Every Day In Gaza, I Face An Impossible Choice: Treating My Sick Husband Or Feeding My Hungry Children.

This reminds me of Burn’s weirdling collection. Yes I’m referring to WoF, yes I’m a nerd referencing a dead fandom!

The batfam playing 2 truths and a lie

Tim: I stalked Batman for years, my eyes are green, and Ra's al Ghul has my spleen in a jar somewhere.

The rest of the batfam:

Dick: ...your eyes are blue.

Damian, muttering to himself: so that was Drake's spleen. Interesting.

Someone write an AO3 or Wattpad for this please 😭 this is gold-

I think more people need to play around with Damian's speech. Don't get me wrong, I love the antiquated Victorian child style of speech, but also he's a teenager that swears plenty in the comics. We really need more scenes like:

Damian: Father, I regret to inform you that I have been assigned in-school suspension for the next three days.

Bruce: What, why?!

Damian: My classmate Kevin was disparaging a female classmate for turning him down, so I called him 'a rizz-less, basic-ass neckbeard bitch' and said I was going to fuck his mom and give her a son she'd actually love.

Bruce: *is completely speechless*

Damian: That is all I needed to tell you. If you will excuse me, I have homework to complete before dinner and patrol.

Waiter: *(nearly in tears)* PLEASE JUST SAY STOP- ITS A SINGLE SYLLABLE

Tim’s angel on his shoulder: Thou shall not yield.

(Dont ask what the devil’s doing rn 😭)

Tim: The waiter at Olive Garden has been grating my cheese for 6 hours now, waiting for me to say when. Customers are screaming. Three people have died.

Tim: I will not yield.

So useful-

It’s cool if writing really is accurate, it lets you know the author considered the medical and scientific aspects. Love to see it.

The Anatomy of Passing Out: When, Why, and How to Write It

Passing out, or syncope, is a loss of consciousness that can play a pivotal role in storytelling, adding drama, suspense, or emotional weight to a scene. Whether it’s due to injury, fear, or exhaustion, the act of fainting can instantly shift the stakes in your story.

But how do you write it convincingly? How do you ensure it’s not overly dramatic or medically inaccurate? In this guide, I’ll walk you through the causes, stages, and aftermath of passing out. By the end, you’ll be able to craft a vivid, realistic fainting scene that enhances your narrative without feeling clichéd or contrived.

2. Common Causes of Passing Out

Characters faint for a variety of reasons, and understanding the common causes can help you decide when and why your character might lose consciousness. Below are the major categories that can lead to fainting, each with their own narrative implications.

Physical Causes

Blood Loss: A sudden drop in blood volume from a wound can cause fainting as the body struggles to maintain circulation and oxygen delivery to the brain.

Dehydration: When the body doesn’t have enough fluids, blood pressure can plummet, leading to dizziness and fainting.

Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension): Characters with chronic low blood pressure may faint after standing up too quickly, due to insufficient blood reaching the brain.

Intense Pain: The body can shut down in response to severe pain, leading to fainting as a protective mechanism.

Heatstroke: Extreme heat can cause the body to overheat, resulting in dehydration and loss of consciousness.

Psychological Causes

Emotional Trauma or Shock: Intense fear, grief, or surprise can trigger a fainting episode, as the brain becomes overwhelmed.

Panic Attacks: The hyperventilation and increased heart rate associated with anxiety attacks can deprive the brain of oxygen, causing a character to faint.

Fear-Induced Fainting (Vasovagal Syncope): This occurs when a character is so afraid that their body’s fight-or-flight response leads to fainting.

Environmental Causes

Lack of Oxygen: Situations like suffocation, high altitudes, or enclosed spaces with poor ventilation can deprive the brain of oxygen and cause fainting.

Poisoning or Toxins: Certain chemicals or gasses (e.g., carbon monoxide) can interfere with the body’s ability to transport oxygen, leading to unconsciousness.

3. The Stages of Passing Out

To write a realistic fainting scene, it’s important to understand the stages of syncope. Fainting is usually a process, and characters will likely experience several key warning signs before they fully lose consciousness.

Pre-Syncope (The Warning Signs)

Before losing consciousness, a character will typically go through a pre-syncope phase. This period can last anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, and it’s full of physical indicators that something is wrong.

