15+ Blackbeard Writing Memes To Describe Your Most Intense "Lock-in" Phase

What is the "Blackbeard Writing" Meme?

The "Blackbeard Writing" meme originates from a piece of One Piece fan art titled "OP. The map." It depicts the character Marshall D. Teach intensely focused on writing, a visual now used across Reddit and Twitter to represent high-effort storytelling or "Peak Fiction."

"Blackbeard Writing" Meme Templates

The illustration, titled "OP. The map," was created by artists Kris and Jen and uploaded to DeviantArt in 2012. Despite being over a decade old, the image achieved viral status in early 2023. According to community tracking on Know Your Meme, its breakthrough did not start in the anime community but via the r/dndmemes subreddit.

On Reddit, it was initially used to depict a Dungeon Master (DM) frantically writing new lore on the fly after players unexpectedly derailed a campaign. This "frantic DM" context provided the momentum needed for the image to spread globally.

Based on trends within Reddit and TikTok, the template is defined by four primary use cases:

The Counterfeit Genius: This variation satirizes the unearned sense of accomplishment one feels when using AI tools like ChatGPT to finish a task, humorously contrasting the low effort with the "masterpiece" outcome.
The "Academic Bluff": This variation captures the irony of using "etc." to hide the fact that you’ve run out of examples, while maintaining the intense, focused energy of a mastermind.
The Deadline Panic: This variation highlights the sudden shift from relaxation to high-intensity focus when a forgotten deadline strikes, depicting the frantic "lock-in" phase of a last-minute study session.