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Before you kill a character...

Consider the following.

Does it advance the plot?

Killing off a character should serve a purpose in propelling the story forward. It could introduce a new conflict, escalate existing tensions, or trigger a series of events that drive the plot in a new direction. If the character's death doesn't contribute to the overall narrative arc, it might feel gratuitous or unnecessary.

Does it fulfil their personal goal?

Each character has their own arcs and objectives within the story. If the character's death aligns with or resolves their personal journey or goal, it can add depth and closure to their character arc. Conversely, if their death feels disconnected from their goals or character development, it may come across as arbitrary or unsatisfying.

Does it emphasise the theme?

The death of a character can highlight or support key themes by demonstrating their consequences or illustrating the moral dilemmas faced by the remaining characters. A well-executed death can deepen the audience's understanding of the story's themes and add layers of complexity to the narrative.

Does it motivate other characters?

Character deaths can serve as catalysts for growth or change in other characters. The loss of a loved one or ally can drive characters to reevaluate their beliefs, make difficult decisions, or embark on new paths. The impact of the death on other characters can reveal their strengths, weaknesses, and relationships, adding depth to the story's interpersonal dynamics.

Does it create realism?

The inclusion of death can lend authenticity to the story world. If the character's death feels earned and plausible within the context of the narrative, it can enhance the story's credibility and emotional resonance. However, if the death feels contrived or forced, it may strain the reader's suspension of disbelief.

Is it a fitting recompense?

In some cases, characters may meet their demise as a consequence of their actions or decisions. If the character's death serves as a form of justice or retribution for their deeds, it can feel narratively satisfying and thematically resonant. However, if the death feels arbitrary or disconnected from the character's arc or the story's events, it may feel unsatisfying or even unjustified.

Don't kill off a character for the sake of shocking the reader or invoking sadness; when considering whether to kill off a character in your story, it's crucial to ensure their demise serves a purpose beyond mere shock value or convenience. Ensure each character serves a purpose that enriches and enhances the story to avoid having to eliminate them solely for convenience. Don't use death as a means to remove an extra or irrelevant character—you shouldn't have them in the first place, if they're disposable. Doing so will undermine the depth and integrity of the narrative.

Hope this was helpful! Happy writing ❤

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Writing Tips Master Post

Character writing/development:

Character Arcs

Making Character Profiles

Character Development

Comic Relief Arc

Internal Conflict

Creating Distinct Characters

Suicidal Urges/Martyr Complex

Creating Likeable Characters

Writing Strong Female Characters

Writing POC Characters

Character Voices

Plot devices/development:

Intrigue in Storytelling

Enemies to Lovers

Alternatives to Killing Characters

Worldbuilding

Misdirection

Consider Before Killing Characters

Foreshadowing

Narrative:

Emphasising the Stakes

Avoid Info-Dumping

Writing Without Dialogue

1st vs. 2nd vs. 3rd Perspective

Fight Scenes (More)

Transitions

Pacing

Book writing:

Connected vs. Stand-Alone Series

A & B Stories

Miscellaneous:

Overcoming Writer's Block

1000 Follower Special

Writing Fantasy

Character Ask Game

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I have all these plot points and scenes but I don't know how to connect them in the whole story.

How can I bridge them?

Bridging plot points and scenes is a crucial step in crafting a cohesive story, and every writer's struggle. Here are some strategies that can help:

Character Arcs: Ensure that your plot points and scenes contribute to the development of your characters. Each scene should challenge your characters in some way and drive them toward their goals or reveal something new about them. Look for opportunities to tie the events of your story back to your characters' motivations, desires, and flaws. (See my post on character arcs for more!)

Cause and Effect: Establish clear cause-and-effect relationships between your plot points and scenes. Each event should have consequences that propel the story forward. If one scene ends with a character making a decision or taking action, the following scene should show the effects of that choice or action.

Foreshadowing and Callbacks: Use foreshadowing to hint at future events and callbacks to reference earlier ones. This creates a sense of cohesion and resonance throughout your story. Look for ways to plant seeds early on that will pay off later, and revisit earlier plot points or motifs to reinforce themes and connections.

Transitions: Pay attention to the transitions between scenes. Smooth transitions can help maintain momentum and keep readers engaged. Consider using transitional elements such as time jumps, location changes, or shifts in perspective to connect disparate scenes and move the story forward.

Subplots and Themes: Explore how your plot points and scenes contribute to subplots and overarching themes in your story. Subplots can add depth and complexity to your narrative, while themes provide a unifying framework that ties everything together. Look for opportunities to weave together multiple threads of your story to create a rich tapestry of interconnected events.

