If you introduce a named character with a relationship to a protagonist, their character arc must be resolved in a way that feels reasonable and satisfying

We're off to battle again, old girl.

me: *sobbing in the woods*

The eldritch horror that’s been watching me from behind a tree: ….Red Lobster’s hiring.

1. Were you named after anyone?

To the best of my knowledge no, at least for my real name! My internet name, Rags, I actually just ended up snagging from one of my OCs - a washed up rockstar named Cosimo Ragatz, who was a recovering drug addict that founded an indie record label with his wife.

2. When was the last time you cried?

Oh god, it was some time last week?? So much real life stuff had piled up and I think it was honestly some kind of mini-break or smth, god only knows. But I’m feeling better now lol.

3. Do you have kids?

ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY NOT LMAO. My mom passed when I was young and I raised my younger siblings, I’ve done my time in the child rearing mines and I’m never doing it again.

4. What sports do you play/have you played?

For a really long time I rode horses and I was a really good three day eventer. I also really loved archery and swimming. I also rode dirt bikes too, and I’d love to get back into it!! 🥰🥰

5. Do you use sarcasm?

Yes indeed!! But I’m not sure that I use it as much as I used to. Not for any particular reason, I don’t think dgheh.

6. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

I’m boring and predictable and I pretty much always notice height first 😂😂 I do also notice face shapes and noses, though!!

7. What’s your eye color?

Dark brown that leans pretty close to black dfhjd.

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

Each have their own benefits and negatives!! A time and a place for everything 👏👏

9. Any talents?

I’m a good writer, and I’m pretty good at accents! I also like to think I’m the funniest asshole in any given room at any time 😂😅

10. Where were you born?

Commonwealth of Virginia babeyyyyy 🦩 there aren’t cardinal emojis, but I’m still barely south enough to be southern lol.

11. What are your hobbies?

I like posting video games, writing, playing dnd, a lil bit of digital art. Painting my nails. Dfhjd. Running outta stuff here, uhhhh. Panicking trying to remember my meds, but that’s more a full time occupation lol.

12. Do you have any pets?

Four dogs (a cocker spaniel, a border collie, a pit bull, and a boxer lab 🥰🥰), some barn cats, and a little grade paint horse named Rooster who’s a complete ASSHOLE.

13. How tall are you?

5’6” or 5’7”, it depends on how tall I want to feel that day dghjd

14. Favorite subject in school?

History and English!!! I really wanted to be a historical researcher for a career when I was in school and I still think about it. I would’ve liked to study Appalachian history from pre-Civil War to present.

15. Dream job?

LOL 😂😂 historical researcher, possibly an author, or a rare and antique jewelry shop owner siiigh. I really fell in love with fine jewelry at my last job, and I would DIE to be able to do it again, but in a much more niche fashion.

1. Were you named after anyone?

My mom swears I wasn’t but I am very suspicious about holding the same first name as her beloved childhood GUINEAPIG!! >:( My middle name is the name of my grandmother and I love it dearly! 

2. When was the last time you cried?

A few weeks ago, in the middle of a restaurant, when I received a very special gift. 

3. Do you have kids?

No, and I don’t plan on having any! I know the whole “cool aunt” thing is a joke but it’s genuinely something I aspire to be in the future. 

4. What sports do you play/have you played?

A bunch, but I mainly did horse riding (volting and dressage), ice skating, ballet, and swimming! :’) Nowadays I only go to the gym and play tennis for fun from time to time. 

5. Do you use sarcasm?

As much as the next person, but I tend to avoid self-deprecative or inauthentic comments. 

6. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

Attitude, the way they hold/present themselves, and how they treat others. 

7. What’s your eye color?

A muddy green-brown! 

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

Scary movies with happy endings 🤝

9. Any talents?

I'm a pretty decent cook and extremely good at navigating through crowds! I also have a good memory, and am great at organizing, and learning new things! I think my best talents are a) my ability to get genuinely excited for myself and others, and b) being able to bring people together! 

