Let Me Make This Very Clear:

“So you’re telling me you can’t die?” “No, I’m telling you I can’t stay dead. There’s a difference, Trust me.”

The answer to half of these is ‘The Old Guard’  But this really helped with my own characterization!

What My Followers Want To See More Of In Male Characters

I’m always looking for ways to improve my writing, especially writing male characters, and I’m happy to say that my WIP has quite a few of these. I think we can all agree that with the absolutely sickening influx of dark, broody, bad boys in YA fiction, having male characters with more nuance and hmmm I don’t know actual personalities is refreshing and something that all books need. Thank you guys so much for answering this poll(conducted through instagram), and let me know if there’s something else y’all want to be polled on that I can turn into a post! I didn’t change anything that you guys wrote, so there are some repeats on the list, but I think it makes a point to see how many people want to see the same (relatively simple) things in fiction!

Them being soft and kind 

going to therapy/having mental health struggle 

bisexuality! 

non-toxic religious men

lgbt men(beyond being gay and fetishised) 

feminine guys who aren’t gay 

men of all sexualities being feminine 

physically disabled men who are very masculine 

straight male characters in close friendships with mlm characters 

sensitive and weak moments 

“feminine” men mb, guys who like flowers and stuff while also being very strong cause thats cool I think 

confidence enough to compliment other men

feminine interests without being judged 

discussing things they love doing 

I think it’d be nice if people showed men’s insecurities more often. Also, men also get abused and stuff 

emotions!!!

genuine friendships with someone who’s better than them 

eating disorders, anxiety, insecurities, other common mental health concerns 

guys not afraid to show their vulnerability and weaknesses to the people they care about 

casually wearing makeup and not making a fuss or a statement out of it 

being shy is ok. being nice to the mc and not being a complete douche bag, if the mc is being an idiot and playing with their feelings telling her straight up or leaving her, they don’t have to be attractive to be likable, their dark pasts isn’t an excuse for them to be shitty human beings 

them being vulnerable 

healthy platonic friendships 

vulnerability and insecurity shown through non toxic traits 

soft spoken, kind and gentle voice 

I want to see them cook, sex, or such without invalidating their masculinity 

male characters who express their emotions and aren’t ridiculed by others for it 

I want more soft men tbh. It’s usually all badass and then breakdowns. I want someone who is fragile 

affectionate with their friends and/or in tune with their emotions 

less abs

males who aren’t afraid to cry and be affectionate with their friends 

respect and genuine care for females and people of other genders, thank you 

i would love to see more bisexual/pansexual male characters!!

the ability to take no for an answer 

bisexual males that aren’t the main plot. they just get to be bi and it doesn’t affect the story 

emotional softness 

being vulnerable/crying without thinking that they’re weak for it 

ones that are submissive and fine with it 

Queer! Rep! 

Ones that are fucking respectful of their female counterparts 

talking about their feelings 

kind to their lover without being called a simp 

plus size 

guys being allowed to be gentle and not seen as weak or inferior 

openness rather than being closed off all of the time 

I want to see witty and quirky characters + humor that is shown around EVERYONE

femininity and vulnerability, crying, breakdowns, etc. 

varying sexualities 

real emotion, crying, and for it be okay for them to do that 

treats women like equals without having to be “taught” how to by a love interest 

caring about others without being portrayed as awkward and/or flirtatious 

emotions and kindness

showing emotions that isn’t anger 

not being misogynistic 

smart but not the typical ‘nerdy geek’ just there as an encyclopedia for the MC

Men who are comfortable with being emotionally open (and them being emotionally open DOESN’T automatically mean they’re gay 

emotional maturity and having healthy relationships and behavior 

showing affection to their platonic friends 

respect toward others

male characters that are “motherly” Let them cook, clean, sew, and be good with kids 

male characters who are perceptive and understanding 

male characters with realistic, practical muscles 

wanting hugs and getting giddy over little bits of affection

male characters who wear heels (even if the rest of their outfit is traditionally masculine) 

black male protagonists 

emotional strength instead of physical strength 

males that let the non males take charge and our respectful 

realistic bodies and insecurities 

more males characters exploring their identity 

males who have hobbies, they’re passionate about

physically and mentally strong and resilient. Protective, but respectful and supportive 

