My 10+ Rule of Writing

[Cipiteca396]

Don't think that's the right explanation, at least that's not what I understood. Waking up is the introduction in almost every isekai/reincarnation story, often followed by being in a forest. It definitely works, but it's beyond overused.

Mhm, a cliché.

 

[Aoibh]

Write GB only in combination with GL.

... no

 

[RepresentingWrath]

... no

 

[Cipiteca396]

Spoiler: No?

 

[Aoibh]

Most of the GB GL written on here is just plain bad, legit no romance just fucking like rabbits off the get go. And authors act like we meant to eat that shit up.

 

[TheTrinary]

Don't think that's the right explanation, at least that's not what I understood. Waking up is the introduction in almost every isekai/reincarnation story, often followed by being in a forest. It definitely works, but it's beyond overused.

I think you're missing the point though. It doesn't work. Functionally, it doesn't DO anything. You're missing the opportunity to actually add something to your story by replacing it with something active.

 

[tridetect]

The way to do it right, in Google's opinion at least, is to literally wake up IN the story. The inciting incident is knocking down your bedroom door and saying "WAKE UP, TIME TO DIE!" You go from the droll routine of waking to the interesting situation of your character realizing that something is wrong. It gives you a glimpse of their normal self, and their 'stressed' self.

You could also use it as a recurring attack against the reader. If the character is going through their everyday routine, but you the reader realize that something's off, it's a great way to build tension. As such, it's a great tool for a horror, mystery, or psychological story. For example, in the time loop Trope, it's common for the character to wake up in the exact same situation every chapter/loop. Often in a stressful way.

As I mentioned before, it's also a cliché. Meaning even if you do it right, people will just overlook it. They won't be impressed, it'll just get filtered out. Someone who's looking for it, holding some kind of grudge against tropes, will be upset. That bias might even affect their entire opinion of the story. Not like there's anyone who fits that description around

Waking up adds nothing in your first scenario, in fact its even worse because you're putting the reader in media res which is not entirely good for a story because you're basically giving the reader context-less action. The second example you give still doesn't add anything to waking up because then you're describing the character's everyday boring routine until 'it gets good' and if your story isn't gripping within the first few sentences then why bother? Just because clichés and tropes exist does not mean you should see them as a ruleset because most clichés and tropes are BAD. If you still don't get this then look at rule 4.

 

[greyblob]

I think you're missing the point though. It doesn't work. Functionally, it doesn't DO anything. You're missing the opportunity to actually add something to your story by replacing it with something active.

I'm not sure what you're on about. It works. It conveys distortion followed by an opportunity to describe the different surroundings/environment. I don't particularly like it but it's an okay introduction. Though, it's used up and often unnecessarily drags on.

 

[TheTrinary]

I'm not sure what you're on about. It works. It conveys distortion followed by an opportunity to describe the different surroundings/environment. I don't particularly like it but it's an okay introduction. Though, it's used up and often unnecessarily drags on.

You can achieve both distortion and describing the environment (like every story ever) without falling asleep. It's a crutch and a week crutch. And that's all I've got to say about that.

 

[greyblob]

You can achieve both distortion and describing the environment (like every story ever) without falling asleep. It's a crutch and a week crutch. And that's all I've got to say about that.

I agree. It's a lazy, uncreative approach. The first time I had seen it; it was fine. The next couple of hundred more? Not so much. It's a crutch in this sense, not as a failed premise. At least that's what I think.

 

[Echimera]

You can achieve both distortion and describing the environment (like every story ever) without falling asleep. It's a crutch and a week crutch. And that's all I've got to say about that.

I's a tool, nothing more and nothing less. How it's used is the important aspect.

Waking up with a headache and no memories of the last day in a locked room can be a good start if the reason as to why they are there is a mystery that gets uncovered throughout the story. Starting before that would spoil the whole mystery, starting later would mean they sat there doing nothing for however long before they decided to take stock of the situation.

 

[Snusmumriken]

I's a tool, nothing more and nothing less. How it's used is the important aspect.