Light-Headedness and Dizziness: A feeling that the world is spinning, which can be exacerbated by movement.

Blurred or Tunnel Vision: The character may notice their vision narrowing or going dark at the edges.

Ringing in the Ears: Often accompanied by a feeling of pressure or muffled hearing.

Weakness in Limbs: The character may feel unsteady, like their legs can’t support them.

Sweating and Nausea: A sudden onset of cold sweats, clamminess, and nausea is common.

Rapid Heartbeat (Tachycardia): The heart races as it tries to maintain blood flow to the brain.

Syncope (The Loss of Consciousness)

When the character faints, the actual loss of consciousness happens quickly, often within seconds of the pre-syncope signs.

The Body Going Limp: The character will crumple to the ground, usually without the ability to break their fall.

Breathing: Breathing continues, but it may be shallow and rapid.

Pulse: While fainting, the heart rate can either slow down dramatically or remain rapid, depending on the cause.

Duration: Most fainting episodes last from a few seconds to a minute or two. Prolonged unconsciousness may indicate a more serious issue.

Post-Syncope (The Recovery)

After a character regains consciousness, they’ll typically feel groggy and disoriented. This phase can last several minutes.

Disorientation: The character may not immediately remember where they are or what happened.

Lingering Dizziness: Standing up too quickly after fainting can trigger another fainting spell.

Nausea and Headache: After waking up, the character might feel sick or develop a headache.

Weakness: Even after regaining consciousness, the body might feel weak or shaky for several hours.

4. The Physical Effects of Fainting

Fainting isn’t just about losing consciousness—there are physical consequences too. Depending on the circumstances, your character may suffer additional injuries from falling, especially if they hit something on the way down.

Impact on the Body

Falling Injuries: When someone faints, they usually drop straight to the ground, often hitting their head or body in the process. Characters may suffer cuts, bruises, or even broken bones.

Head Injuries: Falling and hitting their head on the floor or a nearby object can lead to concussions or more severe trauma.

Scrapes and Bruises: If your character faints on a rough surface or near furniture, they may sustain scrapes, bruises, or other minor injuries.

Physical Vulnerability

Uncontrolled Fall: The character’s body crumples or falls in a heap. Without the ability to brace themselves, they are at risk for further injuries.

Exposed While Unconscious: While fainted, the character is vulnerable to their surroundings. This could lead to danger in the form of attackers, environmental hazards, or secondary injuries from their immediate environment.

Signs to Look For While Unconscious

Shallow Breathing: The character's breathing will typically become shallow or irregular while they’re unconscious.

Pale or Flushed Skin: Depending on the cause of fainting, a character’s skin may become very pale or flushed.

Twitching or Muscle Spasms: In some cases, fainting can be accompanied by brief muscle spasms or jerking movements.

5. Writing Different Types of Fainting

There are different types of fainting, and each can serve a distinct narrative purpose. The way a character faints can help enhance the scene's tension or emotion.

Sudden Collapse

In this case, the character blacks out without any warning. This type of fainting is often caused by sudden physical trauma or exhaustion.

No Warning: The character simply drops, startling both themselves and those around them.

Used in High-Tension Scenes: For example, a character fighting in a battle may suddenly collapse from blood loss, raising the stakes instantly.

Slow and Gradual Fainting

This happens when a character feels themselves fading, usually due to emotional stress or exhaustion.

Internal Monologue: The character might have time to realize something is wrong and reflect on what’s happening before they lose consciousness.

Adds Suspense: The reader is aware that the character is fading but may not know when they’ll drop.

Dramatic Fainting

Some stories call for a more theatrical faint, especially in genres like historical fiction or period dramas.

Exaggerated Swooning: A character might faint from shock or fear, clutching their chest or forehead before collapsing.

Evokes a Specific Tone: This type of fainting works well for dramatic, soap-opera-like scenes where the fainting is part of the tension.

6. Aftermath: How Characters Feel After Waking Up

When your character wakes up from fainting, they’re not going to bounce back immediately. There are often lingering effects that last for minutes—or even hours.

Physical Recovery

Dizziness and Nausea: Characters might feel off-balance or sick to their stomach when they first come around.