not being overtly attractive and being okay with it 

emotionally guarded without being cold or angry 

more sympathy, less naïvety to the female protagonists feelings 

stylish dudes who aren’t gay (not that lgbtq+ rep is bad it’s just a tiring stereotype) 

guys friendships and protectiveness of non love interests 

male characters being feminine without them being queer coded or comic relief

them finding a healthy way to cope with problems 

healthy paternal figures that do not die in the saga please 

big scary guys with hobbies like crochet, sewing and reading books for rescued animals 

soft and loving and caring all the time who cry and are hurt and not badass all the time 

be soft and kind to everyone, not just their bae 

cool mysterious and stuff but not flipping depressed characters please stop that trope

them crying, having close female friends, being lgbt+(especially trans men), showing emotions 

male characters that aren’t possessive/obsessive and know how to accept “no”

raising kids without a love interest involved

societies with men that aren’t stereotypical 

male characters that aren’t naturally good leaders 

a really straight guy having a really gay best friend 

seeing more male characters be comfortable in expressing their feelings and emotions 

Also, lets just keep the 100s of gigantic man eating spiders in a forest right next to a school full of students who are obviously going to take the name ‘forbidden forest’ as a challenge.

Lets also keep a three headed dog, who is locked in a tiny room unable to run around or go for walks (and other things, this is animal abuse), in a castle of teenagers, who again will take ‘third floor corridor is out of bounds to anyone who does not wish to die a very painful death’ as a challenge. And then lets only keep it behind a first year spell!!!!

Oh! we can add having literal teenagers face their deepest darkest fears on the spot in front of their classmates. “oh they’re just children it cant be that bad!” you say! Disregarding that children can also have trauma. Harry was abused (which no one knew) his fear could’ve revealed that to the whole class!!! And Lupin was expecting Voldemort to show up, WHY WOULD HE HAVE THEM FACE THE BOGGART IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE CLASS WHEN HE WAS EXPECTING THE PERSON WHO KILLED THESE CHILDRENS FAMILY MEMBERS AND FAMILY FRIENDS TO SHOW UP IN A CLASSROOM. This was the war generation!!! They grew up on horror stories and nightmare fuel by just hearing what happened to relatives and friends!!! It would have made perfect sense for Bellatrix Lestrange to show up for Neville, and he knew what happened to his parents!!!! Common sense oh my god!!!! Don’t have teenagers possibly face serial killers, genocidal maniacs, abusive relatives, monsters, and warlords!!!! 

Yes, we also give no counseling to students who were petrified, or the students whos friends and classmates were basically dying.

Ginny was possessed, forced to kill roosters and try to murder her classmates, mind controlled, violated on the deepest level, and had her soul drained??? Let’s warm her up and send her on her merry way, of course there’s no aftereffects!! She’s fine.

Harry: Bitten by as Basilisk and literally feels his life force draining away before being healed by Fawkes Harry: *on his way to the hospital wing because he just had the most deadly venom in the world coursing through his veins* Dumbledore: Harry stay behind will you? Harry: NEVER ENDS UP GOING TO THE HOSPITAL AFTER BEING BITTEN BY THE MOST DEADLY CREATURE IN THE WORLD WHICH NO ONE HAS SURVIVED BEFORE

No one tells the parents their children are Petrified and students are almost dying because of something that has KILLED A STUDENT BEFORE

Lets also keep a mirror with obsessive powers so strong its had ‘grown men waste away before it’ in an empty classroom with no protection in a school of students!!!!

We also keep murder magic, and mind control magic in our library that is easy to break into!!!! And we teach students how to make date rape drugs in our potions classes!!!! And its very easy to get books on illegal identity theft potions and steal the ingredients and brew it in secret!!! And we completely condone drugging your classmates and locking them in a broom cupboard after stealing some of their hair and clothes!!!

We also give powerful magical artifacts of invisibility to 11 year olds in a school full of terrifying dangers!!!

