Who Said I Should Write This

J.J- she/her

[imastoryteller]

Never let the tension flatline

The second your story’s pulse hits zero, your reader’s finger twitches toward the off switch. Every scene (yes, even the quiet ones) needs a wire humming beneath it. If your character’s sipping milk, make us wonder if it’s poisoned. If they’re smiling, make us suspect they’re lying. Tension isn’t just explosions and car chases; it’s the silent dread, the secret unspoken, the thing that could go wrong but hasn’t... yet. Keep the reader’s gut tight, and their mind alert. The story dies when comfort enters the room. Your job? Never let them relax. Not for a second.

[whosaidishouldwritethis]

Got part one done then 😁

[luna-azzurra]

Small stuff characters do that says a lot #2

☽ he scratches the back of his neck when he’s uncomfortable. classic, like his skin suddenly became so interesting the second you asked him something personal.

☽ she stares at her phone, not touching it. just staring, like it’ll ring if she looks hard enough. But it won’t.

☽ he rubs his thumb over his lower lip while thinking. looks sexy. is actually anxiety.

☽ she laughs mid-sentence, but it’s not because she’s amused, it’s that oh no I’m about to cry but let’s mask it with this weird laugh thing. if you know, you know.

☽ he bites the inside of his cheek when he’s trying not to say something. like the words are fighting to come out and he’s keeping them hostage with molars.

☽ she opens her mouth to say something, then closes it. repeat x3. then changes the subject. you’ll never know what she was gonna say. and neither will she.

☽ he sets down his drink too carefully. like, way too carefully. like his entire sense of control is hanging on how gently he places this drink on the table.

☽ she plays with her sleeve, twisting the fabric around her fingers. she used to do that as a kid too. never really stopped.

☽ he looks away when someone compliments him. and not in a shy way, in a you just hit a nerve and now he has to pretend to be chill about it way.

☽ she closes her eyes for a second longer than necessary. like she’s buffering. or silently praying to not snap.

☽ she presses her lips together until they disappear. her version of “don’t cry don’t cry don’t cry.”

☽ she flicks her pen open and closed, open and closed. it’s either ADHD, or she’s about to kill someone with a paperclip.

☽ he leans back in his chair, but just a bit too far. as if physical distance might help him emotionally detach.

☽ she picks at her nails, not because they’re messy, because her brain won’t shut up.

☽ he looks at her, then looks away, then looks back. three glances = game over.

[luna-azzurra]

A Free E-book on Writing Characters That Feel Real

A year ago, I sat down to write this book. At first, it was just an idea, a fleeting thought that whispered, Hey, maybe you should do this. But if I’m being honest, the only reason it actually exists today is you.

You, who kept showing up. You, who kept asking questions, sharing your struggles, and pushing me to keep going when I wanted to throw my laptop out the window. You made me believe this book was worth writing. So here it is. And it’s completely free on Amazon, because I want you to have it.

Now, This isn’t your typical “Here’s how to write a character” manual that tells you to slap on a few traits and call it a day. No, we’re diving deep into the messy, complicated, and downright chaotic process of creating characters who feel real, the kind who make readers laugh, cry, and scream into the void when they suffer.

What you’ll find inside:

🔥 Backstory – Ever met someone whose past didn’t shape them? Me neither. What happened to your character before page one? What traumas, triumphs, or late-night existential crises made them who they are?

"So you mean I have to give my character trauma?" Yes. Or at least something that matters. Nobody wants to read about someone who just woke up one day and decided to be interesting.

🔥 Motivation & Goals – What do they want? More importantly, why? What’s driving them forward or holding them back?

"So, can I just say my character wants to save the world?" No. You need to know what’s underneath that. Do they want to save the world because they failed to save someone before? Because they crave approval? Because they feel powerless and this is their way of taking control? Go deeper.

🔥 Relationships – Nobody exists in a vacuum. Who do they love? Who do they hate? Who’s their worst enemy, and who’s the person they’d take a bullet for?

"But what if my character is a loner?" Cool, but even loners have people they avoid, people they secretly miss, and people who haunt them. Nobody is truly alone.

🔥 Character Arc – People change. Or they don’t and that says something too. How does your character evolve (or refuse to) over the course of your story?

"Can my character stay the same?" Sure, if you want to show the cost of not changing. But readers love growth, whether it’s for better or worse.

🔥 Personality, Voice & Expression – Strengths, flaws, quirks, habits, the little things that make them Human.

"Can I just give them a scar and call it depth?" No. A scar is cool, but why does it matter to them? Do they trace it when they’re nervous? Does it make them self-conscious? Does it remind them of a promise, a failure, a night they wish they could forget? The details mean nothing unless they mean everything.

This isn’t some dry, theoretical textbook. This is a no-BS, straight-to-the-heart guide to crafting characters that breathe, bleed, and break hearts—characters that matter.

📖 Get your free copy on Kindle now! (Here On Amazon!)

