#blog strategy

[alazarrr]

In the Age of Social Media… everyday we see how “Sex Sells” which is why seeing Naked Women all over the internet everyday on damn near every Social Media Platform is the NORM! it’s so oversaturated!

But… I will ALWAYS embrace Women with style on here. A Stylish Woman knows an outfit is not simply a collection of items but a reflection of her personality. Style isnt really about what clothes you wear but how YOU wear the clothes.

I’m Not Here to do what everyone else is doing… I don’t have to objectify women for “likes” & follows. I’m here to Salute the Women who put that Fly shit on Everyday!

- Al. Azar

[123gracker]

Cybersecurity vs. SaaS Marketing: Why Selling Security Is a Whole Different Game

Selling cybersecurity isn't the same as selling SaaS. This post explores the unique challenges and strategies involved in marketing security solutions. Learn why trust, risk aversion, and compliance play a crucial role in cybersecurity sales, and how to tailor your approach for success.

In the world of B2B tech, marketing cybersecurity solutions is like playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers. It's more complex, higher stakes, and requires a completely different strategy. This article dives into why marketing cybersecurity products is so different from selling your average SaaS solution, and why it matters for your business.

Think about it: When you're marketing a typical SaaS product, you're selling efficiency, productivity, or cost savings. But with cybersecurity? You're selling peace of mind in a digital world full of threats. It's not just about making life easier—it's about keeping businesses safe from invisible dangers.

Here's what we'll uncover:

Why cybersecurity products are trickier to explain (and sell)

How building trust is your secret weapon in security marketing

The constant race against new threats (and how it affects your marketing)

Why your customers might not know they need you (until it's too late)

Navigating the maze of regulations and compliance

Whether you're a marketer looking to level up your skills, a business owner trying to protect your digital assets, or just curious about how the world of cybersecurity ticks, this article will shed light on why marketing in this field is a unique challenge—and an exciting opportunity.

The Need for Specialized Marketing Skills in Cybersecurity

Before we dive into the specific differences, it's crucial to understand why cybersecurity marketing requires a specialized skill set:

Technical Proficiency: Cybersecurity marketers need a deep understanding of complex technical concepts to effectively communicate product value.

Risk Communication: Balancing the need to convey urgency without resorting to fear-mongering requires a nuanced approach.

Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with various compliance standards and regulations is essential for credible marketing in this space.

Rapid Adaptation: The ever-evolving threat landscape demands marketers who can quickly pivot strategies and messaging.

Trust Building: In a field where skepticism is high, marketers must excel at building and maintaining trust through every interaction.

Now, let's explore the five critical areas that make cybersecurity marketing a different beast from its SaaS counterparts, and learn how savvy marketers are rising to meet these challenges head-on.

1. Complexity of the Product

Cybersecurity Marketing

Cybersecurity solutions often involve intricate technologies and specialized knowledge. The products are designed to protect against sophisticated threats and vulnerabilities, which can be difficult for non-experts to fully grasp. As a result, cybersecurity marketers face the challenge of:

Simplifying complex concepts without losing their technical essence

Educating potential customers on the importance and functionality of various security measures

Balancing technical accuracy with accessibility to appeal to both IT professionals and business decision-makers

Specialized Skill: The ability to translate highly technical concepts into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with both technical and non-technical audiences.

Traditional SaaS Marketing

While SaaS products can also be complex, they often focus on solving more straightforward business problems. Marketers of traditional SaaS products typically:

Highlight user-friendly interfaces and intuitive functionality

Focus on immediate business benefits and ROI

Use less technical jargon in their marketing materials

2. Emphasis on Trust and Credibility

Cybersecurity Marketing

Trust is paramount in cybersecurity. Organizations are essentially entrusting their digital assets and sensitive information to the cybersecurity solution provider. To build this trust, cybersecurity marketers must:

Demonstrate deep expertise in the field

Showcase a proven track record of protecting against threats

Utilize case studies and customer testimonials extensively

Produce thought leadership content to establish authority

Highlight certifications, compliance, and industry recognition

Specialized Skill: The ability to build and maintain trust through every marketing touchpoint, from content creation to customer interactions.

