#thing that taught me the most abt the real difference between angst and h/c was probably from being in group servers on discord

[cagedchoices]

🎾 what type of genre of roleplay i prefer to write

MY EXPERIENCE IN THE ROLEPLAYING COMMUNITY

@merchub

i think i pretty much have to say either angst or hurt/comfort just based on principle. admittedly i don't have the strongest grasp on how different fanfiction genres vs original fiction genres are defined, but my understanding is that angst is static in the way that it doesn't affect or change character development in a lasting way through the course of the story and people (readers, other characters in-universe, the author themselves) aren't necessarily motivated to empathize with a character who is angsting.

basically, angst on its own won't form a coherent plot to build on, but some people are into that and that's okay. personally, i try not to let myself get too wrapped up in rping straight unfiltered angst anymore because i find it easy to fall into a trap of the character simply not caring about anything except the fact that they're miserable and hurting and that's just. not really fun for anyone else who is trying to interact with them.

hurt/comfort can have aspects of angst mixed into it, but the focus is weighted more on a suffering character being comforted through their pain by other character(s) which offers more opportunity for that character to grow or change in the end. it's the layers of conflict, dealing with complex issues, and healing which pretty much make or break it for me.