#quick-tip

[novlr]

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

[shotmrmiller]

simon who spits on a pussy (not letting it dribble out his mouth, no he spits on it) with unnerving accuracy because he dips and he won't carry a spit cup around.

[cy-cyborg]

Forgetting your character is disabled isn't a "good representation" flex: Writing Disability Quick Tips

[ID: An image with “Writing Disability quick tips: Forgetting your character is disabled isn't a good representation flex” written in chalk the colour of the disability pride flag, from left to right, red, yellow, white, blue and green. Beside the text is a poorly drawn man in red chalk looking down confused at his leg, one is drawn normally, the other is drawn to resemble a basic prosthetic. He has question marks above his head. /End ID]

For a while, I was involved in the booktok and Tik Tok writing communities, specifically parts of the community focused on more diverse books and authors. During this time, I noticed a reoccurring pattern when people were highlighting stories featuring disabled characters, or even promoting their own books, and that was how often people would say "I kind of forget they have [insert disability here] because they're such a badass."

The intention behind this statement is (usually) good, with people trying to show that their disabled characters are self-sufficient and don't fall into the tired old sad/helpless disabled person trope, however, you can - and very much should - do that without erasing your character's disability. If you find yourself forgetting your character is disabled, or your beta and pre-release readers are commenting about forgetting it, then there's a good chance that's exactly what you've done - and as a disabled person myself, if I see that statement being used in your marketing in particular, it's a giant red flag and a sure fire way to make sure I give the book in question a skip.

Remember, disabilities (especially major ones) are a part of your character's identity, and they're important regardless of the character's personal relationship with it. Even if your character doesn't specifically identify with the label of disabled or doesn't really care that much, it's should still be impacting their daily life, even in small ways. If you're finding yourself forgetting about a major part of your character's identity, it might be a good idea to check and make sure their disability is having an impact on the character.

I see this comment most often with amputee characters, and to me, it's a pretty consistently good indication that the author has treated their character's prosthetic as a cure rather than the mobility aid it is. It's far from unique to amputees, mind you (I talked about this a lot when I was discussing the character of Toph from Avatar), but it's when I tend to see it the most. Remember that mobility aids and other forms of assistive technology and assistive magic (if it's a fantasy story) are just that: they're aids, they assist, they shouldn't be cures.

Of course, this wasn't unique to Booktok, I've seen it on nearly every other social media site with a writing and book-focused community at some point, but Tik Tok was just where I spent the most time and it seems to be where I see the most people specifically gloating about it.

[coven-of-genesis]

🕯️ 5 Easy Beginner Spells (No Tools Needed!)

Just your energy + intention = real magic. For babes starting their craft ✨

1. ✨ Morning Glamour Affirmation

Look in the mirror and say:

“I am beauty, I am charm,

My energy is sweet and warm.”

Say it while doing your skincare or brushing your hair to enchant your aura.

2. 🧂 Salt Line Protection

Sprinkle a line of salt at your doorstep or windowsill and say:

“Only love may enter here,

All else disappears.”

Brush it away after 24 hours.

3. 💌 Self-Love Paper Spell

Write your name on a piece of paper. Around it, write words like “divine,” “worthy,” “radiant.” Fold it into a tiny heart and keep it under your pillow or in your journal.

4. 🌙 Moonlight Charging

Place a glass of water, crystals, or jewelry under the full moon overnight. Say:

“Moon above, charge with love.”

Use it to anoint yourself the next morning.

5. 🔥 Release & Let Go Spell

Write what you want to release on paper (ex: “fear,” “self-doubt”). Safely burn it in a fire-safe dish. Say:

“I let this go, I set me free,

New light, new love now comes to me.”

