#whump tropes

[allthingswhumpyandangsty]

the way I have heard so many talented fanfic writers say they started writing because they read someone else's fanfics that are so good they inspired them into becoming writers too? just proved my point that your writing is never 'in vain', even if you dislike it and think it could've been better, it's still good enough for someone out there that it becomes their source of inspiration and perhaps happiness. you'll never know.

but don't ever, ever belittle your own works. just because you don't like them, doesn't mean other people dislike them too. again, you'll never know. there could be someone out there who reread your works every day because those fics you wrote helped them escape reality for a while, they could be reading your works as a way to help get them through a hard time in their life. you'll never know.

your writing may have saved someone's life.

your writing may have inspired someone into pursuing their career and changing their life for the better.

several best selling authors started as fanfic writers, and the majority of fanfic writers started writing because they were inspired by someone's fanfics. you do the math.

your "silly fics" have permanent impact on this world, even if you think they're not good (they actually are good, I promise you, don't let your mind lie to you).

I mean ***I*** personally started writing my first fanfic about 7 years ago, and have been writing ever since, because I was inspired by my favorite fanfic writers. I still remember all the lines I like from those fics I read 7-8 years ago, I still think about those fics I read from 7-8 years ago and still remember the stories very well in my heart. I started writing because of them.

this blog would never have been created at all, if it weren't because of those fanfic writers whose works I read 7-8 years ago.

I wouldn't have so far written about 130,000 words this year alone, if it weren't because of those fanfic writers whose works I read 7-8 years ago.

to all the fanfic writers out there; your works inspired someone, your writing made a difference to someone's life.

[whumpdaydreamerx]

That moment when Whumpee overwhelmed with the pain of their injuries, screams and yells Caretaker’s name in desperation. And all Caretaker can do to stop their agony and writhing, is gently quiet them before getting started on treatment.

The “Shh, shh, shh. I know…I know” as they take a moment to brush a hand through Whumpee’s hair or cup their cheek. Softening their features to comfort them.

[the-bar-sinister]

Whumper who is physically larger than whumpee restraining whumpee with their body.

Whumper pushing whumpee against the wall and pinning them there with whumper's hand on their wrists.

Whumper grabbing whumpee from behind and holding them tightly so whumpee can't move their arms.

Whumper pushing whumpee belly down on the ground and holding them there with one foot on whumpee's back.

Whumper holding whumpee's wrists together from behind.

Whumper holding whumpee up off the ground by whumpee's wrists, or by their ankles.

Whumper pinning whumpee to the wall and pinning them their by whumpee's throat.

Whumper knocking the legs out from under whumpee and grabbing whumpee by the hair when they fall to their knees.

[whump-in-the-closet]

Top 5 whump tropes to subvert?

oh

oh

anon you read literature critically and are a blessing on this good earth

i’m rubbing my hands together like an excited cricket

cinnamon roll whumpee. i just think having a whumpee who’s flawed and has messed up in the past adds some nuance to the story. yes, they’re still being hurt but they’re a person and not just a victim who’s never harmed a fly in their life. it’s less about having pity for a character and more about sympathizing or relating to them.

caretaker as a lover or significant other. the caretaker is almost always someone who has skin in the game, but why does romantic love have to be the deepest affiliation with whumpee? you’re telling me that a decent person wouldn’t help out another fellow person but walk by them? strangers as caretakers adds so much to the story, or even antagonists/villains to caretakers. there’s just more depth.

hero is actually evil. Or superhero is evil. it’s a fun trope, but if you read almost any hero/villain story, hero will end up being the one to capture the villain. I rather the conflict not be as black and white but more intrapersonal— between hero and sidekick or villain and supervillain, where neither are in the right and both are caught up with blackmailing/backstabbing the other.

solitary confinement. this one i just like to twist a little by having a one way glass and having it on public display. or by making it a white room. solitary confinement doesn’t exactly do wonders on the human mind but white room torture fucks them up so much worse

whumpee kidnapped because they’re important. cool. but what if they’re kidnapped because their friend is important. There’s more emotional weight with this. How much does their friend care for them and what if they don’t? what will wjumper do to get their attention? it’s just. a lot of suffering and guilt.

[chokedraven]

Was thinking about it and- what about a demon whumpee? A demon whumpee that somehow gets above, to the earth, suddenly and not of their own free will and just trying to survive there?

Imagine them their whole life living in hell, the hot place, and when they appear on earth, they constantly feel cold here (especially in some countries of the north), which they have to get used to?

