#adhdwriter

HOW TO WRITE SMART CHARACTERS (or: how to write witty characters as a non-witty author)

Make them think before they speak

Give them time to plan off-screen

Let them notice small details others ignore

Have them ask the right questions, not just give answers

Let them predict consequences before others do

Give them expertise in one specific area

Have them connect two unrelated ideas

Let other characters seek their advice

Show them changing their strategy when something fails

Have them explain complex ideas simply

Let them win arguments by reframing the problem

Give them moments where they say very little but it matters

EXTRA TIP:

You have a secret weapon. And it's called editing! Real people must respond instantly. But writers get unlimited time to craft the perfect line. So your character doesn't need to be fast. They just need to say the smartest thing eventually.

I hope this helps!

Make the relationship feel real first Show small moments of affection and comfort so the loss feels personal.

Let the character notice the little absences The empty seat. The unread message. The quiet that used to be filled by someone else.

Focus on ordinary memories Heartbreak often lingers in mundane moments: inside jokes, favorite songs, shared routines.

Show how their world subtly changes Places feel different. Music feels sadder. Things they once loved feel empty.

Let them try to act normal People often pretend they’re fine long before they actually are.

Use silence and restraint Someone heartbreak is a character staring at their phone for ten minutes.

Let them remember the good parts The pain is stronger when the love was real.

Give them conflicting emotions They might miss someone while also knowing the relationship had to end.

Show how it affects their choices Heartbreak changes how people trust, hope, and move forward.

Leave something unsaid Sometimes the most painful part is the conversation that never happened.

A short post series about fleeting inspiration, false starts, and learning to love the creative sparks—even when they don’t catch fire. A Catalogue of Good Intentions (And What They Still Mean) I used to think that if I didn’t follow through on an idea, it didn’t count.If it didn’t become a finished project, if no one saw it, if I didn’t “do something” with it—then it was just wasted energy. A…