Traditional SaaS Marketing

While trust is important for all SaaS products, the stakes are generally lower. Traditional SaaS marketers focus on:

User reviews and ratings

Ease of use and customer support

Integration capabilities with other tools

Cost-effectiveness and scalability

3. Rapidly Evolving Threat Landscape

Cybersecurity Marketing

The cybersecurity field is in a constant state of flux, with new threats emerging regularly. This dynamic environment requires cybersecurity marketers to:

Stay informed about the latest threats and trends

Quickly adapt marketing messages to address emerging challenges

Demonstrate how their solutions evolve to counter new risks

Educate the market about new types of threats and vulnerabilities

Position their products as forward-thinking and proactive

Specialized Skill: The ability to rapidly assimilate new information about emerging threats and translate it into compelling marketing messages and strategies.

Traditional SaaS Marketing

While innovation is important in SaaS, the pace of change is typically slower. SaaS marketers often focus on:

Long-term value proposition and stability

Gradual feature improvements and updates

Industry trends rather than immediate threats

4. Target Audience's Risk Awareness

Cybersecurity Marketing

Many organizations take a reactive approach to cybersecurity, only prioritizing it after experiencing a threat. This creates unique challenges and opportunities for marketers:

Educating potential clients about the importance of proactive measures

Using fear-based marketing carefully to highlight risks without being alarmist

Demonstrating the cost of inaction through real-world examples

Targeting both technical (CISOs, IT managers) and non-technical (CEOs, CFOs) decision-makers

Specialized Skill: The ability to effectively communicate risk and urgency without resorting to fear-mongering, while also tailoring messages to different stakeholders within an organization.

SaaS Marketing

Traditional SaaS products often address known pain points or inefficiencies. Marketers typically focus on:

Highlighting productivity gains and cost savings

Showcasing how the product solves existing problems

Appealing to a more defined set of decision-makers within an organization

5. Regulatory and Compliance Considerations

Cybersecurity Marketing

Cybersecurity solutions must often adhere to specific regulatory standards, adding another layer of complexity to marketing efforts:

Communicating compliance capabilities effectively

Addressing concerns related to data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA)

Highlighting adherence to industry-specific regulations (e.g., HIPAA for healthcare)

Demonstrating how the solution helps clients meet their own compliance requirements

Specialized Skill: A deep understanding of various regulatory frameworks and the ability to articulate how cybersecurity solutions address compliance requirements.

General SaaS Marketing

While some SaaS products may need to address compliance, it's typically not as central to the marketing message:

Focus on general data security and privacy features

Highlight any relevant certifications (e.g., SOC 2)

Address compliance as a feature rather than a core selling point

The Learning Curve for B2B SaaS Marketers

For B2B SaaS marketers transitioning into cybersecurity, the learning curve can be steep and time-consuming. Here's why:

Technical Knowledge Acquisition: Understanding the intricacies of cybersecurity technology, threat landscapes, and defense mechanisms requires significant study and often hands-on experience.

Regulatory Comprehension: Grasping the nuances of various compliance standards and their implications for different industries takes time and continuous learning.

Risk Communication Skills: Developing the ability to effectively communicate about risks without causing panic or disengagement is a delicate skill that takes practice to master.

Trust-Building Expertise: Learning how to establish and maintain trust in a highly skeptical market requires time to build credibility and refine communication strategies.

Rapid Adaptation Abilities: Cultivating the agility to quickly understand and respond to new threats and market changes is an ongoing process that improves with experience.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Developing the ability to work effectively with technical teams, compliance officers, and C-suite executives requires time to build relationships and understand diverse perspectives.

Industry-Specific Knowledge: Each industry (e.g., healthcare, finance, government) has unique cybersecurity needs and regulations, requiring marketers to develop sector-specific expertise.

Typically, it can take 2-3 years for a B2B SaaS marketer to become proficient in cybersecurity marketing, and 3-5 years to be considered an expert in the field. This timeline can vary based on the individual's background, the complexity of the cybersecurity solutions they're marketing, and the resources available for professional development.

Conclusion

Marketing cybersecurity solutions requires a unique approach that goes beyond traditional SaaS marketing strategies. The complexity of the products, the critical need for trust and credibility, the rapidly changing threat landscape, the varying levels of risk awareness among potential clients, and the intricate regulatory environment all contribute to making cybersecurity marketing a distinct challenge.

