writing.today.com

Yes, there’s a magazine called Strange Horizons that pays money for fiction, blah, blah, blah. And since I’m linking to them, I’m supposed to tell you that, “This list (which I’m about to tell you about) is part of the submission guidelines for Strange Horizons, an online speculative fiction magazine.” Okay? We’re good.

But what I really want to tell you about is their hilarious list of “Stories We’ve Seen Too Often”. You don’t want to miss this.

My favorites include:

#4. (Oh, this is like nails on a chalkboard for me.)

1. In the end, it turns out it was all a dream.
2. In the end, it turns out it was all in virtual reality.
3. In the end, it turns out the protagonist is insane.

I almost snorted cola out of my nose when I read #9 a. and b.:

1. The characters’ actions are described in a way meant to fool the reader into thinking they’re humans, but in the end it turns out they’re not humans, as would have been obvious to anyone looking at them.
2. Creatures are described as “vermin” or “pests” or “monsters,” but in the end it turns out they’re humans.

Were those ideas ever fresh and exciting? Here are a few more:
#6 b. In the future, all learning is soulless and electronic, until kid is exposed to ancient wisdom in the form of a book.

#22. Superpowered narrator claims that superhero stories never address the mundane problems that superheroes would run into in the real world.

#35. Twee little fairies with wings fly around being twee.

Go read the rest. You’re welcome.