Just a young, aspiring author who loves anime, games, cats, and more! I'm still learning as a writer, but I am always open to help and give advice from my personal experience! If you ever need something, (doesn't have to be writing related) feel free to tell me! Doing this for fun! :D
Hello guys! My name is 3hks (pronounced as the letter "x"). I LOVE writing, and my blog reflects that! My goal is to provide you guys with accurate, helpful, and clear advice!
➼ CONTENT
My blog mainly revolves around writing advice, but I'll include ideas/prompts and other miscellaneous writing content! The majority of my posts (not all!) are centered around character-writing because I really enjoy it! I often have a difficult time thinking of fresh ideas, so if you need something, let me know!
➼ UPDATING SCHEDULE
I typically update once a week during the weekends at 9:00 a.m. central time (I think), but occasionally I'll miss a week due to my schedule, so please keep that in mind!
➼ REQUESTS/ASKS
If you want to ask me anything or just talk, please reach out! I love receiving messages from you guys and I'll do my best to answer! I'm trying to reply within a week, but if it takes later, that doesn't mean I'm ignoring you! Sometimes I need to do research or figure out how I should respond properly.
I need some practice with quick writing, so if you want a specific (fan)fic, feel free to request it! If I don't recognize the fandom, I can't promise that I'll write it, but whether or not I write it, it'll be free! :)
➼ FUN FACTS
❀ I'm a student!
- The student life is such a mess tbh T~T
❀ I LOVE anime!
- If you do too, please reach out so we can yap about anime together hehe~ I've seen HxH, BSD, JJK, Death Note, Haikyuu!!, and sm more! (I'm such a huge shipper too smh).
❀ I'm interested in film~
- I love anime, but I find film overall pretty interesting! I would absolutely go into screenwriting if the career was more secure.
❀ I ADORE cats!
- They're so cute idk lol
❀ I'm a HUGE germophobe!
- Might be the only actual "fun" fact here lol
❀ My family has NO clue about my blog
- This started out for fun, so I never brought this up, but although this has become a rather major part of my life, I still haven't gotten around to telling them yet.
❀ I LOVE, LOVE ALL MY FOLLOWERS/SUPPORTERS!
- <3333
➼ MY WRITING
I really LOVE writing sad/angsty stories because I love exploring my characters and their different emotions. I also want to bring more attention to mental health, even if discreetly.
I'm not particularly interested in sci-fi, but I'll drabble a bit in fantasy because it's a fun genre, yet often too time-consuming.
I do write a lot of (queer) romance, though, so if you're into that hehe...
Anyway! My stories are all unfinished as of right now, but when I get my act together, I'll include information about my works in this section!
➼ EXTRA INFO
My lovely profile picture was made by a friend of mine!
They draw in a cute chibi style and is currently accepting commissions right now. Please visit https://harryandco.carrd.co/#art for more details and access to their portfolio! If you're interested in further information, you can ask me or reach out to them directly @harryandco on DISCORD!
However, please do not mention Tumblr out of respect for my privacy.
➼ SOCIALS
For now, all I've got is a Discord, so if you want to chat with me elsewhere, contact me @_notwish_ and let me know who you are!
hi ! i love your writing tips so much! and am hoping to get your advice on writing brother's best friend as love interest trope. specifically, how to make your story more nuanced and various plot ideas for school to college years. ive read tons of prompts but i dont know, they all seem so generic and overused so im wondering how i can make them feel unique.
im writing a gojo x reader fic in which reader is suguru's lil sis and their moms are best friends so the three of them grew up together. mutual pining. ykno the basic overused plot. but i can't get enough of it so.
i included scenes of them from elementary school through highschool and the mains tory happening in college. thats when they finally confess/get together. suguru being the overprotective brother and satoru being afraid of crossing him because he's seen how suguru punched the guy from the basketball team tried to get with her as a bet. so on. (unbeknownst to gojo, suguru wouldn't mind if gojo was her bf)
im struggling to add real conflict between the two of them who are just students without making it cliche. do you have any advice?
thank you <333
AHHH thank you so much! I'd love to help you out!
This is the first time I've gotten a request for something explicitly fanfiction, so I'm actually very excited, haha! And Jujutsu Kaisen too? Count me in!
I think your idea is really cute! I eat those kinds of stories up too, so don't feel consious about it being perhaps "overused" or "basic!"
The idea of Suguru being overprotective over his sister but Gojo as the exception is so wholesome. However, I do see why conflicts and tension may be hard to include when Geto essentially supports them and therefore, isn't as likely to "get in the way."
With that in consideration, a strong way to establish some kind of conflict between these two characters would be to leverage miscommunication. I think you already hinted at this when Gojo assumed that Suguru would be against him dating his sister after the incident with the basketball player, but if you want to escalate things, I would start by snowballing their misunderstandings.
For example, let's say that Gojo starts to feel more awkward around the reader, fearing his friend's reaction, so he starts to pretty much exclusively hang out with Suguru, finding excuses to never hang out with both siblings because he fears he'll slip up in front of the overprotective brother.
As a result of this, there's more tension between these two characters because Suguru's puzzled (and maybe even upset) over Gojo's actions while Gojo may feel constrained to repress his true emotions.
