History Website / Springhole

* {{Railroading}}: The article ''[[https://springhole.net/writing/roleplaying-and-fanfiction-terms.htm Roleplaying & Fanfiction Term Definitions]]'' has the definition of railroading with examples.

* PsychoticSmirk: In the article about predatory people, Syera notes that some predators display smirks and sneers in their faces.

* HellBentForLeather: Syera discusses the impracticality of leather outfits when it comes to sneaking around or blend with the shadows.

* MiseryPoker: The author notes that this behavior is only found on abusive and manipulative people or [[EmoTeen edgy]] [[StrawNihilist try-hard]] people.

* ControlFreak: Syera has an article to difference the voice of reason from this trope. Other articles state that predators and abusers are this.

* UsefulNotes/{{Abuse}}: The author has an article on how to write abuse victims and situations right, as well as another page on moral abusers.

* UsefulNotes/ConspiracyTheories: InUniverse. Syera points out the damage done by conspiracy theories in xir most recent articles.
** In the alien-focused spirituality part of ''[[https://springhole.net/other/sketchy-spiritualities.htm#aliens Sketchy Spiritualities & Shady Pseudohistories: What People Need To Know]]'', Syera notes that all conspiracy theories are inextricably linked with antisemitism, since these either begin as antisemitism or are eventually tied into it.

* BeingEvilSucks: In ''[[https://springhole.net/writing/how-to-keep-people-from-idealizing-your-villains.htm How To Keep People From Admiring & Idealizing Your Villains]]'', Syera advises that to show that one's villainous organization is not to be admired, to show that nobody is really having fun in there.

* AuthorTract: Can fall into this from time to time.

** [[{{Reconstruction}} Reconstructed]] in ''How To Write Sympathetic Antagonists Without Endorsing Or Excusing Their Actions, & Without Making Your Protagonists Seem Heartless''. Syera advises making the heroes acknoweledge how awful the villain's tragic backstory or that they do have good intentions while also pointing out [[FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse neither gives them free reign to hurt others]].

** A [[https://www.springhole.net/writing/write-attractive-characters.htm section]] on [[EntitledToHaveYou entitled behavior]] by supposedly attractive characters uses ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' to make a point. It noes Gaston didn't insist Belle would become his wife because he was a good guy.

* ANaziByAnyOtherName: In an [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170625233050/http://springhole.net/writing/write_better_villains.htm#avoid-nazis old version of an article about how to write villains]], Syera advises against these tropes for it, calling them "bargain bin Nazis". Xe notes while taking inspiration from the Nazis for fictional villains isn't a bad thing, most examples of bargain bin Nazis tend to use superficial things like the uniforms and salute rather than any of actual atrocities the Third Reich committed.

* BoringButPractical: When talking about [[https://www.springhole.net/writing/things-writers-get-wrong-about-bladed-weapons.htm gadgets and weapons]], Syera emphasizes that simple designs without frivilious decorations or extra settings tend to work better than their fancier counterparts.

* [[invoked]]FollowTheLeader: In [[https://springhole.net/writing/christmasspecialtropes.htm "6 Christmas Special Tropes That Need To DIE"]], Syera writes about the attempts to recapture [[Creator/RankinBassProductions Rankin-Bass']] (sic) glory days.

* InferredHolocaust: Invoked; in “[[https://www.springhole.net/writing/plotholes-in-vampire-fiction.htm Common Plotholes In Vampire Fiction]]”, xe notes the number of bodies vampires often leave in their wake should attract more attention.

* KickTheDog: In [[https://springhole.net/writing/write_better_villains.htm "Basic Tips To Write Better & More Despicable Villains"]], Syera advises to have one's villains do something awful to someone or something the viewers ''care'' about.

* TheLancer: One article is about how to write sidekicks.

* The author makes a lot of pop culture references to use as examples. Works referenced include ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', ''Franchise/StarTrek'', ''Literature/TheHungerGames'', ''Series/{{Charmed|1998}}'', ''Film/{{Eragon}}'', ''Anime/TokyoMewMew'', ''Anime/SailorMoon'', ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'', ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'', ''Literature/HarryPotter'', ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}'', ''Franchise/XMen'', ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', ''Franchise/StarWars'', ''Film/TheAvengers2012'', ''Film/IronMan'', ''Franchise/PeterPan'', ''Literature/TheBible'' and ''Literature/{{Twilight}}''.
* A [[https://www.springhole.net/writing/write-attractive-characters.htm#don't-act-desperate-or-entitled section]] on [[EntitledToHaveYou entitled behavior]] by supposedly attractive characters says Gaston from ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' didn't insist Belle would become his wife because he was a good guy.

