Stuff For Writers - Television Tropes

Today I'm going to share one of my favorite sites. I can literally spend hours on this page without realizing that more than minutes have passed. TV tropes is "a catalog of the tricks of the trade for writing fiction." 


What are tropes, you ask? "Tropes are devices and conventions that a writer can reasonably rely on as being present in the audience members' minds and expectations." They're similar to cliches, but without the negative connotation. (Although if you've read this post, you know that well done cliches are A-OK with me) I found this video through a link on one of the pages (I can't remember which one, I spent hours there the other day) and it illustrates tropes far better, and funnier, than I could describe them.

That was awesome right? Anyhow, the site breaks down tons of plot devices and other writing tidbits with really funny, easy to understand descriptions. There are also examples of each one, in several types of media.

A few of my favorites: (Be forewarned - This site is addictive!)

Stuff For Writers: Manage Your Own Agenda

We all write for a reason, and everything we write has an underlying message.


Romeo & Juliet - Holding grudges leads to death.
Lord of the Rings - Power corrupts.
Hunger Games - Fight the Power!


I'm being facetious, but you get what I mean. Theme is a huge part of story. But please, I beg you, do not let your plot suffer at the hands of your message.

Stuff For Writers: Around the Internets

Random things I like & love, shared with you!

-Hunger Games BARBIE?!? NOOOOOO!

Katniss would melt this thing down, sharpen the end, and turn it into a shank! Although I'm pretty sure Peeta would sleep with it at night... And, ok, if I'm totally honest, a *little* part of me wants one. But it just seems so WRONG!
http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/04/09/hunger-games-katniss-everdeen-barbie/

-Double Take Photos

I like looking at pictures for inspiration, and these remind me that sometimes when you're reading a book, what you think you see isn't what's really going on. Those are my favorite stories, where you're completely convinced that one thing is happening, but then you realize that it's something else, and all of the facts still make sense. This first picture made me stare for like two minutes. My brain was so sure something crazy was going on. Then when I finally got it, it was like 'Ohhhhh! DUH!'
http://boingboing.net/2012/05/22/fun-gallery-of-double-take.html

-Will Smith does Fresh Prince Rap on Talk Show

Just because Will Smith is awesome, and the Fresh Prince is awesome, and I love most things nineties and throwback, here's Will Smith rapping the theme to 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' on The Graham Norton Show earlier this week.
http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/05/21/will-smith-raps-fresh-prince-theme-song/

-Ryan Gosling, Liteary Agent

Totally saved the best for last. Ryan Gosling. As a literary agent. Fictionalized, of course. But hilarious nonetheless. This Twitter account is my new best friend. He says things like "Hey Girl, you write, I'll take the kids to Cold Stone. That chapter: you finish it. Sundaes: we'll bring you one."  &  "Hey Girl, I'm mailing you your line edits. Realized I wrote Ryan + your name in the margins a bunch. Sorry. Sometimes I daydream at work" The hilarity/awesomeness of this page is too much for me to even describe, so go see it for yourself. *internet swoon*
https://twitter.com/#!/goslinglitagent

Laptop Addicts Anonymous

So I found this on a Tumblr about being a law student, but I think this picture applies to writers too. Some of us (*raises hand*) take our laptops everywhere.

Weigh in. 

What are the strangest places you've taken your laptop/spotted someone else using theirs?

Get a Hobby! Seriously...

In order to be inspired, writers need material. And while most of us have millions of pages of material already stored in our heads (especially if you had an awkward childhood), there's so much more to be discovered. And the world is changing. The only way to stay current, especially with YA trends which change at the speed of light, is to get out into the world and see what's going on.

I'll illustrate my point with personal experience. One of my hobbies is improv (I practice with a group out here in Miami and have done a few shows). And I've found that in a lot of ways, improv has helped me to become a better writer. I've got to make up stories and characters and think on my feet. I have to be creative and keep the action going and the plot exciting. And I'm learning what I need to do to keep an audience engaged as I tell a story.

Writing Rant - Cartoon Neil Gaiman

So I was watching, *cough*, I mean my son was watching Arthur, and they aired an episode all about writing! Neil Gaiman, author of Coraline, among other books, guest starred and gave Sue Ellen some great  advice.

My favorite quotes include:

"Don't judge your story. You just started it."

"Writing can't just be about pleasing other people. You've got a story to tell and you're the only one who can tell it."

"Sometimes it takes a while for people to appreciate something new. Don't give up."

Check it out here:

It's Okay to Be Cliche, or, How Meg Cabot Restored My Faith in Writing

Note: This is an old post, recycled. Inkpop isn't even Inkpop anymore. But the sentiment remains the same.
I've had my first five chapters of My Super Hero Book posted on Inkpop for about two months now, and most of the feedback has been really positive and encouraging. But when I've gotten harsh critique, there's one thing that I've heard repeatedly: there are people who think my story is too cliche. I love my story, and I very purposefully included some so-called cliche elements in it because they are plot devices that I love, but I still take this to heart somewhat. One commentor said my story reminded them of "every 90's teen movie." My initial reaction was "Hooray! that's totally what I was going for," and then I realized that they meant that as a bad thing. Oh.

Critique Groups: Why They Rock & Why a Good One is Like Randy Jackson

Today, I'm going to write about something very near and dear to my heart: critique groups. I participate in two - one is composed of online writers, who I have never met in person but have given me some amazing advice, and another is an in person group of fellow members of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. My critique groups have been absolutely amazing at giving me helpful advice, and also giving me a confidence boost when I really needed one. A few weeks ago, I went to my group for SCBWI, and as I was reading I kept thinking to myself 'This is horrible. This is garbage. This is the worst thing I've ever written. I am so embarrassed. Why on Earth am I reading this out loud????' but I'd already started, so it was too late to quit. I finished reading my chapter, and sat back, waiting for my critique partners to eviscerate me and...they didn't. They actually had very nice things to say, suggestions too, but the general consensus was that they liked it. And once I took a deep breath, I realized that what I'd written was actually not so bad and even had some really nice moments.

My Favorite Writing Links

So I wrote this as an email for some friends in my critique group, and then thought to myself 'Well now that I've got this thing all typed out, I might as well post it.' So, you authors and aspiring authors, here are my favorite writing links! If you've got suggestions, add 'em in the comments! :)

My absolute favorite writing sites:

http://www.querytracker.net/
If you only click one of these links, it should be this one. I spend a ridiculous amount of time on this website and their query tracking tool has been a Godsend. You can use their site to search for agents by genre, and then use their free query tracking tool to keep track of each query that you send. It’s a great way to keep things organized without having to keep a notebook listing who you’ve queried, what agency, they were from, etc. You can just search your list electronically and avoid querying more than one agent at places where a no from one person is a no from everyone, check dates to know when a query should be recorded as a non-response, etc. Each agent also has a comments page, where people write about their experiences querying that person and how long it took for them to get a response. You can also find links on the comment pages to interviews, Twitter accounts, etc. if you want to do really in depth research. One word of caution is that they do list email addresses on each agent’s page (for those who take e-queries) but you should still click each agency’s website and read the actual agent listings there because they sometimes have different email addresses for queries or additional submission requirements, like a synopsis or sample pages.