Of the House of Beor

Only daughter and eldest child of Bregolas.

[candycandymemes]

send "You have pretty eyes" for my muse's reaction

[mistfallenmemes]

Send me hc + a word of your choosing and I’ll write a headcanon relating to that word!

Or send hc + two words and I’ll try and come up with one that links those two things together!

[naarisz]

Of Túrin Turambar

[strengthandvigour]

He could feel that Tuor would be his nemesis. Maeglin knew that Tuor would be his nemesis.

[naughtyandnicerpmemes]

┏┓

┃┃╱╲ in

┃╱╱╲╲ this

╱╱╭╮╲╲house

▔▏┗┛▕▔ we

╱▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔╲

Love and appreciate canon divergence

╱╱┏┳┓╭╮┏┳┓ ╲╲

▔▏┗┻┛┃┃┗┻┛▕▔

[byoldervine]

Foreshadowing Ideas

• Character themes/motifs. I’ve heard of one writer who tries to give each character their own theme for similes, metaphors, descriptions, etc so there’s like a theme to the way they’re portrayed. You could use that to foreshadow notable secrets about the character that will later be revealed, or if at any point they’re disguised then you can use that to tip off the reader that they have the same motifs and so might be related/the same person

• Tiny details hidden in lists. Say the MC was trying to work out the identity of a bad guy, who we know was wearing a red shirt on the day of a big bad event. A few chapters later, MC is checking around their best friend’s room to find them, with the place its usual mess with discarded takeaway boxes, the bed unmade, a red shirt left on the floor that could use a good sweep. The red shirt might not click with all the readers, but those who register it upon their first read will eat it up

• Inconsistent behavioural patterns. Once we have a good idea of what a character is like, having them act out of character can set off alarm bells and make us question what’s occurred to make them act this way. Let the other characters register it too, if it’s reasonable that they would, but let them ultimately brush it off quite quickly to keep it subtle. Or just call it right out, whichever you prefer

• Unreliable narrators. Let one character say one thing and a second character say another, even if they both ultimately agree on the same thing but get one or two small details wrong. Ideally do this two or three times in order for the reader to know it’s not just a mistake in the plot but an intentional inconsistency, but even if it’s only done once and it’s taken as a mistake it’ll still slot together like puzzle pieces in the end and they’ll be kicking themself for dismissing it

• In-universe red herrings. If you’re going to add red herrings as foreshadowing, it’s helpful if the red herring aligns with the intentions of someone person aware of the upcoming plot twist who’s trying to control the narrative. Say the plot twist was the reveal of a mysterious character’s identity to be the best friend of the MC, the best friend might have deliberately thrown the MC off their scent by planting suspicions in the MC’s mind that a different character was the mysterious character’s identity all along. This is less about foreshadowing the actual reveal, of course, but rereads will be a punch to the gut when everyone realises that all this misinformation and red herring business came from someone trying to cover their own ass rather than coming from misunderstandings or multiple other random sources

[inky-duchess]

Fantasy Guide to Royal Guards

Royals have multiple layers of servants but there is no set of servants most important that their protection. Royalty are never without some kind of protection and palaces are usually guarded to the teeth. So how do we write royal security. This is for @jamie-ties-writing

Recruitment

Royal guards aren't just any person plucked from the street and put into a uniform. They are usually recruited from within the royal army, from within particular regiments across the army (a mixture of calvary, naval, artillery, infantry). The Royal Guard is usually made of of multiple regiments, not just a single one. These regiments would share and rotate duties. The British Royal family are currently guarded by the Coldstream Regiment, Welsh Guards, Grenadier Guards among others. Royal guards will be selected for their skill, sometimes their birth (they may be chosen if they rank higher socially) and of course, loyalty to the Crown. Royal guards were intended to be a show of force, strength, Majesty so they were usually impressive specimens meant to instill some power to their monarch.

