Plot Devices Challenge

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

A plot device is an object or character introduced into a story, film, etc. to advance its plot. A trope is another name for a storytelling device.

Duration: One year from start date

Levels:
Easy Peasy: Read 3-5 books from any plot device category
Just Getting Warmed Up: Read 5 books with a character trope and 5 books with another plot device element (object, setting, etc.)
Reading Champion: 15 books-- Read 5 books with a character plot device, 5 books with an object plot device, and 5 books with either a setting or emotional plot device.
I Eat Books For Breakfast: 26 books-- spell out A-Z with plot devices. For letters Q,X,Y,Z you can choose to use a book that has the letter somewhere in the title or author's name.
Example:
(view spoiler)[
A
B
C
D
E- Evil Former Friend Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
F
G
H- Hero in Pursuit Virgin River by Robyn Carr
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S -Secret Baby Prince Charming by Julie Garwood
T
U- Unrequited Love When a Man Loves a Woman by Alina Adams
V
W
X - The Unwalled City: A Novel of Hong Kong by Xu Xi
Y- The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
Z

(hide spoiler)]

Note:
You can only count a book once, even if it uses several plot devices/tropes.
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Character Plot Devices:
(view spoiler)[
Abducted Bride (view spoiler)[A woman is abducted in order to become someone's wife- often found in Scottish romances (hide spoiler)]
Age Difference (view spoiler)[ The romantic duo has 10+ years between them (hide spoiler)]
Arranged Marriage
Bad Liar
The Bait (view spoiler)[The character used to draw out the bad guys for a trap (hide spoiler)]
Band of Brothers (view spoiler)[Dangerous situations have formed an unbreakable bond between the Hero and his/her companions (hide spoiler)]
Berserk Button (view spoiler)[This character will get extremely angry at one particular provocation (hide spoiler)]
Big Eater
Boss/Secretary
Cannot Talk to Women (view spoiler)[Is there a woman present? This person is now a gibbering wreck (hide spoiler)]
Character Species
Childhood Crush
Childhood Friends
Clairvoyant
The Cobbler's Children Have No Shoes (view spoiler)[A professional in a certain field can help everyone — except those s/he loves most (hide spoiler)]
Cross-Dressing
Earthy Barefoot Character
Eccentric Family
Elective Mute
Estranged Husband/Wife
Fake Engagement
Fake Marriage
False Identity
Famous Ancestor
Fat Comic Relief
The Finicky One
Formerly Fat
Former Teen Rebel
Friendly Rivalry
The Friend Nobody Likes
Friend to All Children
Friend to All Living Things
Funny Friend
Guardian/Ward
Helping Granny Cross the Street (view spoiler)[ This can be anyone who performs acts of kindness or helps others (hide spoiler)]
Heroic Bastard
Hidden Depths
Hidden Heart of Gold
Horrible Judge of Character
Humble Hero
I Got Bigger
Incorruptible Pure Pureness
In Touch with His Feminine Side
Jack-of-All-Trades
Knuckle Cracking
Large and In Charge
Party Boy/Girl
Pregnant Heroine
Runaway Bride
Save This Person, Save The World
Schemer
Secretly wealthy
Socially-Awkward Hero/Heroine
Too Dumb To Live
Ugly Duckling
Useless Boyfriend/Girlfriend
Wasted Childhood
Wolf In Sheep's Clothing
Workaholic
(hide spoiler)]

Object or Element Plot Devices:
(view spoiler)[
Artifact of Doom (view spoiler)[A powerful item that causes corruption in all who use it (hide spoiler)]
Can't Bathe/Sleep Without a Weapon (view spoiler)[The hero(ine) may need to undress to take a bath, but won't ever get caught without a weapon (hide spoiler)]
Carnival of Killers (view spoiler)[When a series of assassins goes after the hero, either from a bounty offer or hired by the villain (hide spoiler)]
Chekhov's Gun:(view spoiler)[ A plot device that the heroes have been carrying around since the first five minutes finally gets used. (hide spoiler)]
Finding Old Letters/Objects
Gotta Catch Them All: (view spoiler)[A set of items which the characters all want to collect (hide spoiler)]
The Glasses Come Off: (view spoiler)[When an intellectual is about to kick ass, the first thing he has to do is take off his glasses (hide spoiler)]
The Gloves Come Off: (view spoiler)[When a character is pushed hard enough, they reach the point where defeating the enemy in front of them is their one and only goal (hide spoiler)]
Magic Feather (view spoiler)[The object a character thinks is magical turns out to be ordinary, and they discover they can do just fine on their own (hide spoiler)]
Mysterious Sword

(hide spoiler)]

