tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post5508190633866111936..comments2023-09-06T05:28:26.542-06:00Comments on David Powers King: Tuesday Tropes: "Let's Split Up!"David P. Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17259276981865439853noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-620192607411370692012-08-29T09:32:36.000-06:002012-08-29T09:32:36.000-06:00When I split my characters it usually ends up bein...When I split my characters it usually ends up being another book. Or three.Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04137538450232783883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-80366464247527617072012-08-10T11:20:08.687-06:002012-08-10T11:20:08.687-06:00Splitting up, classic for horror movies, only lead...Splitting up, classic for horror movies, only leading to death, death , and more death.<br /><br />Love the new look of your blog!<br /><br />I'm finally claiming my prize and sending you the query for Birds of a Feather :) Thanks again!Hope Robersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16877380868985454894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-44470760346256161042012-08-09T15:37:27.648-06:002012-08-09T15:37:27.648-06:00LOTR is a fantastic example. Can I just use that o...LOTR is a fantastic example. Can I just use that one. I love this concept. I've actually never used it. Will have to place it in the "to use one day" file. Thanks for your ideas, David.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06519655950073446857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-72267597111695455952012-08-08T21:53:02.259-06:002012-08-08T21:53:02.259-06:00Aww, Land Beore Time! I use this trope pretty ofte...Aww, Land Beore Time! I use this trope pretty often - it's a good one.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10680066584646789184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-65533701336951786062012-08-08T06:49:34.204-06:002012-08-08T06:49:34.204-06:00Hmmm... Nope. I don't think I've ever spli...Hmmm... Nope. I don't think I've ever split my characters up. Something to think about in the future.<br /><br />And I LOVE the new look! Awesome David!Kelley Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06373650788799372118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-63583450457596332102012-08-08T05:23:14.471-06:002012-08-08T05:23:14.471-06:00I often split up my characters because it weakens ...I often split up my characters because it weakens them. I'm so mean to my characters hehehe.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-47029256300445528862012-08-08T03:14:14.887-06:002012-08-08T03:14:14.887-06:00I loved Scooby-Doo and The Land Before Time so muc...I loved Scooby-Doo and The Land Before Time so much as a child!!!!! <3 (Who am I kidding? I still love them...) And that video is ace. :) <br /><br />Hmm, I know I've seen the "Let's Split Up" trope used in Lord of the Rings and Scooby-Doo, and obviously in Land Before Time... but otherwise... Ooh, I think they used it at a few points in my favourite T.V series, Avatar: The Last Airbender (Or Legend of Aang, depending on where you're from...). It's a good one to use, if used appropriately!!! :)Bonnee Crawfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01513268628209169538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-18273890073455938022012-08-07T19:38:42.033-06:002012-08-07T19:38:42.033-06:00Very informative post, thank you. Sometimes I do &...Very informative post, thank you. Sometimes I do 'the split up' so say two particular characters can get to know each other on a more personal level - one on one. :-)Diane Fordhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15018013338268306704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-4954704402207501632012-08-07T19:18:01.879-06:002012-08-07T19:18:01.879-06:00Hehe, I actually used this one just yesterday...Pe...Hehe, I actually used this one just yesterday...Perfect timing. And another trope I've actually used.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05746017057593508370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-48741254443004118912012-08-07T17:58:41.585-06:002012-08-07T17:58:41.585-06:00I've been known to split characters up a time ...I've been known to split characters up a time or two...<br /><br />Ghostbusters! Yes! :)Carrie Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01540590799406170410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-27621661435785992942012-08-07T16:55:52.249-06:002012-08-07T16:55:52.249-06:00My goodness David, the place looks great! Love it....My goodness David, the place looks great! Love it. I kind of used this trope in my last ms. They were split up but not by choice. Okay, maybe it's not the same at all.Ruth Jossehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08664678990038670303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-47416238540009908272012-08-07T15:53:56.358-06:002012-08-07T15:53:56.358-06:00That's a good technique if you write with mult...That's a good technique if you write with multiple POV characters. LOTR is a good example.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-52826938424259768722012-08-07T13:27:23.965-06:002012-08-07T13:27:23.965-06:00Don't split up and don't cross the streams...Don't split up and don't cross the streams! Great post. I have my characters split up during a mission, but that's about it...for now. (;Elise Fallsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14734537117333738468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-90080368027883742072012-08-07T13:20:24.808-06:002012-08-07T13:20:24.808-06:00I'm always yelling at the TV, "Don't ...I'm always yelling at the TV, "Don't split up you idiots!" No one ever listens :) I loved (and hated) when Ron left in Deathly Hallows. But it has to be done. Great post David! And your damage is legendary!!!Angela Cothranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09243582290698922119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-62752453562690790612012-08-07T12:09:49.586-06:002012-08-07T12:09:49.586-06:00I usually have my characters split up at some poin...I usually have my characters split up at some point--I'd never thought about it as a trope before, though. Interesting post!Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-36717357206523006482012-08-07T11:30:55.515-06:002012-08-07T11:30:55.515-06:00This is very effective in battle sequences, though...This is very effective in battle sequences, though. <br /><br />In books 5 and 6 of my series, the characters split up to do things more efficiently. <br /><br />Otherwise, I usually have my characters stick together so I can build relationships with them. <br /><br />-MattMatt Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15305743345753181870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-16242711739606263792012-08-07T11:25:26.033-06:002012-08-07T11:25:26.033-06:00Yeah, because when they do, everyone dies.
