https://writing.codidact.com/categories/1/tags/248.rssNew Posts Tagged 'tropes' - WritingWriting - Codidact2020-04-03T14:39:59Zhttps://writing.codidact.com/posts/37548Averting Always Chaotic EvilSystemhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/-12019-07-31T10:58:41Z2020-04-03T14:39:59Z<p><a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AlwaysChaoticEvil" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Always Chaotic Evil</a> denotes an entire species in a fictional setting as outright evil - no m...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/36824Averting Real Women Don’t Wear DressesSystemhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/-12019-06-22T06:57:27Z2019-12-14T20:45:28Z<p><a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RealWomenDontWearDresses" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Real Women Don’t Wear Dresses</a> is when writers portray female characters possessing tr...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/34237Including disabled characters without "inspiration porn"weakdna says reinstate monicahttps://writing.codidact.com/users/68432019-03-07T00:41:42Z2019-12-14T20:45:27Z<p>We all have seen the headlines: "Touching Moment Where Autistic Boy is Asked to Prom", "Watch This Child With Downs Win Her Heat During a Swim Competition", etc., that are touching at first glan...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/33612How do I avoid the "chosen hero" feeling?Liquidhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/80572019-02-21T16:23:09Z2019-12-13T12:00:47Z<p>In many works of genre-fiction (I'm talking mainly about fantasy and sci-fi, but others genres can apply), and across many forms of media, the main characters ends up being <em>special</em> in s...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/35219Avoiding the "not like other girls" trope?weakdna says reinstate monicahttps://writing.codidact.com/users/68432019-04-01T16:47:43Z2019-12-13T12:00:47Z<p>The <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NotLikeOtherGirls" rel="noreferrer">"not like other girls"</a> trope is pretty common in young adult fiction, arguably misogynistic, and ...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/16292Trying to avoid being clichéTheocles of Saturnhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/40212016-02-14T11:38:17Z2019-12-13T12:00:34Z<p>Has opening a story with something like "I hurtled to my death", "I had destroyed the earth", or other outlandish statements like these become cliché? And if so, what are some alternative method...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/14481How do you write boy & girl protagonists without turning them into a love story?B.M. Corwenhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/36282015-08-29T19:06:12Z2019-12-13T12:00:30Z<p>I've played with the idea of a multi-book fantasy story for years, where a female and male protagonists' lives intertwine with one another, the series running from 12-22 years old for them. </p>...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/6962Resource for generic plot hooks?SF.https://writing.codidact.com/users/5662013-01-15T15:16:27Z2019-12-13T12:00:14Z<p>I'm in a long and painful recovery from many years of writer's block. Coming up with even quite simple story ideas costs me unreasonable amount of effort. Sometimes inspiration is generous and I...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/6722Non-cheap ways to make villains evil?SF.https://writing.codidact.com/users/5662012-12-13T16:32:24Z2019-12-13T12:00:13Z<p>Do you have any tried and true techniques to make villains of your stories truly hated by the audience?</p>
<p>I mean, frequently it's "eh, sure, that's bad, he's got to be stopped" but the aud...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/36384Avoiding cliches when writing godsLiquidhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/80572019-05-31T15:03:40Z2019-12-13T11:56:52Z<p>When writing fictional polytheisms, it's tempting to draw inspiration from the existing ones.</p>
<p>In ancient religions (I'm mainly thinking of the Greek/Latin, Egyptian and Norse pantheons) ...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/32136Using real words from a foreign culture feels like 'Calling a rabbit a "smeerp"'Galastelhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/80532018-12-11T01:29:30Z2019-12-13T11:56:48Z<p>I'm working on a novel, that's set in pre-Islamic Persia, in the same general way that <em>The Lord of the Rings</em> is set in Britain. (Meaning, it's set in a world all its own, but there's th...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/30243How to Write an Eldritch Abomination?Systemhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/-12018-08-17T06:36:23Z2019-12-13T11:56:47Z<p>My trilogy features an <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EldritchAbomination" rel="nofollow noreferrer">otherworldly monstrosity</a> called Fenrisúlfr as it's primary antagoni...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/31006Averting Protagonist-Centred MoralitySystemhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/-12018-10-08T11:43:26Z2019-12-13T11:56:47Z<p><a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ProtagonistCenteredMorality" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Protagonist-Centred Morality</a> is when a fictional work is eager to point out when a...