Duties

A royal guard's first order of business is the protection of the family. They may have sentry duty around the palace, guarding doors or patrolling palace grounds or corridors. A Royal Guard may be assigned to one member only but most likely they will rotate through the family as needed. Of course, a royal can request a guard to always be assigned to them if they want. They may escort their charge of the day to their engagements. If assigned a certain royal to protect, they would tail them throughout the day. A royal guard may even perform ceremonial duties such as the changing of the guard or riding in coronations or state funerals. A royal guard is expected to remain vigilant but never speak of what they see, they are meant to keep an ear out for threats but never repeat whatever is said, they are expected at all times to uphold a professional countenance and respect protocol. They will be expected to give their lives if needed, and be loyal to the last.

Rank

Royal guards are a military division and rank is a part of their lives. Their supreme commander would he the monarch first but there would be an appointed commander. Depending on how you want to write Royal Guards, each regiment would have it's own captain and leaders. Of course, not all regiments may adhere to the same ranks but this would be a basic outline for you to follow.

Colonel: Colonels actually have no duties, they are more an honourary figurehead. Many members of the royal family would have a regiment to be colonel of. This usually requires nothing more than a ceremonial role, the wearing of the uniform while inspecting the troops for example.

Captain: The Commander of the regiment. They would undertake managerial duties, issuing commands from the monarch, assigning duties, approving the induction of new guards into the Household Division. The Captain would decide who would guard which member of the royal family.

Lieutenant: The Second in command. They will assume command if the Captain is not available. They would take on a large portion of duties and aid the Captain.

Sergeant: The sergeant would be next in command.

Guardsman: The lowest rank. They will have the least experience but usually the most duties. They would be the ones patrolling and standing sentry.

Uniform

Of course, no royal guard is complete without their uniform. Royal guards would have to stand out, especially in ceremonial duties. This uniform would be distinctive, not only because it is a great honour for anybody to be named to the guard but also as mentioned above, to add a layer of might to those they protect.

Notable Royal Guard Units

Dahomey Mino (the inspiration of Black Panther's Dora Milaje)

The Praetorian Guard

The Imperial Guard of Napoleon

The Imperial German Bodyguard

Varangian Guard

Swiss Guards

The Kheshig

The Janissary

The Imperial Guards of Tsarist Russia

The Cossack Guard

Guardia Real

Coldstream Guards

Irish Guards

Welsh Guards

Grenadier Guards

Medjay of Ancient Egypt

Al-Ḥars al-Malakī as-Suʿūdī

Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince

Thahan Raksa Phra Ong

[jessequinones]

Writing Help: Chapter Endings

So I try and give writing advice because I enjoy it, however, I don’t know everything and I would like to ask for your advice on this topic. I received some feedback from a beta reader, not to end my chapters with dialogues and when I tried to look up what other people's opinions were, I couldn't get a clear reason.

Before I begin, I want to state that I don’t hate my beta reader, I think they did a fine job. I just want to understand the no dialogue endings as maybe it’s a rule within the writing community which I missed.

Some of the points that my beta reader gave me are that it feels like the chapters end mid-conversation, it’s annoying, and repetitive (to be fair I did it a lot).

In my beta reader's opinion, a chapter should end with one of the following: a surprise, a promise, a question (that’s not huh?), humour or themes. I don’t disagree with these statements, I’m just curious why can’t a chapter ending with a dialogue still address one of those points?

To answer your question, eleven out of 15 chapters ended with dialogues. Yeah I can tone it back a little but my beta reader said they could only handle one or two chapters ending with dialogue so I asked the question, does this come down to reader preference or am I missing something in the writing community? I tried looking this up but couldn’t find anyone giving me a good reason to not end chapters with a dialogue. What are your thoughts?

[wordwarriors]

World Building

I'm a little late with the summary, but here it is. Thanks to everyone who attended and see you all again next month!

Where does your story take place?

Real-world v created world: You can use the world that we live in as it is. You can use the world that we live in with some tweaks. You can use alternate timelines/universes or create an entirely fictional world.

Alternate timelines Ex: modern day real world but WW I never happened.

High v low fantasy:

High fantasy refers to epic fantasy which is set in an alternate world. It typically includes lots of magical elements, fantastical creatures, and unusual technology. Whereas low fantasy is when magical creatures and elements intrude upon the regular world.

