A-Z of Werewolf writing

Cliches, Cliches everywhere...

It was interesting reading all your comments in the introduction chapter about what you thought were the biggest cliches in the werewolf genre. Overall, they revolved around the same few topics, so the chapter today is all about the top 5 cliches...

Number one-

Rogues.

They seem to appear in most stories, and it is easy to see why. In any group of people there will always be those who don't want to follow the rules. Rogues are often ex pack members, and are used as the bad guy and evil. Often represented as the lone wolf, homeless or as a small band of wolves following the strongest leader. (though this would technically be a pack... packs will be covered in a later chapter.) Often the female character is kidnapped by the evil rogues, and the main male character saves her from them.

Another Rogue cliche is one of the mates being a rogue, and being caught on the pack land of their mate. It's easy to see why this is used often, as it creates tension and is a good 'meeting' devise for the main characters and it often leads to an orphan/ abandoned/ kidnapped story that will always revolve around the male main character saving their mate from the scary forest. 

Number two-

Special wolves.

It's a well-known character, the shy girl who may or may not have become a werewolf yet, who becomes the all-powerful and knowing 'special' werewolf, prophesied to save the world. Often called the White Wolf, its overrated and overused. Why is it overrated? The female main character is one of the least developed characters in werewolf fantasy, and is often one day weak and submissive and then physically strong and powerful the next day, due to magic. Surely it would be far more interesting for the story to actually let the character develop those skills by herself, so the reader can see what a strong person they have become?

Number three-

Weak and Submissive Females.

Following on from the last one, I think it is important to have this subject as one of the top 5 clichés.

Submission and mental abuse seems to be rife in werewolf fiction, especially on Wattpad. It pains me that people enjoy reading these stories, and that it is becoming a normal fictional relationship trope. So what does it involve? First the female character is often small, shy, innocent and pretty. Her mate is often an alpha with a world-wide reputation for being mean and ruthless. He is often tall, well built, dark and brooding eyes and possessive.

So, what makes their relationship abusive? The girl is often taken at the beginning of the story without her consent, and kept prisoner inside the Alphas house. Any attention she gives to other men in the house- if other men are even let inside the house- is met with jealous anger that results in the destruction of the room they are in, or the alpha running out the house and ignoring her for an extended time. When she fights back or says she doesn't want to be there, she is made to feel guilty yet when she is friendly and 'good' she is met with love and gifts (often a new wardrobe!) from the Alpha.

It isn't a healthy relationship to portray. If you want to create an unstable relationship, then there are other ways to do that without it being abusive.

Number Four-

Rejection.

Often this starts as the main male character finding their mate and thinking they are weak and unworthy of them. They then reject them, and through the story the rejected female becomes 'better' before having the male character want them back. She often wants them to earn her, but falls in love and forgives everything. It isn't as common as the others; however, it is overdone.

Number Five-

The Alpha.

The final cliche. The Alpha is one of the biggest character cliches in the werewolf genre. The Alpha is the main character, mate-less and often young, around 18/20 years old OR older at 28/30, who feels like he will never be loved and find a mate. Their father is often dead, and they are portrayed as ruthless, a loner and misunderstood.

I want to stress that this chapter isn't about telling you that you SHOULDN'T write these plot and character cliché's. Done well, in a well-rounded plot with engaging characters it can make for a fun story. This is a guide, so if you want to avoid overdoing the clichés it is easy for you to figure out what they are.

What topics would you like to see covered next?