HOW TO WRITE SMART CHARACTERS
(or: how to write witty characters as a non-witty author)
Make them think before they speak
Give them time to plan off-screen
Let them notice small details others ignore
Have them ask the right questions, not just give answers
Let them predict consequences before others do
Give them expertise in one specific area
Have them connect two unrelated ideas
Let other characters seek their advice
Show them changing their strategy when something fails
Have them explain complex ideas simply
Let them win arguments by reframing the problem
Give them moments where they say very little but it matters
EXTRA TIP:
You have a secret weapon. And it's called editing!
Real people must respond instantly.
But writers get unlimited time to craft the perfect line.
So your character doesn't need to be fast. They just need to say the smartest thing eventually.
I hope this helps!
I share writing tips like this because storytelling is something I genuinely love. I’m also a neurodivergent writer trying to build a sustainable writing career while working full-time, which means writing time can be hard to come by.
If you’d like to support more posts like this, you can leave a small tip on my Ko-fi. Every little bit helps me carve out more time to write and work toward finishing my first book.
Ko-fi donations help fund:
• more writing advice posts
• future storytelling resources
• and the time it takes to actually write the book
No pressure at all! Even just sharing the post helps a ton. <3
this one’s for the writers who:
– are beefing with their WIP
– lowkey know their pacing sucks
– keep rewriting chapter one but it still feels like drywall
🔗 it’s up on IG (@thewriteedvice) now - go save it, scream in the comments, and maybe apologize to your protagonist while you’re at it 💌
Hi!!! I'm Cyrah, a writer currently taking a break from working on my debut novel, My Love For You Is Amaranthine, to take a breather and reconnect with why I started writing in the first place—for fun, creativity, and the passion and joy that comes from it.
If you want to support a young writer, or just want a small piece written with care, feel free to check out my commission info and DM me anytime! 💌
Custom short stories (original or drabbles. Click here for fandoms)
Love letters (personal or character-based)
Light editing for short writing pieces
Writing advice
Genres I Love Writing:
Romance (usually paired with the genres below)
Fantasy
Slice-of-life
Historical
Open to requests!
What I Don’t Write:
Explicit adult content
Heavy gore
Strong political/religious themes
Traumatic events
Incest
Minors with adult characters/people
Rates and Pricing for Writing Commissions:
Prices are based on word count and complexity.
Words Rate (NZD)
1-300 words $5
301–500 words $10
501–800 words $15
801–1000 words $20
1001+ words $20+
Rewrites & Extras:
First rewrite: Free
2nd+ rewrite: +$5 each
Rush deadline (under 48 hrs): +$10
Heavily researched or unfamiliar topic: +$15
Price negotiation is something I’m open to
Please note: Rwrites are when I send you the entire writing piece after I finished and you find yourself dissatisfied with my work and ask me to rework the whole thing again.
How It Works For Writing Commissions:
Send me what you’re looking for (genre, plot, characters, specifics, etc.)
I’ll confirm if I can take the commission and give a time estimate
Once I’m set up for payments: 50% upfront payment → Wait → I’ll send a writing preview
Approval → Final payment → I deliver the full piece
The initial 50% payment that is made upfront is non-refundable, as once the payment has been made, I will start working on your piece, and the 50% upfront payment is to cover for any work that has been done to your piece. Once you decide to cancel your commission, I will give you the piece that has been worked on so that you may do with it as you wish.
You enjoy your story, I can buy food after school
Rates and Pricing for Editing and Proofreading Commissions:
Services (NZD) Rate
Proofreading $3 per page
Light editing $4 per page
Heavy editing $10 per page
Please note: When you hire me as an editor, I will do an overall quality check, help work on clarity and structure for your piece of writing, and will help with the flow. However, if you hire me as a proofreader, I will do surface-level checks for small mistakes like typos, spelling errors, grammatical errors, and formatting. Overall, editors are someone you hire when you want to focus on the bigger picture, while proofreaders are someone you hire when you want to just dust over the work.
How It Works For Editing and Proofreading Commissions:
Send me what you want me to look over and work on (genre, plot, type of writing, number of pages, specifics, etc of your piece of writing.)
I’ll confirm if I can take the commission and give a time estimate
We work out the number of instalments you are willing to do
Based on the number of pages that you would like me to go through, we can work on establishing a payment plan where you pay me in installments.
After I have gone through a certain number of pages, you send me the chunk of money for that installment.
