mysteriouscreepyduck

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

just want to remember

Have a great day! :)

Genius Things to Do When You’re Stuck in Your Plot...

Make a fake conspiracy board connecting every character like you're solving a murder. Use string, post-its, color-coded chaos. Even if your book isn’t a thriller, this helps you spot secret relationships, hidden motivations, and “oh crap, this character actually caused that moment three chapters later” reveals.

Write a therapy session transcript for your protagonist. What would they say to a stranger? What wouldn’t they say? What does the therapist pick up on that they don’t? (Also: gives you instant internal conflict fuel.)

Record a fake podcast episode where your villain is a guest. The topic? “Why I Was Right and Everyone Else Is Just Soft.” Let them monologue. Let them get unhinged. You’ll learn so much about their worldview and how they justify their chaos.

Assign zodiac signs to all your main characters and write how they’d react to a haunted house. Not because astrology is the answer—but because forcing your brain to imagine characters in weird situations unlocks surprising truths. (Your Scorpio would definitely flirt with the ghost. Your Virgo brought sage.)

Write the worst possible ending to your story on purpose. Like, make it hilariously bad. Deus ex machina, everyone dies, aliens show up—it doesn’t matter. Sometimes mocking your plot actually helps you figure out what doesn’t work so you can reverse-engineer what does.

Do a “what if this happened instead?” daydream session in the shower or on a walk. No pressure. Just free-thinking. Let your brain go off-road. You might stumble into a better twist, or a softer moment, or a scene that guts you in the best way.

Write the one scene you’re most excited about—now. Even if you “haven’t earned it” yet in the draft. Screw linear order. Give yourself a jolt of joy. That scene might be the key to unlocking everything else.

Make your characters write Yelp reviews about each other. “One star. Always steals my fries. Would still die for him.” This is ridiculous, yes. But it will reveal interpersonal tension you didn’t know was there.

Tell your plot to someone who knows nothing about it—and see where they get confused. Your roommate. Your cat. Your reflection. If you can’t explain it out loud in 2 minutes, it’s probably too complicated. Simplify the heart of the story. Get clear again.

Write a flash-forward epilogue. Even if it never makes it into the book. Where do these characters end up? Who are they now? That can tell you where the real story wants to go—and help you figure out what’s missing along the way.

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

why are a bunch of these me??? :(

20 Subtle Ways a Character Shows They're Not Okay (But Won’t Say It)

(For the emotionally repressed, the quiet imploders, the “I’m fine” liars.)

✧ Cancels plans they were excited for.

✧ Sleeps too much—or barely at all.

✧ Snaps at tiny things, then immediately regrets it.

✧ Can’t stand silence, suddenly always has noise on.

✧ Dresses in oversized clothes to hide their body.

✧ Laughs too loudly. Smiles too tightly.

✧ Picks at their nails, lips, or skin.

✧ Constantly checks their phone, even though no one is texting.

✧ Stops answering messages altogether.

✧ Forgets to eat—or pretends they already did.

✧ Eyes scan the room like they’re waiting for something bad.

✧ Overcommits. Can’t say no. Burns out quietly.

✧ Stops doing the things they love “just because.”

✧ Apologizes too often.

✧ Avoids mirrors.

✧ Can’t sit still—but won’t go outside.

✧ Says “I’m tired” instead of “I’m hurting.”

✧ Tries to clean everything when their life feels out of control.

✧ Uses sarcasm as armor.

✧ Hugs people just a second too long—and then acts like nothing happened.

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

just want to remember this

have a good day everyone! :)

Things Your Character Pretends to Be (But Isn’t, At Least Not Yet)

(Identity masks, coping roles, survival personas.)

The caretaker (but no one’s ever taken care of them).

The brave one (but they’re terrified all the time).

The flirt (because real intimacy is terrifying).

The funny one (because laughter hides the panic).

The overachiever (but they feel like a fraud).

The chill one (but they’re screaming inside).

