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flyswhumpcenter · 4 months ago

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I'm back with more Sickfic Theory

Presenting: A strategy for writing oneshots/short form sickfic for people who struggle with that

Once again, with feeling, this is a strategy, as in one single strategy, that you might find helpful if you sometimes struggle to write shorter sickfic that feels interesting or feels like it has a point. It is not rules. It is not something I believe in wholeheartedly as the best or only way to write sickfic. It's just something you can try if it seems helpful.

This strategy is adapted from screenwriting advice described by Robert McKee in his book Story

Intro

Sometimes I'll be writing a sickfic and realize that it feels like it's going nowhere and the only thing moving the plot is a character getting sicker, and if that doesn't happen then nothing is happening and instead of feeling like low stakes and cozy, it just feels placid and boring and pointless. I study creative writing as a hobby and I just stumbled across something that I think is really going to help me, so I thought I'd share with the class in case it helps anyone else

Vocab (read this! we're using very specific definitions of common words, you WILL be confused if you don't abide by THESE definitions)

Value: A binary quality of human experience that can be positive or negative; a pair of opposite feelings or experiences. (Informed/ignorant, excited/bored, self-aware/self-deceitful, behaving bravely/behaving as a coward, feeling love/feeling hate, feeling loved/feeling hated, etc)

Scene: A small section of a story, made up of energy shifts, in which a character pursues a want related to the immediate world around them. (Go to bed, take X's temperature, etc)

Sequence: A section of a story made up of Scenes, that culminates in an impact greater than the impact of any one scene within it. (Unless you're working toward a climax, don't worry about that too terribly much. Just know that the end of a sequence marks an energy shift in your story)

What Makes a "Short" Sickfic?

A short fic can consist of a single Scene. It can consist of a single Sequence. It can consist of several Sequences. But what is the upper limit?

Well, that one is honestly up to you.

When I'm in top form, I usually write fics in the 6-10k range consisting of a few Sequences. But what I usually write are fics containing one Scene or Sequence, in the 1-2k range.

Fics Consisting of a Single Scene

The protagonist must end the Story experiencing a Value in the opposite state as when it started. A Value, not every relevant Value.

The protagonist must end every Scene experiencing a Value in the opposite state as when it started.

Therefore, in Stories that consist only of one Scene, the Story and the Scene end when the protagonist changes how they are experiencing a single Value.

Examples, for the Value lonely/accompanied:

1. Character A is sick and lonely. They call Character B, who comes over.

2. Character A is sick and lonely. They try to cope by distracting themself, but it doesn't help. They call Character B, who comes over.

3. Character A is sick and lonely. They try to cope by distracting themself, but it doesn't work. They call Character B, who doesn't answer. They call Character C, who is busy. Then Character D drops by unexpectedly.

These are all examples of a Story that is one Scene long. The catalyst for Character A's Value shift is their pursuit of a want.

Fics Consisting of One Sequence

The protagonist must end the Story experiencing a Value in the opposite state as when it started. A Value, not every Value.

The protagonist must end every Scene experiencing a Value in the opposite state as when it started.

The protagonist must end every Sequence experiencing a Value in the opposite state as when it started.

Because the fic is only one Sequence long, the Story Value and the Sequence Value will be the same.

The Value shift that ends each Scene should contribute to the Value shift that ends the Sequence.

Example, for the Story/Sequence Value feeling unappreciated by their friends/feeling appreciated by their friends

Scene 1, Value lonely/accompanied

Character A is sick and lonely. They try to cope, but it doesn't work. They call Character B, who comes over

Scene 2, Value frustrated/soothed

Character B is mostly good company, but keeps nagging A about taking a medicine that A doesn't want. Character C arrives with well-wishes from all their friends, having heard from B that A is sick, and suggests a compromise.

In Scene 1, A has a want (company). They experience an obstacle, then their want is fulfilled.

In Scene 2, the fulfillment of that want has led to another want (stop being nagged/not take the medicine). That want is then fulfilled. Because this is the end of the story, no new wants arise.

In two scenes, we have taken A from: lonely to accompanied, frustrated to soothed, and feeling unappreciated to feeling appreciated. With the end of Scene 2, the Sequence, and thus the Story, ends. Note how both Scenes contribute to A's overall shift from feeling unappreciated to appreciated.

Fics Consisting of Multiple Sequences

The protagonist must end the Story experiencing a Value in the opposite state as when it started.

