Line #167 SoYouWantTo/WriteAYuriManga


1	"{{Yuri}}", also known as "Girls Love", is a {{manga}} and {{anime}} genre about romantic relationships between women. The following is not a general guide to writing LesbianRomance fiction, although some advice offered here may be helpful in writing both it and other forms of romance.
2
3	It is recommended that you read SoYouWantTo/WriteAStory, SoYouWantTo/WriteALoveStory, and, optionally, SoYouWantTo/WriteARomanticComedy guides before starting on this one.
4
5	!Necessary Tropes
6	You will need a [[UsefulNotes/{{Homosexual}} lesbian]] AlphaCouple. They will be the centerpiece of your story and failing to introduce them early will unnecessarily frustrate your readers. "[[BoyMeetsGirl Girl meets girl]]" comes first; everything else (boys, families, rivals, etc.) comes later.
7
8	Note that your main girls don't have to be in a committed relationship from the start. You can do that, of course, but simply introducing them and dropping a few hints at a future RomanceArc does just as good a job of setting them up.
9
10	!Choices, Choices
11	!!Target Demographic
12	The original yuri mangas of TheSeventies were all targeted at the [[{{Shoujo}} Shoujo demographic]], but the genre has since expanded to appeal to older demographics of {{Seinen}} and {{Josei}}, as well. {{Shonen}} yuri is nigh non-existent, owing to the demographic's traditional lack of interest in relationships.
13
14	* Shoujo yuri tends to be drawn in the distinct thin-lines-big-eyes-impossibly-perfect-bodies style and to feature setups similar to the much more prominent (in that demographic) BoysLoveGenre -- but that is in no way a universal rule.
15	* Seinen yuri tends to feature more {{Bishoujo}}-style art and to become LongRunners with complex plots and large casts -- but, again, works on the other ends of artistic and narrative spectrum have been published for this demographic.
16	* Josei yuri tends to be the most experimental and, simultaneously, most realistic when it comes to lesbian relationships and culture (for example, it's the only yuri category where you will likely find genuine {{Butch Lesbian}}s, as opposed to {{Bifauxnen}}).
17
18	At the end of the day, what decides your target demographic is mainly which magazine signs up to run your story.
19
20	!!Tone and Mood
21	The first thing to do before starting on a manga concept is to determine your personal preference in tone and mood in yuri. In the wake of the classical "WriteWhatYouKnow" maxim, the equally important "Write What You Like" tends to be forgotten. In fact, the number of successful male writers of lesbian fiction can be seen as a testament of the precedence of WWYL before WWYK (and, incidentally, of how much the YuriGenre has to do with lesbian relationships in RealLife). So, writing in the tone and mood of yuri that you prefer to read yourself is the best starting point.
22
23	There are three main axes along which each yuri story can be situated. Before you begin, you should decide where you and your story are placed on them, according to your personal preference and the expectations of your readership. They are:
24
25	* '''[[RuleOfDrama Drama]]'''. This axis is characterized by the prominence of {{Gayngst}}, {{Dark Secret}}s, {{Dark and Troubled Past}}s, societal barriers and stigmas, {{U\|nresolved Sexual Tension}}ST, personal and external differences, etc. In short, everything here is PlayedForDrama.
26	* '''{{Comedy}}'''. This axis is dominated by RomanticComedy tropes, [[SliceOfLife wacky everyday hijinx]], SuperDeformed panels, [[InnocentInnuendo Innocent]] [[AccidentalInnuendo Sexual Innuendos]], [[ChasteHero Obliviousness]] to {{Subtext}}, etc.. In other words, what the Drama axis takes seriously, this one [[PlayedForLaughs Plays for Laughs]].
27	* '''SugarWiki/{{WAFF}}'''[[note]]Warm And Fuzzy Feeling[[/note]]. This axis is defined by [[SugarWiki/SweetDreamsFuel feel-nice, trouble-free romance]] with lots of [[HugTropes hugging]], quality time together, [[SleepCute Sleeping Cute]], etc. This axis is responsible for most of the [[{{Iyashikei}} "Healing" Manga]] (and not only in yuri).
