Helpful writing tips in subtlety.
Don't forget to put some really subtle stuff into your writing!
A character doesn't like your main character so they don't use preferred names? Build it up! Slowly but surely, they start to like them and use the preferred name more often over time.
More characters don't like your main character for no discernable reason? No one has to know right away! Just make them embittered in small ways that aren't immediately obvious until it finally comes up and can't be ignored later on.
Going from the perspective of multiple characters? Use wording and speech mannerisms like they would. Add in phrasing and formalities that are unique to that character's dialogue and/or background. Anyway/anyways, toward/towards, anyone/anybody, something/somethin', everyone/y'all, he drank heavily/he slammed it back, stuff like that.
Is your character upset? Happy? Scared? It doesn't just have to be describing them. Add in some scenery to really build on that feeling. "Not even the heat from the raging fire before him held a candle to his anger.", "The sun had never been so vibrant on her smiling face", and "Every corner threatened to swallow them up with their overreaching shadows." respectively.
Does someone have a overarching fear/hatred of something? Maybe they're reminded of it in a little bit of everything. A smell, a color, a shape, a shadow, a phrase, an attitude, a look on someone's face, a place, etc. and it effects their mood/attitude in some way.
Nobody's perfect! Make some small accident that comes back to bite someone in the backside or helps them get in contact with something helpful later on.
This has been some helpful tips from a random stranger on the internet!
