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What's up? I'm Adrian (AKA: Brainstreams), and I've been reading and writing since I was very young. I created this blog as a low-stress way for me to connect with people, share ideas, and uplift other writers.

What you'll find here:

500–1000 word essays on Saturdays

Promoting authentic people

Writing advice, ideas, and creative pep talks

Occasional memes

My unfiltered thoughts

Are you new here? Start with these posts!

Your Fight Scenes are Boring

How to Write Pain

How to "Lock In" and Write

How to Write Trauma

How I Trick My ADHD into Writing

Don't Be Scared of AI: A Message to Writers

How Long Does It Take to Become a "Good Writer"?

5 Autistic Celebrities

3 Side Hustles for People with Autism

I’m a neurodivergent creative trying to build a sustainable writing life. If you like what I do:

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Got any burning questions? My ask box is open! LGBTQ+ friendly. No AI, politics, or bigotry allowed.

#intro post #introduction #pinned post #pinned intro

Interesting Ways to Show a Character Is Heartbroken (Without Saying It)

• They keep reaching for their phone… and then remember

• They still check the door when they hear footsteps

• They start avoiding places that used to be routine

• They almost mention the person in conversation, then change the sentence halfway through

• A sound or song makes them think about that person

• They smile slower than they used to

• They avoid saying the person’s name

• They shut down conversations about relationships

• They brush off questions with humor

• They still leave space for that person on the couch

• They delete a message they already typed three times

• They laugh at a memory and then go quiet

• They keep something small they should probably throw away

• They stop telling certain stories because that person was always part of them

• Their daily schedule feels strangely empty

• They stop going to places they once loved

• They decline invitations more often

• They feel relief and guilt when they go a whole day without thinking about them

• They refer to shared memories vaguely (“that trip” instead of specifics)

• They pause when someone says the person’s name

• They hesitate before answering “How have you been?”

• They scroll through their phone without really reading anything

• They reorganize things that don’t actually need organizing

• They get used to silence where someone used to be

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Every time it rains, the same person offers you their umbrella. One day, you finally ask their name.

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You wake up one morning with a note in your pocket you don’t remember writing. It says only: ‘Don’t open the door.’

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Sentence Structure Variations

• Simple sentence One independent clause. Example: The door slammed.

• Compound sentence Two independent clauses joined with a conjunction. Example: The door slammed, and everyone turned to look.

• Complex sentence One independent clause + one dependent clause. Example: When the door slammed, everyone turned to look.

• Compound-complex sentence Two independent clauses + at least one dependent clause. Example: When the door slammed, everyone looked up, and the room fell silent.

• Short punchy sentence Very brief for emphasis. Example: He froze.

• Long flowing sentence Multiple clauses that create rhythm and momentum. Example: As the wind pushed against the old house, the door slammed shut and echoed through the empty hallway.

• Fragment (intentional) Incomplete sentence used stylistically. Example: Too quiet.

• Question sentence Used to create curiosity or tension. Example: Who left the door open?

• Exclamatory sentence Expresses strong emphasis. Example: The door just slammed!

• Descriptive sentence Adds detail and imagery. Example: The heavy wooden door slammed against the frame with a sharp crack.

• Action-driven sentence Focuses on movement. Example: He spun around as the door slammed.

• Internal thought sentence Reveals character perspective. Example: That door shouldn’t have slammed.

• Parallel structure Repeats grammatical patterns. Example: He listened for footsteps, for whispers, for anything.

• Sentence with interruption Uses dashes to break the flow. Example: The door slammed—loud enough to make everyone jump.

• Sentence with a list Stacks details for impact. Example: The slam echoed through the hall, the kitchen, and the empty stairwell.

• Sentence starting with a dependent clause Creates suspense before the main action. Example: As the storm grew louder, the door slammed shut.

• Sentence ending with emphasis Places the important detail at the end. Example: The door slammed behind him.

• Rhythmic repetition Repeats words for tone. Example: Slam. Silence. Then footsteps.

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Dialogue Structure Examples

• Simple dialogue “I’m leaving.”

• Dialogue with a tag after “I’m leaving,” she said.