28
29	It is important to understand that no axis is "more significant" or "more commendable" than others. It is all a matter of preference, and great yuri mangas have been produced on each of the three extremes. The best policy is to choose your favorite dominant axis and stick with it, distributing the remaining page space equally among the other two. That said, some elements mix better than others:
30
31	* Drama as the dominant axis tends to overshadow the other two. If Comedy moments are present in a dramatic series, they should [[ShooOutTheClowns become rarer towards the end]]. WAFF is easier to sneak in, particularly as heartwarming {{Woobie}} moments.
32	* Comedy as the dominant axis mixes well with WAFF but it is equally possible to keep hugging-and-cuteness to the minimum. Unless you are really subtle, mixing equal doses of Comedy and Drama is likely to produce epic {{Narm}}.
33	* WAFF as the dominant axis mixes well with Comedy but can also be spiced up with Drama. The trick to the latter is to never let your readers doubt even for a moment that a good, well-timed hug won't solve ''everything''.
34
35	Abruptly switching from one primary axis to another, particularly from Comedy or WAFF to Drama, is a common cause of MoodWhiplash, so consider it very, very carefully.
36
37	What yuri manga is ''not'' is an accurate depiction of lesbian relationships as they occur in RealLife -- for much the same reasons that vanilla [[RomanceNovel romance fiction]] is rarely a faithful reproduction of everyday personal relationships between men and women.
38
39	!!Setting
40	Because of its cultural roots in the pre-UsefulNotes/WorldWarII Japanese education system, a lot of yuri mangas produced in Japan these days are set in an ElaborateUniversityHigh or a OneGenderSchool. Consequentially, a vast majority of lesbian couples in yuri manga are in their late teens to mid-twenties. While you are in no way bound to this setting and age range, you may find it easier to come up with subplots and reach your readers if you stick to the classics.
41
42	Other popular settings, especially for adult heroines, include their professional environments (office, or wherever their job usually takes them) and outright {{Fantasy}} settings. For some reason, ScienceFiction yuri mangas are few and far in-between (though stories featuring {{Robot Girl}}s are a growing subgenre). The latter circumstance may or may not have to do with the [[MotherNatureFatherScience belief that science is inherently "male"]] and thus has no place in a story about females.
43
44	!!Alpha Couple
45	The main girls. Yuri mangas tend to be heavily character-driven, so the success of your story largely depends on how [[SoYouWantTo/DevelopCharacterPersonality believable]] your leads are and how [[RuleOfRomantic cute]] and/or [[RuleOfSexy hot]] they appear as a couple.
46
47	The first thing to know is that yuri couples are defined by their contrasts. In any form of romance fiction, couples that are perfectly attuned to each other and share same interests and outlooks on life are [[TrueLoveIsBoring the most boring thing ever]]. Therefore, a good fictional (!) romance is the one fraught with differences, misunderstandings, and clashes. In the classical vanilla romance, the [[MarsAndVenusGenderContrast good ol' gender contrast]] is responsible for more than enough tension between lovers. Lesbian romance doesn't have such an easy way out, so the contrast between the female leads should be very carefully considered and balanced out to both keep them apart and, paradoxically, [[OppositesAttract keep them together]] in the end.
48
49	On the other hand, your main couple does need ''some'' things in common. The second important thing to remember is that while the opposites do attract, [[CommonalityConnection it's the similarities that create lasting bonds]].
