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Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025

2:38pm EST

Members: 878

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Writing Blog Number 2

by S 🤦

Rated: 18+ · Book · Personal · #2311764

This is a continuation of my blogging here at WdC

This will be a blog for my writing, maybe with (too much) personal thrown in. I am hoping it will be a little more interactive, with me answering questions, helping out and whatnot. If it falls this year (2024), then I may stop the whole blogging thing, but that's all a "wait and see" scenario.

An index of topics can be found here: "Writing Blog No.2 Index"

Feel free to comment and interact.

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

tj wanderlust-words-in-motion

about 23 hours ago
In response to "20250219 Ending Without Ending"

Some open endings are good, but some leave me wondering; as if everything I've read was wasted time.

tj wanderlust-words-in-motion

Feb 12, 2025 at 4:07pm
In response to "20250212 Science Fiction Tropes I Like"

I'm trying something new here, so don't be too shocked to see a comment instead of just a "like".

Thanks for sharing.

Ms. TerrifyingTuber

Feb 12, 2025 at 3:23pm
In response to "20250212 Science Fiction Tropes I Like"

This was worth the wait. #4 on the list made me realize I can use my nightmare this morning as an idea for a Science Fiction Story.

1 Like

S 🤦

Feb 10, 2025 at 4:41am
In response to "20250210 Science Fiction Tropes I Dislike"

Patience, padawan...

1 Like

Ms. TerrifyingTuber

Feb 10, 2025 at 12:36am
In response to "20250210 Science Fiction Tropes I Dislike"

Are there any Sci-Fi tropes that work well in your opinion?

S 🤦

Jan 31, 2025 at 2:25am
In response to "20250131 Mythological Or Legendary Creatures As Cliché"

Ms. TerrifyingTuber - This is mainly Western dragons because those are the ones that feature most in books. That was the idea of this - looking at creatures that have become cliche in books. As for Eastern dragons, around 50-50 good-evil. And Native American beliefs had very few dragons, so calling them good or evil was difficult.

2 Like

Ms. TerrifyingTuber

Jan 31, 2025 at 1:45am
In response to "20250131 Mythological Or Legendary Creatures As Cliché"

Interesting, so most of the characteristics for dragons listed in this entry were more typical of western/European style dragons. In Eastern and Native American folklore their dragons can be benevolent. Are often associated with rain, rivers or the ocean and sometimes have antlers. Or so I've heard in the folk tales I've read.

But anyways, thanks to the textile industry and weird obsessions from the 80s and 90s, the Eastern Dragon has probably been overused.

1 Like

tj wanderlust-words-in-motion

Jan 27, 2025 at 2:18pm
In response to "20250127 List Of Bad Tropes"

Similarly, minimum workers who drive an expensive, new car and travel overseas, stay in high end hotels, etc...

Kissing in the rain? My wife and I had attended a street dance many years ago that had been moved inside the Fire Hall because it was raining. It was hot and humid, about 39^oC with a relative humidity in the upper 90% range. They had the overhead doors open and fans, but with all the people it was stifling, so we stepped outside the doors and danced in the soft, light, and slightly cooling rain.

I agree, however, they use kissing in the rain way too often, and it's usually in a cold downpour.

1 Like

Jayne

Jan 27, 2025 at 11:28am
In response to "20250127 List Of Bad Tropes"

Basically agree, except #12. There's a reason women cut their hair after leaving awful relationships. There's a reason women cut off their hair as a middle finger to society. Ask around and see how many women with short hair have been told they're cute but would look cuter if they grew their hair out. Why do we need to look cute? Why can't we have a style that makes us feel fierce?

Not all women, of course. It's not that wide of a brush. But for some women, absolutely empowering and does result in a different outlook and demeanor. As to having a hairstyle that won't get in the way - yeah, that's part of it.

I freely admit I'm part of the empowered brigade. Fierce jet-black pixie-cut bed-head I-don't-care-if-you-think-women-should-have-long-locks mention-it-at-you-own-peril hair.

Not directed at you. But it's mind-boggling how many strangers still call it 'brave' or ask 'why did you do that?'

My least favorite is, "Oh, I wish I could do that. My husband/boyfriend/partner would throw a fit." I don't usually say anything, because it's not my place to say, "Get a new partner."

If you feel it's overused, that's fine. But it's definitely one of the more believable ones and has a valid reason for sticking around.

2 Like

Ms. TerrifyingTuber

Jan 27, 2025 at 10:15am
In response to "20250127 List Of Bad Tropes"

The way you phrased number 11 in this list really made me giggle. Although I agree, it is a really annoying trope.

1 Like

February 17, 2025 at 1:10am

#1083976

20250217 Romance Tropes I Like

Romance Tropes I Like

I am a relative new comer to the romance side of things, but I have already come to see some tropes I do not like… and some I know are going to mean a good story. Not only that, I have found some that work well when crossed over with other genres of writing!

1. Friends to lovers
My favourite romance trope. They already know and like one another, and it becomes almost logical that, given the right circumstances, they would fall for one another. There can be hiccoughs, other friends can interfere or be jealous – it works so well. Hell, I used it in Invasive Species.

2. Forced together by circumstance, fall for one another
We are not talking enemies to lovers (I have already mentioned previously how much that trope irks me), but people who might not know one another, or maybe might have a passing acquaintance, are suddenly thrust into the middle of a set of circumstances, realise one another is strong and worth fighting for, or something, and they fall for each other. Still works.

3. Forbidden romance
Most famously portrayed in Romeo And Juliet, this still works as well. The lovers need to hide it and might get caught, or they flee, or they do something stupid (like R&J), but we still see today families trying to ban a coupling. In fact, in the subcontinent and those immigrant communities elsewhere, it has led to murder. This is one that just stays in the consciousness. This also encompasses things like “secret romance”, “office romance” or “best friend’s partner” romance.

4. Second chance romances
I like these stories, but there is a caveat – the partner being given the second chance cannot have been a mammoth arsehole. If they administered DV of any sort on the partner, then a second chance story does not work for me. Otherwise, it does seem to be fine, and I enjoy some of these tales. Someone always says, “Once a cheater, always a cheater,” if the story comes from there, but maybe not. It might be wishful thinking, but it is a trope I do enjoy.

5. Holiday romance
This is something that might surprise people, but I do like those tales of a holiday romance that is fated to never go any further. It is that weekend fling with a girl at Bali, despite both having partners, it is that week-long summer camp childhood sweethearts romance that is killed by friends in the real world. It is sitting next to someone on a tour bus and eventually sharing their bed. It is all manner of things. Sure, afterwards, one could seek out the other and lifelong romance could eventuate, but in general, a happy for now ending is the best one for these sorts of stories.

And there we are, 5 romance tropes I do quite enjoy.

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