The art of a TG and TF series

This is mainly some notes for creating a TG/TF story, read it or comment it, if you hate it don't take it.

In the last one, I mentioned about TG/TF stories in general, this one is more centered on series; also, most things referred to in this scheme will have barely anything to the TG/TF and is more centered on the plot and development.


++Main TG/TF

This is related to the TG/TF throughout the story.

--Permanent: whoever was TG/TF'ed cannot go back, it's permanent; this kind of decision gives you only two options when continuing the story in a series:
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-+There's a cure: of course, our protagonist wants to get cured and will go to any length to get out of his/her/it *cursed* situation; however, in series and such, when dealing with this option, it's most likely that while the cure is being sought, the one that was changed begins adjusting to the new body, and also starts to realize the pros and cons of the new form.
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-+No hope: it's definitely permanent, no cure whatsoever; in these cases, the first kind of emotions the protagonist begins to show are that of despair and sadness, though he/she/it latter on begins to adjust to the new life and body; this option also involves chaotic and mostly random situations in which the main character finds him/her/itself with newly found emotions that end up being confusing and desolating in short term, yet reassuring when taking into consideration how he/she/it adapts to the new body.
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--Sporadic non-willing: there's a cause as to why the character is TF/TG'ed, however, there's no control whatsoever as to how, when or where he/she/it will change; this sort of things are similar to werewolves, the full moon forces them to change into something else, in a similar manner, the main character can be changed by a series of reasons, which can vary from sneezing, to the full moon, eating something specific or even by mood; this option usually also involves either a humor release by situations in which the character tries to not get changed, yet fails; or it can also involve some horror or such, as there's a possibility that once transformed, the character has another personality, though more of that latter on.

--Sporadic willing: the character can change, and will do so to gain advantage; this can also be applied to Sporadic Non-willing in the case the protagonist is able to use to his/her/its advantage when and where the change will occur; in most cases, the character ends up adjusting rather fast, and soon gains control over the power or reasons as to why the change occurs, which at the same time can lead to many other options when dealing with a series.

--Someone else: this is on the rare side when referring to series; in these cases, the protagonist is changed at the will of someone else; it can either be some sort of mad scientist testing on a subordinate, or it can also be magic-related, where the main character is changed to accommodate the will of the mage; in almost all the cases when dealing with this option, the best way to make it last longer is by adding humor, or some emotional plot in which the protagonist tries to regain a normal life, and whoever causes the changes doesn't allow it.


++TF/TG duration:

It might not seem important, but when dealing with a series in which the TG/TF is common, the duration of the transformation can become something that can sustain the whole story.

--Very short: the transformation is almost instantaneous, like the duration of a sneeze or the blink of an eye; in these cases, it's most likely it's not willing, specially since it can sometimes lead to confusing moments and humorous reliefs throughout the story.

--Short: from thirty seconds to three minutes, this is more common for when the transformation is willing, in this case, the character will look for some privacy throughout the change, and if caught during the change, the situation can be used to put another character among the main ones (the one who witnessed the change).

--Medium: with a range between five and ten minutes, it's most likely this sort of change is non-willing and more like a curse (werewolf for example); in these cases, the chance of being caught is greater, however, in the off chance the change also involves a change in personality, anyone who witnesses the change is either *eliminated* or turned into some sort of companion who latter on can help the protagonist.

--Long: the variation in time when referring to a long TG/TF can be something that lasts from thirty minutes to one or two hours; in these cases, it's most likely the change will occur once, and it'll involve a mental change as well; this change is most of the times related to a mad science scene or some sort of poison that lasts a while in taking effect; either way, odds are it'll be the only change the protagonist will go through in the whole story.

--Very long: very long would be something between three or four hours to something along the lines of twelve and thirteen hours; this is certainly not common, though it can be shortened if throughout most of the change the character is unconscious, oddly, this barely involves a mental change despite the duration; also, it's most likely it'll be the only change.

--Eternal: it ranges from a whole day to even weeks or months; this changes are the hardest to deal with, as the changes are too slow to detail all at once, and the writer must also enter into detail about how those around the character react to the subtle changes and how the protagonist feels during this period of time as well; unfortunately, it's really tough to fully grasp the array of emotions and confusing anyone witnessing such changes could go through, reason why this option is barely used, though there's also the possibility of something like being in a coma during the change, it seems rather dull; needles to say, it would be obnoxious to make whoever got changed do it a second time, so it's most likely permanent.


++Friends:

Those who're somehow involved in the change, and somehow are related in the situation; it might not seem like it, but having someone else knowing about the secret can become of help latter on.

--Accidental: this one learnt about the truth (and lived) by accident, most likely witnessing the change or taping it; these characters, if they manage to enter friendly terms with the main character, can become one of the greatest assets of the story, being someone who knows and protects the secret.

--Also TF/TG'ed: someone who is in a similar situation if not the same, love does misery company, or was it the other way around?, either way, it's someone who more or less understands the predicament the protagonist is in, meaning it can become a source of relief when things become too harsh for the character.

--Responsible: they're somehow responsible for the TG/TF, and are attempting to help reverse it (in case it's curable) or help cope with the change (if it isn't), most of the times, they feel guilt and are the center/cause of the wrath/hatred of the main character; if enough time is spent the wrath quells and the main character ends up befriending this friend/sidekick; though in case that the one responsible did this on purpose, he/she/it will most likely end up repenting of doing such a thing (exception would be that he/she/it is something along the lines of mad scientist).

--Involved: he or she knows first hand about how/why the protagonist is changed, though it's not the one responsible for it; these characters usually are more kind/caring for the protagonist; it can also become a source of *wisdom* throughout the story, as it's someone who understands the situation and isn't related directly to it, hence being able to see the big picture easier.

--Stranger: this is a tricky kind, it's someone who knows the full story of the protagonist and how/why the change occurred, yet has never been mentioned before in the story, it's rather hard to give a specific picture of the development of such characters, but most of the times they're distant yet helpful most of the times.


++Causes:

It might not be as important in a short story, but in a series, the reason for the TG/TF can very much be the center of the entire plot; because the variation in causes are as many as there are stories, I'll keep it simple.

--Fantasy: some spell or curse were the ones that caused the change; in the case of it being a curse, it's most likely that the protagonist had it since a long time ago, or received it due to some sort of accident, though if it isn't the chances are too many to mention here.

--Science: this one also has plenty of choices, though unless it's some sort of mad scientist or super genius, there's barely no chances of there being more TG/TF throughout the story, and there's also a great opportunity that there's a cure for the situation; most of the times, the attention is focused in the protagonist being some sort of living guinea pig, willing or not.

--Other: I can't come up with other reasons for a TG/TF, though I'm pretty sure there are quite some possibilities outside the Fantasy and Science options.


++Secretive:

Is the change a secret?, does the protagonist want anyone not to learn about it?

--General secret: the change is a secret for everyone, only the protagonist and his/her/its friends can know about it, no one else must learn about it; this is common in most cases when the change is not permanent, the protagonist either doesn't want to reveal it, or it's best if no one learns about the TG/TF of the main character, though there's bound for someone to learn about the secret.

--Specific secret: only few people must not learn about the TG/TF, either they are people of great power and importance, meaning that if the protagonist is caught he/she/it will most likely end up becoming a test subject (or punished); or it's someone they like or have affection to, meaning they don't want those beloved people to learn about it, which at the same time can almost surely lead to comical misunderstandings.

--No secret: either everyone knows and copes with the protagonists changes, or somehow, the reality was changed, and everyone either thinks it's been that way since the beginning, or they don't even remember who the protagonist was before; in these cases, the main focus usually goes to emotion development; this also mostly used on *changed only once* situations.


++Development:

How does the plot and story develop?, is it action?, is it romance?, is it a bit of everything?

--Action: in these cases, the chances of finding a cure are high, the protagonist fights to end the curse so everything can go back to normal; in these cases, it's best to define someone who knows or has a way of reverting the TG/TF, else it would be too vague for this category.

--Romance: it's an emotional showdown, can the romance work out in this new situation?, can they be together as they are now?, or will the emotions change now that the protagonist has been TG/TF'ed?, either way, this sort of story has a very strong focus on the emotions rather than the action, and in case there's a cure, it can become even more confusing the nearer they are to the antidote.

--Daily life: it's like living your normal life, but in another body; it shows how the main character adapts to the same environment with a different body, revealing the pros and cons of the change of form and how things change when having another appearance.

--Adventure: it's like action, though the protagonist is forced to leave the familiar environment he/she/it has been living in, looking for a cure during the way; also, this sort of story also reveals the emotional development throughout the journey.

--Other: there are other kinds of course, but they're not so common as to be worth of mention.


++Personality shift:

Does his mind change with the body?

--Yes: a new mind comes with a new body; this is most likely when it's some sort of curse or out of hands of the protagonist, either one, the writer can choose for the main character to keep the memories of what's done after transformed, either way, he/she/it is no longer in control; this can become tricky to handle when dealing with a series, because unless the two (or more if there are any) personalities can most of the times lead to unwanted situations without any real ending, specially since there's no control from part of the protagonist when he/she/it is transformed.

--No: if there's no changes, just continue, it wouldn't affect the plot whatsoever.


++Adaptation:

How the character adapts to the changes.

--Fast: within a blink of an eye, the body feels as normal as if it had been the original one all the time; this is either because the change also involves a mental distortion, or because there's actually not so much focus on the problem of having another body, but mostly at the problem of finding a cure.

--Medium: normal, there are emotional crashes and breaks, and tears and such, no one can adapt to a new and strange body right away; there's a great chance that at first it's all too unfamiliar, but becomes a part of the main character soon after.

--Slow: the protagonist fights against the new body, he/she/it doesn't want to be how he/she/it is after the change, and plans to rebel against the form all the way; however, this also means there's a greater chance for an emotional breakdown, such as in situations where they realize it cannot be reversed or such.


++Endings:

Because an ending is as important as the beginning.

--Reversal: the protagonist is changed back, and given the opportunity to live a normal life once more; in this case, the best way to end it is to either cut it off the moment the reversal occurs, or a short while after, revealing how the emotional changes have affected him/her/it.

--Side-plot: in case the change is permanent, it's best to put a side-plot into motion, or else risk having a vague and not so well made ending; the side-plot is like another story, but based on the fact that the protagonist has a new body.

--Status-Quo: the protagonist is given the chance to go back to his/her/its original body, but the offer is turned down as the main character now prefers the new form rather than the old one; in these cases, the end becomes vague, as it could be continued, case in which they show how they finish adapting to the new body (in case there's any adaptation left) and the full reasons as to why they chose to remain that way (most of the times it's love); or it can be chosen to cut the story briefly after the offer is turned down, leaving somewhat of a suspense.

--Curse continued: it's a bit like the first, second and third mixed together, this can only be used in case the TG/TF is not permanent; the protagonist has finally reached a point in which they accept the TG/TF curse (be it willing or not) and continue their life with it; these sort of endings are better applied if left vague and with a *To be continued...* sort of situation, it's hard to make this kind of ending work correctly, but if written in the right manner, it can become even a greater finish than a normal one.

--Others: of course there are other ways of ending the story, such as killing the protagonist, however, I won't go into further detail about these ones, as they are far too many yet too short and not so commonly used.