There Was No Punch Line: Expectation subversion contest?

[liliput1]

The polar bears are circling a thread about reader tastes like a wounded beluga calf in deep ice.

What about an antipode to the April Fool’s contest where the point is to write a story that fails to hit the tropey beats in the genre?

The high schoolers have sex but then get creeped out and spend the night in the police station lobby waiting for someone to come pick them up.

The sister just calls an uber instead of sitting on the creepy/built cousin’s lap for a twenty minute car ride.

The bi-panicked woman unblocks the love interest after four hours realizing that’s silly instead of GHOSTING HER FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH (seriously, Lit, we need to have a heart to heart about that one, like what the fuck)

 

[liliput1]

I’ve been firing zingers all morning but I’m getting a complete blank on a name for this.

 

[anthrodisiac]

The main problem is that someone reading it will know the trope is going to be subverted, so wouldn't that mean the impact is dampened unless the reader just happens to go in without realizing it's a challenge for trope subversion?

 

[TheLobster]

The main problem is that someone reading it will know the trope is going to be subverted, so wouldn't that mean the impact is dampened unless the reader just happens to go in without realizing it's a challenge for trope subversion?

The obvious remedy for such an expectation is to subvert it and play the trope straight.

 

[dirk2024]

The obvious remedy for such an expectation is to subvert it and play the trope straight.

Subvert the subversion?

 

[BeechLeaf]

Pfft. You start out knowing a trope is going to be averted, so a canny writer sets up the trope, drops in a bit of foreshadowing about averting it, then surprises you - jumps across to a different trope, or twists it so it half is and half isn't. All sorts of possibilities beyond 'the vampire does/doesn't jump out of the cupboard and eat them'.

 

[lovecraft68]

The porn version of this

 

[MrPixel]

It's probably my margarita talking, but you guys are funny.

(The key to comedy is to setup for the unexpected twist. I love this.)

 

[IWroteThis]

The sister just calls an uber instead of sitting on the creepy/built cousin’s lap for a twenty minute car ride.

Do they have Uber in Arkansas? I'm not sure how much more widespread sister-cousins are…

 

[Voboy]

Wait. Hear me out.

The pool boy actually just cleans the pool.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Expectation subversion contest?​

The little white girl, left all alone at home while the eight large [insert racial preference here] landscape guys visit, gets on with working from home, inspects what they have done, signs for it, and they leave.

[True story - Mexican in my case]

 

[liliput1]

Wait. Hear me out.

The pool boy actually just cleans the pool.

There’s a scene in No Reservations where the guy reaches around Catherine’s shoulder and she closes her eyes ready for the kiss she’s been waiting for all night. He’s just grabbing something behind her. Goodnight.

 

[liliput1]

The little white girl, left all alone at home while the eight large [insert racial preference here] landscape guys visit, gets on with working from home, inspects what they have done, signs for it, and they leave.

[True story - Mexican in my case]

The first author I chased here did the exact opposite so that’s brilliant.

 

[liliput1]

Do they have Uber in Arkansas? I'm not sure how much more widespread sister-cousins are…

Incidence of incest dropped by 18% following the introduction of Uber but climbed back 5% once ride sharing became available…

 

[liliput1]

Alright, I think I got it.

"There Was No Punch Line" after a terrible joke that Norm McDonald told on Conan

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Main character is persuaded to try (insert sexual activity here) for the first time.

They don't enjoy it and decide never to do it again.

 

[liliput1]

The porn version of this

If anyone here hasn't seen Tucker and Dale vs Evil, it's a horror movie where the 'bad guys' are innocent and they're freaking out as all these college kids injure themselves on their property. It's fucking hilarious.

 

[liliput1]

The one my poly friends have lamented for over 20 years now:

You don't need a love triangle/Sophie's Choice romcom. The two guys she has feelings for are old friends and she's into both of them. Just date both and there's no movie.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Apropos of nothing, what’s with the safety of washing machines and dryers? Surely women shouldn’t get stuck in them quite so often. Especially when wearing short shorts.

 

[Voboy]

Main character is persuaded to try (insert sexual activity here) for the first time.

They don't enjoy it and decide never to do it again.

Shortest Lit story ever:

"Come on, baby. Let me put it in your ass. Just the tip."

"Absolutely not. Zip up and get away from me."

"...okay."

[the end]

 

[liliput1]

Apropos of nothing, what’s with the safety of washing machines and dryers? Surely women shouldn’t get stuck in them quite so often. Especially when wearing short shorts.

You're being gross Suzie. You can't actually get 'stuck in a dryer' like that and if you don't cut it out I'm telling Mom.

 

[AStrangeDesire]

Apropos of nothing, what’s with the safety of washing machines and dryers? Surely women shouldn’t get stuck in them quite so often. Especially when wearing short shorts.

Maybe it's a regional phenomenon? I hardly ever come home to find a cute girl stuck in the washing machine...

 

[AStrangeDesire]

You're being gross Suzie. You can't actually get 'stuck in a dryer' like that and if you don't cut it out I'm telling Mom.

... and then they kissed.

WAIT NO, IT WAS AN ACCIDENT HONEST!

 

[EmilyMiller]

Maybe it's a regional phenomenon? I hardly ever come home to find a cute girl stuck in the washing machine...

It’s only happened in our house a few times, admittedly

 

[EmilyMiller]

Younger sister wants to sleep in her brother’s bed [placeholder for why]. Brother pulls the covers off her while she is sleeping and begins to masturbate watching her. Sister wakes up and punches his lights out.