• Dialogue with a tag before She said, “I’m leaving.”

• Dialogue with an action beat after “I’m leaving.” She grabbed her jacket.

• Dialogue with an action beat before She grabbed her jacket. “I’m leaving.”

• Dialogue split by a tag “I’m leaving,” she said, “and I’m not coming back.”

• Dialogue split by action “I’m leaving.” She hesitated. “Don’t try to stop me.”

• Dialogue followed by description “I’m leaving,” she said, staring at the door.

• Dialogue with interruption “I thought you said—” “I changed my mind.”

• Dialogue trailing off “I just thought maybe…”

• Dialogue with a question “Where are you going?”

• Dialogue with multiple sentences “I’m leaving. Don’t follow me.”

• Dialogue with a question tag “You’re coming with me, right?”

• Dialogue followed by internal thought “I’m fine,” he said. I’m definitely not fine.

• Dialogue embedded in action She leaned closer. “You didn’t tell them, did you?”

• Dialogue that continues after narration “I told you,” she said. “This was a bad idea.”

• Dialogue that begins mid-action Opening the door, she said, “You shouldn’t be here.”

• Dialogue with an em dash interruption “I was going to tell you but—” “But you didn’t.”

• Dialogue with ellipses inside “I thought… maybe you knew.”

• Dialogue across multiple paragraphs (same speaker) “I tried to warn you.

“But you never listen.”

• Dialogue with emphasis “I said leave.”

• Dialogue with a beat replacing a tag “I’m not scared.” He folded his arms.

• Dialogue embedded within narration He looked at her and said, “We’re out of time.”

• Dialogue with a tag in the middle of action “I’m leaving,” she said, pulling the door open.

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Stuck on chapter one? This planner gets you to chapter twenty.

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Quick Dialogue Guide (For Writers)

• Start a new paragraph every time a new character speaks. • Put quotation marks around spoken words. • Dialogue tags usually follow the sentence with a comma.

Example: “I'm not going back,” she said.

Dialogue with a tag before the quote

Use a comma after the tag.

Example: She said, “I'm not going back.”

Dialogue with action instead of a tag

Use a period after the action.

Example: She crossed her arms. “I'm not going back.”

When dialogue continues after a tag

Use commas inside the quotation marks.

Example: “I'm not going back,” she said, “no matter what you tell me.”

Questions and exclamations

Keep the question mark or exclamation point inside the quotation marks.

Example: “Where are you going?” he asked.

“I can't believe this!” she shouted.

Interrupted dialogue

Use em dashes when dialogue is cut off.

Example: “But I thought you—” “You thought wrong.”

Trailing off

Use ellipses when a character fades out.

Example: “I just thought maybe…”

Dialogue with action in the middle

The sentence continues after the action.

Example: “I told you,” she said, rubbing her temples, “this would happen.”

Internal thoughts (optional style)

Some writers use italics instead of quotation marks.

Example: This is a terrible idea, he thought.

Long dialogue

If a character speaks for multiple paragraphs, keep quotation marks at the beginning of each paragraph but only close them at the end of the final paragraph.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Writing multiple speakers in the same paragraph • Overusing dialogue tags like exclaimed, ejaculated, declared dramatically • Forgetting punctuation inside quotation marks • Using action beats incorrectly as dialogue tags

Fun Ways to Show a Character Is Falling in Love (Without Saying "They're in Love")

• They start noticing things about that person no one else would care about

• They remember tiny details from conversations weeks ago

• They check if that person is laughing before they laugh

• They start bringing up that person in unrelated conversations

• They look for them automatically in a crowded room

• They save something small that reminds them of them

• They remember exactly how that person takes their coffee

• They check their phone hoping it’s them

• They start caring about that person’s opinion more than they admit

• They bring them things casually (“I saw this and thought of you”)

• They start doing little favors without thinking about it

• They suddenly care about how they look before seeing them

• They notice when that person is quieter than usual

• They start using phrases that person says

• They feel oddly proud when that person succeeds

• They find themselves wanting to tell them things first

• They start imagining that person in future plans

• They hesitate before saying goodbye

• They compare other people to them without meaning to

FOLLOW FOR MORE! :D

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100 Dialogue Alternatives to "Said"

Use sparingly—most dialogue works best with said or no tag at all.