Things to consider/include:

Magic system

Geography

Political systems

Religion

Culture

Is there a class system? What does that look like?

Being grounded in the real world doesn’t save you from having to world-build.

What continent, country, city? Urban or rural? Mountains? Beach? A country can be set in the real world but it’s a fictional country. A city can be fictional. It can be based on NYC for example but still be fictional. Change the name and whatever else you need to.

You can blend real and imagined. Ex: Used the name of a real restaurant but placed it in a different town, etc.

Example: I used real roads but fake places. Anyone local will recognize the intersection but I put a fictional forest where a horse pasture actually sits.

You can create fictional shops, buildings, etc in NYC. NYC is real but the places aren’t.

Example: I had to create a building with a helipad in a story once b/c there are no helipads in that area, but I needed one for my story to work so I made it up. Could have used an actual one but my characters would have had to get past the FBI barricade, so it was easier to make up a building that was inside the perimeter.

Note:

If using magic, one must first establish how it normally works before showing it malfunctioning. Same if the character is supposed to be super strong or smart or something, establish that first so the reader understands what is normal in this world before the thing goes wrong.

Establishing Scenes: tell us all of the above. But do it in a way that shows not tells.

Also, make sure it matters. You need rich world-building but the reader doesn’t care what your character's first car was unless that information tells us something important about the character that we need to know, like he worked three summers in a row to earn the money because his parents were poor. Or because they were rich but stingy. Or because they were rich but wanted him to learn to earn things rather than have things handed to him. (if this is important to set a tone for his character or personality, ie, learned the value of hard work or this is why he resents his parents or this is why he is so driven to succeed in his career so he never goes hungry again!

Fabulous establishing world-building scene courtesy of @karahalloway:

The horse responds with a sour-faced snort, stepping quickly past the moss-covered waypost — a brazen reminder of this land's heathen roots. Because despite the House of Rys' conversion to Christianity almost a millennia ago, in the far-flung reaches of the kingdom — where the roads ran out, and the name of the King is just that... a name — the tenet of the old ways is more than just a memory. It is a living, breathing ethos. Suffused into the very heart of this harsh, rugged, yet beautiful land. Where portents, spells, and otherworldly creatures exist in the same breath as Christ, the Eucharist, and Judgement Day, and the very air crackles with mysticism and superstition. Which is partly what drew me here — to the edge of the proverbial map, where the laws of Cordonia fray into irrelevance in the face of the jagged peaks of the snow-capped mountains, and your fortune is what you craft it to be.

This sets the stage with so many rich details: geography, history, socio-political, religious background, his place in this world,etc.

Please, if I've missed anything, feel free to mention it in the comments and I'll add it!

Also, check out these articles:

World Building

February Event:

Live Discussion on character building on Friday, February 23rd, 2024 12:00 p.m. CST

Word Warriors:

@karahalloway @aussiegurl1234 @harleybeaumont @alj4890 @peonierose @petiteboheme @twinkleallnight @lizzybeth1986 @noesapphic @thedistantshoresproject

@ryns-ramblings @tate-lin @nestledonthaveone

@aallotarenunelma @kristinamae093 @coffeeheartaddict2 @memorias-depresivas

@jerzwriter

[itgcrls]

'The Good Witch' by Maisie Peters Sentence Starters

THE GOOD WITCH

"Did you think I forgot about you?"

"Let's call this the calm before the storm comes rushing through."

"It's Armageddon."

"Still argue like my mother and suppress stuff like my dad."

"Still miss you, but I know now it'll pass."

"I will try forgiveness, but I will not forget."

"Am I better yet?"

COMING OF AGE

"Was it a love affair or just a lot of late nights?"

"If it was a first kiss, how come it felt like a snake bite?"

"I wish I would've seen it sooner."

"I wasn't your cliché."

"This is my coming of age."

"Baby, I am the Iliad, of course you couldn't read me."

"I'll leave you behind, but that don't mean it's easy."

"You stole my love and I paid."

"But you couldn't keep what you couldn't tame."

"I let you butcher my big heart."

