Before you read this chapter! Please tell me:

Okay.

So, before starting this chapter, I did an experiment. I asked my friends to describe what they see when I say 'bad boy' to them.

Some of these are about to get interesting.

Person #1 said:

A bad boy is the type of guy who gets bad grades, wears sunglasses, has slicked back hair, and wears sunglasses.

Yes, a bad boy wears sunglasses twice. I love my friends.

Person #2 said:

The guys in Grease?

With a question mark, because he was confused, because I then went on to ask if he thought I'd make a sexy bad boy.

Person #3 said:

Skinny. Tattoos. Snap score over 400K. Slick. Has a pocket knife. Does small crimes, but is not a piece of shit.

Person #4 said:

When you say bad boys, I imagine you being a teacher and you about to hit my wrist for being a bad boy [insert drooling emote].

Okay. I hate my friends.

For real! I just realised now that all four of them that I asked are guys, themselves.

But, basically, when we hear the term 'bad boy', it looks like people picture the same thing -- leather jackets, rebel who lies in the face of facts, probably being very snarky, and completely, undeniably sexy.

As for the good girl?

The opposite -- sweet, kind, thoughtful. Gets amazing grades. Probably very shy. Does not see why people are so obsessed with the bad boy.

And then, they make eye contact near their lockers (alternately: she's asked to tutor him to help him get good grades), and she realises that her cheeks keep turning red... her heart keeps pounding... and her panties are on the floor.

They fall in love. He turns into a sweetheart for her. Lets down his walls. And she... well, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure what she gains. Sometimes confidence. Sometimes an entry into the mafia lineage.

Here's the thing! It can come in multiple shapes and forms.

Maybe the good girl is a sweetheart in high school, and the bad boy is the rebel who breaks into lockers and smokes in the bathroom despite it literally setting off the freaking fire alarms. Is this only a me thing? I get so bothered because, when you burn a piece of toast at school, the fire alarm starts wailing. And for some random reason, these boys can literally breathe fire onto the alarms and no fire alarms--

Okay, I know why authors don't include fire alarms going off but still. The toasters at school just traumatised me. Back to focus.

Sometimes the good girl is a princess, and the bad boy is a rebellious rogue in the village streets who is committing crimes and beheading people. Because, you know, murder is totally an attractive thing.

Sometimes she's a girl whose personality resembles a cardboard box, and he's a vampire.

Sometimes she's a girl living a life and he is into BDSM contracts.

Different shapes and sizes!

And it's really...

Why? People seem to complain about it all the time, and yet, they're always so popular on Wattpad. Those are the books that sell so much, that make movies out of them, and still, even if we don't like to admit it, make us swoon.

I am not an expert, but I think there's a pretty good reason why we enjoy them so much.

It's simple: we are the good girls.

Whether you're a girl or not, a lot of us readers tend to have qualities that we see in the good girl. The love for literature, the high-achieving and determined nature, the way we desire to help those around us. The good girl, essentially, is an exaggerated and very specific version of a good human being.

And yes, I confess. I have totally gone on a date with a guy just because I thought it was hot that he would take me on a motorcycle.

The bad boy represents more than just sexy men in leather. It also calls to our sense of adventure and excitement. We want to also look after these poor lads who have cages around their heart.

Except... the good girl in literature tends to be... a doormat. And while some of us are doormats (I mean, hello, the reason I'm currently wearing mismatching socks is because I always let my dog steal my socks; I am a doormat for my dog), we shouldn't be encouraged to let people step all over us.

Which leads me to the main point of the chapter, the following statement:

In fact, some can be super good! They're there to show us that it is possible for even the most stoic and cold-hearted people can have emotions and redemption. Sometimes, it shows shy people the importance of putting our foot down.

However!

You make sure they're not... well, too problematic. I mean, you want complex characters, and you should keep it slightly on the line of realism for the context of your story (as in, yeah, having her be a witch shooting ice cubes from her nostrils is realistic, but having them trust each other with all their hearts on the first minute of meeting each other is ).

Because that's what readers cannot stand -- one-dimensional characterisation.

But wait, there's more.

If Good Girl + Bad Boys are so popular, why are they also complained about so freaking much?

One of the reasons is obvious: they're popular. So they are guaranteed to get more hate. That's just how life works.

There are, however, more reasons why. And that's because some of the books within this trope

So, without much further ado, if you are writing a "good girl; bad boy" story, here is my ode to you.

If ye would like to write a story

Of the good girl and the bad boy,

Please follow this advice,

So that many of us can enjoy!

, the first of steps:

Please ensure your characters are complex.

I'm not a poet. Please bare with me. I'm just trying to make things rhyme. And yes, I know steps and complex is a sloppy rhyme but... yeah, okay, how do you poets do it?

But, first and foremost, complex characters. With real, believable hopes and fear and aspirations. With purposeful stories and decisions that back their character up.

You know the drill.

Complex, loveable characters.

Moving on.

, as important as aliens on Saturn,

Their personalities shouldn't take a u-turn.

The bad boy won't become an angel the second he meets her. She won't be a badass that can hold a gun after their first date.

Should their characters develop? Absolutely.

Should it happened in a matter of seconds? No.

Also, if they're so adamant on not falling in love, which they usually are, then don't let them burn those barriers straight away! Let it take time! Add that layer of realism to it! Slow down the pace, and let it feel real.

though it's as sweet as a dove,

Do not make the story only about their love.

Like, come on. I think the best stories with this trope are the ones that are about... more than this trope. Stories about the characters truly finding themselves as people, with external factors coming into play as well. That's what we love.

If we look at The Mortal Instruments, sure, there's clear qualities of good girl and bad boy -- but there's more. There's also demon things. And while some people can't stand this story, it's certainly better than a story where the whole plot revolves around the two of them following each other like little puppy-dogs. There are cool side characters. And demon things.

Even if your good girl and bad boy story is set in a school, you can do so much more than make it about them and their attraction only. Show us the friendships outside that! The stress and burdens of high school. The fear and anticipation of growing up. Even family relationships and the importance of them in our lives.

Anything! Just make sure not all the scenes are the two of them making out underneath some table in the library.

Please.

The librarians deserve more respect.

regardless of leather jackets or fancy suits,

And should not be romanticised or idealised in any context.

If the good girl says no, it's not playful or 'cute' for him to keep trying because she's blushing.

On a similar but different vein, if he is tough and stoic and doesn't share emotions, that's not 'sexy'. We should be allowing our boys to cry.

And that's my big long vent about the good girl and the bad boy! What are your thoughts on it? Love it? Hate it? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Anything else you'd like me to talk about? Let me know! I love taking requests.

Next up: we'll be discussing types of antagonists! Any thoughts on them? Or specific questions?