bleeding-porcelain

[bleeding-porcelain]

Writing Notes: Sympathetic Villain

Sympathetic villain - an antagonist in a story who has redeemable qualities.

Tips for Writing a Sympathetic Villain

Despite their immoral actions, sympathetic villains must have relatable motivations. Here are five tips for writing a great sympathetic villain for your story.

Make them believe they’re the hero. A sympathetic villain is willing to do bad things because their evil actions will bring about a positive change, from their point of view. Consider how your villain could see themselves as the true hero. Flesh out their perspective by imagining how they see your story’s protagonist as their personal villain.

Craft a tragic backstory. A tragic backstory gives your villain a sympathetic reason to justify their evil deeds. Slowly reveal your villain’s tragic backstory as the narrative unfurls. A slow reveal will add an aura of mystery to their motivations while also avoiding a colossal exposition dump early in your story.

Give them an internal conflict. Before you begin writing, sit down and flesh out the character. What event is the source of the internal struggle that informs their behavior in the story?

Employ supporting characters. Creating a supporting character who illuminates your villain’s sympathetic qualities is a simple way to help readers understand your villain’s point of view. In the X-Men saga, Professor X—the leader of the heroes—believes he can redeem Magneto, the villain, expressing that he is a virtuous person underneath his darkness.

Show them doing a good deed. Like good people can do bad things, bad people can do good things. Imagine a plausible good deed that your villain would perform in the context of their backstory. For example, if your villain’s sibling was a civilian casualty during a wartime attack, they may refrain from attacking your protagonist when an innocent civilian enters the line of fire.

Even when performing terrible acts or standing in the way of a beloved main character’s mission, the reader sympathizes with their motivations, often due to their redeemable qualities or tragic backstory. This type of complex character may be a tragic villain or an anti-villain.

A tragic villain is a character who becomes evil in the face of uncontrollable traumatic circumstances; this type of villain often despises their wicked nature.

On the other hand, anti-villains believe themselves to be a story’s hero, seeing their evil actions as noble.

These villainous characters are the opposite of anti-heroes, who perform good deeds despite having questionable motives or a cloudy moral compass.

Examples of Sympathetic Villains

Killmonger: Killmonger, the villain in Marvel’s Black Panther, dedicates his life to dethroning his cousin T’Challa, the king of Wakanda. In the process, Killmonger wants to stop the oppression of people of African descent by arming them with Wakandan weapons. However, he is willing to do terrible things to innocent people in the process.

The Joker: The Joker in Batman is fairly straightforward in his villainy, but his tragic backstory of being mentally pushed to the brink makes him compelling to watch. The audience suspects that if someone tested their sanity, they might act in the same way—and that’s all it takes to create a villain worthy of the caped crusader.

Thanos: Thanos—the main foe of The Avengers and the big bad guy in The Infinity Saga of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe)—has a goal of erasing half the universe’s population. His motivation stems from his own species’ extinction in the face of overpopulation, which exhausted his planet’s natural resources. Despite his nefarious mission, the audience feels sympathy for Thanos’ trauma and loneliness.

Source ⚜ More: References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[bleeding-porcelain]

Writing Resources

I ONLY OWN THE POSTS THAT ARE LINKS FOR POSTS THAT ARE ON MY BLOG SUCH AS THE LINK FOR MY "PROMPT LISTS" POST! I DO NOT OWN ANY OTHER POSTS THAT ARE LISTED AND LINKED BELOW THE CUT!

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THIS POST SO THAT I CAN HAVE THEM ALL IN ONE PLACE FOR EASIER ACCESS FOR WHEN I USE PROMPTS FROM THEM!

ALL CREDIT GOES TO THE ORIGINAL POSTERS OF THESE POSTS!

Link last added to this post as of: 08/14/2025!

Prompt Lists - Various creators/writers *MINE!*

WEBSITES you've been looking for - @nhy6ck

words to use instead of _______ - @literaryvein-reblogs

How To Color Your Text - @screampied

words to use when writing - @ladynephthyss

Color Text Generator - @byluna

Dialogue Tag Wheels - @tenderwatches

some fucking resources for all ur writing fuckin needs - @sassycolortheorist101-blog

Writing Description Notes - @thewatcher727

Body Language - @writersbloxx

Writing Resources List - @shewriter

How to create an atmosphere: Forest - @creativepromptsforwriting

Writing Description Notes - @thewatcher727

Geographical Descriptors - @octoswan

Building Character Voice - @keyboardsmashwriters

Posture & Physical Presence For Writers - @luna-azzurra

Hand & Gesture Language - @luna-azzurra

[bleeding-porcelain]

afab!reader, fluff, childhood best friends, inspired by this tiktok (i just love schrucy)

"rinnnn! will you please marry meee?"

you were in the playground, ignoring the colorful slides and vibrant monkey bars entirely and reaching out your arms to squeeze rin in a tight hug. rin froze, round teal eys staring at you, his entire face turning bright red. "n-no! i wouldn't marry you unless you were the last girl in the world!" sae stood next to him, holding up a camera and talking a few pictures for future reference.