[idliketobeatree]

dead boy detectives contrapuntal poems — 3 — (1) (2) (4) (5)

[yamsgarden]

take the shot

[honeytonedhottie]

how to manifest faster⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🎀

i just wanna preface this by saying that if u have the assumption that manifestation in general is a fast process then thats what it'll be, duh cuz its the law of ASSUMPTION.

although manifestation is instant, a lot of ppl tend to have the belief that there is a "lag" or an inconsistency in the 3D which is simply not true bcuz manifestation is instant. for the 3D to catch up to ur 4D in a timely fashion you should SATURATE.

WHY DOES THIS WORK ;

the brain naturally learns through repetition. through repetition, new neural pathways are formed and new beliefs are solidified. thats why saturation gets u what u want FASTER.

you can saturate through scripting, affirming like a robot WHATEVER u like but just through consistent saturation u can get what u want quicker.

HOW TO CORRECT UR LIMITING BELIEF ;

to address and correct limiting beliefs, simply affirm in the opposite and consistently redirect ur thoughts when u start to think limiting or opposing thoughts. keeping a strict mental diet does the trick.

[20dollarlolita]

product review: this stuff

Use it like the instructions say and it will do with the instructions say it does. Really, that's all you can want out of a product.

Mary Ellen's I Hate Ironing spray is likely to be available at places that sell Mary Ellen's Best Press, so call your local small-business sewing and quilting stores and ask them if they carry it.

You can probably get it from Bezos if you have to.

[bleaksqueak]

Head breakdown and facial construction for Elias.

[quinloki]

Quick & Dirty tips for writing SMUT

The four whoresmen of writing Smut:

Position

Motion

Emotion

Sensation

Fun fact: you can apply those to fight scenes too.

Position is pretty straightforward - who’s on top, who is on the bottom, who’s penetrating who if penetration is happening. Is a leg lifted, tied, pushed back? Is someone’s hand pressing against someone’s sweaty skin?

Motion can be pretty cut and dry too - hands sliding over skin, fingers caressing, lips kissing, changing from one position to the next. How fast is the thrust, how much impact is behind a strike? Is it a bruising pace, or is it languid?

Emotion can take the same scene and change the tone. Are they both happy to be there? Is someone not as into it? Is there so much tangled up between them that it’s hard to clearly comprehend other aspects?

Sensation - is the kiss wet, soft, rough, dry? Are hands soft or calloused? Are the position changes taken with care or does the rough bite of stone beneath them scrape their skin?

Mixing these up can help you avoid a sense of repetition while you’re writing any dynamic scene. But also omitting one entirely can impact how the scene reads as well. (Ah when I say omitting, I don’t mean you must avoid it 100% - though you can, but just leaning back is enough)

Omitting position, and leaning on sensation and emotion can provide a chaotic, harried, almost desperate feeling. It doesn’t matter WHERE the hands are, so long as they’re gripping the other person. It doesn’t matter if someone is screaming into the bedding, just that they’re cumming so hard they’re screaming.

Omitting motion can leave the scene feeling disconnected. It’s good for if your perspective is coming from someone who is drugged, or exhausted or otherwise disoriented. The sensations might be making it through, but their too addled to understand what’s causing them.

Omitting emotion can leave the whole scene feeling disconnected. Performative. Business over love. An obligation. Not necessarily unwanted - noncon is most certainly emotionally charged - but omitting the emotions vs describing them as neutral helps it hit better imo. (Emotional disconnect can also be used to show defeat, acquiescence, etc. you gave in and just don’t care anymore).

Omitting Sensation might be because of drugs, exhaustion, over-stimulated so hard you’ve shorted out, or you’re just not feeling it. Not in the mood. Sometimes even when you’re looking forward to intimacy you can just kind of, not feel it. That frustration can move a story along if you’re getting stuck.

[lurking-loaf]

That one time a mouse got into the storage closet where the extra candy is kept and was later found by Moon zooming around the daycare. Plus some extra doodles after the critter was taken in as a secret pet by the attendant.

There's been a bit of chatter on the @/daycarefriendpickup server about mice and the dca lately, so here's some scribbles of a mouse and Moon (and a smidge of Sun).

