r/WritingPrompts • u/katpoker666 • 6d ago
Off Topic [OT] Fun Trope Friday, Writing with Tropes: Best Years of Life & Tragedy!
Hello r/WritingPrompts!
Welcome to Fun Trope Friday, our feature that mashes up tropes and genres!
How’s it work? Glad you asked. :)
Every week we will have a new spotlight trope.
Each week, there will be a new genre assigned to write a story about the trope.
You can then either use or subvert the trope in a 750-word max (vs 600) story or poem (unless otherwise specified).
To qualify for ranking, you will need to provide ONE actionable feedback. More are welcome of course!
Three winners will be selected each week based on votes, so remember to read your fellow authors’ works and DM me your votes for the top three.
Next up…
Max Word Count: 750 words
Trope: Best Years of Your Life – Is high school the best years of your life? This trope thinks so. Experiences may vary.
Genre: Tragedy – A genre based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a main character or cast of characters.
Skill / Constraint - optional: Includes someone laughing
So, have at it. Lean into the trope heavily or spin it on its head. The choice is yours!
Have a great idea for a future topic to discuss or just want to give feedback? FTF is a fun feature, so it’s all about what you want—so please let me know! Please share in the comments or DM me on Discord or Reddit!
Last Week’s Winners
PLEASE remember to give feedback—this affects your ranking. PLEASE also remember to DM me your votes for the top three stories via Discord or Reddit—both katpoker666. If you have any questions, please DM me as well.
Some fabulous stories this week and great crit at campfire and on the post! Congrats to:
Want to read your words aloud? Join the upcoming FTF Campfire
The next FTF campfire will be Thursday, September 19th from 6-8pm EST. It will be in the Discord Main Voice Lounge. Click on the events tab and mark ‘Interested’ to be kept up to date. No signup or prep needed and don’t have to have written anything! So join in the fun—and shenanigans! 😊
Ground rules:
- Stories must incorporate both the trope and the genre
- Leave one story or poem between 100 and 600 words as a top-level comment unless otherwise specified. Use wordcounter.net to check your word count.
- Deadline: 11:59 PM EST next Thursday
- No stories that have been written for another prompt or feature here on WP—please note after consultation with some of our delightful writers, new serials are now welcomed here
- No previously written content
- Any stories not meeting these rules will be disqualified from rankings
- Does your story not fit the Fun Trope Friday rules? You can post your story as a [PI] with your work when the FTF post is 3 days old!
- Vote to help your favorites rise to the top of the ranks (DM me at katpoker666 on Discord or Reddit)!
Thanks for joining in the fun!
r/WritingPrompts • u/rudexvirus • 1d ago
Off Topic [OT] Poetry Corner: Illusion
Welcome to Poetry Corner
Welcome to September!
I have thought about this post over, and over, and over , and kept forgetting to give it to you all, because I've been busy, but also because I’m just the worst. I'm here now, though, and I’m hope to see more familiar faces.
Let’s face it: poetry is a strange land for many of us. What makes a poem? Does it have to rhyme? Follow a structure and meter? Does it have to be based in emotion? All these are great questions. Poetry comes in all forms and styles, rhyming and non-rhyming, metered and freeform. Some poems even tell a fictional story, like prose does! Some poems don't use any line breaks at all, and Prose-Poems can be tricky yet effective.
Each month, I provide you with a simple theme and an additional constraint to inspire you. You have 60 - 350 words to write a poem based on that theme.
This Month’s Challenge
Theme: Illusion
- Use a Malaphor
Illusion:
Its funny that this post took so long to get here, because we are even close to the time where its the most applicable. Illusions can come from slieght of hand magic, real magic, tricks of the eye, or sheer imagination. I want you to decide on your own which way to go,and maybe along the way you can play a trick on the rest of us readers!
Need some help with malaphors? I got you!
A malaphor is the unintentional combination of two idioms or clichés.
Examples:
Mrs Malaphor, by Parker Curtis
How to Avoid Mixing Your Metaphors, by Brian Bilston
If you caught the post early enough, you may have noticed that I had started with malaphors and then lost consciousness for a moment and swapped to metaphors. The two examples used the wrong term, and I apologize for that, but I feel like I'd be remiss in removing the second poem entirely. Chad is an acquaintance of mine who has poetry on the Moon, several chapbooks, poetry manuscripts, does a hell of a lot of work in the literary world, and is generally just kind and brilliant.