What if they were used to know that good is bad in their twisted morality — and now, with kind people surrounding them, they feel just... lost and defensive. Not able to trust anyone.

Maybe whumpee will join bad people, bad relationship because they will feel that these are right, are normal, because they are like most in hell. Maybe they will tolerate pain in their presence, because it's just right, isn't it?

Their life used to be hell, surrounded by bad, by wrong, and they grew up believing it's right. Will there be people here to see through the demonic origin and find a suffering soul in need of salvation?

[kabie-whump]

Curse whump, anyone?

I've had this idea in my brain for years of a Whumpee who is cursed with empathy. Like, they can feel the pain of everyone around them all the time.

Ovbiously they avoid going out in public whenever they can, especially to really crowded places. All of the minor aches and pains from the people around them really build up. A trip to the grocery store has them falling to their knees and sobbing in the produce asile. Grocery delivery services are their best friend.

Hospitals are out of the question. That's a no-brainer.

However! Imagine how good of a nurse or doctor Whumpee would be with this curse. They would know exactly what hurts their patient and where. But of course it would be an unbearable job to do for too long.

Cursed Whumpee discovering that their teammate is hiding a serious injury because they can feel that bullet wound. Cursed Whumpee being the reason their friends and family always take such good care of themselves. Cursed Whumpee feeling guilty for having to leave the room when their best friend gets hurt and need emergency stitches.

And if we want to get silly with it, a cursed whumpee who is also a misogynist going on and on about how women are all dramatic and periods aren't actually that bad, and then he has to spend time in the same room as his female friend and he almost passes out.

[abhainnwhump]

Shove Whumpee's hand in a meet grinder.

OR

Shove their foot under a lawnmower.

[rookthebird]

when the character who's like "i will never reveal my trauma to anyone" gets a high fever and, while weak and delirious, starts spilling every.

last.

secret.

[misscrazyfangirl321]

When the unflappable character sees someone they care about in danger and the mask slips, it's great.

But when the unflappable character sees someone they care about in danger, and the mask DOESN'T slip.

Because they understand they need to be calm and unflappable now more than ever; if it protects them, it will certainly protect the person they care about. So their voice doesn't waver, their hands don't shake. They don't panic. From the outside looking in, they're as calm as could be. They handle it.

But after it's over-when the person they care about is safe, and the unflappable character is alone-they completely shatter. Gasping breaths, sobs, barely holding it together because someone they love almost DIED, and it was far, far too close for comfort.

(Optional: Character that they care about finds them in this state and comforts them.)

[allthingswhumpyandangsty]

WRITING RESOURCES

LIST OF INJURIES SOMEONE COULD OBTAIN IF THEY WERE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED

(trigger warning is applied.)

fractured pelvis (if their body was bent against a desk, a car, or something with hard surfaces)

ligature marks around their neck

bruises on their arms, thighs, legs

abrasions on their cheek (if their face was pressed against concrete floor)

urinary tract infection

blood in stool, blood in urine

lacerations around and/or inside the genitalia

[whump-or-whatever]

I absolutely love when a character is trying to hide injuries or just how sore they are by moving around like normal. They’ve perfected walking without wincing, ignoring the pain as they sit down or stand up, maybe even running.

But then as soon as they’re out of sight, the second they make it home and the door closes behind them, they just collapse to the floor in tears.

[bebx]

yeah yeah that famous quote that goes along the line of “if a writer falls in love with you, you can never die” but it’s the tireless AO3 writers who pull an all-nighter writing 100k words of fix-it fics where their favorite characters live

[the-bar-sinister]

When whumper drags whumpee's face right in front of their own.

By whumpee's collar.

By whumpee's chin.

By whumpee's hair.

By whumpee's bonds.

Whumpee can't escape whumper's eyes locking with theirs. Whumper's breath on their face.

[spinzolliii]

There’s something about a whumpee just sitting down. Not fainting, necessarily. Maybe they’re just about to faint, and they quietly just kneel on the ground at a time and place that doesn’t make sense. They don’t even have the capacity or willingness to articulate why they need to abruptly stop and sit. Maybe they’re catatonic while the others look at them.

Maybe a caretaker can see the dull, vacant look in their eyes and immediately senses that something is seriously wrong. Maybe the fainting comes just a few moments later.

[becomingvecna]

X

[bestwhumptropes]

head injuries that cause a character to do something wrong before they know they're hurt. imagine a character with a concussion leading the team in circles by accident. the team gets mad at them for not admitting they're lost until they finally realize they're not really making much sense at all.