The protagonist must end every Scene experiencing a Value in the opposite state as when it started.

The protagonist must end every Sequence experiencing a Value in the opposite state as when it started.

Because the story now consists of multiple sequences, you now need a distinct Value for every Sequence, for every Scene, and for the Story as a whole. Try not to repeat Values in your story unless you are able to take them to new emotional extremes.

Every Sequence must be the culmination of all the Scenes it contains. Each Sequence must emotionally contrast the Sequence that came before it (from bad to good, good to bad, bad to VERY bad, very good to sort of bad, etc— you need not go Good Bad Good Bad Good Bad as long as there is sufficient contrast that the story does not feel one note)

This section is basically taking the previous section up to 11. Each Sequence must contribute to the Story's Value. Each Scene must contribute to the Sequence's Value, and thus by extension the Story's Value.

Example

Story Value: feeling unappreciated/feeling appreciated

Sequence 1 Value: feeling abandoned/feeling thought of

Scene 1 Value: lonely/accompanied

Character A is sick and lonely. They try to cope, but it doesn't work. They call Character B, who comes over

Scene 2 Value: frustrated/soothed

A starts the Sequence in a bad state, and ends it in a good state

Sequence 2

Scene 1 Value: comfortable/uncomfortable (If you want to get really complex with it, you can add values for B and C)

Because A spends so much time talking with B and C, that they don't drink enough water or sleep when they need to. Their throat hurts, their head hurts, they're starting to feel feverish and fussy and can't figure out how to communicate their needs to B and C.

B and C finally notice A getting worse, but can't agree on what they should do to help, and A doesn't feel well enough to advocate for themself. B is furious that C didn't let them give A their remedy earlier, C is defensive.

Scene 2 Value calm/frightened (B: passionate/frigid, C secure/embarrassed)

B and C argue. B storms out, C lets them go, A is feverish, not really understanding, and terrified. C feels horrible that they just had an argument like that in front of A.

Scene 3, Value lucid/delirious (C: at ease/terrified)

The night stretches on. A is so worried about B and C that they can't relax. Their fever rises and rises and they start to ramble and cry. C does their best to tend to them and eventually falls asleep by A's bedside.

A starts the Sequence in a good state and ends it in a very bad state

Sequence 3 Value sorrowful/overjoyed (B: justified/atoning, C worried/relieved)

Scene 1

B returns in the late morning with breakfast, medicine, and all of A's best friends, having rallied everyone.

A is feeling a little better and is overjoyed that all their friends came to see them

B takes C aside and apologizes, C apologizes as well, they kiss and make up

A starts the Sequence inna very bad state and ends it in a very good state

And that's about it! I've been at this so long my eyes are burning, so I really hope it's coherent! It makes sense to me, so hopefully that translates.

Further Musings and Advice

Sickfic Novel

You would think that you could keep up this pattern to write a Sickfic Novel and that's not entirely incorrect, but this pattern is only one factor of many in the complex art of novelcraft. There's also story structure to consider, as well as an actual climax and some sort of greater conflict.

If you keep simply adding Sequences like beads on a necklace, without considering structure or climax, you will end up with a very long, meandering, and quite possibly confusing river of a story. Whether that is desirable is up to you! A lot of popular fanfic takes that route.

Value Considerations

Big Values work better for longer, structured stories. For example, if you decide to take your sickie from Good to Evil for some reason, that's probably going to require a lot of in-story time to feel believable. That's why I didn't suggest well/sick as a Value, because I feel that to take it from Sick to Well demands a very long story. Well to Sick can be done fairly quickly, though.

Value Trivia

A Value can genuinely be any achievable dichotomy. Employed/unemployed, janitor/CEO, experiencing justice/experiencing injustice, enslaved/freed.

I personally think that big, concrete Values work better for certain kinds of movies and novels, and that smaller, specific, abstract Values work better for smaller or more personal, more introspective, less epic stories. But that's just what I like to read and write.

Final Takeaway

You can do whatever you want forever.

The best writing advice is the advice that gets you excited to write. If you read any of this and got that sick, insecure feeling, that "uh oh, having I been doing it wrong this whole time?" sensation, please throw this post in the metaphorical trash and set it on metaphorical fire.

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flyswhumpcenter · 10 months ago

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WHUMPTOBER 2024: PROMPTS LIST

Welcome to Whumptober 2024 — Seventh Time's a Charm!

