Moving Beyond the Cliché: Better Ways to Write Transit Romance
If you are processing an experience or see this happening, remember that you are not alone.
To understand this phenomenon, it is essential to see how it manifests across different cultural landscapes.
But there is a growing backlash. A cohort of feminist romance writers is now actively subverting the trope. In Ava Reid’s A Study in Drowning , the bus scene is reframed as a trauma trigger, not a romance beat. In fan circles, “Dead Dove: Don’t Eat” tags warn readers when a grope scene is meant to be disturbing , not arousing.
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But where Gaga’s art typically ends with the protagonist burning the bus down (figuratively), romantic storylines do the opposite. They ask the victim to thank the hero and board the bus again tomorrow.
Additionally, measures such as improved lighting and security in public spaces, increased police presence, and the promotion of respectful behavior can contribute to a safer environment for everyone.
It breaks social barriers rapidly, forcing two strangers into an intense, emotional interaction that would normally take weeks to develop. How the Incident Launches Romantic Storylines
This is not romance. This is trauma. And when a woman carries this trauma into her existing relationships, the bus grope becomes a third entity in the room. Moving Beyond the Cliché: Better Ways to Write
encouraged Eara to report the incident, offering to stand as a witness. This act of solidarity strengthened their bond and empowered Eara to reclaim her space in the city.
If you must include a grope in a romantic storyline, follow these three laws:
This article analyzes the complex narrative themes of public transport encounters, focusing on boundaries, consent, and romantic storylines in literature and media.
For storytellers looking to navigate intense public interactions or explore relationships born from shared adversity, avoiding harmful clichés is vital. Writers can craft compelling, respectful narratives by adhering to a few core principles: A cohort of feminist romance writers is now
The characters are forced to interact repeatedly to clear up the misunderstanding, leading to deeper revelations about each other's true character. 3. The Silent Protector
One of the most enduring traditions in storytelling is the "meet-cute," the quirky or charming first encounter of two future lovers. The classic meet-cute has evolved over time, but a darker variant has emerged: the "red flag meet-cute." This version disguises predatory behavior as passionate, persistent, or irresistible ardor. The scenario in question—where a woman is groped or harassed on a bus—is not a secret subgenre, but a reflection of a widespread pattern where media romanticizes harassment.
In 2018, Lady Gaga collaborated with DJ Marshmello on the song "I Was Born This Way." While not directly about relationships, her music often serves as a backdrop for discussions on identity and love.
Thankfully, some modern storytellers are subverting this harmful cliché and consciously avoiding it. A review of the romance novel In a New York Minute praises it as "the opposite of a meet-cute" when the heroine's dress is caught in subway doors. Her love interest helps her but is largely an annoyance—a fun twist that avoids harassment as a plot device. Similarly, One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston is a WLW (Women Loving Women) romance set on the NYC subway that focuses on a far more intriguing premise: a mysterious, time-displaced woman trapped on the train.
In the most common iteration of this storyline, the male lead steps in to stop the assault. This creates an immediate, albeit primal, foundation for the relationship.