Character Development - Blog Posts

20 Ways to Show Extreme Fear in Your Writing

As I dive into researching signs of fear for my horror WIP, I wanted to share some of the most compelling and visceral reactions I’ve come across. Whether you’re writing a chilling scene or crafting a character’s panic, these 20 signs of fear can help bring tension and realism to your story.

Physical Reactions

Hyperventilating — sucking in air but never feeling like it’s enough

Chest tightens — feels like a weight or hands pressing down

Limbs shaking violently, knees buckling

Complete loss of muscle control — collapsing or unable to stand

Cold sweat soaking through clothes

Heart hammering so hard they feel it in their throat or head

Tunnel vision — the world narrowing down to one terrifying focal point

Ringing in the ears or sudden deafness, like the world drops away

Dizziness / feeling faint / vision blurring

Dry mouth — unable to speak or even scream

Uncontrollable Behavior

Screaming / sobbing / gasping — involuntary vocal outbursts

Panic run — bolting without thinking, tripping over everything

Clawing at their own skin / chest / throat — like trying to escape their body

Begging / pleading out loud even if no one’s there

Repeating words or phrases — “No, no, no” / “This isn’t happening”

Hiding instinctively — diving under tables, closets, or corners

Desperate grabbing — reaching for someone, anything solid

Loss of bladder or bowel control (for extreme terror)

Total mental shutdown — frozen, slack-jawed, staring blankly

Memory blackout — later can’t recall what happened during the worst moment

Thoughts For Thursday

Does your character have a favourite photograph?

Write a piece describing your character’s favourite photograph and the thoughts, feelings and memories associated with it.

Here are some things to consider:

Who or what is in the picture?

Who took the picture?

How old is it?

Is it black and white or colour?

Is it a professional photo or a candid snapshot?

Does this photograph belong to this character or to someone else?

Is it displayed in a frame? If so, what does the frame look like?

Where is the picture displayed? 

If the photo is not on display, where is it kept?

What condition is it in? 

How does this photograph make your character feel?

What do they think about when they look at it?

Do they have a specific memory associated with it?

Character Question of the Day #1

You can answer some or all of the questions for your character(s) or write a piece that incorporates some or all of the questions.

Have you ever thought about the end of your character's life?

Do they grow old or die young?

How do they go?

Do they have time to prepare or is it sudden?

Who is most affected by their loss?

Is anyone glad they're gone?

Do they believe in an afterlife?

Do they believe in reincarnation?

What sort of legacy will they leave behind?

while I’m here I guess I’ll drop these guys off. 🎵 Tilur, Snickers, and Dummy, three best friends!🎵

the suffering never ends

Ways I Show a Character is In Love But Doesn't Know It Yet...

This one’s for the emotional masochists writing the slowest of burns, where your readers are screaming “just kiss already!” by chapter twenty... I Love and Hate you... ♥

They compare everyone else to the person… and everyone else comes up short. Even when they’re not consciously doing it. No one’s laugh is as warm. No one’s eyes crinkle that way.

They remember the weirdest little things about them. Birthdays? Whatever. But that time they snorted laughing at a dumb joke? Locked and loaded.

They feel weirdly guilty when flirting with someone else. Like they’re cheating… except they’re not even dating. Or are they? Or—ugh, feelings are the worst.

They notice every damn detail when the other person isn’t around. "They’d like this song." "This smells like their shampoo." "I wonder what they'd say about this weird squirrel."

They use weird, overly specific compliments. Not “You look good,” but “That color makes your eyes look like a storm in a novel I’d cry over.”

They get weirdly intense about that person being hurt or in danger. Like, irrationally intense. "He’s just a friend," they say while planning to murder anyone who makes them cry.

They feel safer around them than anyone else, and it freaks them out. Like: “I’m always on guard. Except with you. That’s... suspicious.”

Vulnerability Confessions

"Some days, I don’t even like myself. But you, you look at me like I’m worth loving."