Pacing: Consider the pacing of your story and how it affects the flow of events. Balance moments of action and tension with quieter, reflective scenes to create a dynamic narrative rhythm. Pay attention to the pacing of individual scenes as well, ensuring that each one serves a purpose and moves the story forward.

Revising and Polishing: Finally, don't be afraid to revise and polish your story to strengthen the connections between plot points and scenes. As you review your manuscript, look for areas where the narrative feels disjointed or where transitions could be smoother. Experiment with rearranging scenes or adding new ones to fill gaps and improve the overall flow of your story.

Try making a mind map, timeline, or chapter outline to help you figure everything out and find any gaps or plot holes. Hope this was helpful!

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What is intrigue? How can you use it in story telling?

Intrigue in storytelling is the art of captivating readers by introducing elements of mystery, suspense, or unanswered questions that pique their curiosity and compel them to keep reading. It creates curiosity and engages the reader, compelling them to delve deeper into the narrative and keeping them guessing. Here's are some ways to effectively use intrigue in your storytelling:

Foreshadowing: Drop subtle hints or clues about future events, creating a sense of anticipation and mystery. These clues can be woven into the narrative in a way that feels natural yet intriguing, prompting readers to wonder how they will unfold.

Unexpected Plot Twists: Surprise your audience by subverting their expectations. Introduce twists and turns that challenge their assumptions and keep them guessing about what will happen next. This unpredictability adds depth to your story and keeps readers engaged as they try to anticipate the outcome.

Withholding Information: Strategically withhold key pieces of information to create suspense and intrigue. By keeping readers in the dark about certain aspects of the story, you heighten their curiosity and desire to uncover the truth.

Sense of Urgency: Establish a sense of urgency or impending danger to raise the stakes and intensify the intrigue, whether it's a ticking clock, a looming threat, or another pushing factor.

Gradual Revelation: Pace the unraveling of the mystery or unanswered questions, gradually revealing clues and information to keep readers engaged. Each revelation should deepen the intrigue and prompt new questions, driving the narrative forward and maintaining momentum.

Character Motivations and Secrets: Explore the hidden motives, secrets, and conflicts within your characters to add layers of intrigue to the story. As readers uncover the complexities of the characters' personalities and relationships, they become more invested in their journey and the outcome of the story.

Setting and Atmosphere: Use the setting and atmosphere to create an air of mystery and intrigue and enhance the sense of suspense.

Thanks for asking! Happy writing ❤

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Hi, don’t know if it’s already been asked, but how do I find a good B story? I understand that it should resonate with the A story but I’m struggling to find something

Thanks for asking! In essence, the A-story is the main focus, while the B-story provides supplementary narrative elements that contribute to the overall richness and complexity of the story. Both storylines usually intersect or influence each other in some way, contributing to the cohesion and coherence of the narrative and generally making it more interesting for the reader. Here are some tips for achieving this:

Character Arcs: Look at the main character's journey in the A story. Is there a secondary character who could undergo a parallel or contrasting arc? This can add depth and complexity to both storylines.

Theme Exploration: Identify the central themes of your A story. Then, brainstorm how you can explore those themes from a different angle or perspective in the B story. This can create a rich tapestry of meaning for your audience.

Subplots: Consider subplots that are indirectly related to the main plot but still tie into its themes or motifs. These can provide relief from the intensity of the A story while enhancing its emotional impact.

Backstory or Flashbacks: Delve into the past of a character or the world of your story. This can add depth and context to the A story while providing opportunities for exploration in the B story.

Parallel Events: Introduce events or challenges happening simultaneously with the main plot. These can intersect with the A story at key moments, driving the narrative forward while offering new perspectives.

Foils or Counterpoints: Create a character or situation in the B story that contrasts with or complements elements of the A story. This can highlight different aspects of the main themes or characters.

World Building: Expand the world of your story by focusing on a different aspect of the setting, culture, or history. This can enrich the reader's understanding of the story world while adding depth to the overall narrative.

Secondary Goals or Motivations: Give characters in the B story their own goals or motivations that intersect with or diverge from those in the A story. This can create tension and conflict, driving both plots forward.

Emotional Resonance: Ensure that the B story elicits an emotional response from the audience, whether it's empathy, excitement, or curiosity. This will help engage readers and keep them invested in both storylines.

Explore Character Relationships: Look at the relationships between your main characters. Is there a subplot that involves a secondary character's journey or development that could complement or contrast with the main storyline?

Foreshadowing and Subtext: Use the B story to foreshadow events or themes that will be important later in the main storyline. Subtle hints and subtext can add layers of meaning to your narrative and keep readers engaged.

Happy writing!