* ShoutOut: The author makes a lot of pop culture references to use as examples. Works referenced include ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', ''Franchise/StarTrek'', ''Literature/TheHungerGames'', ''Series/{{Charmed|1998}}'', ''Film/{{Eragon}}'', ''Anime/TokyoMewMew'', ''Anime/SailorMoon'', ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'', ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'', ''Literature/HarryPotter'', ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}'', ''Franchise/XMen'', ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', ''Franchise/StarWars'', ''Film/TheAvengers2012'', ''Film/IronMan'', ''Franchise/PeterPan'', ''Literature/TheBible'' and ''Literature/{{Twilight}}''.

* AsTheGoodBookSays: One myth about doomsday believers listed on an article is "Just read the Bible, it clearly says..."

** In "Keeping Magic From Taking Over Your Story", bringing people back from the dead is a hypothetical example of something magic cannot do right.

* DamselInDistress: In "Simple Tips to Avoid Making Your Character A Damsel In Distress", Syera has advice on how to avoid or at least, subvert this trope.

* [[invoked]]DistressBall: In "Simple Tips to Avoid Making Your Character A Damsel In Distress", Syera advises to avoid contrived threats and mountains of improbably high events to put a character in danger.
* DoggedNiceGuy: Syera points in the article "Things Guys Need to Know about Straight Romances", that for a "Nice Guy", [[WantsAPrizeForBasicDecency "being nice"]] is ''all'' what they are. No dreams, no aspirations, and if they ''do'' have these, they don't have the guts to follow them.

* EasilyForgiven: Syera criticizes this trope in [[https://springhole.net/writing/changing-alignments-allegiances-and-loyalties.htm#earn-trust "Changing Alignments, Allegiances & Loyalties More Believably"]]. Xe points out that this trope misses the fact that the forgiven characters might change allegiances [[TheMole just to undermine the side they just defected to]].

* [[invoked]]EvilIsCool: The article "How To Keep People From Idealizing Your Villains", is specifically directed to [[DefiedTrope avoid this reaction]]. Also, it is mentioned that part of the reason people admire villains is because in general, fictional villainous groups or factions seemingly offer freedom while a real-life counterpart would be the opposite in real life.

* EvilIsPetty: Syera calls it "2Evil4U!!" syndrome. Xe points out the fact that many young writers exaggerate the evil actions of a villain or a villainous organization that they end up writing cartoonishly, over-the-top characters that try too hard.

* ExcessiveMourning: In "Tips and Advice on Killing Main Characters", Syera comments this trope is used to show the bereaved's loyalty for the deceased went far beyond anyone else's, while in real life, it's a sign that the bereaved is really bad at coping or had a mental illness that was exacerbated by the loss, and that it's ''not'' weak nor an act of disloyalty to the deceased to seek help to recover from the loss.

* FantasticRacism: Discussed in [[https://www.springhole.net/writing/sfoffensive.htm "Things in Speculative Fiction That Would Be Unforgivably Offensive If Only Everyone Was Human"]]. It talks about how a lot of fantasy species are treated as subservient to humans or are clearly written in a way that establishes humanity as the default.

* {{Expy}}: The author advises against making characters too similar to one's or someone else's characters, as these types of characters can get boring quickly, especially if the audience already knows the character which is copied from.

** In the article about predators, they note that predators are masters of this trope.

** They also note that if she has a mental illness, it will be treated as something magical and mysterious, as if she was some sort of faerie-like creature, her mind too incomprehensible to grasp. Syera calls it out as it's a dehumanizing portrayal of mentally ill people.

* TheChessmaster: In ''[[https://springhole.net/writing/plotting-conniving-and-manipulating.htm Plotting, Conniving, & Manipulating - What It Isn't, And What It Is]]'', Syera points out the misconceptions about conniving and plotting that would make classic villains' plans fail if applied realistically. Moreover, they inform that a successful conniver or plotter doesn't make obvious and absurdly long script-like plans, but [[XanatosSpeedChess adapts to whatever is happening at the moment should the variables change and then act accordingly with whatever resources are at hand]].

* CuteAndPsycho: Syera ''strongly'' discourages the use of this trope when it comes to writing mentally ill and insane characters, as they think it'll make mental illness look pretty.

* EasilyForgiven: Syera criticizes this trope in [[https://springhole.net/writing/changing-alignments-allegiances-and-loyalties.htm#earn-trust "Changing Alignments, Allegiances & Loyalties More Believably"]]. They point out that this trope misses the fact that the forgiven characters might change allegiances [[TheMole just to undermine the side they just defected to]].