Please make sure to read the Event Info and FAQ below carefully, as most of your questions will be answered there already. For everything else, you are welcome to come to our ask box or ask questions in our Discord server here.

This year’s AO3 Collection can be found here.

This year's playlist can be found here.

And the Anatomy of a Whumptober Prompt post can be found here.

We’re very excited to see the community come together for another year of Whumptober! Go wild with the prompts, and support your fellow creators - we wish you all the fun!

Best of luck and happy whumping,

Mods Vanne, Yenn, Kitty and Surro

(Text versions of the prompts, as well as event information, rules and FAQ are posted below the cut!)

Whumptober 2024 Prompt List

No. 1: RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK

Search Party | Panic Attack | "If only we could hold on.” (Icysami x Renegaderr, Strangers.)

No. 2: TRUST ISSUES

Amusement Park | Role Reversal | “You got away with the crime while the knife's in my back.” (Charlotte Sands, Rollercoaster)

No. 3: SET UP FOR FAILURE

Fingerprints | Wrongfully Arrested | "I warned you."

No. 4: HALLUCINATIONS

Hypnosis | Sensory Deprivation | “You're still alive in my head.” (Billy Lockett, More)

No. 5: SUNBURN

Healing Salve | Heatstroke | "If my pain will stretch that far." (Lottery Winners, Burning House)

No. 6: NOT REALISING THEY'RE INJURED

Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms | Healed Wrong | "It's not my blood."

No. 7: ONLY FOR EMERGENCIES

Unconventional Weapon | Magic with a Cost | "It's us or them."

No. 8: SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Isolation Chamber | Forced to Stay Awake | "Leave the lights on." (Coldplay, Midnight)

No. 9: OBSESSION

Broken Window | Bruises | “Frame me up on the wall, just to keep me out of trouble.” (Fall Out Boy, Irresistible)

No. 10: BLOW TO THE HEAD

Slurred Words | Passing Out from Pain | "I can't think straight."

No. 11: SEEING DOUBLE

Convenience Store | Loneliness | “Leave no trace behind, like you don't even exist.” (Taylor Swift, Illicit Affairs)

No. 12: STARVATION

Underground Caverns | Cannibalism | "Just a little more."

No. 13: TEAM AS A FAMILY

Familial Curse | Multiple Whumpees | "Death will do us part." (Set It Off, Partner's In Crime)

No. 14: LEFT FOR DEAD

Hunting Gear | Blackmail | “Because I want you to know what it feels like to be haunted” (tiLLie, kooL aiD mAn)

No. 15: CHILDHOOD TRAUMA

Painful Hug | Moment of Clarity | "I did good, right?"

No. 16: NECROSIS

Swamp | Wound Cleaning | "No, I can't feel anything."

No. 17: NOWHERE ELSE TO GO

Ruined Map | Shipwrecked | "We had a good run."

No. 18: REVENGE

Unreliable Narrator | Loss of Identity | “I see what's mine and take it.” (Panic! at the Disco, Emperor's New Clothes)

No. 19: BLOOD TRAIL

Abandoned Cabin | One Way Out | "Is there anybody alive out there?" (Bruce Springsteen, Radio Nowhere)

No. 20: EMOTIONAL ANGST

Shoulder to Cry On | Giving Permission to Die | "It's not your fault."

No. 21: BODY HORROR

Body Horror | Tattoo Gun | Spirit Possession | “Let the bedsheet soak up the tears.” (Apparat feat. Soap & Skin, Goodbye)

No. 22: BLEEDING THROUGH BANDAGES

Tourniquet | Reopening Wounds | "Oh that's not good."

No. 23: FORCED CHOICE

Public Display | Broken Pedestal | "I'm doing this for you."

No. 24: RADIATION POISONING

Collapsed Building | Equipment Failure | “I never knew daylight could be so violent.” (Florence + The Machine, No Light, No Light)

No. 25: SURGERY

Stitches | Being Monitored | "It's for your own good."

No. 26: NIGHTMARES

Breakfast Table | Parting Words of Regret | “I'm haunted by the lies that I have loved, the actions I have hated.” (Poe, Haunted)

No. 27: VOICELESS

Laboratory | Muzzled | “I have no mouth and I must scream.”

No. 28: DENIAL

CCTV | Exposure | "They caught me red handed."

No. 29: FATIGUE

Labyrinth | Burnout | "Who said you could rest?"