If this idea is what you would like to employ, here are some "prompt" (they're not really prompts, haha) suggestions!
Reader feels like Gojo has been ignoring her, and when Suguru realizes that, he becomes more hostile towards Gojo.
Suguru feels like Gojo is hiding something from him, but Gojo refuses to clarify the issue at hand, leading to more conflicts.
Gojo sometimes meets with the Reader, but only when they're alone. Reader grows confused and conscious over his hot-and-cold behavior.
Suguru, Gojo, and Reader hang out as normal, but there's always some air of awkwardness that hangs over them no matter what.
Some of these might feel a bit cliche, but I think harnessing Gojo and Geto's miscommunication would be a solid method of approaching their future conflicts!
If this isn't what you're looking for, feel free to let me know and we can work out the details together!
Let's say you have a huge scene you're writing. A scene that's emotional, deep, and dramatic, and... you're scared it's going to be cringe.
Every author's worst fear.
But we all want our writing to have some level of emotion. We want melancholy to feel heart-wrenching. Hope to feel liberating. Regret to feel devastating.
Yet how do you go about that without doing too much? Without trying to overcompensate?
Let's talk about it here: how to dramatize your writing subtly.
𑣲 Rhetorical Questions
Rhetorical questions are fantastic because they offer direct insight to your character. You don't have to beat around the bush or worry excessively about show, don't tell because this is your character's voice coming through in full transparency.
Example:
"It’s a lie. They both know it’s a lie. Her friend doesn’t push for the truth, and the girl doesn’t ask her to. She wants to feel hurt, but what was she expecting? "
This last question "what was she expecting?" highlights how the girl already gave up on her friend. How she wanted her friend to ask for the truth but knew she wouldn't deep down.
𑣲 Comparisons
Comparisons (similes, metaphors, etc.) are so useful in general because help the readers visualize and understand the impact of things that adjectives can't fully encapsulate.
Example:
"Her friend hurls careless, double-edged remarks about the girl seeming too distant, too unsupportive, and too indifferent, each thorn cutting deeper than the last."
In this example, the friend's words are compared to thorns, effectively emphasizing just how hurtful they are.
𑣲 Italicize or Bold
This is probably the easiest one by far. Do you already have your text down? Then select some impactful words or phrases and italicize (or bold) them. As a matter of fact, that's what I'm doing in this post right now!
When readers spot a word that has a different typeface, they'll naturally understand that most of the time, they're different for emphasis. This changes up how the sentence is read while bringing forth ideas about the current situation.
Example:
They're the friends: permanently attached at the hips and constantly begging teachers for free seating because they’d absolutely die if they couldn’t sit together.
The italicization of "the" and "die" in this context demonstrates how close these two are. They're not just friends--they're "the" friends. The kind of friends in the movies and stories; the perfect set of friends.
𑣲 Repetition
Repetition can refer to the repeating of many things: ideas, sentence structures, phrases, and even just words. However, they're so effective because it drills the idea into the readers' minds and because you can combine it with other devices, such as rhetorical questions.
Example:
"But the girl sits alone at lunch more often now.
She gets interrupted by her friend more during conversations.
She finds that she’s talking less and listening more."
This example is really just a list of changes the girl notices, but it's so effective because of repetition.
Here, the simple sentence structure is repeated, along with the use of "she" in the last two sentences and "more" to accentuate the change taking place. That's what makes this feel so heavy.
𑣲 Short Sentences
Short sentences can be very powerful because they're to the point. They emphasize. They don't even have to be full sentences; that's the beauty of creative writing. Incomplete sentences are okay because they still build on.
Example:
His fingers hesitate over the keyboard. Should he text? What if she leaves him on read? Or delivered? Or what if she doesn't like that he's texting so much?
The use of repetitive, short questions reflects how antsy the character is by presenting simple yet rapid concerns.
𑣲 Be Honest
This is the most important piece of advice, so listen up!
Be honest.
If you're writing about a life-changing realization, a silent breakdown, or a heart-warming reunion, be honest. Don't hold back because readers can tell when you do.
Honesty isn't cringe. It's powerful because honesty is vulnerable. And people want vulnerability.
Conclusion
Keep in mind that these devices aren't separate from one another! You can most definitely combine repetition with comparisons, short sentences with rhetorical questions, and italicization with just about anything!
The Different Types of Apathetic Characters (And How to Write Them)
1. The Ice Prince
This is probably what you're most familiar with; a character who's cold, ruthless, and cutting. A character who scoffs at authority and the idea of teamwork.
Trait(s) to Focus on: Self-centeredness
Even if this character isn't self-centered or arrogant, that's exactly how outsiders view them, so bring that out. They don't care about others because they aren't worth the effort, they ignore others because their words don't matter, and they act superior because they think they are. They focus and prioritize themselves first and foremost--it's survival of the fittest.
2. The Blank-Faced Darling
This character is slightly different from the aforementioned one. Although they share similar the characteristic of expressionless, this character isn't necessarily mean. They simply seem impassive.
Trait(s) to Focus on: A flat demeanor, psuedo-curiousity
Okay, I know what you might be thinking: the first trait? Totally makes sense; this character is hard to read because of their seemingly 2D attitude. But remember: this character can be nice, can be engaging, and can have an interesting personality. Just like anyone else.