The mediwitch will never report you for things, not to the teachers or authorities!!! Weather that be an obvious venomous dragon bite, or the obvious effects of an illegal identity theft potion gone wrong, or if you (a teacher) vanished a students bones!!!

ALSO THERE WAS A DRAGON IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!! How did Dumbledore not know???!!!! He had to’ve.

Did anyone report Lockhart to the Aurors and have all those poor peoples memories fixed??? He had to have wiped/altered the memories of whole cities and villages!!!!

On top of the who Werewolf thing, Lupin was completely negligent with his potion just saying

And i don’t think this is Dumbledore’s fault (and i’m trying to keep this list to things him and the staff did in the first 3 books) but Hagrid got take to Azkaban without a trial or so much as a by you leave

And also!!!! Once exonerated he was never given his wand and education back!!!!

Also McGonnagal didn’t even check on the students concerns with the stone, they may be children but they’re not stupid

Serial killer slashed a portrait?? its fine!!! Serial killer hovers over a student with a knife??? Its fine!!! Also McGonnagal says he’s being ridiculous for claiming such.

Does the whole school/whole house shun select students because: a) you took a ridiculous amount of points for a minor infraction and thus targeted them and did nothing about it? b) they displayed an ability with a lot of stigma and you did nothing about it?

A student was constantly harassed by a teacher (lockhart) and used for demonstrations and manhandled and slammed/dragged around and no one did anything!!!

He released creatures that hung a student from a chandelier and he fled!!!!

Filch choke-slammed Harry into a wall, feet not touching the ground. in front of the whole school!!! And no one did anything!!!!

Students constantly use slurs without punishment and bullying is ignored!!!!

DEMENTORS!!!! DEMENTORS AT A SCHOOL!!! A SCHOOL WITH CHILDREN WHO COME FROM THE WAR GENERATIONS!!! A SCHOOL WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES!!! A SCHOOL THAT DEFINITELY HAS CHILDREN WHO WER ABUSED OR OTHERWISE HURT!!!! AND ONLY HARRY GETS TAUGHT THE DEFENSIVE SPELL AGAINST THEM!!!! worst reaction my ass he isnt the only one with trauma, nor is he probably not the only one who saw his parents die, there was a war and older students probably watched their parents die or get torture too and probably remember it better as well. That just plain favoritism.

Okay i cant thing of anything else, ill add things if i remember

harry potter and the year a literal teenager was blamed for not noticing his new boss was acting weird and was given loads of shit and was held responsible but staff of the safest place and the best school in wizarding world and the best wizard failed to notice the man they knew very well was actually a death eater in disguise and got away without a single complaint aka the year nobody got a haircut.

the fact they released a “clean” version of noel’s lament is SO funny to me. the song is about being a slut in postwar france and having sex with a different guy EVERY NIGHT and they think that taking out “fuck” is going to make it family friendly? yeah this song is very explicitly about sex and death but nobody cusses so here let your children listen :)

I do like him with his wife but i love ares too much XD. I would love if you would read my fic!!!! Its a Percy Jackson one bc i needed the base to write the pantheon as I see them. Its a ‘reading the books’ fic thats trying to solve the mystery of why the gods are some wierd hollowed out shells of their mythical selves(sorry Rick but you did my favs dirty) with a heavy focus on the gods who were super bashed in the books. Lots of Apollo/Dionysus bc they are my children. Im planning on updating soon.

I see your Ares/Hermes but I raise you Ares/Aphrodite/Hephaestus with Ares/Hermes also in an open and consensual (non-cheating) relationship. Lmao this is what I wrote in a fic and I loved their dynamics so here you go. Also Apollo/Dionysus all the way!!!

I'm more into Hephaestus/Aglaia (his wife), but i argee that Ares/Hephaestus/Aphrodite would have been a cool solution to the messy affair drama :) Also I would love to read your fic!!

Steve has a secret, well “secret” may not be the correct way to describe it. He has something for himself, thats what. Ever since he stopped playing basketball and doing swim competitions once he graduated he's had way more free time, which at first he filled with shifts at Family Video, or bothering Robin.

Then, when she started school he started doing art more. Which, may come a surprise to many, as he never really talked about his interest in paintings and old art.

