Vampire Stories DO's & DONT'S

What are some things we should consider when writing our vampire stories? The vampire genre is very congested on Wattpad. In this video, we explore ways to make our stories unique and ideas to consider when writing vampire stories of our own.

[@jojogodtier]

"Breaking a trope" tropes aren't inherently bad. There is no need to break them its about execution.
Your cover art is beautiful though

[@DavidMacDowellBlue]

Interesting.
I have written stage play adaptations of both CARMILLA and DRACULA, and am now planning an original vampire play. A lot of the issues involved have all come up, and my own view is that tropes like structure are tools/toys to use as fits. Yet all have inherent limits and possibilities, so understand those (even if unconsciously) is key.
Part of this is stepping away from the Abrahamic view of a world divided into good light and evil darkness, with the latter doomed in the end to fail. At least in popular belief. One notion, which I initially encountered in Tanith Lee's "Red as Blood," was the notion of Lucifer as Jesus twin brother--and they sit on either side of God's throne, one overseeing light and the other darkness. But neither is purely good or evil. Another, which is really hit strong in the musical "Phantom of the Opera" is the idea of light being cruel, harsh, unfeeling, and hard. Darkness on the other hand is smooth, kind, comforting, and soft. When the world ends, which it must as part of the cycle, then both will vanish into a unity, made the better for being separate for a time.
But on the level of an individual story, what I am aiming for are the casual sadisms and tortures in the open and not only tolerated but in one way or another encouraged. Such things leave us scarred. A lack of love, of understanding, of empathy can warp us just as much as being forced into a metaphorical box. Yet at the same time to become a being banished outside all that can give rise to exquisite kindness, courtesy, compassion. Within all that is also the fact we can often find pleasure in different kinds of pain. Consider the child desperately turning their own feelings "off" just to survive sane in a traumatic situation, then turning to pain as a way of breaking past all those barriers and FEEL, i.e. live. This is not madness. It can be, dare I say it, heroic.
Perhaps a vampire who has lived through the same would understand better than anyone.
My vampire has a very strict code--she never feeds without consent. And the bond created by drinking blood works both ways. My vampire knows when one of her lovers is in distress. She feels it. Just as she knows when they are happy.
Thanks for letting me talk/write about this. Still planning.

[@LordPhantom777]

I would argue that the ‘strong woman’ thing is overdone these days and becoming tiresome

[@littleheartlibrary]

aren't most male protagonists also strong?

[@frogg9057]

Depending on what you mean, you might just be sexist.

[@frogg9057]

@@littleheartlibrary indeed.

[@LordPhantom777]

@@frogg9057 that isn’t an argument anymore. ‘Ists’ and ‘phobes’ are overused to death

[@frogg9057]

@@LordPhantom777 No, it's definitely still an argument.