Successful cybersecurity marketers must balance technical expertise with clear communication, educate their audience while building trust, and stay agile in response to new threats and regulations. By understanding these key differences and investing in specialized skills, marketers can create more effective strategies that resonate with the specific needs and concerns of the cybersecurity market.

For B2B SaaS marketers looking to transition into this field, patience and dedication are key. The journey to becoming a proficient cybersecurity marketer is demanding but rewarding, offering the opportunity to play a crucial role in protecting organizations and individuals in our increasingly digital world.

Visit for more info: https://gracker.ai/

[webilaro]

Harnessing the Power of Calls to Action: Why Every Blog Needs Them

Harnessing the Power of Calls to Action: Why Every Blog Needs Them

Blogging has evolved into a powerful tool for marketers, serving not just as a platform for sharing information, but as a vital strategy for engaging readers, driving traffic, and generating leads. As the digital landscape continues to grow, ensuring that your blog posts do more than just inform has never been more critical. One of the most effective methods to enhance your blog's impact is through the strategic implementation of Calls to Action (CTAs). Understanding and leveraging CTAs can significantly transform your blogging strategy.

The Role of Calls to Action in Blogging

At its core, a Call to Action is a prompt telling the reader what to do next. This could be anything from signing up for a newsletter, downloading a resource, leaving a comment, or sharing the post on social media. While some might view CTAs merely as marketing tactics, they are, in fact, fundamental elements that guide reader behavior and engage your audience at multiple levels.

Consider a scenario where a reader finishes a blog post and has gained valuable insights. Without a clear CTA, that reader may exit the page without any further interaction. In contrast, a well-placed CTA encourages them to take the next step, leading to deeper engagement with your content and your brand.

Enhancing User Experience

Effective CTAs can enhance user experience by providing clear direction on what to do next. A blog without CTAs may leave readers feeling adrift after consuming content. By incorporating strategic CTAs, marketers not only guide readers but also enrich their experience.

For instance, if a blog post discusses a complex topic, a CTA offering a related downloadable guide can provide readers with additional resources and insights. This not only adds value to the content but also positions the brand as a helpful authority in the field.

Driving Engagement and Interactivity

In today’s content-saturated environment, engagement is crucial. CTAs foster a sense of interactivity, encouraging readers to participate. This can take various forms, including prompting readers to comment on their thoughts, share personal experiences related to the topic, or ask questions.

By integrating CTAs that invite engagement, such as “What are your thoughts on this topic? Share in the comments below!” you create a dialogue. This community-building aspect is essential for readership loyalty and can help turn one-time visitors into returning readers.

Boosting Conversions

When it comes to marketing blogs, the ultimate goal often extends beyond merely sharing knowledge; it’s about converting readers into customers or leads. CTAs are pivotal in this conversion process. By clearly guiding readers towards the desired action, CTAs help funnel traffic toward specific landing pages, subscription forms, or product pages.

Consider a blog post that narrates an engaging story about a product. A well-placed CTA like “See how this product can change your life—click here to learn more!” not only attracts attention but also motivates readers to explore the brand further. This integration of CTAs into the narrative can significantly enhance conversion rates.

Tailoring CTAs to Your Audience

Understanding your audience plays a crucial role in crafting effective CTAs. Generic prompts may not resonate with all readers, which is why marketers should tailor CTAs to reflect the specific interests and behaviors of their target audience.

Analyze previous blog posts to see which CTAs generated the most engagement. This data can help illuminate what types of CTAs (e.g., signups, downloads, comments) resonate best with your readership. Customizing CTAs based on audience insights fosters a stronger connection and improves their effectiveness.

Testing and Optimizing CTAs

The importance of testing and optimizing CTAs cannot be overstated. A/B testing can reveal valuable information about which CTAs are most effective, allowing marketers to refine their strategies based on real data.

Some key aspects to consider when optimizing CTAs include:

Placement: Location is critical. Experiment with placing CTAs at the beginning, middle, and end of your blog post to determine which position yields the highest engagement.

Language: The wording of a CTA can significantly impact its effectiveness. Using action-oriented language creates urgency and encourages readers to take action. Phrases like “Get started now!” or “Join our community today!” can instill a sense of immediacy.

