#writingjourney

[brittanyearnestauthor]

How to Write Realistic Characters in Your Stories

Writing realistic characters can be challenging because there's a lot to consider. Even though I've touched on this subject before, it's a complex topic that requires vast knowledge to get it right. Here's a guide on what to consider when writing people in your stories:

1. Similarities to Real People: Just like in real life, your characters need to share traits with real people. This helps readers connect with your story and characters on a more personal level.

2. Negative Traits: It's important to explore your characters' negative traits to make them more believable. For example:

- People often think of themselves first because it's part of our DNA to protect and care for ourselves. Your characters should share these qualities.

- People pretend to be something they aren't or act differently in front of others due to fear of not being liked. This affects almost everyone at some point.

- People are easily distracted and often miss important lessons or moments that contribute to their growth.

- People are dishonest at times to protect themselves, making it hard to fully trust them.

3. Outside Influence: Your characters are also influenced by external factors, just like you are in real life. Consider these suggestions to help you along the way:

- People tell you what to think, feel, believe, and how to act. They often tell you that you're not good enough. These are common issues we go through as humans, making it important to your stories.

4. Realism vs. Idealism: While we sometimes want to write stories filled with fairy tales of a perfect world, sadly, that doesn't exist. There will always be someone who breaks your trust, and writing about this is important. You can take this information and practice cause, effect, and solutions to these situations to see what you come up with.

I hope this helps you on your writing journey. Happy writing!

[enjoy-my-swearing]

I had the absolute pleasure of creating this portrait for @writingjourney for her Vampire Series ✨

You can find Ibi's amazing writing here:

🦇Friday Nights at the Cinema Club | Vampire!Primo x gn!Reader

🦇Friday Nights at the Vinothek | Vampire!Secondo x gn!Reader

Thank you for trusting me <3

[azus-reyan]

"When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters."

Good literature is a good observation of one's surroundings. Of the people around you and events that take place within your society.

Hemingway argues a fundamental point when creating characters that feel 'alive. ' It's not about what you want (as a writer) or where the story must go; it's about what the characters (people) would do if they truly existed at that moment.

Hemingway continues:

"A character is a caricature. If a writer can make people live, there may be no great characters in his book, but it is possible that his book will remain as a whole; as an entity; as a novel."

Hemingway emphasizes the importance of having people in your story, rather than characters, criticizing the latter as caricatured and exaggerated. He says: "If the people the writer is making talk of old masters; of music; of modern painting; of letters; or of science then they should talk of those subjects in the novel. If they do not talk of those subjects and the writer makes them talk of them he is a faker, and if he talks about them himself to show how much he knows then he is showing off."

Hemingway says your character shouldn't be a doll and you, the master. They should express themselves the way they want to. If you force it, you're faking it and risk creating a one-dimensional character. If a writer goes on and on about the character because he knows more than the reader, he's showboating his pretension and nothing else.

"No matter how good a phrase or a simile he may have if he puts it in where it is not absolutely necessary and irreplaceable he is spoiling his work for egotism."

He ends with:

"People in a novel, not skillfully constructed characters, must be projected from the writer’s assimilated experience, from his knowledge, from his head, from his heart and from all there is of him. If he ever has luck as well as seriousness and gets them out entire they will have more than one dimension and they will last a long time."

[scoldingdarjeeling]

Criticism is tolerated — so long as it doesn’t disrupt the perfectly curated consensus.

Since a Big Blogger™ offering writing wisdom decided to delete my comment, I’ll post it here instead — because honestly, that act speaks louder than any neatly worded advice.

Here’s what I wrote:

Funny how some people talk about 'newbies' with kindness while still keeping them outside the door — like they’re not ready to be heard until they’ve paid some imaginary dues. I’ve read ‘new’ writers who sound like thunder, and 'veterans' who echo like empty rooms. No — I don’t think you can tell who’s experienced and who’s not just from a fic. And maybe you shouldn’t try.