No. 30: RECOVERY

Hospital Bed | Holding Back Tears | "What have I done?"

No. 31: ASKING FOR HELP

Therapy | Making Amends | "I'm alive, I'm just not well." (Elliot Lee, Alive, Not Well.)

Alternatives List:

Body Swap

Communication Barrier

Finding Old Messages

Forgotten

Friendly Fire

Motion Sickness

No-Holds-Barred Beatdown

Regret

Secrets Revealed

Shivering

Survivor's Guilt

Time Loop

Used As Bait

Venom

Vermin

Event Info & Rules

WHUMPTOBER is a month-long, prompt-based creation challenge (think: Inktober, but whumpier). There are 31 official themes this year - one for each day of the month - which can be used, skipped, or combined in any way you’d like. They are meant to serve as inspiration without being taken literally (e.g. you don’t have to include the exact wording of prompts into your work). Feel free to run rampant on interpretation. For example, if the prompt is “flame", you could create something with reference to a candle/campfire, your character could have suffered a burn, or the flame could be a reference to an ‘old flame’ - an old relationship. It’s truly down to you!

In total, there are 4 prompts for each day. These are optional suggestions and can be used in conjunction with the theme, or as options/alternatives. We want to give everyone as much creative freedom as possible, as well as increase event accessibility for folks with triggers and squicks. There is also a list of 15 alternative prompts that can be subbed in for any day, again to give participants as much creative freedom as possible.

Creators can PRODUCE work in any media they choose, including but not limited to: writing, visual artwork, photo/video/audio edits, paper crafts and elaborate recommendation lists (not just a list of links). Creators can PARTICIPATE as much or as little as they want (i.e. you don’t have to do ALL the prompts if you don’t want to) and prompts can be used in any order. They are also free to use even after the event ends.

When uploading Whumptober content to your blog, be sure to tag it with:

#whumptober2024 …..(the event tag)

#no.1, #no.2, #no.3, …..(theme number)

#bruises, #stabbing, …..(the theme or specific prompt you chose)

#altprompt …..(if you use an altprompt, tag the post with the number of the prompt you replace)

#fandom or #OC, …..(ironman, original content, oc, etc.)

#medium …..(gifs, fic, podcast, art, etc.)

#teeth, #etc …..(trigger warnings & any additional tags. Keep in mind not to add “tw” in front but only use the word/trigger itself)

#nsfwhump …..(only for nsfw content)

#your own tags go here

PLEASE BE DILIGENT WITH YOUR TAGGING. Only properly tagged posts are considered for archiving on the official @whumptober-archive blog. They must be tagged in the order above. An elaborate post about our tagging system can be found [here]

Unfortunately, due to the sheer number of participants in recent years, we cannot guarantee your work will be archived. A random selection of properly tagged posts from all genres will be reblogged each day.

Whumpers who produce content for 31 total theme days are considered event completionists and will be tagged in a masterpost at the end of the month. A form will be published at the beginning of November asking you to tell us if you completed. This is based on trust and we will not check this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please read this before you send an ask!

TIMELINE

July: Trope voting form released. Late August: Prompt list is released for at least four weeks of preparation time. Tropes cannot be posted earlier than August 25th because of Moderator obligations in real life. (But, you know, go ahead and start writing/drawing, and add the themes in later, if you want!) September: Do as much or as little on your works as you want. You can prepare everything in advance or let September go by with vibes and start working in October. It’s up to you. October 1st: Challenge begins! A storm of whump breaks upon us all! During this time, some posts will be reblogged to the whumptober archive blog. We open the yearly AO3 collection for posting (optional). November 1st: The challenge is officially over! Completionist form opens for those who want to be included in the hall-of-fame. Early November: We release completionist and participant badges, solicit feedback, and post a hall-of-fame list of completionists by the 10th.