So how do we exactly mix these attributes?
Treat your character like they're perpetually just a bit confused. Like they don't fully know how to react, so they settle for something neutral, maybe even hesitant. Physically, they appear hard to read: a blank face, flat voice, etc., but that hardly captures their personality.
3. The Aloof Antisocial
This one is truly the definition of apathetic; they don't concern themselves with what others think of them, they don't bother to reach out to people, and they generally don't really care.
Trait(s) to Focus on: Laziness, nonchalance, boredom
Think of this character as the type who's too lazy to care. Someone who doesn't really have strong values and/or passions so they're neutral towards everything. They tend not to be super empathetic people, so they appear emotionally divested.
Unlike the "Ice Prince," this attitude doesn't stem from looking down on others or spitefulness--it's simply something that developed naturally and applies to everyone without discrimination. They're not mean; they're just indifferent.
4. The Uncaring Lunatic
This is the character who's crazy--the overdramatic villain who will shatter lives without a bat of the eye. They can be expressive, which is a significant difference from earlier examples, but they don't care about anyone.
Trait(s) to Focus on: Un-sympathy, heartlessness
This character doesn't care about other people period. Not just what they think, how they act, what they look like--no, they hardly acknowledge others as people.
Because of this, they're exceptionally bold in action, willing to take drastic measures because who cares if one or two people get hurt? It's not them. It happens.
☂ They don't bother explaining anything anymore: misunderstandings, conflicts, even confusing jokes--they can't find it in themselves to have the patience to explain what they mean.
☂ They fight over small things or don't fight at all: some days, they're so pent up from brewing negative emotions that they can't help but blow a top at even the smallest thing. Or they can't bring themselves to fight over something they would've because they don't care anymore.
☂ They listen but don't talk: they're still willing to listen (especially if they were a good listener before), but they talk less about themselves now. Maybe because they can't find it in themselves to open up or because they think their significant other doesn't care.
Less "my co-worker was so annoying today" and more "I'm just tired."
☂ They seem more expressionless: the character appears more neutral or exhausted these days, but it's only an issue at home.
☂ Less contact, less initiative: there's less contact overall, whether it be eye contact, physical contact, or texting and calling, and it's widening the divide. They don't bother to initiate anything either, from conversations to dates.
☂ They let hurtful things slip, but they kind of mean it: it's common during arguments to accidentally say something rude and cutting, but chances are, they don't actually stand for their words it. Here? They'll make a harsh remark that's based upon what they genuinely think.
☂ Bantering isn't bantering anymore: those small, cute arguments seem so pointless now. They feel like a waste of time, a useless back-and-forth that begins to escalate in ways they didn't before. It's not just arguing about whether pineapple belongs on pizza; it's complaining about how stubborn and closeminded their partner is.
Things I Keep an Eye Out for When Beta-Reading My Own Work
Beta-reading is undeniably valuable to any author; feedback, constructive criticism, and general suggestions are crucial to improving our writing! However, if you're like me (don't have a beta reader and possibly are too lazy to thoroughly review everything) or are simply a beta reader searching for some guidance, this is going to help you identify what exactly to look for when skimming through a work!
1. Overly Repetitive Wording
Something that tends to remain at the top of my mind are repetitive words and phrases.
Now, don't get me wrong: not all repetition is bad. Repetition can be used to emphasize, foreshadow, and whatnot, but excessive repetition can feel blocky.
If you find words being repeated over and over and can't help but think 'they could probably use a substitute', then they probably need a substitute.
2. Fluid Dialogue
Re-read the dialogue. It can be a brief skim of what they say, but if the conversation feels too fast, it probably is.
And I know what you're thinking: if we're just quickly scanning the text, of course the dialogue is going to feel fast.
But here's the thing. By reading fast, we aren't giving our brains time to create filler scenarios or lines to fill in gaps. If the dialogue ends up feeling chunky, that's likely because some kind of transition is missing.
Dialogue can have fluff, fillers, small, useless talk because that's how we interact with each other in real life. And that's how we transition from topic to topic.
3. Perspective Shifts
Personally, I tend to accidentally change perspectives in the middle of my writing--especially in third person (limited)--if I'm not focused.
I don't consider this inherently a "bad" thing, but what I do check for is that the shift is reasonable and smooth.
If the perspectives go back and forth and back and forth, it might be too confusing. If it's a sudden switch without warning, I would try to fix that too.
4. Smooth Transitions
Similar to my point about dialogue, you want your overall writing to feel smooth. If there's a change in events, whether it be a sudden explosion or a character leaving the hang-out to return home, the transition from this to that should be smooth without an obvious division between the plot points.
If you notice any choppiness, keep that in mind. You can rectify it with some kind of bridging sentence, but if that doesn't work, then just show the time-skip with a physical border, such as dashes to separate the previous paragraph from the next one.
5. Character Screen Time
Keep an eye out for the screen time of important, active characters. Generally speaking, they should be involved, or at least mentioned, throughout the text. If a valuable character just suddenly disappears halfway through a chapter when they're not supposed to, that's a bad sign.
6. General Clunkiness
Treat your beta-read like the first time you're reading the story, whether that is true or not.