The leader (but they never wanted the spotlight).

The rebel (but they just want to belong).

The calm one (but their thoughts race nonstop).

The loyal one (even when people don’t deserve it).

The loner (but they’re starving for connection).

The tough one (but they’ve never been allowed to cry).

The problem-solver (but can’t fix their own mess).

The grounded one (but they feel completely lost).

The logical one (because feeling has always gotten them hurt).

The “together” one (but they’re falling apart in secret).

The “nice” one (but they’re boiling with resentment).

The free spirit (but they crave structure).

The peacemaker (but they never say what they need).

The heartbreaker (but they’re terrified of being left first).

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

noo why are like 10/15 of these me??? :(

Vibes for Softly Tortured Characters

For the ones who make you want to wrap them in a blanket and also scream “JUST TALK TO SOMEONE.”

Always looks like they didn’t sleep (because they didn’t)

Talks like they’re about to say something else, but never does

Constantly touches their sleeves/jewelry/lip, like if they’re not holding something, they’ll fall apart

Laughs too easily, but it never quite reaches their eyes

Over-apologizes for things no one noticed

Craves affection but flinches when they get it

Body language = trying to take up as little space as possible

Flashes of unexpected rage, like pressure finally cracking glass

Always says “I’m fine” in a tone that screams “Please ask again”

Cries alone, then wipes their face like it’s a secret

Feels safest in chaos because stillness feels like waiting for pain

Thinks being loved means being a burden

Cannot remember the last time they were truly, fully relaxed

Keeps people at arm’s length, but is the first to drop everything if someone else needs help

Treats their own joy like it's a luxury they didn’t earn

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

i just want to remember this :)

have a nice day everyone

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.)

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

...Sophie...

(also like 99% of the women in my stories)

things to ask yourself when designing a female character:

how much blood is she covered in

are her eyes filled with madness

can she rip things to shreds with her fingernails

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

ME TOO

I have to say something... I love Dex more than any boy in these books 🙌

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

Keefe is almost all of these :( (my poor angsty boy needs a hug)

20 Lies Your Character Believes

(These can shape their behavior, choices, and arcs... until they’re forced to confront them.)

✧ I’m hard to love.

✧ If I don’t succeed, I’m worthless.

✧ People only stick around if I earn them.

✧ If I show weakness, I’ll be left behind.

✧ Everyone eventually leaves.

✧ I’m just like my father/mother—and that’s a bad thing.

✧ I’m too broken to fix.

✧ Happiness isn’t meant for people like me.

✧ The worst thing I ever did defines me forever.

✧ If I’m not useful, I’m disposable.

✧ My anger is dangerous. I have to bury it.

✧ If people really knew me, they’d leave.

✧ I don’t deserve forgiveness.

✧ Love is weakness.

✧ Control is safety.

✧ I can fix everyone else but not myself.

✧ I owe it to them to suffer.

✧ If I rest, I’ll fall apart.

✧ Hope is a trap.

✧ This is the best version of me they’ll ever get.

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

real. like until I started on Tumblr, I was VERY much a Fitz hater, but now, seeing posts like this, I just feel bad for the guy. I mean, he's also just a teenager, and he, along with all of his friends, are being scorned by their world, and have a ton of responsibilities that NO kids or teenagers should have.

Fitz’s flaw isn’t that he has anger issues or even a temper. Every time he expressed anger it was for very valid reasons that involved loosing a family member, being forced to live with a person who has hurt the people he cares about, and not being able to be with the person he loves due to social norms. Fitz’s actual flaw is that he has a physiological defense mechanism called displaced anger, which can be brought about by childhood trauma and the overwhelming pressure to be perfect. His displaced anger causes him to direct his anger at people who aren’t necessarily the source of the problem.