PARTICIPATION AND COMPLETION

Q: What counts as participation? Create or continue at least one work inspired by one of this year’s prompts. Q: What counts as completion? Creating work(s) inspired by at least one prompt from each day (or alts), for a total of 31 unique prompts. Q: Do I need to create 31 works? No. You can, if you want. Or you can create one work that you add to every day with a new prompt. Or several works that combine prompts. You can also update an existing work by adding new material with the current prompts. Q: Do I need to post my works somewhere to be a completionist or a participant? No. Q: How do you know I actually completed the challenge? We’ll take your word for it! Q: Do I have to finish my work(s) to be a completionist? No, you can post WIPs. And you’re not obligated to finish them in October, but if you want it to count towards being a completionist, you must have completed 31 prompts by the end of the month. So for example, if you’re writing a long fic and you fit 31 different prompts into the writing you did in October, it’s okay if that fic isn’t finished by the time October ends, you’ll still be a completionist. Q: Is co-writing/illustrating allowed? Yes, absolutely, and it would count towards being a completionist for both/all of you. Q: Is there a min/max limit on word count for written works? No. Q: Is there a min/max limit of quality for art? No. Q: Do I have to do something each day to be a completionist? No. You can skip days whenever you want, and as long as 31 daily prompts (or alts) are in your works done in October, you can be a completionist. For example, if you wrote a 1000-word ficlet that covers prompts in days 2, 3, and 17, you can check all three days off your list even though it’s only one work. Q: Is this challenge just for fics? No! Artworks, GIFsets, headcannons, rec lists, poetry, moodboards, or any other creative work is encouraged. Q: Can I combine Whumptober with other creation challenges? Absolutely, as long as the other challenges allow it too.

PROMPTS

Q: How do the prompts work? There are FOUR prompts per day: a theme and three ideas. You can use one, two, three, or all four prompts for each day. If you don’t like any of the daily prompts, you can substitute one of the ALT prompts instead. Q: How strictly/literally should we interpret the prompts? As literally or as figuratively as you want. For example, if the theme is WATER, that could mean drowning, waterboarding, raining, swimming, take place underwater, be lost at sea, construct a metaphor about a character’s mood that changes like a flowing river, crying, or whatever else you can think of that fits that theme. Q: Can I combine prompts? Is there a limit on how many? No limit and combine as many as you’d like. If you create a work that checks off multiple prompts, that work will count for a fill of multiple prompts. You need to address 31 different prompts to be an official completionist, but you don’t have to produce 31 separate works.

WORKS

Q: What’s whump? Hurting a character, whether that’s physically, emotionally, intellectually, psychologically, or any other way you can think of. Comfort afterwards is optional. Angst is emotional whump, so it counts. Q: How do I know if it’s whumpy enough? If your character is just mildly inconvenienced, it probably needs more whump. However, no participant has to prove whumpiness to the mods. Whatever you write is up to you. Q: What kind of characters can I create for? Anything. Generic “whumpee,” OC, PC, NPC, major characters, minor characters, or whatever you want. There are no limits. Q: Does it have to take place in a specific fandom? No, you can create works for your own worlds or for fandoms or for both. You can also create more generic or pan-fandom works. You can do cross-overs or use OCs, whatever you want. Q: Can I create AI-created works? We will not reblog or promote any works we know to be generative AI-created. Q: Is there anything we’re not allowed to write? As long as it contains whump and is based on our prompts, it’s fine. Please courtesy tag your works if you post them so people who follow the #whumptober2024 tag can filter according to their preferences. Q: What about sex, minor characters, and potentially disturbing content? You can create whatever works are legal in your country and post them accordingly. Please courtesy tag anything you think might be objectionable if you post to Tumblr so people who follow the #whumptober2024 tag can filter according to their preferences.

POSTING

Q: Where can I post my work? Post where and how you want. You don’t even have to (cross)post it to Tumblr. Just keep in mind if it’s not on Tumblr we will not be able to add it to the blog archive. There is an AO3 archive for Whumptober 2024, as well as the parent collection for works completed outside of the event. Q: Can I start posting early? You can, but this is an October event and wouldn’t it be more fun with everyone doing it at the same time? We won’t be reblogging any work predating October 1st. Q: Can I post late? Yes. For the sake of our hardworking Post Fairies, only a day’s themes will be reblogged to @whumptober-archive each day of October. But you can post whenever. Some of us are still working on and posting Whumptober fics from years ago. Q: Do I have to use your tags? Only on Tumblr and only if you want us to reblog your work on @whumptober-archive. Q: How do I have my works reblogged to the archive? Properly tagged posts will be reblogged to @whumptober-archive. If you want the official archive blog to reblog you, post on Tumblr and tag correctly (see this FAQ link for more info on tagging). Please note not all posts will be reblogged each day. Q: Can we @ you? For questions and comments, of course. We’ll be getting a flood of notifications, so if you really want us to see something send an ask. Q: Can I cross post on other blogs? Yes, multiple platforms and blogs are perfectly acceptable, as long as they allow cross-posting (to us). You can also post different works to different accounts under different names, without posting them everywhere at once. If you post some works under your main and others under an alt blog, that’s fine for completionist purposes. Q: Can I upload/repost my Whumptober content to other social media platforms? Of course! We’ve created an AO3 Collection to archive any fics posted there, which can be found here. The blog is the official archive, so please respect the personal boundaries of any whumpers in your social circle (don’t out anyone as a participant who would prefer not to be outed).