50
51	Keeping your story's positioning on the three axes in mind, a rule of thumb is that the more Comedic and/or [=WAFFy=] a yuri story is, the [[BirdsOfAFeather more alike the female leads will be]]; conversely, the more Dramatic the story, the larger their differences (and the bigger the payoff). The following list offers a limited selection of common contrasts in yuri manga:
52
53	* Physical appearance:
54	** [[OneeSama Older]] — younger
55	** Beautiful — cute
56	** Japanese — [[PhenotypeStereotype Caucasian]]
57	** [[TomboyAndGirlyGirl Girly — tomboyish]]
58	** Fashionable — homely
59	** [[OneHeadTaller Taller — shorter]]
60	** Athletic — unfit
61	** [[BustContrastDuo Flat-chested — well-endowed]]
62	** Common eye color — [[TechnicolorEyes unusual eye color]]
63	** TsurimeEyes — TaremeEyes
64	** [[{{Meganekko}} Glasses]] — no glasses
65	** [[LongHairIsFeminine Long-haired]] — [[BoyishShortHair short-haired]]
66	** [[HairContrastDuo Dark-haired — fair-haired]]
67	** Dark-skinned — fair-skinned
68	** Organic — [[RobotGirl synthetic]]
69
70	* Personality:
71	** Reserved — brash
72	** Detached — empathetic
73	** Collected — airheaded
74	** Level-headed — passionate
75	** [[TheStoic Stoic]] — lively
76	** Dutiful — egoistical
77	** Elegant — [[CuteClumsyGirl klutzy]]
78	** Concentrated — [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny easily distracted]]
79	** [[{{Determinator}} Determined]] — unmotivated
80	** Easygoing — [[ThePerfectionist perfectionist]]
81	** Aggressive — passive
82	*** A special case: {{Seme}} — {{uke}}
83	** Dominant — submissive
84	** Manipulative — trusting
85	** [[PropertyOfLove Possessive — possessed]]
86	** Protective — defenseless
87	** Extraverted — introverted
88	*** An extreme case: GenkiGirl — ShrinkingViolet
89	** Self-confident — insecure
90	** [[CovertPervert Perverted]] — [[TheIngenue innocent]]
91	** Open about her love — ignorant of it
92	** [[ReallyGetsAround Promiscuous]] — [[ChasteHero chaste]]
93	** Comfortable with sexuality — [[ParalyzingFearOfSexuality afraid of sex]]
94	** [[TheTease Sexually liberated]] — easily embarrassed
95	** Sexually promiscuous — committed to monogamy
96	** [[MasculineFeminineGayCouple Masculine — feminine]]
97	** [[LightFeminineAndDarkFeminine Light feminine — dark feminine]]
98	** [[BroodingBoyGentleGirl Brooding — gentle]]
99
100	* Social standing:
101	** Old-timer — [[NaiveNewcomer newcomer]]
102	** Popular — loner
103	** Aristocratic — commoner
104	** Upper-class — middle/lower-class
105	** [[TheCityVsTheCountry City girl — country girl]]
106	** [[UnequalPairing Superior — subordinate]]
107	** [[UsefulNotes/JapaneseHonorifics Senpai — kohai]]
108	** [[TeacherStudentRomance Teacher — student]]
109	** In speculative fiction: [[InterspeciesRomance Human — non-human]]
110
111	* Mental capacities and abilities:
112	** Quick learner — slow-witted
113	** Book smart — BookDumb
114	** Artistic — plain
115	** Experienced — talented
116	** [[FeminineWomenCanCook Can cook]] — [[LethalChef cannot cook]]
117
118	While some of these traits go naturally hand in hand, virtually any combination of these is possible for each of the leads. As tempting as it may be, however, refrain from cramming too many items from this list into your concept; in practice, you won't be able to keep track of them all, anyway. If you want a guideline, 6 to 12 for the main girls are most common. But even with a few traits, it is advisable to keep them diverse, rather than centered around a single theme. The latter tends to produce {{Flat Character}}s, and that's not what you want for your main girls (refer to SoYouWantTo.DevelopCharacterPersonality, specifically the passages on multifaceted abilities, unpredictability, and theme characterization).
119
120	As you may have noticed, some trait pairs above do not cause friction ''per se'' but instead complement each other (e.g. dominant -- submissive). It does not mean, however, that they cannot be milked for drama or comedy: if one of the partners doesn't ''know'' the other has the complementary trait, much angst or hilarity ensues. Alternatively, one girl can be in denial about her own traits for whatever reason, and [[IAmWhatIAm growing to accept them]] through ThePowerOfLove constitutes a nice CharacterDevelopment.