"but why? i love love love love love you soooo much, and--wait, did you say 'if' or 'unless'?" you asked, suddenly pausing your tantrum. rin blinked, thinking for a moment, because his entire body--limbs and hands included--burst into flames. his mouth was open, his eyes dumbly wide.

"u-uh...i uh..." he muttered, staring down at his shoes. sae sighed.

"you're only 5. you should wait for a long time before deciding who you want to marry. maybe when you're 10." sae explained. you pouted.

"but that's 5 more years! and you're already 7, so you only have to wait 3 years!" you exclaimed. sae shrugged.

"skill issue."

meanwhile, rin was still beet red and stiff, his 5 year old brain unable to comprehend what you just said. actually, it did comprehend, he was just embarrassed that there's ever a possibility that he would marry you.

"big brother..." rin muttered. you and sae both turn to look at him, your arms reaching out to hug him from the side. "t-there won't ever be a time when i need to marry her, right? especially not by my own choice?" he asked, nudging his head towards you. sae shrugged.

"you never know."

and now, years later, you're in your twenties, back at that same park. but this time, you're sitting on the swings instead of clinging to rin. but rin sat next to you on the swings, sitting there stiffly.

"hey rin, remember that one time when we were like 5 and you said that you'd never marry me unless i was the last woman on earth?" you asked, laughing at the memory. "i had the biggest crush on you when we were little. well, someone who yearns earns i guess, since we're dating now and stuff."

rin hummed. "yeah. you were annoying back then. you still are. sometimes i think back to my childhood self and wonder if i was right about never dating you." he looked down, staring at his shoes and thinking for a moment. you snapped your head towards him.

"well, i wasn't the one who made it official at the end--that was you!" you exclaimed. rin gave you a side eye.

"yeah, yeah." he stared down again, deep in thought, beforing he stepped off the swings and pulled you off as well.

"i wasn't done yet!" rin ignored your complaints, dragging you to the middle of the playground, next to the slide, woodchips cruching underneath your feet.

he stood facing you, hands gripping yours as he looked you in the eyes. "what? are we going down the slide or something?" rin glared at you before sighing.

he glanced around the playground. right now, it was empty except for the two of you. but in his memory, you and him and sae would always come here after their soccer practice and eat ice cream. you would often see your classmates from kindergarten here, but rin never focused on them. not once.

"remember when i said that i would never marry you unless you were the last woman on earth?" rin asked softly, teal eyes on you and hands still holding yours. you nodded. "well that was a lie. back then, i thought it was the truth, but in reality, in that moment, i imagined us as adults and you wearing a pretty white dress a holding flowers while kissing me at the altar."

you blinked a few times. this was...a random time to tell you this. but you listened to him anyways. "now that i'm looking back on it, the opposite is true. i love you. so much. i know i show it in weird ways, but i really do. and even with 4 billion other women on earth and 8 billion other people on earth, you're all i can see. you're all i can fall in love with. you're the only one who i can fall in love with. it's always been you. there can be another 8 billion people or even more than that, but in my eyes, you'll always be the only person there."

wait. nowaynowaynowaynowaynoway--

he took a small box out of his pocket, getting down on one knee. he opened the box; a glowing diamond ring inside. "so will you marry me?"

tears sprang to your eyes and you pulled him up just to jump on him. "yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes!" you exclaimed, sobbing into his shoulders. "i love you too, rin. so, so much."

and a small, barely noticeable smile made its way onto rin's lips. the roles have changed. now, he was the one asking you to marry him.

but rin wouldn't want it any other way.

[bleeding-porcelain]

words to use instead of running?

Running—to go faster than a walk

Barreling - to move at a high speed or without hesitation

Blazing - of outstanding power, speed, heat, or intensity

Bounding - to move by leaping

Cantering - to move at or as if at a canter (i.e., a 3-beat gait resembling but smoother and slower than the gallop); loping

Careening - to proceed or move quickly

Coursing - to proceed or move quickly

Dashing - to go at a pace faster than a walk

Galloping - progressing, developing, or increasing rapidly

Hastening - to move or act quickly

Hieing - to go quickly; hasten

Hurtling - to move rapidly or forcefully

Hurrying - to carry or cause to go with haste

Hustling - hasten, hurry

Jogging - to run or ride at a slow trot

Loping - an easy usually bounding gait capable of being sustained for a long time

Racing - to proceed or move quickly

Ripping - to proceed or move quickly

Rushing - to cause to move or proceed fast or faster

Scampering - to run nimbly and usually playfully about

Scooting - to move swiftly

Scurrying - to move in or as if in a brisk pace; scampering

Scuttling - scurry; a short swift run

Skipping - to move or proceed with leaps and bounds or with a skip

Speeding - to make haste

Springing - to make a leap or series of leaps

Sprinting - to run or go at top speed especially for a short distance

Tearing - to proceed or move quickly

Tripping - to go at a pace faster than a walk

Trotting - to proceed briskly; hurrying

Zipping - to move, act, or function with speed and vigor

Hope this helps with your writing. Do tag me, or send me a link. I'd love to read your work!