Most importantly, have fun, create, and enjoy all the whump posted this October!

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flyswhumpcenter · 10 months ago

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Event Rules and Info

Please read this post before you send an ask!

When uploading Whumptober content to your blog, be sure to tag it with:

#whumptober2024 …..(the event tag)

#no.1, #no.2, #no.3, …..(theme number)

#bruises, #stabbing, …..(the theme or specific prompt you chose)

#altprompt …..(if you use an altprompt, tag the post with the number of the prompt you replace)

#fandom or #OC, …..(ironman, original content, oc, etc.)

#medium …..(gifs, fic, podcast, art, etc.)

#teeth, #etc …..(trigger warnings & any additional tags. Keep in mind not to add “tw” in front but only use the word/trigger itself)

#nsfwhump …..(only for nsfw content)

#your own tags go here

Questions not addressed in one of our many event info posts can be directed to this blog. We will not answer any questions that have been answered in the FAQs or rules already.

Thanks for reading, and happy whumping!

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flyswhumpcenter · 10 months ago

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prim and proper dignified characters pale, sickly, weak on their feet. unbuttoning their collar, sweat-soaked hair, unsure footing and fluttery breaths. muttering a hesitant, "I don't... feel well."

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flyswhumpcenter · 10 months ago

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what are ur fav tropes for stoic whumpees? love da blog

stoic whumpee tropes that are a 100/10:

"I'm fine" and then immediately collapsing in front of their loved ones in a bleeding pile, revealing a hidden injury that has festered for far too long

silent, muffled crying with shaking shoulders and a bloody hand clamped over their mouth because they view crying as weak and beneath them and they're stronger than this, they're stronger, they can take it--

the moment they close their eyes in defeat and it's all over and they fucking know it, and when they open their eyes again all that remains is a glassy-dead stare

adamantly refusing medical treatment even when they need it. Shoving away everyone who comes close to them, a choked sound in their throat, fighting back with everything that's left in them.

when they kneel at Whumper's feet, eyes on the ground, white-lipped and tense. The only betrayal of emotion is their clenched fists and tight breathing. In every other way, they're compliant.

refusing to talk about what they endured at Whumper's hands after they're rescued, but the scars tell the story for them. They don't have to say a word, but their team's pitying gaze follows them wherever they go

normally unaffectionate and distant but exhausted and defeated they rest their head on Caretaker's shoulder or Whumper's lap, just finally admitting--nonverbally-- that they can't take it

reversely, more willing to be tortured than to ask for help-- If I'm breathing, I'm fine

stitching their own wounds back up with an unsteady hand, painful stitch after painful stitch. Deep breath and pull. Working in a dimly lit apartment with bleeding clothes on the floor around them and the bed unmade

sacrificing themself for their team. "Take me! Do what you want to me. Not them." And their team watching as the torture takes its slow toll and Whumpee-- the one they look up-- falls apart.

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flyswhumpcenter · 10 months ago

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One thing I can literally never get enough of in fic is personality shifts when a character is sick.

Characters who are usually pleasant and easygoing suddenly becoming irritable or snapping at their friend over something small. Characters who are normally short tempered reacting to something uncharacteristically calmly because they just don’t have the energy to get worked up.

Characters who are usually confident and attention-seeking feeling insecure and acting standoffish. Characters who are usually reserved and not into physical touch becoming oddly cuddly and affectionate.

Characters who are usually neat losing willpower and letting their space become a mess. Characters who typically don’t bother keeping things organized becoming unusually conscientious about keeping things clean and sanitized in an effort to prevent the spread of whatever they have.

This could go on forever, it’s so basic but I am so obsessed.

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flyswhumpcenter · 10 months ago

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Started reading some obscure-ass manga that's only published in Japan and France at the moment.

We're two volumes in here in baguetteland and the male protagonist has already been hit on the head hard enough to bleed when trying to protect the female protagonist, it's great y'all

It's not on MangaDex to tell you how obscure it is, but man it's good. Didn't expect the bonk.