Design: Visual elements matter. CTAs should be visually prominent, using contrasting colors, buttons, or graphics to ensure they stand out.

Leveraging Multiple CTAs

Incorporating multiple CTAs within a single blog post can amplify its effectiveness, as long as they complement each other. While primary CTAs direct readers toward a specific goal, secondary CTAs can serve to enhance engagement in other areas.

For example, in a post aimed at lead generation, include a prominent CTA for signing up for a newsletter, coupled with a secondary CTA inviting readers to follow the brand on social media. This not only diversifies engagement opportunities but also increases the chances of capturing reader interest from multiple angles.

The integration of Calls to Action is not merely suggested; it is essential for marketers aiming to maximize the effectiveness of their blogging efforts. By enhancing user experience, driving engagement, boosting conversions, and continuously optimizing strategies, well-crafted CTAs can transform a blog from a simple information source into a dynamic platform that actively engages readers and converts them into loyal customers.

As blogs continue to serve as a cornerstone for digital marketing strategies, recognizing the importance of CTAs will only become more critical. By harnessing the power of CTAs, marketers can ensure that their blogs are not just read but also acted upon, leading to deeper connections and greater success.

  This post was created using AutoPost yeti - An app that creates blogs that you can post automatically  to Medium, Tumblr and your Wordpress sites

find out more about it at https://app.webilaro.com/autopostyeti/home.php

[isubhamdas]

Pillar Pages That Captivate

Discover the secrets to creating powerful pillar pages that drive traffic and boost your SEO. (Continue reading for more) What are Pillar Pages?How Pillar Pages Elevate Your SEO?The Benefits of Pillar PagesCrafting Captivating Pillar PagesKeyword Research and Topic SelectionStructuring and FormattingOptimizing for Search EnginesReal-World Examples and StatisticsExpert Tip and SuggestionExpert…

[totallyseiso]

Changing the age in my bio to 14 before posting a really bad take so no one is allowed to come at me for it

[shittyutmv]

evil gifts for evil christmas from your evil boss killer by rahafwabas cross by jakei95 horror by sour apple studios dust by ask-dusttale

[tahbhie]

How many drafts should you go through before deciding your novel is ready?

There's no specific (official) number, but to create a foundation that ensures you don't burn out quickly, overwork yourself, and get tired of your work, I'll say four. It's the same number I use for my students since most of them have other engagements outside writing that take up a copious amount of their time.

1. Initial or Zero Draft:

This draft is also called the 'just write' draft. Focus on putting that idea down. As the creative juices flow, let it all out. Don't worry about perfection or coherence; the goal is to capture your raw ideas and get the story out of your head and onto the page.

2. Second Draft:

This is the plot draft. Read through what you have written to see if every detail you added was meant to be. Here, you focus on the structure of your story. Ensure that the plot makes sense, the pacing is right, and there are no major plot holes. This is where you might add, remove, or rearrange scenes to improve the overall flow of the narrative.

3. Third Draft:

Character development draft. In this stage, you look deeper into your characters. Make sure their motivations, backgrounds, and arcs are well-defined and consistent. Flesh out their personalities and relationships, ensuring they are compelling and believable. This is also a good time to refine dialogue and make sure it sounds natural and true to each character. That's for this drafting stage.

4. Fourth Draft:

Grammar and punctuation draft. This is the polishing stage. Focus on correcting grammatical errors, punctuation, and spelling mistakes. Pay attention to sentence structure, word choice, and overall readability. This draft is about making your manuscript as clean and professional as possible.

Keep in mind that the goal is to define what completion means for each draft. Once you reach the goal, take a break and return to it for the next drafting stage.

Some writers pay people to carry out some of the drafting stages for them, so if you fall into that category, you might have fewer drafting stages to handle yourself!

Reblog to save for later 😉

Thank you all for the support 💜!

[money-magenta]

(via Mastering the Art of Successful Blogging: A Comprehensive Guide to Blogging Success)

Welcome to the world of blogging, where creativity meets technology and self-expression finds its digital home. Starting a blog can be an exciting journey, allowing you to share your passions, expertise, and unique perspectives with a global audience. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or a novice looking to explore the realm of online content creation, this guide will take you through essential steps to launch and grow a successful blog. From finding your niche and engaging your audience to mastering the art of SEO and monetization, we’ll provide you with valuable insights and practical tips to help you navigate the blogging landscape with confidence. So, let’s embark on this adventure together and unlock the power of your words in the vast digital realm.

