddenly freezing. The music changes to something annoying. Someone opens snacks and doesn't offer. Gum? Forgotten. There’s no yelling, but the passive aggression is practically humming, like, it's not a fight anymore, it’s a vibe war.

⊹ Someone always cracks first. Not with an apology. No, it’s a neutral lifeline, something like “We’re almost out of gas.” It’s code for please say something, I hate this, I don’t want to do this anymore, but we’re all too emotionally constipated to say that out loud.

⊹ Apologies are rarely clean. It’s not “I’m sorry” with big dramatic weight. It’s a muttered “I just…” followed by a sigh, a glance, a half-hearted attempt to explain. And sometimes it’s too soon, and the other person’s still too mad to accept it. Sometimes it’s too late, and sometimes it never comes at all, and that silence says everything.

⊹ The body language tells the whole story = Crossed arms, tense shoulders, avoiding eye contact like it’s contagious. One of them shifts a little closer, not sure if they’re allowed to. The other leans further away without realizing. It’s like watching magnets almost click, and then pull apart.

⊹ At some point, one of them thinks about just… getting out. Not even angrily, just… the fantasy of walking away mid-red-light. Imagining opening the door and stepping out into somewhere else, because anywhere feels better than this. Even if it’s just for a second.

⊹ The rearview mirror becomes a gut-punch. They glance into it without meaning to, and suddenly it’s all flashbacks...what was just said, or who they were before it, or maybe even what they’re trying not to lose.

⊹ And if the car breaks down mid-fight? That’s not a plot twist, no dear writer, that’s a breakdown of everything. Now they’re stuck with no escape, no distractions, just the weight of what was said and the sound of their own hearts hammering too loud. It’s the moment where everything either falls apart or finally cracks open.

[celestepens]

Prompt #1190

"I miss the old you."

"The old me is gone for a reason."

[celestepens]

they told me to “do what i love” but forgot to mention that writing wouldn’t pay rent

[celestepens]

more angst for you losers

“  how could i possibly trust you again after…everything?  ” “  won’t you at least let me try to make things better?  ” “  please don’t look at me like that.  ” “  stop trying to fix me.  ” “  i thought i could save you. but you can’t pull someone out of a storm if they won’t even take your hand.  ” “  what aren’t you telling me?  ” “  you’re right, you are a monster.  ” “  i keep waiting for you to hurt me.  ” “  how long until you realize i’m here to stay?  ” “  please don’t apologize, because then i won’t be able to help but forgive you and i’m not ready to do that yet.  ” “  sometimes i feel like you’re just waiting for an excuse to leave. ” “  i don’t feel safe here anymore. nowhere feels safe. ” “  i won’t let you ruin us. you’re scared of this but you don’t have to be. ” “  one of these days you’re going to push so hard i won’t be able to pull myself back to you again. ” “  your eyes always look so lost. ” “  loving you is killing me. ” “  i feel like i can’t breathe when you’re not here. ” “  i don’t hate you. but i can’t be in love with you anymore. ” “  why are you looking at me like that? ” “  what happens when i finally fuck up and you finally have to see me for what i am? ” “  i’m scared to let myself want you. ” “  why can’t i be enough? ” “  why won’t you let me help you? why won’t you let me close? ” “  just stay still. let me hold you. ” “  i won’t let you push me away this time. ” “  if you’re so intent on going down this path, then i’m coming with you. ” “  i miss the way you used to smile at me. ” “  i need you. and i hate that i do. ” “  i need to know that you’ll be okay. if something happens to me… ” “  you’re not the person i fell in love with anymore. ” “  why won’t you just let me go? i’m not worth it. ” “  please don’t go. ” “  if you can’t do it for yourself, then do it for me. do it because i need you. ” “  i can’t fix it this time. ” “  do you know how hard it was to let you go? ” “  i don’t think i’ll ever be over you. ” “  i can’t be angry. i’m too tired. i just want it to be over.  ”

[celestepens]

me when the plot won't plot like it should

[celestepens]

controversial writing tip

open a document and start writing

[celestepens]

executive dysfunction is legitimately physically uncomfortable. i’ll be trapped between two things, weirdly caught on how-much-time-it-might-take-me. i take hours worried im going to take hours doing things. i’ll sit on the floor for the entire day, caught up in the middle of not-doing the chores i actually do want to be doing.

