Sure! Just keep in mind, the “story” is just an opener designed to help focus our attention on the Trope we’re talking about later on. It’s meant to be a bit exaggerated for that reason. A tad over the top. 😉
And you make a good point. I’ve been writing on Substack for a long time and sometimes get comfy thinking my readers already know I’m somewhat spiky on the outside and quite squishy on the inside, but I should remember there are always newcomers hearing my voice for the first time.
Further reading would have revealed the narrator is equally critical of carnivores, if not more so. My fiction has a tendency to lean satirical, hence the jokes made at the expense of both sides of this fictional confrontation.
I do appreciate your feedback, and I did make some adjustments to the opening based on your response. Thank you for it. 💕😊
I am finding these writing lessons to be very enlightening, Meg! Thanks so much for this help. I am working on a romantic "worlds collide/opposites attract" flash fiction - an alien female "researcher"on earth meets human male. BUT I see I have omitted the tension. Do you think it is ever effective to build in tension in a relationship AFTER the initial happy experiences? Here is part 3, FYI, where she meets the human. It is just five minutes. I would love to hear what you think if/when you have time.
I’m a long time romance reader who is finally “admitting out loud” my desire to write romance and posts like this are exactly what I’m using to become more conscious of what I’ve been reading all along.
The education is as much for me as for you! Sometimes I wonder WHY in the world we subject ourselves to these tropey tales over and over again? Because they push all the right buttons is why! Humans are so alike in so many more ways than we want to admit. 😉🥰
Love the set up, story line, even if it's tropesy turvy, and the lesson. "Unfortunately, “arch rivals who want to simultaneously marry, bang, AND murder each other to lovers” doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue." Haha. The metaphors are hilarious.
Will we see another chapter of the dueling food trucks and their savory, love lorn owners?
To be honest, I hadn't considered continuing this story, or the one I started in the first Trope Tasting. I think I just meant for them to push the correct buttons to let us know what kind of story we're in for. Though if one of these examples every REALLY gets my imagination going, I'd consider extending it in some way, shape or form. 🥰
😉
Sure! Just keep in mind, the “story” is just an opener designed to help focus our attention on the Trope we’re talking about later on. It’s meant to be a bit exaggerated for that reason. A tad over the top. 😉
And you make a good point. I’ve been writing on Substack for a long time and sometimes get comfy thinking my readers already know I’m somewhat spiky on the outside and quite squishy on the inside, but I should remember there are always newcomers hearing my voice for the first time.
Further reading would have revealed the narrator is equally critical of carnivores, if not more so. My fiction has a tendency to lean satirical, hence the jokes made at the expense of both sides of this fictional confrontation.
I do appreciate your feedback, and I did make some adjustments to the opening based on your response. Thank you for it. 💕😊
I am finding these writing lessons to be very enlightening, Meg! Thanks so much for this help. I am working on a romantic "worlds collide/opposites attract" flash fiction - an alien female "researcher"on earth meets human male. BUT I see I have omitted the tension. Do you think it is ever effective to build in tension in a relationship AFTER the initial happy experiences? Here is part 3, FYI, where she meets the human. It is just five minutes. I would love to hear what you think if/when you have time.
https://sharronbassano.substack.com/p/field-notes-on-planet-l-726-part
I read all three parts and left you some thoughts in the comments of Part 3.
💕💕💕💕
Thank you for sharing this Meg.
I’m a long time romance reader who is finally “admitting out loud” my desire to write romance and posts like this are exactly what I’m using to become more conscious of what I’ve been reading all along.
All this to say: more please!
Thank you, Paige!
More on the way ... thanks for being here to study these stories with me. 💕💕
I love the way you break it all down, Meg. We know it works, but you highlight the "how" and the "why!"
The education is as much for me as for you! Sometimes I wonder WHY in the world we subject ourselves to these tropey tales over and over again? Because they push all the right buttons is why! Humans are so alike in so many more ways than we want to admit. 😉🥰
Love the set up, story line, even if it's tropesy turvy, and the lesson. "Unfortunately, “arch rivals who want to simultaneously marry, bang, AND murder each other to lovers” doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue." Haha. The metaphors are hilarious.
Will we see another chapter of the dueling food trucks and their savory, love lorn owners?
To be honest, I hadn't considered continuing this story, or the one I started in the first Trope Tasting. I think I just meant for them to push the correct buttons to let us know what kind of story we're in for. Though if one of these examples every REALLY gets my imagination going, I'd consider extending it in some way, shape or form. 🥰
Thanks for keeping up with my sillies. 💕