121
122	The power dynamic between the lead girls is one of more interesting aspects of the yuri genre, which is free of the UnfortunateImplications associated with power balance in heterosexual couples (e.g. "the woman must submit to the man"). Said dynamic is another function of the contrasting traits: a classic recipe, for instance, is the reversed contrast in personality and social standing, e.g. a [[ServileSnarker mean servant]] and her [[PrincessClassic ineffectual lady]]; or in personality and appearance, e.g. a TinyTyrannicalGirl and her wise HugeSchoolgirl lover. The power dynamic is often fluid and will shift or even invert depending on circumstances, such as whether the two interact in public or in private.
123
124	Apart from the traits, you should consider the main couple's relationship and circumstances before they hit off:
125
126	* Straight-up (though not that kind of "straight") Girl Meets Girl. The leads meet without previously knowing each other. In school settings, one of them is usually a NewTransferStudent in the other's class. Otherwise, they MeetCute at work or under more unusual circumstances. Optionally, they have had fleeting contact before but only now get to know each other for real.
127	* JustFriends, one of whom suddenly realizes she is falling in love with the other or was [[IDontWantToRuinOurFriendship secretly]] in love with her for some time when the story begins. Since this is, at least initially, an UnrequitedLove, much angst can be expected, especially if the other girl [[IncompatibleOrientation does not swing that way]] or does, but is [[YoureNotMyType not into her best friend's type]].
128	* The leads are already committed to each other in a romantic way from the onset. This setup lends itself best to Comedy and WAFF-style stories and {{Beta Couple}}s (see below). In a more Dramatic variation, the girls have dated each other before but dismissed it as a mere GayRomanticPhase and "[[BaitAndSwitchLesbians moved on]]" to heterosexual relationships, only to discover that they are still in love with each other.
129
130	Consider also the previous relationships, such as current or ex-boyfriends (or girlfriends) of one or both lead girls. Special attention should be paid to engagements and the threat of ArrangedMarriage (particularly when one or both of them belong to the upper-class society). Read more on this below.
131
132	Last but not least, the sexuality of the leads must be clearly defined from the onset: while lesbianism is understandably common in a yuri manga, heteronormativity is still order of the day in most parts of the world, so the question of deviating sexual identity should at least be addressed. The two most common justifications in many, many yuri works are SitchSexuality (especially in ones that take place in a OneGenderSchool) and SingleTargetSexuality.
133
134	!!Love Triangles
135	[[quoteright:210:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/triangles.JPG]]
136
137	When it comes to {{Love Triangle}}s in yuri, pretty much [[Analysis/LoveTriangle every kind]] is acceptable... as long as the third wheel is another girl. If it is a guy, the relationship must feature a strong attraction or even commitment between the lead girls; otherwise, the story runs a high risk of turning into vanilla romance, which is a no-no. Here is a rough breakdown:
138
139	* Type 2 always works, regardless which corner of the triangle is male.
140	* Type 8 never works with a guy involved.
141	* Types 1, 3, and 7 don't work if A is male, since there is no lesbian attraction in those cases. All other permutations are workable. Ditto types 4 and 5 if B is male.
142	* Type 6 is tricky: it works if A is male or a bisexual girl. The latter is a very gray area unless her attraction to the other girl (B or C) is much stronger than to her boyfriend.
143	* Likewise, type 9: it doesn't work if A is male, and when A is a girl, the other girl (B or C) should be considerably more successful in her advances towards her than her boyfriend.
144	* Type 10 only works if A is male.
145	* Type 11 is ''very'' tricky since it is so close to type 8. Any permutation of it can theoretically work but it's definitely not for a beginning writer to tackle.
146	* Type 12 works unless B is male. In that case, while technically yuri, the story no longer has the lesbian couple's relationship in the focus.
147	* Type 13 works unless C is male, in which case A's unrequited crush on B may not be sufficient to make it a yuri story.