& the amount of mental energy that goes into it. & the legitimate amount of anger and discomfort and self-hate. is not “being lazy”.  it’d be a lot less work if i didn’t have to fight myself to just get up and do it. 

i just need you to understand it’s not effortless. it’s never effortless. it’s not “okay let me just get up and finally start doing this.” it’s more like. i am slamming my foot on the pedal but the car is in neutral and nothing is moving. it’s more like shouting instructions into a dying telephone. it’s more like being trapped in a small electric box, and someone who hates me is administering shocks. 

im trying. im trying. please help me get up.

[celestepens]

Creating Compelling Character Arcs: A Guide for Fiction Writers

As writers, one of our most important jobs is to craft characters that feel fully realized and three-dimensional. Great characters aren't just names on a page — they're complex beings with arcs that take them on profound journeys of change and growth. A compelling character arc can make the difference between a forgettable story and one that sticks with readers long after they've turned the final page.

Today, I'm going to walk you through the art of crafting character arcs that are as rich and multi-layered as the people you encounter in real life. Whether you're a first-time novelist or a seasoned storyteller, this guide will give you the tools to create character journeys that are equal parts meaningful and unforgettable.

What Is a Character Arc?

Before we go any further, let's make sure we're all on the same page about what a character arc actually is. In the most basic sense, a character arc refers to the internal journey a character undergoes over the course of a story. It's the path they travel, the obstacles they face, and the ways in which their beliefs, mindsets, and core selves evolve through the events of the narrative.

A character arc isn't just about what happens to a character on the outside. Sure, external conflict and plot developments play a major role — but the real meat of a character arc lies in how those external forces shape the character's internal landscape. Do their ideals get shattered? Is their worldview permanently altered? Do they have to confront harsh truths about themselves in order to grow?

The most resonant character arcs dig deep into these universal human experiences of struggle, self-discovery, and change. They mirror the journeys we all go through in our own lives, making characters feel powerfully relatable even in the most imaginative settings.

The Anatomy of an Effective Character Arc

Now that we understand what character arcs are, how do we actually construct one that feels authentic and impactful? Let's break down the key components:

The Inciting Incident

Every great character arc begins with a spark — something that disrupts the status quo of the character's life and sets them on an unexpected path. This inciting incident can take countless forms, be it the death of a loved one, a sudden loss of power or status, an epic betrayal, or a long-held dream finally becoming attainable.

Whatever shape it takes, the inciting incident needs to really shake the character's foundations and push them in a direction they wouldn't have gone otherwise. It opens up new struggles, questions, and internal conflicts that they'll have to grapple with over the course of the story.

Lies They Believe

Tied closely to the inciting incident are the core lies or limiting beliefs that have been holding your character back. Perhaps they've internalized society's body image expectations and believe they're unlovable. Maybe they grew up in poverty and are convinced that they'll never be able to escape that cyclical struggle.

Whatever these lies are, they'll inform how your character reacts and responds to the inciting incident. Their ingrained perceptions about themselves and the world will directly color their choices and emotional journeys — and the more visceral and specific these lies feel, the more compelling opportunities for growth your character will have.

The Struggle

With the stage set by the inciting incident and their deeply-held lies exposed, your character will then have to navigate a profound inner struggle that stems from this setup. This is where the real meat of the character arc takes place as they encounter obstacles, crises of faith, moral dilemmas, and other pivotal moments that start to reshape their core sense of self.

Importantly, this struggle shouldn't be a straight line from Point A to Point B. Just like in real life, people tend to take a messy, non-linear path when it comes to overcoming their limiting mindsets. They'll make progress, backslide into old habits, gain new awareness, then repeat the cycle. Mirroring this meandering but ever-deepening evolution is what makes a character arc feel authentic and relatable.

Moments of Truth

As your character wrestles with their internal demons and existential questions, you'll want to include potent Moments of Truth that shake them to their core. These are the climactic instances where they're forced to finally confront the lies they believe head-on. It could be a painful conversation that shatters their perception of someone they trusted. Or perhaps they realize the fatal flaw in their own logic after hitting a point of no return.

These Moments of Truth pack a visceral punch that catalyzes profound realizations within your character. They're the litmus tests where your protagonist either rises to the occasion and starts radically changing their mindset — or they fail, downing further into delusion or avoiding the insights they need to undergo a full transformation.

The Resolution

After enduring the long, tangled journey of their character arc, your protagonist will ideally arrive at a resolution that feels deeply cathartic and well-earned. This is where all of their struggle pays off and we see them evolve into a fundamentally different version of themselves, leaving their old limiting beliefs behind.