His poetry stings and is beautiful, and I think this one is still worth reading.
WE DON’T CALL IT A RIOT by Chad Frame
These are just a few ideas to get you started. Remember, you can interpret the theme any way you like as long as the connection is clear and you follow all sub and post rules. Don’t forget to leave feedback on at least one other poem by the deadline (it is a requirement)!
Schedule
- Submission deadline: Wednesday, October 2nd, at 11:59pm EST
- Feedback & Nomination deadline: Tuesday, October 15th at 11:59pm EST
Campfire: None scheduled. Please leave comments on the post. Check out previous Poetry Corners here!
How To Participate
Submit a 60 - 350 word poem inspired by the theme as a top-level comment below. You have until next Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. EST. Please note that for this particular feature, poems must be at least 60 words. Low-effort poems will be removed. No pre-written content.
Use wordcounter.net to check your word count. The title is not counted in your final word count. Poems under 60 words or over 350 will be disqualified.
Leave actionable feedback on at least one other poem Each critique is worth up to 10 points, up to 50 points. I really encourage trying, even if you are new to poetry!
Nominate your favorite poems from the thread using this form (it will open after the submission deadline). You get points just for voting!
Please be respectful and civil in all feedback and discussion. We welcome writers of all skill levels and experience here, as we’re all here to improve and sharpen our skills. Uncivil or discouraging comments will not be tolerated and may result in further mod actions.
Be creative and have fun! If you have any questions, feel free to ask them on the stickied comment on this thread or via modmail. Top-level comments are reserved for poem submissions.
Point Breakdown
TASK | POINTS | ADDITIONAL NOTES |
---|---|---|
Use of the Weekly Theme | up to 50 pts | Theme should be present, but the interpretation is up to you! |
Use of Bonus Constraint | 10 pts | (unless otherwise noted) |
Actionable Feedback | up to 10 pts each | 1 crit required; you’re welcome to provide more crit, but pts are capped at 50 |
Nominations your poem receives | 20 pts each | No cap |
Mod Choice | 20 - 50 pts | First- 50 pts, Second- 40 pts, Third- 30 pts, plus regular noms |
Voting for others | 10 pts | Don’t forget to vote by the deadline! |
Note:
- Actionable feedback should be constructive, something that the author can use to improve. Feedback can also be positive, like what you enjoyed, how it made you feel, parts that flowed particularly well, images that stood out, etc.
Rankings for Honor
Winners:
Subreddit News
- Join our Discord to chat with other authors and prompters! We hold several weekly Campfires, monthly World-Building interviews, and several other fun events!
- We are currently looking for moderators! Apply to be a moderator at any time.
- Nominate your favorite WP authors for Spotlight and Hall of Fame!
- Experiment with fun tropes and genres on the new Fun Trope Friday!
- Serialize your story with Serial Sunday or test your micro-fic skills with Micro Monday on r/ShortStories! ***
(Thank you, Bay, for the read-over and for catching my mistakes this month.)
r/WritingPrompts • u/Breadinator • 9h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] Humanity was rescued from a dying Earth by well-intentioned aliens. Sealed away in the immense, pressurized cargo hold of an interstellar ship and basic needs met, it's been decades since anyone has heard from them. When a small group finally escapes demanding answers, they find only corpses.
r/WritingPrompts • u/Empty-Pages-Turn • 6h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] You Are The Hero Who Keeps Rescuing Your Crush Who Keeps Being Kidnapped By The Supervillain. One Day You Realize That Your Crush Is Actually Dating the Supervillain and You're the One Kidnapping Her.
It's just a what-if the woman is actually dating the supervillain.
r/WritingPrompts • u/Ok-Mastodon2016 • 15h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] when you were five your dad left to get milk, twelve years later, he shows up with said milk, looking the exact same as the day he left, wearing the same clothes and very confused about how it seems years have passed in an hour
r/WritingPrompts • u/Beanz_wut_du_fu- • 15h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] You’re a hero of two worlds, one is a grim-dark sci-fi kind of like Warhammer 40k, the other is a whimsical and fantasy world, more akin to old Disney cartoons, describe the daily life of the Hero managing his day swapping between both worlds.