10. Where were you born?

Germany, but I spent most of my early childhood in the states. 

11. What are your hobbies?

Oh man, I’m notorious for having too many rotating hobbies; I love video games, board games, and tabletop, going out to dance, cooking and baking, various DIY projects, doing my own gel nails, weightlifting, hiking, growing plant cuttings, reading, going for walks, writing, throwing dinner parties, making snail mail letters, listening to podcasts, and I love going to comedy shows! I’m also part of my friend's non-profit environmental organization and I’ve recently gotten into clay sculpting and practicing my drawing skills! I’m also learning Japanese! 

12. Do you have any pets?

Yes! A cat named Augustus and I love him so so much! 

13. How tall are you?

More or less 5’6” (same as you rags!!! kiss me rn!!) 

14. Favorite subject in school?

English because the teacher let me read my books during the lessons. 

15. Dream job?

After visiting a monastery in third grade I wanted to become a nun because I liked the food there and, I quote: “don’t like boys anyway” lmaooo 

1. Were you named after anyone?

Yes. Originally my mum wanted to name after my great-grandmother, but my grandma insisted that I has to be named after my dad, because my brother wasn't.

2. When was the last time you cried?

The big ugly cry, probably two weeks ago. The small cry this week.

3. Do you have kids?

No! Sometimes I still feel like the kid, so no and I don't plan to have some either, among other reasons because I'm teriffied I turn into my parents, so no.

4. What sports do you play/have you played?

I used to do aerobics and athletics(sprints), play tennis and swim. Won few things in aerobics and sprints, but that's about it. Now I just go swimming and from time to time I go to gym.

5. Do you use sarcasm?

Sometimes.

6. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

Their face. Eyes, smile, generally their expression and their hands.

7. What’s your eye color?

Mix of green and brown.

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

Both, but maybe prefer more happy endings.

9. Any talents?

Baking. Because I love to mix some stuff together and at first it may sound horrible, but most of the time it turns out to be good, even delicious.

10. Where were you born?

Czech republic.

11. What are your hobbies?

Reading books, buying books, videogames, baking, walks in nature, swimming, drawing, embroidering, visiting castles and other historical/archaeological sights, visiting museums, watching movies/tv shows, going to theaters to see plays/ballets, history of fashion/clothes, mythology and folklore.

12. Do you have any pets?

No, but I'd love to have at least one cat and a dog(either border collie or czechoslovak wolfdog).

13. How tall are you?

175 cm, I think that's 5'9".

14. Favorite subject in school?

History, was that kid who new everything about ancient Egypt and Greece, especially their mythology and all the little things about Middle Ages, but also liked English and Czech literature.

15. Dream job?

Egyptologist, I blame Mummy movies for that, then came archaeologist/historian phase because Indiana Jones, Lara Croft and Relic Hunters, after that it was pathologist because why not, then lawyer, then nurse and I tried it, but it was too much, and after that I returned to historian and in fact I studied history for some time, but realised that's not it, that's not what I imagined...now my dream is something creative, be happy and have some nice peaceful place to live.

1. Were you named after anyone?

-Nope! My parents said they saw my name in a baby book and they liked it.

2. When’s as the last time you cried?

-I cried when I was overwhelmed in the airport this passed Christmas. TSA took forever and the plan arrived early so we almost missed it. They also changed gates a few times so I was running around the airport with tears streaming down my face. It was a wild ride.

3. Do you have kids?

-Not yet. This might be TMI but I’m 3 months trying to conceive. We want four kinds and we already have names picked out. Four girls names and four boys names.

4. What sports do you play/have you played?

- I was on swim team in high school! I really love swimming and anything involving the water.

5. Do you use sarcasm?

-Not really, seeing as I don’t understand it very well. Whenever people use it around me, they have to be REALLY obvious or my feelings get confused.

6. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

-Probably their smile. I love it when people use expressions on their face! Smiles, laughs, dimples, I love it all. Personality wise, I notice how people treat others in a crowd. Are they pushy? Do they allow themselves to move with the crowd? Things like that.