* EvilIsPetty: Syera calls it "2Evil4U!!" syndrome. They point out the fact that many young writers exaggerate the evil actions of a villain or a villainous organization that they end up writing cartoonishly, over-the-top characters that try too hard.

* InferredHolocaust: Invoked; in “[[https://www.springhole.net/writing/plotholes-in-vampire-fiction.htm Common Plotholes In Vampire Fiction]]”, they note the number of bodies vampires often leave in their wake should attract more attention.

* TheKlutz: They mention that FBI agents shouldn't be clumsy.

* MarySue: InUniverse, Syera had articles on how to make one's character powerful or attractive without coming off as one, even with a test. However, they ditched this term and made advice on how to make a character work well.

** In one article, Syera points why pyrokinesis is a bad idea for a superhero in actual combat. They see this power as more fitting for a supervillain, a sociopathic AntiHero, or a war criminal.

* PureIsNotGood: In their article about purity, they point out that a "pure" character of any sort would not work well if the traits associated with purity were applied realistically to all concepts.

* RealWomenDontWearDresses: Syera advises not to demonize or put down "feminine" interests or use this trope to show that a woman is empowered; they call this type of character "a woman acting like a man under toxic masculinity".

* SavingChristmas: The author hates this trope due to finding it overused and stating that if Santa disappeared from the face of the earth, it would be exactly like the real world. They also advise finding many other ways to generate holiday drama.

* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: Syera points out that RealLife smart people ''don't'' talk like this. They state that the only people who ''do'' talk like this are [[KnowNothingKnowItAll snobby, pretentious brats]] [[FeigningIntelligence who aren't smart but]] ''[[IJustWantToBeSpecial wish]]'' [[DelusionsOfEloquence they were]].

* SinkOrSwimMentor: In ''Things About Training & Teaching Writers Need To Know'', Syera explains that this trope's teaching style is ''not'' real training, as real training is supposed to build up one's skill by starting out with teaching basic moves or principles, letting them practice in a controlled, low-risk environment that's gradually escalating as the pupil gets more skilled. They point out that this type of training will only put the pupil in danger of getting themselves killed, as they were not prepared for such an immense-difficulty trial.

* TermsOfEndangerment: Syera discourages one's villains talk like this as they consider it cheesy.

* [[invoked]]TrueArtIsIncomprehensible: Syera calls out the worldview in this trope in their article ''Using Symbolism, Metaphor, Subtext, & Coding In Your Story - Where And How'', as they say that people who honestly think like this will not ''try'' to understand what others' art is saying.

** They also note that if a villainous organization has a near-ubiquitous or broad control over its domain (like a government, for example) then that organization can easily get away with killing people for perceived disloyalty, while if a small group tries to do the same thing, it will risk wiping itself out or attract the attention of the authorities.

* EldritchAbomination: In "How to Make Your "Incomprehensible" Beings More Comprehensible", Syera thinks that trying to depict such a creature as something beyond human imagination and understanding is insulting the audience's intelligence; they advise new writers to take note of any possible motives and reasons of why their eldritch monster acts like that and how it works.

* [[invoked]]RomanticPlotTumor: In the article "Common Reasons People Hate Relationships In Fiction", Syera points one of the reasons is that romance may push the main plot to the side.

** In [[https://springhole.net/writing/trivializing-and-othering-fiction.htm "Common Ways Fiction Trivializes & Others People"]], Syera points out that writing marginalized characters revolving around a non-marginalized one is careless writing and implies the former has no life of their own or no sense of their own communities.

* ShutUpHannibal: In “[[https://www.springhole.net/writing/how-to-create-and-write-an-arch-nemesis.htm How To Create And Write An Arch-Nemesis”]], Syera recommends having the hero shut down the villain saying [[NotSoDifferentRemark the two are the same]] by pointing out ways the hero is trying to be a good person while the villain is making no such effort.

* SinkOrSwimMentor: In "Things About Training & Teaching Writers Need To Know", Syera explains that this trope's teaching style is ''not'' real training, as real training is supposed to build up one's skill by starting out with teaching basic moves or principles, letting them practice in a controlled, low-risk environment that's gradually escalating as the pupil gets more skilled. They point out that this type of training will only put the pupil in danger of getting themselves killed, as they were not prepared for such an immense-difficulty trial.
* SlidingScaleOfVillainThreat: This trope is discussed in an article about how to avoid dramatic hyperinflation.

* TheSocialDarwinist: In the article "How to Challenge Toxic Masculinity as a Writer", Syera notes that this type of attitude should ''not'' be regarded as an ideal way to live, but acknowledged as a [[JerkJustifications justification for predatory behavior.]]

