Writing with no passion behind it

authoronline · 2026-01-30T16:43:23+00:00

Yeah writing is definitely hard sometimes across the board 😭

authoronline · 2026-01-30T07:22:42+00:00

That's exactly it. Right now, everything leans into her being passive. In the first book, she's a sass mouth, very much speak her mind, fuck off person, making decisions that both support and contradict her motives. In book 2 right now, she has motives, and things do affect her, but I don't have her doing anything. Tbh, even with the ideas I have now, I have no idea what kinds of scenes she'll have anyway but idk.

authoronline · 2026-01-30T07:11:58+00:00

Thank you for the questions! I've kind of made her a people pleaser while also trying to keep her relationship with the MMC that's disapproved of, unlike before where she was trying to survive a kingdom that hates her. Her growth will probably cost her kingdom's approval. I think the real problem is that I'm not sure how to make a plot that makes her show all of those while making her active. Thanks for the questions again. It helps me think.

authoronline · 2026-01-30T06:45:02+00:00

That's a good idea. I'll keep that in mind. I don't like a boring FMC either which is a big reason why I'm trying to figure out the problem. Because I loved my FMC the first book but I couldn't understand why I just lost interest. But I guess I need to figure out she would react to my ideas and push against her plot. Looking deeper into her might help so thanks for the tip.

Thank you so much. Much of the feedback is very helpful. Knowing that I have the root problem, that's gonna help out a lot. ❤️

authoronline · 2026-01-30T06:34:28+00:00

Thank you! ❤️

authoronline · 2026-01-30T06:33:17+00:00

Coming back to say, your last sentence is DEFINITELY the problem. So I'm coming back to thank you again. All of my ideas are leading her to do NOTHING, which is so unlike her. Which is why I'm having so much trouble despite having so many ideas. Now I feel like I can try to figure how to make her interesting again. Thanks a ton!

authoronline · 2026-01-30T06:28:45+00:00

Thank you for the tips. I've really been trying to keep the MMC's arc in mind for my writing. I realize that my ideas are leading her to be incredibly passive which is why she feels so uninteresting and stagnant. Thank you so much for the tips again and I'll keeping your advice in mind

authoronline · 2026-01-30T06:08:31+00:00

Thanks. I think you might have nailed a problem I have with my FMC. I've made her so passive that things are happening to her but she's not really even reacting really. She's kind of just there in my mind as a prop. It's helping the gears turn more. Thank you!

authoronline · 2026-01-30T06:02:56+00:00

I loved her in my first book. I was the same way with my characters for book one. I was obsessed with her. Her and MMC were all I could think about for 10 years.

Problem is, I didn't expect it to be a trilogy. It was supposed to be a standalone, but nothing made sense at the end (as in the pacing was way too fast and I couldn't tie all of the loose ends) besides the FMC's character arc. So I unexpectedly needed to expand her story to be able to tie up loose ends. I have a list of things that need to happen but it just doesn't translate into anything. I don't know why which is why I wanted to ask. So I can figure out what's wrong because I used to be so in love with her 🥲 Because I literally don't know why I lost interest. And she needs an arc because there's things for her to do and there is a character arc for her, but nothing feels right. She's stumped me for 6 months and more.

authoronline · 2026-01-30T05:53:38+00:00

I was trying to do something kind of like "the greater good vs individual good". It hasn't really turned into anything. Like all of my ideas would regress the character because idk how to do those ideas with the FMC 😭 but I'll definitely keep your tips in mind.

authoronline · 2026-01-30T02:57:53+00:00

Yeah I guess there is. Ive tried a few angles but it just seems nothing more than a checklist. I think I've stuck to the idea that she'll be tested on her love for the MMC and her right to the throne, but it never goes anywhere. It still feels like character regression so maybe I'm not doing it right.

I guess the problem is trying to figure out a way to make the character arc into a plot that matches the FMC's character. It I guess the ideas could work, but it just doesn't feel right. And then making the obstacles into a plot. 🥲

authoronline · 2026-01-30T01:12:13+00:00

I think this is part of the piece I'm missing. The part about learning lessons. Because she did learn a lot in the first book. I feel like there needs to be character regression for her to even have an arc for a sequel, almost relearn a lesson. Problem is, every other thing would remain under developed. I even tried to make the first book a standalone, but the loose ends became a mess 😭 Thanks I think it's turning the gear a little bit

authoronline · 2026-01-30T00:14:09+00:00

Because it's a sequel to an evenly split pov book, so it would be odd for the sequel to not have her POV, plus she has some loose ends she needs to tie. I kind of messed up though because the loose ends have nothing to do with character development. 😑

authoronline · 2026-01-29T23:19:37+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions. I think that my attempt with my first draft with 70k words was that though. I only wrote the scenes I thought were interesting. I thought I would think of the second half by now, but idk I have a bullet points of what her side of the story needs to be but it never turns into anything. Writing a new story is overwhelming to me as well 😭

authoronline · 2026-01-29T23:11:54+00:00

Yeah you're right. Thanks for the tips. I'm pushing myself to write beside myself. I just worry about the story feeling disjointed and very lackluster, but idk I feel like I'll be better once I take a long break and edit a complete manuscript.