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/27573Dead parents: something to avoid?noCluehttps://writing.codidact.com/users/47822018-04-17T15:36:27Z2019-12-12T23:01:22Z<p>A lot of people die in my story, some of them are parents. One of the main characters for example lost his father (and one brother) in a car crash when he was young, which he was a part of. He b...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/38320Writing a love interest for my heroRic Fuentezhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/78492019-09-09T14:22:29Z2019-12-12T21:57:42Z<p>If I'm going to face down a dragon, Mob boss, evil corporation, or a demon from the 7 circles of hell or dystopian dictator, etc, it's not going to be to rescue my buddy Herbert, or cousin Jimmy...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/38449Subverting the emotional woman and stoic man tropeweakdna says reinstate monicahttps://writing.codidact.com/users/68432019-09-20T13:49:07Z2019-12-12T21:57:42Z<p>In my post-apocalyptic story, the split of male and female main/supporting characters is 50/50. </p>
<p>The girls and women in the story, Eris, Marina, and Ezrith, display very little emotion-...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/38457Averting BathosSystemhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/-12019-09-21T03:52:16Z2019-12-12T21:57:42Z<p><a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Bathos" rel="noreferrer">Bathos</a> is a storytelling technique that consists in the rapid succession of 2 “moments” with conflicting tones. ...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/34896Non-trope happy ending?Tomhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/15532019-03-21T15:43:53Z2019-12-12T21:57:37Z<p>This is in the idea stage, but I was wondering...</p>
<p>In stories involving multiple protagonists (4 or more) that make and end relationships, date each other, etc. during the course of the s...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/33103How is a semordnilap typically used?puffofsmokehttps://writing.codidact.com/users/70802019-01-31T16:44:50Z2019-12-12T21:57:33Z<p>I am asking whether I should use it as a hint to make it clear that my story is about the story of Adam and Eve.</p>
<p>In my short story, there's a place called "Nede", with two characters cal...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/30496Can dream reveals make good climaxes for a POV’s internal struggle?Edmund Frosthttps://writing.codidact.com/users/43042018-09-03T11:49:29Z2019-12-12T21:57:26Z<p>Dream twists just spoil our senses of disbelief. I can see how that can be excetuted carelessly, but if done for the need of showing what the main character wants or fears most then maybe it wou...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/29247How to defeat a strategic mastermind without throwing the idiotball?Mephistopheleshttps://writing.codidact.com/users/35842018-06-26T19:54:55Z2019-12-12T21:57:24Z<p>My antagonist is a "strategic mastermind", similar to the one discussed in <a href="https://writing.stackexchange.com/questions/35084/how-to-prevent-seeming-like-a-marty-stu-ish-villain-is-cheat...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/28877What makes for a successful resurrection?Adi219https://writing.codidact.com/users/57632018-06-10T14:30:17Z2019-12-12T21:57:23Z<p>If you've seen <em>Avengers: Infinity War</em>, you'll recall the line "No resurrections this time" being said in the scene just after the first (arguably second) on-screen death of a main chara...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/26219Is there any way to get around having everyone in the world speak the same language?Systemhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/-12018-02-19T16:50:01Z2019-12-12T21:57:19Z<p>You see this a lot in fantasy fiction, where everyone on the planet (and sometimes beyond) speaks the same language, even though it makes absolutely no logical sense for them to have any knowled...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/37191Is killing off one of my queer characters homophobic?weakdna says reinstate monicahttps://writing.codidact.com/users/68432019-07-12T17:37:20Z2019-12-08T12:26:30Z<p>(For reference, I am queer.)</p>
<p>In my post-apocalyptic novel and in the short story from the novel's antagonist's perspective, my MC, Eris' love interest, Caspian, has/had two mothers, Sask...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/37118What's it called when the bad guy gets eaten?Ashhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/26322019-07-07T12:44:07Z2019-12-08T12:24:08Z<p>Is there a specific name for the plot device in which the story's "Big Bad" has a cunning plan to use some monstrous being to further their diabolical machinations. This may be something summone...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/37054What are some bad ways to subvert tropes?tryinhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/39802019-07-03T12:22:49Z2019-12-08T12:22:44Z<p>I recently came across something I wrote in 4th or 5th grade, where the MCs, a girl and a boy, were superheroes. One wore a blue costume with knives, and the other wore a pink one with flowers.....https://writing.codidact.com/posts/36796How can I convince my reader that I will not use a certain trope?PoorYorickhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/52092019-06-21T18:46:00Z2019-12-08T12:15:08Z<p>Imagine a fantasy story in which there once was a very powerful evil divine being, but it was defeated long before the beginning of the story. For the story it is very important that it was defe...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/36231How do I subvert the tropes of a train heist?wetcircuithttps://writing.codidact.com/users/3422019-05-26T17:08:26Z2019-12-08T11:59:43Z<p>What are the recognizable tropes to a "train heist", or more broadly <strong>the action sequences where a protagonist boards a moving train in order to stop it</strong>? </p>
