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still so obsessed w the empty gaping hole characters that never actually appear in the story leave like god. you can see the shape of them

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🪽😈Good Traits to bad

Our perfect imperfections make us imperfect perfections.

Nice <> passive/unassertive

Strong-willed <> stubborn

Sensitive <> easily upset

Honest/communicative/trustworthy <> insensitive/brutal

Loyal/devoted/faithful <> tolerates bad behaviour from others

Perfectionism <> Never beign satisifed

Generosity <> Being taken advantage of

Being dependable <> People always depending on them

Protectivenss <> Overprotective, obsessive

Cautiousness <> Never risking anything

Ambitiousness <> Coming off as ruthless

Tidiness <> Obsessive and compulsive

Assertiveness <> Coming off as bossy

Pride <> Not accepting help

Being realistic <> Being seen as pessimistic

Innocence <> Being seen as naive

Optimism <> Not realistic

Diligent <> not able to bend rules

If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! 📸

🖱️References

https://townsvillepsychologist.com.au/personality-traits-can-be-positive-and-negative/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/9359111719786856/

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life's too short to write for an imaginary critic that you fear will hate what you wrote

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really love dynamics that are like 'it honestly doesn't matter if you view them as romantic or platonic, the point is that they love each other. the type of love is inconsequential, all that matters is that it's there'. gotta be one of my favorite genders.

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How to get to know your characters better?

(feel free to add your own thoughts to this list, hope it helps!) req by @miricalebabyy44 <3

what will your character be like if they were in your shoes?

is your oc the mom friend or the dad or the childish one in their friendgroup ?

do those "poet, king, soldier" quiz for your oc. im being fr

do the "36 questions to fall in love" quiz as your oc.

ik your ocs trauma have an impact on their character, but how would they be like, if they hadn't gone through that experience?

does your oc have similar tastes as you do? (music, art, fashion, coffee/tea etctetc)

will they "i only live once so I'll do it for the plot." or will they "i only live once ffs, i don't wanna die." ?

what is your ocs opinion of love? how is/was their love life on a scale of 1-10?

will your oc let go of someone precious to them when they know they're putting them at danger?

around whom does your oc lets their guard down?

are they romantically constipated or a hopeless romantic?

what type of music does ur oc like?

write a lot about your oc if you're struggling to get to know them. find a drabble prompt, and write what they'd do.

do they trust others easily or do they get trusted by others easily?

what is something your oc will never talk to anyone about? (their answer can be deep, like some emo trauma or like smthng like back when they shit their pants or smthng yk)

do they give off golden retriever energy, or a black cat energy? (or both?)

what will THEIR opinion be on YOUR current life? will they be ur friend? will they trust you?

will your oc survive in a fantasy setting, a war setting, a dystopian setting, a futuristic setting, a medieval setting? will ur oc survive after getting stranded on an island, or a forest?

does your oc like their parents, do they like how their life is, do they feel like they're born in the right gen?

if they are ever to get one wish definitely granted, what would they wish for?

how did they react to their first kiss? (if they have had it by now lmao)

what's an ideal day for your oc?

lastly, who does your oc go to when they've fucked up?

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extensive list of character traits

hello hello, it's me! here's an extensive list of traits. note: if you're developing a character, check out this free workbook which has a complete character sheet :D

good character traits:

understanding

courageous

tenacious

resourceful

confident

diligent

persevering

empathetic

caring

respectful

patient

dependable

trustworthy

adaptable

charismatic

creative

innovative

encouraging

gracious

forgiving

generous

inquisitive

knowledgeable

modest

noble

optimistic

passionate

practical

principled

reliable

self-disciplined

selfless

strong-willed

thoughtful

wise

assertive

bold

decisive

dignified

disciplined

enthusiastic

faithful

friendly

humorous

imaginative

insightful

intuitive

open-minded

persuasive

practical

proactive

rational

self-confident

self-sufficient

sensible

sympathetic

tactful

team player

trusting

unassuming

visionary

well-rounded

bad character traits:

self-centered

rude

disrespectful

impulsive

greedy

arrogant

dishonest

manipulative

lazy

stubborn

moody

pessimistic

judgmental

aggressive

reckless

inconsiderate

paranoid

insecure

materialistic

irrational

vengeful

deceitful

disloyal

boastful

closed-minded

condescending

impatient

intolerant

narcissistic

obsessive

possessive

short-tempered

sneaky

suspicious

unpredictable

unreliable

wasteful

weak-willed

withdrawn

agonizing

cynical

possessive

aloof

intimidating

sadistic

bitter

passive-aggressive

evasive

procrastinating

irritable

dismissive

disrespectful

confrontational

overbearing

domineering

pompous

biased

inflexible

impetuous

misanthropic

overcritical

arrogant

hope this was useful! have a nice day <3

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Are your characters too “perfect”? Struggling to give them negative traits?

I’ve definitely fallen into the trap of making my protagonists and side characters too “perfect” before. It’s an easy mistake to make, but it can lead to your characters feeling one-dimensional if you’re too afraid to make them seem morally grey.

Here’s a very simple method:

1. Take a character’s main positive trait. Let’s take Hermione Granger, for example - her intelligence is a defining aspect of her character.

2. Exaggerate it into a negative trait. In the instance of Hermione Granger, she can come across to the other characters as a know-it-all. She’s not always portrayed as perfect for her intelligence, which is what makes her character more interesting.

Using this method, we have a number of options for negative traits for an intelligent character - patronising, arrogant, smug - to name a few.

I use the Fatal Attraction theory for this, which suggests that we fall out of love with someone for the same reason we were initially attracted to them. So, if you grew to like someone because you liked how strong and dominant they are, you may become tired of that down the line when their behaviour is controlling.