More: Word Lists ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[bleeding-porcelain]

Writing Tips: Character Motivations

There are many ways to build believable characters with complex motivations. Here’s what to keep in mind:

Character notebook. A character’s backstory colors everything the character wants, and what they’re willing to do to get it. Create a character notebook for your novel’s protagonist, where you can collect ideas for your main character, big or small. Include traits, attributes, impactful events, and objectives that you can always reference when exploring the character’s motivations. Obviously, this will not be published, so go as in-depth as you’d like.

Internal monologue. One way to create intimacy with your reader—and to get them to care about your main character—is to use internal monologue to allow the reader to see a character’s thoughts as they happen, laying their motivations bare.

Moral grey area. When creating motivations for heroes and villains, a key principle to remember is that making a decision between good and evil is never really a choice. All humans will choose what is good based on how they see it in their own story. You must elaborate on why your villain is choosing his own good (which to readers appears evil). This is where your moral gray area becomes important. ⚜ Morally Grey Characters

Complex character. Usually, the bad guy’s motivations will create a crisis for your hero, so spend time crafting a thoughtful character. Every villain needs to have his own morality. If a villain spends part of the novel killing people, you need to give him or her believable reasons for doing so. Make the reader understand exactly what desperation or belief has driven him to it.

Leave space in your character descriptions. Remember that the way you present your character speaks to what that person’s motivations are as much as what they look like or how they dress. Be spare with the words you use to describe a person or a scene. The more elaborate you try to be the more you betray your own biases into the text. You want to leave space for the reader to fill in the blanks.

Switch a character’s motivations. Real people change their minds all the time, for any number of reasons. Part of creating a believable character arc might involve a motivation change—when the characters’ desires shift to accommodate new information, for example.

Story pacing. Utilizing elements of time and pacing, like a ticking clock, is a great motivator often deployed in the thriller genre. You’ll find that desperation will very quickly distill a character’s goals.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Sociologist Maslow’s pyramid places things like self-actualization and self-esteem above more tangible, concrete needs like food and safety, might be a good place to start when building believable motivations for complex characters. Only after someone satisfies their needs at the base of the pyramid are they driven to consider the more intangible, philosophical concerns at the top.

Source ⚜ Notes & References ⚜ Writing Templates ⚜ 50 Motivations Character Goals & Motivation ⚜ External & Internal Journey

[bleeding-porcelain]

Writing Notes: Antihero

An antihero - a central character who lacks the characteristics an audience associates with a conventional hero.

They are ambiguous protagonists—complex characters who have a dark side.

Despite a flawed exterior, a history of bad decisions, and even a questionable moral code, an antihero is ultimately guided by good intentions.

Tips for Writing an Antihero

Despite their flaws, antiheroes are realistic characters that readers can relate to. Here are four tips for creating a great antihero for your story:

Create a main character who is complex. Think of how you would write a traditional hero. Create your antihero by giving them the opposite attributes. If a hero is an idealist, your antihero is a cynic. Make them mysterious so their character is revealed bit by bit. A great antihero has flaws just like a real person. But despite an antihero’s weaknesses, their good side is illuminated as the story progresses. These contrasting qualities make an antihero more complex and interesting.

Give your antihero internal conflict. Every great antihero has an internal struggle driving their actions. Before you begin writing, sit down and flesh out the character. What event is the source of their internal struggle that informs their behavior in the story? As you write, slowly reveal your antihero’s backstory to let readers know what makes them tick.

Don’t confuse your antihero with the antagonist. For the antiheroes with misguided morals, the ends justify the means. They can explain away the bad things they do if the result is ultimately good and they emerge a hero. When writing an antihero, you can bring them to the edge of evil, but they’re never as evil as the true villain of your story. Unlike an antagonist, an antihero ultimately believes they are acting for a noble cause. Some characters, like the DC Comics character Harley Quinn, alternate between being an antihero and an antagonist, depending on the context.

Use supporting characters. In the TV show The Sopranos, antihero Tony Soprano had his therapist, who showed Tony’s vulnerability and made the audience have a soft spot for a guy who ordered a hit as easily as he ate a bowl of pasta. Create a side character who can illuminate your antihero’s redeeming qualities. The best antiheroes are the ones readers can’t believe they’re rooting for.

Types of Antiheroes

Think about the rough-around-the-edges antihero Han Solo compared to the traditionally heroic Luke Skywalker. Antiheroes go against the grain and are often social outcasts who operate by their own rules. Here are different antihero archetypes found in fiction:

The pragmatic rebel: The pragmatic antihero is a realist. They might associate with both good guys and bad guys and take whatever action they deem necessary to accomplish their mission. Their morals are, for the most part, good, but they won’t hesitate to do what’s needed to be heroic—even if that means taking out a few bad guys. They won’t intentionally cross a line unless it’s for the greater good, and they may still follow the steps of the hero’s journey.