Waking up with a headache and no memories of the last day in a locked room can be a good start if the reason as to why they are there is a mystery that gets uncovered throughout the story. Starting before that would spoil the whole mystery, starting later would mean they sat there doing nothing for however long before they decided to take stock of the situation.

This is what I meant when I said it depends on an author's skill to pull off. And the suggestion is applied towards very generic "I woke up and looked into a mirror/river" setups that are absolutely everywhere.
Hell, what you described was less about wake up - more about confusion and a sense of loss. You aren't describing the waking up action - you are describing the emotions and sensations of a MC which is also a bit different too.

 

[Cipiteca396]

I think you're missing the point though. It doesn't work. Functionally, it doesn't DO anything. You're missing the opportunity to actually add something to your story by replacing it with something active.

Like what? Your 'rule' here isn't saying anything. It's like trying to tell someone how to paint, with a set of rules that go:
1. Keep an idea of the basic shapes of what you're drawing. This lets you keep an easy reference for structure.
2. Make sure to stay aware of position in relation to other parts of the canvas.
3. Never use the color blue.
"Huh? Why can't I use blue."
"Don't worry about it, just use red instead. It's always better."
"But what's wrong with blue?"
...
4. Perspective-

You're dismissing something out of hand without explaining why you personally don't like it, or when it might be fair to use it. Not to mention, you're ignoring similar cases like... Anime bathing scenes, The Summoning Ritual, the White Room, Love at First Sight, etc. Any rule that covers waking up should be formed in a way that takes other clichés or whatever your problem is into account.

because most clichés and tropes are BAD

Tropes Are Tools / Administrivia - TV Tropes

Tropes are just tools. Writers understand tropes and use them to control audience expectations either by using them straight or by subverting them, to convey things to the audience quickly without saying them. Human beings are natural pattern- …

tvtropes.org

4 is unrelated. Or, if it were related, it would be something like, "Use tropes creatively, don't just copy and paste them." It's the exact opposite of the point you're trying to make, "Don't use tropes at all."

You can achieve both distortion and describing the environment (like every story ever) without falling asleep. It's a crutch and a week crutch. And that's all I've got to say about that.

You haven't said anything though... Everyone has to fall asleep at some point, unless, like my character, you find a way to make your characters not need sleep. But that's exceptionally rare, even in fantasy, and especially before the story starts.
Why is it a crutch? What does it do that could be done better by another trope? What doesn't it do, that it needs to do? It's fine if you don't respond like last time, but maybe just think about it for yourself instead of just defaulting to "No, that's wrong."

Hell, what you described was less about wake up - more about confusion and a sense of loss. You aren't describing the waking up action - you are describing the emotions and sensations of a MC which is also a bit different too.

Even if what you're describing isn't waking up, it is the waking up trope. So saying waking up is bad also claims that this situation is bad. The intention was not clearly stated, all we have is this vague rule to go on.

 

[Snusmumriken]

Even if what you're describing isn't waking up, it is the waking up trope. So saying waking up is bad also claims that this situation is bad. The intention was not clearly stated, all we have is this vague rule to go on.

Okay, let's use colours. White paint is okay to use but most of the time you are not gonna start painting white on the fresh white canvas. Same with waking up - there are cases you can use that if it brings something else to the story (it is a time-loop story starting from that wake-up/it is not about wake up but intentional characterization of a character etc.)

The issue as it was mentioned before - it is a weak opening. And having a solid 1st chapter is absolutely crucial. Especially on a website like this where there is a deluge of copycats and low-effort stories. Readers who start reading the story don't know your skill level, they don't know if the story would be really good or bad. And they will be judging your story very harshly - because there is always 10 more for free just a click away.

That is why cover matters, That is why synopsis matters. And that is also why 1st chapter matters.

Having it start from a simple wake up scene without any relevance to the plot would almost guarantee that you will be losing some readers right there alone. I know that because I had at least 3-4 stories myself that I have dropped that way. They were already on the fence for me based on the synopsis and just reading the cut and paste opening didn't fill me with a lot of hope so I decided not to bother.

This is what I meant in my first post. You need to prove to your readers that you can pull it off - in a similar manner as you need to prove to your readers that you know English to start bending the sentence structure and wordbuilding intentionally.