totallynotobsessedspades
90 posts
Latest Posts by totallynotobsessedspades
The Legendary Scarlett and Browne SPOILERS
Let's gooooo!!!!!!
Shhh.. They're communicating..
Vale, ¡es el tiempo de chisme! Tengo un novio :)
we’ve been dating for like 8 months but we’ve known each other for like 5 years as friends which I really like since we know we enjoy being around each other a lot!
we actually first became friends because we were both story people who liked talking about fandoms and such before we even knew fandoms were a thing. So pretty much every time we see each other we’re like “do you have any new story ideas?”
also he’s like one of the nicest most considerate people I know which is really nice :)
Funny story, we met just around when I was first thinking I might not be entirely straight and discovering the queer community. He was like “I’m straight but I support you!” and then we both discovered he was not actually straight which I think happens a lot to gay people
anyway this wasn’t actually very gossipy but it’s romantic so I’ll share it :D . I’m honestly really happy in our relationship! He’s super thoughtful and gives me cool gifts related to my fandom interests and has a really nice fashion sense. We had a little Valentine’s Day date which mostly involved going to the library and doing duolingo and eating chocolate strawberries and watching frozen 2. (oh another thing is I’m always like “have you done you duolingo??!?” every time we see each other because he somehow has a crazy high streak idk how he does it)
he is also very into making physical crafts too! He makes Halloween costumes every year and has this whole crafty corner with a leaf drying rack made of sticks and cloth and bottles of ink and flowers and it’s very pintrest esque
sorry this may have become Rosie rambles about their awesome boyfriend hours but I hope you enjoyed <3. Wishing you the best!
TIENES UN NOVIO?? VERDAD?? HELLO??? New Rosie lore!! This is so sweet my god. I'm so thrilled for you! You can't see it but imagine me doing lil claps rn, because that's what I'm doing. I am very much enjoying the rambles.
this may be the aromantic in me but friends to dating always just makes so much more sense to me than trying to start with a stranger romantically. of course no judgment to anyone who does that, i'm just a different kind of person. for exactly your same reasons!! you get to know them and you know you like spending time around each other. chef's kiss !!
and the mutual self-discovery!! my partner and I did a similar thing where we started as the lesbians of the friend group (neither of us ID'd as lesbians but it was a lil joke thing they called us because we were, at the time, two girls dating), then both went hey. not a girl. also aromantic. qpr time? qpr time. (this was over the course of several years). it's a level of mortifying ordeal of being known i hadn't experienced before
also that valentines date sounds so sweet. libraries and language and movies?? it sounds like you two are quite happy together, and i'm happy for you!! here's to much more sweetness to come <33
Remember: the more difficult you make it for them to realize a report is false, the more useless you make the portal.
Tips for writing flawed but lovable characters.
Flawed characters are the ones we root for, cry over, and remember long after the story ends. But creating a character who’s both imperfect and likable can feel like a tightrope walk.
1. Flaws That Stem From Their Strengths
When a character’s greatest strength is also their Achilles' heel, it creates depth.
Strength: Fiercely loyal.
Flaw: Blind to betrayal or willing to go to dangerous extremes for loved ones.
“She’d burn the whole world down to save her sister—even if it killed her.”
2. Let Their Flaws Cause Problems
Flaws should have consequences—messy, believable ones.
Flaw: Impatience.
Result: They rush into action, ruining carefully laid plans.
“I thought I could handle it myself,” he muttered, staring at the smoking wreckage. “Guess not.”
3. Show Self-Awareness—or Lack Thereof
Characters who know they’re flawed (but struggle to change) are relatable. Characters who don’t realize their flaws can create dramatic tension.
A self-aware flaw: “I know I talk too much. It’s just… silence makes me feel like I’m disappearing.” A blind spot: “What do you mean I always have to be right? I’m just better at solving problems than most people!”
4. Give Them Redeeming Traits
A mix of good and bad keeps characters balanced.
Flaw: They’re manipulative.
Redeeming Trait: They use it to protect vulnerable people.
“Yes, I lied to get him to trust me. But he would’ve died otherwise.”