The unscrupulous antihero: This is the antihero whose morals fall into a grey zone. They have good intentions but are driven more out of self-interest rather than the greater good. They can be cynical and have a jaded view of the world. Their actions are often dictated by past traumas and inner conflict, revealed through their backstory. They don’t think twice about how they achieve their goal and who they need to push out of their way, and they sometimes even enjoy the dark side. Annaliese Keating, the antihero played by Viola Davis at the heart of the show How to Get Away With Murder, is cutthroat and morally compromised, but her motives begin to make sense as the audience gets a deeper look into her inner life.

A hero by any means necessary: The titular antihero protagonist of the television series Dexter (as well as the novel it’s based on, Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay), borders on being a villain. Antiheroes like Dexter Morgan justify their behavior because it results in something that benefits society, even though their actions are questionable—and sometimes even psychotic. For example, Dexter might have good intentions as a vigilante serial killer of other killers, but his deeds are those normally associated with an antagonist.

Example: Walter White

Walter White is the main character of the TV series Breaking Bad.

As a man dying of cancer, White begins to make and sell methamphetamine to save money to support his family after his death.

As the series progresses, Walter White’s character arc is dramatic as he moves through the ranks of antihero archetypes, crossing every moral line and almost assuming the role of villain.

Told from any other point of view, Walter White would be the antagonist of this series but instead he is an antihero.

Source ⚜ More: References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[bleeding-porcelain]

Words instead of sighed and frowned?

Sighed - let out a deep audible breath or made a similar sound (such as weariness or relief)

Exhaled - breathed out

Heaved - uttered with obvious effort or with a deep breath

Huffed - emitted puffs (as of breath); usually with indignation or scorn

Insufflated - blew on, into, or in (something)

Puffed - blew in short gusts; exhaled forcibly

Snorted - forced air violently through the nose with a rough harsh sound (to express scorn, anger, indignation, or surprise)

Snuffled - breathed through an obstructed nose with a sniffing sound

Suspired - drew a long deep breath; sighed

Frowned - contracted the brow in displeasure or concentration

Glared - stared angrily or fiercely

Glouted - (archaic) frowned, scowled

Glowered - looked or stared with sullen annoyance or anger

Grimaced - distorted one's face in an expression usually of pain, disgust, or disapproval

Loured - looked sullen; frowned

Moue - a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval

Pouted - showed displeasure by thrusting out the lips or wearing a sullen expression

Scoffed - expressed scorn, derision, or contempt

Scowled - contracted the brow in an expression of displeasure

Sulked - silently went about in a bad mood

Hope this helps. If it inspires your writing in any way, please tag me, or send me a link. I would love to read your work!

More: Word Lists ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[bleeding-porcelain]

Other Words to Use (Emotions)

Carefully chosen words have the power to bring a person or story to life and impact the readers' impression. If you’re like most people, though, you often use the same words when writing about emotions. Here are some commonly used words to describe emotions and feelings as well as many alternatives that may help your readers better understand what you're trying to convey.

Happy

HIGH excited, thrilled, ecstatic, elated, intoxicated, captivated, euphoric, joyous, jubilant, overjoyed MODERATE cheerful, upbeat, optimistic, enthusiastic, lively, gleeful, joyful, peppy, delighted, tickled, hopeful LOW merry, light, jolly, up, glad, pleased, blissful, chipper, content, perky, playful

Sad

HIGH grieved, crushed, gloomy, hopeless, heartbroken, devastated, despairing, distraught, heavy-hearted, miserable MODERATE dejected, dismayed, hurt, hurting, disillusioned, downcast, forlorn, glum, cheerless, melancholy LOW down, disappointed, blue, discouraged, low, somber, sorry, unhappy

Angry

HIGH furious, raging, irate, hateful, incensed, hostile, outraged, indignant, exasperated MODERATE aggravated, irritated, irked, upset, annoyed, offended, sulky, ticked off, fuming, sullen, provoked LOW perturbed, hassled, bothered, fuss, fret, displeased, peeved

Scared

HIGH: terrified, overwhelmed, panicked, petrified, alarmed, fearful MODERATE: worried, tense, dread, shaken, anxious, afraid, panicky, panicked LOW: startled, surprised, uneasy, edgy, apprehensive, hesitant, uncomfortable

Source ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[bleeding-porcelain]

Reasons for being enemies

They are enemies to lovers - but why exactly start they out as enemies? For @moonchildsthoughts

being wronged by the other one/breaking their trust

- getting cheated on

- getting lied to

- broke a promise

- sabotaging them in any way

- getting physically and/or psychologically hurt by them

taking credit for the other's work

ruining the other's reputation

being ex-partners with resentment towards each other

competing for the same job or win

- competing academically

- competing athletically

- competing for a prize

- competing financially

- competing for someone's affection or friendship

having competing businesses

having very different personalities

having different worldviews

having different morals and ethics

working for opposing groups

being on different sides of a war

being part of feuding families

one representing something the other one despises

having a power imbalance

believing the other to be unworthy or themselves as better

being too proud to admit a wrong

getting stuck together and resenting it

blaming the other one for being in a bad situation

having a terrible first impression of each other/meet ugly

having a big misunderstanding

More: Enemies to Lovers Masterpost + Reasons for lovers turning to enemies + Enemies Masterpost

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! 🥰

[bleeding-porcelain]

Quick tips for writing arguments

⋆˙⟡ the “are we actually doing this?” pause where both of them realize, mid-sentence, that this is about to get ugly

⋆˙⟡ cutting each other off, not because they’re rude, but because they’re terrified of what the other will say next

⋆˙⟡ one character’s voice going way quieter instead of louder...scary ughh.

