Be warned: This Episode contains spoilers for both Sarah J, Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses series (especially A Court of Frost and Starlight). If you don't wish to be spoilified, it may be best to skip this one.
The dragons have discussed the spec fic romantic subplot before. And the shipping of two characters. Let's face it we all want our ships to sail, don't we? But what if two characters getting together romantically is the absolute worst thing that could happen to a series? Narratives are driven by conflict. If you hope to write a six book series but the two MCs get together in book three, that conflict needs to come from somewhere else - and it had better have been set up in book two as a subplot! This week Jules and Madeleine look at favourite sff 'power couples' and where it worked for them to get together as opposed to where it spelled 'death' for the franchise. (There is some overly salty language from Jules here on the latest S.J. Maas novella so gird your loins.) Drawing from their own experience as writers, the dragons discuss how you can eat your cake and have it when it comes to resolving a romantic subplot, as well as the importance of retiring tier one characters to second or third tier in a series when it's time.
Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Episode 293: Goblin Fruit and Faery Cobblers - The Horror of Getting What You Truly Want in Speculative Fiction
Episode 292: With Friends Like These - Reunions Reprises and Encores in Speculative Fiction
Episode 291: Absent Saints and Cruel Caretakers - How Parents Shape Characters in Speculative Fiction part 2
Episode 290: Absent Saints and Cruel Caretakers - How Parents Shape Characters in Speculative Fiction part1
Episode 289: Women, Swords and Trauma - the Backstory of the Female Warrior in Speculative Fiction
Episode 288 - Battle of the Animated Feature Films - Disney vs Don Bluth vs Studio Ghibli
Episode 287: Its All About Me - the Strange Appeal of Narcissism in Speculative Fiction
Episode 286: The Road to Hell - Moral Quandaries and Impossible Choices in Speculative Fiction
Episode 285 Challenging Expectations vs Wokewashing - Blindcasting, Diversity USPs and Nuance in Speculative Fiction
Episode 284: From Tea Houses to Taverns - Tea, Coffee and Intoxicating Substances in History and Speculative Fiction
Episode 283: Vanishing Acts and Secret Scandals - A Compilation of Author Mysteries
Episode 282: Mysterious Parcels and Mystical Cups - McGuffins, Plot Devices and Choosey Magical Objects in Speculative fiction
Episode 281: Mean Girls & Toxic Friends - Why Friendship Conflicts are Important in Speculative Fiction
Episode 280: Gentle Giants and Brick Outhouses - the Tank Character in Speculative Fiction
Episode 279: We're All in This Together - The Art of Collaborating in the Arts
Episode 278: Sins of the Father - Inherited Curses, Crimes and Responsibilities in Speculative Fiction
Episode 277: All Around My Hat - More Folksong Writing Inspiration Part 2
Episode 276: All Around My Hat - More Folksong Writing Inspiration Part 1
Episode 275: Mean Girls and Internet Trolls -Positive Body Representation in Speculative Fiction Part 2
Episode 274: Mean Girls and Internet Trolls - Positive Body Representation in Speculative Fiction part 1
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