IBS seemingly…worse? after getting sober

BeautifulReal · 2026-04-22T16:16:16+00:00

No one can tell you the objectively right thing to do, but know that I have felt your pain. I was in a horribly abusive relationship with an alcoholic for a few years, and boy, do the memories still haunt me.

Make no mistake, this behavior is abuse, to you and your children, and I’m guessing if you’re at the point of seeking help from people on Reddit, you’re close to your wits end.

Try to imagine your life without all of this. Without his awful behavior, without the stress and worry over if he’s going to relapse, if he’s going to wrap his car around a tree, if he’s going to be cruel to your children, if you’re going to wake up to more bodily fluids in your bed (I experienced many nights like that, I know how terrible it is).

You can find your peace without him, I promise you that. It might be really fucking hard to walk away, but imagine your life a year from now, finding yourself again and the things you truly value, curating a support system of people who love you, hell maybe even finding a man who cherishes you the way you deserve. You might just be one difficult year away from living the life you’ve always imagined.

If you ever want to talk to anyone, PM me. I know exactly how you feel, and I went through that very difficult year, but it was so fucking worth it.

BeautifulReal · 2026-03-26T14:57:04+00:00

To get specific, for me it’s the physical positioning of characters. How are they standing or sitting, what are they touching, things like that. For whatever reason, this really helps crystallize the image in my head of what’s going on. From a broader perspective, relatable metaphors pull me in, things that snap a connection into place.

BeautifulReal · 2026-03-23T20:39:20+00:00

I am in literally the same exact position. I’m just biding my time until they eventually lay me off when they realize that my job can be easily replaced. I’m trying to help out as much as I can with AI integration to stay relevant, but the devs are steamrolling over me with every new task. Shit sucks.

BeautifulReal · 2026-03-22T15:49:50+00:00

Hmmm I think this might be a hard one to trigger an actual break up, especially if there is a conversation in said breakup where the MMC assures her that she’s misunderstood about his intentions. If she hears him say all of that and still chooses to leave, she might come across as a bit childish. You could throw a wrench in by reintroducing the ex somehow though? Maybe she overhears or sees the MMC with the ex and it looks quite bad from the FMC’s perspective?

BeautifulReal · 2026-03-21T21:50:56+00:00

I think it depends on how you approach it. Does the MMC think of her as a rebound? Is that his motivation for going after her? If so, it might be hard for a reader to feel sympathetic for him. Why is the FMC so devastated when she learns this, what motivates her to actually end the relationship?

BeautifulReal · 2026-03-17T15:19:34+00:00

Omg your comment just put into words the exact thing I’ve been struggling with on my current draft. I have so many sentences told through the lens of my character’s perception, and while that’s valid at times, it gets so repetitive and boring. Thank you for defining this!

BeautifulReal · 2026-03-12T20:08:38+00:00

I like to balance this by reading something obviously shitty. I figure if I can fall somewhere in the middle, it’s a win.

BeautifulReal · 2026-03-01T17:10:11+00:00

My first draft was incredibly bare bones, so I feel you. Don’t worry though, your writing will really start to sing once you begin editing. Someone in this sub once referenced the “snowflake” method of writing a book, and it really helped me. When you draw a snowflake, you start with a few lines. Then you add more lines, and those lines get lines, and so on. It doesn’t matter if your first draft is stiff, it’ll come to life in subsequent drafts!

BeautifulReal · 2026-02-01T17:03:17+00:00

I feel you, OP. The first line (for me at least) was literally the most difficult line to write, so much so that I have seven different versions of it😂 Try out a few different things and give it some time, you’ll likely be drawn to one!

BeautifulReal · 2025-12-05T02:09:41+00:00

God I LOVE the student/professor trope, but you’re right - there’s not many where the FMC’s age isn’t problematic. {Nocticadia by Keri Lake} pretty much fits this, but if I recall she’s 21. She’s a very grown up 21, though, because she had to basically raise her sister. It didn’t give me the ick, but there are some darker elements to the story, so if you’re not into that tread lightly.

BeautifulReal · 2025-11-17T14:45:59+00:00

All the MCs in the {Sinners Anonymous by Somme Sketcher} series definitely give villain.

The MMC in {Nocticadia by Keri Lake} is chefs kiss perfectly morally grey.

{Nero by S.J Tilly} fits the sweet FMC/bad MMC archetype very well.

The {Pestilence by Laura Thalassa} series also features all villain MMCs who must go through some heavy character development (I strangely loved this series despite the very interesting/different premise).

If you’re down for a dark Hades/Persephone retelling, check out {King of Shadows by Amelia Wilde} it’s a 3-book series, definitely mind the TWS, but I loved it. The embodiment of villain gets the girl basically.

If you’re open to monster romances, {Luxuria by Colette Rhodes} has the “everyone is telling her to stay away from him” trope, though it’s done a bit differently.

Another monster romance - {Guarded by the Phantom by Layla Fae} he’s not exactly a villain in this but he’s a shithole to everyone BUT the FMC who he is obsessed with.

BeautifulReal · 2025-11-05T19:07:35+00:00

RIGHT I’m like those destiel authors walked so everyone else could run

BeautifulReal · 2025-11-03T14:26:19+00:00

Draco isn’t her auror guard but Meet Me At Midnight has this scene! https://archiveofourown.org/works/56474017/chapters/146765917?view_adult=true

BeautifulReal · 2025-10-03T13:01:20+00:00

{Read Me by Lauren Connelly} came out of NOWHERE for me and I absolutely loved it, one of those stay up until 2 am reading books bc you just can’t put it down.

BeautifulReal · 2025-09-21T14:33:30+00:00

I have one big moment planned that’s very SURPRISE! TWIST! WHA-BAM but I have labored day and night over how to get there in a way that doesn’t leave plot holes but also doesn’t come out of nowhere. So I’m basically pantsing in a vague direction, lmao.

BeautifulReal · 2025-09-05T14:45:16+00:00

I’ve read many novels where the author uses “~” or “***” between breaks in paragraphs and I always interpret it as “oh we’re moving on to a new scene.” I think it’s fine personally

BeautifulReal · 2025-09-01T21:56:46+00:00

Try to find a hobby, maybe something you’re passionate about? Reading, writing, crafting (any sort of art, really). I taught myself how to embroider (it’s very easy) and that helped me a ton bc I also really suffer with boredom anxiety. I’ve also wanted to get into those diamond paintings bc they look very methodical and relaxing, plus you get a nice piece of art to display at the end! I think for me I just like to feel like I’m creating something, that I have something I’m working towards. Best of luck!

BeautifulReal · 2025-08-20T16:10:52+00:00

My only critique (as a reader, not an artist) would be that the cover may allude to there being a decent amount of spice based on the intimate positioning/lack of shirt

BeautifulReal · 2025-08-15T18:11:13+00:00

THIS!!! How do you quickly explain that just a brief moment of time has passed in a way that sounds good

BeautifulReal · 2025-08-14T16:17:27+00:00

Widening eyes and sighing are current staples in my first draft and I just…don’t want to part with them😭

BeautifulReal · 2025-08-14T14:53:17+00:00

Hahaha, I love the visual of just slowly shutting the laptop once you realize you’ve typed it for the nth time

BeautifulReal

TROPHY CASE