Neutral / Common

asked

replied

answered

responded

added

continued

remarked

noted

stated

mentioned

Soft / Quiet

11. whispered 12. murmured 13. muttered 14. breathed 15. sighed 16. mumbled 17. croaked 18. rasped 19. breathed out 20. whispered softly

Angry / Intense 21. snapped 22. barked 23. growled 24. snarled 25. hissed 26. spat 27. roared 28. thundered 29. demanded 30. raged

Happy / Positive 31. laughed 32. chuckled 33. beamed 34. cheered 35. joked 36. teased 37. sang 38. giggled 39. chimed 40. exclaimed

Nervous / Uncertain 41. stammered 42. stuttered 43. faltered 44. hesitated 45. wavered 46. gulped 47. blurted 48. admitted 49. confessed 50. ventured

Serious / Formal 51. declared 52. announced 53. pronounced 54. asserted 55. insisted 56. clarified 57. explained 58. elaborated 59. confirmed 60. emphasized

Questioning / Curious 61. inquired 62. wondered 63. pressed 64. probed 65. questioned 66. queried 67. challenged 68. prompted 69. urged 70. pressed further

Commanding 71. ordered 72. commanded 73. instructed 74. directed 75. warned 76. cautioned 77. urged 78. insisted 79. pressed 80. demanded again

Emotional 81. sobbed 82. cried 83. whimpered 84. pleaded 85. begged 86. groaned 87. moaned 88. lamented 89. protested 90. gasped

Casual / Conversational 91. drawled 92. quipped 93. cracked 94. joked again 95. bantered 96. offered 97. chimed in 98. cut in 99. interrupted 100. called out

Check out my detailed writing planner for writers!

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What's inside: — 60 pages — Fully printable — 7 organized sections — Character development templates — Chapter-by-chapter planning pages — Freewrite sections — Word-count tracker — Plot outline and story beats — Worldbuilding and setting guides — Detailed protagonist sheets (from weapons and favorite foods, to winter outfits and home layout) — Notes, brainstorming, and idea trackers

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Tips for Writing a Character with a Broken Rib

• Breathing hurts. Even small breaths can cause sharp pain. Your character may take shallow breaths or pause mid-sentence to inhale slowly.

• Coughing or sneezing is brutal. A cough can feel like being stabbed in the chest. Characters may desperately try to suppress coughs or brace themselves first.

• Movement triggers pain. Twisting, bending, reaching overhead, or getting up from lying down can cause sudden spikes of pain.

• They may guard the injury. Characters often hold their arm across their ribs, press a hand to the injured side, or keep their torso very still.

• Lying down and sitting up are difficult. Rolling over in bed or pushing themselves upright can be one of the most painful moments.

• Pain spikes with laughter or talking too much. A character might cut themselves off mid-laugh or wince while speaking.

• Bruising and swelling are common. The skin over the ribs may be dark purple, blue, or yellow as it heals.

• Pain when touched. Even light pressure on the ribcage can cause sharp pain.

• Sleep is uncomfortable. They often have to sleep on their back or the uninjured side, and even then they may wake frequently.

• Healing takes time. Broken ribs usually take 4–6 weeks to heal, sometimes longer.

• There’s usually no cast. Most rib fractures heal on their own. Treatment is often rest, pain medication, and avoiding strenuous movement.

• Breathing exercises matter. Doctors often tell patients to take occasional deep breaths despite the pain to prevent lung complications.

• Fatigue happens. Pain and shallow breathing can make the character feel tired and irritable.

• They move carefully. Characters may turn their whole body instead of twisting their torso.

• High-impact activity is risky. Running, fighting, or lifting heavy objects can worsen the injury or delay healing.

