Tag: writing characters

• The Lying and Gaslighting Connection

  

  Is all lying gaslighting? Learn how authors can incorporate gaslighting behaviors into your writing to create complex, manipulative characters in fiction. Discover how this psychological tactic enhances conflict, tension, and character depth in your writing. And…learn ways to be aware of this in your personal life.

  rwoodsfiction

  May 14, 2025

  Health, Psychology, Writing, Writing Resources

  abusive relationships, amwriting, character depth, character development, complex characters, creating tension, creative writing, emotional abuse, emotional manipulation, emotional wellness, fiction writing, gaslighting, gaslighting in relationships, healing from emotional abuse, healthy relationships, how to cope with gaslighting, manipulative behavior, manipulative characters, narcissistic abuse, narrative conflict, plot development, psychological manipulation, psychological thriller, recognizing gaslighting, recognizing manipulation in love, recovering from gaslighting, relationship advice, relationship dynamics, relationship manipulation, relationship red flags, robin woods, robin woods blog, robin woods fiction, self-care in relationships, setting boundaries, storytelling techniques, toxic relationships, unreliable narrator, writing, writing characters, writing resources, writing tips, writing villains

• Writing Manipulative Characters

  

  Here is a treasure trove of information for writing manipulative characters. Let’s hurt some fictional feelings. Mu ah ha ha.

  rwoodsfiction

  October 29, 2024

  Writing Resources

  amwriting, avoid conflict, bingo card, blame shifting, brandishing anger, covert aggression, covert aggression bingo, creative writing, devalue, diversion, FREE, gaslighting, invalidating phrases, lying, manipulation, manipulation bingo, manipulative tactics, minimization, robin woods, robin woods blog, selective attention, toxic relationships, trust issues, victim mentality, victimize, wolf in sheep’s clothing, writing, writing characters, writing resources, writing tips

• Writing Characters: Histrionic Personality

  

  I’m continuing my series inspired by Cluster B Personality Disorders because messy characters make great stories. You can check out my posts on Classic Narcissists, Vulnerable Narcissist, and Borderline Personality too. Without further ado, writing characters—histrionic personality. Histrionic Personality Traits Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by constant attention-seeking, emotional overreaction, and seductive behavior. People with…

  rwoodsfiction

  September 23, 2024

  Writing, Writing Prompts, Writing Resources

  amwriting, cluster b personality, creative writing, dating someone with histrionic, FREE, histrionic, HPD, narcissism, relationship cycle, robin woods, robin woods blog, robin woods fiction, trauma, writing, writing characters, writing resources, writing tips

• Writing Characters: The Vulnerable Narcissist

  

  As I said in my post on classic narcissists, messy characters make for great stories. So, here’s the next in my character profile series—writing vulnerable narcissists. Vulnerable narcissists are hard to spot and fun to write. A lesser-known type of narcissism is vulnerable narcissism (also referred to as closet, introverted, or covert narcissism). Vulnerable narcissists…

  rwoodsfiction

  September 15, 2024

  Writing, Writing Resources

  amwriting, build a villain, character profile, character types, closet narcissist, co-dependant, covert aggressor, covert narcissist, creative writing, flawed characters, lack empathy, manipulation tactics, manipulator, narcissism, Narcissist, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, robin woods, robin woods blog, robin woods fiction, vulnerable narcissisr, wolf in sheep’s clothing, writing characters, writing resources, writing tips