"It's my song and my stage."

WATCH

"Nobody actually happy and healthy has ever felt so desperate to prove it."

"It looked like a film Michael Cera would act in."

"It felt like a face slap."

"I fought it but I saw it and it sawed me right in half."

"You still get to me, but I still let you."

"You got every single thing you want. And I just watch."

"I know that I should know better."

"I just keep looking back at you."

"I saw you and your girlfriend."

"Sure, I don't know she's your girlfriend."

"Well, fucking sue me cause at least then we could talk."

"Now you're living the goddamn dream."

"You broke my heart and my self esteem for a girl/guy who's a remix of me."

BODY BETTER

"I was good to you."

"Did I just not do it for you, superficially?"

"You were it for me."

"It was nothing I did and nothing I said."

"And I know I gave you all of myself, one hundred percent."

"Loving you was easy, that's why it hurts now."

"The worst way to love somebody is to watch them love somebody else and it work out."

"Do you love her/him/them?"

"If you love her/him/them, was I just an idea you liked?"

"I don't know how I still can't make it make any sense."

"I thought it would be us for life."

"Will you tell me just one more lie?"

WANT YOU BACK

"I was the DJ and the darling of your passenger side."

"I know it didn't last."

"What was cheap to you, to me, was all I had."

"The issue is, I know all of this and I still want you back."

"If you told me what would happen, I think I would've begged."

"So you got to be a coward and I salvaged a little self-respect."

"I'd be yours again tomorrow if you wanna."

"I still want you back."

THE BAND AND I

"He said he'd make a move and then he went with 'Excuse me?'."

"It was letting go of everything but you."

"If we're living the dream, I hope we never wake up."

"It was breaking down, it was falling in love."

"It was magic, babe, pure and strong."

"It was a far-flung wish when we were young."

YOU'RE JUST A BOY (AND I'M KINDA THE MAN)

"I take in clowns like a one-woman circus."

"You're kinda awful, but you're not awful on purpose."

"Don't you know that you're losing this?"

"I'm on a one-way trip to take over the world."

"What's a girl/boy gonna do when she's/he's in love with you?"

"It's sad and it's true and I'm in love with you."

"You were my best friend."

"I'm not gonna wait, now I know better than that."

"Goodbye from your biggest fan."

"Goodbye from the bigger man."

LOST THE BREAKUP

"I know you remember."

"I'm the best thing that almost happened to you."

"I'm the greatest love that you wasted."

"You got two types: country and western."

"Wow, hey, it's been forever."

"Do you wanna get a drink, like together?"

"I'm kinda busy but, like, stay in touch."

"Oh, shit I won the breakup."

"You lost the breakup."

WENDY

"You're laughin' like a kid."

"You're calling like the future then you're closed up like a fist."

"Lost my page when you kissed me."

"She/he almost loses her/his way cause she/he follows him/her after one look."

"I know the girl/guy that you want and it scares me."

"Behind every lost boy/girl, there's always a Wendy."

"You're evasive on the phone until you're sorry on the floor."

"I'm throwing you a bone because you want me and you're sure."

"If I'm not careful, I'll wake up and we'll be married."

RUN

"I've heard some things that I will leave unrepeated."

"If a man says that he wants you in his life forever, run."

"He/she likes a promise if he/she don't have to keep it."

"He/she hates a sentence when he/she has to mean it."

TWO WEEKS AGO

"I wish it was two weeks ago."

"I wish we kissed when we first wanted."

"When we said goodbye, wish I hadn't let go."

"I loved you, babe, but I bet you knew that."

"Knew you loved me, babe, when you told me that."

"I was happier than I'd ever known."

"That last kiss, couldn't look at you. But I wish I did."

"I was yours so fast."

"God, I loved you, babe, did I tell you that?"

BSC

"We don't speak cause it's too tricky."

"But if I'm tricky, why'd you kiss me?"

"It's funny and I'm laughing, baby."

"You think I'm alright. But I'm actually bloody motherfucking batshit crazy."

"It kept it in, but it wrecked my organs."

"I'm gonna throw you down the river."