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Hi, I just discovered your account and adore all of your advice!♥️I wanted to ask how could I portray a love interest (LI) who is kind and caring at first, but gradually due to their trauma and growing envy, becomes more manipulative, calculated, and downright a scary bully towards MC. Are there ways I could subtly show the signs of their concerning shift of personality without resorting to physical violence or name-calling?

Hi, thanks for asking! Here are some subtle ways to show the signs of a character's gradual shift in personality:

Changes in Behavior: Show subtle changes in the character's behavior over time. Maybe they become more controlling, insisting on making decisions for the MC or subtly undermining their choices. Initially, they might express concern or care, but gradually they become more controlling or dismissive of the MC's feelings or opinions.

Manipulative Language: Instead of outright insults, have the character use manipulative language. They might frame their actions as being for the MC's own good or subtly guilt-trip them into doing what they want.

Isolation Tactics: Have the character gradually isolate the MC from their support network, whether it's friends of family, making the MC more emotionally dependent on them. They might discourage the MC from spending time with certain people or subtly sow seeds of doubt about their relationships under the guise of protection or love.

Gaslighting: Introduce instances of gaslighting, where the LI subtly distorts the truth or manipulates the MC's perception of reality. This could involve denying past events or making the MC doubt their own memory and judgment.

Emotional Distance: Show the character becoming emotionally distant or withholding affection from the MC. This could be a subtle sign of their growing resentment or manipulation.

Secretive Behavior: Demonstrate how the LI becomes more secretive or evasive about their actions or intentions, creating a sense of distrust and uncertainty in the relationship.

Obsessive Behavior: Show signs of obsessive behavior, such as constantly monitoring the MC's actions or becoming overly possessive. This can gradually escalate into more controlling behavior over time.

Emotional Manipulation: Explore instances where the LI manipulates the MC's emotions to get what they want. This could involve exploiting the MC's vulnerabilities or insecurities for their own gain.

Subtle Put-Downs/Microaggressions: Incorporate subtle microaggressions into their interactions with the MC. Instead of overt insults, have them make subtle put-downs or criticisms disguised as jokes or concern. These comments may initially seem innocent but gradually chip away at the MC's self-esteem.

Increasing Demands: Show them gradually increasing their demands or expectations of the MC, whether it's in terms of time, attention, or behavior. This can create a sense of pressure and obligation on the MC's part.

Jealousy: Highlight the LI's growing jealousy and envy towards the MC's relationships or achievements. This can manifest in passive-aggressive behavior or subtle sabotage.

Controlled Interactions: Show how the LI starts to control the interactions between them and the MC, dictating where they go, who they talk to, or what they do. This can escalate gradually over time.

Mood Swings: Introduce mood swings in the LI's behavior, where they switch between being charming and caring to cold and distant without apparent reason. This instability can keep the MC off balance.

Hope this helped ❤

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Do you have any advice on writing an actual book, that has no dialog?

Like I haven't started yet, and I don't know what I'm doing before hand, and I can't really find much.

Thanks for asking! Writing a book without dialogue can be a challenging endeavor, but it can also offer a lot of creative opportunities. Here are some tips to get you started:

Establish a strong narrative voice: Since you won't have dialogue to convey character personalities or interactions, your narrative voice becomes crucial. Develop a strong narrator who can guide readers through the story, offering insights, thoughts, and observations. Keep in mind that this will differ based on which perspective you're writing in (first person, second person, third person limited, or third person omniscient).

Focus on descriptive writing: Without dialogue, you'll rely heavily on descriptive prose to convey emotions, actions, and atmosphere. Use vivid imagery, sensory details, and evocative language to paint a rich picture of your story world.

Show, don't tell: This rule becomes even more important when writing without dialogue. Instead of telling readers what characters are feeling or thinking through dialogue, show it through their actions, body language, and internal reflections.

Create complex characters: While you won't have characters speaking directly to each other, you can still develop rich, complex characters through their actions, decisions, and internal conflicts. Give your characters depth by exploring their motivations, fears, and desires.

Use inner monologue: Since you won't have characters speaking their thoughts aloud, you can delve deep into their minds through inner monologue. Allow readers to see the inner workings of your characters' minds, their doubts, hopes, and fears.

Experiment with structure: Without dialogue to break up the text, you have the freedom to experiment with different narrative structures. You could use flashbacks, nonlinear storytelling, or multiple perspectives to enhance your story.

Focus on plot and pacing: With no dialogue to drive the story forward, you'll need to pay extra attention to your plot and pacing. Make sure each scene advances the story in a meaningful way and maintains the reader's interest.

Happy writing ❤

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How would you write a character slowly going insane from their world going out of their control?

