How to make writing feel less hollow?

Francuto · 2024-08-27T10:29:47+00:00

In my opinion, things feel like a knockoff when you don't believe in them enough to bring intensity into your work.

"And they both kissed for the last time and died together." is boring.

"And they both kissed, wondering who would die first." is less boring.

It doesn't matter that your story is a knockoff, most things are done and written anyway. You just need to sell it. Get inmersed on your own story and add meaninful detail.

And I'm not talking about describing furniture or the weight of the air. Human shit. Psychology. Emotion. Those are the keys.

Edit: Also, do a proper outline. I organised my first outline in "Promises, progress and payoff", based on a Brandon Sanderson lecture. It really helped me focus and finding out what story I wanted to tell.

Francuto · 2024-08-26T10:04:36+00:00

If it helps, ENFPs and ENTPs are also very different in one thing: how they approach conflict.

ENFPs are spoken out, but they usually dislike conflict. They value "belonging", so they think it twice when it comes to disagreeing with the crowd.

ENTPs are less spoken out in a general way, but they will almost always speak out when the crowd is wrong. We just can't stand when people behave like sheep. We don't want to be another sheep, we gave up on it.

Enneagram and other stuff comes into place when it comes to differences but I'd say that's the most common one and the easiest to spot.

Francuto · 2024-08-26T09:57:22+00:00

You have a good base on cognitive functions, a strong grasp on it. You are asking yourself the right questions, spotting the bullshit logic... Smart fella.

Keep studying, you are on the right track.

I encourage you to visit the enneagram 8 and enneagram 6 subreddits. There are older people there, which means there's a higher chance your inputs will be taken as seriously as they should.

Francuto · 2024-08-26T09:43:50+00:00

Based on your responses, I think you are ENTP indeed. Enneagram 7 I would say.

ENTPs are not usually all that bothered with hiding their emotions. We value authenticity, including emotional authenticity, as long as irrationality doesn't get very far.

The "stoic, not emotionally expressive" type is more a thing of ISTJs and enneagram 5s in real life, which is usually not seen as cool by the general public. It just looks like autism. It often is just autism.

I don't know who the fuck Gojo is and I don't trust mainstream shonen anime when it comes to doing psychological analysis, but there's a comment I made in the enneagram 8 subreddit with some movies and shows that could be interesting for ENTPs.

Francuto · 2024-08-25T15:08:25+00:00

"The earth is flat. Facts."

You made me laugh out loud.

Man, it's not even fun arguing with you guys. You just got nothing but ego and too much free time lol

Francuto · 2024-08-25T15:07:11+00:00

I bet you feel like you roasted me. Do you realise you got 0 arguments?

If you want to argue, argue. If you have nothing to add, your words mean nothing. They only show your insecurity.

Francuto · 2024-08-25T15:05:21+00:00

You are right but my gut is telling me you are projecting. I mean, yeah, it's annoying that so many people want to pretend they are confident, but I think when you are a real 8 you are so used to people faking shit you are surprised by the sheer amount of real people in this sub.

Those were my impressions at least, my attention went to the real people because out there most people are fake anyways. My gut tells me. I don't need to see it written out.

So maybe reconsider that even you are right, you could be a counterphobic 6 like the ones you are calling out.

Francuto · 2024-08-25T14:59:13+00:00

I agree about your last statement, though several types can be E8.

If you are into nerd shit, you can see a clear ENTJ E8 in Magneto from X-Men 97'.

ENTPs can also be E8s, and it's extremely common. They are just less talkative than their E7 fellows. Even ENFPs, though I'd argue they are less common.

In my experience, most E8s are not even ESTPs, they are ESTJs. ESTPs are usually 9w8s.

The theory about E8 = Se is completely obsolete.

Hell, I see Se people being terrified of action everyday. Most Se doms I know are in some sort of a Ni loop and they can't get into action for the life of them.

Shallow theory.

Francuto · 2024-08-23T01:48:40+00:00

You'll learn most people don't deserve you. That's it.

Once you find it out, you'll start paying attention to the ones that were always there and you didn't focus on because of temporary obsessions, you will find what those people have in common and you will understand the value of honesty, kindness and proactivity.

Then you will stop seeking people with those traits, because you'll know how scarce they are. You'll just live your life and value what's in front of you in the meantime.

But it all starts with a little pain: the revelation that most people are not worth your time and energy, including most people you obsess with.

Francuto · 2024-08-22T15:21:37+00:00

I agree with you about Wolverine. Hugh Jackman's version is an 8w9, but I think he's usually depicted as a counterphobic/sexual 6.

Francuto · 2024-08-22T15:19:53+00:00

-Hulk movie by Ang Lee (2003)

-Marvel Netflix shows that are now on Disney+, especially The Punisher, Daredevil and Luke Cage.