Readers are more forgiving of flaws when they see the bigger picture.
5. Let Them Grow—But Slowly
Instant redemption feels cheap. Characters should stumble, fail, and backslide before they change.
Early in the story: “I don’t need anyone. I’ve got this.”
Midpoint: “Okay, fine. Maybe I could use some help. But don’t get used to it.”
End: “Thank you. For everything.”
The gradual arc makes their growth feel earned.
6. Make Them Relatable, Not Perfect
Readers connect with characters who feel human—messy emotions, bad decisions, and all.
A bad decision: Skipping their best friend’s wedding because they’re jealous of their happiness.
A messy emotion: Feeling guilty afterward but doubling down to justify their actions.
A vulnerable moment: Finally apologizing, unsure if they’ll be forgiven.
7. Use Humor as a Balancing Act
Humor softens even the most prickly characters.
Flaw: Cynicism.
Humorous side: Making snarky, self-deprecating remarks that reveal their softer side.
“Love? No thanks. I’m allergic to heartbreak—and flowers.”
8. Avoid Overdoing the Flaws
Too many flaws can make a character feel unlikable or overburdened.
Instead of: A character who’s selfish, cruel, cowardly, and rude.
Try: A character who’s selfish but occasionally shows surprising generosity.
“Don’t tell anyone I helped you. I have a reputation to maintain.”
9. Let Them Be Vulnerable
Vulnerability adds layers and makes flaws understandable.
Flaw: They’re cold and distant.
Vulnerability: They’ve been hurt before and are terrified of getting close to anyone again.
“It’s easier this way. If I don’t care about you, then you can’t leave me.”
10. Make Their Flaws Integral to the Plot
When flaws directly impact the story, they feel purposeful rather than tacked on.
Flaw: Their arrogance alienates the people they need.
Plot Impact: When their plan fails, they’re left scrambling because no one will help them.
Flawed but lovable characters are the backbone of compelling stories. They remind us that imperfection is human—and that growth is possible.
^ fish in a birdcage mention ‼️
francis forever (mitski)
in the same boat (the lightning thief musical)
open arms (epic)
safe and sound (Taylor swift)
wouldn’t you like (epic)
bourgeoisieses (Conan gray)
my grand plan (the lightning thief musical)
flowers (hadestown)
i’m not that girl (wicked)
a loving feeling (mitski)
yeahhh this is a pretty accurate representation of my music taste
@writer-of-random-things (third notif just for funsies) @rosy-cozy-radio and anyone else!
tagged by @agentofchaosx thank uuuu!!
Rules: Shuffle your "On Repeat" playlist and post the first 10 songs, then tag 10 friends!
Rush - Troye Sivan
I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany
Pink Pony Club - Chappell Roan
Good Luck, Babe! - Chappell Roan
Sharks - Imagine Dragons
Talk Fast - 5 Seconds of Summer
De Shelby (Part 2) - Hozier
Guess - Charli xcx, Billie Eilish
so american - Olivia Rodrigo
Where Did The Party Go - Fall Out Boy
@dontknowanythingohwell @rinoune42 @thecommonmold @froginabogg @thenerdybard @soupdrinkinglincoln @snailsandstrawberries @absolutefilthimsosorry @denizoid @thatskeletonbitch if you guys want, or not tagged people please join in if you want to do it!
free resources to write a novel in 2024
hello hello! it's me, rach!
as the new year approaches, many of us set goals and resolutions - myself included. one of my goals for 2024 is to write a novel (I've been procrastinating on this for quite a long time now). i assume that some of you might have the same goal, that's why I'm writing this post today.
over 2023 i've been releasing some freebies for authors just like me, so I thought I could compile my favorites in this post. hope you find this useful :)
1) the writer's workbook
this workbook has over 60 exercises to help you develop characters, scenarios, etc. if you're ever stuck, I'm pretty sure this workbook will be your best friend.
2) author's corner (notion template)
this is the most downloaded freebie in my shop! it is a notion dashboard with everything you need to organize your writing and has some templates included (like scrivener)!!
