the wrong side of heaven

𓏲𝄢 🦋 Danny Griffin as Jolyon Forsyte Jr. 　,

Write it badly or it'll never be written

Write it badly or it'll never be written

Write it badly or it'll never be written

Write it badly or it'll never be written

• Biting fingernails • Jiggling leg up and down • Tapping foot • Twirling hair • Running fingers through hair or tucking hair behind ear.  • Smacking gum • Whistling • Slurping • Burping • Yawning • Glancing at watch • Talking with a full mouth • Potty mouth • Eye-rolling • Constantly apologizing • Snapping fingers • Cracking knuckles (cliche) • Humming • Stuttering • Licking lips • Sniffing • Squinting • Applying Chap Stick to lips • Picking at nail polish • Raising eyebrows as they speak • Winking • Pulling at bottom lip • Pinching skin • Rubbing hands together • Pointing • Rubbing eyes/chin • Twirling a ring around finger • Picking at facial hair—eyebrows/eye lashes/moustache • Excessive eye blinking • Shifts in their seat when nervous • Cross/uncross legs • Clicking or tapping teeth with a nail • Shrugging • Slapping people on the back • Jaw clenching/jaw muscle jerking (mainly a male attribute) • Gesturing a lot when speaking • Slouching • Putting their feet on a desk or table • Toying with objects before them • Chewing on their pencil • Chewing bottom lip • Speech patterns  • Nervous cough • Picking at teeth • Saluting • Constantly touching up makeup using a compact mirror • Constantly checking cell phone for messages (text or voice) • High pitch/low raspy voice depending on mood • Sliding the tip of one’s index fingernail up and down along the side of the thumb beside it  • Playing with their glasses (spectacles) either pushing them up their nose or taking them off and twirling then by one of the arms.

Haven't done one of these in a while.

"Come on, this isn't funny." "I'm not joking. It's locked."

"Is that the only tent we have?"

"There's only one bed." "Well, darlin', I'm not sleeping on the floor, so I guess we'll have to share."

"I'm your bodyguard. It's in the job description to protect you at all times." "Well, could you at least 'protect' me from over there?"

"You have got to be kidding me. I have to share a room with you."

"What do you mean there's only one sleeping bag? You had one job."

"Quit following me!" "I was hired to follow you, princess, better get used to it."

"What the hell is that noise?" "Uh, yeah, slight problem. We're out of gas."

"Where are you going? We're in the middle of nowhere!" "Yeah! And whose fault is that?"

"Look around, love. In case you hadn't noticed we're snowed in. So unless you plan to freeze to death, we'll have to find a way to keep each other warm."

"I may be stuck with you, but I don't have to like it."

"Is now a bad time to tell you I'm claustrophobic?"

"Your heart's racing. Now, I know being pressed up against me is exhilerating and all, but I'm trying to concentrate on picking this lock."

"What are you? Afraid?"

"Uh. Slight problem. We're trapped."

"it's all in the eyes i was once told"

catching the stare of someone across a crowded room

subtle furrowing of eyebrows beyond a blank facade

coldness easing into warmth

a fond mothering gaze

corner of the lip nudged upward

forced glower/glare as they break underneath

batting their lashes, playful

a boisterous laugh

intrigue piercing the stoic

proud smugness at the other's success

lingering glances

a childish joy bursting through

pupils dilate

eyelids shut in a look of peace, calm and trust

look of longing/betrayal

"there was once a time when they were mine"

terseness

features fold into a scowl

an urgent flinching back

coldness returns (as though the warmth had never come)

lips part then purse

invasion of shock

slow stare at the floor

the ripple effect of a swallow

frustrated breath/sigh

bitter laugh in reminiscence

dread tearing through the seams of their composure

look of hatred

"darkness"

mean smirk- teeth bared grimace- scowl

dismissive gaze

gaze of contempt/impatience

threat lowering the voice

sardonic goading grins verging on manic

rolling one's eyes

flicker of irritation in the eyes

stares stubbornly ahead despite distraction

gritted teeth, clenched jaw

fierce biting remarks

even measured complexions betraying no thought

strangling oneself back from violence

utter apathy

murderous silence hanging in the stare

snobbish laughter

chatty characters pale-faced and silent

quiet and reserved characters rambling deliriously

character who always resorts to humour clearly trying to think of a quip but coming up empty

no-nonsense character so loopy that they can’t stop giggling

a stoic character’s hands trembling in panic

an easily frightened character so far out of it that they aren’t aware of what’s happening to them, much less afraid

intelligent characters who can’t think straight

protective (self-sacrificial) characters letting someone else take the fall for them because they’re too weak to object

patient characters snapping at whoever comes near

affectionate character who wants to be alone

Nervous: Hands trembling, Fidgeting with hair, skin, clothing piece, object, blinking rapidly and looking at everything EXCEPT the person, avoiding eye contact, widening eyes, looking down, stuttering

Angry: Jaw tightening, slamming doors, slamming hand on object, harsh movements, raising pulse, hot/heated face, destroying something, or a voice that ranges from an angry outburst, or the worst anger: a chillingly calm and collected anger that chooses their words carefully. Their emotions are heightened drastically

Prompts for Writing Romantic Tension

✧ Standing close enough that their breaths mix, but not close enough to justify it.

✧  A hand hovering near their waist, as if unsure whether to stay respectful or ruin everything.

✧ The way their names sound when whispered at the wrong moment.