148
149	An important factor when working with a [[BisexualLoveTriangle girl-girl-guy triangle]], particularly one where one girl has to decide between the other girl and the guy, is the notion of heteronormativity: dating a guy is socially acceptable, an expected norm; dating a girl marks her as an aberration and, in the Japanese cultural context, an immature person clinging to adolescent romantics. Unless that factor is not present in your setting, it can and should be milked for dramatic tension and dilemmas.
150
151	Coming back to an all-girl triangle, any variation is workable but some are easier than others. The reason for this is that just like with the lead girls, you have to give the third girl enough traits that are contrasting, complementary, and similar to her object of attraction to make her an interesting and believable rival. This is obviously easier if she is an [[BettyAndVeronica actual rival of one lead for the affections of the other]], in which case she needs traits similar (but not identical!) to the former to be a credible threat. If the third girl has it in for both leads... then the notion of {{Polyamory}} draws very close, with all the UnfortunateImplications about homosexuals it brings along.
152
153	Regardless of their gender, it is best to introduce the rival early on if you want them to be the co-star of your story. If you introduce them much later, after the leads' relationship has already been established, the DrivingQuestion "Will the rival snatch one girl away from the other?" changes to "How much damage to their relationship will the rival cause before failing?" Both are valid plot points, but it is important to be clear about the rival's role in the story. Of course, nothing prevents you from having two rivals, one for each girl, introduced at different points in the story to explore both paths. That, however, will take you one step closer to a LoveDodecahedron.
154
155	One last note on the leads' relationships with other characters before the start of the story. A previous commitment is a great source of drama, especially if it is enforced by societal expectations. For instance, if one girl already has a boyfriend or a fiancé, such bond will be a lot harder to break in order to be with her loved one. In a particularly difficult case, upper-class girls (as well as any class girls in Japan, really) run the risk of ArrangedMarriage, wherein they are pressured by society to abandon their "immature" love and to commit to a guy they have no feelings for.
156
157	!!Beta Couple
158	The BetaCouple in the yuri genre is a supporting lesbian couple, [[MentorInQueerness usually slightly older than the lead girls and much better adjusted both to each other and to their sexuality]]. They are introduced fairly early on and represent what the alpha couple will become in due time. Additionally, in this particular genre, they serve the unique purpose of showing the leads that happy lesbian romance ''is'' possible, despite what everyone else would have them believe. Their second, less obvious purpose is to reassure all the {{Yuri Fan}}s who live in constant fear of BaitAndSwitchLesbians Syndrome that yes, your manga is, indeed, ''bona fide'' yuri and is not about PseudoRomanticFriendship. When writing the beta couple, have them largely mirror the leads' relationship, traits and contrasts, only projected a few years into the future. It is OK if they don't have the same edge and depth -- they are not the main characters, after all.
159
160	An alternative to the beta couple is a "Tomolo" character[[note]]"The Other, More Overtly Lesbian One"[[/note]]: a (usually out) woman who disrupts or threatens the leads' relationship, most commonly by drawing a love triangle (see above). Unlike the beta couple, who typically act as benign mentors and role models, a Tomolo directly challenges the leads' insecurities and comfortable lies and ultimately prods them into a RelationshipUpgrade before exiting the stage. Beware, though, that a Tomolo can be quite polarizing, as some readers will hate her for what she does to the leads, while others will love her self-confidence and attitude and demand some sort of happy ending for her, as well.
161
162	!!Explicit Content
163	In RealLife, neither "AllWomenArePrudes" nor "AllWomenAreLustful" is true. In fact, between these [[MadonnaWhoreComplex two extremes]], the vast majority of women are neither sex-obsessed nymphomaniacs, nor absolutely asexual -- but a healthy, fulfilling sexual life is desirable for both heterosexual and homosexual women alike, especially young women who love and are loved. On the flip side, very few readers (and certainly none among the {{Yuri Fan}}s you are writing for) would object to the notion that GirlOnGirlIsHot, so a tastefully done lesbian lovemaking scene will be a great treat for both your characters and your readership. There are [[Manga/GokujouDrops a]] [[Manga/{{Octave}} few]] [[Creator/ShunintaAmano examples]] where it was done right.
