Mo Ran's "character Development" Was Him Learning The Most Important Rule A Man Can Learn In His Life:

For Valentines, Yachi made all the other first years tomo-choco (friend chocolate) !! It was well-received :,,) Tobio is going to put off eating his so he can continue staring at it. Yachi-san made this for him… friends chocolate… because they are friends…

my friend did the osaka bang when we were in osaka and kags is literally my reaction

Becoming a writer is great because now you have a hobby that haunts you whenever you don’t have time to do it

i should draw kaoru more

i've been writing in english for so long but instead of the language fully consuming my insides and acting like a parasitic english-speaking colonizer worm started feeding on my brain, i just ended up fucking my english grammar and conversational skills a lot more often than usual 💀

sometimes you need dialogue tags and don't want to use the same four

Good morning.

Prompt for today was "domesticity"!

The Power of Silence in Dialogue

We often think of dialogue as something that’s just about what characters say, but let’s talk about what they don’t say. Silence can be one of the most powerful tools in your writing toolbox. Here’s why:

1. The Unspoken Tension

When characters leave things unsaid, it adds layers to their interactions. Silence can create a tension that’s so thick you could cut it with a knife. It shows things are happening beneath the surface—the real conversation is happening in what’s left unspoken.

Example:

“So, you’re leaving, huh?” He didn’t look up from the table, his fingers tracing the rim of his glass, slow and deliberate. “Yeah.” “Guess I should’ve expected this.” (Silence.) “You’re not mad?” “I’m not mad,” she said, but the way her voice broke was louder than anything she'd said all night.

2. Building Anticipation or Drama

Sometimes silence can heighten the drama, creating a pause where the reader feels like something big is about to happen. You don’t always need words to convey that sense of dread or anticipation.

Example:

They stood there, side by side, staring at the door that had just closed behind him. “You should’ve stopped him.” She didn’t answer. “You should’ve said something.” The room felt colder. “I couldn’t.” (Silence.)

3. Creating Emotional Impact

Sometimes, saying nothing can have the biggest emotional punch. Silence gives the reader a chance to interpret the scene, to sit with the feelings that aren’t being voiced.

Example:

He opened the letter and read it. And then, without saying a word, he folded it back up and placed it in the drawer. His fingers lingered on the wood for a long time before he closed it slowly, too slowly. “Are you okay?” He didn’t answer.

TL;DR

Silence isn’t just a pause between dialogue—it’s a powerful tool for deepening emotional tension, building anticipation, and revealing character. Next time you write a scene, ask yourself: what isn’t being said? And how can that silence say more than the words ever could?

been watching my friend play hades