—I’m the big bad wolf.

[dolceterzo]

a very late and extra happy birthday to beautiful @writingjourney who is always just brimming with kindness, compassion and talent! please accept my humble offering of bingo!papa love you, ibi! <3

bingo cards

bingo poster

[athenanfaymont]

On Growth, Craft, and the Right to Say: Yes, Sarah J. Maas Got Better ✍️📚

After I posted about Tamlin’s villain arc — or more precisely, the lack of one — I got a lot of responses. Some were supportive (thank you! 💖), and others were… let’s say passionate in their disagreement. So I thought it was only fair to clarify something:

Yes. I do think Sarah J. Maas improves her writing significantly as her books go on.

And no. That doesn’t mean I hate her or her work — quite the opposite.

🌱 Let’s start at the beginning. A Court of Thorns and Roses is a decent book. Enjoyable, romantic, intriguing enough to keep you turning the pages. But let’s be honest: the character development is inconsistent, the pacing shaky, and the prose is a little flat. The book is structured almost entirely around two major events (Feyre entering the fae world, and Under the Mountain), and everything in between feels like it’s still trying to figure itself out. There is a clear intention to create mystery when she is alone in the palace, but the author is unable to achieve it.

If you don't believe this, read it again and you'll see the HUGE difference in pacing, depth, and intention once the Under the Mountain arc begins. The improvement in the writing and plot is clearly evident.

✨ Fast forward to A Court of Mist and Fury, and suddenly you have layers. Inner monologues that actually hold weight. Character decisions that carry consequence. Trauma handled with more subtlety. Useful dialogue. And writing — actual writing — that feels more fluid, vivid, and intentional. 🌊💫

🧱 By A Court of Silver Flames, we’re deep into themes of mental health, recovery, shame, and desire with a complexity that would’ve felt impossible in the first book. We get to Nesta's arc because Maas is already capable of writing something with that complexity. Before, when she tried (and I have to go back to Tamlin), she wasn’t able to.

This isn’t slander. This is growth. You can love a series and still acknowledge its early flaws. You can be grateful for what it gave you and still wish it had been tighter, smarter, deeper from the beginning.

🌟 SJM didn’t start as a literary genius — few authors do. But what matters is that she got better, that her books are now of higher quality, and that we can enjoy them more fully.

And that’s something to appreciate. 💜📖

[87percentcreativity]

Howdy! It's your secret Santa again! (Aka your writing admirer). Wanted to wish you a very happy holidays if you celebrate! Stay warm out there 😭

Oh my god thank you 🥺 You too!🎉 I would hate to think anyone so kind trembling in this freezing cold😖 Every year it feels colder and yet it really isn’t🥶

Also regarding your first ask :D I always liked writing and imagining stories, but I never actually tried to write them down seriously until, well, a few weeks ago when I was very bored😂 My inspiration for the story I’m currently working on (Forget Me Not) was inspired by a scenario I saw on Tumblr by @sychenb and the story written by @anomalyaly (an AU where MC died in the final battle and Sebastian made a magical portrait of her) and I thought, “This is so bittersweet, and kinda unhealthy if this becomes an obsession.” Not to hate on anomalyaly! But, like, logically, it would be unhealthy if Sebastian doesn’t really come out of that stage. I’ve hardly read any fictions that deepdive into characters with mental illnesses, and I lost a family member three years ago, so I wanted to give it a shot and try to write down the things I felt during the first year. The chapters were so short at first (not even 500 words🥲) But the words came flowing after the story started getting deeper and I found inspiration to write longer and supposedly better chapters!

Here’s a few highlights I made (I can’t put 500 so I put five

[leezlelatch]

Secondo x @writingjourney is my OTP.

I haven’t read another author who can take an emotionally distant, hurt man and give him a love that lasts eternity like her. I’d love to recommend her vampire Secondo work Friday Nights at the Vinothek.

