hate writing sometimes cuz how the hell do you continuously develop a character over the span of like. several novels without making them get negative character development

Listen I'm aroace as hell but ouhgr...... aesthetically that does something to me... you agree with me

love that libreoffice is giving me new nicknames for all the characters via autocorrect

alright im not dealing with all that, im getting libreoffice

is it a bad omen if Word won't let me save anything i write

is it a bad omen if Word won't let me save anything i write

(:

yknow. i think the issue i have with writing meaningful character moments is that, logically, I know certain actions would be angsty and emotional and all that, but I'm not that empathetic so I don't know how that feels. I know plot-wise what would be the best thing to write, down to the lines and gestures, but I'm not crying when characters are having a sad moment, I'm laughing maniacally all the way through

solving this problem by uploading one word at a time over a course of many months

The devastating difference between how much time it takes to write something vs how fast people read it lol

Honestly? My main piece of advice for writing well-rounded characters is to make them a little bit lame. No real living person is 100% cool and suave 100% of the time. Everyone's a little awkward sometimes, or gets too excited about something goofy, or has a silly fear, or laughs about stupid things. Being a bit of a loser is an incurable part of the human condition. Utilize that in your writing.

What are the sexualities of Draco and Harry? Is Draco demiromantic in your fic?(just double checking)

If you'd like to think of him that way, you could. I think for the two of them, specific orientation or labels don't quite matter since they're only really looking at each other

every gay friend group has: the repressed academic, the ska loving "brawn", the formerly mean girl psychic, the match making anime fan, the astrology lover, the lesbian butcher/reluctant big sister, the sexy cat with nine lives, the walrus who runs a magic shop and the local witch who wants to kill everyone

hmm i think dumbledore mightve mentioned what voldy sees in a boggart somewhere? his biggest fear is probably dying in general so idk im imagining the boggart becomes him in the peter griffin death pose LMAO

You have a point about Peter, although idk if he really believes in Voldemort's ideals with Lily and all... (now im having a weird thought about him being jealous of lily getting james' attention and...uh let's shelf that for now) I suppose he's loyal to himself at least.

Yeah Draco meets Cedric earlier but ngl I haven't really planned their relationship very much. Cedric is one of those characters integral to the themes on unnecessary death or whatever so his relationship will definitely become important

Sorry if this ends up overwhelming you and if it does, feel free to ignore them. I’m just bored and curious. 👉👈😅

Which character do you think had the most potential in the Harry Potter series and do you plan on implementing any of your ideas into them?

If DSMSG Draco was locked in a room with Umbridge, Lockhart, and Voldemort and had a gun with two bullets, who would he choose to shoot?(totally not stolen from The Office)

I think you may or may have not mentioned this earlier and feel free to ignore this question if it’s a spoiler, but when does Harry begin having feelings for Draco/act on them?

no worries, i wanted a distraction from my work anyway lol

In terms of potential, I'm not quite sure. My first thought was Draco (Duh) mostly because I wish so badly that they kept the scene in the final movie where he threw his wand to Harry. That alone would probably do so much for his character, and I am very likely going to do something with it in the fic. Plus the whole really weird hug with Voldy thing, kinda seems like Voldy is trying to have a relationship with him that parallels Harry and Dumbledore's. Anyway, Draco's SO uncomfortable all the time in 7th, it makes me very excited to get to it :) I also think Narcissa is pretty interesting since she kinda parallels Lily, and the fact she lied to the Dark Lord TO HIS FACE and protected Harry...I know I make Narcissa out to be just a very overbearing mother (and bad cook) but I hope to make Draco see the other sides to her later on, when he gets his head out of his ass. For now, she's sort of just comic relief, but there are some things set up in the very first years that will come back in the later years.

(also i REALLY need to add neville in some more--thematically he's super important, but he just doesn't get that much screen time yet. I'll have to think more about how to integrate him, but definitely he will appear more in 3rd w/ other characters. Other characters I plan to include are Cedric, Luna, maybe Cho? Marietta, probably, for the whole traitor thing in the 5th book, and ofc Pansy and Zabini, though those two are the flattest in the books so I'm gonna have to make up a lot of stuff lol. gotta add in sirius obvs [he's actually my favorite, which was why he was not-malfoy's fave in the old version], and remus [also we gotta discuss the werewolf in the room, with the whole snape prank thing...])

