Tie up games

I should of added to my last post that the parents don't get involved with the games but give the teens the right advice to make sure that is fun and safe

 

"Of course we are proud of Bobby," Mrs. Smith said with a smile," We were glad
to help him get his merit badge in hostage restraint."

@jannert I agree, and very circular as well.

 

"Of course we are proud of Bobby," Mrs. Smith said with a smile," We were glad
to help him get his merit badge in hostage restraint."

@jannert I agree, and very circular as well.

 

Well, it all seems to be a squeaky-clean and aboveboard adventure then, so fine. Write the story. There is no question to answer, is there?

 

This just reinforces the idea (to me anyway) that this is a world or place or something where getting tied up makes sense in it's own terms in context. And if that's the case then you really don't need to explain at all. Like I said before, if these kids are training to join the guild of assassins then you don't even need to do anything really to explain that it's not sexy. Anyone who has a reasonable expectation of using escapology in their lives can be shown training to do that without further comment needed. I really think that the setting is the key here, or at least some conception of who the kids are.

Why are they doing this? Are they trying to learn a skill?

 

Okay so...just because I'm curious, is this a contemporary Earth-based setting, or is it more along the lines of what @LostThePlot is thinking, like Fantasy or Sci-Fi?

 

It's an earth based setting

 

Could you expand on that a bit please?

We are doing our best man but what really matters here is context. So what is the context of this element? Why did you want to include it in the story? Why is it important to the characters and the book? What made you think that the kids would want to do this? Where did they get the idea for it?

I can conceive of a story where it makes sense. For kids who come from a circus family or have some connection a magic show or similar then I think that it would normal enough for them to play around doing the kinds of things that happen in that show. And the adults to help them stay safe doing that of course. In that context this seems to be a reasonable enough element to have. And a story written in about kids who are part of a travelling show or spend most of their time dreaming about following their parents on stage sounds good to me, there's cool stuff to work with there. But it's only that context that makes the idea of them tying each other work in the story.

If you a writing a kinda 'young adventurers' story where the kids are interested in solving crimes or catching spies or whatever then ok, odd maybe but fits what's going on since this is an element that presumably would serve them well later in the plot to escape the bad guys. Especially if they have a hero that they are trying to emulate by solving crimes and there's part of the latest book/movie/whatever where the hero has to escape from ropes then they might well decide that this is an important skill for all boy detectives to have and resolve to learn how. That would play in well to a parent saying "What are you kids doing? What? No! You're going to kill each other! Urgh, alright, look you need to do it like that..." because it underlines that they are kids and maybe not as capable as they believe.

So there's reasons why this can work. But we really can't help you if you can't tell us literally anything about the book other than you want to have children tying each other up in it. The only way to say if this is weird and potentially pervy or if it's fine is for you to tell how this fits into the story.

 

I would say that knowing the answers to these questions is probably key to whether or not you should include it. If you don't know the answers, do yourself a favor and leave it out, because they're the kinds of questions your readers will be asking.

 

Yep, I second Laurin's request. Please just answer the questions LTP (And the rest of us have asked). We really are trying, and you're a writer, man, use your words. No one's going to steal your idea. Help us help you.

 

Um, you do realize that the information you seek in understanding
why it would be relevant to the story will not be provided. If you don't
know, then they are not going to give you a response that does not circle
back around to do it all over again. At least not so far as I can tell.

This is the Mobius discussion. O_O

 

I'm trying my best to answer the questions but I'm also being careful not to give any of the storyline away either

 

Well then, I'm afraid it's going to be impossible to help you.

Believe me, no one wants to steal your idea, dude. Most writers have more ideas than they know what to do with already, and the ones who don't aren't likely to have the skills to write someone else's.

It's the ouroboros of nope.

 

Like Laurin said, then there's just nothing we can do for you. No one wants it, man. And, here's the thing, even on the off-chance they did - you do realize it wouldn't even be recognizable as the same thing right? Unless they actually copied your work, the idea would never look the same from their brain to yours. The characters would be different, the world would be different, nothing would be the same.

Seriously though, we're trying to help you, and we have ideas of our own, and honestly it's a little insulting to assume that we're helping so we can hijack your work. What are you going to do when you need Betas?

Your choice though, of course, whether or not we can help. Just understand the reason we can't is because of the lack of information you're willing to give up.

 

I have provided all the info you people need but now you lot are just being pedantic!

 

You actually made me laugh, thank you. I needed that. So, no, we're not being pendantic, but your ability to see your own reflection is inspiring. You have not given us enough information to answer your questions. We ask questions, you don't answer them (with more than 3 words). That's not us being difficult. I wish you luck with your work, and sincerely hope you can figure it out.

ETA: Okay, they're being tied up and you don't want it to be sexy? Keep their clothes on like @Homer Potvin said, don't let anyone lick or kiss anyone else, anywhere. No sexual innuendos. Maybe don't tie them up spread eagle on the bed. You know, just... nothing sexual. That's really all it takes. Also - maybe consider why they're doing it and why you think it will seem sexual in some way (since you won't tell us why they're doing it so we can help).

 

Multiple people have told you that you have not, in fact. provided sufficient context for us to properly offer feedback. You can choose not to believe us, but my experience has been that people here on the WF forums are some of the most helpful folks I've ever met. If they can't help you with the information you've shared then I'm going to go out on a limb and say that's on you, not on them.

 

By hijinks, do you mean that they're just doing the tie-up game purely out of boredom and as a childish sort of challenge? If so then maybe lead up to it with another challenge like who could hold their breath underwater for the longest or something like that. If you're still worried that the scene will come off as pervy, then maybe cut out the tying altogether. It 's just hard to give advice if there's no apparent point to them doing that specific activity.

 

You have provided essentially nothing.

I'm beginning to have doubts about your motivation here.

 

@MrInvisible So I just came across your thread about mental health for teenagers - is the 14 year old boy the one who's being tied up? Because, I have to say, based on what you said about him, I'm not sure this is going to go over very well...

(Because I really am trying to help you)

 

Right, and that's exactly the point here.

Even if you don't want to tell us anything even vaguely useful about your book the single question that matters here is why exactly they are doing that. If they have a good reason to do it then that's fine. If they don't then no, you shouldn't do it.

So, without saying anything that anyone could use to plagerize you; do the kids have a good reason for doing this beyond 'for fun' ? Does it impact the plot in some way? Is it a skill they will use later? Is it part of a cultural tradition? Or is it just a game with no specific use beyond wanting the kids to be playing a game? Yes or no dude. No more needed. Just say yes or no to some or all of these questions.

 

Well, if we have all the info we need to provide an answer (as you assure us) and we are not even aware of any other aspect of the story, then it stands to reason that surely you most certainly have all the info you need to continue with the writing of your piece as regards this question, since you are in possession of the greater context of the story-line wherefrom the question arose. That being resolved, and in light of your concern for the unexpectedly lucrative Black Market of Story Ideas , what's say we wrap it up and allow the "pedantic" citizenry herein to focus their oh-so keen attentions on questions that don't already have answers in the hands of the querying party, yes?

Yes. Let's.