Enter a world where wine isn’t the only vintage, and love is infinitely more potent.

[ghuleh-recs]

I Knew Nothing But Shadows by writingjourney

Papa Emeritus IV x Female Reader (Explicit, WIP)

Curious circumstances and a questionable curse from your childhood led you to becoming the resident artist of the local Satanic Church – and a sinister night you’d truly rather forget. Years later, you’re presented with another chance at proving your artistic worth. Only this time, you’re kind of falling for the awkward anti-pope who sits for you and he is oddly interested in the intricacies of your past that you’re so desperately trying to hide.

I am admittedly pretty late to this party but on the off chance even one of you hasn't started reading this masterpiece, I wanted to share.

This is hands down one of the most immersive fics I have ever read. There is an overabundance of expertly crafted moments to be found here. It must be a combination of pacing and characterization--but the result is something so satisfying that you will physically ache with how lovely it is.

Copia is a delightful combination of awkward, tender, patient, and (obviously) swoon-worthy. We get some wonderful cameos from the other Emeritus boys that made me grin from ear to ear. And reader, herself is such an intriguing and sympathetic protagonist. You will be totally hooked as Ibi leaves increasingly compelling breadcrumbs of the past that haunts her from chapter to chapter.

Thank you Ibi for sharing your incredible words with us and taking us along on this journey!!!

Please read, comment, & subscribe on AO3

[brittanyearnestauthor]

Adding More Depth to Characters

Character development is an ongoing journey, with endless opportunities to create realistic and authentic characters that bring your story to life. In this post, I’ll share ways to help you deepen your characters and make them stand out.

Ways to Make Your Characters Stand Out

- Realistic Reactions: Ensure your characters react authentically to the events around them. For example, when something makes them happy, show it through smiles, laughter, or gestures of joy. When faced with sadness, anger, or disgust, portray those emotions believably to immerse readers in their experiences.

- Social Outings: Let your characters interact with others to reveal their personality. Consider scenes where they hang out with friends or family at parties, movie theaters, or other settings relevant to your story.

- Hobbies & Interests: Real people have hobbies that shape their identity. Give your characters hobbies or interests and let them share their passions with others. This adds layers of realism and connection.

Examples of Emotions

Here’s a variety of emotions to consider when writing your characters:

- Sadness, Happiness, Anger, Disgust, Fear, Surprise

- Shame, Panic, Jealousy, Frustration, Envy

- Pride, Love, Amusement, Gratitude, Grief

- Kindness, Pleased, Unhappy, Anticipation

- Awe, Calmness, Enjoyment, Guilt, Pity, Wonder

Use these emotions to showcase your characters' depth and adaptability as they face challenges or triumphs.

Examples of Places to Go

Need ideas for where your characters can interact with others? Here are some examples:

- Park

- Restaurant

- Movie Theater

- Library

- Museum

- Amusement Park

- Zoo or Aquarium

- Sports Game

- Mall

These settings can help your characters showcase their personalities while advancing the plot.

Examples of Hobbies

Incorporating hobbies adds realism to your characters. Here’s a list to inspire you:

- Painting or Drawing

- Yoga

- Pottery

- Playing an Instrument

- Creating Models

- Bird Watching

- Hiking

- Reading

- Watching Movies or TV Shows

- Collecting

- Photography

- Dancing

- Video Gaming

- Writing

- Gardening

- Cooking

- Sports (Basketball, Baseball, Football, Soccer, Tennis)

- Jigsaw Puzzles

- Exercise

Feel free to pick hobbies that align with your characters' personalities or storyline.

Conclusion

By incorporating realistic emotions, hobbies, and interactions into your characters, you can create layered personalities that resonate with your readers. Taking the time to add depth ensures your characters connect and leave a lasting impact.

Happy writing!

[zeithforge]

Writing a book series with the same characters is a gift and a curse!