Writing a character slowly descending into madness as their world unravels can be difficult. It's important to weave in details that reflect the character's internal thoughts and emotions, allowing readers to empathise with and understand their descent into madness. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to develop such a character:

Establish Normalcy: Begin by portraying your character in their normal state, with clear goals, motivations, and a sense of control over their life. Show their relationships, routines, and aspirations to establish a baseline for their sanity.

Introduce Stressors: Gradually introduce stressors or challenges that disrupt the character's sense of control. These could be external factors like conflicts with others, unexpected events, or internal struggles such as doubts or fears.

Initial Denial: Initially, have your character respond to these stressors with denial or attempts to regain control. They may try to rationalise the events or attempt to solve problems using familiar methods.

Heightened Anxiety and Paranoia: As the stressors persist and escalate, your character's anxiety and paranoia will likely intensify. They may become hyper-aware of their surroundings, seeing threats where there are none, or interpreting innocent actions as malicious.

Deteriorating Behaviour: Show the character's behaviour becoming increasingly erratic or irrational. They may behave compulsively, exhibit mood swings, or withdraw from social interactions.

Hallucinations or Delusions: Introduce hallucinations or delusions that further blur the line between reality and fantasy. These could be sensory experiences like hearing voices or seeing things that aren't there, reinforcing the character's sense of losing touch with reality.

Breakdown of Relationships: As the character's behaviour becomes more unpredictable, their relationships may suffer. Friends and loved ones may become concerned or distant, further isolating the character and exacerbating their feelings of alienation.

Loss of Self-Control: Eventually, the character's grasp on reality may slip entirely. They may experience a complete breakdown, losing all sense of self-control.

Climactic Moment: Reach a climactic moment where the character's insanity reaches its peak. This could be a dramatic confrontation, a moment of self-realisation, or a final descent into madness.

Increased Conflict and Struggle: As the character's sanity erodes, they will encounter heightened conflict and struggle in their interactions with others and the world around them. Their irrational behaviour may lead to confrontations with friends, family, or authority figures. They may also face obstacles in achieving their goals as their deteriorating mental state impairs them.

Resolution or Consequences: Decide how the story will resolve for the character. Will they find a way to regain some semblance of sanity and control, or will they succumb entirely to their madness? How will this affect the rest of the plot?

Hope this helps!

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Random Character Profiles

Prodigal slacker. An exceptional intellect, capable of solving complex problems with ease, but absolutely no drive or motivation to apply their abilities towards any practical endeavors. Others are often frustrated by the wasted talent, but they couldn't care less. If their ideas are so great, someone else can come up with them. They're just here to laze around and have fun.

Loveable annoyance. A mind that dances on the border of sanity, and a perpetual source of simultaneous amusement and irritation. They delight in making puns and bad jokes at the expense of others' patience. Undeniably loveable nonetheless.

Reluctant recluse. They present a facade of rugged independence, portraying themselves as one who thrives on solitude and despises the company of others. They project an air of indifference towards others, often dismissing any attempts at connection or sympathy with a sharp retort or a cold shoulder. But beneath this tough exterior lies a soft spot reserved for the select few who have managed to breach their defenses—though they're reluctant to show it, going to great lengths to conceal the affection they view as weakness. Their stubborn refusal to accept help or acknowledge their own struggles stems from a fiercely guarded sense of pride, manifested in their vehement denial of any signs of weakness or vulnerability, even when they're visibly on the brink of death.

Sister figure. Sharp-witted and quick-tongued; will shame, embarrass, and ruthlessly tease. Their sarcasm is as much a display of fondness as it is merciless. Fiercely affectionate, extremely caring, unwaveringly loyal. Will put themself in danger for those they love, and will not hesitate to hurt anyone who offends or hurts those they care for; but mess up, and their sternness could make a warrior sob.

Impressively patient. Reserved, caring, mature, typically polite and tolerant to an extreme extent. May lash out occasionally. Possessive of a quiet strength, tending to observe situations with a thoughtful demeanor. Their reserved nature can be mistaken for aloofness despite their deep well of empathy and care for those around them. They navigate social interactions with a polite grace; however, beneath this composed exterior lies a potential for volatility on the rare occasions when they are pushed to their limit. Often the peacekeeper in friend groups.

People hater. Seems perpetually done with everything and everyone. Specialises in dry remarks and diminishing enthusiasm. General mood killer. However, their outward projection of disdain and superiority is really a mask of their own feelings of inadequacy.

Feel free to add on any other character descriptions you like! Happy writing ❤

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How do you write a character thats meant to have an arc, and also be a character meant to ease the tone of the situation into a much more relaxed tone?

