Latest Posts by quietlyinlife - Page 2
Writing character arcs/character development
Guide to character arcs
Writing character development
Character arc ideas
Why character arcs don’t have to last forever or be linear
ways you can further develop your main character
give them a misbelief
no characters have a personality when the plot starts. all of them have backstories, a past, and a mindset that they grew up with!
basically, a misbelief is the wrong mindset that they grew up with, and is also a belief that will be restructured by the end of your novel.
this not only shows character growth and development as their mind is "restructured" or they learn their life lesson, but also drives the internal plot of your story, which differs from the external (or action) plot that most people seem to read.
+ this gives readers a deeper insight to your character!
give them a goal
every character has a goal, or something they want in their lives. having them strive for it would essentially drive your plot, and may also help you dig deeper into your character's motivations!
this goal doesn't always need to be achieved, or may be impossible to (for example, someone wanting to meet a loved one who turns out to be dead; they may have not reached their goal, but it took them on a journey)
this goal should also be concrete if possible! vague ones like "they want to be happy," isn't very helpful. what do they think will make them happy?
(side note: wanting everything to be the way that it is can also be a goal, cause they're striving to make things go back to the way they were!)
more notes / explanations here! most of these notes in this post are taken from story genius by lisa cron, and i thought they might help. please take all this information with a grain of salt, and maybe use it in a way that'll work best for you! <3
Showing when writing: Emotions [part 1]
Embarrassment
blushing
fidgeting
sweating
hiding their face in their hands
wide eyes
crossing their arms around their body
stutters
stammering
shifting their weight from side to side
exaggerated movements
nervous quirks appear such as picking at their nails, playing with their hair, and rocking on their heels.
avoiding eye contact
glancing or staring at random objects
stiff smiles
scratching the back of their head or neck.
subject changing
forced laughter
Anticipation
big smiles
wetting their lips
energized
constant movement
grinning
can't concentrate
clumsiness
fidgeting
questions
Awe
frozen
wide eyes
slack jaw
harsh or erratic breathing
grinning
staring
Surprise/shock
gasping
open mouth
slack jaw
wide eyes
covering their mouth with their hands
raised eyebrows
frozen
staring
stepping back
stutters or stammers
Triumph
Tilting back head and yelling out
fist pumping in the air
Jumping
Roaring
Whooping
laughter
bright smiles
grinning
Anger/Threatening
Shaking fist
Pointing
crossed arms
glares
frowning
scowling
Stabbing with finger
Slamming fist against something
Veins throbbing
Jutting out their chin
Clenched fist
Clenched jaw
flushed face
Eyebrows lowered or furrowed
squinting
Teeth bared
Wide stance
Tight-lipped smile
Rapid breathing
Sweating
aggressive stance
Flared nostrils
Puffed chest
loud voice
Nervous
lip biting
biting nails
blinking
tears
stepping back
awkward laughter
clumsiness
dry lips
dry mouth
fidgeting
darting eyes
wrapping their arms around themselves
repeatedly folding and unfolding their arms
clutching at themselves, their hip/shoulder/stomach
drawn in/furrowed brows
avoiding eye contact
jittery
pitched voice
no appetite or nervous eating so a bigger appetite
pacing
toying with things
restless
bouncing leg
rubbing at their face
scratching
sweating trembling
if you want to support, take a look at my story - Thoraway villain
kisses prompts to give the readers butterflies:
(feel free to use! yk what to do babies, tag me when u writee !! importantly the 2nd, 6th and 10th prompt >\\<)
hands around your waist as they pull you closer, goosebumps swarming every part of your body that they touch
kisses where they peck you a thousand times and you just sit there giggling with your face squished in their palms while they kiss
the kiss that breaks apart for a second, a smile stretching and they kiss you back again, fingers gently sliding down the side of your face to your neck
"i like the taste of your lips on mine"
kisses where they push you against the cold wall, their hands tracing your curves as they nibble on your lower lip, hands teasing every edge as you moan into the kiss
gently tugging at their collar, out of breath, they ask, "do you want me to stop?" you hurriedly say, "just the opposite, please"
kisses where they pin their hand on either side of your head, body pressing down on yours, places touching on where it shouldn't
neck grabbing during kisses >\\<
meeting each other after a long time and running into each other's arms, hugs tighter than ever as they place a kiss on your head, relieved that it finally feels like home
kisses that turns into love bites, and you slightly moan, "you like that, princess?"
intimate back hugs where they slowly trail kisses from your collarbone to your jaw, making you shiver, and they mumble, "god you smell fucking good."
for more:
'angsty romance prompts'