⋆˙⟡ pacing. or standing so still it’s unnatural

⋆˙⟡ someone saying the other’s name like it’s a warning shot

⋆˙⟡ hands clenching into fists… or clenching nothing because they don’t know where to put all that fury

⋆˙⟡ the “oh crap I went too far” moment after blurting something that can’t be unsaid

⋆˙⟡ insults that only hurt because they’re true

⋆˙⟡ a laugh that’s definitely not funny, the kind that says I can’t believe you just said that

⋆˙⟡ them talking over each other, dialogue tripping and tumbling until one of them snaps STOP

⋆˙⟡ the awful, ringing silence after it’s over, where they’re both just breathing hard and trying not to look at each other

⋆˙⟡ the shaky “we’re fine” lie afterward that fools absolutely no one

[bleeding-porcelain]

Even god canonically said Jason did nothing wrong (pre Lazarus at least...)

Funniest part about Robin Jason canonically going to heaven is that it implies either 1) Jason didn’t kill Felipe and Bruce completely blew up their relationship for no reason or 2) you’re allowed in heaven after killing someone as long as that someone really deserved it, which would then imply that heaven itself is on Jason’s side in the Jason vs Bruce conflict.

[bleeding-porcelain]

A Complete Character Development Profile (redo)

- When filling out my own character template for my oc, I realised there was so much I missed, so I did a redo

Section 1: Basic Identity

Personal Information

Full Legal Name:

Stage/Preferred Name:

Aliases/Online Personas:

Name Origins and feelings

Did they choose or inherit their name:

Meaning (linguistically, cultural, familial):

Do they feel like fit their name:

Any resentment or pride around their name?

Do they hesitate before introducing themselves? Why?:

Nicknames and Titles

Current nicknames:

Who uses them and in what tone:

Nickname they hate but tolerate:

Nickname they miss hearing:

Professional titles or honorific’s:

Age Profile

Chronological age:

Mental age:

Emotional age:

Age they appear:

Age they feel:

Age related feelings

DO they feel behind or ahead of peers?:

How do they relate to others their age?:

Do they lie about their age? Why?:

Gender identity

Assigned at birth:

Current identity:

How they embody their gender:

Have they explored or questioned it?:

Do they surprise aspects of their gender:

Do they correct misperceptions? How:

How do others perceive their gender:

Sexual Orientation

How they identity:

Are they open about this:

Are any internal conflicts or journeys of discovery:

Current living situations

Where they live:

Type of dwelling:

Who they live with:

How long they’ve been there:

Environmental impact

What their space smells like:

Soundscape of their area:

How the environment has shaped them:

Do they know the shortcuts and hidden sports:

Do they feel connected or displaced:

Dream living situation:

Birthday and celebrations

Birthday:

Zodiac sign:

Do they believe in astrology:

Birthday feelings and traditions

How they celebrate:

Do they dread or enjoy birthdays?

first birthday they remember:

Worst birthday experience:

Do they tell people hen their birthday is?

How they feel about surprise celebrations:

Section 2: Personality Deep Dive

Internal Srengths

Primary strengths:

How it manifests:

Do they recognise it as a strengths:

External strengths

Primary strengths:

How it manifests:

Has this strengths ever backfired on them? How:

Hidden strengths (ones they don’t recognise in themselves)

Primary weaknesses

What is it:

Is it a flaw or defence mechanism:

How to they hide it:

How their weakness effects others

How their behaviour Echoes in a room:

Are others protective or exploitive of their weaknesses:

Psychological Profile

MBTI Type:

Enneagram type:

Core childhood wound:

How this derived their behaviour:

How it manifests in

Conflict:

Decision-making:

Daily Routine:

Big 5 Personality traits each on a 1-5 scale)

Openness:

Conscientiousness:

Extraversion:

Agreeableness:

Neuroticism:

Do any traits clash with each other?:

Character Archetype

Which archetype do you think they are:

Which archetype would they think they are:

Emotional Landscape

Attatchment style:

How it manifests

In conflict:

When needing others:

Do they test people of cut them off quickly:

Primary fears (physical)

What is it:

Triggers:

Physical responses:

Primary fears (Emotional)

What is it:

Specific triggers:

Physical response:

How they rationalise this fear:

Core memories: Happy

What happened:

Associated textures/smells/songs

Would they share this with others:

Core memories: Sad

What happened:

How it shows up in dreams/habits/reactions today:

Would they rewrite it or cling to is as part of their identity:

