Choose Your Fighter

Look I know the toxicity and the tension is like the main appeal of Burned Bridges and it’s utterly delicious but

Have you considered. An alternative. That exists in my head.

Them representing the part of themselves that they actively suppresses to each other. One suppresses his emotions behind a mask of a lack of emotion(Smitten(overwhelming emotion) to Cold), while the other suppresses the part of himself that feels alone and empty, covering it up with all of the other emotions that he intensely feels(Cold(the emptiness and yearning) to Smitten). Masks of overwhelming positive emotion and no emotion to hide the depths of their emotions. Their vulnerability. They are each other’s tormentors.

Cold pushing Smitten’s buttons at first out of his own amusement. Smitten retorts back at Cold every time he provokes him and dislikes the realisation of how easy it is for Cold to push his buttons. And then. Emotional torment. Them showing the depths of their hearts to each other. Whether by complete accident or an action made by Smitten that had unraveled them both. Their vulnerability and the parts of themselves were shown to each other. Cold hits a realisation. Smitten sits in stunned shock. They realise there is more to the other than they originally thought.

Smitten being Smitten denies it at first. He denies how similar they are to each other and retorts with uncertain anger in a vain attempt to cover up the parts of his heart that he tries so desperately to hide. But how can he deny it anymore? When now the question swims within his head on the possibility that he may be wrong, and now everything that he has done within the construct is coming back at him at full force? When what he’s done in HEA and him being the reason why his beloved and the Decider are unhappy? Is he a good person? He must be a good person! He is passionate and full of emotion! But is he really? The heart yearns for companionship, and yet he cannot get it through the Princess anymore. She is gone.

Cold acknowledges their similarities. And yet he remains unchanged. Outwardly at least. His heart has been shown to Smitten. The depths of his buried emotion and passion, the feelings of betrayal from the Narrator. They find their way back bubbling onto the surface. His heart rages a storm. He continues to deny the emotions within the dam that he kept locked up. Another drop in a glass that is already spilling.

Their existence forces each other to look into themselves. Their existence forces each other to start their journey to grow and to face the parts of themselves that they try so desperately to suppress and hide. A seed of doubt planted into their hearts, and it will only grow further. And one day, they will be a devotion no longer blind, and a longing satisfied. It will be a long and difficult journey, but with guidance, one day they will be able to look at each other in acceptance and learn to love the parts they feared and despised.

my color tips pdf is now available ! i had a lot of fun with this, i hope you enjoy ^^

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5 things your character can't do while speaking

Choke. Just think about it, seriously. Think about what choking is and imagine speaking while it’s happening. That would fuckin’ hurt, man.

Hiss. Look, it’s just not possible, okay? No matter how “evil” you want your character to seem.

Snarl. Animals snarls. The Beast from Beauty and the Beast snarls. The Hulk snarls. You know who doesn’t snarl? PEOPLE WHEN THEY’RE SPEAKING.

Shriek. Come on, 99% of the time, “shriek” is not the word you want.Let’s face it: if you put an exclamation point at the end of the sentence, your reader gets the picture. Don’t bring to mind banshees and screaming toddlers.

Sneer. I’m not even going to bother explaining this one. “SNEER” ISN’T EVEN A SOUND.

"Side by side, they were very much alike, in similarity less of lineament than of manner and bearing,

a correspondence of gesture which bounced and echoed between them so that a blink seemed to reverberate, moments later, in a twitch of the other's eyelid.

Their eyes were the same color of gray, intelligent and calm. She, I thought, was very beautiful, in an unsettling, almost medieval way which would not be apparent to the casual observer.“

~ Donna Tartt, The Secret History

“how did you get into writing” girl nobody gets into writing. writing shows up one day at your door and gets into you

hello there internet person

Person A: “Hey, have you seen (Person B)?”

Person C: “Not since yesterday evening, why?”

Person A: “Someone claiming to be their arch nemesis, is standing outside demanding to see them.” 

Person C: “….I thought (Person D) was their arch nemesis?”

Person A: “They are.”

Person C: “Then who the fuck is- You know what, don’t worry about it. Let me handle this.”

Using motifs to create thematic depth.

Motifs are one of the most powerful tools a writer has for weaving deeper meaning into a story.

What Is a Motif?

A motif is a repeated element in your story that highlights a theme. While similar to symbols, motifs are more dynamic and can evolve as your characters and story progress.

Symbol: A single red rose representing love. Motif: Flowers appearing throughout the story to represent different aspects of relationships—love, decay, growth, and loss.

Why Use Motifs?

They deepen your story’s meaning. Motifs give your readers something to latch onto, creating a sense of unity.

They enhance immersion. Repeated elements help ground readers in your world.

Tips for Crafting Effective Motifs

1. Choose a Motif That Fits Your Story’s Themes

Ask yourself: What’s the central idea of my story? Your motif should subtly reinforce that idea.

Theme: Resilience in the face of hardship. Motif: Cracked glass—a recurring image of something that’s damaged but still functional, reflecting the characters’ inner strength.

2. Use Motifs to Reflect Character Growth

A well-designed motif can evolve alongside your characters, reflecting their arcs.

In the beginning, a character always wears a watch to represent their obsession with time and control. By the end, they stop wearing the watch, symbolizing their acceptance of life’s unpredictability.

3. Keep It Subtle (But Consistent)

A motif shouldn’t feel like a flashing neon sign. It should quietly enhance the story without overpowering it.

If your motif is rain, don’t make every scene a thunderstorm. Use it sparingly—maybe it rains during moments of emotional turmoil or reflection, creating a subconscious link for the reader.

4. Use Recurrence to Build Meaning

The more your motif appears, the more it will resonate with readers. The key is repetition with variation.

In a story about family bonds, food could serve as a motif.

Early on: A tense family dinner where no one speaks. Later: A shared meal where characters open up and reconnect.

5. Connect Motifs to Emotion

Motifs are most effective when they evoke a visceral reaction in the reader.

Motif: A recurring song. First appearance: A father sings it to his child. Later: The same child hums it as an adult, remembering their father’s love. Final scene: The song plays during the child’s wedding, tying past and present together.

Examples of Motifs in Action

Motif: Mirrors

Theme: Self-perception vs. reality. A character avoids mirrors at first, unable to face their reflection. They slowly start using mirrors to confront their flaws. The final moment shows them standing confidently before a mirror, accepting themselves.

Motif: Keys

Theme: Freedom and control. A character collects keys, searching for one that unlocks their past. They find an old, rusted key, which leads them to uncover family secrets. The motif shifts to symbolize freedom when they lock a door behind them, leaving their past behind.

Motif: Birds

Theme: Longing for freedom. Early scenes show a bird trapped in a cage, reflecting the protagonist’s feelings. Later, the bird is released, symbolizing a turning point in the character’s journey.

Motif: The Ocean

Theme: Emotional depth and uncertainty. Calm waters reflect peace in the protagonist’s life. Stormy seas mirror moments of inner conflict.

Practical Exercise

1. Identify your story’s central theme.

2. Brainstorm objects, actions, or images that resonate with that theme.

3. Introduce the motif subtly early on.

4. Repeat it with variation, tying it to key emotional moments.

5. Bring it full circle by the end, letting the motif reinforce the resolution.

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