Draco would probably blackmail Lockhart into taking the gun and shooting Umbridge twice. He isn't stupid enough to try to kill Voldemort with a gun (are the horcruxes around in this hypothetical?also Voldy lived in like. WWII? Although he's ignorant of love magic stuff, he is probably deeply aware of the dangers of Muggle weapons, which maybe relates to his desire to conquer them) but Draco would love Umbridge dead, and he'd want more blackmail on Lockhart lol. The man's main fear is losing his reputation so that's probably a better punishment than death. If it's sixth year Draco he might just shoot himself though

I have mentioned that Draco doesn't want to date as a minor or date minors even if physically the same age due to the weird age gap/time question thing (a really big issue in isekai/transmigration imo, and the bit of this fic that makes me want to just make it platonic--seriously. I read one where this grown man DATED A SEVEN YEAR OLD B/C HE WAS IN A CHILD'S BODY??) but Harry will obviously not be thinking about that since for all he knows, they're both normal kids. You can probably safely assume he starts thinking of romance at the same time as in the books, though obviously his friendship w/ Draco and the whole "it's the nineties and I think I'm gay?!" thing would make him not as proactive about it for a while

Haha, I'm glad you think my work's worth a reread lol (that said, concerning the Narcissa thing specifically, it's not so much foreshadowing as it is surprise tools that will help us later--just for fun [and by fun, I mean lots of angst])

I've been thinking about Voldemort's thoughts on Draco a lot actually. The whole bit in 1st year where Voldy obviously knows Draco helped to defeat him is gonna give me a headache later, plus the diadem and diary's relationship to him and whether they will leave any indication Draco might be on Harry's side for resurrected Voldy. Oh, and Draco doesn't make Peter swear not to tell anyone about him for no reason (of course, Draco's plans don't go as well as he'd like so who knows how good that Unbreakable Vow will be lol). We'll have to wait and see

I'm glad you see it that way. I try to make Draco "good" without making him Ginny 2.0 or something like that--that does result in some questionable morals and all, but he's got to start somewhere (and he does know some of the stuff he does isn't totally ethical, but he's gotta compromise with his goals--eugh, sounds like the "greater good" thing). I love emphasizing his ambitious nature for that whole "Slytherins can be good" idea. I'd like to show the other Houses as not just their stereotypes too--Luna (and Lockhart) for one will be great for that on the Ravenclaw front, and Peter kinda serves that purpose for Gryffindors though I still can't see what's so brave about him except maybe having the audacity to betray his friends like that. (Also I love Trash of the Count's Family and Cale [the ace in me can't help but gravitate to dragons], but the novel version is so stupidly long that I haven't gotten to the good parts yet lol. Villainess Isekai type stories are what got this whole ball rolling, so I probably got inspired by some of those characters haha)

I really want to do justice to the side characters--include their povs, wrap up their character arcs, etc. I have an issue with romance stories focusing on the main couple and making everyone else a stepping stone to their love. Especially how some "BL" stories reduce female characters to love rivals or otherwise they HAVE to be the "lesbian bestfriend" (because I guess they're a threat to the couple otherwise?) I haven't seen enough "GL" to come to a conclusion on if the same applies there, and harems/love triangles are desirable/the norm for cishet romances from what I know. Rest assured, I don't subscribe to the "jealousy is love" idea that JKR absolutely ADORES (it's like. the only way she shows characters like each other, seriously). I can barely handle one couple, I don't need more romantic interests to deal with lol (that said, I've considered that it'd be kinda funny if Draco was aroace and oblivious to literally everyone crushing on him for one reason or another and trying to play matchmaker for them)

Sirius and Remus are probably gonna be there, but like as a background thing (so I'm not quite certain I should keep the ship tag there)

(the shooting thing was just a joke, i'm sorry lmao)

Sorry if this ends up overwhelming you and if it does, feel free to ignore them. I’m just bored and curious. 👉👈😅

Which character do you think had the most potential in the Harry Potter series and do you plan on implementing any of your ideas into them?

