darkyandereoftheuniverse

[darkyandereoftheuniverse]

show, don't tell (II)

fear - open mouth - backing away - fake smiles - hugging themselves - long / dragged breaths - rocking

jealousy - snide remarks - darting looks - self-deprication - visible judging - folded arms - arguing a fair point

hurt - steadying breaths - overly bobbing head - teary - anger - trembling - pressed lips - insisting everything is 'fine'

lying (ticks) - picking at nails - touching hair - licking lips - laughing too loud - avoids subjects - won't meet eyes

worry - reaching out physically - pursing lips - looking to others - reassuring smiles - looking you up and down - tilted head - sympathetic nod

shame - will not meet eyes - feet turned away - teary - desperate - fidgeting - begging

humiliation - lashes back - cheeks flush - palms turn sweaty - face frowns -> brows scrunch, lips pull back - teary

love - looks for approval - blushing / turning red - clammy palms - nervous around certain people - laughs hard - turning clumsy - slip of thought

[darkyandereoftheuniverse]

@squarecircletrianglesquare

How to Improve Your Secondary Characters: 6 Fresh Ideas

Secondary characters make your stories stronger. You can have a fully developed protagonist, a vivid world, and a great series of plot twists, but it will all fall flat if your secondary characters are starkly underdeveloped.

There are a few ways you can improve those characters, even if you've already completed your story or novel.

Figure Out Their Life Story

turn your protagonist into a supporting character, map out your secondary character's life as if they're your next protagonist

Give Them Unique Characteristics

what are their hobbies? what is their physicality when they're nervous? are they obsessed with something? do they have a quirk, like talking in their sleep? Even if these details don't all make it into your story, just a few will make that character feel more real to you and your readers.

Assign Each Character a Purpose

Your secondary character will support the protagonist, but why else are they there? The best characters often fit into a particular story because they represent a secondary theme. Their purpose is to deepen your story or carry a theme as a B Plot to your main plot.

Make Your Character Unpredictable

People are never just one thing. Your characters shouldn't be either. The supportive best friend to the protagonist is boring if they don't do anything but make jokes and offer a word of advice occasionally. What happens to your plot if they purposefully make a bad decision? What if they can't fix a terrible mistake?

Include a Few Flaws

No one is perfect, just like no one is ever one thing. If your secondary characters never have flaws, they'll be unrealistic and take the reader out of the experience. Maybe they have a temper, they can't keep a secret, or they have a bad habit like self destructing serious relationships.

Plan a Future for Them

If you're writing long-form content like a series of short stories set in the same world or a novel, will your secondary character return? Deciding this will guide how you invest your time and energy into developing each character. Sometimes it's okay to forget characters. It's very likely that you don't remember every person who ever appeared in The Hunger Games books, but you do remember the ones who had the most influence on Katniss or the plot.

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I know I have to remind myself to spend time with my secondary characters just like I spend with my protagonists. They make or break a novel or short story, so trying these ideas or any others that inspire you will be a worthy investment of your time.

[darkyandereoftheuniverse]

“You can talk to me about anything.”

“Thanks. I will not be doing that.”

[darkyandereoftheuniverse]

Was watching the news on Youtube the other night-

this literally had me dead 😭🤣

[darkyandereoftheuniverse]

I have this as my ZOOM pic 💗💗💗💗💗

XOXO illustration featuring insulin, syringes, insulin pens, and glucose meter. by @diababelife

[darkyandereoftheuniverse]

This is so true… 😭😭😭😭💀

#diabeticlife

I’m dead.

[darkyandereoftheuniverse]

“Someone somewhere is searching for you in every person they meet.”

— Unknown

[darkyandereoftheuniverse]

Why is star wars full of war hardened men who have to take care of a child 💀

[darkyandereoftheuniverse]

I dream with my eyes open.

I wrestle my pencils in order to establish dominance.

Content will be coming soon. BE ADVISED: I own all ownership of the stories (unless it's a fanfic.)

So plz don’t commit the act of thievery. Be respectful and no cussing or vulgar comments on my page OR…

“Get the freak outta my face.” —Coryxkenshin