164
165	However, there are so many ways in which a sex scene can go wrong, that you should only attempt it if you are really, really certain you can pull it off (goes double for male authors). Be sure to read SoYouWantTo/WriteASexScene and to familiarize yourself with CommonHollywoodSexTraits if you still want to try. If not, a suggestively framed SexyDiscretionShot (possibly focusing on their IntertwinedFingers) often works just as well.
166
167	!Pitfalls
168
169	* RuleNumberOne for modern yuri mangakas: Do NOT [[DeadLesbianSyndrome kill off one of your main heroines in the end]], no matter how tragic and dramatic such ending may appear to you. It has been done so often over the years that nowadays it's just tasteless. If you really, really want a DownerEnding, kill ''both'' of them, but let them be TogetherInDeath.
170	* Rule #2: Do NOT make them [[GayRomanticPhase break up in the end]] and [[BaitAndSwitchLesbians have happy vanilla marriages]]. While it certainly defuses the challenge to heteronormativity posed by your work, it somewhat misses the point of the genre and is usually treated as a cheap-ass way around breaking the first rule above (heaven help you if you break both). If you want a BittersweetEnding that badly, please take the StarCrossedLovers route with an unspoken promise of the leads getting back together in undefined future.
171	* Rule #3: Do NOT [[DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnFemale have one of the heroines sexually assault the other and expect the audience to still root for them to be together]]. While in the past, such a thing was not viewed as a big deal, increased awareness of the grim reality of female-on-female sexual assault, complete with survivors opening up about it, means you are more likely to get backlash and/or potentially [[TraumaButton trigger]] a survivor who might be reading your work. If, for whatever reason, you want to include female-on-female rape in your story, portray the aggressor as a rapist and unsympathetic villain while playing the rape as horrifying instead of titillating.
172	* Less of a pitfall and more of a {{pet peeve\|Trope}}: To acknowledge heteronormativity is important, but the bewildered "But we are both girls!" reaction to a confession is overdone. You can do that in historical fiction, but these days, all but the most sheltered girls are aware that yes, some women do like other women in a romantic way.
173
174	!Potential Subversions
175
176	* Make it look like you are building up to a DeadLesbianSyndrome or BaitAndSwitchLesbians ending, then subvert it in the last moment, preferably in an EarnYourHappyEnding way.
177	* The ways you can subvert the reader's expectations by mixing and matching the main couple's traits (as outlined above) are infinite.
178	* Introduce an [[PsychoLesbian openly-lesbian violently-insane character]] whose insanity turns out to have nothing to do with her sexuality, and, in fact, a fulfilling lesbian relationship is [[LivingEmotionalCrutch the one thing]] [[SanityStrengthening that can keep her stable]].
179	* A ComingOutStory needs not to be climatic: after all the [[SecretRelationship secrecy]] and {{Gayngst}}, the actual coming-out can be met with a ShrugTake or a MilhollandRelationshipMoment from every character who matters.
180	* Subvert OfficialCouple by having the two leads break up at some point and end up in relationships with different women by the end. Alternatively, avert the trope completely by focusing on a single lady and her romantic entanglements throughout the story.
181
182	!Writers' Lounge
183	!!Suggested Themes and Aesops
184
185	* GenderBender. The original thematic core of classic (shoujo) yuri was, surprisingly to some, not so much lesbianism as such, but the exploration of alternate gender identities. In its home country, the genre was (and remains) an important form of {{escap\|ism}}e for young women from the [[YamatoNadeshiko restrictive social norms]] placed upon them almost from birth.
186	* ThePowerOfLove is always a good choice, as well as its derivatives: LoveHurts and [[SecondLove Love Heals]] (the latter being particularly favored in lesbian romance), LoveMakesYouEvil (but beware of the PsychoLesbian trope here, as well as in LoveMakesYouCrazy) and LoveRedeems, LoveMakesYouDumb, etc..