"I act like I’m fine, but if you left, I don’t think I’d recover."

"Loving me isn’t easy, I know that. But I swear, I love you in a way no one else ever will."

"I don’t need you to fix me. Just sit with me in the dark until I can find the light."

"You make me feel seen in a way that scares the hell out of me."

"I’m terrified of losing you, but even more terrified of never telling you how much you mean to me."

decided to join a little indie animation project! it’s sort of barely in development, but i love the concepts ^^ I’ll probably be drawing more of the characters once they have more official designs

The evolution of Quill F. Kipps:-

The screaming staircase: "I hate him." "What a loser" "poser"

The whispering skull: "he's tolerable" "I pity him" "Poor man"

The hollow boy: "he's ok" "like a pitiful Chihuahua" "he's fine I guess"

The creeping shadow: "I am starting to like him" "he cares about them" "New member!"

The empty grave: "MY SONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!" "<3My little orange vengeful chicken<3" " Is this what love feels like?"

Understanding Internal Conflict in Storytelling

Internal conflict is a vital tool in storytelling, enriching characters and deepening narrative impact. Understanding and effectively using internal conflict can transform a good story into a compelling, unforgettable one.

Introduction to Internal Conflict

Definition: Internal conflict refers to a psychological struggle within a character, often involving emotions, desires, or beliefs.

Purpose: It adds depth to characters, making them more relatable and complex.

Types of Internal Conflict

Moral Dilemmas: Situations where a character must choose between right and wrong, often with no clear answer.

Emotional Struggles: Conflicts arising from feelings like love, guilt, fear, or jealousy.

Identity Crises: Moments when characters question who they are or what they believe in.

Conflicting Desires: When a character's wants or needs are at odds with each other.

Examples of Internal Conflict

Classic Literature: Hamlet's indecision about avenging his father's death.

Modern Fiction: Katniss Everdeen's struggle between her survival instincts and her growing sense of rebellion in "The Hunger Games".

Film: Frodo Baggins grappling with the burden of the One Ring and its corrupting influence in "The Lord of the Rings".

Importance of Internal Conflict

Character Development: Drives growth and transformation, showing how characters evolve.

Engagement: Keeps readers invested in the character’s journey by creating empathy and tension.

Theme Exploration: Allows writers to explore complex themes like morality, identity, and human nature.

Crafting Internal Conflict

Believability: Ensure the conflict is realistic and relatable to the audience.

Depth: Give characters more than one internal conflict to make them richer and more interesting.

Resolution: Show how characters resolve or cope with their internal struggles, even if it’s not a happy ending.

Questions to Consider

What is the character’s main internal struggle?

How does this conflict affect their decisions and actions?

In what ways does the internal conflict drive the story forward?

My Take on the Hero of Time's Personality (Adult Era - 19 Years Old)

I don't really see many characterizations of Time being arrogant besides like...joke videos on YT and shitposts, I personally think he's a bit of an ass in a way that Revali is, annoying but loveable. I think he'd be arrogant, partially because as a kid he was made fun of by the other Kokiri (though mainly Mido and his gang) for not having a fairy and dreaming of leaving the forest, something that was strictly forbidden to the others because they would perish. Since self-confidence isn't much of a concept to younger children, I feel as if he didn't understand why he felt bad about being different and thus, developed insecurity and low self-esteem. Another reason for his arrogance is probably because he doesn't want to be seen as weak. He was the only one that experienced the time jump between 'current' and 'future' Hyrule, but for him they were empty years. He wanted to seem like he had actually did something in those 7 years, so he tries to show off his skills so he doesn't seem like a fraud to himself, and weak to those around him, especially his enemies.

Annnnywho here's the blurb of his actual personality I came up for him, I kinda put it as a summary:

Link is an adventurous spirit, always trying to find new places to see and new things to do. Even so, he’s not good at navigating, and oftentimes gets stuck in a situation he threw himself in without thinking.