If some phrasing, words, or even paragraphs stand out to you not in a good way, keep that in mind. And make sure to have a reason! Because chances are, if you notice something weird "the first time" you're reading this, others might too. They may not care, but if you do, then see what you can do about it!
You can rewrite it, delete it, keep it, whatever you want--it's up to you.
Conclusion
Although I am saying all of this, please remember that you're writing for yourself. It does NOT have to be perfect or beta-read a thousand times to be good. Your readers are likely much less picky with your writing than yourself, so please don't take this post personally.
With that being said, these points are suggestions. Recommendations. Opinionated. NOT FACTS. Feel free to pick and choose, whether that be a couple or none at all! They are also pretty context-reliant, from writing style to the situation at hand, remember that!
☂ Silently with occasional sniffles, looking away like they're trying to hide what they're feeling. They refuse to wipe their tears unless they have to because if they do, then they're admitting to crying.
☂ Quietly, staring into your soul with a blank expression while tears stream down their face as if to say look what you've done.
☂ Frustrated sniffles and furious rubbing at their eyes like they're mad about the situation and about crying.
☂ Full on sobbing, wailing, and screaming out years of grief, regret, and anguish, as if it can change the past.
☂ Streams of tears, hiccups, a tightening throat, trembling shoulders, and seizing lungs in a mix between panicked heaves and sobs.
☂ A thin, weak smile pulling at their lips despite the obvious trails of tears running down their cheeks. Like they've already made peace with the outcome.
☂ Dewey eyes, slightly reddened nose, and lines of liquid diamond falling down their face, painting the most devastatingly beautiful picture of sorrow.
☂ It starts unexpectedly, a drop of water landing on a hand, and it takes them a few seconds to register the burning behind their eyes, the stone weighing their heart, and the realization that they're crying.
☂ Broken laughter through blurry eyes and wetness on their cheeks, like they can't quite believe what's happening.
I’m having trouble with writing an avoidant attachment character.
As the base for it I’m taking my own life experience, but I don’t want to portray it only from one perspective.
The female character: emotionally intelligent, mature. Very much “I’d rather say what I’m feeling than stay silent about it “
Male character : very receptive in person, protective, supportive and romantic. But distant, dry and outright ghosting for extended periods once long-distance. Yet still very receptive at the same time?
How would I go about writing such an avoidant/avoidant-leaning POV and character in general ?
Hello! Thank you so much for your ask! I love how you want to incorporate your experiences into your character but are still considering other standpoints!
I like how both of your characters seem to understand their emotions well, but I specifically enjoy the romantic v. distant contrast in your male lead!
From what I see, both characters seem to share a strong value from independence. Since your female character is mature and emotionally perceptive while also being open to communicating her feelings, her reasons for avoidance will likely lie somewhere along the desire for independence and/or lack of deep trust for others.
Definitely consider fleshing that out! If those reasons weren't what you had in mind, that's completely fine! However, you want a solid foundation as to why she's hesitant towards relationships because she will have to overcome some, if not all, of those concerns.
Same applies to your male character! Why does he vanish come long distance? Is it boredom? Lack of trust?
Again, these causes will have to be addressed if you want a functioning relationship.
Something that is crucial, however, is for them to build mutual trust with one another. It might take a lot of time and effort, but there is no relationship, regardless of if they're avoidant, without trust. So set them up in some situations where they have no choice but to trust each other! Keeping secrets is a good place to start if you don't have many ideas :)
On top of that, you want to let them learn they can rely on each other. This helps overcome the issue of over-independence but try not to keep it reasonable--otherwise their relationship might flip into a codependent one.
Communication is also key! The woman might be good at explaining her emotions but make sure that her partner puts in the effort to do the same!
Things are going to be rocky at first; maybe they'll have a fight or two over the male character's distance or over the female character's bluntness. That's okay. They're both avoidant (or close to it), so adjustment is necessary.
Researching what types of avoidant disorder each character has may assist you too!
Keep in mind I'm not highly educated about how avoidant people may act, think, and/or feel! You likely have a better grasp of these aspects than I do, so prioritize your own ideas over mine!
There are times when we all love a good unreliable narrator; there's just something about how warped their vision is--even if barely--that's absolutely enthralling.
However, when it's our turn to write such a character, it can become difficult to really bring out their unreliable-ness, especially when they're narrating the story because we (readers) have a tendency to assume the main character has pretty accurate perceptions.
Therefore, let's talk about how to bring out the bias, human, flawed judgement within a narrator in a way that's both obvious and subtle!
1. The Small "Unsure" Vocabulary
Step one is actually a very small yet major change, and all it really is is introducing uncertainty within your character's thoughts, observations, and inner dialogue.
It sounds complicated, but all I'm talking about is using phrases like "she thinks," "he isn't sure," and "they're pretty confident" to give your narrator more of a voice and most importantly, show that their standpoint is not 100% accurate.
There is a difference, although subtle, between "A is mad" and "He thinks A is mad."
2. Don't Be Afraid of Not Knowing
We like our characters to know things because it makes them seem capable and we think it's what the audience wants. However, there's also a beauty of not knowing. Contrary to what we may believe, a lack of knowledge doesn't translate to helplessness, but it does make your characters feel a tad bit more unreliable. And that's what we're aiming for.