"You made me Little Miss Unstable."

"I can write you out the way I wrote you in."

THERAPY

"When we met, I told you I've been treated carelessly."

"You couldn't have loved a girl/guy any harder than you loved me."

"I'm just talking to your memory."

"I was abandoned, but you swore that you'd be there for me."

"Your touch will last for centuries."

"You gave me the world and you gave me your word."

"It built me like a promise until it broke me like a curse."

"I knew loving you was letting you leave."

THERE IT GOES

"I'm dating, but just dating for sport."

"I'm doing better, I made it to September."

"I can finally breathe."

"I had to let it go."

"The love we had was eating me whole."

"He/she kissed me right in front of my friends."

"I don't need your light to be lit."

"The way I loved you, I will not be embarrassed of that."

"I just should've known when to quit."

"The loss is yours."

"The universe is shifting and it's all for me."

HISTORY OF MAN

"I couldn't believe it. How you could just stop wanting me."

"She begs him, he says he doesn't understand."

"She loves him more than anyone ever has."

"You didn't even falter."

"You didn't look back once, did you?"

"Given half the chance, I would've made him weaker too."

"You walked out without sweating."

"He stole her youth and promised heaven."

"Women's hearts are lethal weapons."

"You are still my great obsession."

"I beg you and you don't understand."

"I hold on, I try to hold your hand."

"I save you a seat and then you say you wanna stand."

"So you'll lose me, the best you'll ever have."

HOLY REVIVAL

"I swore that I'd be a non-bullshit tolerating kind of girl/guy."

"No getting attached to men you can't have."

"Last year, I had to focus on survival."

"My ex was a bitter man, middle child."

"Now I'm in my holy revival."

"I have two friends. I listen to them like the bible."

"That is really not important."

"It's about what he represents."

"Which is me getting obsessed by someone fundamentally wrong for me."

"I'm not doing it again."

"It's just me and myself."

"You're just kinda dumb."

"I'm just kinda done."

"No telling the truth."

YOKO

"Funny, you know, you were the whole wide world."

"You fell for the moment so you lied to the girl/guy."

"I gave you option, and you chose wrong."

"I meant, "Don't go." It came out as "Goodbye"."

"You said, "Fine." When you should've said, "We could try"."

"Now we're seeing other people."

"Thought you knew how I felt, now I doubt it."

"We should've talked it out when it happened."

"I couldn't talk to you."

"You misunderstood the secret."

"The universe doesn't always come through."

"Sometimes you can't be the hero and tell the truth."

"And you misunderstood me leaving as something I wanted. I didn't want it at all."

"You should've put me above those people you didn't even know."

"You have a phone, you should've called."

"You misunderstood a lot of things."

"You misunderstood me too."

THE SONG

"I'm older now but I still don't really know things."

"I thought that we were forever and ever, I guess I was wrong."

"You were the one and now you're not."

"I'm gonna fall out of love by the end of the song."

"I could reach out but it's your turn and it's your shit."

"I've been trying peace and love and telling the truth."

"I got drunk, told everyone that I broke up with you."

"I was obsessed but I was young."

"You were my whole life once."

GUY ON A HORSE

"I hear you talking over me, like, is that smart?"

"You'll be lonely in your fifties."

"I tried to be nice but I can't keep it in anymore."

"I think you wanna start a war."

TRUTH IS

"He's/she's just something you regret."

"He's/she's not a savior or the best you'll ever get."

"Time will heal, but I'll always be a little bit broke."

"You weren't love but I think I confused it."

"All I ever did was care."

"I'll never get back months of my life."

"Did I give you any reason?"

"Did I love you?"

"Did you think that I deserved it?"

THE LAST ONE

"I'll always see great heights in you."

"I'll be the last one in your corner when the count's done."

"I'm still your number one fan."

"After the crowd's gone, I'll be the last one."

[rinthecap]

Valentine's day with Tuor and Idril in Vietnamese traditional clothings

[the-heart-vigor]

@strengthandvigour

[rosewritingprompts]

15 Secret Relationship Prompts

"I wish we didn't have to hide."

