writing

Excuse Me, Who Gave This Character Free Will?

/ RG Newhouse / Leave a comment

I’d like to file a complaint with the character department. You know, the one responsible when your fictional characters suddenly develop minds of their own and hijack your carefully plotted outline?

Back view of a blonde haired female writer with her hair in a messy bun, seated at a chaotic desk with coffee mugs, candles, sketches, and scattered notes. Glowing, semi transparent fantasy characters float in midair around her as she writes. A small black cat peers from the corner, adding a hint of whimsy.
POV: You’re trying to write one calm scene and your characters keep staging a dramatic group intervention. Also, yes… there is a cat judging you. Generated by Midjourney

They were supposed to behave. I had charts. I had outlines. I had a playlist that was vibes only. Everything was going great until they started developing opinions. And back stories. And trauma. And suddenly I’m standing in the middle of chapter fourteen yelling, “Excuse me, who gave this character free will?!”

Writers, you know the ones I’m talking about. You start with a nice, manageable story and one delightfully quirky character who’s supposed to fill a very specific supporting role. And then… they go rogue. They hijack emotional arcs. They rewrite their own dialogue. They bring snacks to the plot and refuse to leave.

Take Ailis Larsen and her Ganlani partner, Vaelios. Originally? Vaelios was meant to be the softhearted sidekick, all light and laughter and naive enthusiasm. But then I started writing his scenes. Digging deeper. What started as simple character development quickly turned into something deeper, more layered, more real, more “excuse me, sir, who hurt you?” than I ever planned. And boom! There he was, sharp as obsidian, wittier than I had any right to make him, and carrying a quiet, bone deep grief that made me double take in my own draft. He is still sweet. But now he’s also the type of character who’ll gut you emotionally in one line and then offer you a handkerchief like a gentleman.

Or that short story I thought was going to be a fun little magic meets mystery romp. Surprise! The goddess showed up, uninvited, kicked the narrative off its hinges, and delivered a monologue that hit so hard I just sat there blinking like, “…Oh. So we’re doing depth now? Okay.”

And look, I knew I had a problem when I ran a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test on one of my characters. And it changed everything. Suddenly I wasn’t writing a plot, I was navigating someone’s entire psychological profile like a therapist with deadlines. And yes, I am now slightly obsessed with that character. And no, I will not be taking questions at this time.

Also, to the character who was supposed to be a throwaway NPC but is now demanding their own trilogy: calm down. We’ve talked about this.

Honestly, I think I lost control back in the day when I may or may not have dabbled in fanfiction inspired by a certain velvet wearing, crystal spinning Goblin King. (You know the one.) Ever since, I’ve known deep down that I’m not always the one in charge here.

But let’s be real: that’s the magic of it, isn’t it? Characters come alive when you least expect them to. They surprise you. They talk back. And if you’re really lucky, they change your story into something so much better than what you planned.

Even if no one asked Jared to be hot and emotionally complex.

A cozy illustration of a blonde haired writer slumped asleep at her desk, viewed from behind. Neatly stacked papers and books surround her workspace, lit by soft morning light. A small black cat curls on top of an open book nearby, watching over her.
Sometimes the words win and the writer naps. Don’t worry, the cat’s got this shift. Generated by Midjourney

So, to all the writers out there wrestling your characters back into the box they busted out of three chapters ago… solidarity. May your character arcs be messy, your writing surprises delightful, your plot armor strong, your time lines elastic, and your characters just unhinged enough to be brilliant.

Tell me in the comments: who was your character that went rogue and refused to go back on the shelf?

Mental Health and the Writer’s Block No One Talks About

/ RG Newhouse / Leave a comment

Some days, writing feels like breathing. Other days, it feels like climbing out of a pillow fort lined with existential dread.

A young blonde girl sits curled up in a large pillow fort, clutching a stuffed dog with a tired, distant expression. A black cat lounges nearby on a pillow. The scene feels cozy but emotionally heavy, suggesting overwhelm and the need for comfort.
Some days, the pillow fort is the only place I can breathe. And that’s okay.