Failing to send the installment of money will result in me putting a pause on your work until you decide to cancel the commission in which I will no longer edit your work, or I will not go through your work until you decide to pay me the installment.
You enjoy your edited and proofread work, I can buy food after school
Payment Method:
Stripe
Timeline
Short pieces (~800 words or ~5 pages): 1-3 days
Longer commissions (+800 words or +5 pages): 3–10 days or longer depending on school schedule
Feel free to follow or reblog to help spread the word! 💖💖
It's the question that hangs in the air, uncomfortable and undeniable. Why was Elvis Presley celebrated for dating a 14-year-old, while men like R. Kelly and Jeffrey Epstein are condemned as monsters?
Been meaning to update the casts’ character sheets and designs, especially since I’ve gotten requests for references for fanart. 🤩 (for the record, I would LOVE to see any fanart ya’ll draw of my oc’s).
First up is main gal Cleo the Chupacabra! Plucky, scrappy, and “sharp as a tack with a heart bigger than Texas” as mama Sasquatch Kenate says. She loves her Sasquatch Papá to pieces, and is willing to brave Manhattan and don a human disguise to find him.
Chupacabras age kindof like dogs, so hence the 4-going-on-18 look.
She’s voiced by the talented Jaynee Anne in the audiobook version!
Hey y'all! I’m Heather, a trauma-informed creative using art, intuition, and storytelling to help people heal, grow, and shine the light of their own inner beauty. 🥰 I aim to spread awareness and provide support for neurodivergence, trauma recovery and healing, single motherhood, poverty, and other social welfare issues, especially pertaining to women's rights.
I'm a neurosparkly single mom with Hashimoto's as well as an author, web designer, and digital marketing and publishing specialist. I live with my two adult sons, three cats, a three-legged great dane, a ferret, a tarantula, an axolotl, a rabbit, and eight fish tanks. When not arguing with book formatting software or sloppy HTML, I play Fortnite and Fae Farm, tend flowers in my little garden, or design cottage-core clothing and accessories for my fairy fashion boutique.
🖋️📄My Writing
🕊️ Children's Books for Healing
📘 Wings for Your Heart - $2.99 (FREE on Kindle Unlimited)
📘 Never Let Go - FREE
📚 Learn more: www.heatherholmes.rocks
📝 Poetry & Journalism
Vocal Media Article List (Free)
Medium Article List (Paywall)
🧚♀️✨🍵🌸💐🧚♂️💜☕️🌷🧚♀️🌺🔮🧚♀️✨🍵🌸💐🧚♂️💜☕️🌷🧚♀️🌺
🍵Cross the Teas and Dot the Eyes
📖 Book Publishing: formatting, editing, ghostwriting, cover design
🖥️ Affordable websites for independent authors and artists
📚 Marketing materials from book trailers to Amazon A+ Content.
💼 Resume writing assistance for job seekers
🧚♀️ [email protected]
🧚♀️✨🍵🌸💐🧚♂️💜☕️🌷🧚♀️🌺🔮🧚♀️✨🍵🌸💐🧚♂️💜☕️🌷🧚♀️🌺
🌊Spill the Tea in Charleston
📈 Digital marketing, branding, social media management
🎨 Graphics design & website building for small businesses
☕ [email protected]
🧚♀️✨🍵🌸💐🧚♂️💜☕️🌷🧚♀️🌺🔮🧚♀️✨🍵🌸💐🧚♂️💜☕️🌷🧚♀️🌺
🔮Carolina Moon Tarot
🎈 Party, Wedding & Event Entertainment in Charleston, SC
🔮 Private tarot readings and group classes
🌙 [email protected]
🧚♀️✨🍵🌸💐🧚♂️💜☕️🌷🧚♀️🌺🔮🧚♀️✨🍵🌸💐🧚♂️💜☕️🌷🧚♀️🌺
☕The Cracked Teacup Boutique & Gift Shop
🍄 Cottage-core clothing & fairy fashion accessories
👕 Shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, mason jars, even pet supplies
🧚♀️✨🍵🌸💐🧚♂️💜☕️🌷🧚♀️🌺🔮🧚♀️✨🍵🌸💐🧚♂️💜☕️🌷🧚♀️🌺
🕯️Lowcountry Lighthouse
🍲 Volunteer charity offering hot meals, blankets & more
❄️ Active from October 15 - February 15 annually in Charleston, SC
✨ [email protected]
🚫 Closed for 2025 but hoping to return for our 4th season in 2026
