I Can't Explain It, But Batman Needs To Be Mythologized. In Gotham, That Is.

When writing toxic family dynamics

Toxic family stuff isn’t always screaming matches or broken plates. Sometimes it’s quiet control. The expectation to shrink, the pressure to be perfect, the guilt that rides shotgun. It’s complicated. And it’s deeply, deeply personal.

✧ Make the love real, but conditional.  One of the most damaging things about toxic family is the illusion of love. It’s not “I love you no matter what.” It’s “I love you when you obey.” Let your character notice that.

✧ Control shows up in micro ways... Who’s allowed to speak. Who’s allowed to feel. Who apologizes first, even when they’re not wrong. Control doesn’t need to be loud. Sometimes it’s a raised eyebrow or a guilt trip.

✧  Let them question reality. Toxic families are great at gaslighting. Your character might constantly wonder, Was it really that bad? Am I being dramatic? Let them doubt their own memories. That internal confusion is real.

✧ The guilt will be crushing. Leaving a toxic family doesn’t feel empowering at first. It feels selfish. It feels wrong. It feels like betrayal, even when it's survival. Show your character grieving the fantasy of the family they wish they had.

✧ Let them try to earn love. Your character might work their ass off trying to “be good,” hoping maybe this time they’ll be enough. Toxic families move the goalposts. Let that break them a little.

✧ Show emotional whiplash... One moment everything is warm and nostalgic. The next, it’s tense and full of landmines. That unpredictability is the dynamic. Use it.

✧ Don’t make the villain cartoonish. Even the abuser might think they’re doing what’s best. They might bake cookies and say “I’m just worried about you.” That’s what makes it so damaging. Write them like people, flawed, manipulative, real.

✧ Let your character unlearn in layers. Even after they leave, they still flinch. Still fold under pressure. Still crave approval. Recovery isn’t clean. But it’s worth it. And when they finally say no, even just once, let it be electric.

100 Dialogue Tags You Can Use Instead of “Said”

For the writers struggling to rid themselves of the classic ‘said’. Some are repeated in different categories since they fit multiple ones (but those are counted once so it adds up to 100 new words). 

1. Neutral Tags 

Straightforward and unobtrusive dialogue tags: 

Added, Replied, Stated, Remarked, Responded, Observed, Acknowledged, Commented, Noted, Voiced, Expressed, Shared, Answered, Mentioned, Declared.

2. Questioning Tags 

Curious, interrogative dialogue tags:

Asked, Queried, Wondered, Probed, Inquired, Requested, Pondered, Demanded, Challenged, Interjected, Investigated, Countered, Snapped, Pleaded, Insisted.

3. Emotive Tags 

Emotional dialogue tags:

Exclaimed, Shouted, Sobbed, Whispered, Cried, Hissed, Gasped, Laughed, Screamed, Stammered, Wailed, Murmured, Snarled, Choked, Barked.

4. Descriptive Tags 

Insightful, tonal dialogue tags: 

Muttered, Mumbled, Yelled, Uttered, Roared, Bellowed, Drawled, Spoke, Shrieked, Boomed, Snapped, Groaned, Rasped, Purred, Croaked.

5. Action-Oriented Tags 

Movement-based dialogue tags: 

Announced, Admitted, Interrupted, Joked, Suggested, Offered, Explained, Repeated, Advised, Warned, Agreed, Confirmed, Ordered, Reassured, Stated.

6. Conflict Tags 

Argumentative, defiant dialogue tags:

Argued, Snapped, Retorted, Rebuked, Disputed, Objected, Contested, Barked, Protested, Countered, Growled, Scoffed, Sneered, Challenged, Huffed.

7. Agreement Tags 

Understanding, compliant dialogue tags: 

Agreed, Assented, Nodded, Confirmed, Replied, Conceded, Acknowledged, Accepted, Affirmed, Yielded, Supported, Echoed, Consented, Promised, Concurred.

8. Disagreement Tags 

Resistant, defiant dialogue tags: 

Denied, Disagreed, Refused, Argued, Contradicted, Insisted, Protested, Objected, Rejected, Declined, Countered, Challenged, Snubbed, Dismissed, Rebuked.

9. Confused Tags 

Hesitant, uncertain dialogue tags:

Stammered, Hesitated, Fumbled, Babbled, Mumbled, Faltered, Stumbled, Wondered, Pondered, Stuttered, Blurted, Doubted, Confessed, Vacillated.

10. Surprise Tags

Shock-inducing dialogue tags:

Gasped, Stunned, Exclaimed, Blurted, Wondered, Staggered, Marvelled, Breathed, Recoiled, Jumped, Yelped, Shrieked, Stammered.

Note: everyone is entitled to their own opinion. No I am NOT telling people to abandon said and use these. Yes I understand that said is often good enough, but sometimes you WANT to draw attention to how the character is speaking. If you think adding an action/movement to your dialogue is 'good enough' hate to break it to you but that ruins immersion much more than a casual 'mumbled'. And for the last time: this is just a resource list, CALM DOWN. Hope that covers all the annoyingly redundant replies :)

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!

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Glad to see the ecosystem of the Pixar lamp creators is doing good

Despite Uzi spending far more time with the DD's in the start it's LIzzy that becomes the nerd expert on DD body language and enrichment. She knows what each and every little tail twitch or sway means, she knows what DD's need to keep them entertained and their hunt kill urges low.

She uses laser pointers on not only with V but N was well. N has yet to catch that almighty red dot that eludes him, maybe one day. V likes to brag she caught it but she's lying, she has not.

Scratching, clawing, chasing, and chewing/biting is a big thing with DD's. They really do love it. It's pretty normal to see DD's chasing worker drones down the halls and such, N does that to. It can be kind of hard to find things for them to chew up or claw on. V gets snipped at for plucking her claws on Lizzy's blankets or furniture. N once got in trouble for the teeth chew marks on a corner wall.

Lizzy actually found J a cat tower and received a big "fuck you i'm not a fat house cat!" 2 hours later she was caught scratching on the tower and batting at the little ball on a string hanging from one of the levels. She gave N one of those little raccoon tails on a ball that rolls around. He loves that thing and can be seen rolling around on the floor with it, biting it, batting it, etc. Lizzy has a little wind up fake mouse toy that she sends down the hallway to watch the DD's fight and chase after it.

DD's don't play nicely, their play consists of what looks like a nasty fight. Lizzy is so used to seeing them throwing each other around. They are just snarling and beating the everloving dog shit out of each other and Lizzy is just all "they are just playing"

Lizzy is also aware and often lets it known that DD's rub their under chin on someone they value greatly. V only does this to Lizzy but N does this to Uzi as well as any friends he makes. It's so normal for N to start rubbing the underside of his chin on helmets! it pretty much means "thank you for being my friend! we are best friends!" and yes he does this to Lizzy to

More Uzi- pre episode Eight ending, but she’d still a badass-

🦉

My partner critiques my fics in memes, I felt this on a very personal level.

draw to nori holding baby uzi

Nori holding baby Uzi- :3

I hope I understood what you sent correctly- sorry if you meant something else!

[yes, I am aware that baby Uzi would in theory be a Pillbaby, but I cannot draw Pillbabys for the life of me, so have non Pillbaby baby Uzi instead- TwT]

Wait! Stop scrolling! Fred the Frog has a message for you!

[both signatures are mine! I just sign with both the names of my two Personsas, so-]