Line #108 Main/WishFulfillment


1	%%
2	%% Image removed per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16638200850.38902300
3	%% Please start a new thread if you'd like to discuss a new image.
4	%%
5	Using the control that being a writer affords to create a story that addresses one or more outcomes that the author wishes would come about; that is wish fulfillment. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools There is nothing at all wrong with this, in and of itself]]. If RealLife fulfilled every psychological need we human beings have, we probably would not want to write fiction at all. Nor is there anything ''inherently'' unhealthy about using fantasy to compensate for a deficiency in RealLife; as long as one avoids becoming a DaydreamBeliever, {{Escapism}} and fantasy and Wish Fulfillment are healthy ways a human psyche can deal with dissatisfaction.
6
7	Human beings have needs, and some of these needs are psychological in nature. This is an undeniable fact. When a person's RealLife does not provide all of these psychological needs, they can turn to fiction in order to provide for these needs. For instance, someone lives a very boring life going to an utterly mundane job and has no excitement at all. Said person's need for variation and stimulation is not being catered for. Thus, this person might feel very attracted towards stories where an [[EscapistCharacter otherwise-normal person they can easily relate to suddenly becomes an extraordinarily powerful being and is thrust into a wild and thrilling series of events]].
8
9	This, in turn, is why people sometimes defend fictional characters [[DaydreamBeliever as if they were real]], because they are not defending the character but idealized versions of themselves and/or embodiments of their values. An attack on the character is seen as an attack on traits they (the real person) ''personally possess and/or admire''.
10
11	While it's a neutral term and an undeniable part of fiction in general, wish fulfilment is rarely mentioned in a positive light in reviews. Usually, bringing up the term suggests that the author sacrificed quality in plotting, pacing, characterization, etc. in order to facilitate their '''own''' wishes. However, it is entirely possible to have Wish Fulfillment stories that are still fluid and well-written; but '''be careful'''- do it too much, and it stops improving the story and just becomes indulgent instead. The conclusion being: don't worry too much about using these tropes as long as you pay particular care to that balance.
12
13	It is also possible for a work to be WishFulfillment for the audience either, instead of, or as well as the author. People whom the work targets will be more willing (to a point) to suspend their disbelief over [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality certain aspects]] of the work if it means that the [[RuleOfCool goal]] [[RuleOfFun of]] [[RuleOfFunny the]] [[RuleOfCute work]] [[RuleOfGlamorous is]] [[RuleOfScary achieved]]. The most blatant form of wish fulfillment for the audience is ReaderInsertFic, which is literally about the reader. However, this can be a double-edged sword too, as aiming for a too-specific demographic can limit the amount of people that the work appeals to.
14
15	Contrast with SourGrapesTropes and TrueArtIsAngsty.
16
17	Not to be confused with WishingTropes, which is about literal wishes being granted for characters in-story.
18
19	----
20	!!Tropes generally accepted to be interrelated (if not a direct cause-effect relation) to wish fulfillment:
21
22	[[index]]
23	* AscendedFanboy
24	* AudienceSurrogate
25	* AuthorAppeal
26	* AuthorAvatar
27	* AuthorFilibuster
28	* AuthorPowers
29	* AuthorTract
30	* BackFromTheDead
31	* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor
32	* BeautifulAllAlong
33	* BecomeARealBoy
34	* BornLucky
35	* BornWinner
36	* BullyHunter
37	* CameBackStrong
38	* CatharsisFactor
39	* ChangelingFantasy
40	* ChickMagnet
41	* CinderellaPlot
42	* CompetencePorn: A fictional work revolving around characters working together to solve an issue, highlighting cleverness and effort.