You know them better than anyone. You know how they like, what they fear, the way they react to the smallest things. You've spent so much time in their heads, you sometimes forget they aren't real.

But keeping their story alive? Making it matter—again and again? That’s the real challenge.

It’s easy to fall into the comfort of them—their familiar habits, the patterns you’ve built. But with each new book, the question looms: how do you keep it from going stale? How do you make their journey feel fresh, earned, meaningful?

You don’t want to repeat yourself. You don’t want to throw in conflict just for the sake of drama. And you definitely don’t want to change who they are just because the plot demands it.

It becomes a delicate balancing act: growth vs. consistency, surprise vs. authenticity. You’re always chasing that line between who they’ve always been—and who they’re still becoming.

Sometimes, you get stuck. Sometimes, it feels like there's nothing left to say. But then something small happens—an image, a line of dialogue, a sudden thought—and suddenly, you’re back. Not because you forced it, but because you listened. Because deep down, their story wasn’t over. It just needed time.

Writing a series isn’t about reinventing the wheel every time. It’s about deepening the characters, letting them evolve naturally—even when it feels uncomfortable.

And yeah, it’s hard. But it’s also kind of magic. And maybe that’s what keeps us going—not the pressure to top the last book, but the quiet hope that there’s still something left to discover. Something true. Something real.

[azus-reyan]

Punctuation marks (? , ! .), with fun facts. 

The comma ( , )

✅ Serial comma: Ted played with Jack, Jason, and his dog Max.

✅ Bracketing comma: A tortoise named Jonathan, the oldest living land animal, is aged 192 years. Or: Jonathan, aged 192 years old, is the oldest living land animal.

✅ Joining comma: The Eiffel Tower was originally made for Barcelona, but was built in Paris.

✅ Introductory comma: With 116 lanes, the largest bowling alley in the world is in Japan.

Period or the full stop ( . )

✅ The longest English word has 45 letters.

✅ Abbreviations: Dr. William Macewen was the first doctor to successfully remove a brain tumor.

✅ Initials: The first satellite launched by N.A.S.A was called Explorer One.

✅ Decimals: The value of Pie is 3.14.

Question mark ( ? )

✅ Did you know that honey never spoils?

Did you know that octopuses have three hearts?

Exclamation point ( ! )

✅ Bananas are berries but strawberries aren’t!

A shrimp’s heart is in its head!

Semi color ( ; )

✅ Koalas sleep up to 22 hours a day; they’re basically professional nappers.

Cows have best friends; they get stressed when separated.

Colon ( : )

✅ List: The world is full of fun facts: Flamingos aren’t born pink, your ears and nose never stop growing, and Russia has eleven time zones!

✅ Elaboration: The shortest war was between Britain and Zanzibar: it lasted 38 minutes. 

✅ Quotation: He said: “Saturn’s rings can tell us how the solar system was born.” 

Em dash ( — )

✅ Interruption: The Great Wall of China—spanning over 13,000 miles—was originally built to protect against invasions.

✅ Additional information: The giraffe—the tallest land animal—can grow up to 18 feet tall.

En dash ( – )

✅ Range indication: The day–night cycle influences all living creatures.

✅ Connection of related items: The land–sea balance affects the planet’s climate.

Hyphen ( - )

✅ Joining parts of words: The ice-cream cone is enjoyed all around the world.

✅ Dividing a word by the end of a line: In the past, hyphens were used at the end of lines to split long words, helping maintain neat a-nd consistent text layouts in printed books and newspapers.

Parenthesis ( )

✅ Clarifying a point: The cheetah is the fastest land animal (it can reach 60 miles per hour).

✅ Minor thoughts: The Amazon rainforest produces 20% of the world's oxygen (it's called the lungs of the Earth).

Brackets ( [ ] )

✅ The giant panda's diet consists mostly of bamboo [despite being a carnivore]

Apostrophe ( ‘ )

✅ Showing possession: Shakespeare's plays are still performed all over the world.