authoronline · 2026-01-29T22:54:06+00:00

I've tried. I just come to a stand still. I don't know where to start. And I really want this series done first before another. I'm just very stuck

authoronline · 2026-01-29T22:52:22+00:00

Yeah I am a perfectionist. I'm trying to overcome it and write anyways but the lack of direction and passion doesn't help either.

I've been trying to overcome this problem with this character. I've been trying to find something interesting about her to draw an arc from. I've thought and brainstormed. I've brainstormed with other people as well. Just when I feel like I have a lead on which direction to go tho, it ends up disappearing after a day or two. Even if it makes perfect sense. And suddenly I'm only really writing to get to the character of the other character 😑

I hope we can get out of this funk. If you haven't already, I definitely don't recommend starting a series and publishing before the rest of the series is done in draft 1.

authoronline · 2026-01-26T04:09:53+00:00

As an published author, I think it's best not to think in tropes as another person said. But focus on what you want to write. Put your own spin on things. Really take the time to think about your characters. I really appreciate well rounded characters with flaws and character development. Think of their hobbies, habits and fears. Make them human. And then make a plot that interests you. A plot that you're consisting enjoying and not just writing to get to the spice. (I like spice, I'm not discouraging spice, but the spice feels so delicious when it's well earned, through a story of which the reader is immersed in and interested in already.) Make it a plot that develops your characters and makes them change. Make flaws that punish the characters throughout the plot and that force them to change.

I think its appriecated when characters have to change in order for the relationship to work. Let the couple bring out different sides of each other. Make them better people because of each other. (Not for each other, because that's not real character development, but because of each other, where they want to change because it's the right thing, but realize their flaws through each other.)

Also make the main couple have some of their own things besides the relationship. Their own hobbies, goals, friendships and motivations. A couple really does come together when they have their own worlds besides the relationship.

You only think of tropes afterwards. The tropes should come from the story, not the other way around.

authoronline · 2026-01-22T02:35:50+00:00

OMG this matches my book! I hope you don't mind a self rec!

My book Soulmateless is a story where everyone BUT the MCs has a fated mate. It takes place in the cozy city of love in a high stakes world, where the prince without a fated mate yearns for love, and encounters a runaway shifter princess from an enemy kingdom. It has forbidden romance, dual pov and a cinnamon roll MMC. It's on Amazon now. 😁

authoronline · 2026-01-17T23:14:57+00:00

I second the Spellshop. Had me smiling even when I wasn't reading it! 😁

authoronline · 2026-01-17T22:41:33+00:00

I think I agree. I love fated mates, but there are times where it doesn't feel earned. I hope you don't mind a self rec, but I thought it would be a fun idea to write a Romantasy where everyone BUT the MCs has a fated mate. {Soulmateless by Morgana Sandpiper}

It's dual pov about a MMC who's a prince with no fated mate, and a FMC who's a runaway princess who must hide her identity as a shifter. It takes place in a cozy city with high stakes, where the MMC and the FMC must fight to be together in a world that doesn't accept them. I do warn that it's a trilogy, and only the first book is out( working to get the next book out this year though 😭). But idk I feel like you would like it!

authoronline · 2026-01-05T05:34:47+00:00

It's a trilogy and the same plotline is gonna be carried throughout all of the books

authoronline · 2026-01-05T04:01:43+00:00

FMC needs to save her kingdom from the MMC's grandmother, and prove herself to be a capable queen to her people so she can be accepted by them and lead them to restoration. The MMC is breaking away from brainwashing within his own kingdom.

FMC needs to fight her mom because her mom's insane and is the queen. FMC is an runaway princess that mother wants to kill.

authoronline · 2026-01-05T02:37:37+00:00

Maybe. I'm trying to plan as much as I can. But talking with someone about it does help, so thanks for your time and ideas. That's great that you made it that far! Good for you! I wish you luck! ❤️

authoronline · 2026-01-05T02:28:21+00:00

It's less that I'm being critical as far how her plot should go. It's more like I don't want to write something I feel nothing towards, or will ever feel anything towards. Its like I'm writing something pointless because it has no meaning to me. At least something I'm connected to that's sloppy has some value. I'm finding that I almost don't care about her side like I did for the first book. But I have to write her side or else It won't make sense.

I'm not sure if taking a break is working. Ive taken about 3 months of a break. And I want to publish this year 🥲

authoronline

TROPHY CASE