Creating a character with an arc while also serving as a source of lightness and relaxation in the story requires some careful balancing between their comic-relief moments and moments of vulnerability and depth that will make them well-rounded and engaging.

Establish a Solid Foundation: Ensure your character has a defined personality beyond just being the source of humour. Give them quirks, flaws, and desires that make them relatable and interesting. (See my post on crafting character profiles for more!)

Introduce Layers: While your character may provide comic relief, they should also have underlying motivations, fears, and conflicts that drive their actions. This adds depth and complexity to their character so they're not one-dimensional and flat.

Give Them a Purpose: Determine how your character fits into the larger narrative. What role do they play in the story beyond being funny? Perhaps they serve as a loyal friend, a source of wisdom, or a catalyst for change in other characters.

Create an Arc: Just like any other character, your comedic relief character should undergo growth and change throughout the story. This could involve overcoming personal obstacles, confronting their fears, or learning important lessons. Their arc can be subtle or overt, depending on the tone of your story and their role in it.

Balance Humour and Seriousness: Find moments where your character's humour naturally complements the narrative, but also allow them moments of vulnerability or introspection. This contrast can make their comedic moments stand out even more while adding emotional depth to their character.

Dialogue and Actions: Use dialogue and actions to reveal different facets of your character. They can crack jokes to lighten the mood, but also offer insights or observations that contribute to the plot or other characters' development.

Show Growth Through Relationships: Explore how your character's interactions with others evolve over time. Do they form deeper connections with other characters? Do they learn to be more empathetic or supportive? These relational dynamics can highlight their growth throughout the story.

Know When to Dial It Back: While it's important for your character to provide comic relief, be mindful not to overuse humour at the expense of their development. There should be moments where they are allowed to be serious or vulnerable without resorting to jokes.

Hope this helped!

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Hello! Do you have any tips on writing a short fic without any dialogue? I'm writing in 3rd person limited, present tense.

In the fic I'm writing, my character takes a walk one morning, through the woods in his backyard, trying to see the sunrise.

Throughout the fic I want him to reflect on his first marriage that ended due to both parties falling out of love. I'm actually pulling inspiration from Lord Huron's "I Lied" song.

But I'm having trouble in keeping the reader engaged and effectively communicating such deep retrospection without any dialogue or secondary character contributions while the story unfolds...

Hi, thanks for asking! Writing a short fic without dialogue can challenging, especially when delving into deep introspection. Here are some tips to help you effectively communicate your character's reflections and keep the reader engaged:

Internal monologue: Since you won't be using dialogue, focus on showing the character's emotions, thoughts, and memories through their actions, observations, and internal monologue. Use descriptive language to paint a vivid picture of the character's surroundings and their inner world.

Use sensory details: Engage the reader's senses to immerse them in the character's experience. Describe the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations of the woods and the sunrise. How does the character feel as they walk through the forest? What memories or emotions are evoked by the sunrise?

Use symbolism and metaphor: Explore the symbolism of the woods and the sunrise as they relate to the character's emotions and reflections on their past marriage. For example, the changing colors of the sunrise could mirror the stages of the relationship, while the winding paths of the woods could represent the complexities of love and loss.

Integrate memories and flashbacks: As the character reflects on their past marriage, incorporate brief snippets of memories or flashbacks to illustrate key moments or emotions. These can be woven seamlessly into the narrative to provide insight into the character's state of mind.

Create tension and conflict: Even without dialogue or external conflict, internal conflicts and tensions can drive the narrative forward. Explore the character's internal struggles, regrets, and uncertainties as they grapple with their past and try to find meaning in their present moment.

Focus on character development: Use the character's reflections on their past marriage to reveal layers of their personality, motivations, and growth over time. Show how they have been shaped by their experiences and how they are evolving as a result.

Craft a compelling narrative arc: Structure your fic with a clear beginning, middle, and end, with each part contributing to the character's journey of self-discovery and reflection. Build tension and anticipation as the character navigates through the woods and towards the sunrise, culminating in a moment of resolution or realisation.

Study other short stories: Taking the time to read and analyse short stories that rely heavily on descriptive language and internal monologue to convey meaning and emotion can be quite helpful. I find that some older texts especially tend to lack in dialogue and make up for it in vivid descriptions and prose. Pay attention to how these authors create atmosphere, develop characters, and evoke emotions through vivid descriptions and introspective narration.

Happy writing! Good luck on your story ❤

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helpful sites for writers

i have a little collection of websites i tend to use for coming up with ideas, naming people or places, keeping clear visuals or logistics, writing basics about places i've never been to, and so on. i tend to do a lot of research, but sometimes you just need quick references, right? so i thought i'd share some of them!