[mindfulstudyquest]

❥﹒♡﹒☕﹒ 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲-𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄

𝟭. set SMART goals ( 📒 )

make sure your goals are specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and time-bound. this will help you maintain focus and track your progress over time. how many times has it been you and your unrealistic to-do list against the world? well, it seems that a mile-long to-do list is not a good ally at all. remember that you are a person and not a machine, and that just dedicating four hours to deep work and concentration is A LOT. be kind to yourself and don't overload yourself with more work than you can humanly do.

𝟮. daily planning ( 🧸 )

mea culpa because i'm the first one who doesn't plan their day. to-do lists generally stress me out and make me feel overwhelmed as if i don't manage to complete all the tasks an asteroid will end up hitting the earth. but i recognize that it is a good starting point. sometimes i have too many things to do and i end up doing nothing in total confusion, but having at least a general list to follow gives me more motivation. moreover do we want to talk about the dopamine released when you tick an empty box? marvelous. maybe don't write down tasks that are too onerous and demanding, break them into several smaller tasks, also try to write simple activities such as "drink a glass of water" every now and then. having these low-commitment activities will help you stay motivated while completing more important tasks.

𝟯. reverse-engineering method ( 🪴 )

start with the end goal and work backwards to plan the actions needed to achieve it. this helps you maintain clarity on the steps to take and focus on the most relevant actions. the best thing to do is plan based on the time available and do your best to stick to your daily goal.

𝟰. timer roulette ( ⏳ )

choose a task from your to-do list and set a random timer between 15 and 45 minutes. work on that task with all your concentration until the timer goes off. this helps you fight procastination and keep your mind fresh.

𝟱. mind mapping time ( 📍 )

before starting a study session, take a few minutes to create a mental map of the subject you need to cover. this helps you see connections between concepts and organize information more effectively.

𝟲. task batching ( 🫒 )

group similar tasks together and tackle them in batches. for example, reply to all emails in one session rather than doing so at scattered times throughout the day. this helps you reduce transition time between tasks and maintain focus. contrary to popular belief, human beings are not truly multitasking (only a few possess this great ability) and when we do multiple things together we do nothing but shift our attention from one task to another, greatly reducing the quality of our performance. if possible, try to avoid these switches that are harmful to your focus and concentration.

𝟳. the pomodoro method ( 🍅 )

okay, y'all probably already know this one because it became so popular in the last year but if you don't, the pomodoro method is a time management technique developed by francesco cirillo in the late 80s. it is based on the idea of working for short periods of time, usually 25 minutes, followed by a short 5 minute break. after four rounds of work, a longer break is taken, usually 15-30 minutes. this technique helps improve concentration and productivity, as it breaks down work into manageable tasks and offers regular breaks to rest and regenerate energy. i personally prefer the 50/10 ratio while i'm studying but you decide which time ratio is better for you, i find it really useful and it helps me a lot while i'm studying for my exams.

[rookflower]

on one hand yeah this is the kitty cat book fandom where at least 95% of the people here are just here to draw funny cats or for nostalgia reasons and it's really not that deep, there is nothing wrong with taking a critical backseat on this one. but on the other, the amount of people in the fandom who seem to genuinely believe that children's literature and xenofiction are both somehow inherently unworthy of any form of criticism whatsoever, to the point where random tumblr posts casually identifying shit like.... themes.... and narrative trends... is looking into things way too deeply and makes you a bad or stupid person in some way because "they're just cats", gives the literature student in me such a headache

[official-time-loop-posts]

i know people are recommending u timeloop recs and thats very awesome but.... what are YOUR timeloop recs

Uhhh here’s three :)

Groundhog Day the Musical. It takes the original movie, which was already a wonderful Time Loop Experience™, and (in my opinion) improves upon it in every conceivable way. If you like musicals, then I wholeheartedly recommend you check this one out!