3) another notion template
this one has two themes you can choose from: cottage-core and dark academia. they're very similar to the previous template, but this one is more recent and I added some new features. feel free to explore both and pick the one you like the most.
4) the author's journal
this is a cute printable with 20 pages that will help you stay on track and manage your social media accounts as a writer who shares their work online. you can also register what you're currently writing and your personal research and resources.
5) plan your book printable
this is a 6-page printable for you to fill out and plan your book easily and effectively.
6) excel sheet to organize tasks & word-count
this is a simple excel sheet, but it is very effective for keeping track of your tasks & word-count of your novels. also, it is 100% customizable to your liking!
that's all for now! feel free to explore my gumroad shop where I have plenty of freebies to grab! also, don't forget to subscribe so that you never miss any opportunity to get a goodie for free :)
hope this post was useful!
have a nice day,
rach
a week in the life of London's youngest agency head (insp.)
Drawing bases & references #34
some bases for your archer ocs 🏹🏹🏹
*ehem* I wanted to let you guys know I just posted a new article on my shops: a pack with all the PSDs of the bases I did on may! it has 68 files for you to use 😊 If you're interested, it's only 12usd (will change to 15usd in the future so go grab it now if you can!)
It's on my ko-fi and my (not so) new patreon page ✨✨ right now i'm only posting my free bases there as well, but I plan to open a tier with exclusive bases and more stuff in the near future 💖💖
Check links on my pinned post or bio 💖 ty for reading!
i just. i just think he's neat
erin/the void dragon is from @comicaurora
How to Make Readers Care About Your Plot
It's a funny little trick, really. Because the truth is readers don’t care about your plot.
They care about how your plot affects your characters. (Ah ha!)
You can have as many betrayals, breakups, fights, CIA conspiracies, evil warlords, double-crossings, sudden bouts of amnesia, comas, and flaming meteors racing directly toward Manhattan as you want.
But if readers don’t understand how those events will impact:
A character they care about
That character’s goal
The consequences of the event, whether positive or devastating
…then you may as well be shooting off firecrackers in an empty gymnasium.
Why Plot Without Character Falls Flat
Here’s an example:
A school burns down. Oh my god, the flames! The carnage! The dead and injured children! There are police everywhere—total chaos!
And your main character? Standing on the sidewalk, watching and crying.
Dramatic? Sure. But does the reader care? Not really. There’s no emotional connection, so it's basically a meaningless plot point.
Plot + Character Impact = Reader Investment
Now, let’s take the same event but give it stakes.
Meet Mary Ann. Mary Ann has been a middle school teacher for 25 years. This year, she gets a new student—Indigo. An unusual girl with clear troubles at home and a habit of burning things.
Mary Ann defends Indigo when the school administration wants to expel her, citing safety concerns. Mary Ann sees something familiar in Indigo—something that reminds her of her own sister, who was institutionalized as a child.
One day, Indigo explodes in rage, screaming, “Burn it down! I’ll burn this whole place down!”
Mary Ann is shaken. This isn’t just defiance—this is a real threat. She nearly sides with the administration but, haunted by her sister’s fate, fights for Indigo’s second chance.
Indigo is placed in counseling. A compromise that will hopefully solve the problem.
That night, Mary Ann sleeps soundly. She did the right thing. Didn’t she? But the next morning, on her drive to school, the radio blares an emergency bulletin. There's a fire at the school.
Mary Ann speeds through red lights. Her stomach twists. When she arrives… it’s too late.
Oh my god, the flames! The carnage! The dead and injured children!
The exact same plot point—but now it matters.
How to Make Your Plot Matter to Readers
The secret? Before you set something on fire (literally or figuratively), give your character—and thus your reader—a stake in the outcome.
1. Tie Events to Character Desires and Fears.
Why does this event matter to this character?
How does it challenge their values, beliefs, or personal history?
2. Make the Conflict Personal.
The fire isn’t just a disaster—it’s a gut-punch because Mary Ann fought for Indigo.
The outcome isn’t just tragic—it’s haunted by Mary Ann’s past regrets.
3. Show Consequences.
Readers need to feel what’s at stake before, during, and after the event.