Headaches: A headache is a common symptom post-fainting, especially if the character hits their head.

Body Aches: Muscle weakness or stiffness may persist, especially if the character fainted for a long period or in an awkward position.

Emotional and Mental Impact

Confusion: The character may not remember why they fainted or what happened leading up to the event.

Embarrassment: Depending on the situation, fainting can be humiliating, especially if it happened in front of others.

Fear: Characters who faint from emotional shock might be afraid of fainting again or of the situation that caused it.

7. Writing Tips: Making It Believable

Writing a fainting scene can be tricky. If not handled properly, it can come across as melodramatic or unrealistic. Here are some key tips to ensure your fainting scenes are both believable and impactful.

Understand the Cause

First and foremost, ensure that the cause of fainting makes sense in the context of your story. Characters shouldn’t pass out randomly—there should always be a logical reason for it.

Foreshadow the Fainting: If your character is losing blood, suffering from dehydration, or undergoing extreme emotional stress, give subtle clues that they might pass out. Show their discomfort building before they collapse.

Avoid Overuse: Fainting should be reserved for moments of high stakes or significant plot shifts. Using it too often diminishes its impact.

Balance Realism with Drama

While you want your fainting scene to be dramatic, don’t overdo it. Excessively long or theatrical collapses can feel unrealistic.

Keep It Short: Fainting typically happens fast. Avoid dragging the loss of consciousness out for too long, as it can slow down the pacing of your story.

Don’t Always Save the Character in Time: In some cases, let the character hit the ground. This adds realism, especially if they’re fainting due to an injury or traumatic event.

Consider the Aftermath

Make sure to give attention to what happens after the character faints. This part is often overlooked, but it’s important for maintaining realism and continuity.

Lingering Effects: Mention the character’s disorientation, dizziness, or confusion upon waking up. It’s rare for someone to bounce back immediately after fainting.

Reactions of Others: If other characters are present, how do they react? Are they alarmed? Do they rush to help, or are they unsure how to respond?

Avoid Overly Romanticized Fainting

In some genres, fainting is used as a dramatic or romantic plot device, but this can feel outdated and unrealistic. Try to focus on the genuine physical or emotional toll fainting takes on a character.

Stay Away from Clichés: Avoid having your character faint simply to be saved by a love interest. If there’s a romantic element, make sure it’s woven naturally into the plot rather than feeling forced.

8. Common Misconceptions About Fainting

Fainting is often misrepresented in fiction, with exaggerated symptoms or unrealistic recoveries. Here are some common myths about fainting, and the truth behind them.

Myth 1: Fainting Always Comes Without Warning

While some fainting episodes are sudden, most people experience warning signs (lightheadedness, blurred vision) before passing out. This gives the character a chance to notice something is wrong before losing consciousness.

Myth 2: Fainting Is Dramatic and Slow

In reality, fainting happens quickly—usually within a few seconds of the first warning signs. Characters won’t have time for long speeches or dramatic gestures before collapsing.

Myth 3: Characters Instantly Bounce Back

Many stories show characters waking up and being perfectly fine after fainting, but this is rarely the case. Fainting usually leaves people disoriented, weak, or even nauseous for several minutes afterward.

Myth 4: Fainting Is Harmless

In some cases, fainting can indicate a serious medical issue, like heart problems or severe dehydration. If your character is fainting frequently, it should be addressed in the story as a sign of something more severe.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Quillology with Haya Sameer; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors! While you’re at it, don’t forget to head over to my TikTok and Instagram profiles @hayatheauthor to learn more about my WIP and writing journey! 

Oh look it’s Gayuu

Drew this random or whatever.

Do people still like this guy?

Heard his name was Gayuu or something.

i blame my lack of decisiveness on this post. I’d say get a room but I’m scared if they do.

there is no angel and devil on my shoulder. There is a Dabi and a Hawks and they're too busy kissing to tell me what to do.

I love ragatha so much i can’t

All of them but as animals.

Bat!sib: Hey, Jason, why did the chicken cross the road?

Jason: “To get to the other side?”

Bat!sib: You were supposed to say “I dunno, why?”

Jason: Fine, I don’t know, why did the chicken cross the road?

Bat!sib: To get to the idiot’s house.

Jason: . . . Ok?

Bat!sib: Hey, Jason, knock knock.

Jason: No.

Bat!sib: You were supposed to say “Who’s there?”

Jason: Fine. . . Let’s get this over with. Who’s there?

Bat!sib: The chicken.

Jason:

Jason: Listen here you little shit—

“And you know what? It’s at that point Tengen joins in on the sob fest, because fuck it.”

Thats so me fr

Hi hello yes I’m here to hear about Tengen’s FOUR kids!!!!!!! Was it one pregnancy for each wife and one of them got twins??? Tell me about themmmm (please if you want and have the energy to do so)

lmaooo so actually, your headcanon matches Sam’s — one kid with all three wives except one of them ends up with twins.

I think that’s viable — but I’m also imagining Tengen having one with each wife, but accidentally getting another one pregnant at the same time as the mother of the third child. So two wives being pregnant at the same time — which would be fucking hilarious because can you imagine the amount of stress that man would feel??

For their sake, I hope the two pregnant at the same time would be Makio and Suma, since Hinatsuru would provide the much needed calm and collectedness to the absolute hormone and stress-fueled anxious mess that would be Tengen x Makio x Suma. At the same time, Makio and Suma’s heightened hormones might lead to a house-wide emotional nuclear meltdown on more than one occasion.

Tbh, I see Tengen as someone who becomes even more high maintenance than his pregnant wives. Don’t get me wrong — he’s incredibly attentive and considerate during the pregnancies. But he’s also a fainting goat; he’s so stressed out trying to manage not one but two pregnancies while also dealing with two other kids (who are likely close in age and at that rambunctious stage where they think stressing Dad out is hilarious). He’s a hovering, nervous mother hen, and it doesn’t help that his wives are strong willed. I imagine him being beside himself because Suma has decided to climb up onto some taller surface to reach something she KNOWS Tengen will get for her, but she doesn’t want to be an inconvenience. So here he is, trying to help Hina with dinner, only to see Suma atop some tall, mildly rickety ladder and he has a fucking heart attack. Already her sense of balance is thrown off by the size of her stomach, but add an unstable ladder into the mix?? Poor man nearly drops dead.

Of course, while he’s rushing to help her down, Makio decides it’s the perfect time to get into a fight with the neighbor’s dog — you know, the one who keeps sneaking into the garden and trying to steal bites of food cooking atop the the outdoor fire pit as Hinatsuru has her back turned? Yeah. That one. Well, unfortunately for the dog, Hina happens to be making Makio’s favorite variation of grilled beef, and she is not about to let this mangy mutt steal from her. Too bad the dog also knows how to fight.

So imagine poor Tengen’s nerves when, just as he’s guiding Suma back down to steady ground, he hears screaming and snarling and barking while Hinatsuru is shouting Makio’s name. The former Sound Hashira doesn’t have time to appreciate the way his stomach falls out of his ass — he’s hightailing it out into the gardens, grabbing whatever makeshift weapon he can — an errant pan, an old training stick from his days in the Corps, anything.

Come to find his other equally pregnant wife in what can only be described as a tug of war with the neighbor’s poor dog. Said dog managed to snag a strip of meat off the cooking plate but not before Makio lunged for it, toppling the makeshift grill in the process and sending all of the family’s meal into the coals and dirt. But this last piece of beef is all she’s craved all day, and she’ll be damned if she loses to a stupid, flea-ridden bag of fur.

She loses anyway because both Hinatsuru and Tengen force her to drop her grip on the meat, and poor Makio has to watch as the dog scampers off, rapidly devouring her meal.

Anyways. That night, it’s Makio who is boo-hoo sobbing with big, fat tears because she feels terrible about having ruined dinner (and she didn’t get the meat she wanted, poor thing). Suma, as equally hormonal and a known sympathy crier, also bursts into tears the moment she witnesses Makio wailing, which in turn, awakens the two sleeping kids. Naturally, they don’t know why their moms are crying, so of course, they join in.

And you know what? It’s at that point Tengen joins in on the sob fest, because fuck it.

In conclusion: poor Hinatsuru.

b2dk family (+rei)