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Split: Chandlers Law

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Antheia Whatever of Breath (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
Whatever of Breath
#1: Nov 2nd 2010 at 4:00:13 PM

Even the description itself says:

Examples below take one of two forms: Either a work actually using this trope, or a writer having an equivalent "If inspiration fails, have X happen" rule.

... so I suggest we split off the latter, "If Inspiration Fails Add X", from Chandler's Law.

(edit: fixed some of the markup.) (And grammar.)

edited 2nd Nov '10 8:24:49 PM by Antheia

Camacan from Australiatown Since: Jan, 2001
#3: Nov 3rd 2010 at 12:03:01 AM

I do not fully understand the quoted line. What is it saying? Is it saying that in practice it need not literally be a man with a gun coming through the door?

The laconic version is: "Breaking a lull in the plot with a spontaneously chaotic event."

That seems to suggest the trope is already If Inspiration Fails Add X but is struggling a bit to say so in the main text.

edited 3rd Nov '10 12:03:35 AM by Camacan

rodneyAnonymous Sophisticated as Hell from empty space Since: Aug, 2010
#4: Nov 3rd 2010 at 12:10:35 AM

I don't understand why a split would be needed. Oh, I get it, the Inspiration one is when the X is something other than a man with a gun. It seems like the title Chandler's Law can cover both fine. Presumably it was meant metaphorically, anyway, unless his advice was for murder mystery writers only.

edited 3rd Nov '10 1:40:09 AM by rodneyAnonymous

Becky: Who are you? The Mysterious Stranger: An angel. Huck: What's your name? The Mysterious Stranger: Satan.
Antheia Whatever of Breath (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
Whatever of Breath
#5: Nov 3rd 2010 at 12:46:23 PM

The page is asking for two distinctly different kinds of examples: (1) "works where conflict is added whenever drama is needed", and (2) "other, similar rules used recurringly(?) by authors". I can see how those two are related, of course, but I don't really think they should be listed together.

Antheia Whatever of Breath (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
Whatever of Breath
#6: Nov 3rd 2010 at 12:53:00 PM

@Camacan: Yeah, that's stated earlier in the description: "The addition of a new opponent or complication, usually amidst a burst of violence, can free a protagonist from where he has become mired in the current plot. " So, no, it doesn't have to be precisely "a man with a gun", but something along those lines.

savage Nice Hat from an underground bunker Since: Jan, 2001
#7: Nov 3rd 2010 at 1:34:53 PM

Chandler's Law doesn't literally mean to always use a man appearing at a door with a gun to create dramatic tension. What it means, loosely, is if the plot is in danger of becoming stuck, add some unrelated tension.

You're suggesting to split this trope into "Literal Examples, and everything else". Yeah no.

edited 3rd Nov '10 1:35:27 PM by savage

Want to rename a trope? Step one: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Antheia Whatever of Breath (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
Whatever of Breath
#8: Nov 3rd 2010 at 7:11:27 PM

No, I'm not. The description as stands basically says, "Add examples that follow this rule [Got stuck? Add violence/a threat], or add other rules of the same type". If that's not what the description is meant to say, then perhaps it needs to be reworded.

Camacan from Australiatown Since: Jan, 2001
#10: Nov 3rd 2010 at 9:22:21 PM

Yep Just Add X is not a trope.

I wasn't expressing myself clearly: most of the text is fine. It's that last line that is confusing.

That last line is probably just a strained restatement of what was said more clearly above. We all get the trope, the laconic version sums it up perfectly. Ditch that last line, it doesn't add anything.

edited 3rd Nov '10 9:24:44 PM by Camacan

rodneyAnonymous Sophisticated as Hell from empty space Since: Aug, 2010
#11: Nov 3rd 2010 at 9:33:40 PM

The offending line, "Examples below take one of two forms: Either a work actually using this trope, or a writer having an equivalent 'If inspiration fails, have X happen' rule." was added two days ago, the day before the OP.

Becky: Who are you? The Mysterious Stranger: An angel. Huck: What's your name? The Mysterious Stranger: Satan.
Madrugada Since: Jan, 2001
#12: Nov 3rd 2010 at 9:41:23 PM

I suspect that last line was added by someone thinking of the Nanowrimo advice for "If you get stuck, or you've painted yourself into a corner, have a ninja come through the wall." It's exactly the same rule. It's just phrased differently.

ExpiryBot Since: Dec, 1969
#13: Jan 12th 2011 at 11:04:10 AM

This thread expired after 60 days of inactivity.

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