Optimist: the cup is half full Pessimist: the cup is half empty Writer: This cup is important to the story. I must spend the next 10 hours researching what sorts of cups there are. The composition will be important later on and give clues as to who the villain is. A...cupeuppance as it were.

Maybe a comecuppance?

Ao3 writers: Never mind how full it is or isn't! You won't believe who the cup is DATING.

Also Writer: This cup is a Chekhov's gun

You know you're going to cut that in revision when the late nights of Red Bull haze have worn off and you cringe a little at cupeuppance. You'll rub your neck sheepishly and look around and be grateful you didn't send it to beta readers. But you'll forget the lengthy initial entry... #ChekhovsCup