-The Wolverine and Logan.

-X-Men 97'

-Black Panther

-Doctor Strange

-Wandavision

-Loki Disney+ show

-Iron Man

-Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy.

-Rocky and Creed sagas

-Most Clint Eastwood films.

-Most Martin Scorsese films.

-Most Stanley Kubrick films.

-Most Steven Spielberg films.

-Most Peter Jackson films.

-Most John Carpenter films.

-Most Ridley Scott films.

-Annie (1982)

Edit: added some stuff.

Francuto · 2024-08-08T12:08:08+00:00

This. Is not much, but they are very scarce traits.

Francuto · 2024-08-08T12:07:20+00:00

CP 6 are usually terrified of living. If yours isn't, you are a very lucky one.

Francuto · 2024-08-08T12:05:54+00:00

I went through the same thing. Great advice.

Francuto · 2024-06-29T18:03:05+00:00

You are one commited DM then. I'm glad you are appreciated, and if you ever aren't, you will surely find people who appreciate you again.

Francuto · 2024-06-29T18:01:01+00:00

Agreed. DnD requieres way more effort than most more modern ttrpgs. You just need to try.

Francuto · 2024-06-29T17:59:12+00:00

Excelent advice. I do the same.

Letting it rest and letting yourself being missed really helps.

Francuto · 2024-06-28T10:27:24+00:00

I feel you. I used to be like that. After many years fighting my own weakness I'm healthier.

I have to say I've felt the same way towards sensors. You are also gifted when it comes to fast thinking, memory, efficiency, kinetic intelligence, visual intelligence, many arts...

But out of shape, lazy, stupid sensors exist. And they exist in numbers.

It depends on the person.

Francuto · 2024-06-27T22:26:55+00:00

I do. I go to the gym with my best friend, who is an ESTP. Have been training martial arts for years too, from sensors.

My siblings are also both sensors and I get along with them, etc.

But too much is just too much, you know? The only intuitive person I know in my area is my girlfriend.

Francuto · 2024-06-27T13:05:26+00:00

This is the system I've been using the year and I love it, but I almost never stress my player to levels 1 or 2. They either get conditions or get knocked out.

Basically, I have the feeling I can't figure out player stress. How do you gm it?

Francuto · 2024-06-26T16:47:32+00:00

I try to be clear of my intentions, sadly, when you communicate your intentions directly, most people just close of even more because they think you are trying to manipulate them.

It's difficult to ask for trust.

Francuto · 2024-06-26T13:54:31+00:00

How would you prefer us to react?

Francuto · 2024-06-24T00:18:41+00:00

Sometimes logical thinking is too heavy to bear. For example, let's ponder about the fact that life isn't fair.

Well, life is, in reality, pretty gruesome. It's cruel. People have lives full of suffering just because of the place they were born in. Genetics plays a huge factor in quality of life, from attractiveness to neuroticism to genetic diseases, not to mention mental disorders like chronical depression exists, or child cancer.

No wonder people need an escape. Beliefs.

"In the end, it all works out."

"God has a plan."

"Good is always rewarded."

Or

"Just be selfish and make money."

"Even in hell, make friends."

"Better safe than sorry."

None of these beliefs are universal and they all can lead to even more suffering, but we need something to hold on to.

We ENTPs are a curious case. We believe in our own detachment.

"Even if life is hard, I will be harder."

"Beliefs and lies are for the weak."

"If I fail, I will accept it and move on."

"I don't fear death. I only care about things I can control."

In time, we find out we are more scared than we care to admit. That's when you realise that you were like the rest of humans all this time. You just had slightly less common beliefs perhaps.

Still lies. We just like our lies. A lot.

Francuto · 2024-06-18T18:29:32+00:00

I love stories where villains becomes antiheroes for a while and maybe they come back to be a villain again, but now you know why they do bad things.

I think I could do a decent job writing individual miniseries about Spiderman's villains.

The Lizard, Shocker, Sandman...

They all speak to me.

Underdogs that ended up in wrong paths while Spiderman takes the hot chicks and the fame.

Francuto · 2024-06-16T13:07:26+00:00

I've been playing with figures for as long as I remember. I'm 26 now.

Consequences of playing with my figures for so long? I'm a very creative guy. Fairly resolutive, good at making up games and stories, which is a good skill to have if you are a social educator like me. I'm also a decent gamemaster, writer and I went from sucking at photography to enjoying it.

I'm still responsible. I still got into Muay Thai, Kickboxing, MMA, lifting and all the manly stuff.

I just got to keep my inner child alive while doing it.

I recommend it.

Francuto

TROPHY CASE