Requested by: VallWrites

Have I wanted to do this for a long time? Yes.

Nearly every fanfiction I find has the OC/Reader falling in love with their love interest almost as soon as they lay eyes on them. Not just an attraction, but love. Which is so ridiculously unrealistic. People will argue with me on this, but it's a fact.

There is such a thing as Attraction At First Sight. You can lay eyes on someone, and think they're attractive, and imagine going out with them, or marrying them, but it isn't true love. It's called infatuation.

Love takes time, and it can be difficult. You go on a first date, and see if you like the person and who they are. If you do, you go on another, and your attraction towards them grows as you learn more. You will fight sometimes, and disagree. It happens, and it's fine. Writers seem scared to write their characters having a disagreement because it makes their love less perfect. No love story doesn't have their problems.

Show little things, not just big things. Show small smiles, and inside jokes, and moving towards each other, and small cuddles and holding hands. It's this kind of little fluff that lets us know that this relationship is real, and that they're really in love. It makes our hearts flutter, and we root for them to be happy.

Let their character be an individual. People have their own personalities, their own lives. Not everything is going to revolve around a relationship, and if it does, then that relationship isn't healthy which means it's badly written.

DON'T GLAMORIZE ABUSE

There are more types of abuse than just the physical and sexual. There's also financial, cultural, mental, and emotional. Even though these aren't as widely known, that doesn't mean it isn't abuse. Extreme jealousy, over-protection, obsession, withdrawal from other friends, making the other person change. This is abuse and it's become normalized in fanfiction.

Not every single problem will be fixed by a relationship either. You can be insecure in a relationship, you can have depression, and struggle with past issues. Getting into a relationship doesn't immediately mean everything is a fairytale. Don't fix your character's issues with a relationship.

Request are open and so is asking questions!

~Lydia