do u have any tips for baby writers such as myself? especially on how to write characters and not make them sound very OC -🐛
hi 🐛!!! ahh!! honestly i consider myself a baby writer, but even so i've been writing for years. writing isn't just something to treat as 'oh i have the ability to type letters so i will' you actually have to care about what you're writing!! here is a small list of tips i have about writing and writing characters!!!
im really glad you like my writing!! but i still have a ways to improve myself, which is a big reason as to why i started uploading my writing in the first place.
— read either the source text or some fan favourite fics of your character. what is different and what is similar through each of the different texts? use similar language and actions when describing the character
— figure out what is and isn't attractive. this works for platonic and romantic relationships, is their character a bit too bland for you to write about them in the way you want? change them slightly, make a 'grumpy and mad at everyone' character only like your character, or set it up in a way where they're slightly calmer around them.
— if you think it's getting to out of character, try shifting the focus away from that character. if you're writing about james potter (source: marauders) and he starts sounding like lip gallagher (source: shameless) then step back and write about lip, otherwise you'll blur the line between your characters too much.
— but, who cares? they're your characters for a reason, if im going to read what you write, i want to know you wrote it and not some random kid trying to write. i want to see what you do to bring characters bring to life, show me how your remus lupin is different from the real remus lupin.
— its hard to figure out where you would start and stop, especially when writing one shots. in my opinion, look at what you're writing (smut, angst, fluff ect) and start from there. smut is usually best to end just before the slow act, where as fluff should go through the entire act, angst should almost always end during the peak, where there's a chance to end positively or not.
— the whole 'show don't tell' rule is stupid, because sometimes i want to hear the characters blatantly say their sad. i like feelings being brought up and told, be bold.
— your writing is just that; yours. if i wanted to read the same thing over and over, i would, but i look for new stories and new portrayals of the characters. i want your story to impress me, even if its a 'two characters, one bed' trope. tell me how your story changes it up, and how you make the story play out.
— when you struggle writing a scene, stop writing, put on some music and imagine what's happening in the scene. what do you see? put some dot points of what's important to you in the moment, is the wind blowing? does the air smell weird and does your character notice?
im not amazing when it comes to writing, but if you ever need some feedback (honest but not harsh) feel free to send me a message and/or your work!!
( i love to read and im a huge fan of helping others! )
