Now that we’re finished with all the “Happy New Year!” sentiments, it’s time to get back to work. It’s time to clean out the basement, the closets, my desk, and some writing projects. Decluttering is cathartic, it brings an ‘ahhh’ moment. But I’m not the only one who needs to throw out the unused, worn out, and the unnecessary.

Six Things I Want to Trash

Photo by Steve Johnson: https://www.pexels.com/photo/focus-photo-of-yellow-paper-near-trash-can-850216/

This year I’ve reached a saturation point with specific writing elements (called tropes in the business), that need to be tossed.

Cue the Klutzy Skater

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-couple-standing-on-snow-6712057/

You know this; one character glides effortlessly and the romantic interest is a total klutz. That scene would apply to my husband and me (he can’t skate) but I would never suggest we go skating because it sets him up for if not embarrassment, then a broken bone. This trope is overused, predictable, and to me, lazy writing to get two characters romantically close. Just toss it out.

The “Unexpected Winner”

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-a-gold-medal-on-a-black-surface-6120398/

When the main character and the love interest partner in a competition even though one of them has never done the activity before, like building a gingerbread house-AND THEY WIN. (Christmas romance writers use this trope waaaay too much.) Unless you pair the unskilled character with a Martha Stewart clone, NO. They should come in a respectable fourth or fifth among all the other teams who’ve been doing this event for years. Not placing first makes the scene less hokey.

The Sneaky Snowball Fight

Photo by Ivan Mudruk: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-and-man-playing-snowball-fight-10621766/

Talk about overused. First, if I want to impress or get to know a romantic interest, I’m NOT going to blindside them with a flying projectile of snow which could result in an injury, or at the least, a pissed off partner. Who likes to get slammed with a snowball, especially when you don’t expect it? This is something an eighth grader would do to catch a girl’s attention because they’re immature. (It usually results in the girl concluding he’s a jerk to be avoided; I speak from experience.) Your readers deserve a little more creativity.

Secret Magic

Photo by Leeloo Thefirst: https://www.pexels.com/photo/star-glitters-with-magic-text-5715330/

These are instances where reality, sometimes even the laws of physics, doesn’t apply. Take the Magic Turkey. A character is cooking a holiday meal and take a huge turkey out of the freezer the night before. Uh, no. Even if you don’t know how to cook more than Ramen noodles (you should do some research), most people know it takes longer than a day to defrost a large turkey. Somehow, magically, everything works even though it’s impossible. Now if this is used to set up conflict, like the character assumed the turkey was defrosted, it wasn’t, and therefore dinner was ruined, that’s cool. Unexpected magic scenes like that make me roll my eyes and take me out of the moment.

Let It Snow…Or Not.

Photo by Jill Wellington: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-holding-three-red-christmas-presents-boxes-3264665/

This one is on the production company producing the Christmas movies. I get it, it’s expensive to use real snow, especially if they’re filming in California, but sheets of snowy fake snow fabric? When the actors step on the sheets, or there are straight edges, it looks so fake. While we’d like to have a real snowy background, with climate change, most of us don’t get a white Christmas anymore. (A suggestion I’d like to make that I use when setting up the tiny village under my Christmas tree: pull the sheets apart into puffs, then spread. It looks more like snow that has been shoveled, all lumpy and imperfect. You’re welcome.)

Haul the Holly Back In

Photo by Irina Iriser: https://www.pexels.com/photo/green-and-white-wreaths-1734425/

Ridiculous amounts of decorations make me question what the set designer was thinking. Who does this? Now I’m all for going all out for Christmas and I have the photos to prove it (I’ve got themed sheets, socks, sweatshirts, mugs, etc., but there is a limit.) Ribbons on every kitchen cabinet? Greenery and ornaments on the counters? A wreath OVER the stove??? How can anyone cook without setting the house on fire? Garlands over every doorway, window, picture frame? It’s almost beyond even what Clark Griswold would consider festive. Not only is this unrealistic, but geez, you almost make us feel incompetent because there’s no way we can measure up.

Throw out all the above. Let’s start this year with fresher ideas and plausible presentations. I promise to do my part. Wishing you all happy writing and reading!