Pssst... @mockingbirdtx, here's some mice, I hope they shall suffice

[novlr]

Don't get stuck on a scene

Not in the mood to write the scene you’re working on? Don’t worry about it! Make some notes and move on.

There is no shame in just jotting down the main points in a scene and revisiting it later. It’s ok to just not be feeling it sometimes.

[seasaltcosmos]

boom and riders style seelie!!!

[cy-cyborg]

How your disabled character's allies react to their disability can make or break the representation in your story: Writing Disability Quick Tips

[ID: An image with “Writing Disability quick tips: How your character's allies react to their disability matters” written in chalk the colour of the disability pride flag, from left to right, red, yellow, white, blue and green. Beside the text are 2 poorly drawn people icons in green, one is standing with their hand up to the face of the other, who is in a wheelchair. /End ID]

Something I brought up in my big post about Toph Beifong was how the other characters reacted to Toph pointing out that things were not accessible to her and setting boundaries regarding her disability, which were ignored. I had more to say about it than I thought I did, as it turns out (when isn't that the case lol) but I feel like this is an important aspect of disability representation that is all too often over looked.

You can write the best, most accurate portrayal of a specific disability ever put to screen or page, but it won't mean much if all the other characters, specifically those we're supposed to like and empathise with, treat your character terribly for being disabled and having needs relating to said disability, especially if the story justifies their behaviour.

You see this most often with autistic characters and especially autistic-coded characters. The character in question will be given a bunch of autistic traits, most often traits relating to not understanding certain social dynamics or sarcasm, and when they get it wrong, the other characters we are supposed to like jump down their throat, tease them or outright abandon them. Autism isn't the only disability that gets treated this way, but it is one of the more common ones that get this treatment. It doesn't matter if you do everything else right when creating an autistic character if the other "good guys" constantly call them annoying, get angry at them or laugh at them for the very traits that make them autistic, or for advocating for their needs.

Likewise, if you have a leg amputee character who is otherwise done well, but is constantly being criticised by their allies for needing to rest their legs or taking too long to get their prosthetics on, it undermines a lot of the other work you've done. Same goes for having a wheelchair user who is accused of being a bore or a stick in the mud because they point out the places their friends want to go to on a group holiday have no wheelchair access, or a deaf character who is accused of being entitled for wanting their family to learn to sign, or anything else.

This isn't to say you can never have moments like these in your stories, but its important to remember that a) people with the same disability as your character will be in your audience. If you spend a whole season of your TV show shaming your autistic character for real traits that real autistic people have, they're not exactly going to feel welcome and may not want to hang around. b) it's going to very, very heavily impact people's perceptions of your "heros" who do this, especially in they eyes of your audience members who share the character's disability or who have had similar experiences. This isn't like calling someone a mean name or being a bit of a dick when you're sleepy, it's going to take a lot to regain audience appeal for the offending character, and depending on exactly what they do and how frequently they do it, they may not even be able to come back from it at all. And finally, c) there should be a point to it outside of just shaming this character and saying the other guy is an asshole. Like I said before, you're character is criticising real people's real disabilities and the traits or problems that come with them, things that they often have no control over, it shouldn't be used as a cheap, quick way to establish a quirky enemies to lovers dynamic or show that one guy is kind of an ass before his redemption arc. If you really must have your characters do this, be mindful of when and how you use it.

[samglyph]

Ghost Hunter Au Part 1/2

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This is my entry for the Malevolent “write in your style event”, @malevolent-monthly!

I wasn’t initially planning on participating since this is a writing event and not an illustration one, but the prompt immediately inspired me so I got the go ahead to make a little comic! Part two out soon.

ID in Alt text provided by @shadow0haven

If you like what I do and want to see more, consider donating to my ko-fi!

[idliketobeatree]

dead boy detectives contrapuntal poems — 1 — (2) (3) (4) (5)