Setting Plot Devices:
(view spoiler)[
After the End (view spoiler)[A catastrophe - manmade or natural - has wiped out a large portion of the human civilization and/or population. (hide spoiler)]
A Long Time Ago, in a Galaxy Far Far Away... (view spoiler)[Far distant in space, time or both. They've probably never even heard of Earth (hide spoiler)]
Anachronism Stew (view spoiler)[Is that man wearing a toga, wielding a Katana and listening to an iPod? (hide spoiler)]
Bad-Guy Bar (view spoiler)[Everyone inside is a macho wrestler with an evil look on his face (hide spoiler)]
Bathroom Break-Out (view spoiler)[A character makes his/her escape through the bathroom (hide spoiler)]
Big Fancy Castle
Big Fancy House
Cabin Romance
Close-Knit Community
Creepy Cemetery
Dangerous Workplace
Decadent Court
Elaborate Underground Base
Evil Tower of Ominousness
The Final Frontier (view spoiler)[Space as a frontier to explore, rather than a settled area (hide spoiler)]
Gayborhood (view spoiler)[A neighborhood where the population is predominantly openly LGBT in a city where most people aren't (hide spoiler)]
Grass Is Greener (view spoiler)[An idealized place that a person desperately wishes to leave and go to (hide spoiler)]
Haunted House
Here There Were Dragons
High School
I Don't Like the Sound of That Place (view spoiler)[A place with a sinister name (hide spoiler)]
Just Before The End
The Kingdom
Lady Land (view spoiler)[Where women rule, and men are either subservient or absent (hide spoiler)]
Last Fertile Region (view spoiler)[The last bit of nature and greenery in a wasteland dystopia (hide spoiler)]
A Long Time Ago, in a Galaxy Far Far Away:(view spoiler)[Far distant in space, time or both. They've probably never even heard of Earth (hide spoiler)]
Masquerade Ball
Nothing Exciting Ever Happens Here
Only Shop in Town
Only Hotel In Town
Port Town
Quirky Town
Secret Underground Passage
Soul-Sucking Retail Job
Southern Gothic
Space Station
Spy School
Suburbia
Time Travel
Town with a Dark Secret
Tunnel Network
Underground City
The War Room
Utopia
Wild Wilderness
Wizarding School
Wretched Hive (view spoiler)[A lawless land, populated almost entirely with cutthroats and other scum (hide spoiler)]
(hide spoiler)]

Emotional Plot Devices:
(view spoiler)[
Abuse
Adoption
Adultery
Betrayal
Blackmail
Cannot Spit It Out (view spoiler)[Unable to voice his or her true feelings (hide spoiler)]
Commitment Issues (view spoiler)[Doesn't wanna to settle down in a relationship (hide spoiler)]
Conditioned to Accept Horror (view spoiler)[Desensitized to the horrific or traumatic things in his/her everyday life (hide spoiler)]
Deaf Composer (view spoiler)[Inability to enjoy their own creation (hide spoiler)]
Enemies Falling In Love
Estranged Husband/Wife
Going Down with the Ship
Grew a Spine
Guilt Complex
Hates Being Alone
Hates Being Touched
His Story Repeats Itself
Illness/Disease
Jilted
Kick Them While They Are Down
Kids Are Cruel
Lack of Empathy
Man Hug
A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Read
The Glorious War of Sisterly Rivalry
(hide spoiler)]

Narrative Plot Devices:
(view spoiler)[
Alternate Universe
Bedmate Reveal (view spoiler)[The MC wakes up in bed and rolls over to find a stranger in bed with him/her (hide spoiler)]
Big Damn Heroes (view spoiler)[The heroic swoop to save the day just in the nick of time (hide spoiler)]
Bond One-Liner (view spoiler)[A pithy line said by the hero just after he's killed a bad guy (hide spoiler)]
Bond Villain Stupidity (view spoiler)[When a villain fails to kill the hero when they have him cornered or captured (hide spoiler)]
Bound and Gagged
Breaking the Bonds (view spoiler)[Heroes showing off their power by busting out of chains, ropes or similar restraints (hide spoiler)]
The Cavalry (view spoiler)[Where the heroes are saved in the last minute by other characters (hide spoiler)]
Casual Danger Dialog (view spoiler)[Where heroes in danger will crack jokes or speak casually rather than gibbering in terror (hide spoiler)]
Chase Scene
Cliffhanger
Climb, Slip, Hang, Climb (view spoiler)[The hero has to climb a surface that really isn't cooperating (hide spoiler)]
Cold-Blooded Torture (view spoiler)[The hero is captured by the villains and tortured (hide spoiler)]
Complexity Addiction (view spoiler)[Never uses a simple plan when a multidimensional one will do (hide spoiler)]
The Day of Reckoning (view spoiler)[The day when all the prophecies and plans come to a head in a massive final confrontation (hide spoiler)]
Deathtrap (view spoiler)[ overly complicated method of killing a character, typically used by a villain (hide spoiler)]
Embodiment of Vice (view spoiler)[Exemplifies a certain moral deficiency to such an extent as to become a symbol of it (hide spoiler)]
Flaw Exploitation
Foreign Language Tirade
Foreshadowing
Framing Device(view spoiler)[ a single event or object having heightened significance (hide spoiler)]
Jerkass Has a Point (view spoiler)[The character everyone hates sometimes says the most sensible things (hide spoiler)]
Predestination Paradox (view spoiler)[ where someone travels back in time and could conceivably change history or their past (hide spoiler)]
Quest
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Story Within A Story
The Hero's Journey
Twist Ending
(hide spoiler)]