Behind the Name; good for name meanings but also just random name ideas, regardless of meanings.

Fantasy Name Generator; this link goes to the town name generator, which i use most, but there are lots of silly/fun/good inspo generators on there!

Age Calculator; for remembering how old characters are in Y month in Z year. i use this constantly.

Height Comparison; i love this for the height visuals; does character A come up to character B's shoulder? are they a head taller? what does that look like, height-wise? the chart feature is great!

Child Development Guide; what can a (neurotypical, average) 5-year-old do at that age? this is a super handy quickguide for that, with the obviously huge caveat that children develop at different paces and this is not comprehensive or accurate for every child ever. i like it as a starting point, though!

Weather Spark; good for average temperatures and weather checking!

Green's Dictionary of Slang; good for looking up "would x say this?" or "what does this phrase mean in this context?" i love the timeline because it shows when the phrase was historically in use. this is english only, though; i dig a little harder for resources like this in other languages.

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How to Write Betrayal

Betrayal is a powerful plot element that is represented in countless stories. The gravity of betrayal brings a profound depth to character dynamics, plots, and themes alike, making it an indispensable tool for writers to explore emotions, conflicts, and the complexities of human nature. Let’s explore some quick tips on how to write betrayal!

Behaviour

Secretive actions

Dishonesty

Becoming emotionally distant

A sudden change in routine

Pushing people away

Nervous or fidgety movement

Frequent lying or making up stories

Unexpected aggression or irritability

Unjustified mood swings or emotional outbursts

Increasingly defensive

Interactions

Disturbed interpersonal relationships

Frequent misunderstandings or fights

Withholding information

Avoiding personal discussions

Insincerity in conversations

Frequently cancelling or missing plans

A sudden shift in relationship dynamics

Quick to deflect or place blame

Frequent subject changes

Gradual emotional detachment

Body Language

Avoiding direct eye contact

Defensive stance and crossed arms

Covering mouth or touching face

Shuffling or restless movements

Forcing smiles or laughter

Constantly looking around or at the ground

Stiff, tense posture

Heavy breathing or frequent sighing

Avoiding touch or skin contact

Exaggerated gestures

Attitude

A lack of concern or empathy

Increasingly personal and hurtful arguments

Erratic or unpredictable reactions

Self-centeredness

Insincerity

Dismissive or negative attitude

Callous disregard for other's feelings

A negative or pessimistic outlook

Inability to handle criticism

Withdrawal from relationships

Positive Story Outcomes

In the wake of a betrayal, a story can manifest various positive outcomes that add depth to the plot and its characters. Relationships can be strengthened, showing their resilience. Characters may discover newfound self-reliance and learn valuable lessons about trust and forgiveness, leading to an increase in empathy and understanding, personal growth, and the reinforcement of personal values. These experiences can encourage a clearer understanding of personal boundaries, prompt self-reflection, introspection, and the development of healthier coping mechanisms. Ultimately, these positive outcomes can bring about improved communication and honesty, forming the silver lining in the cloud of betrayal.

Negative Story Outcomes

The aftershocks of betrayal can reverberate throughout your story. This might include an irreparable fracture of trust and damage to relationships. Betrayal can trigger psychological trauma, leading to an increase in suspicion and insecurity. Feelings of inadequacy or self-blame may surface, and characters can experience a heightened sense of isolation. The fear of forming new relationships or trusting others can become overwhelming. There may also be an escalation of conflict or violence and the reinforcement of negative behaviours or patterns. Damaged self-esteem or self-worth may be another repercussion, and this can encourage destructive coping mechanisms.

Helpful Synonyms

Treachery

Deception

Double-crossing

Duplicity

Backstabbing

Two-faced

Disloyalty

Unfaithfulness

Infidelity

Falseness

Perfidy

Treason

Fraud

Deceit

Slander

Misrepresentation

Falsification

Chicanery

Double-dealing

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Some Quick Character Tips

Here are a handful of quick tips to help you write believable characters! 

1. A character’s arc doesn’t need to grow linearly. Your protagonist doesn’t have to go from being weak to strong, shy to confident, or novice to professional in one straight line. It’s more realistic if they mess up their progress on the way and even decline a bit before reaching their goal.

2. Their past affects their present. Make their backstory matter by having their past events shape them into who they are. Growing up with strict parents might lead to a sneaky character, and a bad car accident might leave them fearful of driving.

3. Give reoccurring side characters something that makes them easily recognizable. This could be a scar, a unique hairstyle, an accent, or a location they’re always found at, etc.

4. Make sure their dialogue matches their personality. To make your characters more believable in conversation, give them speech patterns. Does the shy character mumble too low for anyone to ever hear, does the nervous one pace around and make everyone else on edge? 

