[Challenge] Challenge #4: We've Seen THAT Before (The Overused Plot Lines Challenge!)
Hello again everyone. Now I bring you this month's challenge for Dormant Muses! ^_^
The challenge this time around is very simple.
1. Select an overused plot (or plots if you prefer) from the list the community put together (add your own here) or the lists from other sites mentioned here.
Overused Fiction/Fanfiction Plots: Our List
1. A is with B from the start, then A realizes he/she loves C more. B either walks away in sadness, or is angry with A, C, or both, and a love triangle ensues.
2. Highschool Plot AU. (Essential characters include: the highscool nerd, the bully, the popular jock)
3. A and B are friends. A starts dating C. B is disturbed/enraged/distressed by the hookup. B eventually realizes that he/she is in love with A.
Plus points: if C is a jerk, which is something B tries to point out to A. A eventually realizes she/he loved B all along.
4. A gets hurt or gets sick, B takes care of him/her.
Plus points: if they aren't together yet, and they learn they love each other.
5. A and B hate each other's guts, until they are forced to do something together and learn to love each other
6. A is popular/attractive, B is not.
Subplots:
a. B is in love with A. C gives A a makeover.
It can end with either:
i. A and B get together.
ii. C falls in love with A.
b. A and B are forced to do something together. A learns that there is more than meets the eye and falls for B.
c. Reformed delinquent.
d. There is a bet involved.
i. The bet is that A can't make B a popular/attractive person.
ii. The bet is that A can't date a person like B.
7. Standard love polygon.
Plus points: If one character is a clumsy/untalented person who for some reason everybody just falls in love with him/her despite the odds.
8. Genki character falls in love with an art form/sport/hobby/profession and despite many difficulties, manages to come out as the best in that art form/sport/hobby/profession.
9. The sudden appearance of a long-lost sibling/relative/cousin that doesn't exist, that everyone falls in love or is immediately friends with, etc. (i.e. Mary Sue)
10. The world is finally at peace thanks to A and his/her group of friends... suddenly a new menace appears! Can A stop it before it's too late?
11. Emo/angst fics, where the narrator or main character wallows in too much personal grief.
12. X cross-dresses.
This is in order to:
a. Get into an exclusive school for the oppposite sex
b. Raise money
Or:
c. Because of an unfortunate, unlikely, accident.
X then falls for Y (and vice versa), and gender-bending mania ensues.
13. Standard non-canon yaoi/yuri pairings.
In which two characters of the same sex are paired up because they are:
i. Best friends.
ii. Rivals.
iii. Hero/sidekick or Master/Servant.
iv. Twins.
14. A has a younger sister/brother who he/she is very attached to, and is the driving force of everything he does.
Plus points: If younger sister/brother is dead/missing.
Other lists:
Overused Science Fiction Plots: From The Internet Writing Journal
Overused Speculative Fiction Plots: From Strange Horizons
Overused Horror Plots: From Strange Horizons
Overused Soap Opera Plots: From Associated Content
2. Write a story out of this plot.
The challenge: that the story you write, despite the use of an overused plot, is still well-written, enjoyable to read, and feels...original.
3. When posting the story for the challenge, indicate what particular overused plot did you, er, use.
And that's it! ^_^ You may write either an original story for the challenge, or fan fiction. Comment now to sign up. And as usual, the challenge is open even to non-members, so plug away!
Deadline: May 10, 2008.
This is also an interesting site to help you out: Giving Depth and Dimension to Overused Plots.
The challenge this time around is very simple.
1. Select an overused plot (or plots if you prefer) from the list the community put together (add your own here) or the lists from other sites mentioned here.
Overused Fiction/Fanfiction Plots: Our List
1. A is with B from the start, then A realizes he/she loves C more. B either walks away in sadness, or is angry with A, C, or both, and a love triangle ensues.
2. Highschool Plot AU. (Essential characters include: the highscool nerd, the bully, the popular jock)
3. A and B are friends. A starts dating C. B is disturbed/enraged/distressed by the hookup. B eventually realizes that he/she is in love with A.
Plus points: if C is a jerk, which is something B tries to point out to A. A eventually realizes she/he loved B all along.
4. A gets hurt or gets sick, B takes care of him/her.
Plus points: if they aren't together yet, and they learn they love each other.
5. A and B hate each other's guts, until they are forced to do something together and learn to love each other
6. A is popular/attractive, B is not.
Subplots:
a. B is in love with A. C gives A a makeover.
It can end with either:
i. A and B get together.
ii. C falls in love with A.
b. A and B are forced to do something together. A learns that there is more than meets the eye and falls for B.
c. Reformed delinquent.
d. There is a bet involved.
i. The bet is that A can't make B a popular/attractive person.
ii. The bet is that A can't date a person like B.
7. Standard love polygon.
Plus points: If one character is a clumsy/untalented person who for some reason everybody just falls in love with him/her despite the odds.
8. Genki character falls in love with an art form/sport/hobby/profession and despite many difficulties, manages to come out as the best in that art form/sport/hobby/profession.
9. The sudden appearance of a long-lost sibling/relative/cousin that doesn't exist, that everyone falls in love or is immediately friends with, etc. (i.e. Mary Sue)
10. The world is finally at peace thanks to A and his/her group of friends... suddenly a new menace appears! Can A stop it before it's too late?
11. Emo/angst fics, where the narrator or main character wallows in too much personal grief.
12. X cross-dresses.
This is in order to:
a. Get into an exclusive school for the oppposite sex
b. Raise money
Or:
c. Because of an unfortunate, unlikely, accident.
X then falls for Y (and vice versa), and gender-bending mania ensues.
13. Standard non-canon yaoi/yuri pairings.
In which two characters of the same sex are paired up because they are:
i. Best friends.
ii. Rivals.
iii. Hero/sidekick or Master/Servant.
iv. Twins.
14. A has a younger sister/brother who he/she is very attached to, and is the driving force of everything he does.
Plus points: If younger sister/brother is dead/missing.
Other lists:
Overused Science Fiction Plots: From The Internet Writing Journal
Overused Speculative Fiction Plots: From Strange Horizons
Overused Horror Plots: From Strange Horizons
Overused Soap Opera Plots: From Associated Content
2. Write a story out of this plot.
The challenge: that the story you write, despite the use of an overused plot, is still well-written, enjoyable to read, and feels...original.
3. When posting the story for the challenge, indicate what particular overused plot did you, er, use.
And that's it! ^_^ You may write either an original story for the challenge, or fan fiction. Comment now to sign up. And as usual, the challenge is open even to non-members, so plug away!
Deadline: May 10, 2008.
This is also an interesting site to help you out: Giving Depth and Dimension to Overused Plots.