Link is also very impulsive, and he tends to say things he may (or may not) mean to people. He likes to joke around a lot, even if he’s supposed to be serious, due to the fact he still has the immaturity (and some innocence) of a child from the 7 year time skip from pulling the Master Sword.

Link is quite confident in himself as well, and he often likes showing off his various skills, even if he’s not as good at them as he chooses to believe.

Despite these traits that could come off as annoying or negative, he still will help others in need, even if it's begrudgingly so. He has a very strong sense of justice, as he fights with his heart and soul to bring an end to the darkness and evil that has taken its hold on Hyrule.

Link cares about the people around him genuinely, even if it doesn’t seem to be the case for some people, or if he jokes about or around them a lot. He tries his best to consider everyone’s well-being when he does things, though he doesn’t do a good job at it most of the time.

Link sometimes exhausts himself to finish something if he’s close to reaching a goal, as his thoughts are that ‘I’m just that close, I might as well finish’.

Link is also quite intelligent, even behind his seemingly dense act he puts up sometimes if he just doesn’t want to do something. He sometimes doesn’t think about his surroundings, and often misjudges how far things are from him, even with his perfectly normal eyesight. Oddly enough, he is overcome with fear in a lot of situations, but as the bearer of the Triforce of Courage, it gives him the strength to pull through and continue fighting, no matter how scared he may be.

When he is scared, he hides it behind a confident bravado, seemingly unfazed and fearless, despite the fear and anxiety within.

Link also has a softer, more relaxed side, that usually shows when he’s alone, out in Hyrule field, or at Lon Lon Ranch, oftentimes helping Malon with the horses. (He…also goes there to see her anyway.)

Link gets fired up in an angry determination when he sees that the people he cares about are in potential danger, or when Kokiri Forest has been overrun by monsters.

Overall, Link is a slightly immature jokester with a heart of gold.

I think I'll be posting the Hero of the Wild next :)

° Marie's family and a couple of important (in the context of her biography) secondary characters are to your attention 😅

° 🥀 °

° 🥀 °

"Shame on you

You are the one out of place"

"You, yes, you

The way you whine is such a disgrace"

° 🥀 °

"Shame on you

I say it right to your funny face"

"You, yes, you

The way you whine is such a disgrace"

° 🥀 °

Take a piece or dialogue (or write one) and add details between each character's responses that describe their reactions to what was just said, what they do physically, and/or what memories the conversation is triggering for them. How much can you add before it starts to annoy you as a reader?

I’m trying to see what all kinda of different media from around the world, and am curious to everyone what your favorite book, movie, game, anime, etc is and why?

I’ve been really thinking about it and can’t think of anything personally, so I was curious how others felt about it

KH OC week 2024 - Day 7: Future.

Hajime is seeking knowledge, he is amazed at how little we know about the worlds, about the essence of people's hearts, about everything that surrounds us. For him, this topic is special. He would like to not only study, but also share new knowledge with others, which is why Hajime will become Ansem the Wise apprentice and will study in detail all the reports, books and all kinds of information. Many may call him a bookworm, but he will start carrying books with him because in his free time this is his favorite pastime. You can always ask Hajime about anything, and if he suddenly does not know the answer, he will not calm down now, he must know, and this will fill his thoughts for the next few weeks.

For some of Ansem's apprentices, he can even seem clingy despite his gloomy nature. He is especially attached to Ienzo, because he seems to be the only one who always condescendingly treat Hajime's clinginess.

In short: Hajime studies a lot, and sometimes others have to bring him back to reality because the boy gets lost due to his hunger for knowledge in books.

@khoc-week

I actually like these MC concepts for Blackberry Winter. It gave me kind off stylistic challenge

HIM

My gift for you today is a Hunter appreciation post because the leader of the Dad Batch definitely needs more appreciation. 🖤❤️🩶

"Man this existential crisis is great" - Me, because the depth these thoughts are gonna give my fictional oc is crazy

For future reference

Soft Gestures for Comfort

Bringing them a blanket when they’re curled up on the couch.

