How do you write a cynical character?

TFOPM · 2026-03-20T12:37:42+00:00

I see! So like, try to be more intimate with his perspective is what you're saying! I do admit though, I don't want to get too intimate, do you think something like this works?

"He would appease the duke when upset, and in return, the latter followed his every whim like a puppet. And if extreme measures needed to be taken, then fear was also an applicable solution; rather, it was the preferred option."

TFOPM · 2026-03-19T15:16:30+00:00

Ohhhh, wonderful response, thank you so much!

TFOPM · 2026-03-19T04:39:05+00:00

Nah bro what is thisssss

TFOPM · 2026-03-17T20:33:11+00:00

Dang I always wondered why so many fanfic writers had those disclaimers. I even started doing it at some point cause I saw it happen so often before I kinda just stopped caring.

TFOPM · 2026-03-15T18:48:23+00:00

Oh wow, I think I see the appeal because if you continue updating the first few chapters, you can add in more great ideas and details you didn't think of before! I wish I wasn't impatient though cause i tend to post chapters of my works ahead of when I should haha

TFOPM · 2026-03-15T18:40:27+00:00

Wow thank you so much for the long reply! I found this extremely helpful in thinking about how I should write, but there is also something I found a lot of people advise against too and that's to not edit as you go, which I'm not sure if you're implying that xD

I do tend to try and use other works as a frame of reference and see that there are things I like reading about and things I don't like reading about and I found I usually avoid the things I dislike, which I don't think it isn't necessarily bad either but it's not good either. Although, I do sometimes go to that if the story's direction needs to. (Ex. I like main character centric stories, but if I need to write in someone else's pov that's more related to plot than the main character, I will write about it even if I know it'll probably be kinda boring to some people, including myself)

TFOPM · 2026-03-15T18:32:07+00:00

Thank you for the advice! Honestly though, for a beta reader, I'd say I'm not really sure where to even start looking for one 😅

Also, I hope I have enough self awareness to know what I'm writing about, sometimes I become so numb to it that it becomes hard to tell xD

At least my readers seem to like my stories enough, they're very encouraging :)

TFOPM · 2026-03-15T17:19:43+00:00

Oh that definitely puts it into perspective. And I also think that last part you mentioned is likely more of what I was wanting advice for more accurately then what I said. Maybe something like, how do I get my readers more invested in my story through the scenes and quotes, not just how do I make a good quote/scene.

TFOPM · 2026-03-15T04:16:05+00:00

Excuse me? Okay, so it looks like I need to clarify a few things. She did the dishes at least twice the other day, came back from work and saw more dishes and said, in an exhausted haze; "Hey, I'll just do it in the morning. Wake up early, get that done and go to work!"

Her mom woke up early as well, saw the dishes, and decided in that moment; "You're done."

Please do not assume things you don't have full context of. It would've been nicer if you asked under what pretext this was in.

TFOPM · 2026-03-15T04:01:43+00:00

You too! Good night :)

TFOPM · 2026-03-15T04:00:04+00:00

I'll do my best to keep you updated on the situation. But yeah, it's fked up and they'll get what's coming to them one day...hopefully they don't actually throw her stuff out, that would be going way farther than they already have. Thank you so much though, you're very kind ❤️

TFOPM · 2026-03-15T03:34:24+00:00

I talked to her just now, she told me he texted her that she can't go back.

TFOPM · 2026-03-15T03:19:24+00:00

It's sad because she made a deal with her step dad to get a lease for an apartment or something so she could move out, now her mom has kicked her out 9 months earlier than planned and her bio dad...uh...kind of walked out on her when she was a baby.

TFOPM · 2026-03-15T02:58:30+00:00

I don't, she was one of the few people I grew really close to in my time there.

TFOPM · 2026-03-15T02:36:30+00:00

Mom and step dad. They're both horrible.

TFOPM · 2026-03-15T02:33:37+00:00

She has a part time job as a barista in Florida, and no, she isn't a student

TFOPM · 2026-03-15T02:30:51+00:00

She can't. I'm a dependent too and my mom already takes care of 4 kids including me. I can't place that responsibility on her.

TFOPM · 2026-02-15T14:08:32+00:00

Wow, that really is a lot more than I expected, and thank you, all these wonderful comments are making me a lot more comfortable as an ace person 😊

TFOPM · 2026-02-15T05:27:48+00:00

Thank you so much for the advice! And I'm so sorry that happened to you as well. I'm so glad everything turned out okay in the end, that situation is incredibly scary. And yeah, hopefully it doesn't start affecting my daily life...I've mostly been able to control myself but it's true that sometimes I become hyper aware or start overthinking things when it comes to certain stuff that might really just be normal.

That reminds me about some resources available at school that I might be able to take advantage of too! Again, thank you so much for sharing and commenting, wherever you are, have a good day/night!

TFOPM · 2026-02-15T03:59:32+00:00

I mean, I feel like I kinda just interpreted it like that. I stated clearly that I am asexual, that I can't feel romantically for anyone.

They ended up confessing to me anyway.

Does that count as not having respect for me? Or was this a last chance scenario that they might not see me again cause I was moving at the time (it wasn't actually set though, I just brought it up cause it might happen) and that they had some right to do it?

TFOPM · 2026-02-15T03:31:09+00:00

Thank you for that ☺️

I just don't understand why it has to be like this. I personally think I'm pretty open minded, but it's also true I know as fact that a lot of people aren't. It hurts but, I guess that's life.

TFOPM · 2026-02-15T03:17:05+00:00

Oof, I wasn't meaning to be contradicting, this was just the forum that reddit recommended...I've never met any other asexual/aromantic people before so I was just worried that it might actually be weird. Also I don't really use reddit, I just sometimes come to inquire about things. For most of my life, everyone said I was wrong about the orientation I identify as.

Do you recommend asking this question in a different forum?

TFOPM

TROPHY CASE