5. Make your characters unpredictable. Real people do unexpected things all the time, and this can make life more exciting. The strict, straight-A student who decides to drink at a party. The pristine princess who likes to visit the muddy farm animals. When character’s decide to do things spontaneously or in the heat of the moment, it can create amazing twists and turns.

6. Give even your minor character’s a motive. This isn’t to say that all your characters need deep, intricate motives. However, every character should need or want something, and their actions should reflect that. What’s the motive behind a side character who follows your protagonist on their adventure? Perhaps they’ve always had dreams of leaving their small village or they want to protect your protagonist because of secret feelings.

Instagram: coffeebeanwriting  

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Writing Tips - Beating Perfectionism

1. Recognising writing perfectionism. It’s not usually as literal as “This isn’t 100% perfect and so it is the worst thing ever”, in my experience it usually sneaks up more subtly. Things like where you should probably be continuing on but if you don’t figure out how to word this paragraph better it’s just going to bug you the whole time, or where you’re growing demotivated because you don’t know how to describe the scene 100% exactly as you can imagine it in your head, or things along those lines where your desire to be exact can get in the way of progression. In isolated scenarios this is natural, but if it’s regularly and notably impacting your progress then there’s a more pressing issue

2. Write now, edit later. Easier said than done, which always infuriated me until I worked out how it translates into practice; you need to recognise what the purpose of this stage of the writing process is and when editing will hinder you more than help you. Anything up to and including your first draft is purely done for structural and creative purposes, and trying to impose perfection on a creative process will naturally stifle said creativity. Creativity demands the freedom of imperfection

3. Perfection is stagnant. We all know that we have to give our characters flaws and challenges to overcome since, otherwise, there’s no room for growth or conflict or plot, and it ends up being boring and predictable at best - and it’s just the same as your writing. Say you wrote the absolute perfect book; the perfect plot, the perfect characters, the perfect arcs, the perfect ending, etc etc. It’s an overnight bestseller and you’re discussed as a literary great for all time. Everyone, even those outside of your target demographic, call it the perfect book. Not only would that first require you to turn the perfect book into something objective, which is impossible, but it would also mean that you would either never write again, because you can never do better than your perfect book, or you’ll always write the exact same thing in the exact same way to ensure constant perfection. It’s repetitive, it’s boring, and all in all it’s just fearful behaviour meant to protect you from criticism that you aren’t used to, rather than allowing yourself to get acclimated to less than purely positive feedback

4. Faulty comparisons. Comparing your writing to that of a published author’s is great from an analytical perspective, but it can easily just become a case of “Their work is so much better, mine sucks, I’ll never be as good as them or as good as any ‘real’ writer”. You need to remember that you’re comparing a completely finished draft, which likely underwent at least three major edits and could have even had upwards of ten, to wherever it is you’re at. A surprising number of people compare their *first* draft to a finished product, which is insanity when you think of it that way; it seems so obvious from this perspective why your first attempt isn’t as good as their tenth. You also end up comparing your ability to describe the images in your head to their ability to craft a new image in your head; I guarantee you that the image the author came up with isn’t the one their readers have, and they’re kicking themselves for not being able to get it exactly as they themselves imagine it. Only the author knows what image they’re working off of; the readers don’t, and they can imagine their own variation which is just as amazing

5. Up close and too personal. Expanding on the last point, just in general it’s harder to describe something in coherent words than it is to process it when someone else prompts you to do so. You end up frustrated and going over it a gazillion times, even to the point where words don’t even look like words anymore. You’ve got this perfect vision of how the whole story is supposed to go, and when you very understandably can’t flawlessly translate every single minute detail to your satisfaction, it’s demotivating. You’re emotionally attached to this perfect version that can’t ever be fully articulated through any other medium. But on the other hand, when consuming other media that you didn’t have a hand in creating, you’re viewing it with perfectly fresh eyes; you have no ‘perfect ideal’ of how everything is supposed to look and feel and be, so the images the final product conjures up become that idealised version - its no wonder why it always feels like every writer except you can pull off their visions when your writing is the only one you have such rigorous preconceived notions of

6. That’s entertainment. Of course writing can be stressful and draining and frustrating and all other sorts of nasty things, but if overall you can’t say that you ultimately enjoy it, you’re not writing for the right reasons. You’ll never take true pride in your work if it only brings you misery. Take a step back, figure out what you can do to make things more fun for you - or at least less like a chore - and work from there

