Some of the great plot twists in many books or movies is the moment where we feel the MC has hit rock bottom. Maybe they've lost a battle, a friend, a family member.
Or maybe they've simply lost their reputation.
Slander is a plot device used by some of the most memorable antagonists. Whether it's a highschool girl suffering from rumors propogated by her arch nemesis, or a spectacled wizard being called a lunatic in the local papers because he says the wizarding world's equivilent of Hitler is back on the loose- slander is used in order to discredit and bring down the MC. What works with this method is that it really gives the reader a sense of true loss.
After all, everyone can relate. No one likes to have hurtful or false things said about them. It's painful to think those around us view us in a negative light. But the most powerful thing about slander and defamation is that often times, if we hear it enough and enough people believe these negative things - WE could start to believe them. And when that day comes, all is truly lost.
Thankfully, most stories serve as an example that slander can be overcome by knowing who you are, having confidence, determination, and excluding those that think less of you from your life.
Those stories that show how slander can destroy a person to their very core serve as a reminder that nothing anyone says, writes, or spreads about you should be allowed to determine your self worth and you have the power to overcome it.
22 comments:
Gosh, your post just reminded me how bad high school sucked! That's all we ever did was slander each other back then.
Great post! I just read 13 Reasons Why and slander is such a huge part of the story. It's such a great plot device for setting up conflict - thanks for the reminder!
excellent post, and sorry for the computer malfunctions! I hate that~ :p <3
Ah, like Tracy above, I was reminded of how high school was so not all people claimed it would be. Sigh.
Hoping your computer is better soon. xo
Great post. Saw your blurby about the partial request. Congrats!!! Here's hoping for a full.
Harry Potter reference! You're my new hero!
Congrats on the partial - woo hoo! Fingers crossed; keep us posted.
I love the idea of slander as a means of conflict. I must be brain dead, because I haven't thought of this one! Duh.
Congrats on the request! I know it will become a full. It's too good not to go that far.
Love the post. Slander hurts, especially when you let it.
Congrats on the request! And great post. Slander is such a big deal, in books and in real life.
I find it both fascinating and horrifying that a single phrase can cause a hell of a lot of damage, no matter what the context is or who says it. Even if you don't believe a rumour or slander, it'll stay in your head and eat away at you until you confront it. Gotta love the human psyche :P
Great post. It's exactly what I needed to read because my sequel has a bit of this plot device, but I'd kind of forgotten about it.
If I could I'd send you my copy of Word 2007 software? Would that help? (Sorry any microsoft employers reading this - but you know - it's called being nice at christmas!!! :-))!!!!
What a great post - slander is definitely a great plot device to use - the hero/heroine must do all he/she can to keep his/her integrity throughout and prove these false things wrong!!
And it's a great life lesson too! Take care
x
Good one! I hated high school. And I write YA because...? Well, now I can take it out on people ;) hehe.
Well said!
Those parts in stories always make me cringe. I HATE when people do that...
congrats on the partial and no one told me giving a lecture nekkid was off limits!
Slander, libel, the destruction of a good name...these are good conflict points. Thanks! Hope you get your software in order.
Edge of Your Seat Romance
Wow, that's good advice for real life as well!
And yeah, high school sucked. Why would anyone want to go back?
Two words: Open Office. Downloadable for FREE. Does all the same stuff Word does. Takes 3 minutes and is ready to use. Did I mention FOR FREE?
I LOVE slander as a way to notch up the tension. It's an excellent means of isolating the protagonist, but you know what... it isn't something you just automatically think of, is it? I have a revision in front of me where I use a little, but i think it might benefit from a more intentional campaign...
so true. slander can be incredibly powerful depending on your MC's personality/ego. probably one of the most underutilized forms of MC torture ;)
congrats on the partial request! fingers are crossed for you!
I saw your post about your partial request on Anne's blog. Major contgrats. It only takes one...
You've got some wise things to say about this subject. Hart is right that slander is so destructive partly because it's so isolating.
And I agree about High School being hell. I think that's why I can't write YA. It takes me back to a place I never want to go again.
BTW, I apologize for not realizing you write YA. For some reason I got it in my head that you write women's fic like me. So my comments of a couple of weeks ago probably didn't make much sense. Sorry. So be happy that you're in a genre that's still selling--although it's getting harder and harder to break into. But there's HOPE!!
I hate slander, especially in high school!
A request for a partial???? YES!!! Congrats and good luck! *fingers crossed for you*
Nicely done CQG.
You did fantastic with no spell check. If I tried that, a reader would likely try to run the content through an online language translation program or something.
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