If DSMSG Draco was locked in a room with Umbridge, Lockhart, and Voldemort and had a gun with two bullets, who would he choose to shoot?(totally not stolen from The Office)

I think you may or may have not mentioned this earlier and feel free to ignore this question if it’s a spoiler, but when does Harry begin having feelings for Draco/act on them?

no worries, i wanted a distraction from my work anyway lol

In terms of potential, I'm not quite sure. My first thought was Draco (Duh) mostly because I wish so badly that they kept the scene in the final movie where he threw his wand to Harry. That alone would probably do so much for his character, and I am very likely going to do something with it in the fic. Plus the whole really weird hug with Voldy thing, kinda seems like Voldy is trying to have a relationship with him that parallels Harry and Dumbledore's. Anyway, Draco's SO uncomfortable all the time in 7th, it makes me very excited to get to it :) I also think Narcissa is pretty interesting since she kinda parallels Lily, and the fact she lied to the Dark Lord TO HIS FACE and protected Harry...I know I make Narcissa out to be just a very overbearing mother (and bad cook) but I hope to make Draco see the other sides to her later on, when he gets his head out of his ass. For now, she's sort of just comic relief, but there are some things set up in the very first years that will come back in the later years.

(also i REALLY need to add neville in some more--thematically he's super important, but he just doesn't get that much screen time yet. I'll have to think more about how to integrate him, but definitely he will appear more in 3rd w/ other characters. Other characters I plan to include are Cedric, Luna, maybe Cho? Marietta, probably, for the whole traitor thing in the 5th book, and ofc Pansy and Zabini, though those two are the flattest in the books so I'm gonna have to make up a lot of stuff lol. gotta add in sirius obvs [he's actually my favorite, which was why he was not-malfoy's fave in the old version], and remus [also we gotta discuss the werewolf in the room, with the whole snape prank thing...])

Draco would probably blackmail Lockhart into taking the gun and shooting Umbridge twice. He isn't stupid enough to try to kill Voldemort with a gun (are the horcruxes around in this hypothetical?also Voldy lived in like. WWII? Although he's ignorant of love magic stuff, he is probably deeply aware of the dangers of Muggle weapons, which maybe relates to his desire to conquer them) but Draco would love Umbridge dead, and he'd want more blackmail on Lockhart lol. The man's main fear is losing his reputation so that's probably a better punishment than death. If it's sixth year Draco he might just shoot himself though

I have mentioned that Draco doesn't want to date as a minor or date minors even if physically the same age due to the weird age gap/time question thing (a really big issue in isekai/transmigration imo, and the bit of this fic that makes me want to just make it platonic--seriously. I read one where this grown man DATED A SEVEN YEAR OLD B/C HE WAS IN A CHILD'S BODY??) but Harry will obviously not be thinking about that since for all he knows, they're both normal kids. You can probably safely assume he starts thinking of romance at the same time as in the books, though obviously his friendship w/ Draco and the whole "it's the nineties and I think I'm gay?!" thing would make him not as proactive about it for a while

The eternal question - is it worse to read the words of someone who hates a character you love but is accurate/respectful in their points/portrayal, or someone who loves them more than you do but strips them of all nuance and greyness to legit "they did nothing wrong" when they did SO MUCH WRONG?

(:

The author: Draco’s favorite food is apples.

Other readers: Cool detail.

Me: That detail isn’t that deep. Totally.

My overthinking brain: Do you realize the significance of this irrelevant and probably comedic gag detail?! Where else have we seen apples?!?! In the Bible where the snake gives Eve the forbidden fruit of knowledge, aka the apple! The apple that Draco loves so much is a representation of his curiosity and knowledge of the future! And how Draco is referred with snake symbolism in Chapters 2 and 16?!?! Perhaps Draco is like the snake offering the apple in the Bible?!?! LOOK AT THE CONNECTIONS-

Me: ….I hate you.

Sorry if this ends up overwhelming you and if it does, feel free to ignore them. I’m just bored and curious. 👉👈😅

Which character do you think had the most potential in the Harry Potter series and do you plan on implementing any of your ideas into them?