✧ Shoulders brushing in a hallway too wide for accidents.

✧ Laughing too softly and privately, like the joke was meant only for the space between them.

✧ The moment they both reach for the same object and freeze, fingers trapped in indecision.

✧ A silence that feels thick enough to lean against.

✧ The smile that appears when one of them isn’t looking.

✧ A heartbeat quickening when their hands accidentally link and neither pulls away.

I'm sorry guys, this might be a tough post, but I've been feeling a bit down lately, so this is my way of channeling my negative energy!

I'm sure we can all relate to the feeling that we're not good enough. That we're inferior. That even though we might not be the worst, it doesn't matter because we aren't the best. It's a humane feeling--experiencing low self-esteem is unavoidable for many in their lives.

With that being said, seeing characters who feel similarly offers a sense of rawness and realism because they aren't perfect. They're also dealing complex emotions that are ugly and persistent, just like we are.

And you might be thinking: "okay, well, this isn't a difficult character to write, honestly. It's just poor self-view." And while part of this is not exactly wrong, writing a character who looks down on themselves, not just a character with low self-esteem, is more than thoughts of inferiority.

So, let's explore this together! How do we write a character who thinks they're not enough?

1. Innate Competitiveness

Did this surprise you a bit? Oddly enough, these types of characters are almost excessively competitive. Actually, let's put it this way: these characters are quick to compare.

Test grades. GPA. Compliments. Rankings. Earnings. Anything. They silently keep a list of everyone's achievements and measure it to theirs to see where they stand. But the worst part? No matter how their life compares to that of others, it's never going to be good enough.

Scoring a higher score on a test than the resident "smart kid" doesn't mean they're more intelligent. Maybe they got lucky. Maybe the "smart kid" had a bad day. Did they outperform a teammate on the sports team? Fantastic, except they should've outperformed more. They could've done better.

The constant comparison and competitiveness these characters experience is terrible for their mentality and in the end, only increase their feelings of worthlessness.

2. They Overcompensate. A Lot.

These characters are willing to go to extremes to prove their worth. They'll over-study. Overwork. Over-train. They overcompensate for something that they shouldn't shoulder alone.

They think they need to take care of everyone's problems, even if they can't handle it. They can't admit "no, I can't do this" because saying it makes it real. What are their insecurities? What are they ashamed of? What are they scared of? The answers to these questions are what drives them.

Questions, jokes, and even unassuming remarks about their usefulness from others hit hard. It could be a close friend who makes a sarcastic comment about how they should've worked harder, but it stays. It lingers in their mind, and they truly believe it even if they know it's a joke, because every quip hides a bit of truth, do they not?

3. They Can't Ask For Help

Sometimes, it's because they're too prideful. Other times, it's because they're scared of hurting someone they care about. They don't want to drag an innocent person into their problems. Every mistake is theirs and theirs alone, and they will fix it alone. A sense of excessive responsibility, if you will.

They think it's strength--not relying on others--even if it eats them up from inside. Do you want to show character development? Push them to overcome this flaw and ask for assistance. Make them understand that other people are reliable too; needing help and showing vulnerability isn't a weakness.

4. Wanna Make it Hurt? Don't Make Them The Least Competent

I adore a good story about the underdog--the worst person on the team putting their sweat, tears, and blood into improving and being the best--but there's also something brutally painful about seeing a person who is skilled thinking they're not.

We tend to view ourselves much worse than how others view us. This applies to your characters too--we see the brighter sides of them, the skilled sides, the good sides, but they don't, creating a bit of dissonance.

And this hits hard because they're not bad, but they hate themselves because they're not the best, not realizing that some people would kill to be in their shoes. To have their smarts. Their talent. Their personality. Their looks.

In all honesty, this is likely one of the most common yet realistic characteristics in someone who has low self-esteem.

Conclusion

The people who tend to think they're "not enough" often compare themselves to others but find little satisfaction in it, which hurts their mindset. They're stubborn and will refuse to ask for help, instead choosing to overcompensate for their weaknesses.

What do you think? Is this accurate? Let me know if you think I missed anything! Thank you for reading!

Happy writing~

Body language is one of the most powerful tools you can use in your writing, especially when it comes to dialogue.

It reveals emotion without needing long explanations, and it gives your characters presence long before they speak.

Here are some physical cues you can use to bring your scenes to life:

Crossed arms / defensive stance → guarded, annoyed, uncertain

Fidgeting with sleeves / tapping fingers → nervous, impatient

Lingering touches / brushing hands → affection, tension, desire

Tightened jaw / clenched fists → anger, restraint, frustration

Averted eyes / looking at the floor → guilt, fear, embarrassment

Stepping back / leaning away → distrust or discomfort

Tilting head / raised eyebrows → curiosity, challenge

Shoulders relaxing / exhaling slowly → relief, vulnerability

When should you rely on body language?

When you want to show an emotion instead of naming it

When dialogue alone feels flat

When you need subtext (what they won’t say out loud)

When two characters feel differently than the words they’re speaking

When you want to make a scene more sensory and grounded

Are they really calm, or is their foot tapping like a warning signal? Are they truly angry, or is it just the way their jaw tightens when they’re hurt? Are they saying “I’m fine,” but refusing to meet anyone’s eyes?

Body language adds layers. It tells the truth when your characters won’t. It can add to the rage bubbling on their lips, letting the reader know when they're just about to blow up.