So don't be afraid of using "don't know." Your character can struggle to understand why their friend is crying. Or smiling. Or why they feel unsettled in a specific room.
3. Questionable Judgment Sometimes
An unreliable character is often just a more human character. They don't have to be unreliable because they're insane or weird; they can be unreliable because their beliefs, attitude, and emotions sway how they perceive reality a little too much.
Which means they will have biased, questionable judgment.
So let them take poor actions. Let them make mistakes. Let them make misunderstandings. Let them trust the friend they absolutely should not trust.
And they'll lie, against their better judgment, to protect themselves.
4. Conflicting Desires
These characters have contradictory desires. And it's not abnormal to be divided over two seemingly opposite wishes, but it presents indecisiveness and duality that make the reader realize "oh, they don't have everything figured out."
It can be something simple, like choosing between dieting to lose weight or giving in and eating a snack, or it can be something deeper. Like deciding whether to leave a friend because they're beginning to make you feel uncomfortable or staying because you've been friends forever and they might change.
Something as simple this sounds ineffective in theory, but it illustrates how your character thinks. That you character can't make perfect decisions.
5. They Miss Stuff
These characters will misunderstand. Will overthink. Will underthink.
There are times and situations where they look too deeply into simple words but can't read between the lines when it matters. They might over-study a friend's spiraling yet also might congratulate an ecstatic sibling with underwhelming enthusiasm.
Your audience will want to tug their hair out and reach into the pages to shake some sense into your character, but that's not a bad thing.
Because it shows your character isn't all-knowing. They miss stuff too, causing your readers to realize they can't solely rely on the narrator.
Remember! Unreliableness isn't necessarily a terrible thing. In each and every one of our lives, we're the unreliable narrator because we fall for bias. We can be close-minded. Self-centered. Neglectful. Unsure. We make bad calls.
Hello. I have two characters that I've recently made who are acquatainces due to a program/club they are in. Character A is arrogant, prideful, narcissistic, has high expectations of himself and those around him, but is secretly insecure.
Character B is blunt, down to earth, Hardworking, empathetic, and doesn't take crap from anybody. She is like the reliable friend who will lend you an ear and/or shoulder but can also take someone down six ways to Sunday.
I'm a bit stuck on how to create prompts/scenarios to show their relationship and how it grows further. Do you have any advice on how to do that?
Hello!! Sorry for the late response--thank you for your patience! 🙏
I love how your characters are designed; they're close to opposites but complement each other well!
Initially, I think your characters are definitely the type to not get along very well. Character B sounds honest and values that kind of humility while Character A appears to defy all of the modesty.
What I'm trying to say is that they'll challenge each other at first. Maybe some arguments, long rants about the other to their own friends, all the good stuff.
But because it starts like this, I would suggest making them meet a lot, perhaps for briefer moments, instead of lengthy yet rare interactions. It's not wrong to employ the latter, of course, but there is a reason I'd choose the former.
First, their development as characters and to each other is going to take time. One or two prolonged events isn't going to magically change their opinions towards each other. However, by setting up small interactions, they slowly grow more familiar with each other, and it feels natural because more time is passing.
Having mutual friends or attending the same workplace/school could help since it gives them reasons to "coincidentally" meet!
Second, scenarios should be easier to form because all they're really doing is interacting in more day-to-day activities. This could be an assigned project, a party, wedding, some kind of club, stuff like that!
Now, let's talk more about relationship development!
I think their relationship begin to improve and officially kick off when Character B realizes Character A is not as self-centered as he seems. Since he has self-esteem issues, dropping quiet hints of his self-doubt here or there could definitely assist B in her understanding that with A, there is more than meets the eye. Small hesitations, certain dialogue, and expressions are things you want to consider!
However, for Character A, the flip may switch when he registers how kind and attentive B is. How she's willing to listen to him without judgment. How she genuinely cares. This realization is just as crucial as the one mentioned above because it can develop into a sense of safety A starts to have with B. We all appreciate someone who's willing to listen.
Vulnerability is the key here; when A begins to open up to B, we can see that he trusts her. At the same time, we can see that B is revising any of her previous prejudice and/or assumptions about him.
That's what you want to work to!
I know this is a late reply (there are no excuses), but I hope this may be useful to you! If you want more examples or clarification, please ask!
Hello i hope you don't mind answering this. Like how do you describe music, one of my characters is a violinist and shes about to perform on the stage, but then i remembered that i don't know how to
Hello!! Thank you for your request (and your patience)!! Describing music is undoubtably something that seems simple in theory, but can quickly prove to be a challenge when you're unfamiliar with the intricacies and jargon of music.
But that's why we're here! So, let's dive in!
How to Describe Music So Vividly Your Audience Can Hear It (or at the very least, how to fake it)
I. Start With the Whole
Right off the bat, we tend to think that we should describe music in a way that's detailed--highlighting every note and pitch--but you soon realize that that's kind of difficult to do.
And that's because that's not what you're meant to do.
Nobody cares about the F# thrown around here or there because that's not something that fuels our imagination. These niche details are meaningless in that aspect.