Object of significance

What is it:

Condition of the object:

What this condition represents:

Associated memory or person:

Beliefs and philosophy

Core beliefs:

How they justify their morals:

Do they act in line with their beliefs or just speak them:

Do they believe in fate:

If not, how do they explain the unexplainable:

Confidence and self perfection

Where their confidence is real:

Where their confidence is armour:

Do they crumble when unseen or rejected:

How they see themselves vs how others see them:

Section 3: Goals dreams and motivations

Current goals

Surface level goal:

What it’s really about:

Obstacles in their way:

What they’re willing to sacrifice for it:

Long term dreams

Big dream they’ve never spoken aloud:What haven’t they shared it:

Is this dream inherited or self born:

What would achieving it mean to them:

Shame and pride

What they’re embarrassed to tell others:

Why is this shameful to them:

Source of pride:

What accomplishment do they cling to when feeling worthless:

Do they overplay or minimise their accomplishments:

Regrets and pain points

Petty regrets:

Large scale regrets:

Which ones keep them up at night:

Source of misery (the unscratchable itch in their soul)

Admiration and envy

What they admire above all else:

Person who embodies their unmet potential:

Trait they mock in others but secretly envy:

Section 4: Mental Health and coping

Mental health

Diagnosed conditions:

Undiagnosed conditions they might have:

How long diagnosed/untreated:

Do they deny it or medicate it:

How it manifests for them specifically:

Coping mechanisms

Healthy coping strategies:

Unhealthy coping strategies:

Crisis response:

Who they call in a crisis:

Intelligence and emotional processing

IQ (estimated):

EQ (estimated):

How they intelligence isolates or connects them:

Do they weaponise their emotional intelligence:

Humour style

What makes them laugh when no one else does:

What humour makes them uncomfortable:

Do they use humour as a defense mechanism:

Section 5: Behavioural Patterns and Habits

Daily habits and routines

Morning routine:

Evening routine:

Work/productivity habits:

Self care habits:

Bad habits

Sensory tics:

Toxic coping:

Avoidance ritual:

When do they allow these habits in front of others:

Behavioural tells

When stressed:

When content:

When scared:

Normal state:

Verbal Mannerisms

Do they use rhetorical questions!

Sarcasm level:

Do they complete sentence or often drift off in thought:

Precise or vague in speech:

Do they often mirror others:

What they say vs what they don’t

Truth they always avoid:

What they overstate to distract:

Are they brutally honest or do they sugar coat:

Physical presence

How they move across a room:

How much space they take up:

Are they aware of their physical presence:

Posture and body language:

Expressions of love and care

How they show love:

Do they know their actions make others feel loved:

What they need to feel loved:

Section 6: Hobbies and Interests

Current hobbies

Public hobbies (ones they don’t hide):

Secret hobbies (tell few to no people):

Hobbies they wish they had more time for:

How they feel whilst doing hobbies:

Skills and talents

Natural talents:

Learned skills:

Skills they’re working on:

Skills they’ve abandoned:

Section 7: Physical Appearance

Defining features

What a police sketch would capture:

Parts of their body they highlight:

Parts of their body they hide:

Facial features

Face shape:

Nose shape:

Eye shape:

Eye colour:

Lip shape:

Eyebrow shape:

Eyelash length/thickness:

Body details

Height:

Weight:

Body type/shape:

Skin tone:

Skin details:

Tattoos:

Piercings:

Facial hair:

Body hair:

Style and presentation

Clothing style:

Signature detail:

How much effort they put into their appearance:

What’s habit vs performance:

Personal preference vs societal pressure:

Self perception and others reactions

Why do they dress (to disappear, seduce, intimidate etc)

Their opinion of their appearance:

Their most attractive feature in their opinion:

Body part the obsess over:

Are they conventionally attractive:

How they handle compliments:

How they handle stares:

The vibe they give off

What music would play when they’re introduced in a movie:

What do people assume about them based on looks:

Are those assumptions correct:

What type of people are drawn to their vibe:

How do they react to that attention:

Section 8: Relationships and social connections

Trust and loyalty

Person they trust most:

Why they trust them:

Was this trust earned or given easily:

How they test trust:

What they wish they could to for this person:

What’s holding them back:

Conflict and animosity

Person they hate the most:

What they wish they could do to them:

How this hatred affects their daily life:

Family dynamics

Biological family structure:

Relationship with parents/guardians

Mother/maternal figure:

Father/paternal figure

Quality of relationship:

Siblings

Number and ages:

Relationship quality:

Birth order effects:

Extended family

Family members they avoid:

Family secrets or dynamics!