43	* CursedWithAwesome
44	* DaydreamBeliever
45	* DevotedToYou
46	* DeusExMachina
47	* DiedHappilyEverAfter
48	* {{Escapism}}
49	** EscapistCharacter
50	* EvenTheGirlsWantHer
51	* EvenTheGuysWantHim
52	* EverybodyWantsTheHermaphrodite
53	* ExpectationLowerer
54	* TheExtremistWasRight
55	* FairyGodmother
56	* {{Fanservice}}
57	* {{Fantasy}}
58	* FeministFantasy
59	* Fiction500
60	* TheFourLoves
61	* GettingMyOwnRoomPlot
62	* GhostReunionEnding
63	* TheGift
64	* AGodAmI
65	* GodhoodSeeker
66	* TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin
67	* GuardianAngel
68	* HappyPlace
69	* HaremGenre
70	* HealthyInHeaven
71	* {{Heaven}}
72	* HeavenSeeker
73	* HesJustHiding
74	* HumanityIsAdvanced
75	* HumanityIsSuperior
76	* HumansAdvanceSwiftly
77	* HumansAreSpecial
78	* HumansAreWarriors
79	* HumongousMecha
80	* TheIdolsBlessing
81	* I Just Want to Be X
82	** IJustWantToBeBadass
83	** IJustWantToBeBeautiful
84	** IJustWantToBeFree
85	** IJustWantToBeLoved
86	** IJustWantToBeNormal
87	** IJustWantToBeSpecial
88	** IJustWantToBeYou
89	** IJustWantToHaveFriends
90	* IntrepidFictioneer
91	%%** Introverted Chick Magnet was rogue launched and unlaunched.
92	* InvincibleHero
93	* IWantToBeARealMan
94	* IWishItWereReal
95	* JoinsToFitIn
96	* LaserGuidedKarma: Because RealLife feels no necessity to incinerate evil people with lightning.
97	* LittleSisterHeroine
98	%%* LivingOutAChildhoodDream has been cut/unlaunched
99	* LongingForFictionland
100	* MadDreamer
101	* MagicalGirl
102	* MagicalGirlfriend
103	* ManicPixieDreamGirl
104	* MarySue and all its associated subtypes (well, except for ParodySue).
105	** AntiSue
106	** BlackHoleSue
107	** CanonSue
108	** DreamSue
109	** EinsteinSue
110	** GodModeSue
111	** MartyStu
112	** MarySueClassic
113	** MaryTzu
114	** PuritySue
115	** RelationshipSue
116	* {{Moe}}
117	* {{Mon}}
118	* NewLifeInAnotherWorldBonus
119	* NeverGetsFat
120	* NextLifeAsAFictionalCharacter
121	* NoAnimosityInTheAfterlife
122	* NoPoverty
123	* NostalgiaHeaven
124	* NotDisabledInVR
125	* NudeNatureDance
126	* TheOneWhoMadeItOut
127	* OnlyHasSameSexAdmirers
128	* PalsWithJesus
129	* PowerFantasy
130	* ThePromisedLand
131	* ProudBeauty
132	* RagsToRiches
133	* RagsToRoyalty
134	* RandomlyGifted
135	* RealWorldEpisode
136	* RevengeIsSweet
137	* RightMakesMight
138	* RomanceNovel
139	* SailorEarth
140	* ScrewTheRulesImBeautiful
141	* ScrewTheRulesIHaveSupernaturalPowers
142	* SelfInsertFic
143	* SoBeautifulItsACurse
144	* SpecialSnowflakeSyndrome
145	* SuperHero
146	* SupernaturallyValidatedTransPerson
147	* SuperPowersForADay
148	* TogetherInDeath
149	* TokenMiniMoe
150	* TransformationComic
151	* TransformationFiction
152	* TrappedInAnotherWorld
153	* TrappedInTVLand
154	* {{Tsundere}}
155	* UnwantedHarem
156	* {{Utopia}}
157	* VengeanceFeelsEmpty
158	* WantingIsBetterThanHaving
159	* WithGreatPowerComesGreatHotness
160	* WithGreatPowerComesGreatPerks
161	* WorldsBestCharacter
162	** WorldsBestWarrior
163	** WorldsMostBeautifulWoman
164	** WorldsSmartestMan
165	** WorldsStrongestMan
166	* YamatoNadeshiko
167	* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre
168	* YouAreNotAlone
169	* YoungestChildWins
170	[[/index]]
171

Context Main / WishFulfillment