Small details that make it feel realistic

• Pressing a pillow to their ribs before coughing • Taking slow, controlled breaths • Flinching when a car hits a bump in the road • Waking up because they rolled onto the injured side • Getting frustrated because simple things hurt

Tips for Writing a Broken Arm

Immediate sharp pain after the injury

Grabbing or clutching the arm instinctively

Refusing or struggling to move the arm

Holding the injured arm tightly against the body

Visible swelling forming quickly

Bruising beginning to spread around the injury

Obvious deformity or unnatural bend in the arm

The arm hanging awkwardly or unsupported

A cracking or snapping sound at the moment of injury

Intense pain when the arm is touched or moved

Weak grip or inability to hold objects

Fingers trembling from pain or shock

Pale skin and sweating from the pain response

Shallow or shaky breathing

Shocked or stunned expression

Nausea or dizziness from the pain

The character going quiet or speaking through clenched teeth

Protective posture, keeping others away from the arm

Gradual stiffness as swelling increases

Pain worsening when trying to rotate the wrist or elbow

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Tips for Writing Concussions

Reblog for more!

Dazed or glassy-eyed expression

Slow or delayed responses to questions

Confusion about where they are or what just happened

Trouble remembering the moments before or after the hit

Holding their head or rubbing the impact spot

Wincing at bright lights or loud sounds

Unsteady balance or stumbling when they try to stand

Nausea or sudden vomiting

Headache that worsens over time

Slurred or slightly slowed speech

Blurred or double vision

Difficulty focusing their eyes

Sensitivity to movement

Irritability or sudden mood changes

Extreme fatigue or wanting to sleep immediately

Trouble concentrating or following conversation

Ringing in the ears

Pale or sweaty appearance

Clumsy movements or poor coordination

Brief loss of consciousness (sometimes only seconds)

Cool Ways to Show a Character Is Traumatized (Without Saying "Traumatized"):

• They memorize where every exit is in a room

• They check their phone repeatedly after sending a message, worried they said the wrong thing

• They freeze when asked a simple question, like they’re calculating the safest answer • They over-explain tiny mistakes before anyone reacts • They clean up messes that aren’t theirs without being asked • They listen for footsteps in hallways before relaxing • They downplay their own pain with humor or sarcasm

• They check locks more than once before bed • They leave shoes near the door, ready to leave quickly

• They wake up instantly at small sounds while others sleep through them

• They carry painkillers, snacks, or water everywhere “just in case.”

• They don’t like closed doors.

• They test people subtly to see if they'll leave

• They sit near walls or corners, rarely the center of a room.

• Loud noises don’t scare them anymore, they just go very still

• They apologize automatically, even when nothing went wrong

• Compliments make them visibly uncomfortable.

• They keep important things within arm’s reach at all times

• They watch people’s hands more than their faces

• They flinch at movements that aren’t threatening

• When someone raises their voice, they go quiet instead of arguing back • They assume blame first, even when it makes no sense • They’re surprised when someone keeps their promise • They brace themselves before asking a favor

FOLLOW FOR MORE! <3

#writing #writing advice #writing tips #writing help #writing reference #writers on tumblr #writeblr #creative writing #fiction writing #character writing

Reblog if you will never ever use AI for your writing.

Body Language Signs of Jealousy

Tightened jaw or clenched teeth

Forced smile that doesn’t reach the eyes

Lips pressed into a thin line

Brief flashes of glaring or hard eye contact

Rapid blinking or narrowed eyes

Looking the person up and down critically

Crossing arms tightly over the chest

Hands clenching or fidgeting

Picking at nails, skin, or clothing

Turning the body slightly away while still watching

Leaning back defensively

Sudden stiff posture

Shoulders tensing or rising

Small eye rolls or side glances

Tilting the head with a skeptical expression

Fake casualness (shrugging, acting uninterested)

Interrupting physical space subtly (stepping closer or inserting themselves)

Protective gestures toward a partner (hand on shoulder, waist, etc.)

Touching their own neck, collar, or hair nervously

Restless movements like tapping a foot or shifting weight

A delayed reaction before responding

Sudden overconfidence in posture (standing taller, puffing chest)

#writing #writing tips #writing advice #writing help #writing reference #writing resources #writing guide #creative writing #character writing #character development #character body language #character emotions #body language #body language reference #show dont tell #show don’t tell

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