<p>My protagonist ...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/35280How can I make an eldritch abomination out of humanity?Alberto Lazo-Morejonhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/73852019-04-03T02:52:38Z2019-12-08T11:37:17Z<p>The fanfic I'm writing is so that I may get into the swing of literature. A test story if you might like in the Mass Effect Universe. Please prepare for a long text because there's a lot of triv...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/35242How to compactly explain secondary and tertiary characters without resorting to stereotypes?RonJohnhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/46162019-04-02T00:25:19Z2019-12-08T11:36:23Z<p>Sure, <strong><em>I</em></strong> understand the characters, but that's because I've been thinking about them.</p>
<p>But how do I transfer that knowledge to the reader without taking the time ...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/33199Chekhov's gun, but it's just "useless" background infonoCluehttps://writing.codidact.com/users/47822019-02-04T16:11:15Z2019-12-08T10:47:42Z<p>We all know how Chekhov's gun works: in short, it's the "rule" that whatever is explicitly shown to the audience should be important later, otherwise you should get rid of it. Don't show us a gu...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/32676Is the "hero guy saves girl" trope misogynistic?weakdna says reinstate monicahttps://writing.codidact.com/users/68432019-01-14T16:28:26Z2019-12-08T10:36:02Z<p>(Question about my hacker (hacking??) novel.)</p>
<p>Just an FYI, I am a woman. </p>
<p>Edward is a cyber spy and works with an organization named Vox Populi to curate and release all data onl...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/31824Why using the "It Was All Just a Dream" Trope?Deutertraumenhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/68862018-11-20T02:59:32Z2019-12-08T10:13:27Z<p>There is a particular trope that became quite infamous across many media: the "it was just a dream" revelation, where, usually at the end of a important story arc, everything turns back to the s...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/28976Avoiding Darkness-Induced Audience ApathySystemhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/-12018-06-15T00:28:12Z2019-12-08T09:07:25Z<p><a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DarknessInducedAudienceApathy" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Darkness-Induced Audience Apathy</a> is when the audience is put off by the incredibl...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/27791How can I convey an absolute truth from the author to the reader without a mentor character?Andreyhttps://writing.codidact.com/users/4612018-04-26T13:52:48Z2019-12-08T08:38:22Z<p>There are sometimes moments in works of fiction where the author needs to convey something to the reader without ambiguity. Let's say the situations around the characters get so weird that the a...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/23125Avoiding "kill it off for DRAMA" trope whilst doing itMephistopheleshttps://writing.codidact.com/users/35842017-08-23T16:12:58Z2019-12-08T06:56:19Z<p>Why hello there, old sports. I guess we all know the spiel with this one, but I tell you anyway, using this handy-dandy step-list:</p>
<ol>
<li>You introduce a character who is likable.</li>
<l...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/23101What does it mean to subvert a trope?Matthew Brown aka Lord Matthttps://writing.codidact.com/users/19172017-08-21T14:43:31Z2019-12-08T06:55:33Z<p>Recently, I've been seeing a lot of discussions about works that subvert a given trope. I think I have an understanding of what this means (from context) but can someone offer a clear definition...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/23045From a writing standpoint, what is the value of Deus Ex Machina?Mephistopheleshttps://writing.codidact.com/users/35842017-08-17T18:25:16Z2019-12-08T06:54:33Z<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Deus ex machina</a> is considered by TV Tropes to be a sub-trope to <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.p...https://writing.codidact.com/posts/19869Reasons to use "red herrings"?Sridhar Sarnobathttps://writing.codidact.com/users/33632017-01-18T20:17:51Z2019-12-08T05:57:42Z<p>I don't see any analytical literature about the usefulness of red herrings as a TV trope. What are some reasons to use them? I'm assuming there's more to it than just bored writers trying to amu...