Instead, start with the vibe. What kind of genre are they playing? You can build a lot off of that. Is it more upbeat? Choppy? Or is it smooth and elegant? Soothing in an entrancing way? We hear the 'everything' first. The seamless blend of ups and downs before picking out the specifics.
It doesn't have to be a paragraph of descriptors, but something simple to introduce the idea that your character is beginning to play.
II. Move on to the Parts
Now that you've got the general feeling of the music established, let's move on to the smaller bits. And no, I'm not asking for every individual building block of the song, but some key points that add variance and uniqueness into what's being played.
Here, I'm talking about stuff like scales. Arpeggios. Chords. Trills. Funky little rhythmic patterns that break up the press of expectations.
And I'm going to be fully honest here; you can totally BS stuff in this area. We need to zoom in on specific areas to avoid vagueness, to create the sense that there's complexity behind the notes, and to portray that as the author, we know what we're writing.
We're not creating a whole new song out of scratch.
Don't get too caught up here--it's okay if you don't think it makes sense. Truthfully? A lot of music doesn't make sense.
And I understand that your character is doing a solo performance, but for possible future reference, if it were a band or some situation where there are multiple performers, it's a lot easier to describe what each member is contributing. You're breaking up each of their roles to reveal the foundation of their music.
III. Learn the Intricacies of Your Instrument
Knowing how the violin works (in this case) will make you seem professional and experienced, even if you're not. On top of that, if creates a sense of realism because you're illustrating how she plays the violin accurately.
So, take a bit of time to really study violinists and the foundations of playing it. Learn where to place what. Posture. How to create sound. What is valued in playing. Personally, I'm aware that producing vibrato is important as it can add depth and expression. Additionally, being able to cleanly hit high notes is also impressive.
These small basics matter too.
IV. Describe Physical Movements
The violin is a beautiful instrument, not only because of its sound, but also because of violinists tend to move with their music.
And that's the same with any musical performer. A drummer might bob their head and knee to the beat while throwing in a flashy trick every once in a while. A pianist may sway gently to the music but suddenly stiffen and duck his head when slamming their hands down onto the keyboard. A singer might cradle the microphone like a loved one, face cycling through expression and expression as they pour their heart into their voice.
How you bring this to life is completely up to you. If you're unfamiliar with this, then do some research! Search up a video or two of a violinist performing and take notes on how they move when they play!
V. Know Some Musical Terms
This definitely helps a lot because if you want to describe something accurately, you for sure want to have an idea of the proper terms that follow your subject.
For reference, I'll list some below! They are popular, but not exclusive to, classical music.
♪ Dynamics: how loud or soft the piece is being played. Dynamics will often shift.
♪ Tempo: the speed of how fast the piece is being played. May also change throughout the song.
♪ Crescendo: term that refers to the (often gradual) growth of volume. Relates to dynamics.
♪ Decrescendo: Opposite of crescendo; volume grows quieter.
♪ Melody: the main tune of a song.
♪ Harmony: combination of notes that are played to support the melody.
♪ Dissonance: a set of notes being played that sound "tense." Honestly? Just take it that they don't sound great, which is why it causes "tension".
Now, I'm aware I did spew out some random other vocabulary throughout this post; if you aren't familiar with them, searching them up may be helpful :) Keep in mind that there are much more terms that fall into, or are related to, most of the ones I mentioned, especially dynamics and tempo!
VI. Describe the Audience
If you really don't know what to write, then start describing the audience. How they're enrapturing in the performance, sitting at the edge of their seats with their breath held. Or how they're tapping their fingers along with the tune, bodies swaying and mouths smiling.
The environment can tell a lot about an event, too.
EXAMPLE + CONCLUSION
Finally, let's look at a quick example and break it down!
The pianist slid onto the cool bench, heart hammering as he inconspicuously fiddles with his fingertips, as if to erase the cold sweat on his hands away.
A deep breath. The crowd silences.
Shakily, he lifts his hands up to the keyboard, holding his breath as they make their way to the position he's practiced for months. He could find it in his sleep during practice, but he hesitates now. An exhale.
He brings his fingers down, his first chord resounding through the room. Fingers fly gracefully over white and black notes in a flurry, ushering in a rather upbeat yet melancholic tune. His left-hand jumps from octave to octave, providing deep yet subtle support while his right-hand works overtime, rapidly hitting intervals high up on the keyboard, reminiscent of a harmonious wail.
An occasional scale is thrown in, breaking up the rhythm.
Somewhere in the middle, his hands return closer together, clouding around the center of the keys as he crescendos, the chords growing louder and more assertive as he heaves his body and pushes all of his weight into each note. It's grounding. A change of tune and emotion.
The boy finishes his song shortly after with a long scale followed by a dramatic trill that slows down before he ends with a beautiful rolled chord.
Okay, that's like, REALLY long (sorry!!), but it's a start to finish example of what describing someone play music may look like. You can see my more technical terms, such as trill, intervals, octave, etc. There's also the overarching idea that the piece begins slightly wistful but changes into something prouder towards the end. There are the more specific descriptions, such as what his left and right hands are doing. How he ends. How the song flows. And in this example, most of the physical descriptions take place earlier, when he begins playing.
I hope this breaks down your question sufficiently and I wish you the best of luck!