"You're dating, aren't you?"

"They tried to set me up with someone else."

"I want to show you off."

"Quick, hide in the closet!"

"Are you sure you're okay with this?"

"I don't think I can do this anymore."

"I think they're onto us."

"You weren't supposed to see that."

"You just posted me onto your Instagram story."

"I'm sorry it has to be like this."

"I'm ready to tell them."

"You two are so obvious."

"Stop looking me like that or everyone is going to find out about us."

"Why does it have to be a secret?"

tip jar!

[unboundprompts]

I don't know if you've done this before but what are some good ways to describe speech?

Ways to Describe Speech

-> feel free to edit and adjust pronouns as you see fit.

His voice was deep like the rumbling of the earth.

She had the voice of a singer, smooth and rich like chocolate.

Their voice reminded him of spring rain.

He often paused in his speaking, like a car radio that had lost signal.

She had a lilt to her voice that made it seem like she was asking a question.

Their voice was monotonous, threatening to put her to sleep with every word.

He couldn't put her voice into words. It was... otherworldly.

Her voice was brittle, as if she were on the verge of tears.

Their voice was authoritative. Their words carried like a loud command.

His voice, unapologetic and unwavering, made her shrink back.

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Their words were cold with anger.

Other Words to Use to Describe Voice:

Firm

Formal

Frank

Hesitant

Humorous

Passionate

Playful

Professional

Respectful

Serious

Sympathetic

Smug

Superior

Croaky

Dry

Forceful

Grating

Hateful

Insincere

Nasally

Snarky

Tuneless

Wavering

Breaking

Coarse

Flat

Hoarse

High Pitched

Husky

Mellow

Raspy

Rough

Scratchy

Strong

Trembling

Boisterous

Booming

Screeching

Faint

Feeble

Frail

Penetrating

Piercing

Quiet

Raised

Shrill

Soft

Weak

Whisper

Captivating

Deep

Feathery

Hypnotic

Lilting

Mesmerizing

Rich

Smoky

Soothing

Breathy

Delicate

Warbling

If you like what I do and want to support me, please consider donating! I also offer editing services and other writing advice on my Ko-fi!

[novlr]

Hello. Not sure if this was asked yet, but do you have any advice on how to write enemies to friends, then friends to lovers, considering there was romantic tension between them before when they were enemies? Thank you very much in advance!

The enemies to lovers trope is a beloved narrative device, especially in the romance genre. As a creative writer looking to explore this trope, there are key elements and techniques to consider in order to craft a believable and engaging story. Here’s how you can turn animosity into affection and keep your readers hooked.

Understanding the trope

Before diving into writing, it’s important to understand what makes the ‘enemies to lovers’ trope so interesting. It’s a classic plot device where two characters start with a contentious relationship and, through various plot developments, end up falling in love. This trope thrives on tension and the gradual breakdown of barriers, creating a rollercoaster of emotions for both the characters and the readers.

What are the key components?

Conflict: The bedrock of this trope is the initial conflict between the characters. It can be rooted in a misunderstanding, ideological differences, or a rivalry.

Chemistry: Despite the conflict, there needs to be an underlying chemistry that hints at the potential for romance.

Character development: The evolution of the characters’ relationship must be believable. Their growth, both individually and together, is crucial to the plot.

Pacing: The shift from enemies to lovers should be gradual and well-paced, avoiding any rush that could undermine the build-up of their relationship.

Build authentic tension

When writing ‘enemies to lovers,’ the tension must feel authentic. Readers can easily spot forced conflict or chemistry, so it’s vital to create situations and dialogues that naturally showcase the friction between your characters.

Create obstacles: Design situations that challenge the characters and force them to interact in high-stakes scenarios.

Dialogue: Use snappy, charged dialogue to convey their conflict while also revealing their begrudging respect or fascination for each other.

Inner conflict: Develop the characters’ inner conflicts to add depth to their external quarrels and eventual reconciliation.

Have a strong turning point

The transition from enemies to lovers should feel earned. It often involves a pivotal moment where the characters’ perspectives shift, allowing them to see each other in a new light, becoming friends

Shared experiences: Design scenarios where the characters have to rely on each other, creating a sense of camaraderie.

