Overused plot devices

Jennasis · Aug 29, 2008

What, in your opinion, are some really overused (perhaps cliche') plot devices? Killing off the main character (he/she selflessly sacrifices themselves for the greater good)? Killing off the plucky sidekick or comic relief to give the hero something worth fighting for? Farmboy turns out to be the true king? Villain is the hero's dad/brother/father/mother?

What do you think has been used ad nauseum?

novelette · Aug 29, 2008

Disease of the week.

alleycat · Aug 29, 2008

The heretofore unknown twin did it.

alleycat · Aug 29, 2008

The house they're moved into just happens to be the exact house the MC lived in as a child and where something terrible happened . . . but she can't exactly remember what.

alleycat · Aug 29, 2008

Amnesia. If it were as common in real life as it is in books and movies it would be as common as the flu.

alleycat · Aug 29, 2008

It wasn't a dream after all!

maestrowork · Aug 29, 2008

The good guy/uncle/neighbor/father/etc. turns out to be the big bad wolf. It's not really a plot twist, sir -- because everyone has it figured out already.

regdog · Aug 29, 2008

The MC is dying-looks damn good doing it-finds true love with a selfish person who becomes a great person because of the dying person. Can't someone stay a selfish jerk from beginning to end?

The 'misunderstanding' that causes the true loves to be apart until one learns the truth accidentally.

alleycat · Aug 29, 2008

The device that will end life as we know it is small; very, very small . . . and can be hidden anywhere! And the MC doesn't know he's in possession of it.

Thanks to Robert McKee for that one.

maestrowork · Aug 29, 2008

The count-down. Ooh, the bomb is going off in 24 hours and we don't know where it is. Oooh, the asteroid is coming and we have 36 hours. Ooooh, you have exactly 12 hours to live unless you find the secret of the universe.

Toothpaste · Aug 29, 2008

Kickass female characters that no one can beat.

Women meeting men who are scoundrels, but then they change them.

regdog · Aug 29, 2008

alleycat said:
The heretofore unknown twin did it.

regdog · Aug 29, 2008

alleycat said:
It wasn't a dream after all!

or it really was a dream

Toothpaste said:
Women meeting men who are scoundrels, but then they change them.

gag

Ciera_ · Aug 29, 2008

The horrible selfish b**** of a character turns out to be just scared and insecure on the inside and soon becomes nice and fluffy towards the MC

The father left when MC was a child, is now returning to complicate everyone's lives

Oh wait, those are both cliches that I've used. Those are the biggest, scariest ones, though. And isn't there an argument for a good, reusable device? *scared now, of cliches transforming my book into a hideous blob of predictable drama*

The whole 'chosen one' thing. Any time someone is any type of 'chosen one' or special force that was born to rival a great evil...wait, what am I saying? I was fine with it in Harry Potter and Buffy.

Okay, I'm out of cliches to condemn.

Fox The Cave · Aug 29, 2008

"HE WANTED TO BE CAUGHT!"

Priene · Aug 29, 2008

maestrowork said:
Ooooh, you have exactly 12 hours to live unless you find the secret of the universe.

Actually, that happened to me once.

Karen Duvall · Aug 29, 2008

Mysterious portals and quests for magical objects.

maestrowork · Aug 29, 2008

Rich girl, poor boy.

Shar-Jan · Aug 29, 2008

The good guys winning at the end

The bad guys winning at the end

Karen Duvall · Aug 29, 2008

maestrowork said:
Rich girl, poor boy.

Poor girl, rich boy. :ROFL:

Clair Dickson · Aug 29, 2008

By the time the MC figures out who has the missing information, the bad guy has already kidnapped/killed that character.

When the bad guy lays out his whole plan to the MC who finally caught up with him. "So, why'd you do it?" MC asked. "Well, since you caught me..."

The kid brought in to provide sympathy and a leverage point against the childless, loner MC.

Mr Flibble · Aug 29, 2008

maestrowork said:
The count-down. Ooh, the bomb is going off in 24 hours and we don't know where it is. Oooh, the asteroid is coming and we have 36 hours. Ooooh, you have exactly 12 hours to live unless you find the secret of the universe.

Flash! I love you! But we only have 14 hours to save the Earth!

And the timer always ends on 0:01 a la Galaxy Quest

Nakhlasmoke · Aug 29, 2008

Yay I think I've done all of these except for two. Awesomesauce!

Do I get a medal? *grins*

Stories where some poor wench is sold off into marriage, is basically raped by the "hero" but somehow later falls in love with his Darkity Dark Broodiness.

maestrowork · Aug 29, 2008

Man and woman hate each other. Then they fall madly in love because of some really trivial reasons... like, "oh, she's HAWT!"

Deccydiva · Aug 29, 2008

Rich man gets involved with hooker but she's really a college girl in disguise... therefore acceptable and in due course - HEA. :scared:

'scuse me while I leave the room to be sick...

*guess which movie I've watched recently*

Overused plot devices

Still around

Still around

Still around

Still around

Fear the Death Ray

The Scavengers

Still around

Fear the Death Ray

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

The Scavengers

The Scavengers

Ciera_

I get cancer. I kill Jack.

Out to lunch

Chalice the Hatchet Knight

Fear the Death Ray

Chalice the Hatchet Knight

A dark core to every cloud

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

yes

Fear the Death Ray

Back from the dead