Greek sculptures that are able to show life in a still ethereal way, while still being able to twist it at their will. Renaissance oil paintings, capturing tragedy yet still being able to portray it as beautiful, in their own terrible twisted ways.

He likes sketching on paper, painting on canvas. His paintings aren't usually too different from the things he sees around him. Honestly thats the only things he paints, people, his friends, places he goes, things he sees that stick with him, dreams, moments that play on repeat in his head.

Around his Junior year, after the Demogorgon, Steve had turned the sad basement in his sad empty house, into his own space. A place where he can go and do his art, hang it, play music on his walkman, or using the record player he got from a pawn shop a few months prior. Somehow the basement is the only space that actually feels like his in his house, not even his bedroom.

Steve’s art was not very consistent to be honest, mostly the kids and Robin, landscapes that he liked, the Demogorgon/dogs, the Mindflayer (he needs some way of getting those out of his head, and somehow drawing them down feels freeing.) He does have a few paintings of Nancy from when they were together, she’s become less of a model for his work after everything though.

The last time he painted her in a painting alone, was one of that bathroom in a girl he barely knows’ house, a spilled drink on Nancy’s dress, and red solo cups littering the counter.

Steve’s art shifts though, after a moment that will never leave his mind. He knows who Eddie Munson is, obviously. How could he not? Honestly Steve isn't that surprised Henderson and the others befriended the guy, he does run a DnD club.

But then, Henderson needs a ride home after their club meetings because his mom is working late, and then Lucas and Mike’s parents are also asking Steve to pick them up too. Babysitting duty, as per usual.

Steve arrives a bit earlier than he planned. He didn't have any project to consume himself into, hitting an art block begrudgingly. But then, Steve sees Eddie Munson, sitting on a fake throne, watching the kids and other club members argue, he has his chin rested on his fist, and he's wearing a white tank top, showing off his shoulders, given the fact it’s still September.

The lighting of the small theater room captures Steve’s interest like a moth to the flame, and he is regretting having left his sketchbook at home, even though he never draws around the kids or anyone he knows.

Eddie Munson’s face and curly locks fill up the pages of Steve’s journal and some canvases for months after, and Steve rarely genuinely complains about coming to pick the kids up.

Afterwords, months later from that day. Chrissy Cunningham dies, and Eddie Munson almost goes with her. God, or whatever deity that was looking down upon him, was on Steve’s side in that moment, when he was able to revive Eddie and then drag him out of the Upside Down.

Steve gets closer with Eddie after that, they become actual friends. Steve was so used to witnessing his muse from afar, it was so…exciting, to see Eddie in all his glory, just a few feet away, and his smile being directed at him.

“Do you even have any hobbies, Harrington?” Steve blinks. Him, Eddie, Robin, Nancy, and the party, are all hanging out by the pool. Steve is lounging on one of the chairs, sunglasses over his eyes as Eddie talks beside him.

“What?” Steve responds.

“I mean…I like barely ever see you do anything besides sort Movies at Family Video, or boss around the kids. Like, what do you do when we're not all together?” Eddie asks, moving his hand a little as he talks. Steve thinks for a moment.

“Funny,” Steve answers instead. Eddie scoffs.

“I'm being serious, man! What do you do?” Eddie laughs a little, most likely at the ridiculousness of it all. What would Steve know, Eddie is like a puzzle, and Steve has to take every minute slowly, deciphering everything he lays out for him, via tongue or action.

“I don't know, what do you do?” Steve says, almost carefully.

“Band stuff, DnD, Writing,” Eddie lists. “And I guess saving the world now, but thats a bit of a side hussle.” Steve scoffs.

“Whatever, man.” And thats that, they don't talk about it again. But it sticks with Steve, because his friends really do think he doesn't do anything with his life. It's not like he has college classes to study for, so what does he do?

Later, maybe two or three weeks after, Steve decides he wants to show Eddie his space. The two of them are alone, Robin is in Nevada, visiting her grandparents, so the trio’s usual movie night is cut down to a duo’s movie night.