#brittany hanayome ibun my beloved fr

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flyswhumpcenter · 11 months ago

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HOW TO WRITE A CHARACTER WHO IS IN PAIN

first thing you might want to consider: is the pain mental or physical?

if it’s physical, what type of pain is it causing? — sharp pain, white-hot pain, acute pain, dull ache, throbbing pain, chronic pain, neuropathic pain (typically caused by nerve damage), etc

if it’s mental, what is the reason your character is in pain? — grief, heartbreak, betrayal, anger, hopelessness, fear and anxiety, etc

because your character will react differently to different types of pain

PHYSICAL PAIN

sharp and white-hot pain may cause a character to grit their teeth, scream, moan, twist their body. their skin may appear pale, eyes red-rimmed and sunken with layers of sweat covering their forehead. they may have tears in their eyes (and the tears may feel hot), but they don’t necessarily have to always be crying.

acute pain may be similar to sharp and white-hot pain; acute pain is sudden and urgent and often comes without a warning, so your character may experience a hitched breathing where they suddenly stop what they’re doing and clench their hand at the spot where it hurts with widened eyes and open mouth (like they’re gasping for air).

dull ache and throbbing pain can result in your character wanting to lay down and close their eyes. if it’s a headache, they may ask for the lights to be turned off and they may be less responsive, in the sense that they’d rather not engage in any activity or conversation and they’d rather be left alone. they may make a soft whimper from their throat from time to time, depends on their personality (if they don’t mind others seeing their discomfort, they may whimper. but if your character doesn’t like anyone seeing them in a not-so-strong state, chances are they won’t make any sound, they might even pretend like they’re fine by continuing with their normal routine, and they may or may not end up throwing up or fainting).

if your character experience chronic pain, their pain will not go away (unlike any other illnesses or injuries where the pain stops after the person is healed) so they can feel all these types of sharp pain shooting through their body. there can also be soreness and stiffness around some specific spots, and it will affect their life. so your character will be lucky if they have caretakers in their life. but are they stubborn? do they accept help from others or do they like to pretend like they’re fine in front of everybody until their body can’t take it anymore and so they can no longer pretend?

neuropathic pain or nerve pain will have your character feeling these senses of burning, shooting and stabbing sensation, and the pain can come very suddenly and without any warning — think of it as an electric shock that causes through your character’s body all of a sudden. your character may yelp or gasp in shock, how they react may vary depends on the severity of the pain and how long it lasts.

EMOTIONAL PAIN

grief can make your character shut themself off from their friends and the world in general. or they can also lash out at anyone who tries to comfort them. (five states of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and eventual acceptance.)

heartbreak — your character might want to lock themself in a room, anywhere where they are unseen. or they may want to pretend that everything’s fine, that they’re not hurt. until they break down.

betrayal can leave a character with confusion, the feelings of ‘what went wrong?’, so it’s understandable if your character blames themself at first, that maybe it’s their fault because they’ve somehow done something wrong somewhere that caused the other character to betray them. what comes after confusion may be anger. your character can be angry at the person who betrayed them and at themself, after they think they’ve done something wrong that resulted in them being betrayed, they may also be angry at themself next for ‘falling’ for the lies and for ‘being fooled’. so yes, betrayal can leave your character with the hatred that’s directed towards the character who betrayed them and themself. whether or not your character can ‘move on and forgive’ is up to you.

there are several ways a character can react to anger; they can simply lash out, break things, scream and yell, or they can also go complete silent. no shouting, no thrashing the place. they can sit alone in silence and they may cry. anger does make people cry. it mostly won’t be anything like ‘ugly sobbing’ but your character’s eyes can be bloodshot, red-rimmed and there will be tears, only that there won’t be any sobbing in most cases.

hopelessness can be a very valid reason for it, if you want your character to do something reckless or stupid. most people will do anything if they’re desperate enough. so if you want your character to run into a burning building, jump in front of a bullet, or confess their love to their archenemy in front of all their friends, hopelessness is always a valid reason. there’s no ‘out of character’ if they are hopeless and are desperate enough.

fear and anxiety. your character may be trembling, their hands may be shaky. they may lose their appetite. they may be sweaty and/or bouncing their feet. they may have a panic attack if it’s severe enough.

and I think that’s it for now! feel free to add anything I may have forgotten to mention here!

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