And seriously—thank you. This book wouldn’t exist without you. 💖✨

[whosaidishouldwritethis]

Well the good news is the rewrites were minimal and I kind of know what I was doing but the bad news is I have no idea how to proceed

[whosaidishouldwritethis]

Lol, I've spawned so many plot threads and stuff that when I was trying to remember something I realised id forgot who was doing this thing and IT WAS THE INCITING INCIDENT

Wtf 😭

[luna-azzurra]

Some Actually Useful Questions to Get to Know Your OC Part Two

↳ What lie do they tell themselves to sleep at night? Seriously. What’s the little piece of denial that keeps them functioning? Do they pretend they don’t care what people think? Tell themselves they’re over that one person? Convinced they’re not the villain of someone else’s story? We all lie to ourselves; your OC is no exception.

↳ What’s their emotional kryptonite? A specific thing that absolutely shatters them, like someone crying? Being ignored? Praise from a parent figure? The sound of an old song? The smell of something nostalgic? Find it and use it against them (lovingly, of course).

↳ When do they feel the most alive? Is it mid-battle, mid-baking, mid-breakup? Does adrenaline light them up, or do they find joy in the quiet, mundane things, like folding laundry while listening to sad girl music? This can reveal a LOT about what drives them.

↳ What would totally ruin their day? A bad haircut? Someone touching their stuff? Or is it something deeper, like being reminded of their failures, or seeing someone else succeed where they couldn’t?

↳ Who do they think they should be? And who are they really? This one’s juicy. Do they think they should be a hero, but keep acting like a villain?

↳ What’s the one thing they’d never admit out loud, even under duress? The shameful thought. The inappropriate desire. The thing they desperately want but don’t think they deserve. DONT FORGET: Characters are built on what they repress.

↳ What are they petty about? Don’t pretend your OC is above this, I mean everyone’s petty about something. Do they hold grudges over stolen pens? Get irrationally jealous of someone’s hair? Still mad about a game of Uno from 2007? Petty makes them fucking real.

↳ How do they act when they think no one’s watching? Do they let their mask slip? Dance around the kitchen? Talk to their cat in baby voice? Cry a little?

↳ What would make them snap? Where is the breaking point? What line has to be crossed for them to finally say “Enough”? Is it injustice? Betrayal? Feeling powerless? You’ll know you’ve found it when it scares you a little (Or a lot).

↳ If they had a theme song, what would it be? No, seriously. The vibe of a character’s soundtrack says a lot. Is it Angsty indie rock? Bubblegum pop masking deep pain? Make a playlist. Your OC will tell you who they are... <3

[whosaidishouldwritethis]

Well I took a lot of time off because I was having a baby and now I have no idea where I was going with my story. Ive re read what I wrote and my whole outline and so on but nope, huge gaps and a mess of spaghetti ideas.

If its made one thing clear its that my current planning set up is too cluttered however sorting that out is going to take time that should be used writing and I know myself well enough to know that Ill start having ideas while sorting through stuff.

My idea then is to have a big board but that would take even more time and HOW DOES ANYONE MAKE THIS WORK

Anyway anyway....blah.

That is all

[whosaidishouldwritethis]

Learning about Gilded Age mansions as a European is staggering because of the mishmashing of styles in one home, a white marble castle exterior in Rhineland style, mushroom vault with Louis XV parlour, a colonial dining room and an 'Asian Inspired' library...😬 oooh I mean, go off Charles V Paterno, it's your house so go nuts but I'm imagining European society, teacup in hand, saying "My, how gauche"

The epitome of class and sophistication that NY elite were not and yet, they were presented as such.

This sounds snobby, I'm not. I abhor that sort of stuff, if you're rich and want to make your house into the set of Peewees Playhouse then do and invite me over. If I had money, I'd turn my house into a replica of the Addams Mansion in a heartbeat but what does interest me is how people of the 'upper' social class in the US at the time took elements of European nobility and brute forced the differing elements together and demanded that it be seen as classy despite deciding they wanted 4 different times and eras AND PEOPLE WENT ALONG WITH THAT 😂

[imastoryteller]

Understanding Morally Gray Characters in Storytelling

Definition and Core Characteristics:

Complex and Ambiguous Morality: Morally gray characters exhibit traits and make decisions that do not fit neatly into the categories of 'good' or 'evil'. Their actions and motivations often blend aspects of both.

Humanized Flaws: They possess human flaws, which make their actions and decisions relatable and believable. These flaws often drive their complex behavior.

Realistic Motivations: Their motivations are multifaceted and realistic, often stemming from personal experiences, traumas, or societal pressures.

Importance in Storytelling:

Adds Depth: These characters add depth and richness to the narrative, providing a more nuanced and realistic portrayal of human nature.

Creates Tension and Conflict: Their unpredictability and complex morality create tension and conflict, driving the plot and engaging the audience.

