forum How to write a yandere

Started November 02, 2018 by Lacey Kat

tune

I want to write a yandere love interest but I don't want him to come over the top or hammy

Uhhhh… I'm not well-versed in writing Yanderes, but first of all, I would just use "Yandere" as a loose term and use it as a basic outline.

1. Have your character show a lot of concern for their object of affection. They get hurt? This character is the first to respond, and they make sure their love gets exactly what they need. Sick? This is the character who sticks around and makes them chicken noodle soup and herbal tea. This kind of stuff is really sweet, and is basically love given through acts of service.
2. Have your character pine, but never stalk. Their love walks into the room, they might stare a little, their heart might beat a little faster, or their face may light up with a smile. Basically lots of positive reactions to their presence.
   I'll try to think of more stuff, and if I do, I'll tell you.

If they're actually yandere, however, then they WOULD stalk. They would most certainly try their best to please the one they want, but they go so over the top that it becomes ridiculous and scary. It's even worse when they break down over the one they want feeling uncomfortable, and the crazy part comes in when they threaten themselves in order to get with their "love interest." It mostly revolves around physical harm or suicide, and situations like those are TERRIFYING to be a part of (though I can thankfully say I've never had personal experience). Everything a yandere does is sweet, charming, and almost guaranteed to get someone to love them, but only in their minds. You gotta go nuts on the scary factor.

How have I taken this long to come across this thread? I knew a yandere and the person that they called senpai.
At my old school I had a friend that was head over heels and a total yandere for this person they knew. Honestly they were a good and protective friend even if they could be…. a bit dark and over the top at times. They had normal interests like drawings and collecting these cute buttons and keychains but could get quite dark with their art and story telling. Their entire life didn't center around the person but they still lit up every time they were in a class together. They were friends and the yandere never threatened the girlfriend their crush already had, though they weren't scared to call them senpai or show they obviously wanted them to be more than friends. Despite their highest grade being a B they were smart, knowing which teachers would let their threats slide when they were angry and which wouldn't.
There was a few odd things that made some stray away from them like them playing the knife game, whether with a real knife or pen, or the "They're going to kill you" look their friends sometimes gave if someone brought up a topic they didn't like. The one time they actually tried to tackle someone was in gym when someone made the mistake of telling them to get over their crush after the person moved away as they were already in a bad mood knowing they'd never see them again even if they were just friends. It's hard to calm a yandere down unless you know to talk to them calmly and have them think of things they like, which I was the only one who pieced that together while the others just shouted as they kept them back because the teacher wasn't doing anything.
Overall they was nice other than the threats if someone set off their temper. They never threatened to kill or harm themselves though, because the person they liked had depression and the topic was avoided. Honestly you either needed to be indifferent about what someone does or willing to put up with threats to be their friend but they did care if you did end up being a friend. If not the person's girlfriend they were the first to rush to help the senpai whether cheering them up or offering help. Note that some people might have different reactions to different things, this is just my experience, hopes it helps!