Chosen family:

How their chosen family differs from biological:

Friendships

Best friend:

How they met:

What they value in this friendship:

Friend group dynamics

Size of social circle:

Role they play in the group:

Group activities:

Childhood friends still in their life:

Friends they’ve lost and why:

How they make new friends:

What they need from friendships:

Professional relationships

Work/school relationships:

Mentors:

People who believe in the

Professional reputation:

Romantic relationships

Current relationship status:

Relationship history:

What they seek in a partner:

What they believe love should look like:

Relationship patterns:

How they behave when in love:

How they handle breakups:

Deal breakers in relationships:

Social expectations and roles

What others expect of them:

Roles they’ve earned vs inherited vs resent:

Where they belong:

Where they pretend to belong:

Non human bonds

Relationship with animals:

Significant objects:

Connection to places:

Spiritual or supernatural beliefs:

Section 9: Background and history

Childhood and upbringing

Where they grew up:

Type of community:

Socioeconomic background:

Families reputation in the community:

Were they known, invisible, praised or feared:

Childhood environment

Sensory memories:

Neighbourhood dynamics:

Safety level:

Cultural influences:

Defining incidence

Stories they retell:

Stories they never tell:

Pivotal childhood moments

When they realised something was wrong in the world:

When they realised there is good in the world:

First time they felt truly seen:

First major disappointment:

Education and development

Educational background:

Academic performance:

Favourite subjects:

Teachers who influenced them:

Extracurricular activities:

Notable people from their past

Person who made them feel they could become something:

Person who made them feel small:

First crush:

Childhood hero:

Early role models:

Major accomplishment

What they minimise:

What they overplay:

Trauma and loss

How they carry it:

Do they use it as a weapon, warning or wound:

How it’s shaped their worldview:

Life changing moments:

Biggest regrets:

Moments of triumph:

Current life context

How they view their past:

What they’ve learned about themselves:

What they’re still learning:

Section 10: current life and daily reality

Living situation

Current home:

How they feel about their space:

Personal belonging that matter most:

How they maintain their space:

Financial reality

Current financial situation:

How money shapes their decisions:

How they treat expensive things:

Financial goals or fears:

Relationship with money:

Daily life and routine

Typical structure:

Morning person or night own:

How they spend free time:

Daily stressors:

Daily joys:

Current challenges

Biggest current problem:

What they’re working on improving:

What they’re avoiding dealing with:

Support systems they have:

Support systems they need:

Future outlook

Where they see themselves in 5 years:

What they’re most excited about:

What they’re most worried about:

Changed they want to make:

What’s holding them back from change:

[bleeding-porcelain]

for some reason middle aged comic fans coming on the internet to defend their decision as to why they thought a twelve year old should have died or lived is so funny 😭😭😭

[bleeding-porcelain]

how to make a character’s death even sadder (part 3)

make X sacrifice themself for Y

bonus points if X and Y never got along/hated each other

alternatively, have X comfort Y as Y dies, despite the fact that they always hated each other

or, X and Y are sworn enemies, but as they die side-by-side, they reach over at the same time to hold the other's hand

make X struggle to survive from a serious injury for a little while before their death which is what ends up killing them

make it so that X mistakes Y for Z, and they accidentally kill Y because they're targeting Z

have them die during childbirth of a baby they'd been trying for for years

X gives their friends a blood-covered good luck charm they always carried with them to give them good luck, claiming "it never worked for me, maybe it will work for you"

have X be brainwashed into not trusting their friends anymore, then snapping out of it after they kill one of them

alternatively, X broke out of their brainwashing, made friends, and then accidentally kills them somehow, only making their friends think they never snapped out of it at all

make X the only one who knows how to take down the enemies who killed them, leaving their friends unable to figure it out themselves

make X fall in love with Y, who is an imposter sent on a mission to kill them and their friends

X freezes up when they watch Y being killed, not being able to stop it and being blamed by their friends forever

neither their death nor their body is ever shown, only clues such as blood splatters, their phone, or something they kept on them at all times. it's only implied until their funeral which confirms it

X is knocked out before Y is killed, only for X to wake up to Y's body and being unable to save them

X is a psychic and can feel when people close to them die, but they're unable to figure out who it is until they find Y dead

X is killed by something they have a phobia of, such as falling from a large height, drowning, an animal attack, a plane crash, or a car accident, after their friends try to convince them that their chance of dying from said thing is very low

X tries desperately to convince their friend that Y is untrustworthy, however their friends don't believe them and welcome them into their friend group. Y kills X, who lashes out at their friends as they're dying for not listening to X

give X a terminal illness that they manage to keep hidden, only to die when they're needed most

X kills countless people to get to Y, who is also about to be killed. however, they're too late and by the time X gets to them, Y is already dead, and the weight of everyone they've killed starts to sink in

X believes they've found where Y is being held captive and on the verge of death, however when they break in they realize they've somehow ended up in the wrong place, meanwhile Y has died and X had no idea where they actually are

X and their friends are stranded somewhere they can't get help, such as an island or in the middle of the woods, and X starves because they insist everyone eats before them

X has been monitoring Y closely for days to make sure they don't get killed, and the second they turn their back or look away, Y is killed by the person X was protecting them from

[bleeding-porcelain]

Words to replace said, except this actually helps

I got pretty fed up with looking for words to replace said because they weren’t sorted in a way I could easily use/find them for the right time. So I did some myself.