Every...Yeah, because when they do, everyone dies. <br /><br />Everyone. <br /><br />-MattMatt Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15305743345753181870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-46723260142366002512012-08-07T10:51:08.467-06:002012-08-07T10:51:08.467-06:00In my second series, my protagonists must split up...In my second series, my protagonists must split up all the time. Now if only everyone would like my story as much as LOTR.Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-29059764495188229612012-08-07T10:26:34.360-06:002012-08-07T10:26:34.360-06:00My characters split up in the name of trying to be...My characters split up in the name of trying to be the hero (or heroin). I also like to split up my characters in the name of character development: how they are in a group dynamic vs. how they are with another character, etc.<br /><br />Great post!Holly Vancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10113438267020711966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-36398598955865449992012-08-07T09:41:03.368-06:002012-08-07T09:41:03.368-06:00Great examples here, David. I'm struggling to ...Great examples here, David. I'm struggling to think of one... hmm. Michael already said Star Trek, which is very true. They split up in like every episode. It was great.Emily R. Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03892444969625637064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-25279612985041738072012-08-07T09:07:40.760-06:002012-08-07T09:07:40.760-06:00OH boy, Star Trek really used this trope A LOT. Po...OH boy, Star Trek really used this trope A LOT. Poor red shirts, "You...guy in the red shirt...go and investigate that strange beam thing and report back to us."Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-35472915779198815722012-08-07T09:07:02.357-06:002012-08-07T09:07:02.357-06:00Oh, you gotta do the "split up" LOL... I...Oh, you gotta do the "split up" LOL... I've definitely used it---though in my latest work, I haven't gone there!Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-92157503657861742582012-08-07T08:34:56.419-06:002012-08-07T08:34:56.419-06:00I love it when characters split up because each ha...I love it when characters split up because each has an assignment, and they're all equally impossible (I'm thinking Return of the Jedi here). It's a great way to keep up the tension, though at the end I usually wonder if things could realistically resolve themselves as well as they did on screen.JoLynne Lyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01029955836072785693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-3951740739628459712012-08-07T08:15:34.761-06:002012-08-07T08:15:34.761-06:00I really want to watch Scooby Doo now. But serious...I really want to watch Scooby Doo now. But seriously, if I were chasing a baddie or exploring a haunted house, I would absolutely put my foot down at splitting up from the group. Just not a good idea. In fact, I'd get on the phone, call 45 of my other friends, and have them come to the haunted house/asylum/abandoned amusement park so that we could explore it all together.Julie Daohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13814052162359300933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-7851257951774192882012-08-07T08:14:05.707-06:002012-08-07T08:14:05.707-06:00Jinkies! Sometimes I have characters doing differ...Jinkies! Sometimes I have characters doing different things. Instead of Scooby-Doo I like to think it's more like Mission Impossible or the A-Team or something where each member of the group has a specific role on the team to play because obviously not everyone has every skill. So maybe it's like those role-playing games then, though I suppose in those you don't generally split up.PT Dillowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394481476862013009noreply@blogger.com