Although Steve finds himself mostly focusing on Eddie and his beautiful hair sitting next to him, than watching ET. The little alien scares him a bit anyway. Eddie notices him staring though, his eyes flickering to meet Steves, then a smirk spreading across his lips.

“We are watching a movie, lover boy.” Eddie says. Steve goes red, his gaze shifting to his lap. Steve furrows his eyebrows then stands and shuts the TV off. “Woah! Hey!”

“I want to show you something.” Steve says, it's a bit quieter than he meant it to be, but his tone indicates something to Eddie, which has him staring at Steve, starstruck.

Steve walks out the room and hears Eddie follow him. He gets to the basement door and opens it, flicks on the stair light.

“Basement- woah- okay, guess I'm getting murdered. Thought I’d go out in a more metal way than this.” Eddie says as they walk down. Steve laughs a little and shakes his head.

“I just think you should see this.” Steve says. “Nothing life threatening, I promise.”

“Alright, I trust you, Stevie.”

“Good.”

Steve turns and flicks on the light as they step onto the concrete. The lights flicker on, revealing the paintings on the walls and art supplies on the tables and counters.

“Woah-” Eddie says. “Is this, all your stuff?” Steve sighs, he folds his arms and faces Eddie. He looks shellshocked.

“Yeah.” Steve says. “You said I don't have any hobbies, I do, actually.” Eddie looks around, walking slowly.

“Is that Henderson? Why is he wearing yellow gloves?” Eddie asks. Steve walks over to a painting of Dustin from Steve’s angle while they were walking on the train tracks, a bucket of raw meat is in one hand and he's wearing the headphones for his radio.

“D’Art,” Steve says. “That was when we were leading him away. I made that one after everything happened. I was trying not to think about the Demogorgon stuff and everything, so I just drew him. I have one of Max from that day I never finished painting in a stack I think too.” Eddie doesn't say anything for a minute after Steve is done explaining.

“You can paint.” Eddie says, though not like a question. “These are beautiful…” Eddie looks around and walks to another one he sees. It's one of the Byers and Hopper’s, all hugging while laughing. El looks the happiest. Steve had painted that after they had all gotten together after everything. “Why…didn't you tell anyone?”

“About what?” Steve asks, folding his arms as Eddie brings up a hand to touch the painting.

“This- Steve, you're amazing at this. These are…” Eddie trails off as something catches his eye, he slowly starts to walk towards a big painting propped up behind one of the tables laid out in the middle of the room. Steve walks to him to see which one he's looking at.

An angel, knelt over a puddle, crying as it stares at his reflection, which is blurred and dark. He stands in a forest, his wings are long and huge, sprawling out above him.

It’s one of Steve’s bigger ones, the inspiration came from a dream he had after they had read about Icarus in his english class back in Highschool.

“It’s… magnificent.” Eddie whispers. Steve smiles gently at Eddie’s reaction. Eddie backs up a bit and looks away from the painting. “Is that me?” Steve follows his eye, to the painting. Eddie walks towards it, Steve stays behind him. It’s the first one Steve ever made of Eddie, the one of him on the throne.

“Yeah, it is.” Steve says. “I made that the first night I came to pick up the kids.” He says. “The first time I met you, actually met you.” They share a look.

“You are incredible, Steve Harrington.”

my favorite part of Crowley’s confession scene is how an immortal being with no need to have a body or breathe somehow managed to work himself into a very respectable level of hyperventilating

this looks so good!!!!!

Summer of ‘93 - Teaser

- Five Weasley children in one holiday to a country they had never been to before. 1 in 5 were going to majorly fuck up, and the other four would laugh as they were made to clean up the mess.

It was inevitable. 

Though what Percy didn’t know yet, was that he was the 1 in 5. And a certain Oliver Wood was entirely to blame. -

PLAYLIST:

summer depression - girl in red

summertime sadness - lana del rey

wildest dreams - taylor swift

liability - lorde

i’m with you - avril lavigne

sweater weather - the neighbourhood

all around me (acoustic) - flyleaf

follow the cops back home - placebo

style - taylor swift

that’s what you get - paramore

radioactive - marina

(not in order)

COMING SOON. 

please let me know if you’d like to be @’d when the first chapter is released.