The weight of the aftermath makes the plot stick in the reader’s mind.
The result? Higher engagement, deeper emotional connection, and a plot that actually matters.
Summary: It’s Not About the Events—It’s About the Impact on Your Characters
I used a fire in this example, but this applies to any plot development.
Even something subtle—a whispered secret, an unread letter, a missed train—can have devastating emotional weight if it affects your character in a meaningful way.
Make your readers care about your plot by making your character care about it first.
Hope this helps!
/ / / / /
@theliteraryarchitect is a writing advice blog run by me, Bucket Siler, a writer and developmental editor. For more writing help, download my Free Resource Library for Fiction Writers, join my email list, or check out my book The Complete Guide to Self-Editing for Fiction Writers.
@rosy-cozy-radio I LOVE YOUR BOYFRIEND
thanks for the tags!
favorite color: blue or purple
current read: the bluest eye (Toni Morrison) for English
last song: best friend by Conan gray
last movie: nezha 2 (which has really good animation!)
last show: I am nobody (异人之下)
sweet/savory/salty: sweet 100%
craving: hot chocolate and time to write
coffee or tea: if I had to choose, coffee. with a lot of milk and cream and sugar.
currently working on: also history hw, also about ww2!
uh i have no one else to tag so anyone who wants to join!
nine people i want to get to know better
thank u for the tag @moonshapedbox <3
favourite colour: black n pink!
currently reading: aces of spades by faridah àbíké-ĺyímídé!
last song: a house in nebraska
last movie: the matrix revolutions (2003)
last series: the crow girl (2025)
sweet, savoury, salty: hmm.. depends!
craving: fries!
tea/coffee: tea!!
currently working on: college assignments... and part two of a fanfic!
🏷 - @wildflowerdoeeyed @dollaches @maggierheesgirl @necktattooed @pinescent-and-gingerbread @red-doll-face @zloshy
never underestimate my ability to platonicaly yearn for somebody
The threat was loud and clear: Report your so-called “DEI” employees or else. What exactly “DEIA or similar ideologies” means is up in the air, but the message was out there. And so was the email address of the DEIA snitching hotline. Fake emails quickly started to roll in. ‘I don’t care, fuck these McCarthyite bastards,” one BlueSky user said, with an screenshot attached of an email to the hotline where he ironically reported Donald Trump and JD Vance for being “put in their positions solely because of their race and/or gender despite the fact that they are wholly unqualified for their jobs and, in some cases, have criminal records.” “Anyone have a script to fire off a billion e-mails an hour??” another user asked in the replies. “Anyone can email anything of any size even if it crashes the site,” one X user noted. The scope and effectiveness of this latest phase of Trump’s anti-DEI crusade remains to be seen.
I am so very normal about this
Drawing bases & pose references pt 63 🫶
3 extra drawings for patrons!
Drawing bases & pose references pt 62 🫶
3 extra drawings for patrons!
Here’s Lapis! Technically it’s her in my glitch au but since we don’t have context yet I’ll just call her happy lapis :)
also should out to @albanenechi for their wonderful pose references!
Just wanted to say I love your EPIC header, that line has been stuck in my head for days now :)
ANOTHER EPIC FAN! I’m obsessed with the new saga aaaaa
ITS STILL JANUARY I’M NOT LATE
also excited for silverborn and the fourth book of the Sir Callie series getting published!! i can’t start talking about the raven boys graphic novel or thisll turn into a ramble
@activatebutterflyshield @writer-of-random-things @ anyone else who likes talking about books :)
9 books I want to read in 2025, tagged by @livingasaghost and @mackaronicheese
Tagging @lgbtqforeverything @bookwyrminspiration @frecht and anyone else who wants to join in!
Drawing bases & pose references pt 46 ✨
There are 3 more poses for patrons today!
Drawing bases & pose references pt 47 ✨
There are 3 more poses for patrons!
Drawing bases #22
some sword poses, i plan to more like these c:
Pose references pt 17 🌈
more bases for pride before the month ends 😭😭
some Wicked realism portrait studies of the gals
og’s:
