Lately, I've been diving into the genre of whump to find inspiration. I used to be a primary whump writer before I started writing more story and character driven plots. Though all my stories have a healthy dose of whump in them, they're not the focus anymore. For example, it's not "this character gets shot. What happens?". It's more like "this character gets shot while on a mission. How does that affect the plot?"

I blame this latest fixation on my psychology classes. Old time mental "treatments" and asylums are morbidly fascinating and a treasure trove for whump prompts.

Without further ado, my favorite whump tropes, overly specific and in alphabetical order because I'm procrastinating said biopsychology homework:

(Also just throwing in a quick content warning just in case. I'm not going to be too detailed though. This is meant to be writing inspiration. Also, I'M NOT SADISTIC I'M JUST A WRITER).

~The Tropes~

Amputation: losing a limb. But only in Star Wars or another universe where cybernetic limbs work as well as flesh, if not better. I care more about the cool cybernetic aftermath over the actual losing of the limb. I also like seeing how a character copes with it and learns to accept this new limb. Maybe it malfunctions or gets damaged, causing pain and discomfort. When Bucky Barnes' arm was damaged fighting John Walker or when Luke's cybernetic hand was shot is chef kiss. 

Arena Fight: forced to fight in an arena against other gladiators. Maybe the character doesn't kill and doesn't want to hurt their opponents, but they have to fight in self-defense. They fight day after day, gradually wearing them down till they're no longer confident they can win the next day. Maybe they're forced to fight their best friend and they have to make it look good or one is brainwashed.

Back-to-Back: two characters are restrained back-to-back. Captor prevents escape by restraining their two captives together. Usually, they're sitting in chairs with the backs touching and one long rope tying them to each other. They could also be sitting on the floor with their bare backs against each other and their hands cuffed or tied together. Maybe forego the rope or chains around their chests and just tie four wrists together in a complicated way to discourage escape, such as a rope with elaborate knots or handcuffs with the links twisted together or sharing a pair of shackles with one one clamped around one's wrist and the other around the second's opposite wrist. It's kind of funny when they try to maneuver to escape or when one is punched and their head smacks into the back of the other's head. Alternatively, a tree or pillar is between them and their arms are tied or chained together around it.

Bounty: a character has a price on their head. Because of the bounty on them, this character can't go into civilization without disguise, and even then it's risky. Their face is on wanted posters everywhere. They can't see their friends or family. They're forced to live on the run as bounty hunters pursue them. Maybe they get caught and are turned over for money. Han Solo can attest that it's a heavy burden living with a price on your head.

Brace Yourself: bracing against something steady for support. Feeling a sudden bout of dizziness from blood loss, pain, poisoning, or emotion, a character extends a hand and braces themselves against a wall, table, door, railing, or another person until the dizziness passes or they collect themselves enough to continue. Maybe they leave a bloody handprint behind. It's a somewhat subtle way of telling the reader or viewer, "hey, something's wrong with your favorite protagonist".

Brainwashed: psychologically tricked into believing a lie. There are numerous ways to brainwash a character for many reasons. Sometimes, it's a bit overdone or a lazy plot device. I only really like it if it's temporary. It can be done though magic, technology, drugs, etc. Maybe the enemy brainwashes them into joining their side or killing their friend. Maybe they're a sleeper agent.

Caged: locked in a cage instead of a proper cell. It can be big enough for a human or too small to stand or stretch out. Or... they get put in something similar to "the cradle". I'll let you Google what that is. It can be made of metal bars or chicken wire. Bonus points if the captive is cuffed to it.

Cave In: trapped in a collapsed cave or building. Either a natural disaster seals a cave or collapses a building or someone purposely traps them inside. They can wait for rescue or try to find a way out before their air depletes. Maybe they got hurt by falling debris. Maybe a creature is trapped in there with them. Maybe they're afraid of the dark or claustrophobic. Maybe they're pinned down like the scene in Spider-Man: Homecoming. I especially love the extra drama of water trickling into the cave like an hourglass sealing their fate.

Chains: restrained by chains. They clink when the character moves, reminding them of their limits. They chafe and pinch the skin, leaving bruises and red, raw marks. They can be long, short, thick, heavy, rusted, new, strong, weak, tight, or loose. They can be simple or elaborate handcuffs, shackles, or a string of links wrapped around the body. They can be attached to the wall, a pillar, or the ceiling to limit movement. You can get really creative with restraints, which tells your readers everything about the captor. If they are sympathetic and caring, the chains will be loose and barely restrictive. If they are cruel and sadistic, the chains will be elaborate and torturous, making the captive unable to move at all or just enough so that they can't reach basic necessities like food or a toilet.

Collapse: a character keeps going until they can't anymore. I love when a hero or leader won't stop until the mission's over, even if they're injured or exhausted. Their companions worry and urge them to slow down and rest, but they can't because someone's after them or they have a deadline or someone else is dying. When the mission is done, they finally collapse.

Collars: a restraint around the neck. I'm very picky about how collars are used. I prefer them to be a plot device like suppressing powers or prevents escape. If it's a kink or pet thing, it makes me uncomfortable. They are typically used to super-powered individuals, slaves, and prisoners. Could be made out of leather or metal. The trapped character claws at their throat trying to tear it off or unbuckle it, but it's locked or sealed in some way. It doesn't suffocate, but it's uncomfortable and tight with swallowing. Maybe the villain hooks their finger under it or grabs a leash connected to it and drags the victim by their neck, temporarily choking them. Maybe it's chained to a wall or post, giving them limited space.

Comedy: hurt, but it's funny. "I'm fine, guys!" *falls down the stairs* Physical comedy cracks me up. I grew up with cartoons like Tom and Jerry, so it makes sense.

Dislocation: a dislocated joint injury. More often a minor discomfort rather than a huge plot obstacle. A character dislocates a joint–preferably the shoulder–in a fall or fight and has to deal with it until they can fix it. Bonus points if they do it correctly, but I do love a good bashing the shoulder against the wall to pop it back into place or a squeamish friend snapping it into place while the protagonist lies on the floor and bites down on something. Then there's the limp relief and they continue on, perhaps with a sling or wrappings if they're smart or a companion insists upon it. Also dislocating something to escape either because they are skilled or because they're desperate. An experienced character dislocating something with only a grimace and calmly popping it back into place as their tendons have been stretched in the art of escape.

Drugged: doped up on drugs involuntarily. A room fills with gas. Threatened into taking pills or someone puts their hand over their mouth to force them to swallow. Struggling to stop an injection, but is pinned down and helpless as the needle pierces the skin. The fear of not knowing what's being put into your body.

Electrocution: tortured through electric shocks. Shock collars, cattle prods, stun cuffs, electric chairs, electroconvulsive therapy, implants, tasers, freaking Force lightning. The victim writhes on the ground or thrashes against restraints. Can't control their cries or face frozen in a silent scream. Knocked out unconscious or laying on the floor breathing and twitching. That scene in Return of the Jedi is literally my favorite of this trope.

Enslaved: forced into slavery. Not sexual slavery. A character is forced to work for their captor or sold to the highest bidder. Are they branded or tattooed to permanently mark them as property? Do they wear a collar or are constantly shackled? I love when this happens to the strong-willed, defiant character who refuses to submit. It's usually followed by punishments including but not limited to whipping, isolation, starvation, and brutal work. Bonus points if they're a sarcastic sass king/queen and are gagged or muzzled to take away their last line of defense.

Experimentation: studying another character. A crazy scientist experiments on a species unfamiliar to them to understand their powers and biology. They say experiment, we say torture. I did this to Omen. Haha, oops?

Failed Escape: caught after an attempted escape. I feel like escapes are too predictable now, so failed escape attempts are the best. Freedom snatched away at the last second. Guards, orderlies, or thugs tackle the escapee and manhandle them to the ground. The captive struggles as sobs of fear and frustration choke them. So close they could taste it. Restraints tighten or click around their wrists with fatal doom. They're dragged back to prison to deliver the punishment for attempting to escape. Worse, things will be much more difficult for a second try.

Fitful Sleep: a character sleeps without peace as they shift, mumble, and endure nightmares. Your protagonist has a fever, is in pain, or has nightmares and can't get one night of rest. Their eyebrows knit together as they jerk and murmur in their sleep. The caretaker holds their hand, pulls their head into their lap, strokes their hair, murmurs soothingly, or uses magic to help calm them down.

Forced to Walk: made to walk a long distance. They are tethered to the back of a carriage or horse and pulled along at a pace decided by the driver. Maybe there's space in the wagon or a spare horse, but they are forced to walk for hours anyway. Alternatively, they are forced to march with their hands tied behind their back at gunpoint or sword-point. If the captor is really cruel, they'll chain the ankles to make it even harder to walk. To make things worse, they have to travel through extreme terrain like heavy snow or burning sand or rocky ground. Ice cuts their skin and they shiver in the cold, or the sun beats down brutally and their tongue sticks to the roof of their mouth for lack of water. Legs ache and shake and drag as time ticks by and they don't know when they'll ever stop. They can't collapse or they'll be dragged along. So they walk until finally, the leader calls for a halt and the protagonist can melt to the ground.

Glass Case: trapped in a glass case. Hopefully with some ventilation... or not. The glass cage can be big enough to be a small cell or so tiny they can only stand in place or sit with their knees pulled to their chest. Inspired by the glass cases of the Collector in Guardians of the Galaxy. Maybe the captor wants to study them or put them on display like a zoo animal. Maybe they are shackled in place like a pinned bug in a display case. Hopefully, they're not claustrophobic!

Gunpoint: held at gunpoint. Hands slowly raised in reluctant surrender as it dawns on them the change of the odds. Maybe a protective older sibling or parental figure steps in front of their companion, drawing attention to themselves. Forced to comply as the gun waves in their face, turning around and putting their hands behind their back or head for the restraints. The gun is jammed into their back as they are forced to walk. A pistol whip for good measure.

Hidden Injury: a character hides an injury from others. A character tries to tough it out by hiding an injury from their friends until the situation has passed. But they collapse or place a hand to their wound or wince and the others notice. They ask what's wrong and the hand covering the wound comes away bloody. Eyes grow wide and the team springs into action, demanding why they didn't tell anyone as they get out first aid. I also accept a hero hiding an injury from the villain to avoid showing weakness. Or a vigilante hiding injuries from basically everyone to keep their secret identity. Not really a fan of this trope if it's out of character.

Human Sacrifice: a character is chosen or destined to be sacrificed. Kidnapped by a cult, picked as a sacrifice to a deity, or specific blood needed to finish a ritual (looking at you, Will Turner). Normally indifferent about this trope, but I love it in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Hurt/Comfort: hurting a character physically, mentally or emotionally followed by comfort and healing. Hurt them, then comfort them, damn it! If this list proves anything, I love my angst and drama, but characters deserve fluff, too. You got to have some balance.

"I'm Not Losing Anyone Else!": desperate to save someone from dying after so much loss. A character will do anything to save another's life. A friend will tell them it's too late, but they can't accept that. Preforming CPR over and over until they are pulled away or the previously dead person inhales breath.

Kidnapped by Pirates: 'nuff said. Why pirates specifically? I don't know. It's a trope used in a lot of my favorite stories (Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars, Guardians of the Galaxy, etc). Whether traditional pirates of the sea or space pirates, a character is taken by brigands with a shaky moral compass and a lust for gold. They could be taken to be held hostage, sold into slavery, end a ritual, or press ganged into the crew. How does the prisoner escape? Do they even want to?

"KNEEL!": (you better have read that in Loki's voice) forced onto knees. Made to kneel before a false ruler or a slaver. Thrown onto their knees after capture with hands on their shoulders holding them down. Kicked in the back of the knee and hits their kneecaps hard on the ground. Maybe they're restrained so that they can't get off their knees; chains too short to rise and/or legs tethered to the floor. Maybe they are smacked when they're already down, knocking them over before manhandled back into kneeling position.

Knife to the Throat: a character has a knife threatening to cut their throat. This is a very popular trope in the enemies to lovers genre. In the case of whump, I'm looking for being held hostage with a knife to the throat as they are slowly dragged away. Or pinned to the wall with the blade scratching their throat. Unable to swallow, not daring to move. Not limited to a knife, a defeated captive has their own stolen weapon under their chin in taunting. Bonus for slight nicks and cuts to show how close they were to having their throat slit.

"Let's Just Say it's a Matter of Leverage, eh?": another character is used as leverage to ensure compliance. Pirates of the Caribbean all over this trope. A character is forced to submit when someone they care about is threatened. Or maybe they are used as leverage against the enemy because they have something they want.

Made to Watch: forced to watch a companion's torture. Team leader or the youngest is tortured in front of everyone to humiliate and torment them. The others beg for the villain to stop to no avail. They struggle against restraints or bang against glass in frustrated helplessness. Or they watch old footage of what happened in the past. Mentor has to watch their apprentice get tortured? Yes, please. 

Manhandling: violently and physically restrained or moved. My favorites include:
• carding fingers through hair
• pinned to the floor or wall
• twisting arms behind the back
• gripping/tilting chin
• grabbing hair close to the roots
• dragged by the wrists, ankle, restraints, under arms, or shirt/jacket collar
• shoved, thrown, or kicked to the ground and/or into a cell
• held back from a fight or from saving someone either by a friend or enemy
• steered by their shoulder, arm, back of the neck, and/or at gunpoint
• tackled
• carrying an unconscious person
• a strong villain holding up the beaten hero by the front of their shirt or their throat as they hang limp or kick air
• grabbing hair and slamming head into a hard surface
• searched for weapons
• cupping or running a hand down cheek
• dragging a hand or knife point down someone's arm
• wrestled into restraints or into a car
• punched in the gut, causing them to double over
• hand clapped over mouth
• slapped
• headlock

"Mother Knows Best": or gaslighting; manipulating someone into self-doubt and confusion. An abuser telling their victim everything is their fault. A possessive doctor manipulating their patient into believing they're mentally ill and need them. A villain planting seeds of doubt into the hero's cause, making them out to not be so bad. I especially love it when the protagonist fights back, but gradually gets worn down little by little.

Muzzles: a device secured over a person or animal's mouth to prevent biting/speaking. Muzzles don't have to restrict speech and can just prevent biting. It's honestly kinda funny when a scrappy fighter bites someone and gets a muzzle as a result. However, I love when a mouthy character has a muzzle forced upon them to keep them silent. Maybe they annoyed their captor with one too many quips or threw one too many insults. It's usually their last line of defense and taking their voice away can break your oh so very strong character. You can be creative with how it works and looks. For silencing a person, it needs to stop the lower jaw from moving. Maybe have a bit in the mouth. The leather straps or metal clasps tighten around the head with finality. The captor hooks their fingers around it and drag their victim by the face for extra humiliation. Honorary mention to gags. Not as good as the muzzle trope, but can be if done well. 

On the Run: living on the run. Can be paired with the bounty trope. Your character is living on the run, unable to go home or see their loved ones. They could be wanted for crimes, what they stand for, their abilities, or their death. They are forced to go into hiding, always looking over their shoulder, never staying in one place for long, unable to sleep for lack of safety, and can't trust anyone.

Power Dampening: restricting superpowers. The hero has been restrained or hit with something that temporarily takes away their abilities. Collars or shackles built to weaken them. A drug that suppresses powers. Weaponizing their weakness. A spell that strips them of their powers. Cuffs specially made to resist super strength. They feel helpless, pained, and under someone else's control. The knowledge it took intentional study to make something to specifically take them down. 

Prisoner of War: captured and held hostage during war time. This can include a form of slavery as they are put to work until the war is over, a trade is made, or a ransom is paid. Is the prisoner a lowly soldier no one will come for or are they an important leader and valuable player in the war? If they are valuable, they can be degraded and paraded around to shame them. Princes are the best to use with this trope.

Psychiatric Hospital: an institution designed to cure patients of mental illnesses. Used to hate this trope until I realized the potential. A character is admitted into a psychiatric ward, but why? Was it a court order, an enemy, parents or guardians, concerned friends, or themselves? Are they actually sick, are they faking it, or do they or the people around them only think they're sick? I personally prefer nothing is wrong with them and they're placed there against their will. There is no shortage of whump opportunities with restraints, drugs, and old fashioned "treatments".

Ropes: restrained with ropes. I prefer the chains trope, but this can be just as good. Besides, they're cheaper and easier to obtain. Maybe they're on a pirate ship and it's all they got. Character testing the knots only to find them tight and complicated. Rope burns as the splintery restraints chafe their skin. Also makes for an easier escape attempt by cutting or snapping the ropes if the plot requires.

Scars: scarred tissue alluding to old injury. Scars is just cool character design. Sometimes they can have a tragic backstory like the a certain Fire Nation prince or the protagonist can be littered with scars to point to a rough past like Cal Kestis. You don't know what made them, you just know this character is a tough cookie. And I adore the swapping scar stories trope.

Self-Blame: blaming oneself for the deaths, pains, or misfortunes of others. A character has lost so many people in their lives, they think something's wrong with them. That they're cursed and get everyone around them killed or hurt.

Self-First Aid: a character patches up their own wounds. This can be paired with hidden injury. The team finally makes it back and your protagonist locks themselves in the bathroom or their own bedroom, or they're out on the field and they need to stop the bleeding. They peel back their clothing to expose a gruesome injury. Gritting their teeth, they start treating themselves with shaking hands, trying not to stop or pass out from the stinging alcohol, piercing needle, or tweezers pulling out shrapnel. Alternatively, they're patching themselves up because there's no one around to do it for them, either separated or a lone wolf.

Shaky Hands: shaky hands while preforming a task. This can be used as imagery to describe the character's emotions. I like using it for a healer who's trying to save the life of someone they care deeply about. Their hands are coated in blood and they're crying in frustration as they struggle to preform what they're trained to do.

Showers: hurt character takes a shower. I love angsty showers when a recently hurt character stands under hot water and lets it wash away all the blood and grime, watching it swirl down the drain as they fixate on their trauma. Maybe they were just rescued and when their friends try to get them to talk, the first thing they want is a damn shower. They stumble in, bracing themselves against the tiles. They stand under the water until it gets cold, and even after they still feel tainted, dirty.

Sleep Deprivation: a character doesn't sleep for a long period of time. The consequences of sleep deprivation are poor judgement, wobbly locomotion, impaired vision, weakened immune system, and irritability. A character can be sleep deprived due to nightmares, insomnia, overworking, or forced to stay awake. I personally prefer a character neglects to sleep due to not feeling safe to do so or from overworking. Maybe another character notices they haven't been sleeping by the bags or dark circles under their eyes and the slurring of their words. I also like when a character is kept awake as a form of torture.

Straitjackets: a device used to restrain a person's arms to their body. Innately, straitjackets are meant to be helpful and protect a violent prisoner or patient from hurting others or themselves. Maybe a caretaker has to put a character in one for their own safety. However, I prefer when the psychiatric patient who doesn't actually need treatment fights back and is subjected to a straitjacket or a villain just happens to have one lying around for the hero. The straps can be too tight, the jacket too small, or the person in it is struggling to the point of exhaustion or is claustrophobic. Maybe they have an itch they can't scratch. It's almost impossible to escape (unless your Batman) and if forgotten or left in it too long, the arms cramp horribly and causes involuntary spasms. Straitjackets can also be tethered to a chair or bed to be extra.

Strapped Down: pinned down to a chair, bed, or table by restraints. Make your captured character immobile by strapping them down with shackles, ropes, leather straps, or soft restraints. Do they have maneuvering room or can they literally not move a muscle? Is it a captor sadistic enough to use hard restraints excessively to lock down every inch of the body or is it a concerned caretaker who uses soft restraints with space to move?