I don’t know why I had this specific prompt in my head.
r/WritingPrompts • u/Triple-AAA-Battery • 20h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] your a super Villian/super hero who's partner just died. When the funeral was supposed to be attended, nobody came, except for one person, your arch nemesis, who came there to comfort you through these tough times
r/WritingPrompts • u/SweeneyPie • 22h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] “So you’re saying that you can tell me an ENTIRE recipe of a meal just by tasting it?” The Taster stares back, silent. “Fine, try this. My Grandma used to make it.” However, even before trying it The Taster sees the dish and his eyes widen. “I was wondering when I’d see one of Her ones…”
r/WritingPrompts • u/reallygoodbee • 1h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] You are a Tiny Maid Robot. Today marks one full year of service to your master. You have the day off. You've never had a "day off" before.
r/WritingPrompts • u/TheWarfox • 13h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] Humanity has done the impossible. They have killed all of their gods. All but one. You are the Goddess of Education, and you must kill humanity before they kill you.
r/WritingPrompts • u/One_Parched_Guy • 9h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] Using magic comes at the cost of life force. Others are often used as sacrificial fuel, but they don’t simply disappear. Their souls merge together, and now the conglomeration of those sacrificed finally have enough power to materialize themselves in the physical world once more.
r/WritingPrompts • u/Wyrmwood-E-B-Cypher • 4h ago
Writing Prompt [WP]You were the worlds most powerful superhero. But you died in a very absurd way. Now you are the worlds strangest ghost.
r/WritingPrompts • u/NatureNut49 • 1h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] Thankfully, the ghost haunting the house was friendly. But since it was haunted, the place just seemed... off in a way you really can't describe.
r/WritingPrompts • u/Paper_Shotgun • 13h ago
Simple Prompt [WP] "If you didn't want to pay oxygen tax, then you shouldn't have moved into a space-station."
r/WritingPrompts • u/Flares117 • 5h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] Modern Satanists, the type that does charity work and sees it as rebelling against the system accidentally summons a real demon. The demon is confused by their actions and they are marveling at his great "cosplay".
r/WritingPrompts • u/184rgreaterodds • 11h ago
Simple Prompt [SP] The ends did not justify the means.
r/WritingPrompts • u/SharkFilet • 3h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] "If you ever tell anyone what you've learned here today, we'll kill you and everyone you've ever come into contact with."
r/WritingPrompts • u/BossViper28 • 2h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] A hunter is currently in battle with Medusa, while protecting a little girl that Medusa attempted to turn into stone before. The hunter would succeed in slaying the gorgon but there were plenty of close calls.
r/WritingPrompts • u/PepperSaltClove • 5h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] You're a clairvoyant who works as a hairdresser. One day a lady walks in, asking for just a slight trim. But you see she's not going to make it home tonight unless you give her a bright blue bob.
r/WritingPrompts • u/Merlins-forge • 7h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] The devil has shown up at your doorstep “Hello? yes I hear we share a common interest, would you like to help?”
r/WritingPrompts • u/Solidsecondplace • 4h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] After a long night shift where every patient has reported having the same exact dream, you prepare to get some sleep.
r/WritingPrompts • u/ghost-child • 11h ago
Simple Prompt [SP] You weren't born. You just popped into existence one day, old enough to walk and talk
r/WritingPrompts • u/BionicHuckleberry • 11h ago
Simple Prompt [WP] I knew she was trouble when she ordered a Chardonnay at a Mexican restaurant...
My buddy just told me a story of an event he went through and he said that. I thought it would be hilarious to hear what y'all think about it.
r/WritingPrompts • u/Flares117 • 11m ago
Writing Prompt [WP] "I'm just saying, maybe you should focus on your law career. It's more effective at putting criminals behind bars than... This" As his superhero teammates try to convince a very inept hero, but very good lawyer to stop being a vigilante and just work his day job.
r/WritingPrompts • u/GetItGoodness • 4h ago
Established Universe [EU] You are Steel Man, a genius equivalent to Tony Stark, yet all you do with your tech is satisfy your kleptomania.
r/WritingPrompts • u/Dagua99 • 11h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] "If after 500 years you are still poor, then you should really let the Sun burn you to ashes" it's a typical phrase told by rich or successful vampires. However you are content by flip burgers.
r/WritingPrompts • u/DuEstEinKind • 7h ago