187
188	!!Potential Motifs
189
190	* FlowerMotifs. The original meaning of "yuri" in Japanese is "lily", so white lilies are a instantly recognizable motif in yuri manga. You don't have to stop there: many great yuri series used flower symbolism extensively, with [[SomethingAboutARose roses]] being close seconds.
191	* {{Meaningful Name}}s, especially of FloralThemeNaming variety. Playing on the lily symbolism, names like Yuu, Yuria, Yuri, Juri, Julia, etc. are popular for Japanese girls. Lily, Lillian, Lilith, etc. are equivalents for Westerners.
192
193	!!Suggested Plots
194	Generally, refer to RomanceNovelPlots and RomanceArc pages. A lot of yuri mangas out there are either short (one-shot to a single volume) single-arc pieces or longer (multi-volume) episodic or arc-based works.
195
196	* As been mentioned above, there aren't many ScienceFiction yuri mangas, so why not try your hand at Girls Love [-IN SPACE!-] (well, not ''literally'' in space) or ''Anime/{{Macross}}'' [-WITH LESBIANS!-]? An aspiring {{Starfighter}} AcePilot is taken POW by a GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe enemy captain but accidentally freed by a wacky [[SpacePirate Space]] PirateGirl. PlanetaryRomance [[LoveAcrossBattlelines Across Battlelines]] ensues. Or opt instead for a more ''Franchise/StarTrek'' plot or what have you. ''Literature/IlivaisX'', ''Anime/{{Iczer}}'', and even ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury'' are examples on this wiki you can look for.
197	* A girl going SweetPollyOliver at an all-boys school to find her love discovers that her mysterious {{Bishonen}} crush is [[SweetOnPollyOliver a cross-dressing girl, as well]]. HilarityEnsues (or drama, however you want to play it).
198
199	!Departments
200	!!Set Designer / Location Scout
201	If you are going for a high school setting, you will need an ElaborateUniversityHigh with all the trappings that usually come with it. Otherwise, consider the lead characters' homes (home, if they are already living together) and everyday workplace, e.g. the [[OfficeLady Office Ladies]]' office, the {{Teen Idol}}s' agency, etc., etc.. In a fantasy setting, let your imagination run free and use whatever [[RuleOfCool epic]] and [[RuleOfRomantic romantic]] landscapes come to mind.
202
203	!!Props Department
204	What props you will need depends largely on what kinds of subplots and arcs you are planning to write, such as chocolate hearts for the [[ValentinesDayEpisodes Valentine's Day arc]], gowns and lanterns for the [[FestivalEpisode festival arc]], presents for the [[ChristmasEpisode Christmas arc]], etc., etc..
205
206	And just in case you have decided to write a lovemaking scene and wonder what kind of "[[UnusualEuphemism props]]" your girls should use, there are much better specialized educational websites out there for such questions than Website/ThisVeryWiki. OurSuperStrictLanguagePolicy doesn't allow such details, anyway.
207
208	!!Costume Designer
209	Again, if you are going for a high school setting, you have to design [[JapaneseSchoolUniform relatively unique yet appealing uniforms]] for your female characters. Just like your main couple themselves, their clothes should be instantly recognizable by your fans.
210
211	That said, make sure that the entire female cast wears clothes that emphasize their beauty, even at the cost of some practicality. It doesn't have to be {{Pimped Out Dress}}es for everyone, but the general impression should please the reader's eye.
212
213	!!Casting Director
214	This part is only relevant when you've made it all the way to an animated adaptation.
215
216	!!Stunt Department
217	Unless you are doing an epic action, fantasy or [[LesbianJock sports]] series, you won't see many stunts being done.
218
219	!Extra Credit
220	!!The Greats
221
222	* ''Manga/ShiroiHeyaNoFutari''. The manga genre launcher.
223	* ''Manga/GirlFriends2006'' is a reference for Drama-style yuri.