This has even been acknowledged in the books by many characters, such as Alden, Keefe and even Fitz himself. Granted it's never stated plainly as "displaced anger" but it's heavily implied that they notice he tends to direct his anger at one person in particular. Sophie, unfortunately, tends to be that person. His displaced anger can, in some ways, be slightly harmful to Sophie especially her mental state because she has shown signs of traumatic responses to his anger. For example, in Nightfall, when Mr. Forkle revealed to everyone that he had a twin, Sophie was relieved that Fitz was directing all his anger at Mr. Forkle instead of at her, even though Fitz would have no reason to direct his anger at her in the first place. I’m ashamed to admit that old-me would probably bash Fitz like a crazy person for this but being more mature and seeing the nuance in the situation I can’t help but wanna hug them both.

They both have their own ways of coping with their situations and they’re all valid. Fitz especially has shown a great amount of change already in the recent book, so much so that he even seems to be forcing himself to be okay with certain things that Sophie has done, even though he honestly doesn't need to be. Like Sophie getting with his best friend only a few weeks/months after they’ve broken up. Sophie even admitted that she’d also be very angry and hurt if Fitz did the same thing. I'm going a little off track here but bottom line is that Fitz does not have anger issues or a temper. He never did. He has a physiological defense mechanism which is his displaced anger. Spread the word!

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

is this a good hook for my S.G.E. fic?

    “Presenting Prince Cygne of Foxwood!”  the announcer cried.

Cygne winced slightly. She would have to get used to being called a prince. Her mother, Letitia, or as she was more commonly known, Snow White, would never have approved of her daughter cutting her raven black hair and pretending to be a prince. But then again, what her mother didn’t know couldn’t hurt her…right? 

ok so i'm writing a fic for the school for good and evil, and this is my hook. the fic legit just had Garrick and Bane, no other cannon characters (other than professors) so... s.g.e. fans, what do you think? or just generally, what do people think?

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

yeah, like really, that would be REALLY tough to deal with. I never thought about this before!

do you think amy flinches sometimes when she's called natalie?

do you think it took her a few calls from teachers to remember that that is her name now?

do you think she might look in the mirror and say the two names out loud, trying to figure out which feels more like her now that she knows there's a before and an after?

do you think her parents talk about memories she doesn't have, and she has to play along with no idea what she's supposed to be remembering?

do you think she misses her old house, her old room, her old things, which are sitting in a storehouse in mysterium gathering dust?

do you think she looks at family albums and wonders how many pictures are missing? how many are even truly real?

do you think marty sleeps on her pillow, and she cries as she tells him she misses sophie too?

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

what do I do??

ok so um...

I do all of my fanfic writing on Wattpad, like with my KotLC fic and my Adventurer's Guild fic. BUUUT today when I went into Wattpad to work on my A.G. fic, it had logged me out. I had thought that it was no big deal, and went to sign in again, but when I clicked 'log in' and entered my email, it sent me straight to 'sign up'. I retired logging in multiple times to no avail.

can someone pls tell me what I should do?? like, i'm panicking, because I really like the fics that I have and don't want to lose them. can someone P L E A S E help me!

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

can relate.

You know you're a writer when you’ve had entire conversations in your head with your characters but can’t remember what you had for breakfast.

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

Fintan possible theme song??

WAITT ok um... kinda fits perfectly for him!

(+Marella near the end) :)

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

my friend :)

my bff will randomly reminisce in this one cat she met when we were checking out an animal shelter (y'know, to make donations) and decided to meet some of the cats. guys, she STILL talks about this cat, Melburn Pennybags, and it has been M O N T H S. I mean, I can understand, and he WAS really cute and sweet, but she will talk about him at the most RANDOM times. (this is just some random tidbit of my life 'cause my Tumblr is literally just KotLC stuff at this point) :)

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

reblog if you’re okay with people writing fanfics of your fanfics and/or fanfics inspired by your fanfics

[mysteriouscreepyduck]

does this remind anyone else of Linh? like, I feel that this would be her when she and Marella team up, with her water making the shape of a moon and Marella's fire being like the sun

Sunset and Moonrise I love painting water refracting the sun and moon~