Hi!!! Sorry if this is too specific and its hard to answer. You see, I have a story where an adult character has to take in their younger sibling (who is still a minor). The father isn’t part of the picture and the mom is mostly my biggest issue here. I don’t want to kill her off and preferably would like to avoid making her extremely abusive but I need a reason as to why she’d leave the kid with the kid’s adult sibling. Do you have any tips or suggestions for this concept? Thanks in advance!
Hello! I actually love your question because I feel like this is something many things struggle with, so this is no problem at all!
Reasons For an Absent Parent (Besides Death)
➳ Work commitments: perhaps she works abroad and doesn't want to take her kids with her. Being too busy or constantly moving could also be another issue.
➳ Health Issues: if she's hospitalized or has some serious health conditions, then she might struggle to be active in her kid's life.
➳ Imprisonment: not death and not always the result of abuse, having a parent stuck in jail would definitely make them absent from their children's lives.
➳ Just... Doesn't Want Responsibilities: maybe she dumped her kids onto someone else, like grandparents or outside relatives, to live her own life.
➳ Doesn't Want Child to be Targeted: definitely a more niche case, but if the parent has a bad--like bad--reputation (or maybe they're just well known), they may avoid their kid because if their child is found to be connected to them, then they may become a target.
➳ Deployment: if the parent is in the military and deployed, they'll be gone for extended amounts of time.
➳ Doesn't Want Their Child Involved: if the mom works a risky, potentially dangerous job, she might not want her kid near her to protect them. She doesn't want them to grow up in a bad environment.
➳ Couldn't Support Them: maybe the mom couldn't support their kids, forcing her to abandon them with someone else. That could eventually lead to the children moving and living on their own when they're older.
Keep in mind that not all reasons for abandonment have to be negative; sometimes, leaving is out of care and/or seemingly the only right decision. I hope this helped!
how do I write a toxic relationship that transforms the characters into the worst versions of themselves?
Ooh, interesting! This is such an uncommon, almost abstract, idea and I'm very intrigued to see how you'll bring it to life!
Thank you for your ask!
How to Write A Toxic Relationship (Except It Doesn't Get Better)
Toxic relationships can be complicated because the word 'toxicity' is broad. It stretches from abuse and manipulation to backhanded comments and hurtful secrets.
What makes a mutually toxic relationship difficult, however, is that it's well, mutual. It's not one-sided. Both characters are getting hurt but in theory, they're okay with that.
1. Show the Love -- Why do they stay?
This sounds kind of dumb, I know, but if your characters are in a relationship, they were (and hopefully are) attracted to each other. That's why they haven't left yet.
They can't leave because they think they love each other--and while they may not be wrong, it's typically a twisted form of attachment, hence the toxicity.
2. Their Relationship is a Game
Push and pull dynamics are completely normal between close people. It's a way of teasing and poking casual fun, but turns from light nudges to forceful shoves.
Your characters think their relationship is like a game. Not in the sense it's un-serious, exactly, but in the sense that they're free to do whatever they wish with basic reasoning. They act there are no borders.
As a result, you'll see a lot of manipulation, lies, fights, and general deceit because they go too far and they don't think it's a bad thing. Maybe it's fun--they like seeing their significant other mad. Maybe they thought it was necessary--the argument after was just a needed sacrifice.
They more they do it the more they think it's okay. The more they think it's okay the more their relationship deteriorates.
3. What Are Their Red Flags? How Does it Impact the Relationship?
Individually, what are your characters' toxic traits? Personally, the one I see most is excessive protectiveness, which eventually grows into a need for control.
This may be how most things play out: your character has some flaws, but as they develop in concentration, the simple imperfections become a bright, screaming red flag their loved one can't escape.
Start by identifying where such characteristics began--what they initially looked like--and then figure out what they look like in the end. Additionally, make sure to apply them in the relationship. If there's a character who raises their voice when mad but does not do it to their significant other, then yeah, it could be a toxic trait, but that's mainly outside of the relationship.
I can't say there's a recipe for this subject specifically--people change naturally, and sometimes for the worst. However, words that hit unnecessarily hard, unforgettably painful events, and decreasing trust (as a result of the previous clause) can contribute to such change, speeding it up and/or intensifying it.
Lastly, connect these things to your characters' relationship. How does their bond change along with the partners? Between a growing lack of trust and distance, their relationship will morph, and you have to decide how.
4. There is No 'Good Guy'
If you want to write a mutually toxic relationship, both characters are going to be villains. They're going to hurt each other equally, and that's the truth.
You can most definitely have a relationship that's toxic with only one toxic partner, but that doesn't make the other a "good person" exactly. Of course, they're not evil for suffering through the situation, but in such a complex bond, there's no real "good guy." Both sides make hurtful mistakes and do stupid things--some of which hurt their lover and some of which hurt themselves.
My point is: everyone kind of sucks. They're all damaging one another, and that's the twisted beauty of this trope.
5. Why Do They Think This is Okay?
Question time! Do your characters think this kind of relationship is normal? Why? Is there some complicated, backstory reasoning behind this or are they just inexperienced and unknowledgeable?
Even if they think this is wrong, why haven't they left? Is it because they still have hope? Because they're still in love? Or is it because they're too scared to leave?
In my opinion, the most toxic relationships tend to be when both parties think that the toxicity is normal and/or unpreventable because they don't make an effort to change.