7. What’s your eye color?

-Green with a hazel ring around the iris!

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

-Happy Endings for sure. I don’t do scary movies very well.

9. Where were you born?

-The middle of nowhere Texas. I don’t remember much of it, seeing as we moved when I was 4.

10. What are your hobbies?

-I like to write, read, crochet, draw, dance, and any other little craft or activity that keeps my hands busy!

11. Do you have any pets?

-Yes! I have 2 cats living with me and my childhood dogs live at my parents house. My dogs are beagles named Kipper and Coco, and my cats are named Soup and Mossball (moss for short). I love them very much.

12. How tall are you?

-I stand at 5 feet 1 inches, or 154.9 centimeters.

13. What was/is your favorite subject in school?

-Anything with medicine. Learning how the body works and what goes on inside of our bodies is fascinating to me. I also have a few medical issues and I like to be in touch with what exactly is going on.

14. What is your dream job?

-This might sound cheesy or whatever but honestly? I just want to be a mom. I want to be a good mom and break the cycles I have been involved in. My goal is to learn as much as I can and to become a better person so I can be a better mom.

No pressure tags: @siriusleee @victoria-writes-sometimes @lethargicluv

1. Were you named after anyone?

First name, no. Middle name, yes. It’s a family name on my mom’s side.

2. When’s the last time you cried?

Uhhh two days ago while reading A Court of Wings and Ruin. Yup. Been a while since a book actually made me cry.

3. Do you have kids?

No, but hopefully in the future, if my fiancé and I are blessed with them. He wants girls. I will be happy with any healthy children we have.

4. What sports do you play / have you played?

Golf, ice skating (on track for figure skating but stopped bc that shit is expensive), basketball, soccer, swimming, track & field, pickleball (regretfully), tennis (quite accomplished when it comes to this sport, went to states a few times where I quickly discovered I am really good at tennis only when compared to my local area lol).

5. Do you use sarcasm?

Chronically and to the point that sometimes you cannot tell by my tone. So, I make a point of sounding as sarcastic as possible when I’m being sarcastic, and letting people know if they seem to not pick up on it and I want them to know.

6. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

How tall / short they are lol

7. What’s your eye color?

Blue.

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

Happy endings.

9. Any talents?

Uh writing, I suppose. Can make a pretty good baked Mac & cheese but otherwise cooking abilities are pretty limited. Once upon a time tennis, but it’s been a couple years since I picked up a racquet. Uh, pattern recognition? Observant? Organizing? Are those talents? Idk but they’re going here.

10. Where were you born?

New York. Not the city. There’s a whole state out there, people.

11. What are your hobbies?

Reading, writing, tie-dyeing, gaming, walking (is that a hobby? Idk it’s going here), board games, plants, hiking, looking for beach glass. I would like some more hobbies so recommendations are welcome!

12. Do you have any pets?

Two guinea pigs that live with my parents and a cat that lives with me and my fiancé!

13. How tall are you?

5’7”

14. What was / is your favorite subject in school?

I’ll say English because I didn’t always absolutely dread going to English class in high school. And I have two degrees in the subject sooooo…

15. What is your dream job?

Full time author. Not realistic at all in this economy, but a girl can dream.

one character knowing something offhandedly that they shouldn't, isn't addressed until later

the crow rhyme

colours!! esp if like, blue is evil in your world and the mc's best friend is always noted to wear blue...betrayal?

write with the ending in mind

use patterns from tragic past events to warn of the future

keep the characters distracted! run it in the background until the grand reveal

WEATHER.

do some research into Chekhov's gun

mention something that the mc dismisses over and over

KEEP TRACK OF WHAT YOU PUT. don't leave things hanging.

unreliable characters giving information that turn out to be true

flowers and names with meanings

anything with meanings actually

metaphors. if one character describes another as "a real demon" and the other turns out to be the bad guy, you're kind of like...ohhh yeahhh

"This is disgusting to me" is totally valid.

"I don't want to read this because it is disgusting to me" is totally valid.