I used to be a prolific writer… songs, fanfiction, original fiction, half thought out plot bunnies scribbled in one of the multitude of pretty notebooks I couldn’t (and still can’t) resist buying. If I had an idea, I followed it. If I didn’t, I still wrote. It was how I moved through the world. Until it wasn’t.

One day, my brain decided I wasn’t good enough.

Not in a dramatic, thunder crack epiphany sort of way. More like a slow fade. I still had ideas, but I couldn’t write them. I couldn’t even talk about them. They hurt. Because I didn’t think I deserved them. Because I didn’t think I could do them justice. Because everything in me whispered, “Why bother? You’ll mess it up.”

That was depression talking. That was anxiety wrapping itself in creative block and hurling it like a weighted blanket over everything I loved.

So I stopped. And I stayed stopped for longer than I want to admit.

Eventually, I got therapy. I started learning how to untangle the mental noise. Techniques to quiet the inner critic. To write a sentence without needing it to be perfect. To remind myself that ideas don’t have expiration dates.

I started writing again.

Not like before. Not all at once. But in soft, small ways. A line here. A scene there. A journal entry that accidentally turned into a short story. I came back.

But I still have bad days.

I still have days when the world is too much and the stories feel far away. I still crawl back into my pillow fort, surrounded by fuzzy blankets, stuffed animals, and a very patient cat who purrs like she knows I’m trying. I don’t feel guilty about those days anymore.

Because now I know: rest is part of the process.

Self care is writing adjacent.

Ideas don’t vanish just because you need a break and bad words are still better than no words because editing exists and perfection is a myth anyway.

If you’re in the pillow fort right now, I see you.

You’re not broken. You’re just resting.

A steaming mug of tea rests beside an open notebook on a soft bed. Sunlight pours through sheer curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. A black cat sleeps on a pile of blankets, evoking quiet comfort and the gentle return to creativity.
This is what healing looks like, sunlight, stillness, and the quiet promise that the words will come back.

And when you’re ready, your stories will still be there, waiting.

If this post spoke to you, share it with another writer who might need a little reminder: the stories will still be there. And so will you.

Author Social Media Setup Tips (And Why It’s Harder Than It Looks)

/ RG Newhouse / Leave a comment

Let’s talk about the not so glamorous side of being an author in the digital age: building your online presence.

A warmly lit writer’s desk at twilight with an open journal, a steaming mug of tea, a flickering candle, colored pencils, and a fluffy cat lounging beside a soft blanket. A peaceful, creative atmosphere near a glowing window.
The dream: a cozy desk, a warm drink, and a cat who doesn’t sit on the keyboard. Every author’s happy place. Generated by Midjourney

You’d think setting up social media would be easy, right? Just pick a profile photo, write a snappy bio, toss in a few links… and poof! You’re branded.

Except… not really.

What photo says “writer” without looking like a stock image?

Is your bio too stiff? Too quirky? Is it weird to mention your cats and tea addiction? And don’t even get me started on banner graphics. Designing those things is a minor existential crisis every time.

Still, this stuff matters. Readers want a glimpse of the person behind the page. A warm corner of the internet that says, Hi, I’m real. I write stories. I’d love for you to join the journey.

So if you’re an author wrestling with Canva layouts at 2 AM or rewriting your Twitter bio for the tenth time today… you’re not alone. I’m right there with you.

A woman sits at a cluttered desk with two computer monitors, both displaying colorful graphics and social media content. An open journal, mugs, pens, sticky notes, and scattered books surround her. Warm lighting and cozy chaos fill the space, capturing the feeling of deep creative work.
This girl? This is me in my dreams, back when I was young, optimistic, and still believed I’d pick the perfect author bio photo on the first try. Generated by Midjourney

A Few Quick Tips to Get You Started:

  • Use the same profile photo across platforms so readers recognize you instantly.
  • Keep your bio simple—mention what you write, a little about who you are, and let your personality peek through.
  • Design one banner in Canva and then resize it using platform specific templates. Saves time and sanity.
  • Don’t try to do it all at once. Pick one or two platforms you’ll enjoy using and start there.
  • Pin a post (like your latest release or a short intro) to make your profile welcoming at first glance.

We’ll get it figured out. One awkwardly cropped banner at a time.

Got a favorite trick for picking the perfect profile photo? Share it… I could use the help.