I’ve illustrated a few examples for how to exaggerate common positive traits into negative ones in the image above, but I have a few more examples to share so you really get the idea:

Keep reading

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Character flaws

It's been a while since I wrote this post, so I'm a bit lazy to retype it.

If you want to read more posts about writing, please click here and give me a follow!

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things to ask yourself when designing a female character:

how much blood is she covered in

are her eyes filled with madness

can she rip things to shreds with her fingernails

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writing and craft and stuff

"Mia do you have any writing advice pet peeves"

why, yes i do. presented without too much comment:

it's a scam because you need to use both things to tell a story effectively. if it's all show, your novel is going to be over 200k words and half of it will probably be a travelogue. if it's all tell, we'll have a hard time getting into the characters' thoughts and feelings. show, don't tell exists to help newer writers explore what's going in their characters' minds. it's not a hard and fast rule once you've learned how to characterize and give context. so please, do some telling. do some beautiful telling.

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How not to Start your Story!

When starting your story, it's important to captivate readers right from the beginning. Here are some quick tips on what to avoid when starting your story:

1. Avoid excessive backstory: Starting with a lengthy exposition or an information dump about the history or background of the world or characters can be overwhelming for readers. Instead, focus on engaging them with the present situation and reveal necessary details gradually.

2. Don't start with clichés: Opening your story with clichéd phrases or situations can make it feel unoriginal and uninspiring. Try to find a unique and fresh angle to grab readers' attention.

3. Avoid excessive description: Starting with long paragraphs of detailed description can slow down the pacing and lose readers' interest. Begin with action, dialogue, or a compelling scene to draw readers in and sprinkle in descriptions throughout the story.

4. Don't introduce too many characters at once: Introducing a large cast of characters right from the beginning can confuse readers and make it challenging to form a connection. Start with a focused introduction to the main characters and gradually introduce others as the story progresses.

5. Avoid starting with a dream sequence: Beginning your story with a dream sequence can be disorienting and disconnect readers from the main narrative. Save dreams or flashbacks for later in the story when they have more relevance and impact.

6. Don't start with overly vague or abstract language: Using cryptic or ambiguous language at the beginning may leave readers feeling confused and disengaged. Provide enough concrete details and context to give readers a sense of time, place, and characters.

7. Avoid starting with too much action: While action can be exciting, starting with a high-intensity scene without proper context can leave readers feeling disoriented. Provide enough information to ground readers and establish the setting before diving into intense action sequences.

8. Don't begin with excessive dialogue: Opening with a long conversation without sufficient context can be confusing and fail to engage readers. Set the scene and introduce characters before diving into extended dialogue exchanges.

9. Avoid lengthy prologues: Starting with a prologue that is disconnected from the main story or too lengthy can deter readers. Make sure the prologue serves a clear purpose and immediately captures readers' interest.

10. Don't start with a long internal monologue: Beginning with an extended internal monologue can be overwhelming and distance readers from the story. Instead, focus on action or interaction to create a more engaging start.

Remember, a strong opening sets the tone for your story and hooks readers' attention. Consider starting with a compelling scene, intriguing question, or an intriguing character to captivate readers from the first sentence.

Happy writing!

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Female characters who are the sole voice of reason <<<<<<< Female characters who think of themselves as the sole voice of reason but who are actually just as insane as those around them

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Character flaws that can add depth and complexity to your characters:

1. Stubbornness: A character who is excessively stubborn may refuse to listen to others' perspectives or admit when they're wrong, leading to conflicts and missed opportunities for growth.

2. Impulsiveness: An impulsive character acts without thinking, often leading to hasty decisions or reckless behavior that can have negative consequences.

3. Jealousy: A character plagued by jealousy may struggle with feelings of insecurity and possessiveness, causing strain in relationships and potential conflicts with others.

4. Indecisiveness: An indecisive character finds it difficult to make choices, leading to delays, missed opportunities, and frustration from others.

5. Arrogance: An arrogant character believes they are superior to others and often dismisses or belittles those around them, creating tension and damaged relationships.

6. Insecurity: A character with deep-seated insecurity may constantly seek validation and struggle with self-doubt, impacting their decisions and relationships.

7. Impatience: An impatient character lacks tolerance for delays or setbacks, which can lead to rushed actions, poor judgment, and strained relationships.

8. Manipulativeness: A manipulative character uses deceit and manipulation to control others for their own gain, creating a web of lies and mistrust.

9. Hot-tempered: A hot-tempered character easily becomes angry or loses their temper, leading to impulsive actions, damaged relationships, and potential violence.

10. Perfectionism: A perfectionistic character sets impossibly high standards for themselves and others, often leading to stress, frustration, and strained relationships.

11. Distrust: A character with trust issues struggles to trust others, leading to difficulty forming meaningful connections and maintaining healthy relationships.

12. Procrastination: A character who frequently procrastinates avoids tasks or responsibilities, causing unnecessary stress and potential negative consequences.

13. Selfishness: A selfish character prioritizes their own needs and desires above others, disregarding the feelings and well-being of those around them.

14. Pessimism: A pessimistic character constantly expects the worst outcome, which can lead to negativity, lack of motivation, and strained relationships.

15. Impulsiveness: An impulsive character acts on their immediate desires without considering the consequences, often leading to reckless behavior and regrets.

flaws make characters more relatable and human. They create internal and external conflicts and provide opportunities for growth and development throughout your story.

Happy writing!

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“Tell the readers a story! Because without a story, you are merely using words to prove you can string them together in logical sentences.”

— Anne McCaffrey