7. Write for yourself. One of the things that most gets to me when writing is “If this was found and read by someone I know, how would that feel?”, which has lead me on multiple occasions to backtrack and try to be less cringe or less weird or less preachy or whatever else. It’s harder to share your work with people you know whose opinions you care about and whose impressions of you have the potential of shifting based on this - sharing it to strangers whose opinions ultimately don’t matter and who you’ll never have to interact with again is somehow a lot less scary because their judgements won’t stick. But allowing the imaginary opinions of others to dictate not even your finished project, but your unmoderated creative process in general? Nobody is going to see this without your say so; this is not the time to be fussing over how others may perceive your writing. The only opinion that matters at this stage is your own

8. Redirection. Instead of focusing on quality, focusing on quantity has helped me to improve my perfectionism issues; it doesn’t matter if I write twenty paragraphs of complete BS so long as I’ve written twenty paragraphs or something that may or may not be useful later. I can still let myself feel accomplished regardless of quality, and if I later have to throw out whole chapters, so be it

9. That’s a problem for future me. A lot of people have no idea how to edit, or what to look for when they do so, so having a clear idea of what you want to edit by the time the editing session comes around is gonna be a game-changer once you’re supposed to be editing. Save the clear work for when you’re allocating time for it and you’ll have a much easier and more focused start to the editing process. It’ll be more motivating than staring blankly at the intimidating word count, at least

10. The application of applications. If all else fails and you’re still going back to edit what you’ve just wrote in some struggle for the perfect writing, there are apps and websites that you can use that physically prevent you from editing your work until you’re done with it. If nothing else, maybe it can help train you away from major edits as you go

[deception-united]

Love it!

Last Line Rewrite (Again)

Got back-tagged with this challenge again (thanks to @replayjay for participating!), so why not. This tag game requires you to rewrite the given line, then tag other writers to do the same.

I got the line:

I don't know this little girl, yet the sight of her as she tries to drag her dead fathers body out of my army's way makes me almost want to surrender. then I remembered the taste of victory and forget about her.

Rewrote it as:

The pitiful image of the young girl, tears streaking down her dirt-stained face as she struggled to pull her father's lifeless body from the path of my advancing army, tugs at something deep within me. For a fleeting moment, I feel a pang of empathy, a desire to halt our conquest. But then I cast my gaze back to the horizon, where the spoils of conquest awaited, and the cries of the innocent fade into the background, drowned out by the memory of triumph. The sweet, sweet taste of victory, floods my mind, and any trace of compassion is swept away. I shouldn't care. I don't.

Your line:

He stared down at her, the corners of his eyes crinkling as his lips curl in a crooked smile—a smile, right now, at a time like this, even as she feels the pressure rising as everything comes to a crescendo. Why is he smiling?

Tagging @scribblesbyb, @mossy-melodies, @writing-promptsss, and @writing-unrequited. Have fun ❤

[deception-united]

Here, have some writing tips.

Celebrating 1000 followers! Love you all ❤

Your first version doesn't have to be permanent.

A lot of writers—myself included—may feel a sort of connection or duty to their original story, draft, plot, or characters. But being afraid to change what you already have will only hinder you. My current WIP (which I'm working on with @leisureflame, check out her blog!) has been changed—and I mean completely flipped around—countless times. We started out in a medieval setting with kings and queens and burning witches, and now it's a dystopian novel set in the future in a country they're forbidden to leave. Our main character was originally dark haired, olive skinned, reserved, fierce, independent, and now she's a sunburn-prone ginger with a sanity deficiency. We've scrapped and replaced multiple characters and sacrificed plot elements we loved to attain what is best for this story. It's incredibly sad, but sometimes, it's necessary.

Don't delete your ideas.

Or excerpts. Or character ideas. An idea's occurred to you at three in the morning? In the shower? At work? Write. It. Down. Immediately. The top surface of my bookcase is littered with random notes in smudged pencil that I've jotted down. Referring back to the last point, if you change or scrap a part of your story, keep it somewhere. I like to keep a notes document that I perpetually add the most random things to: out-of-context lines of dialogue, phrases I like, new vocabulary, character descriptions—anything, really. Even if you know you're probably never going to have occasion to use it, take note of it anyway. You never know when a previous idea will be just the element you need in your story. And if not, well, they're fun to read over later.

Free write.

I know I covered this in a recent post, but I'd just like to stress on it again. Open a document or a page in your notebook and just start writing. Whatever comes to mind. Doesn't matter how nonsensical or embarrassing or muddled, as long as you're writing. This exercise can really help regain or maintain your creative flow. You'll end up with some passages that are horrible and that you will never deign to set your eyes upon in the rest of your years, and others you'll cherish. In any case, whether the result is good or atrocious, you'll have written something. It's a good way to combat writer's block, or boredom. I recommend it.

Hope this helps. Thanks for all your support!