A successfully crafted resolution in a character arc shouldn't just arrive out of nowhere — it should feel completely organic based on everything they've experienced over the course of their thematic journey. We should be able to look back and see how all of the challenges they surmounted ultimately reshaped their perspective and led them to this new awakening. And while not every character needs to find total fulfillment, for an arc to feel truly complete, there needs to be a definitive sense that their internal struggle has reached a meaningful culmination.

Tips for Crafting Resonant Character Arcs

I know that was a lot of ground to cover, so let's recap a few key pointers to keep in mind as you start mapping out your own character's trajectories:

Get Specific With Backstory

To build a robust character arc, a deep understanding of your protagonist's backstory and psychology is indispensable. What childhood wounds do they carry? What belief systems were instilled in them from a young age? The more thoroughly you flesh out their history and inner workings, the more natural their arc will feel.

Strive For Nuance

One of the biggest pitfalls to avoid with character arcs is resorting to oversimplified clichés or unrealistic "redemption" stories. People are endlessly complex — your character's evolution should reflect that intricate messiness and nuance to feel grounded. Embrace moral grays, contradictions, and partial awakenings that upend expectations.

Make the External Match the Internal

While a character arc hinges on interior experiences, it's also crucial that the external plot events actively play a role in driving this inner journey. The inciting incident, the obstacles they face, the climactic Moments of Truth — all of these exterior occurrences should serve as narrative engines that force your character to continually reckon with themselves.

Dig Into Your Own Experiences

Finally, the best way to instill true authenticity into your character arcs is to draw deeply from the personal transformations you've gone through yourself. We all carry with us the scars, growth, and shattered illusions of our real-life arcs — use that raw honesty as fertile soil to birth characters whose journeys will resonate on a soulful level.

Happy Writing!

[celestepens]

writing is just sitting in front of a computer and making up problems for imaginary people while ignoring your own. fun and casual hobby.

[celestepens]

You know what I like better than a miscommunication in stories? Incompatible worldviews.

MC was told, explicitly, something about what is going on. And they wholesale dismissed that data because it doesn't fit at all within their concept of the people/systems/dynamics involved. That person is wrong. They are mentally unwell. They're stupid. They're lying. I know better. I was taught better. I know who to trust. I am more rational.

And you let that unreliable-ass narrator convince your audience to dismiss the information you handed them right out in the open.

Good shit.

[celestepens]

How to avoid White Room Syndrome

by Writerthreads on Instagram

A common problem writers face is "white room syndrome"—when scenes feel like they’re happening in an empty white room. To avoid this, it's important to describe settings in a way that makes them feel real and alive, without overloading readers with too much detail. Here are a few tips below to help!

Focus on a few key details

You don’t need to describe everything in the scene—just pick a couple of specific, memorable details to bring the setting to life. Maybe it’s the creaky floorboards in an old house, the musty smell of a forgotten attic, or the soft hum of a refrigerator in a small kitchen. These little details help anchor the scene and give readers something to picture, without dragging the action with heaps of descriptions.

Engage the senses

Instead of just focusing on what characters can see, try to incorporate all five senses—what do they hear, smell, feel, or even taste? Describe the smell of fresh bread from a nearby bakery, or the damp chill of a foggy morning. This adds a lot of depth and make the location feel more real and imaginable.

Mix descriptions with actions

Have characters interact with the environment. How do your characters move through the space? Are they brushing their hands over a dusty bookshelf, shuffling through fallen leaves, or squeezing through a crowded subway car? Instead of dumping a paragraph of description, mix it in with the action or dialogue.

Use the setting to reflect a mood or theme

Sometimes, the setting can do more than just provide a backdrop—it can reinforce the mood of a scene or even reflect a theme in the story. A stormy night might enhance tension, while a warm, sunny day might highlight a moment of peace. The environment can add an extra layer to what’s happening symbolically.

Here's an example of writing a description that hopefully feels alive and realistic, without dragging the action:

The bookstore was tucked between two brick buildings, its faded sign creaking with every gust of wind. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of worn paper and dust, mingling with the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee from a corner café down the street. The wooden floorboards groaned as Ella wandered between the shelves, her fingertips brushing the spines of forgotten novels. Somewhere in the back, the soft sound of jazz crackled from an ancient radio.

Hope these tips help in your writing!