#meta tips

Hmmmm, a step by step guide to Teen Wolf meta watching. Dear God are you sure you want this? Because once you’ve tumbled down that rabbit hole there is no turning back… 

Just kidding. (not really, proceed with caution)

Okay, some useful tips, or at least some things that I look for when i watch episodes

Never assume - this is the golden rule of Teen Wolf. If a character concludes something - question it! Look for additional proof. Don’t just take anyone’s word for stuff, find the visual clues as well. 

Dialogue is important. Take your time to analyze it. Jeff and the writers are very gifted at creating dialogue that is interpreted one way, but might have several layers and meanings. 

Don’t take their word for it. Often the visuals and the actions contradict the dialogue - if there’re discrepancies ask your self this - what do you trust most?

Pay attention to the walls and surroundings. There are often clues to be found there. 

Look for patterns and symbolism. Some visual imagery is repeated and probably hold more meaning. I recommend paying attention to water, mirrors, trees, thunder, cyclones, doors, keys, posters and pictures on the wall, clothing, colors, 

Parallels. TW loves parallels of all kinds, from similar scenes, storylines, clothing, repeated dialogue, mirrorered scenes etc. 

Patterns. Jeff loves everything in threes - if you’ve seen something twice - like Kate confronting Stiles in slow-mo, we should expect it to happen a third time. Possibly the third time will be reversed to still fit the pattern, but break the chain. 

Music. I’m terrible at interpreting lyrics, but there are usually clues to be found also in the soundtrack. 

If a scene feels important or you’re missing something, don’t fully undestand it, you should probably look at it more closely

Mirror verse. Sometimes things change subtly (or not so subtly in the case of Stiles’ room in 1x09) - this is what i call mirror verse. It probably means something :) 

Pause the episode when you watch to look at stuff. Sometimes i even do frame by frame to really catch the little things. 

Make your own screencaps, and contrast and compare if you feel you’re onto something. 

Also there are lots of great sources to help you on your way

Teen Wolf Wiki

Teen Wolf Wikia

Screencaps x, x, x, (there are probably more as well)

Transcripts x, x 

Teen Wolf meta on LJ

And lastly, follow a lot of meta blogs, never be afraid to just ask if you stumble across something you think might mean something, but you’re not really sure what it is. More minds are better than one and we love love love to speculate :) 

If you don't want someone blowing holes in your meta, do a few things:

1. Avoid sarcasm unless it's abundantly clear (/sarcasm works, if you think it's not clear)

2. Don't lead off with theories and have no canon background for the character(s) you are meta'ing on. The best meta is the meta where you go "OH HOLY SHIT I SEE THAT IN THE SHOW, AAAUGH." If someone can blow holes in your meta with canon interpretation different from yours and you don't have fact to refute, then it's not much of a theory. It would be best suited to wait until you have more facts.

3. Did I mention facts? Facts, facts, we love facts. Destiel meta especially loves facts. We love:

4. Don't just assume that because someone might have a different opinion than you that A) it's based on a ship preference, or B) it just automatically has no merit. That's not how debate works, folks. When you personally insult someone because they ship something, that's called starting a ship war, and that shit is immature.

That being said, I'm off for a week, folks! Off to see my dad, and I shall bring you fic and meta and meta and fic. :)

A good idea for uh, character/plot development would be to have a detailed account of their motivations/agenda for their stay in the Regan Manor. I'm not saying to write it all out now, I'm just suggesting that you can start forming how they got there in your head, so you'll be ready to flesh out the specifics when the time comes. 

Take Aiden for example: 

He's a journalist, he's in the Regan Manor looking for a good story. I have already started to form vague ideas about how he was led to the house. He noticed the patterns in other missing persons cases, and further digging led him to a missing drug deal in New York, and found a small photo of the Regan Manor in the drug dealer's apartment. etc. I also made up a 'story' for his cover, that he was in the Manor searching for a lot friend, Emma, who disappeared the day of her wedding. And if someone were to look, there would be a record of that happening, but she was most probably a runaway bride, and her 'disappearance' has nothing to do with the Regan Manor, it only serves has Aiden's cover. etc etc.

Things like that, little details prior to them moving into the manor. Aiden doesn't have a 'dark' past like the other characters, so y'all will have much more to work with than me :) Start thinking about them so you won't accidentally contradict yourself when you make up things on the spot in every para. consistency is quite important, if I say so myself.

these are just some tips! Take them with a grain of salt haha