Superpower Consequences: minor setbacks when using a superpower. I love it when a superpowered individual gets minor discomforts using their abilities or overextending them. Like a mind reader or telekinetic gets migraines or seizures. Drained and exhausted after a burst of power. High metabolism that can lead to passing out. This is like Force exhaustion in Star Wars or how Spider-Man's spidey sense can give him migraines.

Survivor of Genocide: a character is the lone or seemingly lone survivor of a genocide. A genocide is bad enough. Being the lone survivor of a lost culture is worse. Your protagonist struggles with survivors guilt as they try to navigate a world without their family for the first time. They try to uphold their culture while also needing to hide who they really are.

"Sweep the Leg": or taking out a character's ability to walk/fight. Breaking a character's leg, twisting or snapping the ankle, or shooting the knee to stop a fight or prevent someone from escaping. I personally love shooting the leg when someone is already down or surrendered to prevent them from escaping. Even if it's the hero shooting random goon #5 in the leg so they can't walk away before the police arrives. It's kinda funny. Bonus points if the hurt person keeps trying anyway.

Taking a Hit: takes a hit meant for another character. Most traditionally, they take a bullet for someone they care about, which is always great. I also love taking a knife, a punch, a swinging object, a collision, or even the punishment. Do they jump in front of someone, push them out of the way, or beg the villain "torture me instead"? Then the other character feels guilty as their protective parental or older sibling figure takes on what was meant for them.

"TRAITOR!": betrayed by another character (Kylo Ren meme anyone?). Your main protagonist gets stabbed in the back—literally or figuratively—by someone they thought to be a friend. Do they kidnap, falsely accuse, falsely arrest, or leave the protagonist to die? The trust issues go from zero to one hundred. I'm dying to use this trope for the shock value.

Turned into a Weapon: a character is tortured, brainwashed, or conditioned into becoming a human weapon. I freaking love 'turned into a weapon' characters: Jason Bourne, Bucky Barnes, Natasha Romanoff, Yelena Belova, Gamora, Nebula, etc. In some cases, they are rescued from the brink of death and are used for their legally dead status to be made into a sleeper agent. In other cases, they were kidnapped as children and raised to be assassins. Body modification and experimentation are often included in this trope, along with a crap ton of PTSD. Maybe they get headaches or have amnesia. They don't know how to lead a normal life.

Used for Abilities: used for their special abilities or skills to help another's scheme. There's something special about a character, so the enemy wants them to use their powers for personal gain. They are kidnapped, turned over, or manipulated into the enemy's hands, then subjected to experimentation, painful draining, or the threat of death in giving up their powers. Think Peter Quill used as a human battery in GotG: vol. 2.

Walk the Plank: a character is forced to jump off a ship. For all my pirate lovers out there, a character has their hands tied behind their back, possibly gagged, maybe has their ankles tied together as well or a heavy weight attached. They are forced to walk to the edge of a plank at gunpoint or a sword poking their back. They gaze into the dark, deep water in fear until they jump or are pushed overboard.

Water Torture: methods of torture with water. Waterboarding, head held under water, chained down as a room slowly fills with water, hydrotherapy, etc. Double down on the angst when paired with the 'made to watch' trope.

Zip Ties: restrained by zip ties. Wasn't going to add this one until I realized the potential. While chains, ropes, and handcuffs are harder to come by, you can purchase zip ties at a local store. Since they are easy to come by, a random kidnapper is more likely to have them on hand. If your protagonist is smart and strong enough, they can easily break poorly used zip ties, meaning you have to be creative. Maybe the captor uses multiple zip ties along the forearms, cinching their arms together up to the elbows. Maybe they zip tie them to a steering wheel, pipe, bed frame, etc. Tightened to the point they cut off circulation and leave red lines and bruises, even cutting the skin. The frustration of a character unable to break free. Or maybe they have a knife or sharp object in hand and they have to twist into an unnatural position to slowly saw into the plastic. (Alternatively, everything I said here, but with duct tape. Plus the adhesive ripping hair and burning skin. Also can be used as a gag). 

Hope you all enjoyed and got some inspiration! Please, please, please leave your favorite overly specific whump tropes in the comments. Thanks for reading!