{"id":7331,"date":"2012-05-29T14:41:37","date_gmt":"2012-05-29T19:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/?p=7331"},"modified":"2012-05-29T14:41:37","modified_gmt":"2012-05-29T19:41:37","slug":"trope-tuesday-slap-slap-kiss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/trope-tuesday-slap-slap-kiss\/","title":{"rendered":"Trope Tuesday: Slap Slap Kiss"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There aren't enough scoundrels in your life.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unless you have an unhealthy aversion to kissing books, you’re probably familiar with Slap Slap Kiss<\/a>. \u00a0It’s common in genre romance, but you’ll often find it in science fiction & fantasy too. \u00a0When done well, it’s a great way to make sparks fly<\/a>, but when done poorly…I think you can fill in the rest.<\/p>\n

The basic underlying concept is that love and hate are just two sides of the same coin. \u00a0Both involve strong feelings for another person, the kind that drive you crazy and make it hard to think straight. \u00a0According to this theory, it’s a lot easier to fall in love with someone you hate than to fall in love with someone you don’t really care about. \u00a0And once you fall in love<\/a>, the rest is easy<\/a>. <snark!><\/p>\n

Kiss Kiss Slap<\/a> is the Tsundere’s<\/a> standard MO. \u00a0An effective way to end the will they or won’t they?<\/a> phase, though the trope is so common that you can spot it almost as soon as the slapping starts (Dinosaur Comics has a good commentary on that<\/a>). \u00a0Sometimes happens in conjunction with Foe Yay<\/a>, though the couple doesn’t have to start out as sworn enemies. \u00a0The kiss itself is usually one of those “lovely trick[s] designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous<\/a>.” When set up properly, is often accompanied by a Love Epiphany<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Of course, it’s possible to go too far<\/a>. \u00a0There’s a fine line between “all’s fair<\/a>” and kicking the dog<\/a>, and if you cross it…good luck<\/a>. \u00a0Alternately, if the slapping doesn’t cross the line, but the kiss doesn’t live up to expectations<\/a>, it’s also going to fall flat. \u00a0And if the main reason you invoke this trope is because the plot demands it…let’s just say, you’re doing it wrong<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In general, I think it’s important to keep the following in mind:<\/p>\n