Conclusion
I think what you're looking for is simply character development, but instead of positive growth, their constant exposure to each other's toxicity amplifies their negative emotions, causing even more toxic behavior to occur and more toxic traits to form.
I don't think there's any linear way to create this dynamic--change is something that's natural and subtle until the difference becomes too obvious to ignore.
If this isn't what you wanted, feel free to let me know! I struggled a bit forming this post, honestly, so I'm not super proud of this, but I hope this helps a bit, at the very least!
⊳ "I've never heard that one before." / "That's a first." (In response to a compliment or even insult.)
⊳ "Oh yeah, I used to be really __." (Ugly. Fat. Short. Unpopular. Any negative adjective.)
⊳ "It's not the first time this happened. I'll be okay." (In response to a painful event.)
⊳ "I... didn't think it'd hurt like this."
⊳ "Dang, I wish I was __ like you." (Smart. Pretty. Funny. Any positive adjective.)
⊳ "I'll do better next time, I swear."
⊳ "Hey, uh. Do you think I'm (too) __ ?" (Annoying. Overbearing. Any negative adjective)
⊳ "Are... you going to leave?"
⊳ "Why me? I don't understand what you see in me."
⊳ "Aren't you going to get some food?" "No, it's okay. I need to eat less anyway."
⊳ "No, it's my fault. I just need to work harder, somehow." (In response to a failure or mistake.)
⊳ "You really think I can do this?"
⊳ "Do your __ (parents, friends, etc.) also tell you __?" ('You're too loud', 'you're too lazy', etc.)
⊳ "Oh, no, it's okay. Let them be. I hear this all the time." (In response to an insult.)
⊳ "I don't think you should've chosen me."
⊳ "Haha, I'm not actually that __ (smart, talented, etc.). You should look at __ (name), though."
These subtle cries for help are subtle because they're often spoken lightly--almost like a joke. A passing comment that flew by too fast to analyze. They're honest but not dramatic and often don't focus on themselves--the character speaking. These lines are fantastic for foreshadowing and revealing deeper, more sensitive parts of the character.
In real life, we don't always directly ask for help. We don't directly rant about our more personal and lasting issues, but we'll make comments with deeper meanings, and you can absolutely demonstrate this in your writing.
hi!!! i hope youre doing well, i would like to ask how to properly write a morally character / character with sociopathic traits if you havent done it already
Helloooooo! I'm doing well, what about you? Thank you for your request!
In all frankness, I do have a guide (made way back) for writing morally ambiguous characters, so some of the tips I give here are going to resemble those in the post! I'll make sure to link it at the bottom, if you're interested! :)
How to Write a Morally Gray Character
1. Where Do Their Goals Lie?
What drives your character? We like to think that a "good" protagonist often has compassionate objectives and antagonists selfish ones. So, in theory, the goals of this character should lie somewhere in between.
In most cases, you'll see that the aim of a morally gray character isn't inherently bad. Typically, they mean well but have a terrible plan they're trying to execute. If not this, then want to achieve something personal--selfish, even--that aligns with neither the main character of the villain.
Flesh their goals out--connect it to their backstory, to their hopes, and to their character. Their driving force is one of the most important foundations because their actions revolve around their objective and thus essentially define their character.
2. How Far Are They Willing to Go?
As their name suggests, a morally gray character isn't the most upstanding character. To them, the world is dog-eat-dog; if someone's got to get hurt, it's not going to be them.
This makes them quite ruthless because they're willing to do a lot--manipulate, lie, use--to pursue their dreams. So, to what lengths is your character willing to reach?
With that being said, when people say they like morally ambiguous characters, I like to think that a major reason for this is because they are wholeheartedly devoted. They don't do things half-baked--and yes, it might seem excessive or downright wrong sometimes, but it's real dedication.
3. What Does Their Humanity Look Like?
Despite all that I've said about this character trope being apathetic and honestly, self-centered, they are still human. They have humanity. They're not a stone-cold robot with no feelings, even if that's what they want to be or that's what they look like.
Develop this humanity. What are their weaknesses emotionally? Who do they care about deeply? Who's the person, or even belonging, they refuse to sacrifice? What are the lines that they just can't cross?
This is a key dimensional aspect of these ethically questionable characters because they're not moral-less.
It's okay to hint or even reveal these vulnerabilities they remind your readers that this character is not invincible.
4. Neutrality
A morally gray character is not necessarily evil, yet also not exactly good. I mentioned this in my post, but a fantastic way to demonstrate this is to write moments where they assist the protagonist and then contrast it with moments where they become an obstacle to your main character (such as turning around and helping the antagonist).
This maintains a sense of neutrality and adds more diversity into the cast because now, you're introducing a character that could be a detriment to your MC and could also be a benefit to them. There's more ambiguity and complexity between the simple "good v.s. bad," if that makes sense.
CONCLUSION
That's pretty much it! A good starting place is to really flesh out your characters' goals in a way that reflects their beliefs and morality. This trope tends to hold merciless characters, but don't forget they're still human. Sometimes, you got to emphasize that!
Hope this helps!
Happy writing~
3hks <3
p.s. If you're looking for more, here's the link to my old post, as promised!
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