Apr 23, 2019
You are what you do, not what you say you'll do. ~ Carl Jung posted on Instagram - http://bit.ly/2ICSASi
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You are what you do, not what you say you'll do. ~ Carl Jung posted on Instagram - http://bit.ly/2ICSASi
If you can’t beat fear, just do it scared ~ Glennon Doyle posted on Instagram - https://ift.tt/2zslLRV
Either ignore your haters or take it as motivation that you're doing something right. Why? You've elicited an emotion in them. That's a win. posted on Instagram - https://ift.tt/2H1Aush
Afraid to say it? Write it. Give yourself permission to blow your own damn mind. posted on Instagram - http://bit.ly/2EP2BcU
You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do… ~ Carl Jung posted on Instagram - https://ift.tt/2Ck8i0D
You don't have to have it all figured out to move forward ... Just write it. Your first draft will be shit. Write it anyway. Figure out your structure or edits or perfect word placement or audience LATER. For now, get it all down. posted on Instagram - https://ift.tt/2PXA3jN
Write what others are afraid to say. Even what YOU are afraid to say. Write the uncomfortable truths. Believe me, it resonates. It carries meanings people hide. They will thank you for it. posted on Instagram - https://ift.tt/2BFLGZC
Trope Roundup #1 - Werewolf Tropes: The Good, The Bad, The Hairy
Welcome to the first ever edition of Trope Roundup, in which we talk about popular horror tropes. Each category represents different tropes.
The Good are tropes that are either delightfully classic or totally fresh. The Bad are tropes we find to be flawed, but maybe they can work in the right situation. The Hairy are tropes to avoid at all costs for one reason or another.
Let's begin!
Trope #1: The Big Bad Wolf
Not just ANY wolf, but THE Big Bad Wolf. You know the one; he represents common themes such as child predation. Since the 1970s or so, adult-oriented fairytale retellings have made him a werewolf often, or at least anthropomorphic.
As seen in: Lady in the Water (the Scrunt), Into the Woods
Rating: The Bad
Thoughts: I know I'm not the only one sick of fairytale re-tellings. From Hard Candy to Freeway, "dark and gritty" Little Red Riding Hoods are absolutely everywhere and are already a cliche. Adding werewolves to the mix only seems to make this messy.
Verdict: Fairytale wolves are overdone; try to avoid this trope as much as possible.
Try this instead: Create a werewolf that everyone fears might be a predator, but actually turns out to be helpful. It could be a charming twist.
Trope #2: Fur Against Fang
Werewolves are very alive, borne of nature. Meanwhile, vampires are the undead; living dead people. Both creatures of night that prey upon the living, for some reason they just can't seem to get along.
As seen in: The Vampire Diaries, Twilight,
Rating: The Hairy
Thoughts: This is so extremely overdone. Why are they enemies? In so many stories they just ARE. There's no real explanation for it, they just need to battle each other.
Verdict: Avoid this trope if possible.
Try this instead: Vampires and werewolves are both creatures of night, and everyone expects them to be enemies. Wouldn't it be much cooler if they got along and decided to fight an entity together? They’d be unbelievably powerful!
Trope #3: Our Werewolves Are Different
Lycanthropy varies for sure, but werewolves essentially need to take the form of a wolf. Still, werewolves show many different qualities when it comes to different works of fiction.
As seen in: Mercy Falls, Raised by Wolves.
Rating: The Good
Thoughts: Genres shift and change; why stick to what's been done a million times? Making unique and different werewolves is a good thing, especially since they haven't been as glamorized (yet) as zombies and vampires have.
Verdict: This trope is good. Keep writing this way.
Trope #4: Werewolf Theme Naming
Werewolves often have similar names throughout different works of fiction. Lycus, Canis, Lupis, Fenrir, Lobo, Wolfgang...
As seen in: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Munsters
Rating: The Good
Thoughts: I see no problem with this trope. I wouldn't say it's tired as much as perhaps sleepy. It's a writer's tradition, and it can be a fun Easter egg for the reader when carried out with wit.
Verdict: Write with cleverness and there should be no problem here.
Trope #5: Wolves Always Howl at the Moon
In almost any work of werewolf fiction, there has to be a scene in which someone howls at the moon.
As seen in: Vampire Hunter D, Spice and Wolf
Rating: The Bad
Thoughts: Wolves don't actually howl at the moon; they howl at night because they are nocturnal. There is no reason for werewolves to howl at the moon.
Verdict: Use this trope for dramatic effect only. It's a classic, but it doesn't have much to back itself up with.
Try this instead: Have your werewolf exhibit behaviors that wolves are known for in real life, such as anything listed here.
Trope #6: Wolf Man
A Wolf Man is a beast; he has horrific, wolf-like features but retains human proportions.
As seen in: The Wolf Man, Teen Wolf
Rating: The Good
Thoughts: To me, a Wolf Man is no less of a werewolf. He is simply a sub-genre of werewolf, if you will.
Verdict: Nothing wrong with this trope, use it as you will.
Thanks so much for reading! Those are my thoughts on Werewolf Tropes. Feel free to let me know what you think :)
-Your Vampiric Admin-