224	* Ditto ''Manga/StrawberryShakeSweet'' for Comedy-style yuri.
225	* Ditto ''Manga/WifeAndWife'' for WAFF-style yuri, as well as Creator/MiyabiFujieda's yuri mangas.
226	* ''Manga/SweetBlueFlowers'' is another, generally well-received, example of Drama-style yuri.
227	* ''Manga/WhisperedWords'' provides an excellent example of how to mix Drama- and Comedy-style yuri without {{Narm}} or MoodWhiplash.
228	* ''Manga/HanjukuJoshi'' is a dramatic love story with a [[{{Anvilicious}} not-so-subtle criticism]] of the Class S idea.
229	* ''Manga/LoveMyLife'' is a good example of "realistic" yuri, painting a sweet, funny and honest picture of what it's like to be a lesbian in Japan. It's {{Josei}}.
230	* ''Manga/TheFeelingsWeAllMustEndure'' is a good example of how make the female leads' sexuality and sexual exploration the driving force of the plot rather than just fanservice.
231	* ''Manga/LoveGeneXX'' may appear like a weird yaoi-yuri hybrid at first, but is actually an excellent depiction of the essentially genderless ''shoujo'' characters who were at the core of the classic yuri genre. ''Anime/{{Simoun}}'' is even more so, thanks to its fantastic bend.
232	* ''Manga/KaseSan'' provides an excellent example of how a simple romance story can turn into something much more by having an interesting Alpha Couple.
233	* ''Literature/MariaWatchesOverUs'' is ''the'' yuri series that helped [[TropeCodifier Codify]] many tropes and popularize the genre. However, it is of the HideYourLesbians and PseudoRomanticFriendship variant.
234	* ''Manga/DearBrother'' is an extremely influential series, however being from TheSeventies it features outdated tropes like BaitAndSwitchLesbians.
235	* ''Manga/BloomIntoYou'' is a well-regarded series that combines excellent characterization and chemistry with a social commentary on the negative effects of the GayRomanticPhase trope.
236
237	!!Epic Fails
238
239	* ''Anime/{{ICE\|2007}}''. The yuri feels tacked-on, and yet the plot and setting feel like they were mutilated to accommodate it. In any case, it manages to blend ClicheStorm and MindScrew and should not be emulated.
240	* ''Anime/{{Kuttsukiboshi}}''. The characters behave irrationally, the plot twists come out of nowhere with absolutely no foreshadowing, and a plot point that may have been used in an interesting way is instead used to invoke a GainaxEnding. It's confusing, and a good example of what you must not do if you want to make a good story.
241	* ''Manga/NamelessAsterism''. During the course of its run, the yuri love triangle gained more questions with no answers while the yaoi pair got increased attention. Naturally, the fans were not amused, leading to its cancellation.
242
243	!!The In-Between
244
245	* ''Manga/DestinyOfTheShrineMaiden'': The anime adaptation was among the first openly yuri televised series, which dared to declare the love between the two main girls was real (even having the heroine reject her male childhood friend) and highly influential on all that followed. However, the series has not aged well in many respects; it is often seen as heavy-handed and confusing, the attempted mixing of yuri with mecha action does not work with some viewers, and most controversially, the central relationship between Himeko and Chikane has been condemned by modern yuri fans as toxic. In particular, the show breaks Rule #1 in the ending and ''infamously'' breaks Rule #3 earlier, which caused Chikane to plunge into UnintentionallyUnsympathetic territory for some viewers. The series might be worth looking at for inspiration, but with care taken to avoid the problems that turned some fans away.
246
247	!!Additional Reading
248	* [[http://www.hoodedutilitarian.com/2011/04/overthinking-things-04032011/ "40 Years of the Same Damn Story", Pt.1]] and [[http://www.hoodedutilitarian.com/2011/05/21840/ Pt.2]]: A survey of the archetypal yuri manga tropes (specifically, "Story A" and "the Girl Prince") by Erica Friedman.

Context SoYouWantTo / WriteAYuriManga