AU Where Damian Feels Really Bad For Hurting Tim But Won't Admit It Out Loud, So He Goes Into Over Protective

Tips from a Beta Reading Writer

This one's for the scenes with multiple characters, and you're not sure how to keep everyone involved.

Writing group scenes is chaos. Someone’s talking, someone’s interrupting, someone’s zoning out thinking about breadsticks. And if you’re not careful, half your cast fades into the background like NPCs in a video game. I used to struggle with this so much—my characters would just exist in the scene without actually affecting it. But here’s what I've learned and have started implementing:

✨ Give everyone a job in the scene ✨

Not their literal job—like, not everyone needs to be solving a crime or casting spells. I mean: Why are they in this moment? What’s their role in the conversation?

My favourite examples are:

The Driver: Moves the convo forward. They have an agenda, they’re pushing the action.

The Instigator: Pokes the bear. Asks the messy questions. Stirring the pot like a chef on a mission.

The Voice of Reason: "Guys, maybe we don’t commit arson today?"

The Distracted One: Completely in their own world. Tuning out, doodling on a napkin, thinking about their ex.

The Observer: Not saying much, but noticing everything. (Quiet characters still have presence!)

The Wild Card: Who knows what they’ll do? Certainly not them. Probably about to make things worse.

If a character has no function, they’ll disappear. Give them something—even if it’s just a side comment, a reaction, or stealing fries off someone’s plate. Keep them interesting, and your readers will stay interested too.

I feel like jason would be the one to recommend books to damian

And not any classical/non-fiction stuff, as the kid had already read that kind of stuff, but his favorites from when he himself was a kid

the outsiders; that one got jason a knife thrown at him from a red-eyed 12 year old… who then proceeded to sit down and talk with jason for hours about the book, and a few nights later they watch the movie

jason was going to be gone for a month, an outlaws thing, and decided to give the kid a series to start going through, percy jackson. by the time jason comes back, the kid just shoves a notebook in his hands. damian had written detailed notes, when there was misinformation, and of course; why he loved certain parts. they spend a few hours discussing again. over the next week the watch the movies. ‘what was that abomination?! if i hadn’t read the books it would be… okay i suppose.., but it’s not book accurate’ and then the TV show, ‘tt, better than the movies’

the giver; jason read this one WITH damian, remembering that he loved the book, but not much else of it. they would sit for some time before and after patrol reading together to unwind, which lead to finishing the book quickly, and then watching the movie. ‘why is there a film for everything?’ ‘fine we’ll turn it off-’ ‘that’s not what i said! don’t!!’

jason felt his heart swell when he came to his room and found the first three books to the series of unfortunate events. which has been on his list but he’s been a bit busy with yk, being dead and the trauma after yada yada yada, jason’s trying not to dwell on that part too much

he was just really happy with having time to just read and enjoy himself again, especially with his little brother

Robin, anytime they can’t get into something: I found a key.

Robin: *holding a big rock*

Steve, supportive best friend: No worries, guys! Robin found a key.

Hopper, whose car is locked: No she did not!

Whenever I talk about whatever media I’m into at the moment imagine I am presenting the characters to you like this

erasermice

Destroy all the bots, except for the haiku bot. That one gets to stay

Girl when I tell you my life flashed before my eyes

It's easier to accept that you're aromantic once you understand that what you want isn't romance per se and it's really the companionship that appeals to you. I never actually liked the thought of being in a relationship but I liked the thought of being important to someone

as an aroace, im particularly dangerous, because i wont fuck or marry. i only know how to kill.

Yes I know its supposed to hurt, yes I know there are rough patches, yes I know that’s not how it happens, yes I know it’s not realistic, it’s not gritty, yes I know that’s not what fate, the gods, the writers say. Yes and yes and yes I know I know I promise you I know-

But what if

things got better?

things could get better?

what if love didn’t always have to bleed?

what if pain wasn’t inherently more valuable than care?

what if those who thought themselves out of reach still had unconditional love?

what if those trying their best to shoulder the burdens of responsibility got to share the weight?

what if family was supportive, and protective?

what if they grew, what if they learned?

what if they got to get up the next day and keep going, not the same as before, but still getting through this?

what if they weren’t alone? not by circumstance, but by choice?

what if they could heal and you could too?

I know that’s not how it ends. I know it ends in pain and tears and a thousand split branches telling different stories, few of them any kind of joyful.

But maybe it doesn’t have to.

Maybe we pick the branch that bends skywards. Maybe that’s what we need.

Hope is a decision. Found family is deliberate.

Ultimately it’s your choice.

Play in the sand.

I don’t want mine to be full of glass.