IN RESPONSE TO Acknowledged Answered Protested

INPUT/JOIN CONVERSATION/ASK Added Implored Inquired Insisted Proposed Queried Questioned Recommended Testified

GUILTY/RELUCTANCE/SORRY Admitted Apologized Conceded Confessed Professed

FOR SOMEONE ELSE Advised Criticized Suggested

JUST CHECKING Affirmed Agreed Alleged Confirmed

LOUD Announced Chanted Crowed

LEWD/CUTE/SECRET SPY FEEL Appealed Disclosed Moaned

ANGRY FUCK OFF MATE WANNA FIGHT Argued Barked Challenged Cursed Fumed Growled Hissed Roared Swore

SMARTASS Articulated Asserted Assured Avowed Claimed Commanded Cross-examined Demanded Digressed Directed Foretold Instructed Interrupted Predicted Proclaimed Quoted Theorized

ASSHOLE Bellowed Boasted Bragged

NERVOUS TRAINWRECK Babbled Bawled Mumbled Sputtered Stammered Stuttered

SUAVE MOTHERFUCKER Bargained Divulged Disclosed Exhorted

FIRST OFF Began

LASTLY Concluded Concurred

WEAK PUSY Begged Blurted Complained Cried Faltered Fretted

HAPPY/LOL Cajoled Exclaimed Gushed Jested Joked Laughed

WEIRDLY HAPPY/EXCITED Extolled Jabbered Raved

BRUH, CHILL Cautioned Warned

ACTUALLY, YOU’RE WRONG Chided Contended Corrected Countered Debated Elaborated Objected Ranted Retorted

CHILL SAVAGE Commented Continued Observed Surmised

LISTEN BUDDY Enunciated Explained Elaborated Hinted Implied Lectured Reiterated Recited Reminded Stressed

BRUH I NEED U AND U NEED ME Confided Offered Urged

FINE Consented Decided

TOO EMO FULL OF EMOTIONS Croaked Lamented Pledged Sobbed Sympathized Wailed Whimpered

JUST SAYING Declared Decreed Mentioned Noted Pointed out Postulated Speculated Stated Told Vouched

WASN’T ME Denied Lied

EVIL SMARTASS Dictated Equivocated Ordered Reprimanded Threatened

BORED Droned Sighed

SHHHH IT’S QUIET TIME Echoed Mumbled Murmured Muttered Uttered Whispered

DRAMA QUEEN Exaggerated Panted Pleaded Prayed Preached

OH SHIT Gasped Marveled Screamed Screeched Shouted Shrieked Yelped Yelled

ANNOYED Grumbled Grunted Jeered Quipped Scolded Snapped Snarled Sneered

ANNOYING Nagged

I DON’T REALLY CARE BUT WHATEVER Guessed Ventured

I’M DRUNK OR JUST BEING WEIRDLY EXPRESSIVE FOR A POINT/SARCASM Hooted Howled Yowled

I WONDER Pondered Voiced Wondered

OH, YEAH, WHOOPS Recalled Recited Remembered

SURPRISE BITCH Revealed

IT SEEMS FAKE BUT OKAY/HA ACTUALLY FUNNY BUT I DON’T WANT TO LAUGH OUT LOUD Scoffed Snickered Snorted

BITCHY Tattled Taunted Teased

Edit: People, I’m an English and creative writing double major in college; I understand that there’s nothing wrong with simply using “said.” This was just for fun, and it comes in handy when I need to add pizzazz. 

[bleeding-porcelain]

I know the popular take is that Jason responds to familial affection by going ew fuck you gtf off me or whatever but to be honest I think if someone actually tried it he's ending up weeping wailing face red sniffling coughing collapsing to his knees in the rain type of reaction just completely sopping pathetic. his eyes are so swollen he can't see shit and falls off a cliff

[bleeding-porcelain]

Bruce truly hates magic with every pump and beat of his heart.

What kinda curse is Slang, anyway?

“This is the best day of my life.”

“Bro really thought he ate with that.” Bruce physically feels a full body shiver, charged with nausea and cringe. “This is level 10 cringe. Can’t have shit in Gotham.”

Dick is his earth bound angel, but he laughs like a demon at him, holding onto Jason for support, pledging his eternal loyalty to Zatana and her pettiness.

—

“Hey, old bat, hook me up with an adrenaline shot.”

What he wants to say is Jay, do not try and fight with 6 bullets in your stomach.

What comes out instead, through Bruce’s grit teeth and intense, fierce glaring, “Not you trying to go back to your corpse era. See how I only took 2 shots? Very demure. Very mindful.”

Jason passes out from blood loss, but mostly laughter.

—

“Chat, is this real?”

Stephanie barely bites back a full belly cackle. “I think he just asked us if we copied.”

“I wish I was Jason, 15.”

—

“This is not a slay environment. Killing is flop behavior.” He keeps his eyes shut and buries his face in his hands. Trying to convince Damian not to stab someone doesn’t seem to work.

Damian gives him a pat like he’s a pitiful cat. “I’ll only stab the non lethal areas.”

“God, I wish that were me.”