Blackbeard Writing Meme: Meaning, Origins, and Why It’s Perfect for Petty Posts and Deep Drafts

The Blackbeard Writing Meme has gone viral through timelines with its dark candlelight, serious ink flow, and tone that says “this is personal.” Based on a photo of actor Taika Waititi as Blackbeard from HBO’s Our Flag Means Death, the meme is a nail-on-the-head representation of when you were writing something serious; whether it was a rant comment, deep note, or a petty diary entry at 3 a.m. For this Grumpysharks breakdown, we will look at the origins of this image, why it connects so well to our writer-selves and how it seems to be the ultimate manifestation of anxious overthinking or keyboard therapy.

#1 What Is the Blackbeard Writing Meme?

The Blackbeard Writing Meme, also called Pirate Writing, is a viral image macro depicting the One Piece villain Marshall D. Teach, aka Blackbeard, dramatically writing something down with a quill pen. Intense. Over-the-top. Profoundly personal. It’s become the de facto meme for the moments in which you’re writing something emotional—a breakup text, an “I’m fine” journal entry, or a comment you know you shouldn’t be posting.

#2 What Are The Origins of the Blackbeard Writing Meme?

The origins of the Blackbeard Writing Meme trace back to November 5th, 2012, when DeviantArt artist jen-and-kris uploaded a piece of fan art titled “Blackbeard Writing.” The work depicts Marshall D. Teach (aka Blackbeard from One Piece) standing over a map, quill in hand, fingers adorned with rings, just oozing plotting my revenge energy. Over time, the post received some incremental views and additional favorites on DeviantArt, to the tune of over 32,500 views and 960+ favorites.

The image limped along for years without much attention outside of the One Piece fandom. In 2023 it was rediscovered and propagated on Reddit, and people started pairing the image with serious or silly, petty captions as a standard meme. The dramatic visuals were perfect for some dynamic reimagining.

#3 Why It’s Perfect for Petty Posts and Deep Drafts

The Blackbeard Writing Meme is so effective because it captures the exact moment when emotions spill over right into melodrama—and it’s that first lean in. Whether you’re typing up a spicy subtweet, you’re writing in your journal like it’s Beowulf, or you’ve written (then deleted) a whole paragraph-long reply, this meme is a summary of the energy that we all secretly inject into the keyboard.

What’s special about the quill pen, the extreme focus, and the pirate rings glimmering like cursed artifacts? It exaggerates the act of writing to a near-mythical level—and is exactly how it feels when you’re in your feelings. Writing is not just text. It is a declaration. It is a manifesto. It is your final word (until you edit six more times).

It is also flexible. One moment it’s making fun of overanalyzers, the next, it’s the visual playlist for fanfic authors, chaotic texters, and the scrolls at drama TikTok. The image promotes humor while considering that writing—even petty writing—can be serious business.

In a world of quick posts and instant replies, this meme says: No. I will write this as if it is a historical journal of a war. And honestly? Same.

#4 What Are the Most Relatable Ways People Use the Meme?

The Blackbeard Writing Meme gained traction not only from humor but from how relatable it is. The visual representation parallels me overthinking everything at 1 a.m. Created to exaggerate the small, emotional rides we all go on when writing things that may never be seen, the meme is indicative of a universal experience.

One of the most relatable examples? The creation of a message that is never sent. A passionate declaration of love, an angry reply, or a beautifully written closure paragraph? This meme encapsulates that moment of writing a Shakespearean monologue… and then deleting it.

Often the meme will be found in expressions of fan fiction and “diary” humor. Small examples will highlight how they put all of their soul into their plotlines like they are composing ancient scrolls of power. Who hasn’t written a venting note in their notes app as if they were publishing their memoir?

Another favorite example: petty posts. When you are explaining your side of the story, when you are revising your clap back, or when you are writing a caption to be “accidentally” viewed by a specific person. The meme’s dramatic energy provides a layer of humor and honesty that is tenfold.

It is highly relatable, as it is so easy to be wrapped up in your ideas and writing.

#5 Frequently Asked Questions

Who drew or animated this version of Blackbeard?

The image comes from a 2012 fan art piece created by DeviantArt user jen-and-kris. It’s not an official One Piece scene, but the artwork captured such a dramatic and expressive moment that it became meme gold years later. The original drawing shows Blackbeard writing on a map with a quill, his fingers stacked with rings and full pirate intensity.

Is the writing scene canon in One Piece?

No, this exact moment doesn’t appear in the One Piece anime or manga. It’s a fan-created interpretation, not a canon scene. However, it aligns well with Blackbeard’s theatrical personality, which is why many fans assumed it might be real. That’s part of what made it meme-worthy—it feels canon, even though it’s not.

Can I use this meme commercially or in videos?

Since the image is fan art, it’s best to tread carefully. For non-commercial, parody, or meme use, it’s generally fine under fair use. But for monetized content, it’s respectful to credit the artist jen-and-kris, and avoid using it in anything being sold without permission. Always give credit where it’s due—especially when fan art helps bring a meme to life.

#6 Conclusion

The Blackbeard Writing Meme embodies the idea that one image can create a thousand emotions, particularly when these emotions are about overthinking, pettiness, or ranting into your Notes app at 2 a.m. This oozing cluster of fan art has grown into a shared symbol for very dramatic or chaotic writing energy, and is absolutely worthy of being a meme.

From Reddit threads to TikTok slideshows, it’s clear this meme resonant with many people. And whether you’re working on the next great fanfic, or drafting a text you’ll never send, Blackbeard’s furious scribble reminds us that sometimes the pen really is more powerful, especially when it’s dripping in drama.

At Grumpysharks, We’ll keep consuming the internet one wonderfully petty meme at a time.