Chonny’s Charming Chaos Compendium. We’ve talked about it at length here, but to quickly summarize, it’s an album about a person who, due to his negative mental state, keeps splitting himself into his Heart, Mind, & Soul, feeling better & becoming Whole again, then repeating the cycle. TW for mentions of suicide in the songs & flashing lights in the videos.

Exit Strategy. It’s a 15 minute short-film on YouTube about two brothers in a time loop trying to stop a fire. I don’t want to say much more about it to prevent spoilers, you can watch it here if you’re interested :)

[parihere]

28.12.2024, Saturday

finally... tomorrow is my last exam of this year...

putting an end to this chapter and this year so we can finally move on to a better (academic) year hopefully <3

tomorrow is my math exam, and it is my last pre board , and as I say this I'm hoping that I have passed in all of them and god forbid I don't have to retake them :"")

I've revised all that I know already and I'm gonna just go over calculus again

uhhhhhhh I'm so done with this already I'll wrap it up by 3:30-4 am and sleep

here's all that I'll do before my "last" pre-exam nap (of this year lmao) :-

differential equations important questions

linear programming important questions

integral important questions

yep, that's it , cuz it's already pretty late already and I need sleep to function in a fkn maths exam

wish me luckkk!!!! (pray for me y'all 🩷)

[healingpuppys]

How to cope with a trauma anniversary!

for some slight context, today is a very awful day for us, we have many trauma anniversaries, and though they seem to never get better throughout the years we have found a way to cope with some things!

Waking up

waking up the morning of a trauma anniversary can feel jarring, and sometimes at first you don’t realize it’s a trauma day, it’s different for everyone when they may realize! sometimes you can wake up and your body feels heavier, you may feel fuzzy, and gross; although these feelings are awful it’s very important to ground yourself, it’s ok to let yourself feel those feelings but don’t let it overcome you and cause you to spiral. A few grounding tips we have are:

find a comfort item, it can be anything! just something that brings you joy and comfort.

play a song or video that helps you calm down, focus on the beat and try to tap your fingers along with it

wrap yourself in a big blanket, for us personally it gives us a sense of safety when we most need it and it can be you’re safe space

these are just a few and of course there are plenty more you can use!

Flashbacks

Flashbacks are again a horrible and very painful experience. We also have things called ptsd induced hallucinations, where sometimes a flashback can trigger hallucinations and make life in the moment so much worse. if you experience these as well we have a few tips! even if you don’t experience these you can still use the tips!

reality check your self but not in a negative way, say things like “nothing can hurt me in this moment” “i am safe” etc.

distractions!! I know some people say “distractions won’t help you process through things” no, and a lot of people on a day like this don’t want or need to process anything, we are put in the mindset of trauma responses and are simply trying to survive the day, it’s important to have things that can ease our mind in those moments

comfort food, comfort food or drinks can always help and bring you away from a certain memory into another

calming or nice smells, candles or anything that has a nice sent can help distract the mind and sometimes put you in a different mind set

Eating

eating or getting hungry can be a struggle, for some they feel nauseous or sick at times during the day, which is completely normal! It is important to try to eat, and again if you can’t that’s completely ok there’s no need to feel shame in it just remember to hydrate and eat when you feel better! some tips to help one feel hungry or eat

Comfort food again!! comfort food can bring one out of a memory sometimes and into a happier or calmer one! and who doesn’t love comfort food!!

watching people cooking! it can sometimes be helpful for someone to regain hunger by watching others cook and plate some delicious looking food

Sleeping

sleeping can be hard on these days, for us we don’t get much sleep the night of our trauma date, but trust me it’ll make you feel much better.

Water/rain/forrest/wind sounds, they can be very calming and helpful to sleep, for us the forrest is one of our favorite places to be so we can sleep very soundly with noises of the forrest

youtube videos, something calming or funny as background noise can help someone’s mind relax enough to fall asleep

melatonin/prescribed sleeping meds, for some simple distractions won’t be enough so if you’re able we recommend taking something that can help you sleep

breathing/meditation! meditating is known to relax your body and mind also helping you clear tension built up in your body, we highly recommend this strategy!

though some of these things may not be helpful for some we hope to give people ideas and what personally helps us! remember lovely’s you’re valid, you’re strong, and you are all amazing! please remember to stay safe!!