Vulnerability: Allow the characters to show vulnerability to each other, which can be a powerful catalyst for changing emotions.

Moments of understanding: highlight moments of empathy and insight into each other’s motivations and vulnerabilities.

Foster the romance

Once the groundwork for the characters’ relationship shift has been set, you can focus on fostering the romantic connection.

Mutual respect: As the characters overcome obstacles, their respect for one another should grow, forming the basis for their romantic feelings.

Intimacy: Create instances where the characters share intimate moments or thoughts, further deepening their bond.

New Conflicts: Introduce new conflicts that can only be solved together, cementing their status as a team.

The payoff

The ultimate goal in the ‘enemies to lovers’ trope is to deliver a satisfying payoff that feels both surprising and inevitable. Here are ways to ensure the romance culminates in a fulfilling resolution:

Growth and sacrifice: Show how the characters have grown since the beginning of the story and the sacrifices they are willing to make for each other.

Full circle: Bring their relationship full circle by referencing elements of their initial conflict, now resolved through love and understanding.

Public acknowledgment: Include a scene where the characters acknowledge their feelings for each other in a significant way, often in public or in front of previously opposing forces.

[luna-azzurra]

Good Traits Gone Bad

Exploring good traits gone bad in a novel can add depth and complexity to your characters. Here are a few examples of good traits that can take a negative turn:

1. Empathy turning into manipulation: A character with a strong sense of empathy may use it to manipulate others' emotions and gain an advantage.

2. Confidence becoming arrogance: Excessive confidence can lead to arrogance, where a character belittles others and dismisses their opinions.

3. Ambition turning into obsession: A character's ambition can transform into an unhealthy obsession, causing them to prioritize success at any cost, including sacrificing relationships and moral values.

4. Loyalty becoming blind devotion: Initially loyal, a character may become blindly devoted to a cause or person, disregarding their own well-being and critical thinking.

5. Courage turning into recklessness: A character's courage can morph into reckless behavior, endangering themselves and others due to an overestimation of their abilities.

6. Determination becoming stubbornness: Excessive determination can lead to stubbornness, where a character refuses to consider alternative perspectives or change their course of action, even when it's detrimental.

7. Optimism becoming naivety: Unwavering optimism can transform into naivety, causing a character to overlook dangers or be easily deceived.

8. Protectiveness turning into possessiveness: A character's protective nature can evolve into possessiveness, where they become overly controlling and jealous in relationships.

9. Altruism becoming self-neglect: A character's selflessness may lead to neglecting their own needs and well-being, to the point of self-sacrifice and burnout.

10. Honesty becoming brutal bluntness: A character's commitment to honesty can turn into brutal bluntness, hurting others with harsh and tactless remarks.

These examples demonstrate how even admirable traits can have negative consequences when taken to extremes or used improperly. By exploring the complexities of these traits, you can create compelling and multi-dimensional characters in your novel.

Happy writing!

[writingquestionsanswered]

Hi, I hope you’re having a great day or night, I ro have a question though. How do you end a chapter? Like whenever I write I feel like I can’t stop and keep on going and going. I don’t know what to do.

Not Sure When to End a Chapter

Chapters are scenes, or a collection of two to three related scenes, so knowing when to end a chapter is all about knowing what should be contained within a scene and when to end a scene. These posts will help:

Beginning a New Scene or Chapter Outlining a Chapter by Outlining Scenes Scenes, Chapters, and How to End Them

Happy writing!

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I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

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[writers-potion]

A List of Death Symbols

Is your character headed for endless slumber? Here are some red flags to plant within the story:

Skulls and bones

Candles

Cross

Latin Cross

All black/white clothing

Thanatos

Keres

Yama

Ankou

The Fourth Horseman

Banshees

Osiris

Grim Reaper

Giltine

Black Butterfly

Black cat

Bat

Vulture

Crow

Owl

Cypress trees

Red poppies

Hyacinths

Chrysanthemums

Lilies

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🖱️References

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/139330182215001295/