It would be impossible to list all plot devices and tropes here. For more ideas, check out these links:
List of Plot Devices in Romance
Tropes by Genre
All About Romance List of Tropes

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Reading Challenges ~ Emerald Coin

Earn your Emerald Coins with Reading Challenges joined on or after April 1, 2016.

To Earn an Emerald Coin:
One Coin upon completing the "Reading Champion" level


Learn about Gem coins here

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Participants:

Gabi

Katharine

Melindam

Nina

Selu
Suzanne

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

.

[Katharine]

I'd like to try this one...as a Reading Champion, I think.

[Melindam]

I would live to join on the Reading Champion level.

[Nina]

Plot Devices Challenge
Duration: September 30th, 2017 - September 30th, 2018
Level: I Eat Books For Breakfast
Read: 9/26

✔︎A - Age Difference: Defiance by Sloane Kennedy|10/29/17|★★★★
✔︎B - The Bait: Darkness Rises by Dianne Duvall|9/30/17|★★★★
✔︎C - Casual Danger Dialog: Hell's Geek by Eve Langlais|10/4/17|★★★★
D -
✔︎E - Evil Tower of Ominousness: Clockwork Heart by Heidi Cullinan|10/6/17|★★★★
F -
✔︎G - The Gloves Come Off: Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs|10/23/17|★★★★
✔︎H - Big Damn Heroes: She Can Run by Melinda Leigh|10/22/17|★★★★
✔︎I - I Don't Like the Sound of That Place: Angel Manor by Chantal Noordeloos|10/19/17|★★★★
✔︎J - Jilted: (Watch Me) Body You by Avril Ashton|10/27/17|★★★★
K -
L -
✔︎M - Man Hug: Gummy Bears & Grenades by Charlie Cochet|10/28/17|★★★★
N -
O -
P -
Q -
R -
S -
T -
U -
V -
W -
X -
Y -
Z -

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Welcome to the challenge!

Happy Reading!

[Melindam]

Melindam's Plot Device Challenge

Reading Champion :
0/15

Books with character plot device
✔︎ 1) Character Species - Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews
✔︎ 2) Eccentric Family - Annie's Christmas by the Sea by Liz Eeles
✔︎ 3) Berserk Button - Az ember, akit Ovénak hívnak by Fredrik Backman
✔︎ 4) Estranged Husband/Wife - The Little Village Christmas by Sue Moorcroft
✔︎ 5) Shape Shifters - Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews

Books with an object plot device,
✔︎ 1) Finding Old Letters/Objects - The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
✔︎ 2) Artifect of Doom: One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews
3)
4)
5)

Books with either a setting or emotional plot device
✔︎ 1) Close-Knit Community - Christmas at the Dancing Duck by Daisy James
✔︎ 2) Cannot spit it out - The Welcome Home Diner by Peggy Lampman
✔︎ 3) Big Fancy House - The Boyfriend Swap by Meredith Schorr
✔︎ 4) Abuse - Christmas at the Second Chance Chocolate Shop by Kellie Hailes
✔︎ 5) Quirky Town - A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Welcome Gabi!

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Gabi wrote: "What does character species mean under character plot devices?"

I'll get an answer for you and be back!

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Gabi wrote: "What does character species mean under character plot devices?"

Hi Gabi,
The moderator who designed this challenge is no longer with us so after discussion with the other mods this is the answer we have for you:
shifter/vampire/alien/fairy etc
hope that helps!!

[Suzanne]

Nothing But Reading Challenges
Plot Devices Challenge
Duration: 8/1/2020 - 7/31/2021

Progress: 0 out of 26

A plot device is an object or character introduced into a story, film, etc. to advance its plot. A trope is another name for a storytelling device.

I Eat Books For Breakfast: 26 books-- spell out A-Z with plot devices. For letters Q,X,Y,Z you can choose to use a book that has the letter somewhere in the title or author's name.

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Welcome Suzanne & Selu!

[Rachel]

Nothing But Reading Challenges
Plot Devices Challenge
Duration: 9/18/2019 ~ 9/18/2020

I Eat Books For Breakfast: 26 books-- spell out A-Z with plot devices. For letters Q,X,Y,Z you can choose to use a book that has the letter somewhere in the title or author's name.

0/26


A Abducted Bride ~ The Abduction of Julia By Karen Hawkins
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z