✅ Forming contractions: “Can't” is one of the most common contractions in the English language.

 Quotation marks ( “ “ ) 

✅ Indication of speech: Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

✅ Highlighting words or phrases: “A Temporary Matter” is the first short story in ‘Interpreter of Maladies’.

Ellipses ( … )

✅ Omission: In the famous phrase "To be or not to be... that is the question," the ellipsis is used to omit part of the original quote.

Pausing or trailing off: People often say, "I saw something strange... but I can't explain it," pausing to build suspense.

Slash ( / )

✅ Indication of alternatives: Some people are team dog/cat when it comes to pets, but did you know that people who own both often live longer?

✅ Separation of lines of poetry: In "Bohemian Rhapsody," the lyrics "Is this the real life? / Is this just fantasy?" slashes are used instead of "or", to separate lines.

[cosmicawg]

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞?

Crazy to think I’ve been writing since elementary school—crafting tales about Jack and Jill and how they didn't fall down the hill, or just random stories about how my day went (or how it should have gone).

I’ve never really followed a specific routine to "get in the mood" for writing. A lot of writers prefer solitude in a quiet space, with everything organized on their desk and a little music in the background. I get that, but I don’t have that luxury!

I live in a super loud community, and I usually have to sit outside to write because inside is ALWAYS crowded. So you can imagine the trucks rumbling by, honking horns, and my argumentative neighbors going at it while I’m just trying to focus!

But you know what? I actually got used to it. Now I find it hard to get into the "mood" if it’s too quiet! I also love writing when it rains… I mean, who doesn’t? It’s just a shame because I love sitting in my yard to do it. And yes it's raining right now!

What about you guys?

—courtesy of cosmicawg

[sunnyanddumb98]

INTRODUCTION

Hi! My name is Karla.

You can find my writing journey and random thoughts, experiments—anything really—mostly poetry, though!

This is not my first foray into Tumblr, but I've never been an active member. About a year ago, I started posting; before that, I just watched in silence since I was fourteen, so bear with me.

At this time, I’m focused on connecting with fellow writers and readers here! I just finished a first draft and want to learn more about the publishing and writing community.

A little bit about me:

Birth Year: 1998

Writing Experience: I've been writing since 2020. I’ve taken this hobby seriously for about just one year.

Publishing Status: Currently editing my first book, "Bleeding Butterflies," and working towards publishing it soon, hopefully!

I want to follow:

Anyone whose writing I enjoy, but I truly don't have a specific taste; I’m recently discovering this world.

Writer’s writers

Folks who are willing to engage and have fun

Genres I Write:

Literary fiction

Magic realism

Poetry

Nonfiction

Expect:

I write stories about flawed characters navigating complex situations. I'm not very good with warnings because I'm not really good at evaluating what may trigger some people. I'm known for talking about sensitive issues in a candid, nonchalant, almost cavalier way, so beware. But please, please, please let me know if there's something you need me to tag!

Thank you for joining me on this exciting journey. I can’t wait to share more with you and get to know this wonderful community better!

[foxybouquet]

Today is @writingjourney ‘s birthday.

Ibi is one of those people who is many years younger than I am, but whom I want to be when I finally grow up. A skilled artist, a deeply gifted writer, someone who is so invested in the beauty of the world, and in that beauty which humans are capable of creating, that it makes my heart ache with emotion.

I should have had a painting or an ode ready to celebrate you, Ibi, but instead please accept these words of love and my unending, unswerving admiration. Your work and your being have changed me, for the better I think and hope. Your words and sentiment move swiftly across continents to enrich so many hearts.

Much love to you on your day. 😘🎉🎂🥳🎈🎊🎁🍾🥂

[dolceterzo]

for @writingjourney ‪‪❤︎‬ who has been working their ass off and deserves some papa in his robe having a post-sex smoke ✦