#vonmunin

[clangenrising]

I always wonder how you write your characters so well — I usually end up running out of plans and then I think of a new scene and dialogue, and then struggle to write said scene and dialogue in a way that doesn't seem robotic. But the exchanges that take place here (and all the pieces in general) flow so well!

It's good to see Mystique slowly coming to terms with what is going on around her. I like that it's not rushed and that we get to see the changes and the realizations she goes through over time.

It means a lot to see the different ways that everyone goes through grief too, how relationships between friends don't always get an instant fix

I also struggle sometimes with having a scene in mind that feels robotic. Usually, I give it a second or third pass before posting though so you guys don't ever see that.

My method may not work for everyone, but what I do is usually I start with an idea of how i need the scene to go in big strokes. I often write down a little summary in parentheses to guide me, and I make sure that I know what NEEDS to be accomplished by the end of a piece. Like for instance, I might say "this piece needs to show Scorchplume convincing Mystique to take her home" and that's my only requirement. I try not to come up with too much more in advance, or if I do have specific dialogue or scene elements, I allow myself to change them if it feels necessary. I try never to get so tied to an idea that it makes the writing suffer.

From there I just start and I let the conversations flow where they need to and usually, if I've put in the right elements to motivate the characters to act how I need them to, they do. Still, I sometimes write a whole scene and say "this isn't going where I need it to" and then trash it and start over in a different direction.

And then I just try to let my characters be people. You mention that you like how Mystique's growth isn't rushed and that's something I definitely care about. People can be really stubborn and change, especially difficult change, can take a really long time. I think that's what makes it so interesting and I think it's really important to show in my art.

#not art #asks and answers #vonmunin #tips and advice #Mystique