Reflects Real Life: By portraying characters with both good and bad qualities, stories can reflect the complexity of real-life moral decisions.

Examples and Their Impact:

Walter White from Breaking Bad: Initially a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with cancer, Walter turns to manufacturing methamphetamine to secure his family’s future. His descent into criminality and moral compromise makes him a quintessential morally gray character.

Severus Snape from Harry Potter: Snape’s actions and allegiances are ambiguous throughout much of the series. His ultimate loyalty and sacrifices reveal a deeply complex character motivated by love and regret.

Creating a Morally Gray Character:

Blend Virtues and Vices: Give your character a mix of admirable qualities and significant flaws. This balance helps create a sense of realism.

Motivations Over Actions: Focus on the character’s motivations rather than just their actions. Understand why they make certain decisions, even if those decisions are morally questionable.

Consequences and Growth: Show the consequences of their actions and allow for character growth or regression. This evolution keeps the character dynamic and engaging.

Impact on the Audience:

Empathy and Engagement: Morally gray characters can evoke empathy from the audience, as they see parts of themselves in the character’s struggles and decisions.

Moral Reflection: These characters prompt audiences to reflect on their own moral beliefs and the complexities of right and wrong.

Discussion and Debate: The ambiguous nature of morally gray characters often sparks discussion and debate, making stories more engaging and thought-provoking.

By understanding and effectively using morally gray characters, storytellers can craft richer, more engaging narratives that resonate deeply with their audience.

[whosaidishouldwritethis]

The frustration of staring at the screen, am I waiting for words to appear? Apparently so

[helpful-writing-tips]

writing advice from @thewritingumbrellas' uni teachers:

If your dialogue feels flat, rewrite the scene pretending the characters cannot at any cost say exactly what they mean. No one says "I'm mad" but they can say it in 100 other ways.

Wrote a chapter but you dislike it? rewrite it again from memory. That way you're only remembering the main parts and can fill in extra details.

Don't overuse metaphors, or they lose their potency. Limit yourself.

Before you write your novel, write a page of anything through your characters POV so you can get their voice right. Do this for every main character introduced.

[helpful-writing-tips]

The Back Story haunts the central character.

The Catalyst gets the character moving. It's part of the story's setup.

The Big Event changes the character's life.

The Midpoint is the point of no return or a moment of deep motivation.

The Crisis is the low point, or an event that forces the key decision that leads to your story's end.

The Climax or Showdown is the final face-off between your central character and the opposition.

The Realization occurs when your character and/or the audience sees that the character has changed or have realized something.

[helpful-writing-tips]

If your plot feels flat, STUDY it! Your story might be lacking:

Stakes - What would happen if the protagonist failed? Would it really be such a bad thing if it happened?

Thematic Relevance- Do the events of the story speak to a greater emotional or moral message? Is the conflict resolved in a way that befits the theme?

Urgency - How much time does the protagonist have to complete their goal? Are there multiple factors complicating the situation?

Drive - What motivates the protagonist? Are they an active player in the story, or are they repeatedly getting pushed around by external forces? Could you swap them out for a different character with no impact on the plot? On the flip side, do the other characters have sensible motivations of their own?

Yield - Is there foreshadowing? Do the protagonist's choices have unforeseen consequences down the road? Do they use knowledge or clues from the beginning, to help them in the end? Do they learn things about the other characters that weren't immediately obvious?

credit:@cedar-west

[nexe-montano]

I think writers need to know that there is no format for success. If a story is good let it be good. Throw that betrayal in there, have three climaxes, do that cliffhanger, kill off your most important character, make the main character's life a lie, and leave them grasping at straws for the truth.

Stop overthinking in trying to please others and yourself. There's an incredibly thrilling freedom when you don't worry about over-saturating a story. Make. It. Yours.

The most influential writers in fantasy, adventure, etc. never bowed to the wishes of those who they thought they should please. They wrote what they wanted and came up with incredible stories to share with the world. Not because they craved approval but because they genuinely were proud of that work and wanted others to experience the same emotions and thrill of reading they had while writing.

If you have writer's block, it is my firm belief that you are thinking too much. You have the layout, you have the ideas. Stop. Second-guessing. Yourself. You've got more to offer than you know. Let yourself thrive and live, not just survive in the writing world. Write any and every idea and build off of them to create a story no one has heard before. Create something you've only seen in your dreams.

Yes, you can take inspiration from every story you've heard, read, or seen before, yes, you can use AI to research topics you have no idea about to make your story even better. But no, you cannot quit.

You are on the very cusp of it, can't you feel it? You've got it, believe it, *feel* it. Only you can do this, only you can truly finish this in the way that you want and dream of. Do it. Complete it. Without any regard for what might be right or wrong.

[ad-wills]

[whosaidishouldwritethis]

Re-re blogging because ugh..truth

[whosaidishouldwritethis]

Oh look, more slacking. I did write a whole chapter after the last time though so 🥳