: Re: How do I subvert the tropes of a train heist? What are the recognizable tropes to a "train heist", or more broadly the action sequences where a protagonist boards a moving train in order to

Stripped of all the self-aware, meta jargon, the problem is that your hero isn't well suited to a big, action-packed showdown --she's more likely to win with her wits than her fists. Given that, I'd lead the reader to expect the big, action packed showdown, allow her to be physically overpowered, and only then reveal that she's already anticipated this outcome, and secretly solved it in advance using her wits. (Bonus points if her physical defeat is an essential part of her ultimate strategic victory!) The Sting is a good example of this kind of reversal. You'll have to work hard, however, if you want to play fair with your readers on this one --The Sting is only semi-successful from that point of view.

"What the --? The train is stopping? But that's impossible."
"Not at all. You see, you were fighting to win. I was fighting to keep you distracted."

The reason this should work is that you've done the work to establish your hero as a master strategist. So the seeming action ending will seem like a cheat to the reader --as indeed it did to you, the author. Then when you reveal the action ending was just a sham, it should feel right to the reader, in a very satisfying way, if you've done the work.

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: Characters based on Real People I am interested in writing a story about real life events, but changing it in such a way to make it a fiction novel. Question is, do I need permission from

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: With an introduction by This was originally a part of my question about partnering with a website, but I think it's separate enough to deserve its own post: Many books are published with an

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: What are some bad ways to subvert tropes? I recently came across something I wrote in 4th or 5th grade, where the MCs, a girl and a boy, were superheroes. One wore a blue costume with knives,

: Re: How do I subvert the tropes of a train heist? What are the recognizable tropes to a "train heist", or more broadly the action sequences where a protagonist boards a moving train in order to

More posts by @Kristi637

: Characters based on Real People I am interested in writing a story about real life events, but changing it in such a way to make it a fiction novel. Question is, do I need permission from

: Changing 3rd person limited to 3rd person omniscient POV for a few scenes Is it considered bad form to have a novel where the majority of it is 3rd person limited, then change to omniscient

: With an introduction by This was originally a part of my question about partnering with a website, but I think it's separate enough to deserve its own post: Many books are published with an

: What are some bad ways to subvert tropes? I recently came across something I wrote in 4th or 5th grade, where the MCs, a girl and a boy, were superheroes. One wore a blue costume with knives,

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