* SpaceWhaleAesop: In [[https://www.springhole.net/writing/writing-stories-with-morals-and-messages.htm Writing Better Stories With Morals & Messages]], Syera advises not to use this type of aesop, as its implausibility will make it difficult, if not impossible for the message it's trying to teach to be taken seriously, citing the story of a boy who did good things and as a consequence, he is taken by benevolent aliens as an example.
* TheSpartanWay: In [[https://springhole.net/writing/pointlessly-edgy-tropes-to-reconsider.htm#pointless-grit "Pointlessly Edgy Tropes to Reconsider Using"]], Syera notes a training program that starts its students in a [[TrainingFromHell real-life difficulty]] setting as a non-gruesome example of pointless grit.

* StuffedIntoTheFridge: In "How To Evoke Audience Reaction & Keep Things Interesting Without Being Cheap Or Manipulative", Syera points out this is a manipulative tactic and that those who suffer this treatment have feelings.

* [[invoked]]NewerThanTheyThink: In the article "Some Observations in Conspiracy Propaganda", Syera points out that the "tradwife" ([[MotherhoodIsSuperior traditional]] [[StayInTheKitchen wife]]) is actually a modern construct modeled from thinking that ads from the 1950s reflected reality.
* NiceToTheWaiter: In "How To Quickly Spot Abusive & Manipulative People", Syera mentions that if the person is kind or considerate to "respectable" or "great" people but don't give a damn or even disrespect those who aren't as "great" or "respectable" as those people, then they aren't truly kind or considerate at all.

* OriginalCharacter: There are articles on how to write fanfiction with an OC protagonist and how to make OC's who are related to canon characters.

* PsychologicalProjection: Syera states that predators, abusers, and bullies often do this. It's also notable that they state that these people even project ''[[MindScrew their own habit of projection]]''.

* AllNaturalSnakeOil: In the article [[https://springhole.net/other/new-age-creepy.htm#anti-environment "Why New Age Spirituality Is Creepier Than You Thought"]], it's noted that the belief in "natural" remedies as a cure for all illnesses held and pushed by New Age believers was also pushed by ''[[UsefulNotes/NaziGermany Joseph Goebbels]]'' of all people, despite knowing full well it's all crock. Unsurprisingly, he derided actual medicine as a Jewish ploy.

* AbominationAccusationAttack: In the article about predatory people:

* AllTakeAndNoGive: Syera mentions this trope in xir article about predatory people. These types of people are always expecting others to do emotional labor for them and think they can repay the favor with sex, physical gifts ''if'' they bother to pay back at all.

* CrocodileTears: In an example of how predatory people use DARVO, Syera writes a case about the hypothetical predator breaking down in tears and blaming their victim.

* [[invoked]]DieForOurShip: In the article to end canon ships more believably, Syera points out that:
** Retconning the canon ship as meaningless to the fan's favorite half of their [=OTP=] will realistically imply that the one who derided it as meaningless is a {{sociopath}} who, in a more realistic scenario, will also ditch the other half of the [=OTP=] at any moment.
** Vilifying the other half of the canon pairing will only end up as a story that's too over the top to be believed and put off fans of the vilified character. Xe points out that there are many other, simpler reasons to end the canon ship other than this, such as incompatibility.

* TheSociopath: Syera wrote an article on how to write this type of character, only that here they are referred to as predators.

* KlingonPromotion: Deconstructed in [[https://springhole.net/writing/writing-rebellions-coups.htm#cut-off-the-head "A Few Things About Writing Rebellions And Coups"]], Syera points out that killing the tyrannical leader is not as useful as a strategy as fiction depicts it. At best, a power vacuum is created and many people fight over the throne, causing years of civil unrest. At worst, the regime has a succession plan for these cases and puts whoever is next in line in the throne, rendering the effort meaningless.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: Discussed InUniverse in [[https://springhole.net/writing/stuff-to-cut.htm "Stuff You Should Cut From Your Story"]]; Syera lists the disadvantages of having too many characters in one's story.

* LoonyFan: The article [[https://www.springhole.net/humor/badfan.htm "How To Be A Completely Revolting Fan"]] is a satirical guide on how to be one of these.

* MonsterOfTheWeek: In ''Basic Tips To Write Better & More Despicable Villains'', Syera criticizes this trope using [[Anime/SailorMoon Queen Beryl]] as an example of why it's important that one's villains learn from their mistakes. For starters, xe points out that Beryl has a ''whole army'' of Youma, but instead of making the logical decision of deploying all of the army on the Sailor Senshi, she only sends one monster per episode.

* ConspiracyTheory: InUniverse. Syera points out the damage done by conspiracy theories in xir most recent articles.