Overused Plots and twists?

This whole thread proves the point that plot isn't the most important component of literature. Character, theme, originality (or, at least, idiosyncrasy) of vision, and sheer power of storytelling (prose style, detail, intensity, writer's ambition) are all more important.

 

I'm not. I'm pointing out the fact that at the core of almost every story, no plot point is truly unique anymore - well done or not. That's what I meant to say, at least.

 

I think that the problem isn't necessarily with overused plots, more that it's easier to spot familiarities between plots when something is poorly written. Perhaps overused themes is more relevant. When something is successful and well received, there's a natural tendency for people to jump on the back of it, with vampire and zombie books for young adults / teens being a case in point.

 

Everything is overused. But more overused than anything are the criticisms of "cliche" and "predictable" as well as the useless writing advice cliches that help nobody.

 

Oh, I agree. However most times I think the guys copying a trend are not in it for the love of the craft, but for the love of the fame. If you do only what everyone else has done you're not going to be "famous" you're going to be "average."

For example, I was a member of another creative writing forum and for two dismal months just about every other story had a "strong young female lead," many times an archer. I wish I had been a forklift truck salesman during that period, because I'll bet publishers were hauling tons of that stuff to the dump until the wave crested.

 

Can't be said any better!

 

Does the whole "the enemy has been the one helping you the whole time" thing count?

 

I love psychological thrillers and that thing of....'two people you thought were different....ARE THE SAME PERSON' has been done so many times in different ways.

I love it though.

 

Well, it is almost Halloween. I suppose that would be the most appropriate time to revive a dead thread.

And just to post something on topic: "rebellious young person sets off adventure because he/she does something obviously stupid despite all warnings", though that might have more to do with me not liking the character than the plot.

 

To me, overused plots is kind of like saying all cheese pizzas are the same because they are made up of flour, cheese and pizza sauce. Well yes, that is true, but a frozen pizza is going to taste like cardboard compared to a brick oven fired pizza! It is the quality of the ingredients, and how it is cooked that makes something great or not. That is what we do as writers, we strive for better characterization, plot twists, and how we hold our characters to the fire that makes for a good story!

 

I dunno if it's a plot device or not, but I can't stand what I call "a terminal case of the stupids", where one or more characters does something so obviously stupid that either leads to their demise or is required for the rest of the plot to continue.

For example, failing to pass across the one piece of information that would obviate the need for the entire plot in the first place, going down a dark alley in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, splitting up to look for clues, etc.

 

Not really a plot twist but the thing where a character is able to guess the password to someone's computer based on the one personal piece of information they know has always been jarring to me.

 

Excellent!

One thing that bothers me in both sci-fi and fantasy is the assumption that just because humans are totally into killing each other, does not mean that other creatures are as well. Unfortunately more often than not, alien and fantasy worlds mimic our own barbaric tendenceis. You can achieve gripping conflict without the grenades.

It's why I gave up on both. It's basically humans in cool flying machines and big, hairy feet. ET worked for me, mostly. Harry Potter, no thanks.

 

One big one I hate is the ‘main guy/girl needs a romantic arc’.

One old, old project of mine has virtually no romance at all. The main guy just... doesn’t care about marriage or anything.

 

I don't like half demons or trained killers written people who have no idea what it is like to be a demon or a trained killer except through other shallow pornographic animes about half demons and trained killers in skin tight catsuits.

 

Little girls in blue dresses with red ribbons. Orphans.

 

Woah. Where did that come from?

For me it's the overused cliche of 'feared and hated mutants'.

Now, there are certainly forms of prejudice and fear that can be based on superpowers, such as the anti-super sentiment in some Marvel/ DC comics. But think about it. The most world famous example is basically the X-men. They live in a mansion. They fly in a jet. They have supermodel-level bodies. They have millions of dollars or even billions (depends on if you count Emma Frost and Warren). They have adventures in sea, space, across time, and everything else. They are capable of, if transplanted into our world, of toppling entire governments. And sometimes they have Magneto, who most definitely can, and has in some sequences, toppled the entire world.

This isn't the action nor the image of someone who's being oppressed and prejudiced against. And if it was, it's a pretty bad stereotype. Like, 'oh woe is me, the world hates us for our uniqueness and gifts! We are so alone and misunderstood! Let us retire back to our mansion!'

If you want to make a 'misunderstood and prejudiced' superpowered minority, make the powers not so world-shaking. Let them be weak, weird, and unreliable, like Beak. Make it so that they don't have that strong or that positive a relationship to the government. Let them be poor and isolated, like the Morlocks in their sewers. Yes, the death squads are there to give the 'oppressed' vibe, but the rest don't fit.

 

I'm sorry. I normally try to restrain my resentment towards normal people. They fantasize about exciting lives and make erroneous assumptions and judgments about things they haven't experienced. This isn't a problem. Their lack of pain resulting in a lack of empathy is. They fantasize about exciting lives and being different. Everyone needs a revolution. Everyone needs a purpose, a fight. That's why they pick up little toothpick flags to fight for, not knowing what real misery is, not knowing what a real cause worth fighting for is. They cheer for vigilante serial killers, not knowing what a real serial killer would be. They cheer for genius superheroes, not recognizing them when they meet them. They wish to be different, not knowing what they really want. By all means, I don't wish to stop them. We need serial killers to protect us; they're called special forces. I just want peopled to know what they're asking for. So I shall bring them exciting lives and pain and teach them empathy.

 

I'm not sure we can really judge how much pain others have been through accurately.

 

We can't. I didn't say I could sift through a population and pick out who was unscarred by trauma. I'm already assuming my target is a sheltered and naive person.

 

Such people still feel pain.

 

I concur.