[diaryofanenchantedprincess]

List of things to remember when u have a crush

1. Some girl has dumped him and never wants ANYTHING to do with him ever again

2. He’s probably talking to at least 2 other girls at the same time as you

3. His body count is probably uncomfortably high

4. There are other girls probably throwing themselves at him and he probably cannot resist temptation

5. He watches p*rn and is probably addicted

6. He’s most likely capable of looking you dead in the eye and lying for months on end. He will swear up and down on his mom, his dead grandma etc to get away with one pathetic lie

7. Lying about his height unnecessarily

8. Check his following on Instagram or TikTok. That is all

9. Probably has an ex that he fumbled and isn’t over her

10. He’s probably only talking to you because he wants to smash

11. Probably on a plethora of dating apps and is constantly searching for the next best thing

12. Probably listens to ‘alpha male’ podcasts and believes he’s the prize

[birb-tangleblog]

[tahbhie]

The Act of Writing Psychotic Characters 

Part 1: Attention vs Intention

It's been a while since I received this request, and I ensured I took my time with the thoughts, evaluation, and analysis. This topic will be covered in three parts, so here's the first.

Before we proceed, please note that I am not a psychiatrist, psychologist, or any professional in that field. This is just an insight into how this kind of concept can fit into your novels.

Okay, let's begin.

The Attention vs Intention part of this topic will discuss two ways of portraying these type of characters in scenes. 

First, you need to understand that psychotic characters aren't psychotic based solely on their speeches or actions. If that's all you have in mind before approaching a story, you might leave a huge gap in the execution.

Rather, it's how they feel—the desire to satisfy their current emotions.

They have drives and motives, but most especially beliefs which, in most cases, are hardly understandable by other people. It's wrong and unacceptable by society, but to them, they wouldn't do it any differently.

That's why most psychotic characters have no remorse. You simply can't apologize or feel sorry if you don't 'believe' that you're in the wrong.

➜ Attention Psychosis

Psychotic characters whose main purpose in a story is limited to presence (i.e., showing up in scenes and visibly serving the role of a psychotic character) are attention psychotics. You don't flesh out their backstory or why they are who they are.

Their drives and motives aren't talked about enough to the point of justification. Readers hardly care about them, but the action they bring to the scene creates a rich narrative with the purpose of psychosis.

In summary, their role is minor. We see such cases in movies like The Babysitter.

Let's agree that none of the cult characters in that movie are exactly sane, as their main aim is to end their victims’ lives in the sickest ways possible. However, there's a certain character, Max, who simply enjoys the idea of "killing and seeing people bleed."

That has exceeded the central idea of being a cultist who gets involved in blood sacrifice to achieve their 'dream life' like the rest of the characters. It's now something more and different.

Something that has to do with homicidal ideation.

Max worked in a diner where he dealt with people that annoyed him so greatly that he wanted to kill them. So he got the opportunity to join a cult and do just that.

It was plain clear this guy had something else going on for him, but throughout the movie, his character had no special attention or even a peek into his thoughts. Although, it still worried the audience. Job done.

➜ Intention Psychosis

When a story is centered around a character's mental state, their motives, drives, beliefs, actions, and the story actually unfolds by going deeper into this concept, you have intention psychosis.

If not entirely, at least mostly, it defines the entire plot surrounding that character. People get to understand why they are who they are, their mode of action, what drives them, and even a peek into how they perceive the world around them.

Such scenarios are seen in movies like The Joker and Pyramid game (Korea). The audience gets a glimpse into their overall life and understands at least to an extent why they are the way they are.

Their beliefs get twisted for certain reasons, and there was just no stopping them. Here the characters were more than a presence; they were a central core.

In the movie Joker, we watched Arthur’s impoverished life unfold, with every event and incident worsening his condition further.

Baek Ha-rin in Pyramid Game literally created an entire game system to watch a student, who happened to be her old friend, suffer both physically and mentally. She went to great lengths to carry out this nefarious act under the guise of the game. Although this movie encompassed more than just this storyline, it was hard to ignore the unhealthy drive and actions of the young lady with an innocent face.

Before incorporating a psychotic character in your novel, determine their form of portrayal and appearance in the overall story. Are they going to serve as an attention psychotic or an intention psychotic?

Inspired by @sothera

Stay tuned for the next part!

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