Whispering, "It’s okay, I’m here," when they wake up from a bad dream.

Stroking their hair gently when they’re lying on your lap.

Running a warm bath for them after a tough day.

Holding them close and saying, "I’ve got you," when they’re upset.

Preparing their favorite comfort food when they’re feeling low.

Turning off their alarm and letting them sleep in when they’re exhausted.

Reading their favorite book to them before bed.

Playing their favorite soothing music to help them relax.

Just sitting in silence with them, letting them know your presence is their safe space.

Saving for future reference.

Showing 'Excitement' in Writing

Eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Bouncing on the balls of their feet.

Clapping hands together in delight.

Speaking in a high-pitched, rapid tone.

Grinning from ear to ear.

Jumping up and down with joy.

Hugging others spontaneously.

Cheeks flushed with enthusiasm.

Widening eyes and raised eyebrows.

Waving hands animatedly while talking.

Giggling or laughing uncontrollably.

Unable to sit still, shifting in their seat.

Heart racing with exhilaration.

Feet tapping or legs jiggling.

Practically vibrating with energy.

Exclaiming, "I can't believe it!" repeatedly.

Reaching out to touch or grab someone’s hand.

Dancing or spinning around.

Clutching their chest as if to contain the excitement.

Practicing or rehearsing what they’ll say or do.

Excuse me while I save this for a reference...

How To Write A Chase Scene

Before anyone takes off running, the reader needs to know why this matters. The chase can’t just be about two people running, it’s gotta have a reason. Is your hero sprinting for their life because the villain has a knife? Or maybe they’re chasing someone who just stole something valuable, and if they don’t catch them, it’s game over for everyone. Whatever the reason, make it clear early on. The higher the stakes, the more the reader will care about how this chase plays out. They’ll feel that surge of panic, knowing what’s on the line.

Sure, a chase scene is fast, people are running, dodging, maybe even falling. But not every second needs to be at full speed. If it’s too frantic from start to finish, the reader might get numb to the action. Instead, throw in some rhythm. Use quick, sharp sentences when things get intense, like someone stumbling or almost getting caught. But then slow it down for a second. Maybe they hit a dead end or pause to look around. Those brief moments of slow-down add suspense because they feel like the calm before the storm kicks up again.

Don’t let the setting just be a backdrop. The world around them should become a part of the chase. Maybe they’re tearing through a marketplace, dodging carts and knocking over tables, or sprinting down alleyways with trash cans crashing behind them. If they’re running through the woods, you’ve got low-hanging branches, roots, slippery mud, and the constant threat of tripping. Describing the environment makes the scene more vivid, but it also adds layers of tension. It’s not just two people running in a straight line, it’s two people trying to navigate through chaos.

Running isn’t easy, especially when you’re running for your life. This isn’t some smooth, graceful sprint where they look cool the whole time. Your character’s lungs should be burning, their legs aching, maybe their side starts to cramp. They’re gasping for air, barely holding it together. These details will remind the reader that this chase is taking a real toll. And the harder it gets for your character to keep going, the more the tension ramps up because the reader will wonder if they’ll actually make it.

Don’t make it too easy. The villain should almost catch your hero or the hero should almost grab the villain. But something happens last second to change the outcome. Maybe the villain’s fingers brush the hero’s coat as they sprint around a corner, but they manage to slip out of reach just in time. Or maybe your hero almost gets close enough to tackle the villain, but slips on some gravel, losing precious seconds.

And Don’t let the chase end in a way that feels too predictable. Whether your character gets away or is caught, it should be because of something clever. Maybe they spot a hiding place that’s almost impossible to notice, or they use their surroundings to mislead their pursuer. Or, the person chasing them pulls a fast one, Laying a trap, cutting off their escape route, or sending the hero down the wrong path. You want the end to feel earned, like it took quick thinking and ingenuity, not just dumb luck or fate.

if you have any questions or feedback on writing materials, please send me an email at Luna-azzurra@outlook.com ✍🏻