Bella's "gun"

Every now and then on Pinterest people pin things from Better Novel Project - which is a fascinating thing, even though... uh.

Today I saw The "Chekhov's Gun" Guide to Foreshadowing

READY: Introduce a special skill

In the beginning, the hero discovers his special skill or reveals his unique personality trait. This is the equivalent of the “hanging the rifle on the wall” element of Chekhov’s gun.

In Twilight, Bella reveals an important personality trait: self-sacrifice.

AIM: Demonstrate the skill

As the hero proceeds on his adventure, that same skill or personality trait comes in handy. In other words, the hero takes Chekhov’s Gun out to the shooting range for some practice.

In Twilight, Bella’s tendency for self-sacrifice allows her to advance her romantic relationship with Edward.

FIRE!  The special skill or trait saves the day

Finally, the big moment arrives and the hero must use his special skill in a scene leading up to the climax. The stakes are a lot higher now. Even with all the foreshadowing, the reader never saw it coming.

Bella decides to confront the vampire alone, again demonstrating her willingness to sacrifice herself to save both her mom and Edward from getting hurt.

 I hate the "self-sacrificing woman" trope. I really f-ing hate it.

It is stupid, unnecessary... I mean, there are ways to solve problems without anyone needing to sacrifice anything!
The idiot mom should know that it's just pie. You can cut it into as many pieces as there are people eating! You can SHARE!
And a high-school student is considered an adult in most cultures and during the history of humankind. Her mother could have easily traveled with her boyfriend as much as they wanted. If Bella is old enough to "take care of her father", she is more than well suited to take care of only herself while her mother is traveling! And why would it be such a "sacrifice" for her to live with her dad? He wasn't a bad person. And everyone loved her in the new school. She wasn't bullied or ostracized or anything. It's really creating problems where there are none, so that the main character can show some "wonderful qualities", that aren't needed, wanted, or don't really exist either, so that she will be rewarded with what she most wants - when all she would have needed to do was to ask. Drama for drama's sake.

But I suppose the people who love Twilight also love that quote above about the stupid mom, and they love Disney's The Beauty and The Beast, they believe "love can change a person", they are type 2, "power of the weak" abusers, codependent, constantly offended by people who don't appreciate their "sacrifice", "love", "good intentions", and other "good qualities" (read unsolicited advice, putting your nose into other people's business, trying to manipulate everything and everyone), and they are "Alpha Females", SAHMs, economically reasonably well off, with a husband who works, off home, in a well-paid job, Christian and conservative. They dressed up as princess when they were little. And still do - or would like to.

This is the "Are you an alpha woman" quiz from the book. I bet these people answer "yes" to most of these questions.

1.  Do you feel nervous or out of control when you’re not the one in  charge? 
2.  Are you a perfectionist or an overachiever? 
3.  Do you sometimes feel superior to your husband, as though he  needs you to show him how to do things? (How to dress, what to  say, how to grocery shop, how to parent, and so forth.)
 4.  Do you take your everyday frustrations out on your husband as  though he’s the cause of those frustrations? 
5.  Do you generally expect your husband to go along with your plans, as  opposed to the other way around? 
6.  Do you listen to your husband when he has something to say without immediately formulating a response in your head? 
7.  Do you roll your eyes when your husband says something with which  you disagree or disapprove? 
8.  Do you frequently contradict your husband? (If your answer is no,  would your husband agree?) 
9.  Are you a drill sergeant? 
10.  Do you tease your husband in front of others in a manner that could  be construed as disrespectful? 
11.  Do you need to be right? 
12.  Do you frequently interrupt your husband or talk over him, even in  public? (If your answer is no, would your husband agree?) 
13.  Does your marriage feel like one giant power struggle? (If your answer is no, would your husband agree?) 

So, of course they love this book. They identify with Bella and dream of finding someone like Edward with whom they can live forever, young and strong and healthy and beautiful, with beautiful child and happy life, being loved and worshiped and appreciated, even though they had "nothing" but "ability to love and sacrifice oneself". It IS a dream come true, and removes all the bothersome bits of life, like deciding what I would like to do with my life and how to live a meaningful life and what is my value beyond being a girl-friend, wife, mother? Who am I and what is my place in life?

It would be wonderful. Except that I am not that kind of a person.

But... now I know how to write a best-seller like Twilight.