If DSMSG Draco was locked in a room with Umbridge, Lockhart, and Voldemort and had a gun with two bullets, who would he choose to shoot?(totally not stolen from The Office)

I think you may or may have not mentioned this earlier and feel free to ignore this question if it’s a spoiler, but when does Harry begin having feelings for Draco/act on them?

no worries, i wanted a distraction from my work anyway lol

In terms of potential, I'm not quite sure. My first thought was Draco (Duh) mostly because I wish so badly that they kept the scene in the final movie where he threw his wand to Harry. That alone would probably do so much for his character, and I am very likely going to do something with it in the fic. Plus the whole really weird hug with Voldy thing, kinda seems like Voldy is trying to have a relationship with him that parallels Harry and Dumbledore's. Anyway, Draco's SO uncomfortable all the time in 7th, it makes me very excited to get to it :) I also think Narcissa is pretty interesting since she kinda parallels Lily, and the fact she lied to the Dark Lord TO HIS FACE and protected Harry...I know I make Narcissa out to be just a very overbearing mother (and bad cook) but I hope to make Draco see the other sides to her later on, when he gets his head out of his ass. For now, she's sort of just comic relief, but there are some things set up in the very first years that will come back in the later years.

(also i REALLY need to add neville in some more--thematically he's super important, but he just doesn't get that much screen time yet. I'll have to think more about how to integrate him, but definitely he will appear more in 3rd w/ other characters. Other characters I plan to include are Cedric, Luna, maybe Cho? Marietta, probably, for the whole traitor thing in the 5th book, and ofc Pansy and Zabini, though those two are the flattest in the books so I'm gonna have to make up a lot of stuff lol. gotta add in sirius obvs [he's actually my favorite, which was why he was not-malfoy's fave in the old version], and remus [also we gotta discuss the werewolf in the room, with the whole snape prank thing...])

Draco would probably blackmail Lockhart into taking the gun and shooting Umbridge twice. He isn't stupid enough to try to kill Voldemort with a gun (are the horcruxes around in this hypothetical?also Voldy lived in like. WWII? Although he's ignorant of love magic stuff, he is probably deeply aware of the dangers of Muggle weapons, which maybe relates to his desire to conquer them) but Draco would love Umbridge dead, and he'd want more blackmail on Lockhart lol. The man's main fear is losing his reputation so that's probably a better punishment than death. If it's sixth year Draco he might just shoot himself though

I have mentioned that Draco doesn't want to date as a minor or date minors even if physically the same age due to the weird age gap/time question thing (a really big issue in isekai/transmigration imo, and the bit of this fic that makes me want to just make it platonic--seriously. I read one where this grown man DATED A SEVEN YEAR OLD B/C HE WAS IN A CHILD'S BODY??) but Harry will obviously not be thinking about that since for all he knows, they're both normal kids. You can probably safely assume he starts thinking of romance at the same time as in the books, though obviously his friendship w/ Draco and the whole "it's the nineties and I think I'm gay?!" thing would make him not as proactive about it for a while

Yay, unsolicited advice time! Or, not really advice, more like miscellaneous tips and tricks, because if there's one thing eight years of martial arts has equipped me to write, it's fight scenes.

.

Fun things to add to a fight scene (hand to hand edition)

It's not uncommon for two people to kick at the same time and smack their shins together, or for one person to block a kick with their shin. This is called a shin lock and it HURTS like a BITCH. You can be limping for the rest of the fight if you do it hard enough.

If your character is mean and short, they can block kicks with the tip of their elbow, which hurts the other guy a lot more and them a lot less

Headbutts are a quick way to give yourself a concussion

If a character has had many concussions, they will be easier to knock out. This is called glass jaw.

Bad places to get hit that aren't the groin: solar plexus, liver, back of the head, side of the thigh (a lot of leg kicks aim for this because if it connects, your opponent will be limping)

Give your character a fighting style. It helps establish their personality and physicality. Are they a grappler? Do they prefer kicks or fighting up close? How well trained are they?

Your scalp bleeds a lot and this can get in your eyes, blinding you

If you get hit in the nose, your eyes water

Adrenaline's a hell of a drug. Most of the time, you're not going to know how badly you've been hurt until after the fact

Even with good technique, it's really easy to break toes and fingers

Blocking hurts, dodging doesn't

.

Just thought these might be useful! If you want a more comprehensive guide or a weapons edition, feel free to ask. If you want, write how your characters fight in the comments!

Have a bitchin day <3